𝘾𝙃𝘼𝙋𝙏𝙀𝙍 𝙎𝙄𝙓𝙏𝙔 𝙁𝙊𝙐𝙍
ミ★ ( bewitched, act five ) ★彡

     Months went by and there wasn't a single word from Ryker about Lilith's parents or any other underlying issue the Cullen faced. Within those months, the Cullens had gotten into a routine of being a proper family, and helping Edward and Lilith with Diana. Diana continued to grow at a fast rate; standing, walking and talking as a toddler when she was only a few months old. She needed constant attention and supervision to take note of any changes within her. Time seemed to become the enemy to Lilith and Edward now despite having endless amounts of it; they each worried how long they would have with Diana if she continued to grow at such an alarming rate.

     But it just made every moment more precious to Lilith, wanting to cherish every memory she could with her daughter before she would no longer have the opportunity to — if she no longer had the opportunity to.

     Diana loved the snow. Whenever she saw it sprinkle from the sky her mood would instantly go up and Lilith wouldn't be able to focus on anything else but how happy it made her daughter. Hence why she tried to make it a habit to let her play in the snow whenever she could, so they could build as many memories as they could doing the things that Diana loved most.

     The sound of Bella's teeth chattering distracted Lilith from the sight of her daughter playing; trying to catch the falling bits of snow, Lilith turned to look at her with a raised eyebrow, "It's so cold today." Bella defended herself as she pulled against Jake's jacket hoping that it could generate more heat for her.

     "You didn't have to come today." Lilith pointed out with a laugh. Bella and Lilith had planned to hang out that day regardless with Diana, but once it began to snow they knew they needed to go and play there, disregarding any previous plans they had organised. Bella insisted in still coming even though she could still very much feel the cold.

     Bella let out a scoff as she took out her phone and began to take photos of Diana while she played, "Please. As if I'd miss out on seeing this adorable thing have the time of her life."

     Within the last few months, Diana began to come out of her shell and started to grow more comfortable around the rest of Cullens, Bella and Jacob considering how often she saw them and no longer tried to use her gift to communicate with them. It was still a work in progress however when it came to people she wasn't familiar with, usually hiding behind her mother or father and using her gift with them to talk to the strangers. They assumed once she grew older that her confidence would shine through, but it would take a lot of work to condition that side of her out.

     The blonde toddler that had her hair pulled up into two pigtails turned around with an excited smile on her face and began to trod over towards her mother and aunt with her palm facing upwards, "Mommy, look!"

     Lilith squatted down in front of Diana and looked at her palm seeing the tiny snowflake on her hand. She let out a gasp, "A snowflake. How beautiful." She complimented as she stood up, pressing a kiss to her daughter's head before completely straightening up, "Do you wanna go find me another one, little bug?"

     Diana nodded and closed her fist, forgetting that her hands still held warmth and the snowflake melted instantly while she ran looking for another snowflake to bring to Lilith.

     "Have you found out anything about her growth rate?" Bella questioned as she watched Diana also.

     Lilith shrugged, "We're about seventy percent sure that her fast growth is from her vampire side. But, Edward thinks that we'll find answers in Brazil. Apparently there are tribes there that might know something." She wanted to turn to Ryker to ask him what to do, but it was hard to get into contact with him now without her magic and without the ability to sleep. She would just have to wait for him to come to her and hope that he would be able to get to them in time.

     The last time she had heard from him wasn't too long ago. His message was vague but she it was best to just listen to what his message said in order to make sure things went smoothly. She noticed the note when she had walked into the cottage, sitting ominously on her dining table on old parchment paper. She had picked it up and the old school running writing scribbled across it from ink took her a moment to read.

Your parents have been spotted near Forks. I will be in touch soon with more updates, unfortunately not with good news. Stay alert.

— Ryker.

