Chapter 14 – Lilith
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
LILITH
My eyes flutter open, my body suddenly cold.
I pull the sheet further up, sit up, and look around.
He’s gone. Disappointment flares through me briefly; a small part of me hoped he would still be here.
Hoped he would be stubborn, prove me wrong.
Win me over not just with my body, but my mind and heart too. I can’t be mad; it’s what we agreed.
I get up and walk out of my bedroom to double-check.
I’m met with nothing but silence. On the side table, I see a handwritten note addressed to me.
I suck my bottom lip between my teeth as nerves swarm my stomach.
I pick it up and read it. Tears sting my eyes.
An absence grows in my chest. “You fucker, Silas. You motherfucking fucker,” I seethe, angry that he’s made me feel; made me feel things.
I run my fingers through my hair. Nothing changes.
He is still protecting his brother, helping him and hiding him.
I shake my head, clinging to the anger bubbling inside me; it’s easier, safer.
However, it feels different this time. I screw the letter up and drop it in the trash can before turning on my heel, ripping the sheets from my bed, wanting to erase last night’s memories.
I load them into the washer and then head for the shower, scrubbing my skin and hair until I smell of nothing but coconut soap.
A few hours pass. The sound of rumbling pipes vibrates from outside.
I move to the window, looking out into the darkness; shadows cascading, making it impossible to see who it is.
Part of me hopes it’s Silas. As the figure turns, disappointment stutters in my chest when I see it’s Clutch.
He spots me and gives a cheeky salute and a wink.
I move downstairs, unlocking the main bar door to let him in.
“You not open tonight, doll?” he asks.
“No, not feeling up to it,” I mutter, locking the door behind him. I turn to face him, his usually playful eyes assessing me.
“I swear, when will you two just make up and be friends?” he sighs, shaking his head.
“Yeah, well, if he hadn’t helped his brother run away and kept it from me, I’m sure we would have been the best of friends,” I snap, sarcasm dripping from my words.
Clutch scoffs a laugh. “Fuck me. Silas helped his brother?” He shakes his head. “Morbius is the last person Silas would help.”
I frown, blinking. “Silas has never denied it,” I point out.
Clutch walks casually behind the bar, grabbing a bottle of rum-infused alcohol blood. “Of course he hasn’t. He’s riddled with guilt.” He shrugs, pausing for a moment as if realizing he’s said too much already.
“Guilt?” I press.
“Yeah, you two fought that night, right? If you hadn’t fought, you wouldn’t have been there.” Clutch shrugs, flashing one of his charming smiles before making his way upstairs to the apartment.
I watch his retreating back, suddenly finding myself with yet more questions.
The next few days go fine. I reopen the bar, keeping myself busy. I have to remind Clutch not to chat and flirt with the locals, although he is bringing in more business. Much to the husbands’ dismay, their wives have suddenly started joining them. All for Clutch.
“What’s your name, baby doll?” he asks Julia, Kenneth’s wife. They run the local hardware store.
Her cheeks turn a deep rose as she tucks a strand of mousy, greying hair behind her ear. “Julia,” she breathes.
Clutch leans over the bar, twiddling one of his cocktail sticks in his mouth. His bright blue eyes draw the woman in like a damn siren. “Of course it is, a beautiful name for a beautiful woman.” He winks, takes her hand in his and places a kiss on the back of her hand.
“Oh my,” Julia breathes.
“If I were Ken, I wouldn’t let you leave the house, or my bed,” he flirts.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” I mutter, rolling my eyes behind him while serving drinks to other customers.
“I, I, I…” Julia stutters, her cheeks now a deeper shade of crimson.
“Careful, Ken, or Clutch here will be stealing your woman,” I warn jokingly.
“If it gets her off my back, then have at it, son. I’m sixty-five, and the woman still wants to ride me like I’m a young buck!
Reading these smut novels, you know what, there’s a twenty.
Take her out back, give her a good time, maybe it will shut her up for a while,” Ken mutters, in between drinking his beer.
“Kenneth!” Julia chastises him, clipping him around the back of his bald head.
My mouth hangs open, stunned, awkward laughter bubbling from me.
Clutch smirks and shrugs. “Keep your money, sir, I’d fuck her for free.
I just don’t fuck married women. Plus, she’s only flirting with me to get your attention.
I would suggest putting down that beer and maybe letting your wife take control for one night.
You might find you enjoy yourself,” Clutch advises with a wink before moving around the bar to a group of middle-aged women seated at one of the booths, who have been watching Clutch like a hawk all night.
