Queen's Journey (Lilith's Shadow Book 5)

by Benjamin Medrano

  “Ah, that would explain it,” Lilith replied, relaxing slightly as she stepped into the laboratory and looked around. “You have a very nice lab.”

  “Thank you! I spent a lot of time designing it to be just the way I wanted… then I built it, and realized how many ways I could’ve improved it,” Decarin said, chuckling under his breath. “Ah, the price of being an inventor. You’re never done.”

  Lilith laughed in response as amusement managed to make it through her inner apathy, and she nodded. “I think I understand. I’ve come up with several ideas for improving the armor that’s being built, but I’ve resisted the urge to constantly update Whispering Darkness. Instead, I’ve been creating files with how it could be improved and will just share them for new models. He’s doing the expensive part of things, after all. Anyway… why don’t you show me how these are put together?”

  “Sure thing!” Decarin agreed, moving over to the table and hit a key. An instant later a diagram of a compact communicator sprang to life above the table, and he started explaining. “So here we’ve got the outer casing and earbud, which is mostly self-contained, but you’ll have to…”

  The explanation didn’t take long, but Lilith listened closely, taking mental notes of all of the points that seemed most difficult. When he finished, they both sat down and got to work putting the devices together. Decarin was a lot more efficient than Lilith was, but that was to be expected, if he’d designed them to begin with. Still, there were plenty of connections to make, so each took a few minutes of work, and Lilith did a few internal calculations. Assuming that each of them took five minutes, at twelve an hour… for two hundred comm units, it’d take one person over sixteen hours to finish all of them, and that was if they could keep going constantly without any breaks. That explained a large part of why Decarin had wanted help, she realized. Then she snorted in amusement.

  “Hm?” Decarin murmured, glancing up from his work.

  “It’s too bad Spark can’t help with this, as fast as she is,” Lilith replied, smiling at him as she slid a last connector into place.

  “Heh, you’re right about that. Sadly, she’s about as quick as I am when she’s got her electricity suppressed, and if she doesn’t have the device on, well… I’d rather not have to build ten times as many components, you know?” Decarin said, grinning. “Besides, someone has to be available for when there’s an incident. She’s showing the flag, as it were, so that people aren’t thinking we’re laying down on the job with so many other heroes in the city.”

  “Ah, I didn’t know that. I thought she was that fast with or without the electricity,” Lilith said, a little surprised by the revelation.

  “Nope. Every super has their own quirks, much like you can’t turn off your ability to draw attention,” Decarin replied easily, putting together the last pieces of his current comm. “Most of us don’t draw attention to them, of course, but Spark’s are reasonably well-known. I’m surprised you didn’t notice, honestly.”

  “She wasn’t trying to race around when she visited,” Lilith replied, shrugging as she focused on her work.

  Decarin nodded, then settled into a companionable silence as they worked on assembling the comm units together.

  After almost an hour had passed, and Lilith’s fingers were starting to hurt a little, the door behind her hissed open, and she paused, glancing back just in time to see Archon in full armor, a sword at her side, and with a distinctly unimpressed look on her face as she looked at Lilith, then at Decarin, her eyes and hair like flames moving in an unseen breeze.

  “You invited her over for this?” Archon asked skeptically, looking at Decarin, and the man flushed.

  “I needed help, and she’s good enough to not break anything,” he protested.

  “Besides, the distraction is welcome,” Lilith said, smiling nervously as she replied. “Hello, Archon. Are you doing well?”

  “I’m annoyed by politics, but otherwise fine,” the angelic woman replied, then beckoned Lilith closer. “Come with me, we need to speak.”

  Lilith opened her mouth to protest, but the heroine simply turned away to leave, and Lilith looked at Decarin. The man sighed heavily.

  “Go with her. She must have something to say in private,” he said, his voice resigned. “I’ll see how much I can get done in the meantime.”

  “I’ll be back as soon as I can,” Lilith told him, standing up while making a note of where she’d been with the device she’d been assembling, then moved to follow Archon.

  She had to admit, she was just a little nervous about being alone with the heroine.

