“No, my love. I suppose I’m not.” Lucifer arched a brow at Lilith. “Give me five minutes to say goodbye, and I will be there.”
“Thank you, oh great one.” The sarcasm she tried to lace into her words didn’t sound quite as good through the filter of Percival, but Lucifer smirked, so the message was received.
Lilith released control of her familiar—she’d be sure to give him extra raisins in his trail mix tonight—and returned her consciousness to her own body. Rising to her feet, she paced to the front door, though why she bothered, she wasn’t sure. Lucifer appeared in her living room a minute later, bypassing the formality of knocking. Not that Lilith could complain. She’d done the same thing to him through Percival.
“Thank you for coming.” She held his gaze, waiting to be berated for barging in on his quiet time with Clara, but Percival flew in through the window and perched on the back of the couch to caw at Lucifer.
“Percy.” Lucifer ran the backs of his fingers over the crow’s feathers. “I’m glad to see you’ve returned to your old self, my friend.” He looked at Lilith. “Lead the way.”
“She’s in the bedroom.” She strode down the hall and tossed her hair behind her shoulder, but her fingers caught in a tangle. She nearly ripped out a lock by the roots trying to free her hand, and she bit the inside of her cheek to keep from shouting profanities at the rat’s nest she’d allowed her mane to become.
“How long has it been since you left your house?” Lucifer stopped in the doorway, crossing his arms and raking his gaze up and down her form.
She gaped at him like he was crazy. “I was just in your palace. I know you’ve only got eyes for Clara these days, but we had a conversation.”
He shook his head, clicking his tongue like a disappointed father. “Percival was in my palace. How long has it been since you left your abode?”
She shrugged a shoulder and lifted Esther from her rock. “A while. Please, you have to help her.” She shoved the snake into his arms.
Lucifer cradled her familiar, closing his eyes and stilling, focusing his magic into Esther. His mouth pinched, and he carried her back to the terrarium, returning her beneath the heat lamp and running a finger along her scales. “I can’t help her.”
She laughed, unbelieving. “What do you mean you can’t? Of course you can. You’re Lucifer Fucking Morningstar. You can do anything.”
An amused grin lifted his lips. “Thank you for the ego boost, not that I needed it. I’m afraid, however, that Esther’s condition is irreversible.”
Her stomach dropped so hard she clenched her cheeks to keep it from falling out of her butt. “Irreversible? But she’s immortal. Are you saying she’s going to be a zombie snake for the rest of eternity?”
He lifted a finger. “It’s irreversible unless…”
Lilith leaned toward him, her weight shifting so far forward she nearly toppled over. Straightening her spine, she parked her hands on her hips. “Would you care to elaborate, oh great one?”
“I created Esther to be an extension of you, the same for Percival.”
“But I can’t connect with Esther anymore. She’s lethargic, and she’s lost her color. What’s wrong with her?”
“I rather hoped you’d figure it out on your own.” Lucifer sighed. “Tell me, Lilith. Have you looked in the mirror lately?”
“I saw myself through Percival’s eyes before I sent him to your palace.” What was he getting at? Her first and best friend lay lifeless—not in the acceptable, undead way—and Luce was asking about mirrors.
“And how do you think you look?”
Sweet Persephone, tell me he’s not going there. A cramp seized her tightening jaw. “My appearance has nothing to do with Esther’s condition.”
“Doesn’t it, though?”
“No, it doesn’t. Do you hear yourself?” Leave it to a man to blame a dire situation on a woman’s unkempt hair. Typical.
“You’re not taking care of yourself, Lilith, and until you do, I’m afraid Esther will remain a ‘zombie snake.’” He made air quotes before turning on his heel and striding out of the bedroom.
Lilith followed him down the hall. “I don’t understand.”
“She feels what you feel, and you, dear Queen of the Night, are a miserable, lonely wretch.”
“How dare you?” She crossed her arms, and though she was tempted to stamp her foot, she refrained. Lilith was not miserable or lonely. She had plenty of friends. Hell, she was thinking about meeting Eve for drinks this afternoon. So what if she hadn’t felt like leaving her house in the past week or three. She had enough blood in the fridge and pet food in the pantry. She had her books, TV, and her phone. It wasn’t her fault the modern world made going outside utterly unnecessary.
“I call it as I see it.” Lucifer gave her a sympathetic look. “You need help, Lil.”
“I don’t…” She scoffed. “If Esther were sick because of me, then Percival would be too. They’re both connected to me.”
