Toth comes back to me with the dagger, the one that connects us; one with magic just as powerful as the weapon used to inflict her wounds.
I cut a path down the length of my forearm. The deep red of my blood flows freely as I place it over her wounds with the intention of healing her. She gasps but is no longer moving her body like she’s in unbearable pain.
“That’s good, just a little more.”
“Fuck,” she hisses as I spread my blood on all her different wounds. Toth stands by in the corner, his eyes wide in wonder. I’ve never cared enough to save another demon’s life, let alone like this. If they were dumb enough to get themselves killed, I was under the opinion that they deserved it. But with Lilith, the only person to blame is myself.
I shouldn’t have let her go in the first place. I should have been more forthright. Even if I kept her a prisoner here, at least she would have been safe and not in this condition. It’s like I’ve willed history to repeat itself. While the angels held the dagger, I created the opportunity to make this happen.
In my own efforts to shield her, and anyone else from the truth, I’ve isolated her. All the years I could have had her to myself are gone because I was afraid.
As I watch her wounds heal and the blood dry on her perfect skin, the only thought I have is how I’m not going to be afraid anymore.
I’ll chain Lilith to my bed if I have to. She’s not leaving Hell; she’s not leaving me ever again.
Her skin is fully grafted together, and the color of her skin looks healthy again, but her eyes are still closed.
“Lilith?”
“Mmm?”
“How do you feel?”
“Tired.”
“I’ll take you to bed.” She makes a noise of understanding as I take her in my arms. Toth looks on, at her in my arms longingly, but I can tell he’s not lusting for Lilith. Perhaps Toth has been longing for a companion after all of these years. I’ve never seen him with other demons, he keeps to himself.
I don’t concern myself with Toth’s feelings for long because when Lilith’s face presses against my chest, all I can concern myself with is her presence.
I run the scenarios in my head.How do I get her to stay? Is this close call enough for her to want to be here?Deep down, I know that if I force her to stay here, she will resent me. Truthfully if it came down to it, I would do it. But in reality, I would rather her care for me than hate me. But I will do whatever I have to in order to keep her safe.
“Let’s get you cleaned up.”
“Okay,” she softly agrees.
When I’m in my bathroom, I place her carefully in the tub before extending a claw to cut her clothes off from her collarbone to her waist.
“I like those,” she mumbles, staring down at my hand.
“You would.”
She blinks at me, her hair and face, tacky with blood. “This is real, right?”
“Yes, you’re really here.”
“And you’re really looking at my tits right now?”
“I’ve seen them before.”
She moves her hands to cover her chest; clearly, the healing is working quickly now that my blood is fully in her system.
“Would you rather clean yourself? Or are you going to be a good girl and let me clean you up?”
I watch as she shifts at the words good girl and suppress a smirk. She drops her hands from her chest and helps me remove the t-shirt. I don’t get the pleasure of ripping her jeans in two as she unbuttons them and rolls them down her legs.
It takes every ounce of me to not react to her body, even in this state. I clear my throat and turn on the faucet. The warm water fills the bath quickly, and I shiver when Lilith moans as the warmth laps at her beautiful flesh.
Lucky fucking water.
