Page 6 of Wild Ivy
“Well, well. If it isn’t the new Death,” a silky voice says.
I find myself face to face with a stunningly beautiful woman with long dark hair and piercing green eyes.
“Yeah, and who the fuck are you?” I ask.
She smiles, all teeth. “I’m hurt you don’t recognise me, darling. Though I suppose it will take a while to sift through it all.” Her eyes flash golden for a moment. “I’m Lilith. The first woman. The mother of demons. And I believe you have something that belongs to me.”
I gape at her, unable to stop the frisson of sheer terror that ripples over my skin.
Lilith?Well, shit. Of course, reversing time would bring back one of the most powerful and dangerous beings in existence, because apparently, that is how we roll these days.
“Sorry, don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady. “I’m new to this Death thing.”
Lilith’s smile widens. “Oh, I’m aware, precious. Why do you think I’m here? David was such a bore with his immense power that could contain me, but you… Oh, little cherub, you are the icing on this little cake I’ve been given.”
“Meaning?” I croak.
“Meaning that whatever let me out of that prison has given me a second chance, but I want what the original Death took from me.”
“The original Death?” I ask stupidly, even though obviously there had to be one. David was one in a line of many.
She blinks, pursing her lips. “Mazzarat.”
“God bless you.”
Lilith frowns, and I cringe at the epically bad choice of sarcasm. Where is Ramsey with his hellhound Chihuahuas when you need him?
“Excuse me?”
“Nothing. I assume Matresshead was the original Death?”
She struggles to hold on to her disbelief. “Mazzarat!” She is so mad that she is practically spitting feathers.
I shrug, regaining some of my composure. “You can say it as loud as you like, I still don’t know who that is until you tell me.”
“He took a good chunk of my power when he collected my soul, power that I can see flickering under your flawless skin, precious. I want it back.”
I narrow my eyes at Lilith, trying to project more confidence than I feel. “Look, I’m not sure what power you’re talking about. But even if I did have it, I can’t just hand it over. That’s not how this works.”
Lilith’s smile turns predatory. “Oh, sweetness, I wasn’t asking.” She takes a step closer, her aura crackling with dark energy. “I’m taking what’s mine, one way or another and I’m fairly sure, you can’t stop me.”
I feel my power rise to meet her challenge, Death’s essence swirls around me, mixing with my own brand of chaos magick. The trouble is, I have no idea what this power is or what it can do. “I wouldn’t try it if I were you. I may be new at this, but I’m not defenceless.”
Trying to ignore Death’s power as I call my dark purple magick to the forefront, I see her eyes flick to it briefly.
She laughs, the sound like broken glass. “You have no idea what you’re dealing with, little girl. I’ve been around since the dawn of creation.”
“Maybe,” I concede. “But I’ve got my power, and I’m getting pretty good at using it.”
Lilith’s eyes narrow. “Looks like the new Death has some bite after all.” Her power flares, and demonic energy is pulsing around her, but I can see it takes a toll on her, and she is irritated that she doesn’t have her full capabilities.
“This should be fun.”
Just as we’re about to clash, a familiar voice cuts through the tension.
“Back off, bitch.” Ramsey stands there with the cavalry.
The yapping starts up almost immediately and I duck to the side as the Chihuahuas launch at Lilith. She shrieks as they snap her skin, but she vanishes too quickly for my liking. I was quite looking forward to the show.