  Chapter 13

  Friday, August 22nd, 2031

  Guardian Compound, Paragon City

  Lilith had never been to the upper floors of the Guardian Compound before, so everything she encountered was new. She found herself a little surprised by just how spacious the elevator was, at least until she looked over at Archon and realized how much space she took up with her wings. It explained so much, but Lilith didn’t speak, wondering why Archon wanted to talk to her.

  The elevator chimed, then the doors slid open quietly, revealing a hallway that was significantly different than the lower floors. Instead of the gleaming, relatively sterile hallways, this one looked… lived in. There was carpet on the floors, while sconces shed warm yellow light. On one wall Lilith saw a framed picture of the team standing together, all but Shade showing smiles, which only made sense with how his face was covered, and in the background she could see the Guardian Compound under construction. That surprised Lilith a little, and as she walked down the hall, she saw a large door to the right with Archon’s name on it, opposite a door with Decarin’s name. Past them were two more doors for Shade and Spark, and Lilith realized after a few seconds that this must be the team’s living quarters, though she’d heard that Shade lived elsewhere.

  Archon passed the first set of doors, and Lilith considered, then finally spoke up, asking softly, a trace of nervousness coursing through her. “Are you upset with me?”

  The heroine paused for an instant before continuing. When she spoke, her voice was filled with a mixture of amusement and regret. “Upset with you? No, of course not. I am… annoyed, but that isn’t your fault.”

  “Oh, good,” Lilith replied, relief washing away much of her concerns. She’d been half-afraid that she was about to get kicked out of the building. “I was just… worried. It’s been a difficult week for me.”

  “More for you than for me. I should have considered that, but—” Archon cut herself off abruptly, opening a door at the end of the hall, which revealed a room which was almost like a balcony, Lilith thought. The main difference was that it was enclosed with one-way glass and had a roof, giving a commanding view of the city and had several chairs and sofas around the room. A table near one chair had several books and magazines sitting on it, which gave a lived-in appearance. Once Lilith was through the door, Archon continued. “My apologies, Daemonia always strains my patience.”

  “I… may I ask why? I don’t know much about Daemonia, other than the fact she’s from Los Angeles and is class S,” Lilith said, though she internally admitted she had admired some pictures of the woman. She looked a lot like a demoness, and flaunted her figure, which some people claimed made her look like a villain.

  “Daemonia is flirtatious, forward, and has virtually no understanding of the concept of personal space,” Archon replied, growling under her breath before continuing. “She also thinks that ‘having fun with an angel’ is a lovely idea, when I’ve been very, very blunt about not being an angel. Spending two hours in a meeting with her should qualify as torture.”

  “I… had no idea. I mean, I heard about the incident where the news cut to a reporter, to find Daemonia making out with him, but… well, I didn’t expect that,” Lilith replied, heat rising in her cheeks. “You have my sympathies.”

  “It’s just aggravating. I could have chosen not to attend the meeting, but then she’d have tried to ride roughshod ov
er everyone else,” Archon replied with a grimace, walking over to a backless bench near the window. “And no matter what I may think of her manners, Daemonia is one of the more powerful heroines I know of, and despite her… eccentricities, I think her heart is in the right place. I just wish she’d stop trying to seduce me.”

  “I think I can understand that,” Lilith replied, finding herself growing a little amused by Archon’s attitude despite herself. She really shouldn’t find it that amusing, but the reminder that even the most powerful supers in the world had problems of their own was oddly comforting.

  Archon sat on the bench with a soft clanking of metal, but the bench didn’t creak or sag at all, which reassured Lilith enough that she was willing to sit down next to her. For a minute the other woman was quiet, which caused Lilith’s anxiety to start spiking again.

  “We spoke to the other heroes about what you told Spark,” Archon said at last, staring out at the city. “The confirmation that you met Shadowmind caused a degree of panic. No one is entirely certain what to think of it, when there’s confirmation that the body from SuperMax was hers. It brings all sorts of worries and panic to the surface, especially since a few of them know a bit of what’s going on with Morgan and Warden. A lot of them don’t trust you. They think you might be in league with her, or even that there’s some huge conspiracy going on, using Shadowmind as a threat.”

