♦

Lilith turns on the shower, patiently waiting for it to reach a warm temperature. The remnants of her clothes fall away, and she walks to the mirror. Turning her back to it, she moves her hair aside and turns her head slightly to inspect the spot where her lash wounds had once marred her skin. With a gentle touch, she traces her fingers across the area, finding it completely healed.

After her shower, Lilith enters her bedroom to find Diana patiently waiting. Under Diana's meticulous care, Lilith is adorned with precision. Once Diana finishes her task, Lilith finds herself alone in her room, on the verge of joining the evening's cocktail gathering in the library.

As Lilith's gaze sweeps over her reflection in the full-length mirror, she feels thoroughly rejuvenated and content. A warm smile graces her lips as she appraises her transformed image, using her hands deftly to smooth out any lingering creases in her elegant dress. With a graceful turn on her heels, she exits her room, poised and ready for the evening ahead.

As she steps into the corridor, Lilith notices her sister emerging as well, an epitome of elegance and allure. Their eyes lock, and it is immediately apparent to Lilith how much more youthful Nyx looks since their last encounter.

"Where the hell have you been?" Nyx inquires, closing the gap between them with swift strides, her gaze taking in Lilith's enchanting appearance.

"I was tied up,"

Nyx crosses her arms, her curiosity unabated. "You fucked him, didn't you? There's no way you didn't, you look like a million bucks."

"You look unusually good yourself." Lilith narrows her eyes, scrutinizing her sister's appearance, a sly grin appearing on Nyx's lips, confirming her suspicion.

Lilith's jaw drops in disbelief. "Josiah?"

Nyx bites her lower lip and nods, her eyes gleaming with excitement.

"You didn't."

"I couldn't help it," Nyx confesses, allowing her arms to fall to her sides and sway playfully. "He just looked so delicious, I had to have a taste."

"Alright, let's keep this on the down-low, or both of us will be saying 'Hi' to Mom in Hell." Lilith cautions, gesturing to her sister before extending her arm. Nyx salutes her before interlinking their arms, and together, they make their way to the library.

"I don't get how you can forgive him so easily after all the fucked-up things he said to you," Nyx remarks, her irritation evident.

"Apparently, he lied. He said that it was because he wanted to protect me or some bullshit like that." Lilith explains.

"That makes absolutely no sense, but that's honestly so sweet," Nyx comments, her smile returning with a touch of amusement.

"Did you not see them coming at all?" Lilith asks, noting that her sister is typically perceptive about almost everything.

"My visions have been blurry since we've been down here," Nyx shrugs nonchalantly. "Maybe there isn't a future worth seeing."

Lilith steals a contemplative glance at her sister as they approach the library door. 

The two sisters make their entrance, their presence is immediately noted by the trio of Evie, Coco, and Dinah, each positioned gracefully within the opulent room, where soft background music sets the atmosphere.

"Hello, ladies." Nyx greets warmly, her infectious smile spreading across her face. 

Coco's eyes widen, and her jaw drops in mock surprise when she sees Lilith. "I thought you were dead."

"Not yet."

Evie, who has been fanning herself dramatically on the couch, can't help but join in the banter. "You both are looking quite radiant this evening."

Coco can't help but fixate on Lilith and Nyx's unusually stunning appearance. Her initial shock turns into a mock pout as she crosses her arms with a theatrical sigh. Coco grumbles in a playful tone, "I put hours into my makeup, and you two waltz in here looking like goddesses."

Nyx adopts an exaggerated pose. "It's a tough burden to bear, but someone has to do it." 

The room falls into a momentary hush as a new song plays in the background, tugging at heartstrings and invoking nostalgia. Dinah paces around the room, her thoughts drifting back to simpler times.

"This song makes me so melancholy," Dinah begins, her voice soft and reflective. "They used it in a very special Hardy Boys' episode where one of the Hardy Boys' girlfriends dies. I can't remember which one. I had the biggest crush on Shaun Cassidy... innocent times."

