Lilith

by Ashley Jeffery

  “When someone like Lilith…hurts a mortal the weapon she uses absorbs some of her power. If the mortal survives, that’s you, your blood being spilled across it binds it and her power to you. It means simply that she cannot kill you with it, and that it and its power will only obey you and you alone.”

  My mind raced as I tried to put the pieces together. The knife that had killed my mother, that Lilith had tried to kill me with…had power? Power that supposedly belonged to me, or was useable by me. Did that mean that Lilith could be killed by it?

  “It probably won’t kill her.” Charlie said, reading my mind, and I’d thought that was my trick.

  “But it will hurt her, disable her for at least a short amount of time. If I’m right, that time should allow you to travel into The Hall of Mirrors and destroy her way of moving between worlds.”

  Worlds…

  Before Dean, before Lilith and the attack. I never would have thought I’d believe in such things as more than one world. For the next hour Charlie explained as much as she could to me about the power of the blood blade, and the mythology surrounding Lilith.

  Charlie’s story was just as interesting. Her and the boys, handsome and brute, had a run in with a lesser lust demon. Since then they’d devoted their studies to mythology, religion and anything else they could use to fight demons. They were a group of Demon Hunters. And here I’d thought nothing could ever surprise me again.

  Then came the even stranger more astonishing information, demons weren’t half of what mythical creatures actually existed within the realities of the mortal world. Shape shifters, fairies, they all really existed, even witches. In fact one of my new goals other than finding the knife that Lilith had tried to kill me with, was going to see a real live broom wielding, cauldron-stirring witch.

  Kyle had contacts in the small mountain town of Pinecrest. It was just below the Yosemite line, and close to Grey Lake. I’d gone there camping one summer with my parents. It held its own mysteries and mythical creatures, and I’d never known. Not once the entire time I’d been up there had I realized that a town full of witches and everything else under the sun was nearby.

  “The blood blade is your best bet.” Charlie said again.

  The others had finally joined us, and sat nearby.

  “Excuse me if I think her going after this demon chic is half stupid and all dangerous. Lilith has tried to kill her three times, twice with sharp objects, and once with what might have been a machine gun.” Dean’s voice rose higher with every word.

  “Dean right?” Alex said with an even voice. “I get that you’re worried about your girl, but my girl is rarely wrong. She knows her shit. I think Pacey’s probably a lot tougher than you give her credit for. This mess did start because of you.”

  A deep breath was drawn by everyone at the table. Dean’s face flushed and Rhi smirked. It wasn’t really his fault any more than it was mine. Lilith chose him not the other way around. But by the expressions on the people surrounding me, I was the only one who thought that way. They were all blaming him.

  “Thanks I think.” I said sharply. “But Dean didn’t choose this anymore than I did.”

  Alex chuckled. “You may be right, but one girl died before you because of him, and how many other innocents have died since then, two, ten? How many more will it take before he accepts responsibility for what’s happened.”

  Dean’s eyes narrowed at Alex. A hot undercurrent rising in the air. It wasn’t fair to blame everything on Dean. That felt a little like blaming the victim of a rape for wearing a short skirt. If someone didn’t stop this soon it would get ugly. And my money wasn’t on Dean; he wasn’t vicious enough to cause the kind of damage Alex seemed to breathe.

  “Charlie.” I said trying to break the tension. “Why did Lilith pick Dean, what does it mean to be a descendant from Adam, I mean, wouldn’t all men be?”

  Charlie smiled before answering. “Popular Christian belief would say yes, that all men are descendants from Adam, but we know that’s not really true. A descendant means more than sharing blood. It’s about characteristics beyond simple genes. Looks and mannerisms aren’t just similar they are the same. As if Dean were sharing the soul of Adam reincarnated.”

  Reincarnated. That meant that Dean, was the reincarnation of Adam, Lilith’s first husband. A husband that left her for a more subservient wife. No wonder she hated me. To Lilith I was no better than a husband-stealing whore.

  “How come I can’t remember?” Dean asked.