     And while she took the warning quite seriously when it came from Ryker, Diana was getting fussy without being able to go outside in the snow and it was getting to the point that if Lilith didn't take her, she would've exploded. Maybe it was spoiling Diana by giving in, but Lilith wanted her daughter to be happy. Always. She never wanted her to feel restricted or unhappy with her life like she did sometimes. Hopefully one day she'll learn to not give in.

     Sensing someone watching her, Lilith looked up in the distance, her eyes zooming in to see a blonde haired woman standing up top the mountains looking directly at them. Diana looked to where her mother was looking, also spotting the woman and instantly ran to behind her mother's legs, "Mommy, who is that?" She questioned, her voice trembling as they could both sense the anger rolling off of the woman.

     "I think that's just our cousin from Denali, baby, it's okay." Lilith assured her once she recognised the woman's face, turning to pick up her daughter and hold her onto her hip, "Irina!" She called out but the woman's top lip curled before turning around and running away.

     Her eyebrows furrowed as she heard Irina talk, mumbling about how she couldn't believe that they have done such a horrible act. She wasn't sure what she meant by it but decided to stay away. She didn't look all too pleased to be around them— or by the sight of them—and Lilith was not going to try and barge in to her personal space considering the last time they met she wasn't all too happy about the Laurent situation.

     Lilith clutched Diana closer to her as a sinking feeling in her gut as she watched Irina's retreating form, the air suddenly feeling tense. She turned to Bella, her now golden eyes filled with fear and her instincts telling her she needed to get Diana out of there and out of the open space, "I need to get her out of here, something doesn't feel right."

     Carlisle hung up the phone, "Tanya convinced Irina to come and reconcile with us." He informed them of his conversation with their cousin. Lilith had returned in a small panic after her outing and told Carlisle what had happened, he calmly told her that he would look into it and that he doubted there was something malicious going on like Lilith felt.

     "It looks like she might of changed her mind." Lilith remarked as she leaned against the piano behind her, crossing her arms as she did so, "We didn't exactly do much reconciling."

     "Being in Forks might of been too much for her." Esme said sympathetically, "She might've just realised she wasn't ready to do what her sisters want her to."

     Lilith bit her lip, holding back to urge to speak her mind and bring up how she felt Irina's disgust and hatred toward her direction. She didn't want to speak badly in case she had just misunderstood the situation and interpreted her looks incorrectly, therefore indirectly cause a disruption between the two families. Irina was family now, and she figured that they would cross paths eventually; they would have eternity to make amends in the future and hopefully it would be sooner rather than later.

     Lilith always did feel guilty about the Laurent situation; even more so after she found out about him being Irina's chosen mate. She didn't feel guilty about being a survivor to his attacks, but she always did feel as if Laurent was just a pawn in someone's game other than his own person. Irina could've given him that, but it seemed that he chose a different path.

     "Maybe one day she'll come around." She responded, trying to remain positive and shrug off the bad feeling she got from her encounter with Irina.

Carlisle smiled as he put his arm around Esme, "She will. She's family."

     The sound of the stroke of a piano key followed by Diana's giggle made Lilith turn around to see her sitting on Edward's lap as he placed her little finger onto the piano key, letting the chord play out before moving it to another key and doing the same thing.

     She loved listening to Edward play, even more so it seemed she loved to play now as Lilith could sense how happy she was just by playing random notes with her father even if it didn't make a complete melody.

     It was obvious that Diana's personality was very much like Edward's even at only a few months old and it was amazing for her to watch the two interact and how their personalities meshed together so well.

     Edward propped her up on his lap better, making sure his arms were also used as a barrier so she wouldn't accidentally fall sideways as he wasn't holding her with his hands as he moved them towards the piano keys, and began to play a familiar song that caused Lilith to smile, thinking back on the times that Edward used to play it for her.

     It was crazy to her to think about how less than a few years ago it was just her and him sitting on that bench messing around with sounds until they created something beautiful, and there they were now; on that same bench, with their daughter.

     Time really did fly by and things have changed, but Lilith liked it. She liked how things have changed for the better because it means everything she went through brought her to this moment where she could enjoy a nice moment with her family.

