She tapped a finger against her lips. What exactly could a vet do for a magical snake? Esther was no ordinary serpent; she was an immortal, created by magic. Lucifer’s magic. It was time she paid the ruler of The Underworld a visit.
Lilith sank into a blue velvet chair and folded her legs beneath her. Closing her eyes, she focused her magic on Percival and formed a connection with him instantly…the way it should have happened when she tried with Esther. Her consciousness melded with the bird’s, and she stared back at herself through his eyes.
Her long red hair, which usually flowed in silky waves, was a matted mess, and her skin, which was always pale because she was a vampire, had taken on an ashen pallor. Whatever illness was affecting Esther appeared to be affecting her too. She shuddered at the sight of herself before taking control of her crow familiar and flapping his wings.
She soared out an open window, gliding over The Underworld toward Lucifer’s palace. The Underworld used to be all fire and brimstone, which Lilith preferred—not that anyone asked her. Now it was a quaint little village with shops and cottages, and the ruler of The Underworld had done it all for Clara, his “soulmate.”
Lilith blew a puff of air through Percival’s nostrils. What a crock. Soulmates didn’t exist, and she was undead proof. If they did, she’d still be head over heels for that alphahole, Adam, but she wouldn’t touch him with a ten-foot stake…unless she could ram it through his chest.
Anyway… When Lucifer met Clara, he transformed The Underworld into what it was today so she’d be more comfortable, which wasn’t surprising. The ruler of The Underworld had a soft heart beneath all those muscles and devilish good looks. He’d taken Lilith in, after all, given her a home and enough demon blood to keep her going until she could venture topside for the delicacy of humanity. And Esther… He’d given her Esther, and now he would heal her.
She arrived at Lucifer’s palace and circled the medieval castle. Ivy climbed the silvery gray bricks, and three massive towers ascended into the sky. Finding an open window, she soared past the ruby red curtains and landed on a chandelier, cocking Percival’s head and listening for sounds of movement.
A deep belly laugh echoed from the corridor to her right, so she followed the noise and found Lucifer sitting at a table with Clara. Her long, white hair glistened in the lamplight, and whatever she’d said must’ve been hilarious because she had Lucifer in stitches. Lilith had never seen the man so…happy. Must be nice.
She landed on the table and squawked, and he finally got control of himself. With a deep inhale, he wiped a tear from his eye and took Clara’s hand. He glanced around the room, leaning back in his chair to peer through the doorway.
“Hello, Lilith. To what do I owe the pleasure…I would say of your company, but it appears you’ve sent only your familiar.”
“I need your help,” she said into his mind before vocalizing, “Caw, caw!”
He rubbed his thumb and forefinger on his chin. “I see. Well, I am a busy man.”
“You speak crow?” Chole gave him a quizzical look.
Lucifer chuckled. “Lilith is using telepathy. I hear her thoughts.”
“Now that would be a cool power to have. Hi, Lilith.”
“Hello. I’m sorry to interrupt, but I desperately need Lucifer’s help.”
“Indeed.” Lucifer waved a hand at Percival like he was trying to shoo her familiar away. “Leave us, Lilith. Clara was in the middle of a hilarious story.”
She narrowed the crow’s eyes and pecked at his hand before letting out an ear-piercing squawk. “Damn it, Luce, it’s an emergency.”
Lucifer’s eyes turned molten red, and if it were possible for steam to shoot out of his ears, it would have. In hindsight, pecking the ruler of The Underworld wasn’t in her best interest. She’d known the man for eons, and his temper was like lightning. Thankfully, Clara stepped in.
She rested her hand on his shoulder, and his anger visibly simmered, the red in his eyes dimming as he covered Clara’s hand with his. “Hear her out, honey. She flew all the way here.”
“Anything for you, my love.” He tugged Clara’s hand to his lips and kissed her fingers before focusing on Lilith. “What seems to be the problem?”
“It’s Esther. She’s sick.”
He laughed. “Nonsense. I created her.”
“She’s not moving. I barely got her to open her eyes this morning, and I can’t connect with her.”
His brow furrowed, his forehead pinching as if her words perplexed him.
“What’s wrong?” Clara asked.
“She claims her reptilian familiar is ill.”
Clara gasped. “Oh my. How can we help? Do you need me to call a vet? Do you need help getting her topside?”
Finally, someone was listening to her. “I don’t think a vet can help. I need Lucifer to look at her.”
Clara smacked him on the arm. “You’re not too busy to aide an ill animal, are you, dear?”
