Episode Forty-four of Lilith's Escape

 

                                                                         

 

The man fought for his life as Lilith sucked it from his body. Edward watched in silence as the man became a dried stalk of his former self. Maybe he should have left the room; she did give him a warning. When Lilith had finished feeding, she climbed off the corpse and wiped her mouth.

“Should we leave the body outside for your beast?” Tzaddik asked Lilith as she walked away from the dead man.

“No…just burn it,” she replied. She stared at Edward as if trying to get a sense of his emotions. “Are you okay?” she asked.

                                                                            

“I don’t know,” he replied.

Tzaddik looked troubled and said to Lilith, “To win this battle, we will need your beast. Why not save this body for it to feed?”

                                                                           

“Priest, I have no angel to protect me in this battle. I have released him. What we do, will be without Heaven’s help.”

                                                                         

“This doesn’t fair well for us. You won’t be able to do this alone,” Tzaddik argued.

“It is what it is. Edward will find Lazarus and I will fight the immortals.”

Tzaddik wasn’t convinced, and countered, “Woman, you have an irritating habit of changing the rules mid-game. Is it futile to try and change your decision?”

Edward listened to their discussion, but only half-heartedly. He had his own worries. How would he find Lazarus in this place and time?

“It was cruel to keep Urim from his comrades…it was time to make amends,” Lilith replied to the priest.

                                                                        

“The dead are already walking among the living and it won’t be long before we are all infected.” Tzaddik countered. The priest was frustrated. Without the angel they would be defeated. He looked to Edward for support and to maybe help change the woman's mind, but Edward remained silent.

Lilith abruptly changed the subject. “We’ll make plans to capture Lazarus from our enemy, but I need to speak with Edward in private.” She then took hold of Edward’s hand and headed towards the door. Tzaddik stood aside for them to pass and as she brushed pass the priest; she gave the order, “Burn the body.”

Edward followed Lilith to a private area reserved just for her. After she had closed the door, she stood on her toes and tried to kiss him, but Edward stopped her.

“I told you to leave the room,” she said and tried once more to move into his arms, but he held her at bay.

“You haven’t told Tzaddik the whole story. He doesn’t know about your powers. You're weaker now. How do you expect to help these people and how am I supposed to find Lazarus in this place?”

“You will find him. Have some faith.”
"You're going to get us all killed. This is not a game, Lilith ."
"I will not fail you, or these people who have placed their very lives at my feet. I had to do the right thing and release my angel from his curse...

                                                            
 ...It was a bargain I was forced to make in order to save all of you... please don't push me away."

                        

This time when she tried to kiss him, Edward let her. No matter how angry he was, he could not stop from loving Lilith. He picked her up into his arms and carried her to the cot and as he laid on the bed with her, he asked, “What if I fail you?”
 

“Don't you understand, dear one? Everything depends on my not failing you."