Chapter 15 - A Reality Check

Drifting off to sleep, I could already see the ribbons forming. They started as specks of dust and gathered themselves together beginning their waves around the room. I spun around seeing that the void was empty. "Lillith! Where are you? I have a bone to pick with you!". I yelled with no reply. I called out again pointing to the ground, "Lilith, so help me God if you...." I wasn't able to finish my sentence before Lilith appeared before me, her face paler than usual, looking around seemingly trying to recognize her surroundings. "How did you do that?" she asked me pinching her eyebrows together and a look of fear cascading out of her eyes. "Do what?" I asked. "Bring me here!?" she asked getting impatient. "I don't know but I need some answers from you." She ignored my reply beginning to look behind me and asking "You must have brought someone with you. You can't summon me like that. Who have you made friends with Mia?". She continued to look around the void, her long black hair flipping to and fro when I put both my arms out grabbing her shoulders and making her look at me. "Lilith, It's just me. I need answers NOW." Ignoring me again, she removed my hands, "Lamia, come forward." she called. I stared angrily at her and upon not seeing Lamia she finally acknowledged me, "Mia where is your demon?". "She can't come forward unless I allow her to Lilith or did you expect she had control of me?". She began pacing touching her chin seeming to be deep in thought completely disregarding me. I felt the warmth starting in my hip spreading and yelled at her tightening my hands into fists, "LILITH!". Stopping her pacing and looking at me, she threw her arms up defensively backing away. I thought I was seeing things. Is she trembling? "She's trembling Mia." I heard Lamia state. I began walking towards her putting my arms out as if I meant no harm. "Lilith what is wrong?" stuttering she replied, "Your..... your eyes....." pointing to my face and covering her mouth. "Lilith, I mean you no harm. I'm going to let Lamia out." I said walking back from her letting Lamia forward. "She immediately approached us once she saw the marks come forth, pawing at our head and inspecting us all over, "Lamia, are you ok? Are you hurt?". Lamia removing her hand from our arm replied "I'm okay but my vessel wants answers from you." "No one else is with you?" she asked flatly. "No." she said bowing our head. "How did you call me here then?" obvious shock dotting her face. "I do not know Lilith and neither does Mia." Lamia answered bowing her head again. Upon raising it Lamia continued. "Mia would like to know why you lied to her about her soul staying and if your plan is to hand us over to Lucifer." Seemingly becoming angry Lilith replied, "That's not my intent at all. I was shocked to find it was her who visited after the transition and not you. You of all should know how I am treated here Lamia." Lamia didn't reply, only bowing our head to acknowledge her. Lilith continued, "She ate a fallen angel Lamia. Do you know how much uproar that has caused and how much time it is taking to keep Lucifer from finding out?". Looking down Lamia replied, "I do not Lilith." "I had to lie to Lucifer for the first time in our very long lives. Your vessel ,and you, are a weapon for me." she said emphasizing the word weapon and pointing at us. I didn't want to be a weapon. I didn't want to be involved in any of this. I didn't even believe in this mumbo jumbo before dying. "Too bad" Lamia stated internally. I had all of these questions and no one had answers for me. Not even the 'all knowing' beings of the universe knew what was going on. Lamia began chuckling and Lilith asked what was so funny. "Mia thinks you should know these things." Lilith gave a look of sorrow replying, "Mia, I had no idea that your soul would remain. I have given that speech millions of times and always, only my demons return.". I yanked back control startling them both. "Then why lie to me?" I said my tone becoming frustrated. "I'm a demon Mia, it's in my nature. I also couldn't rationalize what happened so while I waited on answers, I made you think it was the norm." she said shrugging her shoulders. I looked away from her wanting to be back in bed. The void melting around us and Liliths eyes going wide as the void bled down around us. Upon opening my eyes, Lamia was awestruck. "What, How did you do that?" "I was mad and wanted to be away from her. I'm not sure how." I responded looking down and seeing we were sitting at a small desk in the corner of our room. Books in languages I didn't know littered the table. "What were you doing?". I questioned Lamia. "Well before we floated off to Lilith, I had enough time to shower us and request some light reading.", Lamia sounded off proud of herself. Looking over all of the books for a moment, I handed control back to Lamia. "Thank you Mia. Hopefully we'll find some answers here.". I stayed silent knowing she needed to concentrate but I'll admit I was bored looking through our eyes at books I didn't understand. The drawings in them were of fearsome creatures. I started to think back of when I was younger and simpler times. Longing for the days of being on my parent's farm and bedtime stories. A particular memory replaying of where I had cut myself and my mother comforting me. Her hazel eyes staring back at me when she grabbed my hand softly where my cut was and brought out her Bible. Reading a specific verse over and over again she pulled her hand away revealing my hand being healed. "What was that?" Lamia said her eyes growing wide. "My mom." I replied still in the memory not realizing she had closed our eyes to focus on what I was thinking about. "No Mia, What did she just do to heal your hand?" she questioned. "Ummm I think it was Appalachian folk magic or something." I responded not knowing why she wanted to know. "I want to know Mia because that's not normal. That verse is only to stop bleeding not heal the wound." she chimed in to my thought. Continuing she asked, "Did your mom do anything else like that over her years of raising of you?". I floated through memories scouring for any others like it but that was the only one I could remember. A knock on the door pulled us from my thoughts. "Go away" Lamia replied shortly. "It's me Mia." we heard B call muffled by the door. Lamia replied, "Mia is still pissed. Leave us alone, I'm working on something.". "Okay, I'll check back later. Maki'il said he'd return in a few days so let's lay low here." he said. "Take your own advice Balthazar, we're fine." her tone short and blunt. We heard his footsteps leading away from the door and Lamia went back to reading. I went back to reminiscing days long gone. I'd rather be back in the house facing Mike, than to be dealing with all of this. "Don't think that Mia. That man was an awful human being who'd make some demons look like child's play." Lamia said internally. I just ignored her replaying through my memories while she went back to reading and flipping through pages.