Lilith's exit did not go unnoticed by Adam Benoni. He had watched her leave from his vehicle then followed her for a few miles to a hotel where she checked in. He, of course, immediately reported it to the Preacher-man as well as the absence of Eli Asher. As expected he was told to continue following her. This he did without question, reporting everything from where she ate and shopped throughout the day to her stop at the bus station that evening. Adam sent a quick text and any hope she had of escaping by bus was quickly snuffed out. Despite this, she didn't leave the station for a few hours. At times Adam wondered what she was waiting for. Another bus? Another good Samaritan who could save her as Eli had? Whatever it was, she finally gave up and after putting her suitcase in a locker at the bus station, she began to wander through the streets of downtown Springfield
Several times she stopped in front of closed store fronts and looked through the windows at the items up for sale. She read the plaques on display in the square, but for her they were only words and she barely noticed them. Finally she stopped before a club that had the sound of hot sizzling jazz beckoning to passersby through the open door. Lilith stood listening to the music a moment then went inside. Immediately Adam took out his phone and a few short thumb clicks and a photo later and the Preacher-man knew where to find her.
Lilith wouldn't have been surprised at all to know she was being watched and followed. She was starting to get used to it. A local group was playing the jazz hit 'Fever' and it only made her wish she could go back to Eli. Instead all she could do was drink and numb the sad ache inside of her. After a while she had drank enough that when she turned to look over the crowd, she found that their normal sharpness had become slightly dulled. She reached in her pocket and took out the bus ticket she had purchased and stared at it in disgust. Just a useless piece of paper. Strange how every bus was suddenly in need of maintenance. The demoness was beginning to think she was never getting out of town. Of course she always had her feet to carry her. The Preacher-man couldn't stop her from doing that.
At least Elijah was safe. That was the most important thing. Sitting there she wondered if he had seen her message or if he had tried to look for her. Part of her was hoping that he had, but part of her also wanted to think that he understood why she left and was wisely moving on. Even without the threat of Levi Sethos, there was no way they could ever be together. She was an immortal demon damned for eternity and he, well, he was meant for someone and someplace far better than she.
"I think I must be dying because I'm looking at heaven," said a man's voice next to her. She turned to see a man with too much gel in his hair smiling at her. He was wearing a burgundy leather coat that covered a shirt that was mostly unbuttoned to show off his chest. He might have been attractive were it not for his choice of attire. The way he was dressed he looked as though he should have been on a street corner selling stolen watches. Trying his best to be smooth and confident, he set a drink in front of her. Not in the mood, she slid it back to him.
"Heaven, huh? Well that's highly unlikely since God has a restraining order against me."
"Wait-what?" the guy responded in confusion. Realizing that her response might have been a bit caustic and harsh, Lilith softened. This guy was just a man looking for a good time and an evening's pleasure, just like everyone else. He had nothing to do with the turmoil in her life so taking it out on him was fruitless.
"I'm sorry. I appreciate the drink, but I'm just not in a social mood tonight," she explained and to her relief the guy accepted it and moved on leaving her to her drink.
Lilith turned back to the bar and quickly swallowed the shot in front of her then held it up and shook it at the bartender to get his attention. As he came over she reached into her pocket and pulled out a bottle of ibuprofen and poured out five of the little maroon pills into her hand then promptly swallowed them. Her hand was throbbing again and she just wanted it to stop. If the combination of painkillers and alcohol happened to dentin the pain of leaving Eli, then so much the better. Seeing this the bartender became concerned. This particular painkiller was not a narcotic, but she was still consuming more than the recommended dosage and this could still cause a number of problems such as intensifying the drugs side-effects or make her less alert and more intoxicated.
"I realize that painkillers and drinking are a bad combination, right?"
"Don't care," she answered sharply, shaking the shot glass at him again.
"I'm afraid I can't serve you any more alcohol tonight. If you want water or soda pop then I'm your guy," he answered politely but firmly.
"Do you really think you can stop me from drinking? There is more than one way for me to get alcohol. I assu . . ." Her train of thought momentarily derailed as she stumbled getting off her stool. "I assure you that any male human in this club will be glad to buy me a drink. Especially if they think it will get them a night's pleasure." The bartender didn't doubt that at all. Something about this woman almost made him want to throw away her bill and give her one on the house. If it hadn't been for the pills, he might have done it too.
For a moment his hand hovered over the bourbon bottle, tempted to pour her one against his better judgement, only to be interrupted as a man sat down next to her. Lilith looked over and smiled as she saw it was Kaleb, Eli's friend. Glad to see a friendly face she reached over and hugged him, only to feel him tense up at her embrace. Sensing she had overstepped, she sat back down and apologized. Kaleb told her not to worry, that he was just surprised by her reaction.
"So what brings you here?" she asked, her eyes looking through the dim lights of the club to see if Wynne or Eli were around. "You didn't strike me as the bar type when your friends weren't around."
"Are you kidding? I love this place. The music is good and when I get off work it's a great place to unwind."
"Sooo . . . you're alone?" Lilith's question was hardly subtle and he knew exactly what she was asking.
"Eli's not here. It's just me." His assurance seemed to relax her. "I have no idea why you left him and it's none of my business. I do know he's pretty upset." Lilith looked down at the empty shot glass in front of her. Hearing that she had hurt Elijah stung, but she reminded herself that it was the only way to protect him. "You know what, no more sad talk, no more unanswered questions . . . nothing. For the next few minutes lets just be two friends enjoying a dance together." Kaleb extended his hand to her and she smiled and gratefully took it.
"That sounds good."
The band started playing 'A Poor Man's Roses' as the two began to sway to the music. For the moment she was happy, although whether it was because she had drank too much alcohol or because she was with someone she felt safe with was hard to say. True, Kaleb was not her type, but she didn't care, there was nothing wrong with dancing with a friend and he was still a far cry from everything she was dealing with. She was about to thank him for the distraction when a hand tapped Kaleb's shoulder in order to cut in. As he stepped aside a familiar scent of cologne met her nose and her eyes suddenly fell upon the now clean-shaven face of the Preacher-man as he handed her dance partner a hundred dollar bill. She had been duped.
