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thelastwarriornun · 7 months

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30 from the prompt list?

“I need your help.”

Lilith knows how it must look, the three of them, rain soaked, clothes flecked with blood. A wolf, and two seraphites. One, barely more than a child, and the other clutching a blood soaked bandage, held tightly within the safety of Lilith’s arms. Camila’s pistol is level with Lilith’s chest, as fear fades to recognition, and lands somewhere near concern. And yeah that stings more than it should.

“Lilith what is this?” Anxious now, as Camila’s eyes dart to Diego beside her.

“I owe her my life. Can you, or can you not help her?” Lilith sounds clinical. Anger bubbles beneath her tone and Lilith hates it. Hates it even more when Camila flinches, as if Lilith’s struck her. And Lilith longs for a time before this thing between them had festered, when it was new and full of hope, rather than this.

“Lilith.” There’s a tug at her back, Diego’s voice is soft, despite the fingers still wrapped around his bow, knuckles white with the stress of it. “I thought you said they could fix her.”

The words are a bludgeon, and Lilith can feel the muscles in her jaw grow taut with the scream she swallows. It's unfair. Diego is little more than a child. Lilith hasn’t asked, but she can’t imagine he’s more than fourteen, and already he’s familiar with the anguish of rejection, of abandonment. And for what? The crime of being born in the wrong skin? For being brave enough to try and fix it? It’s a crime Lilith understands better than most. After all, when was the last time Lilith had felt at home in her own skin? It's abhorrent. Sometimes I forget there are worse monsters in the world than the infected. Like Shannon. Like me.

"Cam." Please. It's barely a whisper, one that couldn't possibly travel across the expanse of the entranceway. And yet?

"Come with me, we'll bring her to the back. Reya should already be in the exam room ."

It feels like a dream. Camila at the helm, as Lilith carries Yasmine through the lowlit maze of empty tanks. Diego is never far, a hand twisted in the thin material of Lilith’s tank top.

Reya is pale, angry, her expression accusing, as if Lilith has brought ruin upon them all when they enter the room. Maybe Lilith has. But Reya is a healer, and those instincts are deeper than the rancour between them. It’s the reason that Reya will do her best to save Yasmine, regardless of her place of origin. Something to be grateful for at least. "Put her down here."

So Lilith does, as delicately as her aching muscles allow. Lingers just long enough to squeeze Yasmine’s uninjured hand in parting. "We'll wait in the hall."

Reya doesn’t spare a glance in her direction, but Lilith is in rare form tonight. Against her better judgment Lilith catches Raya's elbow, tensing when Raya rounds on her. "I just wanted to say thank you."

"Don't thank me yet."

They set up a pallet for Diego when it becomes obvious he won't stray far from the makeshift operating room. It's not much. A patchwork of various blankets and pillows, barely masking the cool concrete beneath, but it's something. It’s everything to a kid who's spent the last day fighting for his life.

It only takes a second, a single assurance, Lilith promising to wake him if anything changes, for sleep to overtake him. Lilith loses herself for a moment. Watches the sharp lines ease, as the stress and lingering tendrils of death slipping away, until all that remains is the young boy beneath.

Camila takes her hand, and Lilith's protests fall on deaf ears. We won't go far. I just need to make sure you're okay. Let me take care of you. Please.

Lilith goes, unwilling, and undeserving, and that's always been at the root of this. Camila pushes her down into a chair, first aid kit in hand. It’s then that Lilith feels it, remembers that some of the blood covering her body is her own. So Lilith rolls her shoulders, revels in the aches, both small and large, that make themselves known.

Camila’s hands are gentle in their exploration. Memories swell up, like two orchestras, and Camila as their conductor. Each brush of her fingers brings with it a new crescendo, a new thread of memory vying for attention. Each touch tugging along two threads,the origin of the injuries Lilith’s obtained over the course of the day, and its source, with the memory of Camila, all skin and soft lips never far behind. It's a duet, desire and pain, twin flames colliding in a shared blaze that leaves Lilith tense with restraint. Lilith flexes the muscles of her jaw, clenching it so tightly that her teeth grind with the force of it. Wary that if words were to escape from between her lips they would speak the truth of it.

