♦

Lilith stood before her bathroom mirror, the soft glow of the vanity lights casting a warm aura around her. As her fingers brushed over the fabric of her dress, her gaze lingered on her reflection. There was something in her gaze, a hint of distance that tugged at her consciousness, but she couldn't quite grasp it. Her reflection seemed almost like a different person, a stranger staring back at her from the glass.

Lilith gracefully reached for a vibrant red lipstick, skillfully applying it to her lips and ensuring maximum coverage. Without hesitation, she raised the lipstick and marked the mirror, creating devil horns perfectly aligned with the crown of her head. A contented sigh escaped her lips as she set the lipstick down.

Lilith swung her purse over her shoulder, its strap resting comfortably against her. The soft click of her heels echoed into the hallway as she made her way to the kitchen. The sharp, clean scent of bleach pervaded the air.

Nyx was vigorously scrubbing a countertop when she entered. Lilith arched an eyebrow, her lips curving into a knowing smile as she observed her sister's unusually energetic cleaning spree.

"You're cleaning?" Lilith questioned as she settled onto a bar stool at the island in the center of the kitchen. The smell of bleach was invigorating but also a tad overwhelming.

Nyx continued scrubbing, seemingly attempting to keep her mind occupied. "This place is a mess, dust everywhere. How did I not notice it got this bad?"

Lilith leaned casually on her elbows. "Alright, what's on your mind? You only tweaker clean when you're stressed."

Nyx paused in her cleaning, her eyes flicking briefly to her sister before she took a towel and wiped off the chemicals. "It's stupid."

"Oh, bullshit," Lilith scoffed. "Spill."

Nyx moved to stand on the opposite side of the island, taking a moment before speaking. "I just... haven't heard from him since Mom's funeral."

Lilith's expression softened with understanding. She knew exactly who Nyx was referring to but asked anyway. "Josiah?" Nyx shot her a warning look. "I'm sure he's just busy, Nyxie. He has the Antichrist as a brother. You can't really blame him for not replying."

Nyx sighed, her frustration evident. "How are you so calm about this? They're both off galivanting to bring the end times."

"Oh, please," Lilith waved a dismissive hand. "I just don't think there's any point in freaking out about things out of your control."

Nyx, however, was not so easily consoled. "There has to be something we can do."

"I genuinely don't care at this point anymore," Lilith confessed, her voice carrying a tone of indifference. "Humanity is a cesspool of shit. Maybe he's doing the world a favor."

"You sound like Mom," Nyx remarked, appalled at her sister's attitude, crossing her arms defiantly. "You've become an entirely different person since the ritual. Since Michael."

Lilith shrugged nonchalantly, her tone tinged with irritation. "I could say the same thing about you with Josiah if you really want to go there."

Nyx seemed ready to fire back, growing more agitated as the energy in the room intensified. However, Lilith quickly shut her down as she rose to her feet, hands on the counter for support, bitterness seeping into her voice.

"No, Nyx. Did it ever occur to you that I don't feel the need to pretend anymore?" Lilith's words cut through the charged atmosphere, her tone tinged with frustration. "I was exhausted trying to earn Dad's approval, just like you were desperate for Mom's. But he's not here, and neither is she. So, forgive me for finally feeling okay enough to exist."

"Oh, whatever," Nyx scoffed. "I didn't sell my soul and murder someone to please her. Satan knows how many people you've killed since then."

Lilith huffed in surprise, nodding at those words. She removed her hands from the counter, her eyes dropping slightly before meeting her sister's gaze again.

"Wow, okay. I get it now, really," she began, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "It's cute that you think being a good person will make Josiah choose you. That's what you think I'm doing with Michael, isn't it? Weren't you the one worshiping the ground the Antichrist walked on when he first got here?"

"And newsflash, baby," she spat, her frustration boiling over. "You're going to be in my shoes real fucking soon, so take a good long hard look at me because that's what you're going to see in the mirror for the rest of your life."

Nyx's shoulders slumped, the weight of realization bearing down on her. She was the one who had encouraged Lilith to do the ritual, despite knowing full well the depths of her sister's fear. Now that same darkness awaited her when she turned eighteen.

Nyx's vision blurred, and a sensation of lightheadedness threatened to engulf her. With a desperate effort, she anchored herself to the solid surface beneath her, feeling the cool solidity of the stone against her trembling palms. Her eyes rolled back as her consciousness teetered on the edge of oblivion, the world fading into a haze of white.

Meanwhile, Lilith's worry deepened, her concern manifesting into action. With swift, instinctual movements, she darted to a nearby drawer, her fingers fumbling in their haste as they sought out a pen and a sheet of paper. With trembling hands, she deposited the items in front of her sister, her gaze fixed on Nyx.

