“Clarissa,” Lilith said, her voice quiet. “Can you tell me about my mother?”
“I had almost thought you’d forgotten about that,” Clarissa said after several seconds of surprise.
Lilith shook her head. “There’s just been too many other things to think about.”
“I understand. Very well, I don’t plan on having Heather leave for another few hours, so I believe I can tell you a bit about your mother.” Clarissa paused to gather her thoughts. Then she began. “Nevan was a very vivacious woman. Very lively. She was one of the few succubi who absolutely hated it in the enclave. Ever since we were little, she would sneak out to go on some hair-brained adventure, and she would often drag me along with her. We would always get caught, and the elders would scold us harshly.”
Clarissa sat back, her hands going behind her, palms pushing down on the bed. She looked up at the ceiling but did not see it. Instead, images flashed before her eyes. Visions that showed a time long passed. Nostalgia rushed through her, surging like an inescapable wave. She really did miss her best friend.
“This didn’t stop Nevan, though, and her adventurous spirit soon turned into a rebellious attitude. I remember when we were in our teens, she would always sneak out, and we wouldn’t find her for days. No one knew what she did during that time, not even me. As we got older, the elders tried to convince her to calm down, but her attitude refused to change.”
“Who are the elders?” asked Lilith.
“They were the original ruling succubi of the enclave,” Clarissa answered. “They’re gone now, dead. Most died shortly after their mates did. Very few succubi choose to remain living after the death of their mate. I think I am one of the few who has decided to remain.”
Clarissa thought of her current mate, a man whose wife had died several years ago and left him with two daughters. They didn’t see each other often. Duties kept them apart, but at least six or seven times a year they would get together. For one as old as her, that was enough to give her the energy required to live.
“By that point in time, Nevan and I had a falling out. I had become the leader of the enclave, doing what was best for the whole, to ensure that everyone was safe. I kept telling her that she couldn’t go out anymore, kept scolding her, punishing her.” Clarissa’s smile was self-depreciating as she looked at Lilith. “I think your mother saw that as a personal betrayal. She refused to talk to me after that.”
Clarissa kept her face composed, steady and calm, but despite her serene expression, her heart ached.
“It was about nineteen years ago that Nevan decided to leave the enclave for good. We all knew she had been sneaking out at night, even if most of us could never catch her. I found out several months later that she had found a mate when we discovered that she was pregnant. She refused to tell me who, saying it was none of my business and that she wanted to keep his identity a secret, though I do not know why. About a week or so after your birth, she left, with no word and no warning. One night, she was there, and the next morning, Nevan and all her belongings were gone. I never saw her again.”
Lilith was silent for a moment. Clarissa watched her, pleased to see a bit of color return to her face, a bit of life flicker behind her eyes. Sky blue irises looked at her from behind shimmering curtains of silken hair.
“Thank you for telling me about my birth mother. I know it couldn’t have been easy,” Lilith said softly.
“You’re welcome.” Clarissa stood up. “Now then, you should go take a shower and get ready. I’m going to speak with Heather and have her meet you at the entrance to the southern exit.”
As Lilith stood up and made her way into the restroom, Clarissa took her leave and made her way down to the training hall. She found Heather there. The woman was sparring against Christian. Clarissa stood back for a moment, studying the young man as he battled against her best warrior.
Christian’s two blades sang shrill cries as he hacked away at the woman’s twin daggers, pounding against the steel blades with harsh, staggering blows. Sparks flew and steel ground together, the blades emitting a loud, pained squeal.
Unlike the first time she had seen him fight, there was no grace to Christian’s movements. That unusual ability to predict an opponent’s attack and respond with swift surety and finesse was gone. Beastly staggers and savage swings were all that remained of the once awe-inspiring style of combat.
As the fight continued, Heather disarmed Christian of one of his swords, the black one, by catching its crossguard with her blade and using the leverage to yank it from his grip. The sword landed several feet back. Christian was undeterred and merely switched to a one-handed style.
He was summarily disarmed again when Heather blocked his downward slash by crossing both blades over her head, allowing her to take the greater swing’s force. Her knees bent, absorbing the kinetic energy. She then lashed out with a kick. The foot was planted into Christian’s stomach, causing him to stagger. It was in that moment that Heather maneuvered her blades and hit the sword out of his loosened grip.
“I think we’re done here,” Heather said, frowning. “You know, I’m pretty disappointed. Clarissa told me your style of fighting was breathtaking, but I just don’t see it.” Christian didn’t respond, causing her to shake her head in disgust before turning to Clarissa. “Something you needed, Clarissa?”
Clarissa did not let her sympathy toward Christian show as she nodded. “Our shipment should be in by now. I want you to bring them back. Lilith will be going with you.”
Christian twitched at the mention of Lilith. Heather, on the other hand, frowned. “Are you sure I should take her? I mean, she--”
“Has agreed to go with you,” Clarissa cut in. “And I think some fresh air would do her good.”
“Alright. I guess I can take the girl. I doubt we’ll run into any goblins after our last battle, so we should be fine.”
“Good. Go to the southern exit. Lilith should be waiting there.”