"I thought you were dead. Reya said the patrol went sideways. She told us they dragged you into the woods."

"I almost was." Lilith thinks of the rope. Burns adorning her wrists and neck where they'd bound her. Lilith remembers each painful bump as they'd dragged her through mud, and stone to the tree. Remembers the noose drawing tight, and the first wave of panic when they'd pulled her up, teetering on the tips of her toes. Not enough leverage to suck in a full breath, but enough to keep the slow creep of black around her vision from overtaking it completely.

"How did you escape?" Fingers ghost over the raw skin of her neck, before it’s replaced by a numb sting, and a waft of antiseptic fills her nose.

Lilith closes her eyes, thinks of the cold press of the blade, touches just above where blood has bound her tank top to her abdomen. It’s a small cut, nothing life threatening, but a reminder of how close Lilith came to disembowelment, to death. "They dragged Yasmine into the clearing, said something about her and the other heretic. I didn’t understand most of it.They did that to her arm, her own people. " Lilith sucks in an unsteady breath. Thinks about the unsettling sound of bone and flesh shattering. Neither one a match for the hard metal of the hammer. “Diego put an arrow through one, and Yasmine managed to kill the one holding her down.”

"And the last?" Camila prods carefully. Seraphites operated in sets of three, a trinity.

Lilith closes her eyes, thinking of the woman. The pleasure Lilith had taken in feeling tendons, cartilage, and bone give way between the press of her thighs, with a snap of finality. The joy and satisfaction, easily disguised as adrenaline coursing beneath her skin. A life was owed, and Lilith was all too willing to play judge, jury and executioner. “She got what she deserved.”

Camila’s expression is everything Lilith expects it to be when Lilith opens her eyes. Full of concern, worry, and something else. A softness that Lilith craves, as much as she spurns. “Lili, what's your plan here? I mean when they find out that you brought the enemy across the boundary–”

“You can’t tell anyone. If the wolves find out they’re here it’ll be a witch hunt.” Lilith snaps, fingers clenching against the wet canvas of her pants.

“You know I won’t turn them in, I wouldn’t do that to you. I just want to know what your long term goal is here. Eventually he’s going to realize you’re alive, and when he does I’m not sure there’s much any of us can do.” And that’s the crux of it. Adriel’s strange fixation on her was a prison in itself.

“Leave Adriel to me. As soon as Yasmine can walk we’ll be out of your hair.” The words are acid on her tongue.

“That’s not– I’m scared for you Lilith. You show up here covered in blood, with two seraphites and I’m just supposed to what? Patch you up for the hundredth time? Wish you the best? Let you go back out there to fight a war against everyone? Eventually there isn’t going to be enough of you to knit back together.” Camila’s words are a plea, eyes glistening with unshed tears.

This is worse, worse than the pain, and worse than the anger Lilith expected to find. Instead guilt gnaws at Lilith’s already eroded edges, her own anger evaporating as quickly as it arrived. “I’m sorry.”

“Just tell me what’s changed. You’ve killed dozens of seraphites since we came to Seattle. Now you’re saving them? What’s so special about these two?” Tear lines, like silver, glisten in the low glow of the hall. They’ve done this dance before. Camila, heart in hand, extending an olive branch, as if Lilith hadn’t burned down every single bridge between them over the years.

“They saved my life. There was a moment where I thought that I was dead, but they came back for me. Broke a window and lifted me out.” Another ragged breath fills the hallway as Lilith steadies herself. “That kid out there? He just watched the only family he’s ever known turn on him, for nothing more than being himself. His only crime is that instead of just surviving, he wanted to live, and even after all of that he saved me. So the least I can do is help him to have that chance.”

They hold each other gazes, words failing to express the weight of the unspoken.

Will this be enough to wash me clean? If it can’t, if my sins are too numerous for absolution, can I at least save him from the same fate?