Nyx remained frozen in place, her hands hovering over the pencil before finally grasping it with a sense of urgency. With an almost frantic precision, she began to sketch on the paper before her, each stroke a reflection of her premonition.

Seconds felt like hours, but eventually, Nyx's eyes returned to their normal, vibrant hue as she let out a breath, her body relaxing. Lilith placed a comforting hand on her sister's shoulder, their eyes both drawn to the paper. The image sprawled across it depicts a chilling scene—demolished buildings, ominous mushroom clouds billowing into the sky, and a date etched with grim certainty at the bottom.

"April 13th, 2020?" Lilith's voice wavered with disbelief. The sisters shared a silent moment, coming to terms with the reality that the end was, indeed, approaching.

While Lilith had come to a realization that she didn't really care about their impending doom, the proof was in front of her. It was real and not something she could just ignore. Sure, she had little care for her own life, and until recently, cared little for others as well. The more souls she consumed, the less guilt ate at her. If she was being honest, it was like something had shifted, and that guilt was now a distant memory. However, the need to protect her sister was still there.

Lilith's eyes shifted toward the family grimoire placed on one of the nearby counters. She could have sworn she left that book at her family cabin. Her curiosity piqued, and she couldn't help but investigate. Lilith opened the grimoire's pages, her eyes landing on a specific section that detailed the preservation of life force drawn from a Succubi's victims.

"What is it?" Nyx asked, genuinely curious about what had caught her sister's attention.

"I swear I've gone through this a thousand times," Lilith murmured, more to herself than to her sister. "I would have seen this."

Nyx scanned the information over her sister's shoulder, a smile creeping up on her face. "Who cares? This is a good thing!"

♦

Lilith roamed the vibrant streets of Los Angeles, seeking solace in the serotonin-inducing chemicals that pulsed through her veins. Her chosen release guided her through the city's neon-lit avenues, her high serving as a temporary escape from the grim reality that loomed over them all.

The streets thrived with life, the energy of the city seeping into her every pore. In this moment, with the world teetering on the brink, Lilith refused to succumb to panic. Instead, she chose to embrace the fleeting pleasures that life still had to offer.

Her path led her to a pulsating bar, where the music was deafening and the air was thick with the scent of sweat and anticipation. Lilith moved with confidence, bypassing the line outside and entering with an infectious grin that turned heads. The thumping beats resonated in her chest as she made her way to the bar, ordering a drink with a playful charm that was hard to resist. She opened a tab, settling comfortably into her seat as she surveyed the electrifying scene before her.

The karaoke stage beckoned, and Lilith, fueled by liquid courage and a desire to forget the world's impending doom, decided to take the plunge. She signed up without a second thought, ready to share her passion and fervor with the captive audience. As she stepped into the spotlight, the music began, and she surrendered herself to the rhythm.

With each note, she captivated the room, her performance drawing in everyone around her. The audience cheered and clapped, their enthusiasm a testament to her magnetic stage presence. Lilith basked in their adoration, concluding her performance with a dramatic bow, which only intensified the cheers and applause. She handed the microphone to the next eager performer, leaving the stage with a graceful stride.

Back at the bar, she settled into her seat, her carefree attitude undiminished. Another drink was on its way, and Lilith was ready to continue her night of revelry. However, amid the cacophony of the bar, she sensed a shift in the energy around her. Eyes, not unfamiliar to her, were fixed upon her, but these eyes were different, carrying an aura of darkness that set her on edge.

Her gaze flickered to the source of this unsettling presence, where a man in an expensive suit sat at a table in the corner. A drink was before him, but it was his unwavering gaze that drew her attention. The dark energy that enveloped him was unmistakable, like a shroud of shadow. Lilith, recognizing something otherworldly in him, couldn't help but feel a strange connection. He was like her, and that intrigued her more than anything else in that bar.

♦

Lilith stepped outside, a satisfied smile playing on her lips. There was a noticeable shift in her demeanor, something she couldn't quite put her finger on. Whether it was the result of successfully following the instructions from the family grimoire or the fact that although it was successful, she chose to devour her victim's soul anyway.

A cigarette found its way between her lips, and she ignited it with a flick of her fingers, exhaling a plume of smoke as she sauntered down the street. Her boots echoed against the pavement, each step punctuated by a sense of empowerment. The world seemed different to her now, and she was ready to embrace it.

She allowed the cigarette to dangle between her fingers, occasionally bringing it to her lips for a drag as she reveled in the altered state of her mind. There was a heady thrill to it, an intoxication that threatened to consume her entirely, but she welcomed it willingly.

Suddenly, a woman's desperate cry for help shattered the night's tranquility, jolting Lilith out of her reverie. Her senses sharpened as she followed the sound, leading her to a dark alley. There, she witnessed a man ruthlessly assaulting a woman, his hands roughly tugging at her dress.