Coco, ever the provocateur, can't resist interjecting with a teasing remark. "Boring times."

Dinah shoots Coco a glare before continuing, "The Hardy Boys was a very popular program."

Coco, however, has her own perspective. She tilts her head and addresses the older women in the room. "Yeah, of course it was. You only had three networks. You know what? This is exactly why this is so much harder on our youth than it is for you geriatrics."

"You're used to only having two or three lame things in your life like TV Networks, ways to drink coffee, and sexual orientations," 

Dinah moves to sit beside the two sisters as Mallory enters the room, placing a tray of drinks down which Lilith quickly snatches one of the glasses from.

"Mallory, help me with this, please." Coco implores; her tone persistent.

Without missing a beat, Mallory responds as she perches on the arm of the couch, near Coco.

"Dog breeds. We had at least ten different Pomeranians to choose from, and you guys were cool with drinking tap water."

"Not having to wait a week to watch a new episode from a TV show," Nyx adds.

"We had so many options for everything. Dental floss, air fresheners, we didn't just order a burger, we needed to know if we wanted turkey or veggie or that meatless kind that bleeds like the real thing." Coco continues.

"We had at least four Chrises that could star in a movie," Mallory adds, tilting her head to the side. "How many did you have?"

The room falls into a heavy silence as Dinah and Evie stare at Mallory and Coco, their mouths agape in unison. Tension seems to permeate the air, and the sisters exchange a concerned glance. Gallant's added entrance adds to the unease, especially when he makes direct eye contact with Evie before casually helping himself to a drink from the platter.

"Surprised to see me breathin', Nana?" Gallant asks nonchalantly, taking a sip from his glass.

"They usually shoot people for fucking. Or did you not remember that when you turned me in?" Gallant's words are laced with bitterness, and the sisters are taken aback, their mouths dropping in unison.

"No hard feelings, darling," Evie replies with an air of indifference. "I want to live, and the only way to achieve that is to get rid of these ten little Indians that stand between me and my golden ticket out of here."

"That's fucked." Lilith comments, taking a sip of her drink.

"Uh, we're sitting right here," Coco adds, her voice tinged with disbelief.

Ignoring Coco's interjection, Evie continues, growing increasingly upset with her grandson. "It's not my fault that you can't control your carnal urges."

"You have lived!" Gallant yells, pointing an aggressive finger at her. "I haven't."

"Oh, yes, you have," Evie seethes, rising from her seat and never breaking eye contact with him. "You have crammed ten lifetimes of failures and screw-ups into your thirty years!"

Gallant turns to look around at the faces in the room. "Am I the only one that makes mistakes? Hm?"

Lilith shrugs, watching the argument unfold as if she were at a tennis match.

"No, but I'm the one that always has to clean up after you," Evie declares, her voice filled with frustration. "Let me see. Three stints in rehab on my dime. Fancy lawyers to keep you out of prison. When your grandfather rejected you because of your perverted lifestyle, I took you in. And what did I get back? Yes, you went and bankrupt two salons, and then you snorted the third one up your nose."

Evie turns toward the rest of the group as if they were a jury. "I deserve to live. I am the bridge between the past and the future. I mean, when those poor survivors arrive, what do they know about the culture, music, and art? And I will be there to tell them all about it."

"She's delusional," Nyx whispers to her sister, earning a soft laugh from Lilith.

Evie turns her attention back to her grandson. "One lifetime of me is worth fifty of you. Humanity may be in a sorry state, but it deserves better than you."

Gallant takes in a deep breath. "I should have put you in that motion picture home years ago. The only thing I ever wanted from you was for you to love me and accept me. Why couldn't you have just given me that?"

Evie chuckles dryly. "Sorry, darling. It's just not in my nature."

As Gallant watches his grandmother exit, Coco couldn't resist adding, "Well, it's a good thing you convinced me to bring your nana."