#Who could've predicted that to tell half a story from Lilith's pov I would need to be comfortable writing from her pov #Horrifying discovery #Warrior nun #lilith villaumbrosia #fic: tlou au #Sister Camila #Camila x Lilith #kinda sorta? it's there in a burrowed thorn kind of way #If I need to add any tw let me know #myfics

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chaosinkest1996 · 7 months

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In The Graveyard with Lilith Rose Shelby (and Jack Nelson)

This work is inspired by @zablife and her 2K celebration: An Evening at The Arrow House. The OC of Lilith Rose Shelby is my own. The characters of Scarlet Shelby, Aurora Sabini, Heaven Shelby and Eva Smith belong to @zablife, @evita-shelby and @call-sign-shark. I only mentioned them because they inspired me. Eva is only mentioned by name but I did my best to do Scarlet and Heaven justice. Thank you for inspiring me.

TW: Violence, Sexual Content, Swearing.

Lilith Rose Shelby was all grown up. She’d flown the coop and (unlike most members of the Shelby clan) had miraculously escaped the clutches of Tommy’s schemes. Some suspected that her untapped freedom had to do with her immense luck in life… but for those who knew better….it was because Thomas Shelby loved no one more than his youngest sister. No one held such an influence over the greatest gangster turned MP in all of Great Britain (and its dominions) than Lilith, no one else had the keys to his smile or to his heart. You might ask Why, then, she was allowed to roam free? Not shackled to the Arrow House as Ada had once been to the shithole in small heath. Not obligated to attend every family dinner or family meeting that Tommy threw whenever he felt like it.

“Why?” The new Mrs Shelby kissed up Tommy’s back as he sat on the edge of the bed. “Will she not meet me?” Of all the people she desired to make a friend of in this family, Mrs Shelby wanted to make the best first impression on her mysterious good sister. Everyone spoke of her with reverence. Lilith’s name was the very essence of sorcery. Once spoken, even whispered in corridors and in dark corners, a shiver danced up one’s spine…or one’s blood spiked with adrenalin and excitement.

Thomas bristled and stiffened, not responding. Mrs Shelby paused, a pout forming on her nervous lips. In truth, she had expected for Thomas to be eager for his new wife to meet Lilith. The siblings were so close, that she’d expected for her to have been the first person he’d have introduced her to. Instead she was met with a cagey Thomas.

“Lilith doesn’t like Arrow House.” He deflected easily, lighting a cigarette as he stood up and wandered to the window, looking out into the foggy grey autumnal morning. He exhaled some smoke in the way that had her swooning, before he spoke again. “It reminds her of Grace.” Mrs Shelby’s heart dropped. Grace, the woman whose shadow she was forever enshrouded by. She didn’t openly wish to express her dislike of Grace or Lizzie, but she was beginning to despise them. She knew their spirits were mourned and honoured in this house…. if only by the staff and the children. It was complicated. But she hated being compared to them, hated the way the children refused to acknowledge her but would gaze in awe at the portraits of their respective mothers. It made her feel like a replacement…. nothing more. Perhaps Lilith would think the same of her. She chewed on her lip.

“She must have loved Grace a lot.” She mused. Tommy scoffed.

“On the contrary, Lilith hated Grace.” He licked his lips, glancing at his wife. He’d put it politely for her, spared some of the details. No one hated Grace more than Tommy’s beloved little demoness. “She disliked Lizzie as well, but for different reasons.”

“Oh.”

“Grace betrayed me. Lilith refused to forgive that. The only reason she refrained from dancing with joy when she died was that she loved me too much.”

“And Lizzie?”

“Lizzie broke John’s heart.” Tommy spoke casually, remorselessly as though he’d had nothing to do with it.

“I’ve not done anything to hurt anyone.” Mrs Shelby sulked, looking at the floor. Tommy strolled back over to the bed and took her into his arms.

“Quite right.” He kissed her forehead. “Perhaps it’s not such a bad idea to invite her this weekend.”

“But she hates the Arrow House.”

“She’ll come for the family, and for me. The kids will be delighted to see her”

“She’s good with them?” Her interest was piqued. Perhaps Lilith could shed light on the way to Charlie and Ruby’s hearts.

“She dotes on them.” He smiled, a real genuine smile. “They’re mine, after all.”

*****

Mrs Shelby skipped towards Tommy, her letter filled left hand raised in triumph. Her sparkling sapphire engagement ring sparkled in the light.

