Queen

"Queen," I heard him call from inside and I held the phone tightly in my hand, sliding it behind my back as I stood up and walked back into the room. "What are you doing?"

I waved a hand and glanced back at the balcony. "I just needed some air."

"What did I say about going outside?" He snapped, walking past me. I moved out of the way, still concealing the phone as I watched him. "There is a danger..." he slammed the door. There sure is. "...and you are being reckless." He locked it before pulling the blinds and turning toward me. "I can't be the only one here who cares, Queen. You need to work with me."

"Sorry," I muttered.

"I know you're mad at me." He took a step toward me and I resisted the urge to take one back. "I get it- I've been on edge. But you need to let it go...for your own safety." A shiver ran down my spine as our eyes met but his drifted down further. "What's behind your back?"

"Hm?" I blinked.

"Your arms," he said, taking another daunting step forward. "They've been behind your back since you've come inside. Show me."

"There is nothing to show."

He sighed before grabbing my arm and tugging it toward him. When his eyes landed on my empty hand he scrunched his brows before doing the same to the other arm. Haha, bitch. I acted scared, intentionally shivering against him and his eyes softened.

That was a spell Lucifer taught me a long time ago. It was probably one of the first spells I learned. I could change the location of an object, but I was out of practice and it wasn't far enough. It was out of my hands but if he just glanced at the dresser a few feet away from us, he'd see it laying there- face up and screen on.

I cleared my throat, moving my eyes back to him. "You don't trust me."

"No." He shook his head, bringing his mouth to my hands and letting out a deep breath as he closed his eyes. "It's not that. I'm sorry."

I forced a smile and gingerly pulled my hands out of his grasp. "It's okay."

He let out a relaxed breath and grabbed my waist, pulling me flush against him and I froze. "What can I do to earn your forgiveness?" He whispered, his head dipping closer to mine and his breath fanning my cheek. "Tell me."

"Erm." I cleared my throat, placing my palms against his chest as I leaned back to look up at him. "You've earned it," I said quickly. "Maybe we should go check on my mother—"

"I don't see your mother as the type of woman that needs to be checked on...in any form of the word," he said lowly. "That's a trait I wish was passed on to you, hmm—" I pushed him away, but he didn't move a muscle. "Don't do that shit again. Your mother is here so I'm behaving myself, but you've been testing my patience these past few days," he whispered harshly. "Do remember that she will be leaving- and it's up to you when. Keep giving me problems and she's gone...it'll just be me and you and I promise you that you don't want that right now. Behave."

There it is.

I knew I was wearing his patience thin, but I didn't expect him to snap so easily. It was disappointing. Especially considering how "good" of a job he had been doing...I laughed out loud at that one and he glared at me as I covered my mouth. "No, no, I'm not laughing at you." I giggled. "It's just that...no, nothing. Never mind."

"What?" He seethed.

"I could destroy you." I tilted my head up at him. "Let go."

His arms immediately dropped to his sides, shock filling his features and I let out a deep exhale. "Don't move a muscle." I could make him get on his knees and easily slit his throat, but I promised Syn one more day. I intended to keep my word so I resigned myself to crossing my arms and looking at him.

"Do you feel that?" I asked him. "That betrayal? Your mind screaming for control yet your body just...not listening. It's scary, right? Because as strong as you think you are, Syn, I'm stronger. And I seriously don't like threats."

I snapped my fingers and he stumbled backward, his eyes wide as he looked at my glowing red ones. "Your eyes. You can't..."

"I can," I whispered. "And there's a hell of a lot more where that came from."

I expected some form of anger- I was prepared for him to lash out and reveal the truths I already knew about him but instead, he laughed. His body tensed, a vein in the side of his head bulging before he let out a small breath and shook his head.

"Woo!" He exclaimed, making uneasiness crawl through my skin. A chilling grin spread across his lips as he looked at me and I buried the fear inkling its way through my bones. "It seems I truly have met my equal after all..." he said, inching toward me- the blank look in his eyes keeping my feet glued to the floor. How did he do that? It was like he just shook off my compulsion- I knew it was possible, but I'd never seen it happen so fast.