♦

Lilith's room is bathed in a soft, warm glow. Her figure, adorned in delicate lingerie, looks like a vision straight out of a dream. She reclines on her bed, frustration evident in her huffed breaths.

The turmoil of emotions that follows Michael's confession leaves her in a state of uncertainty, her heart and mind locked in a relentless battle. She questions the wisdom of trusting him again; the fear of being hurt again is a constant specter in her thoughts. However, despite the whirlwind of conflicting emotions, her body seems to have a mind of its own, succumbing to the allure of Michael's touch and the tantalizing memory of his kiss.

With a decision fueled by desire, she rises from her bed and slips into a cover-up. She turns to her mirror, her fingers grazing over her hair in a sensual yet purposeful gesture, enhancing her irresistible allure. 

The moment Lilith opens her bedroom door, a sudden rush of anticipation surges through her. To her delightful surprise, Michael is already there, leaning casually against the door frame. His presence in her doorway is an unexpected yet highly electrifying sight, and a wry smile plays at the corners of his lips.

"Expecting someone?" Michael's voice drips with teasing allure as he tilts his head ever so slightly to the side.

"Yeah, actually." Her voice is like silk, a seductive undertone woven into her words. "He's tall, dark, blonde, and has the prettiest eyes I've ever seen. You seen him?"

"You think my eyes are pretty?" he asks, a teasing glint in his gaze.

Lilith steps closer to Michael, her movements a graceful and deliberate invitation. Her gaze never wavers from him, locking onto those intense, icy blue eyes that seem to hold countless secrets.

"Maybe I do," she replies, her voice a sultry purr as she closes the gap between them, her body mere inches from him. "There's something about them that I can't resist."

Michael's smirk deepens, his fingers gently trailing along her jawline. "And what is it about them that you find irresistible?" he whispers, his breath warm against her skin.

Lilith leans in closer, her voice low and sultry as she gazes into Michael's eyes. "They make me wanna do whatever you want," she purrs, her long lashes fluttering playfully.

A hint of amusement dances in Michael's eyes as he raises an eyebrow, a mischievous smirk forming on his lips. "Hm," he muses, his voice low and velvety, "I'll have to use that to my advantage."

Just as Michael leans in to close the gap between them, Lilith teasingly pulls away, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. She takes a step back, retreating into her room, her hand resting on the door. With an inviting gesture, she moves for him to follow.

Lilith moves aside to let him enter. As he closes the door behind him, her eyes lock onto him with an intense hunger. Her gaze caresses his form, inviting his desire.

As she approaches him with grace and confidence, Michael watches her every movement with an increasing appetite. Lilith moves closer, her cover up slipping to the ground. Michael's eyes drink in her beauty, lingering on her curves as the air between them grows thick with tension.

With a sensual sway of her hips, Lilith turns around, her back now exposed to him. Michael doesn't hesitate; his fingers dance skillfully over her corset, slowly undoing the ties. His touch is gentle yet electric. He removes his fingers from the ties to move her hair aside, his lips descending to plant a hot, lingering kiss on her shoulder. Lilith's eyes flutter closed as she relishes in his affectionate caress.

"I've missed you," Michael whispers, his warm breath igniting her senses, his voice filled with yearning.

Lilith, caught off guard by his openness, feels her thoughts momentarily drift away from their passionate encounter to her memories of being without him. The pain she had endured during his absence was excruciating.

"Have you?" Lilith whispers, her tone shifting from seduction to vulnerability.

"I've lost so much, but none of it compared to losing you."  Michael confesses, his eyes locked onto her with an intensity that matches her own. He gently holds her hand, urging her to face him completely. 

Lilith pulls away from his touch, moving to sit on the edge of her bed. "Then why didn't you take me with you?"

