A shriek pierces my head like a nail being powered through it, and I close the link while snickering. I forgot how brutal her screech can be. She’s gonna be hell when I open that link back up, but it’s worth it.
“Yep, it still works. Any other questions you’re dying to know?” I ask, twisting a curl around my finger.
Yawning, Rez snuggles into the crease between my neck and shoulder. “Only one for now. Where does this leave us?”
My heart soars as those words leave her mouth, and a smile appears as I kiss her forehead. “I don’t know what tomorrow brings or even what will happen in the next few minutes, but I would love to be a part of the little harem you’re growing here, if you’ll let me.”
A contented sigh leaves her soft lips before she makes me the happiest Door Knight ever. “I would love to have you,” she says before she drifts off to sleep, and I follow her.
ChapterSeventeen
DEAREST MOTHER
Levi
Rubbing the balm along my jaw, I wince at the slight pain that still lingers from Zeke’s punch yesterday. Looking at myself in the mirror, I’m once again reminded of Ezekiel’s words. As much as I wish I could deny it, he was right. I’ve known Lilith’s love wasn’t unconditional, but I never had a good enough reason to care, until now. It was because of my role in reporting back to my mother dearest that we’re in this situation now. Hell, if it wasn’t for me dating Emer for that short time, she wouldn’t have targeted Rez and tried to hurt her in the first place.
I need to fix this first before I deal with the essence stuff. Knowing that I have Lilith’s essence only makes her treatment of me worse, and I can’t focus on that now. Rez and the guys are more important to me than that.
Out of everyone, I’m the one that’s fucked up the most. I’m not sure if I can even make up for my mistakes, but I can at least try to keep my promise to Rez. I’ve finally tracked down Lilith and I’m not letting her get away without getting answers. I had told Dad that I was looking for Lilith because I needed to talk to her and she wasn’t answering my text. He had told me she was preoccupied in Hell with L.A.M.B and he would let me know when she was back. Turns out, she showed back up this morning.
Changing out of my school uniform, I quickly put on one of my favorite suits before sending a text asking Dad to please excuse me from my Complex Potion and Elixir Class because I needed to talk to Lilith. Not waiting for his permission, I head out towards Nova’s culture district where Elite Couture is located. Lilith tends to wear multiple hats in Purgatory—Leader of Nova, teacher at Purgatory Prep, Genetic Counselor, among others, but high fashion designer is where her passion lies. Well, unless you take in her penchant for torturing souls in Hell, nothing outshines her time down there.
Stepping into ‘Mother’s’ sanctuary, her receptionist, Gnat or Glitter—I can never keep her revolving door of assistants straight—looks up in surprise.
“Leviathan! I’m…I’m sorry, we don’t have you on the books for an appointment today,” she stammers. She glances down and flips through her book, looking for my name that’s not there. I’m sure she’s wondering if she made a mistake, terrified Lilith will send her off to a table in Hell to wait for her and become the focus of her temper.
“I understand,” I reply, continuing my advancement into the office. Protocol is to wait and be announced, but I’m determined to make the first move, and waiting would put the ball into her court.See ‘Mother,’ I’ve learned something after all.
“Wait,” Goldie or Gwyneth says at my back as I open the doors and stroll in.
I step into the room and immediately straighten my tie. It’s a power move I’ve learned over the years, and I slowly take in my surroundings. The walls are decorated with pale pink petals, white swirls, and hints of yellow stars peaking throughout the designs. I remember spending a lot of time here trying to count all the yellow that hid between the petals.
The cream marble floor spreads through the room except for the area she uses to entertain clients with drinks. Skylights pepper the ceiling, allowing sunlight to filter in throughout the day. To the left side of the room, there’s rolls of fabric floating in the air to let it breathe, just like fine wine‘Mother’would say. “The fabric cannot be made into a masterpiece if it’s not primed and able to breathe, Leviathan. This is one of my secrets to designing the best quality fabrics.”
She’s working with a small skeleton crew today. Just a few workers, taking measurements and applying last minute potions and spells to the final products of her latest fashion line.
Making my slow perusal of the room serves its purpose as everyone freezes, and some even panic. Hmm. That’s an interesting emotion to roll off half the room as they become aware of my presence.
“Leviathan, dearest. What a surprise! What brings you by the office without an appointment?” she says, shocked at my intrusion.
“Am I not allowed to come and spend some time with my mother without scheduling it first?” I counter, my voice tight. I know she wants to kick me out, but she has to keep up appearances, and supe gossip travels faster than the Withering Sulks death rate.
“Of course!” she says with a pleasant smile, but her eyes tighten slightly. I’m not stupid, she’s pissed, and I’ve just walked into the lion’s den without protection.
“If you’ll please excuse us,” she says to her assistants. They drop what they are doing and quickly walk to the door, some running out of the room with rolls of fabric still in their hands. As they get closer, the urge to calm their nerves is almost overwhelming so I try to send out calming vibes, and most instantly relax as they take longer strides to leave the room. It’s surprising since I usually have to physically touch someone to work my magic so effectively.Am I becoming stronger? Hmm. This is something I’ll have to look into.
Mother dearest is standing in the back corner where her drafting tables sit in front of the bay windows for the light she needs to sketch her designs. The black pantsuit she’s wearing is from her new Winter lineup, which is a specialty I helped with. She’s paired it with a spell to have the designs of water nymphs dance along the sleeves like they are swimming. It took me two weeks to get the spell perfected, and I never even received a thank you for it. It was just expected. She asked for it, so I did it. Why didn’t I see this sooner? I was just an obedient lap dog. Gold jewelry adorns her body where it’s appropriate, and her long burgundy hair is pulled up into an elegant French twist.
She closes her sketch pad and walks over to her sitting area, motioning for me to join her. It’s a small intimate space with a little round coffee table and a white rug sprawled under the two rose-colored leather chairs.
I walk over and take a seat, noticing the tea she has sitting out along with two used cups. Hmm. I can’t help but wonder who was visiting her during these hours. Most of her clients during the fall are nightcrawlers because of their sensitive skin. They couldn’t handle the sun’s rays and they needed specialized clothing during winter and summer months, so Autumn evening appointments were reserved for them to come in and get fitted for new clothes. I know her schedule pretty well since I spent countless summers working here before my powers started to manifest and it was time to join Purgatory Prep.
The tea has a slight sulfur and copper stench to it, and I quickly school my features to conceal that the evidence of demons still reeks in this space.
She places her hands into her lap and gives me her down to business look. “Now, what’s this all about, Leviathan? You know better than to interrupt me while I’m working. You are to call and schedule an—”
“Appointment, Mother. I know,” I interrupt, and she bristles. Her eyes flash to black and back to blue within seconds which is a rare instance for me to see. She’s close to the edge and I’m not sure if that’s a good or bad thing, but I press on anyway. “What happened during that ritual with Nerezza?” I watch as she jerks, as if I slapped her. She clears her throat, looking at her door before bringing her eyes back to me.