“Right.”
Heather exited the room, leaving Clarissa and Christian alone.
“How long do you plan on continuing to sulk?” asked Clarissa. Christian didn’t respond, instead continuing to look at the ground. He was just as lifeless and dull as Lilith had been. She shook her head. These two really were two sides of the same coin. “I’m disappointed in you, Christian. You never struck me as the type to let something like this keep you from doing the right thing, especially when the right thing involves making up with the woman you claim to love.”
“How could I possibly atone for what I’ve done?” asked Christian. He shook his head, messy black hair swaying with the movement. “You weren’t there, Clarissa. You didn’t hear the horrible things I said to her. I told Lilith that she was worthless. That all she did was get in the way.”
“I may not have been there, but I am well aware of the things you said.”
Christian hadn’t known it at the time, but all the succubus he’d been fighting alongside had arrived in time to hear him say those words. A lot of the respect the women at this enclave had for him because of his status as Lilith’s mate had evaporated due to word spreading. She wondered if he was even aware of the glares he received when he walked around these days.
“Right now, your inaction is hurting Lilith. She’s wasting away because of you.” The words were not harsh. They were stated more as a fact, but Christian flinched all the same. “And if you are not man enough to apologize for what you’ve done, then perhaps Lilith is better off without you.”
Not really feeling the desire to remain in Christian’s presence any longer, Clarissa turned around and left the way she came. While she did not dislike him for what he had done and even understood his feelings (she was older than the others and understood a thing or two about relationships that none of the love-driven succubi of her enclave were able to comprehend) that did not mean she approved of what he was doing, to both him and Lilith. Of course, she didn’t approve of what Lilith was doing either.
She hoped, for both of their sakes, that Christian made up with Lilith soon. If not, the damage that could be done to their bond might very well become irrevocably destroyed, and the one who would suffer the most would be Lilith.
***
Lilith sat in the passenger seat of a large, forest green pick-up truck. They were not driving down any dirt road, or even a trail. The enclave did not have a trail leading to it. This was done to help ensure the location of the succubus safe haven remained a secret. Passing by the window was all kinds of greenery, trees and plants and shrubs, a limited variety of flora that could be found within Yellowstone National Park.
Sitting in the driver’s seat, her mouth set in a frown, was Heather. She was looking out of the corner of her right eye to peer at Lilith, who was doing her best to ignore the woman. There was a lot on her mind that she needed to think about.
As had been the case in recent days, her mind was stuck on the last conversation she and Christian had, of the argument that even now kept them apart. Even now, just thinking about the things that had been said caused white-hot lances of an almost physical pain to stab her heart.
Some part of Lilith was aware that Christian had only been acting out in fear. She understood, logically, the words he’d said had been due to his fear of losing her. Even so, the words remained embedded in her mind and heart. They kept her from seeking him out despite how exhausted she was from not being regularly intimate with him.
“Still hung up on that argument you and your boyfriend had?”
Lilith blinked, then looked over at Heather. “I’m sorry. Did you say something?”
“I asked if you’re still hung up on that argument you and Sir Sulks-a-Lot had?” Lilith hesitated, unsure how to respond the woman’s blunt words. Heather sighed. “Look, I understand that you two got into a fight, and I know it was pretty bad.” Of course she would, Lilith thought. She had been there when the altercation between her and Christian took place. “But you two need to just get the fuck over it.”
Lilith had trouble picking her jaw up from the seat, she was so shocked. “W-what?”
“People argue, okay? Couples argue. It’s a part of fucking life. You’re never going to have a perfect relationship where arguing is something that never happens. You’re just not. And for you two to sit around, sulking like it’s the end of the fucking world... God, that just pisses me off.”
“I-I’m sorry,” Lilith stuttered. “I didn’t mean to upset you or anything. I―”
“I’m not upset at you, or even at Christian. I’m pissed that neither of you are taking any steps to fix your issues. You sit in your room all day, acting depressed, like the world’s coming to an end because you got into a single argument with your mate. And don’t even get me started on Christian. That prick’s been acting like one of those bitchy little girls from an angsty vampire novel. All he does is mope. You two need to seriously get your acts together.”
“But what should I do?” asked Lilith. It wasn’t like she wanted things to remain as they were. She hated not spending time with Christian, not waking up to him by her side, and yes, she missed having sex with him, but she wasn’t sure how to fix things. She didn’t know how to make things right again.
Heather rolled her eyes. “Are you two really that stupid?” Lilith’s eyes widened. “It’s not rocket science, girl. Just get over yourself and apologize.” She blinked. Could it really be that easy? Just walk up to him and apologize? Would that really make everything better? “Then go to your bedroom and have hot, raunchy, and incredibly passionate make up sex.”
Lilith flushed at Heather’s last idea. It had appeal, to be sure, but she had never heard anyone speak of sex so bluntly before.
She turned her attention elsewhere, back to the problem at hand and the solution Heather offered. Maybe she should start off with an apology. Lilith had her doubts. An apology couldn’t make up for everything that had happened between them, could it? Probably not. But at least it was a start. She could tell him that she was sorry for rushing into a dangerous situation without thinking. Maybe Christian would even apologize for shouting at her and saying those harsh words. At the very least, it would get them talking to each other again.