“They’re coming.” She kissed him joyously. “They’re all coming.”

“All?” He chuckled.

“All.” She confirmed. “And they’re all staying. Scarlet and Luca will stay in the room opposite Finn and Aurora. Alfie and Ada will stay in the room opposite Polly and Aberamma.” Tommy smiled as she babbled out her arrangements. He imagined it was a good idea that Alfie and Arthur should stay in separate wings of the house…. otherwise Ada and Heaven would be forced to intervene, and no one wanted a mess. Gina and Michael would go next to Ada and Alfie. John and Tatiana would have to be kept in the room next to Tommy and Mrs Shelby so he could keep an eye on that mad bitch. Speaking of that insane Russian duchess…. she’d have to be kept as far away from Lilith and her beloved husband, Jack Nelson. Last Christmas had been a disaster when Tatiana – having had way too much to drink – announced that herself and Lilith had been lovers for the entire year before Lilith had met Jack. Jack had hated her guts since. The children would have three whole rooms to themselves. Something Mrs Shelby wasn’t sure was appropriate, but something Tommy had insisted was necessary.

“They all love being together.” He insisted. “And it’s not like we’re giving them the entire house.”

“I’m still so shocked they’re all coming.” She smiled dreamily up at him. “I’ve always wanted a big family.”

“Well, now you have one.”

“You never told me Lilith was married.”

“Ah.” Tommy looked sheepish. “I didn’t think she’d bring him.”

Two years ago she’d eloped with Jack Nelson, the last man on earth Tommy had thought suitable or good enough for Lilith. Jack Nelson was everything Tommy (ironically) hated. He was unfaithful, violent, a fascistic Irish American and he was the most obnoxious, ambitious, cunning bastard he’d ever encountered…It was like looking in an ever so slightly warped mirror. His dislike of the American hadn’t stopped Lilith marrying him though…And yet somehow, the marriage worked. Jack followed the little Shelby witch round like a lost puppy, salivating whenever she looked at him. It was like she held some sort of magical enchantment over him. The loved up pair made Thomas feel a little bit sick. Mrs Shelby smiled teasingly.

“You can’t stand him, can you?”

“He’s not good enough for her.” He grouched. “But for some unfathomable reason, he makes her happy. That’s enough for me.” From the way he gritted his teeth it seemed like that hardest thing he’d ever had to say.

“Everyone thinks you’re a big bad gangster…but I know you’re really just a big softy.”

“Don’t go telling everyone, ey.” He laughed, “I have a reputation to uphold.” Wrapping his arms around her waist he hoisted her up onto the table, taking her lips with his own. Someone coughed. Tommy turned to see Mary, the maid.

“The house is all prepared for the guests, Mr Shelby.”

“Thank you, Mary. That will be all.” She nodded, turning to leave but not before she eyed Mrs Shelby with frigid, calculating eyes. Thomas didn’t seem to notice though as he shifted his attention back to Mrs Shelby as his fingers slid beneath the hem of her dress.

*****

They were nothing like she expected. None of them. Polly arrived first, gliding in like the image of sophistication, barely glancing at Mrs Shelby. Aberamma following closely at her heels. He grunted in greeting, simply tilting his head after removing his hat. Arthur and Heaven arrived at the same time as Scarlet and Luca. Arthur’s greeting had been sweet. He seemed to like her, spluttering over his words to greet her. His hands shook and his eyes looked a little wild. But he meant well. Heaven waltzed in behind him, looking like an angel in her white fur coat. The snow haired beauty’s presence seemed to ease Arthur’s nervousness. He wrapped his arm around her waist as she held out her hand for Mrs Shelby to shake.

“You must be Heaven.” Mrs Shelby stuttered, transfixed by her crystalline eyes.

“Pleasure.” Heaven’s eyes slid to Tommy and her expression instantly shifted to a predatory one. “Bastard.” She acknowledged with a cat like smile.

“Yes. He is.” Scarlet stated as she sauntered through, pushing her way past them and following Polly into the drawing room.

“You’re not going to say hello, Tesoro?” Luca paused in the hallway, smiling at Mary as she took his hat and coat.