Michael lets out a breath, his gaze unwavering as he moves closer to her, kneeling to look up at her. His hand rests on her thigh, his touch comforting yet tinged with sadness. "All I've ever known and all anyone has ever expected from me is to be the Antichrist. No direction, no guidance. But with you, you made me feel like just... Michael."

He moves his other hand to caress her cheek. "I knew that with you by my side, I wouldn't fulfill my destiny. So many people relied on me, and I couldn't bring myself to disappoint them."

"I've always known that I would always come second to your father, and I accepted that. I wouldn't have gotten in the way of what you were meant to do. I supported you. I would have done anything for you."

"I know," Michael whispers, forcing a smile despite the sadness that hangs between them. "That's why I couldn't. I've struggled with the desire to be good. I think for people like me, that just isn't possible. But for you... it's second nature. I couldn't be the reason you denied who you really are."

"I'm not that naive little girl anymore." Lilith's words pour out in a torrent, reflecting her frustration. "You were the first person to see through me, to understand that even though I wanted to stray from my mother's path, that was where I belonged. I've come to accept that part of myself."

"And what about the other part?"

"Sometimes I still feel her trying to claw her way out, but..." Lilith shakes her head, sadness and resignation in her eyes. "She's gone."

"Isn't that why you're here?" Lilith questions, her voice tinged with fiery determination. "I know you, Michael. I highly doubt you're looking for good Samaritans to go to the Sanctuary. If you're going to fill the spots at all,"

Michael can't help but let out a huff of air, his lips curving into an amused smile. Her spirit, her unapologetic defiance, it's all part of what drew him to her in the first place.

"Did I pass your test then?"

Michael rises to his feet so that he looms over her. His fingers caress her cheek, placing a kiss on the top of her head.

♦

Nyx walks through the candlelit corridors of the secluded outpost, her long dress swishing with each step. Her mind is preoccupied with the unsettling feeling of darkness closing in around her.

Suddenly, as if a heavy shroud descends, she finds herself unable to move, leaning her weight against a nearby stone pillar. Her once vibrant eyes turn a ghostly shade of white as a vision plays out before her, filling her with a sense of impending dread.

In the midst of her trance, Josiah, who has been walking nearby, notices Nyx in this disconcerting state. Concern etches across his face as he rushes over to her, calling her name as he tries to make sense of the situation.

"Nyx?" Josiah's voice is tinged with worry as he searches her iris-less eyes. Then, just as suddenly as the vision had taken hold, Nyx draws in a deep breath, her eyes returning to their normal, piercing gaze. She gasps, her chest heaving, her senses slowly returning to the present.

"They're going to kill everyone," Nyx blurts out, her voice laced with panic and urgency.

Josiah, though relieved that Nyx appears to be okay, doesn't seem shaken by the revelation.

"Are you okay?" Josiah asks, his hands gently resting on her shoulders.

Nyx is momentarily perplexed by his seemingly calm demeanor in the face of her distress.

"Didn't you just hear me?" Nyx shakes her head in disbelief. "They're going to poison everyone; we have to stop it."

Josiah lets out a sigh, as if burdened by knowledge beyond Nyx's understanding.

"We can't interfere," he says, his voice filled with an air of resignation.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Nyx looks at him with wide, bewildered eyes, unable to comprehend his lack of urgency.

"You can't say anything, Nyx. To anyone. It has to be like this," Josiah implores, his hands gently clasping hers.

"I don't understand," Nyx murmurs, her gaze locked on him.

"Everything will be okay. Trust me," Josiah reassures her, his voice unwavering. "I would never let anything bad happen to you or your sister."

Nyx scoffs, a bitter edge to her tone. "Take a look around, buddy. Bad stuff has already happened, and you did nothing to prevent it."

Josiah knows he can't let her words deter him from his mission, from the path he believes is set in motion. "You'll understand soon, I swear. You have to eat the apples." Josiah urges, his eyes pleading with her to trust him.

Nyx searches his eyes, the turmoil in her heart slowly giving way to a glimmer of belief. "We'll be okay?" Nyx breathes, her voice wavering.