“Maybe I’ll do that,” Lilith said to Heather. “Thank you.”
“Yeah, sure.” Heather shrugged. “Just make sure it’s done soon. I’m getting sick of looking at that bastard’s mopey face.”
Lilith giggled but didn’t say anything. The rest of the trip was made in silence.
***
Grant Village Lodge wasn’t a single building, but rather, multiple buildings that dotted the landscape, placed seemingly at random, with no sense of aesthetics. Although the placement of each structure may have had something to do with the changes in elevation and the density of the ground itself. The area around Yellowstone National Park not only possessed many hills, but the make up of the ground also shifted, changing from stone to mud to dirt in an erratic manner.
The buildings themselves, while looking brand new, were made to appear like old log cabins. They sort of failed at that, however, as while the cabins did look like they were made of logs, the wood was too new, too polished, and seemed almost fake. Lilith was sure that if she went up to one and knocked on them, it would sound like knocking on plastic instead of wood.
Among the constructs was the main building, which held the lobby and various offices for those who worked there. Possessing a palatial interior with a hard wood, varnished floor and an amalgamation of wood and brick walls, it looked very modern. In the center of the sloped ceiling hung a chandelier, its thousands of gems sparkling as the light seeping in through a window on the roof coruscated off their multi-faceted surfaces. This place might not have the old and worn look they seemed to be going for. However, it was definitely a ritzy-looking place―for a lodge near a national park filled with geysers.
Heather led Lilith to the front desk, where a young woman was sitting. She looked up, her blond hair pulled into a neat bun and rimless glasses hovering over green eyes. She glared at the pair. Lilith shifted from one foot to the other at the jealous glance she was sent. Heather remained unaffected.
“Can I help you two?” she asked at last.
“I hope so. We wanted to speak with Jane Hudson. She should be expecting us.”
“Hold on just one moment.” The hostess picked up a nearby phone, put it to her ear, and pressed a button. “Ms. Hudson, you have two people here to see you. They say they have an appointment.” A pause. “Yes, they’re both women. Yes. I see. Very well.” She hung the phone up and looked at the two succubi again. “If you’ll wait right here, she’ll come out in just a minute.”
“Thank you.”
While they waited for Jane Hudson to meet with them, the doors to the lodge opened and in walked four people; two men and two women. One them, the one in the lead, walked into the lobby with confident strides, her long, midnight black hair trailing behind her. Following in her wake was a man, golden hair bouncing with each step and blue eyes crinkling from the mile-wide smile on his face. The other two looked even more out of sync. One was a massive bear of a man, while the other was a petite woman with breasts almost the same size as her head.
“Are you sure Christian is somewhere around here?” asked the woman, scowling at the man with the Cheshire cat grin.
“Of course. Christian’s last known location was somewhere around Yellowstone National Park. Kokabiel told us that, didn’t he? Given what happened, I doubt he moved far. He should be somewhere in this general vicinity.”
Lilith spun around, keeping her back to the newcomers, her heart hammering in her chest. These people were looking for Christian? Why?
“Lilith?” asked a curious Heather.
“Shh!” Lilith shushed Heather, something she normally would never dream of doing. Fear had a strange way of overriding common sense.
Heather looked at her oddly for a moment, then glanced at the group that was now speaking with the hostess.
Her eyes narrowed, then she looked back at Lilith.
“Friends of yours?”
Lilith shook her head. “I’ve never met them before in my life.”
The group continued talking for maybe two minutes, their voices muffled. Lilith resisted the temptation to move closer and listen to what they were saying. She didn’t know what to do. They were after Christian, and she was almost one-hundred percent positive that it was her Christian. She wanted to know why. At the same time, it wouldn’t matter if she knew why if they found her and captured her. So she remained where she was, standing there, her back to them, waiting for the group to leave.
They did, eventually. However, before they could get too far, the man who’d been speaking, the blue-eyed one, glanced at her. Lilith felt a strange, overwhelming need to claw the man’s face out. The desire rose when he winked at her, but she restrained herself.
And then he was gone, the feeling evaporated like a puddle of water on a blazing summer day, and the squeaking of shoes on wood directed her attention to the figure walking into the lobby from a door near the front desk.
Jan Hudson was old. Lilith didn’t want to sound harsh, but there was no better way to put it. The woman was old. She had wrinkles on her wrinkles. Her hair was shock white, stringy, and appeared to be missing in some places. While she had no eyebrows, the skin sagged so low that it hovered over her eyes, blocking much of her irises from view.
Despite her startling appearance, the warm, friendly smile on her face was enough to ease even the greatest of tension. Maybe it was because she was old. Lilith believed she’d heard something once, about how babies and old people could put people at ease with just a smile.
It was something to think about anyway.
“Heather,” Ms. Hudson greeted, her smile growing. “You really haven’t changed at all since the last time I saw you. Just as pretty now as you were five years ago.”
Enclave Page 27