Ken looks to his wife, Julia, who is looking flustered. He sets his beer down, stands, and chucks some money on the bar. “Come on, then, woman, before I regret my decision.”
Julia’s eyes light up. She pats her tightly curled hair and grins at me. “Go get him, Julia,” I grin. She follows him; he lightly slaps her behind, making her yelp in surprise. Clutch walks back behind the bar, carrying a tray of empty glasses.
I place my hand on my hip and look at him. “What?” he asks with a shrug.
“What?” I repeat back to him. “You some kind of marriage sex counsellor now?” I mock.
He shakes his head. “No, but your boy Ken was getting off on the thought of me fucking his wife. Would probably want to watch while jerking himself off,” he shrugs.
“Eww, god, please don’t say that again,” I mock gag.
“Now he has that image, he’s ready to go, and Julia should get a good ride in,” he winks as he makes a fresh batch of drinks for the booth.
“If you weren’t already dead, you’d be dead from syphilis by now,” I tease.
He shrugs. “Luckily for me, I’m very much dead. Meaning I can still backseat bingo my way through all the beautiful women.”
I arch my brow at him. “Just because you use a softer term for fucking doesn’t make what you said any less pervy.”
He winks. “Times may be different.” He pauses, lifting the tray full of drinks in one hand. “But that doesn’t mean I can’t still be a gentleman while being a perv.”
I chuckle and shake my head. The table of women practically screams when he arrives with their drinks.
“You got any more of that imported beer, Lil?” Marvin asks.
“Er, let me check out the stores out back,” I say, grabbing the keys.
Clutch comes over. “I’ve got to go back to the club tonight. So, once we’ve closed up, we’ll head straight there.”
“We?” I counter.
He sighs. “You know I can’t leave you on your own.”
“Just go, it’s one night. And if you go now, you could be back before dawn. I’m surrounded by people,” I point out.
He grits his jaw tight. “Let me clear it with Prez, because I will be a dead man if something happens to you.”
I roll my eyes. “Whatever, I’m just going out to the stores for Marvin,” I yell over my shoulder, walking through the back and out into the yard.
The trees surrounding the back of the bar rustle loudly in the wind, like giant dark shadows moving in the night.
I enter the store, grab the last case of imported beer we have, and make a note to order more in.
I step out, locking the door behind me. The sound of a twig snapping startles me.
I turn swiftly, my eyes darting everywhere.
The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end, like I’m being watched.
I shake my head and move quickly back into the bar, slamming the back fire door shut behind me.
I take a calming breath before walking through the bar.
“Got them!” I crack one open and hand it to Marvin, who smiles a thanks.
Clutch takes my elbow and pulls me to one side.
“Deal is, lock up now and wait for me to come back. I should only be a couple of hours max,” he states.
“I can’t lock up now. Everyone is still halfway through drinking,” I argue.
His eyes dart around the bar. “Easy fix,” he states before jumping up on the bar. “Bar’s closing! Lilith has just spotted a rat out in the stores. Health and safety!” Clutch yells.
“Clutch,” I say through gritted teeth. “What are you doing?” I hiss, yanking at his leg, trying to get him down.
“I’ll go to Ken’s for you, Lilith, tomorrow and get you some poison,” Marvin states, chucking down his money on the bar and walking out, carrying his bottle of beer with him. Clutch jumps off the bar as, one by one, the patrons leave their half-drunk drinks. I sigh.
“Now I’ve got more cleaning to do,” I sigh, annoyed.
“Blame Prez,” Clutch shrugs.
“Go before I lose my shit,” I snap.
Clutch presses a swift kiss on my cheek before running off through the front door. “Lock it behind me!” he yells, swiftly swinging his leg over his bike. I salute him and pull the door shut, the lock clicking a little too loudly in the silence.
For a moment, everything is still. Then I hear it, a low, uneven snore.
I frown and follow the sound, my footsteps soft against the floor.
It leads me to one of the booths. Sid is sprawled across it, limbs loose, completely out cold.
I exhale sharply, rolling my eyes, and tap his leg.
“Sid. Wake up. I’m closing.” He groans, dragging himself upright like it physically pains him.
I grab his arm and haul him to his feet, but he sways, nearly taking me down with him.
“Easy,” I mutter, steadying him. “Come on. Let’s get you home. ”
His full weight leans into me, heavy and uncooperative. I grit my teeth, thankful—just this once—for the strength that comes with being a vampire. As a mortal, this would be impossible.