Fury surged through Lilith as she marched toward the horrifying scene. In an instant, she unleashed her replenished strength, gripping the man's jacket and sending him hurtling backward. Her gaze shifted to the sobbing woman, who was desperately trying to regain her composure amidst the chaos.

Lilith's voice was commanding as she directed the terrified woman to flee, and without a second thought, the victim sprinted away, her desperate footsteps fading into the night.

The man, now groaning in pain and utterly bewildered by the immense strength displayed by the seemingly small girl before him, began to gather himself. He gingerly sat up, attempting to make sense of the bizarre encounter he had just endured.

But Lilith was far from finished. As she stood bathed in moonlight, her predatory gaze fixated on him with an unsettling intensity. It was as if a switch had been flipped within her, unleashing a raw, insatiable bloodlust and the veneer of humanity fell away.

As he attempted to back away, Lilith advanced, her movements slow and deliberate, like a predator closing in on its prey. He staggered to his feet, his back pressed against a grimy alley wall, his heart pounding in terror.

The aura emanating from Lilith was overwhelming, a sickening force that rooted him in place. His desire to escape was overshadowed by an inexplicable dread and attraction that kept him frozen in her presence.

With a cruel smile curling her lips, Lilith's fingers gripped the man's cheeks firmly, her gaze boring up into his eyes with an unsettling intensity. Her hand slid downward, coming to rest over his heart. A gasp escaped her lips as she felt the pulsing organ beneath her touch.

Then, in a macabre display of power, Lilith forced her hand into his chest, her fingers wrapping around his quivering heart. The man's eyes widened in sheer horror as he felt the excruciating sensation.

A maniacal grin adorned Lilith's face as she tightened her grip, her fingers clutching the throbbing organ tightly. She held his gaze, savoring the sheer terror in his eyes before, with a brutal and swift motion, ripping his heart out.

The man crumpled to the ground, his lifeless body sinking to the cold pavement. Lilith stared down at the still-beating heart in her hand, blood trickling down her arm. Without hesitation, she squeezed it further before tossing it carelessly to the side. Closing her eyes for a moment, Lilith brought two of her bloodied fingers to her lips, her tongue lapping up the crimson fluid.

Amid the shadows, a figure emerged from the obscurity. It was the man from the bar, his presence shrouded in an aura of enigma. Lilith's heart raced, her mind a whirlwind of paranoia and unease. It was as if her transgression had been laid bare for the world to see, and this man was the arbiter of her fate.

With a forced, nervous smile, Lilith attempted to downplay the situation.

"It's not what it looks like?" she offered, feigning innocence. She shifted her gaze from the lifeless figure to the blood on her hand.

The man, however, exuded an air of disinterest in matters of the crime. He calmly produced a handkerchief from his pocket and extended it toward Lilith.

"I'm not here for justice," he remarked, his tone devoid of emotion. "I wanted to make you a deal."

Lilith's cynical streak surfaced as she snatched the handkerchief, using it to clean up. She recognized this individual for what he was: born from greed, drawn to deals and transactions. "Sorry, buddy, but I sold my soul a long time ago."

The man's head tilted, an inquisitive glint in his eyes. "Did you ever cash in on it?"

Lilith hesitated, briefly studying her blood-stained hand as if seeking answers. "No," she finally admitted, her voice carrying a hint of uncertainty.

His gaze, unwavering, locked onto her. "There's a band—extremely talented, but they're missing someone. A leader."

"Why me?" Lilith questioned, her skepticism still lingering.

"Because I've watched you for a while now," the man explained, a fiery passion underlying his words. "And you have it. Rage. It defines you... like no one I've ever seen. Tell me what that feels like."

As Lilith contemplated his proposition, she delved deep into her emotions. It was a sensation she had lived with all her life, but now, it coursed through her with newfound intensity. "It's not like anger; everyone feels that. It feels like wanting to be the last person on Earth just so you can watch every motherfucker in the world burn."

A wicked grin spread across the man's features, a grin that hinted at a malevolent partnership. "What do you say? Ready to really taste the dark side?"

Lilith's gaze remained locked on the enigmatic man, a whirlwind of conflicting emotions churning within her. His offer was alluring in its own sinister way, tapping into the raw, untamed energy that had always coursed through her veins. Her mind danced with the possibilities, each more tantalizing than the last.

The alley seemed to grow darker, the shadows deeper, as if the very world around her conspired to push her toward this fateful crossroads. Her past, her desires, and the uncertainty of the future swirled together in a chaotic mix.

As Lilith extended her hand to seal the unholy deal, the world around her seemed to shift, and the die was cast. She had made a choice, one that would thrust her into a world darker and more chaotic than she had ever imagined.

♦