     She just hoped that she would never forget these little moments with Diana if they couldn't figure out how to stop her increased growth.

     Her smile slowly dropped but her eyes never left the sight of her husband and daughter by the piano. Her happiness slowly diminished but the thought of not having enough time with Diana wasn't the only thing that caused her sour mood.

     It was the familiar scent of blood orange fragrance hitting her nose. The kind that she remembered her mother always used to wear when she was growing up. The only difference now is that she could smell it so much more intensely and even smell the other scents mixed within it that made it smell so much more unique.

     Edward noticed Lilith's change in mood and stopped playing the music, using his hands to steady Diana in his lap more securely as he looked at his wife with concern, "What's wrong?"

     "Just stay here please." Lilith softly ordered, trying not to alarm the rest of the family before walking out of the house and following after the scent.

     If it was her parents that were there, she was going to give them a piece of her mind and demand them to tell her why they would just disappear when she needed them most. She wanted to know why they would betray here like that, she was their daughter. She couldn't even begin to imagine doing something like that to Diana.

     She had forgiven them for most things they had done to her; mainly of which consisted of her lying about her entire life and keeping her in the dark in the most inconvenient of times. But, this would be hard to forgive. Lilith was angry, she was fed up and she couldn't even grasp how much she had bottled up when it came to her parents. It was clear how much their bond was breaking and how she was growing to resent them more and more for everything they had ever done to her. They were her parents and she loved them—sometimes a little too much—and she hated that part of her for being so forgiving when all she wanted to do was to yell and scream at the top of her lungs how much she despised them.

     She still was yet to forgive Sam and the rest of the pack, she constantly ignored their calls and howls and even refused to listen to any of the messages they tried to pass on to her through Emily, Leah, Jake and Seth. And they were just her friends who betrayed her... she was working on forgiving them eventually; but it was going to be much harder for Lilith to forgive her parents after they've betrayed her so many times before.

     It had gotten to the point where it didn't matter that they were family and she loved them; they had pushed her passed her breaking point and finally caused her to snap. They had broken her trust too many times and Lilith knew that it wasn't ever going to be the same ever again. While she was holding out hope that they would have an extremely good reason as to why they did what they did, she didn't want to her her hopes up in case she's setting herself up to be severely disappointed. And she had a feeling she was about to be.

     She only made it two steps out of the Cullen home before she spotted her parents nearby in chains, held by Ryker and a couple of unfamiliar faces looking sorrowfully in her direction. It was like the ability to breathe came back to her just for that one moment only for it to be punched out of her gut as she took in the sight of her parents. She could smell the guilt off of them along with their regret.

     "I think it's best that we speak privately." Ryker spoke, catching her off guard as she was staring and observing her parents so intently. His voice sounded far more regal and powerful in real life than what she had heard in her dreams with him. She couldn't believe that he was standing there in front of her either.

     Throughout the months of their weird growing friendship, it was strange that now was the time that they were officially meeting—and not to mention the extremely awkward circumstances that they were. It was even more strange that Ryker wanted them to defend themselves in private which was a shock because she expected him to make a spectacle of them.

     "No." She disagreed, "I believe they need to let everyone know of their excuses. It's not just me they betrayed that night." As much as she wanted them to just tell her why they did what they did and get it over and done with so she could move on, the Cullens—especially Carlisle—deserved to know the truth as well, and she had enough respect for the vampire to put up with her parents a little longer than she wanted in order to give him some closure.

     Ryker let out a sigh, "If that's what you want." He mumbled, knowing she was going to regret that choice once she heard the truth. He would've much rather let her know right there instead of in front of everyone to save her the hurt she was going to feel within the next few moments.

     Lilith gave him a sideways glance before turning around and walking back to the Cullens' home with the coven of witches behind her in tow. She absolutely worried for what she was about to hear and she felt as if she wasn't exactly going to like it especially after his note that explicitly hinted that he would be coming with bad news.