  “Oh,” Lilith said, her mood sinking a little, and her shoulders slumped. “I thought… well, I suppose it isn’t surprising. A lot of people don’t trust me, and after what happened with Gina and Rachel… how can I blame them? Amber has done terrible, horrid things, and I can’t understand why. Why is she so cruel?”

  “I don’t know,” Archon replied, looking at Lilith solemnly. “However, you’d best keep a close eye out, Lilith. I don’t think any heroes are as panicked as Sky Defender was when he tried to kill you, but you’re far more vulnerable now, especially when you leave your house. I’ve heard that it’s a fortress, but a fortress does no good if you’re not in it.”

  “Very true. There are also plenty of villains who want to capture me, so that’s a problem as well,” Lilith agreed, smiling sadly. “Still… I can’t just hide there. I’ve been trapped in tiny rooms for too much of my life as it is, and even if I don’t have armor, I refuse to hide. I’ve heard that’s a sign of guilt, anyway.”

  Archon laughed, inclining her head slightly. For a few more seconds they just sat there, as Lilith’s thoughts began to drift. She’d never imagined sitting on a bench next to one of the most powerful heroines in the world, yet here she was. She imagined that Osmar would have all sorts of questions for Archon, yet for the most part, Lilith didn’t. She had some questions, but… perhaps it was best to simply ask them.

  “Do you… no, that’s the wrong way to phrase it,” Lilith corrected herself, taking a deep breath, then spoke more firmly. “You said that they don’t trust me. Are you among them?”

  Archon chuckled, shaking her head once, then looked at Lilith with a slight smile. “No, of course not.”

  “May I ask why? I mean… I don’t have practically anything to back up what I’ve told Spark,” Lilith said, gesturing at the city. “It could be that I’ve had my mind influenced by Amber, too. It’s a thought that’s run through my head a few times, and it isn’t like I can check.”

  “Ah, but that’s where you’re wrong. I think I’m a fairly good judge of character, and you are either a master of deception or aren’t very good at hiding things. You’ve put yourself at risk plenty of times to save others, despite being hunted by heroes, and you seem honestly distraught about what happened with Morgan and Warden. It makes me think better of you,” Archon said, and her lips quirked into a smile. “As for Amber manipulating your thoughts… that’s a subject we heard a little about recently, as it happens. Mithtek told us about you.”

  “Mith-who?” Lilith asked in confusion.

  “Oh, you haven’t been kept up to date on them?” Archon asked, her eyebrows rising. “Mithtek is the alien which you and Spark freed from the one parasite at Hill. They regained consciousness about three weeks ago, and the military is finally starting to share a little information.”

  “Oh! No, I hadn’t heard anything about them,” Lilith replied, her eyes widening a little, though she was relieved that the alien had survived. Then she frowned. “I wish I’d known that they were awake. I thought they might die, for as long as they were unconscious.”

  “You aren’t the only one. And the military is… well, they are difficult at the best of times,” Archon said, shaking her head. “There’s a lot of information that has been shared, but one of the things Mithtek mentioned was your mind. From what it said, when Okris, that’s the parasite that controlled Mithtek, tried to reach into your mind, it was like reaching into a plasma furnace. Not only did the attack do nothing, it injured Okris, weakening its psychic energy enough that Mithtek could rebel at all. Mithtek seemed to consider your mind a psychic fortress much like your manor, so I sincerely doubt Amber has been able to do anything to you.”

  “Wait, really?” Lilith asked, her eyebrows shooting upward at the explanation in shock. “But… I didn’t realize that!”

  “That’s the thing about psychic defenses. Most of the time, you don’t have a clue how powerful yours are even when they’re tested,” Archon replied, an amused smile on her face. “Unless your defenses are buckling, that is… which only lends credence to Mithtek’s explanation. If you didn’t even notice the alien attacking your mind, you’ve got incredible psychic resilience.”