He leaned forward, his lips only inches from my ears before he spoke up. "If you continue surprising me like you are...I won't be able to control myself anymore, my love."

"You should go," I replied, standing my ground.

"I will be seeing you at dinner," he said lowly before standing up straight. "Wear something nice. I've been meaning to give you a surprise— and I think tonight's the night. I'm feeling a bit...lucky. Must be something in the air, hm?"

"Must be." I deadpanned and his smile grew.

He leaned forward, his face near my hair and I cringed, goosebumps floating across my skin as he took a long inhale. "Delicious," he said. "I may decide to eat you instead of the food." He laughed and I took a step back- only making his wide grin grow. "You—"

"Queen," I heard my mother speak and our heads turned in her direction as she gave us a bright smile. "Hi, can I borrow my daughter? Please."

"Sure thing," he said, grabbing my hair roughly and slamming a kiss on my head before walking out of the room. I cringed, wiping away at the wet spot with the back of my hand and my mother stepped inside.

She cleared her throat. "Was I interrupting something?" She asked.

"Yes," I muttered. "Thankfully."

She quietly closed the door behind her before walking toward me. "You need to be more careful around him," she told me lowly. "Those creatures are..." she shook her head, "they don't take kindly to people not falling for their manipulation. I know you don't like it, but you need to at least pretend. Your life depends on it."

I listened to her fearful tone and crossed my arms. Lilith of all people— was concerned about someone threatening my safety. It was fucking laughable. "Okay," I said, my sarcasm making her face fall. "They sound a lot like you if we're being honest— evil when you don't fall in line with their wishes. You're as much of a threat to me as that thing is and we both know I can take you."

"Listen, I've fucked up, okay?" She gave in. "And I know you'll never forgive me, but the one thing I'd never do is intentionally put you in harm's way. Not warning you about him is doing just that."

"What is he, anyway?" I asked her. "If you want me to be warned, tell me that."

She sighed and sat at the edge of the bed. "They're called feeders," she began. "Lucifer created them thousands of years ago because he was pissed at his father and me. It was his way of seeking revenge, but things didn't go according to plan."

"How not?"

I stayed quiet as she explained the story to me- each new detail rattling my core further and further. This was just my fucking luck. Not only did I have a guy with a serious obsession with me...but he was a serial killer and could change shape at will. He could've been anyone.

"Aiden was probably a real person at one point," she told me. "With a life of his own...but he became a victim- his life was stolen by whoever that is out there. I fear that he intends to do the same to Syn and this barrier is just buying him time."

"Nothing is going to happen to Syn," I said, shaking my head. "I won't let anything happen. You killed them before, right? Tell me how and I'll do it."

"That's the catch," she said and I paused. "Only I can do it...but I'm afraid I don't have my powers any longer..."

I scoffed and immediately shook my head, disappointed that I had let my guard slip for even just a moment. She was good. "You really can't stop, can you?" I asked. "I'm your daughter and after everything you've done, you have a chance to redeem yourself and you're choosing to manipulate me—"

"I'm not manipulating you."

"I'm not an idiot," I told her. "That's not how magic works. If it was a spell or ritual that helped you take them down then you can easily tell me. If you want to use this as leverage for your magic back, then do that— don't come here apologizing and acting like you want to fix things."

She raised a hand and shrugged. "If there were another option, I'd tell you—"

"Do you think I believe that Syn sent you in here for fucking emotional support?!" I snapped. "He knows I despise you. The only reason you're here now is because he thinks you can help me. He wouldn't have let you in here if he thought I'd have to give you anything- he wouldn't put me in that position."

She sighed. "These are desperate times. I'm sure we're all willing to do anything at this point...I wouldn't lie to you at a time like this, Queen. I will get you out of here, I swear. But I need to be at my strongest."

