Chapter 5 - Hellish eviction
The demon standing before her was far more intimidating than in her dream, she towered over Alice, her horns curling just below the roof of the bathroom. The menacing grin that revealed four pointed canines, the athletic figure hidden under tattered robes. She realised she was staring like Mark had once called her out for but Lilith in the flesh was otherworldly. Where flesh was revealed from the off white robes she could see faint orange patterns traced lightly along the crimson skin, the pattern almost resembling active magma.
"As you can see I have been busy. I have spent the time since we last spoke consolidating energy, as it turns out as your body changes further it makes it easier for me to establish and maintain the connection between us. The downside being that I was distracted when this new little addition wriggled its way out." Lilith finished nodding to the tail curled tightly around Alice's thigh in fear.
"You're. You're actually here? How?" Alice's voice trembled slightly, her eyes unblinking watching the demon before her. She noticed the smirk on Liliths face falter.
"Yes and no, my presence in this realm is linked to yours, I do not know how far I may travel away from you. It will be something to test." Lilith turned looking around the room and walked to a towel rack slowly. Alice watched with rapt attention as the towering demoness reached out slowly for a towel and as her hand grasped the towel it seemed to take far more energy than she expected for Lilith to pick it up.
"I also struggle to interact with anything in this realm, it seems. I will say from prior experience, no one else will be able to see or hear me. Maybe some types of fae but even that I doubt."
"Why are you here?" Alice asked, interrupting Liliths train of thought.
"You have nothing to fear from me. You are the last living descendant of mine, Alice. I wish to ensure that you don't end up like the rest of our family." Lilith approached Alice slowly, as if giving her a chance to flinch away should she need to. The entire time she had imagined the demoness, as they spoke, from the original dream, she had created this image of an aloof, cold and aristocratic demon. One more fitting to the original earthly tales of their kind. Their kind, when had it become so easy to see herself as such. Regardless, the Demon before her seemed more concerned than anything else.
"Turn around for me, and please open the wrapping from the gauze." Alice nodded and slowly reached for the bandages, opening its packaging. Lilith leaned over and with much effort managed to start the tap and held the tower under the water. "If this hurts at all, speak up."
Alice said nothing in response as she stood facing the mirror and saw the demon inspect the base of the tail.
"I apologise for not being able to delay this until you rested, it looks like it's already healing but this can't have been pleasant making its way out."
Alice huffed a humourless laugh. She was exhausted before Lilith had made a physical appearance and she realised she was now close to dissociating. Lilith proceeded to hold the towel to the base of the tail earning a wince from Alice and a sharp intake of breath. Lilith looking up into the mirror for consent to continue, Alice dumbly nodded her head.
Lilith proceeded to clean and bandage the base of the tail, something that clearly took a great deal of effort on her part. As she rose Alice turned back, more confused than concerned but still wanting nothing more than to go to sleep.
"You will need to clean the rest yourself I'm afraid, it may have been too much to do that as it is. Any future changes I will try to delay until I am sure your healing factor will make shorter work of healing it."
Alice sighed, rubbing a hand across her face. "What else can I actually expect?"
Lilith gave her a once over and Alice found she felt no malice or intent behind her gaze. "Wings, fangs, claws I guarantee, all of these pushing out their replacements, in what order I would not know though." Lilith seemed to furrow her brows during her inspection, something that looked too mundane on the ethereal demon. "Beyond that I would struggle to know, with there not having been a full blooded demon in your family tree since Sitri, I can't guess what traits have been picked up or lost."
"Who's Sitri?"
When Lilith's eyes met her gaze it was almost hypnotic. While there was certainly some sort of supernatural pull involved, her eyes themselves were mesmerising to watch, as if her iris was simply the window into a world of flames. The darkness surrounding them only serving to further draw you in. She could recognise once upon a time, or just two weeks ago, she would have probably been terrified of something so clearly, unholy? Yet now it seemed beautiful to her, had she already grown so numb to the variations of Demons?
"Sitri is. Was your ancestor. She fell on Earth around five hundred years ago leading my legions against a group of rogue Celestials. She was one of my eldest daughters and one I held very dear." Lilith turned from her slowly walking towards the bedroom, her head spinning, taking in everything. "She had mated while on earth, some human in France who gave birth to her half blooded child. Once I knew of it I made a vow to watch over the bloodline in her name. However I have been unable to keep that promise. The Celestials removed me from Lestia and as the blood grew more diluted I was unable to make a solid connection, having very little knowledge of their existence in this realm. That was until you found corruption. With that awakening I saw a beacon that I could follow back to this realm, and at the end I found you." Lilith had taken a seat on the edge of the bath and was sitting with the posture of a ruler, a determined glint in her eyes. "That is why I am here Alice, I aim to ensure that what has befallen all of my children, our family. Does not happen to you."
It was a lot to take in. Lilith had left to her bedroom to allow Alice to wash alone. There was a part of her screaming inside that this was someone she needed to be careful around. That the Demon sitting in front of her, dead or alive was far more dangerous than any of the ones she had met previously. However Alice could not deny how genuine she seemed. As she spoke of her lost family the pain she wore clear as day could not be faked by even the most talented of actors. She considered the Demon's actions so far, if she could take Lilith at her word, she had tried to ensure painful parts of the transition occurred when Alice rested and would not feel them. She had given her what has proven to be good advice and information, and she wanted to give her further protection and guidance without asking for anything in return.
