STRUVLAND
Chapter 13
The Stolen
Lilith

"The girl is taking too long," Alexandra says. I open my eyes and sigh. She looks at me expectantly, her long onyx hair spilling over her naked shoulders. I sit up and brush a few strands of hair off her right shoulder.

"We need to be patient, dear. She will do what we want when it is time to do so. If the girl does not, well, then we will ask the boy or do it ourselves. Have faith, it is only a matter of time," I respond.

"We do not have the luxury of time. Adelina is going to figure out what we are up to eventually and once she does, she will realize I am alive and try to kill me or worse," Alexandra says. I shake my head and try to drown her voice out by listening to the fire on the far side of the bedroom, "Do not shake your head at me. We are limited on time and you know it. It is time for you to decide as the leader—"

"You are right, I am the leader, not you. I do not have to listen to you or anyone else, yet you constantly overstep those boundaries," I interrupt. I slide the blanket off my naked body and move off the bed, the cold stone floor caressing my bare feet. Chills spread over my body and I shiver before slipping on my clothes and walking over towards the fire to warm myself up. I hear the rustle of sheets and I know Alexandra has gotten off the bed to make her way towards me. A tall feminine shadow looming over me confirms my suspicions before I feel her hands on my shoulders and her chin on the top of my head. I shake off her touch and walk to the door.

"If she fails to murder my nephew," Alexandra starts. I pause with my hands touching the rough wood of the door to hear her words. "you will lose my support and my love. Although I suspect you do not care to be a leader anymore, maybe Christopher should take over with my backing. We might just steal your position right from under you."

I shake my head and open the door before slamming it shut and walking off.

I cross my legs as I sit on a chair made of rough, chipped wood and a poorly made red cushion. Christopher lounges on a chair, relaxed, next to me while an empty chair sits on the other side of me. We watch the lower ranks laugh in front of a fire in the center of the room, discussing their next kills and how our lady in red will reward them. They are good at hiding it but I can see the hunger in their eyes for something more than what they have and they depend on me to provide that. They waste away, craving for power that some of them will never taste, for they are neither worthy nor are they strong enough.

I glance across the room as the doors open to reveal Alexandra. I lock eyes with her as the room goes silent in her presence. She smirks and holds her head high, loving the attention from everyone that she so desperately craves. I break eye contact as she sits in the empty chair beside me, the skirt of her crimson red dress brushing against the floor and the legs of the chair.

"Do not let me stop your fun, please, continue," Alexandra announces. The conversations and laughter resume as if she never walked into the room. She turns to me and lowers her voice. "You see how much power I hold here? I could have you replaced in a matter of moments. Do not test me."

"You forget they only love you because of your blood, without it, you would be nothing," I retort. Alexandra scoffs and turns away from me. Christopher sees her reaction and chuckles.

"Uh-oh, having a little trouble in paradise, are we?" He jokes. I roll my eyes.

"Christopher, darling, shut your mouth before I shut it for you," I state.

"I like it when a woman tells me to shut up," He says, grinning from ear to ear. I take a dagger from the sheath strapped to my waist and point it at him.

"I mean it, Chris." I threaten. He puts his hands up in defense and leans his body back into the chair. I put the dagger back in its rightful place and sigh.

"Yes, Lilith, go ahead and use violence against everyone you're upset with. It is truly a wonder how you haven't realized those actions make you just like your father." Alexandra whispers. Her words were like salt in a still-fresh wound. I glare at her.

"Never compare me to my father."

"You insulted me first, I am just paying you back." Alexandra defends, waving me off. Rage that settled deep inside of me years ago awakens and wraps its scorching hot claws around my heart and throat.

"I would be careful with that tongue of yours or you might just lose it, along with your place here." I threaten. Alexandra gives a humorless chuckle.

"You have just proved my point, dear." She says with a smirk.

"All you have proved is how ignorant and selfish you are."

"I am not the one who decides to ignore the issues that lie within this place and instead decides to rely on someone who clearly does not know what they are doing."

"I would rather rely on a child than you," I state. Alexandra glares at me.

"Your judgment is unreliable, I mean, you thought it was a good idea to work at a brothel when you were seventeen."

"I was trying to survive," I say, standing from the chair to face her, "You have no idea what it was like! You came from money and the privilege of being someone that others cared about."

Christopher motions for everyone to leave the room, leaving the three of us. Alexandra stands up from her chair and stalks over to me. Her tall, lithe frame towers over me but I refuse to back down. She smirks and moves a lock of my chin-length crimson hair out of my face. I move my face out of her reach before she can caress my cheek. She rolls her eyes and sighs.

"You're right, no one cares about you or that pathetic woman you called your mother. It is truly a wonder how you haven't turned out exactly like your father but maybe I misjudged you, maybe you are just as frightened and weak as your mother. If you are, that would explain why you are such a coward when it comes to taking risks for the good of the group," Alexandra says, crossing her arms. "Your mother could not even keep herself alive or keep you safe. Her death forced you to kill your father out of fear. How many of our people will you let die because of your fear? Hm?"

Salty tears stream down my hot face as I raise my index finger to her face.

"My mother died to help me escape my father, she was no coward and she was the strongest woman I had ever known. You spitting on everything she was is the greatest insult of all towards me and I do not think I could ever forgive you. Only a child speaks ill of the dead to hurt someone else when they have no real argument." I state. Christopher puts a comforting hand on my shoulder and I turn away from the emotionless face of Alexandra. He helps guide me out of the room as I try to stop my tears, frustrated.

"What was that?" Christopher asks when we enter my office. I sigh and plop down into my seat.

"She is angry that the girl is taking so long and that I disagree. I believe the girl is doing the right thing, murder is a tricky activity and it makes sense she is dragging her feet a little." I respond. I rub a hand down my face and sigh again. Christopher sits in a chair across from me and my desk, leaning back and throwing his feet onto the surface.

"Do you want my advice?" He asks. I shake my head.

"No, there is nothing you can say that I have not already thought about."

"It was quite rude of her to bring up your past like that in front of everyone. She was trying to make you seem weak to them, probably so she can figure out a way to put someone else in your place. It is odd, considering, you two are lovers. You would think she would be more patient and hold your relationship above her own desires and wishes."

"It is not like Alexandra to hold anyone or anything above herself, you know that," I state.

"I know, sadly."

A/N: Yeehaw my darlings, another chapter!! short but I hope you enjoyed :)) I love you 💕💕💕💕🤠🤠🤠🤠