My eyes watered as I looked at her. I wanted so desperately to believe that she had changed and that she was for once putting me first, but I had grown up a bit since this entire situation began. People didn't just change- they evolved. Whether it was for the best or worse always varied, but something in me was telling me that Lilith was a different case. Her intentions were probably good, but she just had to benefit in some way.

No matter how much she claimed to love me, she couldn't just do something because I was her daughter and my life was in danger. It hurt more than I wanted it to.

I wiped my tears away and blew out an exhausted breath. "I don't believe you...at all," I whispered. "And I really wish I could because I need your help. But if that's not enough...then you've wasted your time here."

She sighed. "Fine. I lied." I shook my head at her in disappointment and she rolled her eyes. "What? I wouldn't be me if I didn't try."

I rubbed my temples tiredly. "Are you going to help me or not, Lilith?"

"I am," she said. "But I need you to at least think about returning what belongs to me...you don't know what to do with my powers, little one. I can just feel them lying dormant in you." She sighed, a longing look on her face.

"And how do I use them?" I asked her, making her dark eyes flutter back to mine as a sad smile spread across her lips.

"You give in," she said simply. "And I know you'll never do that."

"What do you mean?"

"We are creatures of dark magic, Queen. Most people live on the right side of the morality line- something good in them telling them to do the right thing and not cross that boundary," she said. "You need to cross that line- dive into that side of evil and embrace it. Sin. That's how you awaken it."

"I would think I've done enough evil," I muttered and she laughed softly.

"If you've done it and can wake up and look at yourself in the mirror— you haven't done nearly enough."

"What did you do?"

"I broke Lucifer's heart...and destroyed him," she admitted. "It broke a part of me and I fed that pain to it and let it grow. If you're able to find a balance and let it flourish without completely losing yourself, then that's amazing. But I couldn't." I looked at her as she stared off at the space between us. "You don't want it, Queen. Me offering to take it back isn't fully selfish. Do you think Syn will want you when you become like me?"

"I'll never be like you..."

"Not if you give them back." Her eyes returned to mine.

"I won't do that either."

"Then what will you do? Let it remain untouched?"

"If I have to." I shrugged. "I'm not giving them back to you and I refuse to become anything like you."

She gave me a small smile before shaking her head. "You're naive then," she said. "Magic like mine— that power I took from Lucifer demands energy. If you don't learn to control it- possess it...one day it will possess you and you will lose everything."

"Then why won't you teach me?"

"What makes you think that I know how?" She whispered. "What about me sitting here tells you that I learned? I can only tell you just how badly it takes over because it happened to me."

"Right. So you wanting them back is simply to protect me," I said flatly. "I swear you think I'm stupid— It's been years and I am fine. Give it up."

"I was alive centuries before you were born," she remarked. "You want to think I have no idea what I'm talking about? Fine, you'll learn on your own."

"I've literally almost begged for you to tell me what to do and the only option you're giving me is to turn bat shit crazy or give you back your powers," I shot back. "You can't think this is a mother knows best situation!"

"I always think that." She threw in and I shook my head.

"We're done here. I'll figure it out myself," I said, heading to the door and opening it.

"You're so dramatic, fine!" She snapped. "Fine! Just close the door."

I closed it and crossed my arms, turning back to her. "Go on."

"You need to kill someone," she said.

"That's all?"

"No." She shut her eyes for a brief second. "Someone you love and care about or someone that feels that way about you. That's how you do it. It's best when the feelings are mutual, but either way, love is the root of it all."

I remembered Syn telling me something about this a while ago- far before this shit ever happened. I, however, thought it was just him trying to manipulate me into killing Aiden.

"That doesn't really help me now," I said. "Especially considering he is the one I need to kill for that to happen. Will I even be strong enough now?"

"I don't know, but I'll tell you how I killed them. We can hope for the best when the time comes."

I don't like that.

꧁꧂

Author's Note

Mmm, y'all trust her?