  Kyle opened his mouth before Charlie could answer. “All souls are cleansed thoroughly before they are reanimated. You won’t remember, but that doesn’t mean you don’t feel pulled in certain directions. Like to Pacey, this is a circle that has gone on for thousands of years. You are born, and when Lilith is aware of your presence in the world she comes for you. No one knows exactly why she punishes those around you and not you yourself, only that we think maybe she can’t hurt you physically. Like you’re charmed against her.”

  Charlie laughed. “Lilith wouldn’t hurt him tangibly even if she could, it isn’t about hurting Dean so much as it is to have him. Boy’s don’t really get it.”

  Charlie nodded towards me an Rhi. “But I bet you two do. Adam hurt Lilith in the deepest and most tragic way possible. He broke her heart and fell in love with another woman. Her need to win him back is born from that pain. She probably can’t even control it anymore. It’s taken on a life of its own enslaving her to her quest for revenge and capturing the one thing she can’t have.” Charlie’s eyes drifted towards Dean. “Him.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Thief

  “How exactly are we supposed to get our hands on the blood blade?” Rhiannon voiced the words I was positive everyone was thinking, and I didn’t even have to peek.

  “I have an idea about that.” I said dryly, and I knew she wasn’t going to like it.

  “Well what is it, spit it out already.” Rhi said.

  I knew she was annoyed not just by our little outing but by how different Wes was while we were there. The jokester we knew had remained quiet and considerate. He didn’t act out or make funny comments. He was different in his new world of college students. Which made Rhi’s relationship with him, her still being a high school student, and immature, a little impractical.

  “Well,” I said taking a deep breath for confidence. “I’m betting the knife my mom cut me with is in Police custody, being a murder weapon and all.”

  Dean grabbed my hand and squeezed, comforting without words.

  “If it’s with the cops how are we going to get it?” She asked.

  I frowned. Rhi stared at my face and paled, instantly realizing where I was headed.

  “No way, absolutely not. Liv can have her dad pull some strings.” Rhi said.

  I shook my head. “Rhi, no police officer in his right mind would give away a knife that was involved in an open investigation to some random teenagers. Hell I have to go down to the precinct tomorrow with my dad, and my new lawyer to answer questions about all three attacks. She’s our only option.”

  “But why, I mean we can come up with something with the other Bad Girls, like I said Liv can---“

  “Rhi.” I interrupted her. “Liv’s dad isn’t involved with the cops here, but hers is. Even if Liv’s dad got the okay for us to have the knife they’ll know we have it. My plan has much more to do with finding out where it is, and stealing it. The Bad Girls can help with the theft. But she’s our hope at finding out where it is.”

  Rhi drew in a ragged breath. “I hate this.”

  “I know.” I said.

  “Would you two enlighten the rest of us.” Wes said.

  Rhi and I shrugged before I said. “We’re talking about Lexie Vega.”

  “And why is Lexie the person you think will have the answers and possible connections?” Wes asked.

  Dean laughed. “I’m betting it has something to do with her father being a Culliver City Police Committee Board Member…am I r
ight?”

  I smiled. He really was a smart boy. “Exactly.”

  “How are you planning on getting her help, I mean, from personal experience the bitch never went out of her way to help anyone but herself.” Rhi said sharply.

  “To be perfectly honest Rhi, she’s not half as bad as you think she is. You know how rumors are, not to mention that after I told her off it’s like she’s had a lobotomy. I think she’ll help because she already offered.”

  It took me a while to find her number. It was crumbled up on a piece of paper in the bottom of my backpack. Dean, Rhi, and Wes sat on my bed while I paced across the floor trying to figure out the right wording to get Lexie’s help. Everyone agreed that keeping it short and simple was the best. The problem was I needed a viable reason to steal it.

  “You know.” Rhi said braiding a strand of her hair. “Dean is probably the best reason, I mean, the most obvious non demon magical reason.”

  I frowned. “How so?”

  “Well he was the one who stabbed your mom right. We could say we want the knife because of the finger prints.”