     And her parents in shackles didn't exactly portray a good picture either.

     She lead them into the family area of the home where the rest of the Cullens sat, all watching the doorway after hearing her heading towards their way expectantly, "We have guests." Lilith announced nonchalantly, trying to seem level headed when in reality she was freaking out on the inside.

     Carlisle bowed his head when he noticed Ryker enter the room with Lilith's parents but his smile dropped slightly when he noticed the shackles and the other coven members glaring directly at the Bailey parents; making sure to watch their every move.

     Sierra's eyes darted towards Diana that was still securely placed in Edward's lap, and they widened, "Is that her?" She questioned as she looked at her granddaughter, going to take a step towards her but Ryker pulled her back using the chains.

     "Don't you dare go near her." He growled, causing Lilith's eyebrows to crease.

     "What is going on?" Lilith questioned, subconsciously making her way over towards Edward and Diana, standing in front of her protectively after she had just watched the encounter between her mother and Ryker.

     "Well, before you came and found us we were about to hand out our punishment." Ryker answered her stiffly and Lilith looked confused.

     "Punishment? What punishment?" She questioned again, "I'm not following." The only connection in her mind that she could think of as to why Ryker was about to punish her parents was for running and hiding her from him for all of those years.

     "For conspiracy to commit treason." He answered her once more and her eyes widened. She didn't think that they had went that far, "And for that, they are to be stripped of their magic and are forbidden to be anywhere near you or any other witch coven."

     Magic was everything to her parents, they helped people with it and they wouldn't be able to be who they were. Even if she was mad at them, she could agree that this was a harsh punishment. No one deserved to have their magic taken away. The flashbacks from how much pain she was in without her magic came across her mind and all she could see was her parents in the same predicament, "What? No!" Lilith protested when her parents said nothing, only bowing their heads in shame, "Can't we come to some sort of agreement—"

     "This is the agreement!" Fury blazed in the high priest's eyes for her argument. He had never yelled at her like that before and the fact that he did meant that they really must of done, "I could have them killed for what they did. They betrayed me and they betrayed you, they don't deserve your forgiveness. And you won't want it once you find out what they did."

     Her thoughts were racing with the possibilities of what they could of done. It must of been something so incredibly horrific to get Ryker so riled up the way he did.

     "Tell them." The woman standing behind Ryker urged, lighting shoving her parents to speak up, "She deserves to know of your treachery."

     "What did you do?" Lilith asked her parents in a quiet voice, almost as if she was terrified to ask. Things were definitely not looking good and her mind had definitely made the connection that she was definitely not going to like what she was about to hear as she felt like she was drowning in the emotions of her parents' guilt.

     Oliver and Sierra remained silent and the woman scowled, "Cowards." She muttered at them before looking at the blonde newborn, "They bargained your daughter's life in order to gain protection against the high priest. That's why they were back in Forks."

     The air went tense as Lilith's eyes narrowed and her fists clenched, holding back every ounce of control that she could to stop her from immediately attacking her parents. She could feel the anger radiating off of everyone in the room as it directed itself at the Bailey parents. "And to make it all worse, because you transferred your power to Diana through blood, they planned to use that to take me down." Ryker added.

     Lilith could feel herself shaking. It was indeed just getting better and better as her parents' true colours were showing with every new piece of information that was being aired out, "Take Diana out of the room." Was all Lilith could respond with. She didn't want her parents anywhere near her daughter. She didn't want them to look at her, or be able to hear her or smell her. She wanted her to be as far away from them as possible.

     Rosalie instantly stood and grabbed her niece out of Edward's arms before walking out of the room; not forgetting to shoot the Bailey witches the deadliest glare she could muster up before disappearing out of their sight.

     "We're sorry, monkey." Oliver whispered and that was when Lilith instantly snapped, moving to lunge at them when Edward stopped her; grabbing her by the waist and holding her back.

     "You have no right!" She snarled, "You tried to bargain my daughter's life! My daughter! Do you have no remorse? No sympathy?"