“There’s no point in greeting Tommy’s latest victim. Knowing him, she won’t last the year.” Scarlet called back. Tommy watched Mrs Shelby’s confidence dissipate momentarily. Headlights glowed in the driveway.

“Heaven, why don’t you take Arthur and Luca into the drawing room.” Tommy suggested. Heaven’s icy eyes hardened before narrowing at him. Her lips parted in order to respond in a somewhat poisonous manner but Mrs Shelby stepped forward and whispered to her.

“I wouldn’t normally agree with Tommy but Alfie’s just arrived.” Heaven observed the mouse like woman Tommy had married for a moment before she nodded, escorting her husband and brother in law to the drawing room. Music blared as the door opened and Mrs Shelby could see the reflection of Scarlet in the large mirror as she turned the gramophone up.

“SHALOM Thomas!” Roared the bear of a man as he wandered in. Ada rolled her eyes beside him. She hugged Thomas tightly before embracing Mrs Shelby, much to her surprise.

“I hope they’ve not been too scathing to you.” She whispered. “Don’t worry, they’ll warm to you with time.” She pulled back and smiled. “This is my son, Karl, my daughter, Elizabeth and this,” She brushed her hand over her swollen midsection as Alfie beamed with joy. “Is baby Solomons.” Tommy paled as she spoke, only just noticing the pregnancy.

“Jesus Christ.” He muttered beneath his breath. Mrs Shelby held his hand and gave it a squeeze as she spoke.

“You’d better head on in before he has a stroke.”

Tommy had just about recovered when the door to the drawing room opened and he heard Arthur exclaim.

“Fookin’ hell Ada! You bloody kept that quiet, din’t ya?!”

Finn and Aurora Sabini arrived next. Polite and jovial as ever, though Aurora didn’t appear to like the way the youngest Shelby boy looked at his new sister in law. John, Tatiana, Michael and Gina all arrived together. Lawrence ran in from the cold, zooming in circles around Tommy and Mrs Shelby before running past them to the drawing room, banging on the door and yelling “Granma, Granma!”

“My boy!” Polly called in joy as she came out and greeted him, swooping down and collecting him in her arms before slipping back inside. Gina made a noise of disgust.

“Thomas.” She acknowledged.

“Regina.” She scowled as he full named her.

“So this is you’re newest whore?” She studied Mrs Shelby with critical eyes. “She doesn’t look like much, I’m surprised you’re so taken with her.”

“She’s worth ten of you, Regina.” He snapped.

“Michael.” Mrs Shelby smiled warmly. “Thank you for coming.”

“It’s nice to see you again, love. I hope he’s treating you right.”

“He is. Very Much.”

“I took the liberty of bringing a wedding gift. It’s out the front.”

“That’s very generous of you. Really, you didn’t have to.”

“Yes, Michael. You didn’t have to.” Gina snapped before stalking off to the drawing room and loudly demanding a drink. Michael winked at Mrs Shelby, smirked at Tommy and left them to it. He turned to greet John and Tatiana and froze.

“Fuck!” He fumed. “What the fuck are you wearing?!” He looked at John. “What the fuck is she wearing John-boy!”

“Don’t worry, Thomas.” Tatiana purred sensually. “It’s not for you…or your wife.” She stepped around him, the thin scrap of material she called a dress clinging to her figure. “Tatiana Petrovna Shelby, delighted to make your acquaintance.” Mrs Shelby blushed and stepped closer to Tommy as the Russian duchess invaded her space. Grabbing her jaw, Tatiana kissed both of Mrs Shelby’s cheeks.”

“She’d got a beautiful neck, Thomas. I can see why you like her.” She paused. “And that ring!” She snatched Mrs Shelby’s hand, admiring the sapphire encrusted in diamonds. She tutted. “I would have thought you’d learned your lesson with sapphires.”

“They’re a particular favourite of my wife’s.”

“Grace liked sapphires too.” Tatiana smirked, her dark eyes flickering madly in the candle-light. “Is Lilith here yet?” She changed the subject.