  It made sense, but it was also sort of stupid. The police had more than enough time to get the prints off the knife. But Lexie may not know or care. We just needed a reason other than the real one for wanting it.

  “We should also replace it.” Wes said.

  “So that the cops don’t suspect anything.” Dean agreed.

  Rhi glanced at me and I shrugged. “I guess it makes sense. But the knife was also covered in blood, mine and my mom’s.

  My eyes were drawn to the dark stain on the hard wood floor. There was no chance I’d be able to get any of my mom’s blood.

  “The cops probably already have samples so it wouldn’t even matter.” Rhi said.

  The boys glanced at me. I rolled my eyes and walked to my bedroom door. “Well are you guys coming, let’s see if we can find a matching knife in the kitchen.”

  Bridget was standing in front of the sink when we walked down stairs. Her shoulder length hair pulled up into a messy ponytail. She looked sort of off. Her hair was greasy, and her clothing wrinkled. She turned when we entered the room, a frown pulling harshly at her mouth.

  “What do you want?” She cried.

  Her voice was hard and empty like a shell. My eyes roamed over her uncovered skin looking for traces of Lilith.

  “Are you okay?” I asked.

  She took two aggressive steps towards me. Dean and Wes jumped forward to pull me back and place their bodies in front of me.

  “No I’m not. And it’s all your fault. If you hadn’t got out of that stupid hospital, everything would have been perfect. But you ruined it all you little bitch.”

  She reached out to hit me, but Dean caught her wrist.

  “Easy.” He said softly.

  She glanced up into his face, and her lip trembled. Tears started falling down her pale tired face. She crumbled against him.

  “He doesn’t want me anymore. He says he made a mistake…but I know it’s because of her.” She fought to get past Dean. Her voice breaking into a snarl.

  Wes pulled me out of the room. My father charged forward between us and saw Dean restraining Bridget. He walked quickly across the room and hit Dean hard in the face. Wes dropped my arms and jumped forward to stop my dad.

  “Dad what are you doing?” I yelled.

  Bridget’s face broke into a cruel and evil smile. I searched her eyes and face again for any sign of Lilith, but there was nothing. She was screwed up all on her own.

  Rhi moved closer to my dad stepping between him and Dean. “Hi Mr. O’Brien, I know it looks bad but that chic was trying to hit Pacey. Dean was just stopping her. He wasn’t hurting her. I promise you. You trust me right?”

  My dad’s angry face searched Rhi’s and his eyes dropped to the floor. His shoulders heaved with labored breaths.

  Bridget saw the fight leave him and screamed. “No, you are not going to side with that little slut.”

  She pointed at Rhi and tried to charge past Dean to get to her. My dad’s face went wide with shock. He moved Rhi out of danger and patted her shoulder.

  “Thank you sweet girl, you’re not a slut.” My dad’s eyes narrowed then fell on Dean. A bruise was blooming beneath his eye. My dad sighed and shook his head. “I’m sorry son. I…I didn’t know.”

  My dad’s eyes fixed on Bridget and she squirmed. He took her hands in his and pulled them up towards his mouth.

  He kissed them softly and said. “Bridget, you know that I appreciate everything that you’ve done for me…since…well since Pacey’s mom died. I know I promised that when Pacey turned 18 I’d finally leave” My jaw fell open, he had been cheating the bastard.

  “But things have changed. Without her mother she needs me more than ever. What we’ve done…what we’ve been doing is wrong. I know that now. Please understand that this isn’t about you, you’re wonderful.” I snorted and Bridget’s cold eyes landed on me.

  I smiled. My dad cleared his throat to gain her attention. “This is over. I can’t do what I promised and be the man that I was before. I have to better, I have to be more. I’m sorry.”

  He dropped her hands and took a step back. He reached for my hand and squeezed. I couldn’t help the tears that spilled down my face. He would be better for me. It didn’t matter anymore that he’d cheated on my mom. It was in the past. We had to move forward as a family…together.

  Bridget rushed from the room and out the front door. Slamming it hard behind her. My dad glanced at my friends and motioned for them to leave us alone in the kitchen.