"I swear." Josiah nods, a solemn promise etched in his expression.

♦

The members of the Outpost are gathered in the library, the weight of their recent trials evident in their faces. Nyx appears shaken, her gaze fixed on her trembling hands. Lilith can't help but notice her sister's unease, and just as she's about to inquire, Venable enters the room, commanding attention with the rhythmic tapping of her cane.

Venable's demeanor takes everyone by surprise as she begins to speak. Her usual authoritarian tone has softened, and her words hold an air of conciliation.

"These past several months have been difficult for all of us," Venable starts, her gaze sweeping across the room as she addresses the members. "And perhaps, in my efforts to keep us safe, punitive measures have been taken too far."

"I believe now what we need is a moment of celebration, camaraderie. Which is why, this weekend, as a gesture of goodwill... we will have a Halloween soiree," Venable declares, her announcement met with a mix of surprise and excitement from the group. Even Coco and Gallant, who have been giggling in anticipation, seem taken aback by Venable's change in stance. "In the style of a Victorian masquerade ball."

"It's Halloween this weekend?" Gallant's tone is unusually cheerful, and it raises eyebrows in the room. Others begin to notice the incongruity of his reaction, causing him to clear his throat and quickly shift to a more somber tone. "If only my nana were here to enjoy it with me."

Lilith struggles to suppress a laugh at the melodramatic performance, almost choking on her drink as she watches the display unfold.

"We've all lost track of time a bit," Venable notes, and Lilith can't agree more, considering the peculiar circumstances of their lives. "And this festive occasion is the perfect opportunity to remedy this. And I encourage you all to use your imaginations to create what I'm sure will be exquisite costumes. Attendance is mandatory."

♦

Lilith feels an increasing restlessness ever since Michael's arrival at the Outpost. It's a peculiar sensation, an unsettling tug at the back of her mind that whispers of escape. She yearns for her old life, for the changing seasons, the scent of fresh air, the feel of summer rain on her skin, even the warmth of the sun's rays. Her current existence within the stark walls of the Outpost and the repetitive faces of its inhabitants leaves her with a profound sense of isolation.

She momentarily closes her eyes, conjuring the sensations of freedom in her mind. A wistful sigh escapes her lips, and when she opens her eyes, she is greeted by the same monotonous surroundings that have become her daily life. The walls seem to close in on her.

Attempting to shake off her reverie, Lilith lightly taps on a door, deciding to enter when there is no response. Inside, she finds Michael absorbed in his laptop, his attention fixed on something of interest.

"Looking at your spank bank again?" Lilith teases as she enters and closes the door behind her.

Michael glances over his shoulder, a smirk playing on his lips. He turns to face her, leaning back casually in his chair. "Why do that when I have the real thing right here?"

Lilith rolls her eyes at his comment and moves to sit on the edge of his desk. "You're up to something."

"I don't know what you mean," Michael replies with an air of innocence, clasping his fingers together.

"Sure you don't," Lilith mocks, playfully crossing her arms.

Michael grins and looks back at his computer. "Just don't eat the apples."

"You are up to something," Lilith concludes.

"It's classified,"

Lilith lets out a scoff. "Seriously? You can't just tell me not to eat the apples and not explain why."

"I mean it. Don't eat them. And don't let your sister have one either," Michael warns firmly.

Lilith slumps in her seat, taking his words more seriously now. "I guess I know why Venable's throwing a party. I take it you're not going?"

Michael shakes his head, and Lilith sighs, rising from her seat. "I guess you'll just have to miss me all dolled up."

"I'll see you after, I promise." Michael assures her, taking her hand and planting a loving kiss on the back of it.

Lilith smiles, and her heart flutters as she looks into his eyes. There is an intensity in his gaze that has the power to drive her to do things she never thought possible. She raises her free hand to cup his cheek and leans in for a soft, passionate kiss.

♦