“Is she the reason you’re dressed like a whore?” Tommy took a swig of the amber liquid in his tumbler. “You not bothered by this John?”

“As long as I’m the only man she fucks, doesn’t matter to me.” He joked.

“It’ll only ever be you Johnny.” Tatiana turned and kissed him.

“Aye, John-boy. As long as you’re a Shelby, she’s not picky.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Mrs Shelby asked, nervously glancing at Tommy.

“It means that before she chose me, she was fucking Tommy…until she got bored of him.” John answered.

“Are we interupptin’ somethin’?” Came Uncle Charlie’s deep gravelly voice. He stopped short to shake Tommy’s hand, flanked by Johnny Doggs, Isiah and Curly. Curly smiled bashfully at Mrs Shelby and handed her some flowers. She blushed.

“Thank you Curly.”

“How’re you findin’ us so far, petal?” Johnny Doggs asked loudly.

“So far I’m struggling to find someone who likes both of us. Polly, Aurora and Gina dislike me, everyone else has a gripe with Tommy.” Johnny Doggs barked out a laugh. “Welcome to the clan!”

“Families.” Isiah scoffed. “Who’d have em?”

*****

Lilith Rose Shelby was the most beautiful creature Mrs Shelby had ever seen. So beautiful, that the air rocketed out of her lungs when she first saw her. They heard Jack first as he escorted her up the steps and held the door open for her. She looked like a goddess, draped in silk. Tommy was fascinated that Jack never once looked away from her. His only greeting to the new Mrs Shelby was a nod and a smirk. He sneered at Tommy before his attention gravitated back to his wife. She had the most beguiling dark eyes Mrs Shelby had ever seen. They were like pools of endless night. Lilith catapulted herself into Tommy, who embraced her tightly and inhaled her scent. Pomegranate and dark amber. She relaxed into him. Releasing her, Tommy cupped his baby sister’s face in his hands and looked at her for a moment.

“You grow more and more beautiful every time I see you.” He smiled.

“Brother.” She spoke quietly….and she sounded like magic. Soft and sensual. “You look well.” She beamed at him. And Mrs Shelby’s heart fluttered at her smile. Jack snaked a hand around Lilith’s waist and pulled her back against him.

“Shelby.” Jack acknowledged. “Married again? You can’t seem to get em’ to stay, can ya?”

“Nelson.” Tommy spoke evenly. “I can keep women just fine. In fact, I’ve never had to cross a continent and steal a woman away to make her mine. I suppose that means I have better luck than you.” Lilith covered Jack’s hand with her own.

“Or,” She interrupted loudly, “It simply means that I was special enough that he had to travel all this way to find me.” Mrs Shelby watched, fascinated as both men melted at Lilith words. Jack kissed Lilith’s forehead and Tommy smiled.

“Could be.” He agreed. Lilith stepped away from Jack and turned her attention to Mrs Shelby. All the noise fell away. She couldn’t hear anything. Apart from the sound of her blood pulsing through her at a rapid speed. She glanced at her husband, and watched his beautiful lips move as he spoke to Lilith and Jack. She watched Lilith study her, eyes raking over her in an unreadable manner. Mrs Shelby’s finger twitched as Lilith’s eyes pause over her engagement ring, her full soft lips quirking into a small smile for a moment before it vanishes. Mrs Shelby gasped, startled when Lilith unexpectedly stepped forward and smiled at her. Lilith took Mrs Shelby’s left hand in both of hers. Her thumb brushed over the sapphire. Her eyes pierced into Mrs Shelby’s hypnotically and Mrs Shelby found herself transfixed as Thomas brushed a hand up and down her back, comfortingly…. obliviously.

“Sister.” Lilith tested the word on her tongue as she surveyed Mrs Shelby. “You’ll be good to him, yes?” She sounded so innocent. So angelic. Her eyes held no malice. Mrs Shelby stuttered.

“Y-Yes. I shall try to be all that he deserves.”

Lilith beamed at her and released her hand. Mrs Shelby’s ring finger throbbed momentarily as she watched her fascinating sister turn and enter the drawing room with Jack. She saw through the reflection in the mirror as Polly embraced her niece tightly and was startled to see Lilith’s reflection gazing predatorily through the looking glass at her.