  “Huh. I never would’ve guessed,” Lilith murmured, her thoughts whirring as she considered the new information. It certainly improved her mood, since it meant that Amber probably wouldn’t be able to hurt her too badly. At least not directly.

  “Either way, it is,” Archon said, sitting up again as she considered, then added, “Another reason I don’t feel that that you’re lying or a threat is that you remind me of myself, after a fashion.”

  “What?” Lilith asked, blinking as she looked at Archon, then at herself. “I… well, maybe we’re about the same height, but beyond that… I think you’re pretty different.”

  Archon laughed, smiling broadly as she looked at Lilith. It sent a little warmth through Lilith, as it wasn’t mocking laughter, and there was a sincerity in Archon’s smile that felt nice… though a part of Lilith tried to shy away from that feeling.

  “Wrong type of reminding, Lilith,” Archon corrected gently. “I know what it’s like for people to believe that you’re something other than you are. For me, it was religious. You don’t know how suffocating it was when different people tried to claim I was a sign from God, and when some of them started trying to kill one another over me… it was one of the more horrible experiences I’ve encountered in life. It’s why I’ve sworn to avoid religion, and avoid Christian faiths as much as I possibly can. Perhaps it’s different from your own experiences, where people associate you with Shadowmind, but it’s close enough for me. I want to help you where I can.”

  “Oh,” Lilith replied, blushing as she looked away, clearing her throat and suddenly feeling terribly awkward, and she internally stamped on the bit of hope that had been squirming free, despite how unlikely the idea was. She hesitated, then admitted, “I… can understand that, I think. The problem is that I’m… young, I guess. I mean, I’ve met a few deities, but I really don’t understand the appeal of religion, personally. Don’t get me wrong, Ra seemed like he was nice enough, but the idea of worship is something that I’m a little… hazy on?”

  Archon laughed again, standing up abruptly, and as she did so, she smiled widely. “I see that we’re going to get along just fine, Lilith. I don’t entirely understand it myself, though the bits of reading I’ve done since hearing about your experience indicate that maybe some of the other deities are a bit more tolerable to me than what I grew up with. Not that I’ve had a lot of time to look at them, with the way that Ivanova’s visit
has affected the city.”

  “True enough,” Lilith said, standing up herself. She considered for a moment, then asked. “I… is this what you wanted to talk to me about?”

  “Mostly, yes. I wanted to ensure that you knew that, even if things get… interesting over the next week, that you have people that support you. You lost people that are important to you very suddenly, and then Shadowmind showed her true colors at last. That can’t be easy for you, and if others choose to target you… you’re vulnerable right now, even if you don’t realize it,” Archon said, and smiled slightly as she added. “Besides, I needed to make certain that Dec didn’t get used to the idea of free labor.”

  Lilith chuckled, shrugging as she replied. “Well, thank you. I do appreciate it, and… he asked, and I didn’t see any reason not to help. I like being able to help with this sort of thing.”

  “Yes, but I’ve heard a little bit more about your situation. You aren’t getting paid anything by sponsors.” Archon replied sharply. “You’d think that at least a few of the clothing companies would have approached you by this point, since your style is rather distinct.”

  “Mm, true. But I have been screening my email and calls pretty heavily…” Lilith murmured, turning to the door, then paused as Archon spoke.

  “Ah, one moment. I did have one other question,” Archon said, studying Lilith carefully.

  “What’s that?” Lilith asked.

  “Are you and Spark dating?” Archon asked, and it felt like Lilith’s heart had abruptly leapt up in her chest to lodge somewhere in her throat.

  “Um… no? I mean, she asked me if I’d like to go out, but I didn’t really answer, I don’t think,” Lilith stammered, a little shocked by the question. “I… is there a particular reason you’re asking?”

  “Of course there is,” Archon said, smiling a little more, and clapped a hand onto Lilith’s shoulder, which had more strength to it than Lilith had been expecting, as it almost staggered her. Then, as Lilith was trying to recover, the woman leaned over and laid a gentle kiss on Lilith’s cheek. Then she was moving away as she added, “Maybe Daemonia is having a corrupting influence after all… I need a shower.”