This takes place between chapters 15 and 17 of Bloody Angel book 1.

We get a look at Lilits new life and her adjustments to the Ministry while we wait for Annie to wake up.

(This will have multiple parts)

Enjoy!

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Lilit hummed to herself as she walked slowly down a hall, swaying her arms back and forth in a mock dance.  Days were so boring with everyone in classes or attending their chores and duties. She was just happy to be able to roam about freely instead of being cooped up in Copias rooms. He'd told her he was going to set up some rooms for her and her sister but it would take a few days at least.  That was three days ago, and while she was grateful she wasn't sure how she felt. So much was changing again.

A week ago she was sure she was going to die with her sister, first by pyre then from exposure. Yet now here she was- fed, clothed. Given freedom to explore and so many new people around who had all been so kind and welcoming. The Cardinal, Ghoulettes and Ghouls especially. A shy smile dances across her lips when her thoughts switch to one ghoul in particular.

Mountain.

His name was fitting. True, she herself was a short woman standing at around 5'4. But even if she were the same height as her sister, Mountain would tower over her. Despite his impressive size, he was so kind and gentle, always saying the sweetest things to her that gave her butterflies. Something sparked within her every time he was near, pulled her to him. And she couldn't get enough. He was a missing piece she never knew was missing.
He made this new adjustment bearable.

Suddenly she bumps into a wall, letting out a small "ooph" as her cheeks flush. She turns her head and is glad she feels no one close by who could've seen.

"How embarrassing," she mutters to herself, turning to lean against the offending wall with a sigh, trying to think about where she ended up. "And I don't even know where I ended up. I need to start paying attention."

"Hard to do when blind, no?" An airy voice asks from next to her. She startles lightly, a hand flying to her chest.

"Goddess above you scared me. Hi! Didn't hear you coming." She turns towards the voice with a warm smile.

"Scusa signora. I, uh, step lightly. And I didn't think you would hear me. This is interesting," he chuckles softly. "Did you require any assistance?"

She flushes again and shrugs. "Y..yeah. I'm not quite sure where I am. I know it should be lunch soon, so I was just gonna wait for classes to be let out and go with the crowd."

"Well that won't do. I can lead you to the dining hall if you would like?" He offers, sounding farther away. She moves to catch up to him.

"Oh, thank you! It's no trouble, is it?"

"Not at all. You were not that far away to begin with."

She turns her face towards him once more, brows furrowed slightly in confusion. "Why are you out here? Normally everyone's busy."

"I am… not everyone else. I have a lot of free time I don't know what to do with, now," he replies sadly.

"I'm sure there's something you could do during the day?"

"Si. I sit in some classes occasionally. Forgot how boring they could be. Most of the time I am by myself, though. Wandering the halls or gardens."

"That sounds…lonely."

He sighs again. "It is. Maybe it will not be anymore? Not with you around, tesoro."

"Well, I'll do my best," she laughs lightly. "I'm not sure I'd be the greatest companion with my limitations, but if you ever needed someone to sit with and talk to I can be there for you."

"That is more than enough. More than I've had since…well… Ah! Here we are! The dining hall." His sad tone brightens and she hears his smile.

"Thank you! Closer than I thought it was. I'll get the layout of this place down eventually."

"It was my pleasure, tesoro."

"Lilit. My name is Lilit."

"A beautiful name for una bella signora."

Lilit giggles lightly and smiles at him, hearing the bells above begin to chime in on their hourly medley. "Usually you'd tell your name now that you know mine."

"Ah, perdonami. My name…well… You can call me-"

"Lilit!" A voice calls from down the hall, cutting off his words. She turns to it with a wide smile.

"Mountain! Hi!" She calls back with a wave. "I was just talking to…to.. crud. What was your name?"

She's met with silence and she turns back around. "Hello?"

"Who are you talking to, little one?" Mountain asks as he draws closer, looking around the empty hall.

"I actually don't know. He was about to tell me his name when you called out."

"I don't see anyone now. Are you ready for lunch?"

Her stomach answers for her and she blushes with a nod. He laughs, sliding an arm around her shoulders as he leads her into the dining hall, the first of the siblings making their way into the hall as well. He pulled her to the line, grabbing two trays as they went.