*****

Dinner was a fucking disaster. It had been nothing like she had hoped. Perhaps she was just projecting her own fears but it seemed that none of them liked her…. even the ones who appeared to. It seemed as though they were watching her every move with a pre-existing negative judgement. She was guilty to them, of something. The problem was she didn’t know what and she didn’t know how to change that. Tommy had enough to deal with, especially after Tatiana had goaded Jack into a row and she was swearing at him in Russian. Arthur had had way too much to drink. Scarlet was screaming at Tommy for something he’d done years ago and Luca was trying desperately to calm her down. She turned to look at Michael, who was in a heated discussion with Gina…and Aurora kept throwing her dirty looks. In the end she’d left the table, claiming to check on dessert. She’d just found a quiet alcove to take a few moments when someone touched her shoulder. She jolted and turned to see Lilith.

“Feeling overwhelmed?” Her voice was so soft, sympathy swirled in her onyx eyes.

“A little.”

A lot. I’ve bitten off more than I can chew.

“I know. We can be a lot to handle.” She looked out into the darkened garden. “Why don’t we go for a walk.” She suggested. “Take a moment to ourselves.” Mrs Shelby’s heart soared at the prospect of having a moment alone with someone who might actually like her and in doing so, might sway the opinion of the others. She nodded and took Lilith’s offered arm as the two of them stepped out into the cool autumn air.

It hadn’t been long since they had returned from their honeymoon and so Mrs Shelby hadn’t yet had time to explore the grounds of the Arrow House properly. In the dark murkiness of the evening she couldn’t really see where she was going and clutched on to Lilith’s bare arm a little closer for security. She smelt dizzyingly alluring. Away from all the smoke and whiskey the magic of her perfumed the air in a wonderful way.

“How did you meet my brother, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“Da’s one of his employees at Shelby Company ltd. I met Tommy when I brought Da his lunch.”

“How…. quaint.”

Mrs Shelby wasn’t paying attention. She was too bust staring at the purple love bites littering Lilith’s creamy throat. Lilith flushed and giggled when she noticed.

“I’m sorry, I should have covered up more, Jack can get carried away some times.”

“He’s very fond of you.”

“And I, him.” Lilith patted Mrs Shelby’s hand. “I never expected to find Jack. But he’s my better half. As Heaven is Arthur’s and Luca is Scarlet’s. We were worried Thomas would never find someone….worthy.” Lilith stopped her movements and released Mrs Shelby’s arm. For the first time, Mrs Shelby noticed her surroundings. Lilith had brought her to the churchyard close to the Arrow House. She turned, only just able to see the outline of it looming in the moonlight. She shivered, looking back to Lilith who was now staring at something in front of her. “Thomas has very specific needs.” Her voice had lost all of its warmth. Mrs Shelby’s mouth ran dry as she read the names on the gravestones in front of her.

Grace Burgess Shelby.

Daughter, Mother, Beloved Wife.

Elizabeth Stark Shelby

Mother, wife, friend. Lost to childbirth.

Something rustled behind them. Lilith turned and smiled adoringly as Jack stepped out of the shadows. Mrs Shelby wondered how he had known where to find them. “You have to be a certain kind of person to survive in this family. Don’t you, my love?”

“Ya got that right. It’s an honour to love a Shelby…to be prepared to kill and die for them.”

“Thomas needs a fighter.” Lilith reached out and caressed Mrs Shelby’s cheek. “You didn’t fight tonight. You fled, little mouse.” Lilith tutted and stepped closer, so close, Mrs Shelby could feel Lilith’s sweet, warm breath burning against her flesh. “How can I trust that you’ll fulfil him?” Lilith shook her head, looking sad, disappointed even. Jack brushed his wife’s hair off her shoulder, exposing her flesh. He pressed a kiss into the crook of her neck. Mrs Shelby watched Lilith relax a little. “You’re not good enough for him.” Lilith purred softly, Jack’s lips and tongue trailed down Lilith’s neck as she spoke. “Neither of them were, either.” She glanced to the gravestones behind her. “I was lucky with Lizzie; God took care of her. But I had to intervene with Grace.”

