The Only Queen

Chapter Three

"Sorry about that, Candace. We're a handful," Lucifer interjected smoothly, offering the waitress an apologetic smile. "Just ignore them. Now, back to business," he continued, redirecting the conversation back to the matter at hand.

"Don't be too nice to the help," Lilith muttered under her breath, her frustration evident in her tone. "We're not here to make friends with the staff, Candace. Just do your job and bring us our drinks," she added, her words sharp and dismissive.

Lucifer's expression tightened at Lilith's comment, a subtle indication of his disapproval evident in the furrow of his brow. He cleared his throat, shooting his sister a warning glance. "Lilith, let's maintain a respectful tone," he admonished quietly, his voice carrying a hint of authority. "Candace is simply doing her job. Let's stay focused on the matter at hand, shall we?"

“You weren’t even listening to the rest of my plan.” Lilith muttered under her breath, feeling a surge of irritation as Lucifer intervened. You've all done worse to your employees outside of this club, she thought to herself, finally acknowledging the harsh realities of their world. Despite her frustration, Lilith chose not to push further, knowing that it wouldn't lead to any productive outcome.

Unlike her interactions with her other siblings, she treaded carefully around Lucifer, a habit born out of a strange blend of respect and apprehension. There was an undeniable air of authority and power that surrounded her oldest brother, one that she couldn't help but acknowledge, even though he wasn't as overtly violent as Satan.

Lucifer's response was laced with a subtle undertone of intimidation and dismissal as he addressed Lilith's muttered remark. "Are you not capable of devising your own strategy for your assigned task?" he questioned, raising an eyebrow in skepticism. Despite the tension in the air, his authoritative tone brooked no further discussion.

"I've got this covered," she stated firmly, her lips pressed together in a tight line as she fought the urge to say more. Her gaze locked with his, a simmering frustration burning in her eyes. She struggled to maintain her composure, but the unspoken recognition of his authority over her fueled her annoyance. The hush that fell over the table hinted at the palpable tension hanging in the air.

Lilith disengaged from the conversation, her attention drifting as she reached for the two shots on the table. With a determined flick of her wrist, she downed them one after the other, the fiery liquid igniting a warmth in her chest. She knew this wouldn't be the end of her indulgence for the night; she planned to drown her frustrations until she could barely stand.

Lilith motioned to Candace, signaling for her to approach, and promptly ordered eight more vodka shots with purposeful determination. She was determined to hasten the conclusion of this tedious meeting, even if it meant seeking solace in alcohol to alleviate her mounting frustrations.

In no more than five minutes, Candace returned to the table with Lilith's order, and Lilith greeted her with a genuine smile. The warmth of the first two shots had already started to flush her cheeks, adding to her growing sense of relaxation.

As Lilith indulged in her impromptu drinking spree, Lucifer remained unperturbed, engrossed in conversation with Satan and Leviathan. Leviathan shot Lilith a concerned glance, silently disapproving of her self-destructive behavior but refraining from vocalizing his thoughts.

Belial, however, couldn't help but sigh as he observed Lilith's antics. "Looks like this is my punishment," he muttered under his breath, resigned to the role of her caretaker for the evening.

"Hell yes!" Lilith exclaimed as she wasted no time in downing all eight shots in rapid succession. She settled back in her seat, anticipation brewing as she awaited the intoxicating effects to take hold, welcoming the blissful numbness that would momentarily free her from the burdens of reality.

To ensure she reached the desired level of inebriation, Lilith ordered four more shots, downing them one after the other without hesitation. After allowing herself a brief indulgence of ten minutes, she could feel the alcohol beginning to take effect, a pleasant buzz washing over her. When she finally rose from her seat, the room seemed to sway gently around her, eliciting a giggle of amusement.

"We'll reconvene tomorrow if Lilith decides to show up to work," Lucifer grumbled, observing his sister's increasingly unsteady movements. With Belial's arm draped around her shoulders, they made their way out of the VIP room, the cacophony of the club hitting them in a sudden rush as they exited.

"Can I please be alone for one song?" Lilith pleaded with Belial, a newfound sense of euphoria coursing through her veins. She was ready to let loose and enjoy herself.

"One song, and then we're going home," Belial agreed reluctantly, feeling the weight of his responsibility towards his sister more acutely than ever before.

Lucifer departed without a second glance, confident that Lilith could handle herself now. Meanwhile, Leviathan and Satan made their way to the bar and settled in to observe their sister's lone dance. Though they trusted Belial to look after her, they felt a sense of obligation to stay and keep an eye on things. With no other plans for the night and all heading home together, they saw no reason not to linger and enjoy the scene.

Throwing her hands in the air, Lilith swayed to the rhythm of the music, losing herself in the euphoric atmosphere of the club. Though it felt like hours to her, it was merely the duration of a single song.

"Alright, darling, I just need you to make it out of the club and into the car on your own. Can you do that for me?" Belial shouted over the music, concern evident in his voice.

"Yes!" Lilith nodded vigorously, leaning on her brother for support as they navigated their way out of the club and towards his car. The valet had the vehicle waiting for them as they emerged.

By the time they arrived back at their apartment complex, Lilith had already succumbed to sleep in the passenger seat. With great care, Belial carried her inside, opting to leave his shoes on as he set her up on the couch. He placed a large throw pillow beneath her head and draped a throw blanket over her, ensuring she was comfortable. A glass of water and some aspirin were left on the coffee table, a small gesture of care before he departed for the night.