Chapter Twenty-Four
Lilith
Iwake up the next morning in Colter’s empty bed.
He’s been gone for hours. The side he slept on is ice-cold.
A dull heaviness sinks into me. For a moment, it feels as if he did what he wanted and ran off without a second thought. But my mind reprimands itself quickly. It reminds me of what he said…
Mom and I have to get out of here.
I scramble out of bed, and get dressed in whatever I can find, from my clothes that are scattered across the room.
I break into a sprint, racing down the halls back to my own room.
Sure, there isn’t much chance of getting caught in this massive empty house.
But I’m not going to risk an incredibly uncomfortable conversation about why I’m running from Colter’s side of the house in last night’s clothes.
I brush my teeth in the shower, get dressed in fresh clothes, and pack a single bag with enough for a few days. I’m not waiting around to find out what Colter thinks could happen, with or without Mom’s willingness to join.
Once everything is ready for me to go, I leave my things upstairs and start searching the mansion for her. I start with her room, the library and the living room, but they yield no results.
As I head over to the kitchen, I hear a news radio station playing from it. Normally, this wouldn’t be a good enough reason to think it’s Mom, but the chef has finished breakfast and won’t be back until lunchtime.
I stop outside the archway that separates the hall from the kitchen and take a moment to compose myself. In my rush to get out of here, I didn’t put any thought into what I would say, or how I’d convince her that we need to leave. Like NOW.
The passing moment leaves enough time to hear whatever song was playing end, and the radio presenter starts talking about the man in the mask.
They know. And soon, the whole world will too.
Don’t let it distract you. You have one task right now. Do it, and do it well.
“Hey, Mom.” I step into the kitchen, not showing any outward sign of my internal torment. Easing her into the hard conversation is going to do much better than—
My head empties, as I find her hunched over the sink, weeping silently to herself.
“Hey, hon.” Mom hurriedly wipes her face with a paper towel, doing whatever she can to steady her voice and make herself appear normal. But her red-eyed sniffles would’ve given her away no matter what.
I dash to her side, and wrap her in a warm, comforting hug.
“What’s wrong? Did he hurt you?” After Colter’s warning, I wouldn’t put it past Alistair. There’s no telling what a man with his power is capable of doing.
“No, no.” She shakes her head, but eases deeper into my hug. “Just… something I saw.”
“You don’t have to lie for him,” I whisper. What comes out of my mouth next surprises Mom so much that her face loses all traces of tears.
“Colter told me everything.”
I can’t believe I didn’t think about her sooner. Having seen Maxwell Henderson murdered right in front of her. Fuck. Quenching my own wants and needs with Colter stripped me of my common sense.
But how was I supposed to know? Mom’s strength comes at the strangest of times. I knew that murder was a terrible offense, so why would I think that she’d go along with it just to further whatever the hell she was doing with Alistair.
Not the time for those thoughts, I remind myself. I need to be here for her.
“He told you… everything?”
I nod against her side.
“Then you know about—“ She can’t finish the sentence.
“Alistair? The Veil? Maxwell? Yes, everything.” I squeeze her. “I’m so sorry you had to go through that.”
“No, Lilith, I’m sorry,” Mom says, turning toward me to join in the hug properly. “You were right. We shouldn’t have come here.”
“And now we have to get out,” I say, pulling away enough for her to see my face and know I’m serious. “We can’t stay. Colter says it’s too dangerous.”
“Alistair won’t stop hunting us.” Mom’s eyes sink to our shoes, her skin turning a pale shade of white.
“Maybe not, but staying here won’t do us any favors either,” I say, latching onto Mom’s wrist and pulling her out of the kitchen. “We have to go. We’ll figure out the rest later.”
And by we, I mean Colter.
However, I’m not going to tell Mom that. Not when I haven’t had the time to explain it.
Like me, Mom packs light. A single bag with a week’s worth of clothing and supplies.
We set out together, undivided for the first time in far too long. At last, we are in perfect harmony. Neither of us knowing if we will come out of this on the other side, but holding onto hope, nonetheless.