“B-but we’re happy.” Mrs Shelby spluttered, fear creeping into her voice every second longer that she spent in Lilith’s presence.

“For now. Until he realises that you’re not enough for him.” She paused, relishing in the look of despair on Mrs Shelby’s features. “Don’t worry. He’ll be happier than ever with Eva. They’ll be perfect together.” Jack hummed in agreement with his beloved and imprinted his teeth in a perfect love bite into her neck as she slid home a beautiful carved and somewhat bejewelled blade into Mrs Shelby’s sternum. Mrs Shelby gasped in pain, a sharp sound leaving her soft lips. “She’s earned him, you haven’t.” Lilith continued as she twisted the hilt, a horrible tearing noise was heard before Lilith let go. Mrs Shelby staggered back and fell back against the willow tree overhanging the makeshift graveyard. Lilith looked down at her blood spattered fingers. Lifting them to her face she licked one, smearing her lips in the substance. Greedily, Jack took her fingers and painted his own mouth with them. Lilith spun in Jack’s arms, giggling and moaning as their lips fused, unbuckling his belt. She murmured something to him and he acquiesced without question, sitting and leaning back against Grace’s headstone. Lilith slipped her dress over her head until she was wearing barely anything in the coldness of the autumn night. She straddled Jack, kissing him deeply before sliding down onto him in the ghostly glow of the full moon.

Mrs Shelby heaved, opening her mouth. She tried to call for help but no sound emerged. Instead she found herself mute, only coughing and spluttering on the crimson blood as it tried to liberate itself from her mouth. Her vision grew blurry for a moment as tears gathered and obscured her sight.

And then she saw them.

The ghosts of Grace Burgess and Lizzie Stark, both completely drenched in blood and staring in horror, not at her but at Lilith and Jack, as he flipped his wife over and took her like an animal. Lizzie’s expression was melancholic. Her hair loose and wild, eyes ceaselessly spilling tears and her mouth agape in silent cries of agony. Her body had been slit open from chest to lower abdomen and still, even in death, she was bleeding. Grace stood beside her still in the gown she wore the night she was murdered. the bullet wound on her chest still wept even though she didn’t. Her face was curiously, disturbingly calm. The sapphire around her neck pulsed and throbbed and pulsed and throbbed. And suddenly Grace wasn’t looking at Lilith and Jack anymore, her pale grey eyes locking onto her second replacement. Mrs Shelby found herself growing shivery and yet unable to move, unable to scramble backwards as the sapphire whispered to her over and over some kind of spell in Romani. The curse…. she recalled hazily as she forced her limbs in an attempt to move. Tommy believed it had been cursed by the Russians. Mrs Shelby’s fingers dug into the soil as she pushed herself up into a sitting position. Every movement was excruciating in both pain and in effort. Her eyes fluttered closed in exhaustion and the spell of the sapphire seemed to sing louder and louder, it’s feminine voice echoing seductively in her ears. She realised it was coming not only from the necklace Grace’s ghost wore, but also from the ring on her engagement finger. Struggling, she tried desperately to remove it. But to no avail, it was as though it had fused to her flesh, strangling her finger.

Mrs Shelby’s eyes snapped open. Just in time to see the ghost of Grace stood over her.

“I should feel sorry for you.” Grace whispered. “You’re a victim of this family, just like me.” She paused, licking her discoloured corpse lips. Grace heard it too. She heard that it was Lilith’s voice cursing her inside the blue sapphires, not Tatiana’s. “And Tommy does love you.” There was a moment of silence. “But… I’ve come to realise something.” Grace leaned down and kissed Mrs Shelby’s lips, her ghostly fingers coming up to wrap around Mrs Shelby’s throat. “If I can’t have Tommy…” Grace murmured as she pulled back looking deeply into Mrs Shelby’s eyes.

Her grip tightened...and tightened…and tightened. Mrs Shelby choked and spluttered, her body convulsing. The last thing she saw was Lilith’s dark eyes staring at her over Jack’s shoulder, her nails digging into his back as he held her to him. And Grace’s hoarse voice looming over her.

“Then no one can.”