     "Lilith, stop, they'll get what's coming to them." Edward told her, trying to remain the calm one in the situation even through he was one moment away from tearing their heads off for even trying to take his daughter away from them.

     "Oh, they'll get it alright." Lilith let out a sadistic laugh as she struggled against Edward's grip, "From me. Now let me go!"

     "Jasper!" Edward yelled out to his brother in hopes of him being able to use his gift to calm his wife down so they could have a civilised conversation, maybe even to use it on himself as well as he was just about to lose control himself.

     "Don't you dare, Jasper!" Lilith snapped at him, fury blazed in her eyes before finally getting out of Edward's grip and making her way towards her parents but only to be stopped by everyone before she could get near them.

     "Let me through." She spat at Ryker, who stood in front of her.

"You'll regret this if you do it." He warned her.

     "They tried to use my child and her power that she doesn't even have yet against you like they did to me as if she was some sacrificial lamb—they deserve this and a lot more." She said with dark eyes, "Now. Let. Me. Through."

     "Believe me, they'll get what they deserve. Just not this way." He assured her and she looked over at her parents once more, contemplating her options. With her newfound strength and speed she could possibly push through everyone and get it over and done with before they were even able to blink. But, she would have some trouble with Alice being able to see the future of her decisions, Edward hearing her thoughts and the coven of witches getting in the way. She could see every path she took if she tried to get to her parents that she would be stopped, but she wouldn't stop plotting in her mind until she found the option that would get her to her parents and get her revenge, "Go be with your daughter, Lilith." Ryker advised her, "We'll take care of it. I promise."

     Lilith let out a growl knowing her chances were extremely low of getting what she wanted in that moment no matter how much she was in denial about it. She could see the disgust in both Sierra and Oliver's eyes as they watched the interaction between Ryker and Lilith. They were disgusted by the fact that she was listening to him and how he was apparently caring for her. But, it was ultimately their fault. They had broken her trust so many times that she couldn't turn to them when in need, and it eventually lead her to Ryker because he was the only one that would tell her the truth. He actually helped her when she was needing it, while her parents only ever did it when it was convenient to them and would help them out as well.

     "You're dead to me. Both of you." She muttered before ripping her limbs out of everyone's grip and turning around, following after the scent of Rosalie and Diana, not even a bit phased by the sounds of her parents' screams as the witches took away their magic.

     They deserved it after all. Everything they had ever been through and all of the memories they created together leading up to that moment all felt like an act. It didn't even feel like they truly loved her for who she was. They only ever loved her because of what she could do.

   She was only ever a pawn in their game to take down the high priest and his 'dictatorship' over the witch community—and if it wasn't her, then it was apparently going to be her daughter. All of the fear they implemented in her against Ryker was to build a hatred towards him so when she was at her most powerful and when she was ready, she would be able to take him down like they had always wanted.

     The way they had reacted when she lost her magic when Edward left made a lot more sense since they cared more about that fact than if she was doing okay emotionally, and why they were so against her becoming a vampire instead of a dark witch. It also made sense to how they warmed up to the idea of Lilith having a child so quickly even though it was killing her; because once she had that child, it would be able to finish the job that Lilith never did. They wouldn't have to worry about Edward because he would plan to die shortly after Lilith did if she didn't make it through the change or childbirth, and the Cullens would most likely be too distraught after losing so many members of the family to try to look after the child since the wolves would've attacked them all and they would've let them; making the Bailey parents the perfect candidates to step up and take responsibility for her.

     Lilith made her way home to see Rosalie and Diana through the window. She looked peaceful and all of her stressful emotions washed away just by looking at her. She was safe and Lilith was going to make sure it stayed that way. And one thing was for sure; if she saw her parents again—blood or not—she was going to kill them. Because it was one thing to betray her, but, it was considered a whole entire level of betrayal to try and come after her daughter.

     And Lilith refused to let anything happen to her. And if anyone tried to harm Diana, it would have to be over her undead body.