"Let's see. Summer salad with strawberries, fruit salad, or raspberry parfait?"

As they go down the line, he tells her the options available, placing her choices on one tray and his on the other. She offers several times to take her tray but he brushes it off with a smile, telling her he's more than happy to do this.
At the table he sets them down and pulls out her chair.

"Mountain, you sweet ghoul. Thank you, but I really can do things for myself, " she speaks up, placing her hand on his. He flushes and stammers lightly, trying to apologize.

"Mounty…I'm not saying don't ever do things for me. But let me do things for myself, too. Please?"

He sighs and nods, reaching out to stroke her cheek lightly. "I'm sorry, Lilit. All this is new to me and I'm frankly not sure what I'm doing, really, so I end up doing too much."

"This is all new for me too. We can learn together."

"You two are going to make me nauseous if you keep up being so sweet like that," Dew grumbles, tossing his tray onto the table with a clatter that made Lilit jump. Mountain growls lowly in his throat, shooting the short ghoul a look.

"Dew, dear. With your sweet tooth you should be eating this up!" Swiss chuckles as he hip checks him before sitting.

"Hi, guys," the little witch waves, taking her seat. "How are your days going?"

"Boring. I hate library duty," Dew grumbles and picks at his sandwich.

"I offered to switch with you but you had none of that," Swiss chides between his bites.

"Yeah, because cleaning and setting up the chappel is so much better. I'll pass." Dew rolls his eyes and slouches back into his chair, his reply laced with sarcasm.

Lilit listens to them bicker about chores, a smile tugging at her lips as she eats. It was never boring with them around and she wished lunch could last longer. The second half of the day until dinner always dragged by the slowest.

"Lil? You okay over there?" Swiss' voice breaks her out of her thoughts and she turns to face him.

"Yeah. Sorry, just thinking."

" 'bout what?"

"Well," she sets her spoon down and pushes the tray back before crossing her arms on the table. "I'm bored. I don't really have anything to do. You guys at least have your chores and duties. The siblings have their classes. Copia his work. I'm just kinda… here."

"You could come with me for my chores, little one. You wouldn't be so alone then. I can introduce you to more of the siblings, too, if you'd like," Mountain offers as he rubs her back lightly.

"I think I'd like that. Thanks Mounty."

"You could cover my library duty if you wanted. Give me a chance to find a nice dark corner to nap in," Dew teases with a chuckle.
It turns to a grumbling growl when Swiss chucks a grape at him, hitting his mask between the eyes.

"How would she do your library duty, huh? She's blind, you numbskull."

"Oh, right. I forgot. Sorry Lilit," he mumbles, popping the grape into his mouth. His lips pucker slightly when he bites into it.  "Ugh. Of course you toss me a sour one."

Lilit giggles lightly and shakes her head. "No, it's okay, Dew. If i could I would.  Maybe you wouldn't be so cranky all the time if you napped."

Swiss and Mountain laugh softly as the gremlin flushes slightly. Chimes sound the 45 minute mark of the hour, and the din of the dining hall flares slightly as the siblings quickly finish their lunches and head back out to resume their days.

"It's not too late to switch, Dew," Swiss nudges him as he stacks the empty plates and trays together.

"Nah. It's just a few more hours. See you guys at dinner?"

"Sounds good to me. Where are we off to, Mounty?" Lilit smiles to Dew before turning to her ghoul.

"Gardens, actually. I should get you a coat before we head out."

"She can take mine."

Before she can protest a warm leather jacket is draped over her shoulders and she turns once more to Dew. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah. I don't really need it anyway." He leans down to whisper in her ear with a chuckle. "Just makes me look cool, ya know?"

She slides her arms through the slightly too long sleeves, pulling him into a hug. He stiffens at the gesture, face turning bright red as he awkwardly pats her back. "Thank you."

"You're, uh. You're welcome. Now get out of here."

She smiles to him before taking Mountains hand, dragging him to the door excited to go with him as he works.

Swiss slings his arm over Dews shoulders, watching after the pair. "Careful. Your soft side is showing."

"I am not soft," he grumbles.

"You're a big softie at heart and you know it. It's one of the things I love about you."

"Whatever. Don't you have a chappel to finish?" Dew pulls away and heads out the door leaving Swiss to finish cleaning up the table.