  “Pacey…I’m---“

  I held up my hand to stop him. “It doesn’t matter dad, what’s done is done. Let’s just move forward. Besides you weren’t married to me, and moms gone. It doesn’t matter.”

  My dad sighed. “It does. I don’t want you to think that my behavior is what women deserve. I loved your mother for years. I still do. But we decided a long time ago to stay together for you until you were older. But you’re right it doesn’t matter anymore.”

  I reached out and hugged him hard. Feeling the fast beating of his heart under my cheek.

  “I still love you dad.”

  “And I you my sweet girl.”

  Lexie sat on the chair in the corner of my room. Her face scrunched up in surprise. Her brown hair hung flatly down her shoulders. Gone were the perfect waves and flawless makeup. She wore a plain white tank top and boot cut jeans. Three silver chains hung at different levels across her chest. She looked like a completely different person.

  “So you want to break into the evidence room, steal a knife, replace it with another, and you expect me to believe it’s because of him?” Lexie pointed at Dean and I nodded.

  She laughed. “I’m not stupid. But you obviously think I am. If you want the damn knife that’s fine, just don’t try to sale me some bullshit reason for why you want it. I don’t really care.” She paused and her eyes fell on Rhiannon who bristled in the opposite corner.

  “I’ll help, but I want a truce, from you.” She pointed at me. “You.” She pointed at Rhiannon. “And all of the Bad Girls. I know I don’t really deserve it. I’ve done some pretty awful things. But I don’t want to walk around school waiting for the axe to drop. It sucks.”

  Rhi smiled. “Now you know how we feel.”

  Lexie paled and her eyes dropped to the ground in shame.

  Dean cleared his throat to gain their attention. “Look girls this thing goes beyond high school vendettas and old hurts. We need your help.” He nodded at Lexie. “And yours.” He nodded at Rhiannon. “So you two need to get over your shit and work together…for Pacey.”

  Lexie smiled. “I’m in.”

  Rhi frowned and took a defeated seat on the bed. Wes pulled her into his arms and kissed her head. “Fine.” She hissed.

  “So.” Lexie said. “Who gets to be our thief?”

  Chapter Eighteen

  The Art of Misdirection

  The pl
an was simple. Rhi would use the Bad Girls in her disposal to distract the officers inside the police station. They’d figure out a way to get them all out of the office, bomb threat, fire, something. They’d use the time that the cops were out to get someone else inside, someone who had a reason to be there, and that someone would break into the evidence room.

  Lexie’s job was to find out where exactly the evidence room was located, how to get inside, and where the knife was, i.e. serial number, locker, box, bag, whatever. The more we knew the easier it would be going in. Knowledge really was power.

  The tricky part was getting someone inside. See I needed to be down at the police station to answer questions about the attacks, but my dad was going to be with me, maybe even with a lawyer. Ditching him wouldn’t be easy, especially when the police station went crazy with whatever distraction the Bad Girls cooked up.

  The trial itself wasn’t going to take place for a couple of months. The DA wasn’t even sure if it would go forward. The woman who had stabbed my mother in the chest had gone a little crazy. Strangely enough she was now living in the mental ward I’d previously been staying at. God really did have a sense of humor.

  Rhi’s idea for getting me away from my dad was genius…if it worked. Liv, the Bad Girls resident P.I. was the best lock picker we had. I needed her to get into the evidence room, at the same time I needed a distraction for my father. Rhi’s idea was so twisted I had to wonder what she’d be capable of later in life.

  Liv would show up right before the distraction. She’d be in tears over something related, most likely the recently departed Bad Girls. She’d come to me and cry, upset about the whole thing. Knowing how my dad was with tears it would be easy. I’d take her to the women’s room to clean her up and that’s when the police would get the call.

  The problem was we needed to keep my dad from freaking out and breaking down the door to the bathroom. Rhi would show up just in time, promise to get me. Then stand outside the bathroom door and pretend to have a conversation with said door. If my dad was too agitated and busted in, we’d get caught. But if by some small miracle Rhiannon was able to keep him calm. We were home free.