The Only Queen

Chapter Four

Two days had passed since the tense family meeting at Empire, and Lilith now found herself enveloped in the tranquility of her master suite within the Alastair main luxury apartment building. Unlike her siblings' apartments, hers bore the mark of her personal touch—she had taken the time to redo the flooring and redecorated, creating a space that reflected her unique style and personality. Though her brothers had scoffed at the expense and extravagance, for Lilith, this was more than just a room—it was her sanctuary, her haven from the chaos of the outside world. It was her first taste of independence, her first apartment away from the Alastair Manor.

With each step on the smooth, dark floors, the echo of her footfalls resonated through the air, a comforting rhythm. Surrounded by the soft sounds of her movements, she carefully packed her belongings, her mind racing with possible scenarios she might find herself in. She envisioned the challenges ahead, each one a puzzle to solve, and she devised a plan to obtain the simple answers she needed to complete her assignment.

As Lilith neatly folded her clothes and arranged her things, she thought about the role she would play and how she would act. She knew she couldn't reveal herself as Lilith Alastair, the future queen. Instead, she planned to be Lilith, a regular college student enjoying a night out in New York City. But deep down, Lilith wondered if she could handle being the Queen of Hell—a title even her mother didn't have.

In her everyday life, Lilith often presented herself as hopeless, but deep down, she knew she was anything but. That hopeless facade was just a mask she wore when the burden of expectations felt too heavy. Beneath it, lay a sharp intellect and a natural talent for manipulation—qualities that would serve her well in the dangerous underworld.

Among her siblings, Belial was the only one who truly grasped her abilities. He had witnessed firsthand her cunning and resourcefulness. One incident from her freshman year of college stood out in Lilith's mind. When a group of girls crossed her, instead of seeking her brothers' help, she handled the situation herself.

In that situation, Lilith faced three upperclassmen alone, outnumbered as a freshman. She remained surprisingly composed, trying to defuse the tension with conversation. When diplomacy failed, she didn't hesitate to use her own methods. Through strategic manipulation and careful planning, she dismantled the reputations of those who dared to challenge her authority. She watched as their lives crumbled over the span of a year after exposing their true colors, feeling no remorse.

This encounter taught Lilith a valuable lesson in choosing her battles wisely and wielding her power and privilege carefully. Months later, during a family meeting, Lilith confessed what had happened during her freshman year of college. However, Belial had already informed Lucifer. Despite this, Lucifer remained unfazed by the trivial matters, having confidence in Lilith's abilities. He knew firsthand how she could hold her own, using her sharp tongue and quick wit to even reduce grown men to tears—an undeniable testament to her strength and resilience.

As the elevator dinged, announcing someone's arrival, Lilith glanced up from her thoughts, momentarily startled by the unexpected interruption.

"What's your plan?" Satan himself walked into Lilith's penthouse uninvited, his voice cutting through the air with a tone of authority.

Satan strode into Lilith's penthouse uninvited, the click of his polished leather shoes echoing against the marble floors. Dressed impeccably, as always, he wore a tailored black suit that hugged his broad shoulders and accentuated his powerful presence. The sharp lines of his suit jacket emphasized his commanding stature, while his crisp white shirt contrasted elegantly with the darkness of his attire. A single silver cufflink gleamed at his wrist, adding a touch of sophistication to his ensemble.

She observed him as he let himself into the penthouse with an air of confidence, his expression unreadable as he fixed his piercing gaze on her. There was a palpable sense of authority and dominance in his demeanor, serving as a reminder of his status as one of the eldest siblings and a ruler of Sin City. Despite her surprise, Lilith remained composed, steeling herself for whatever conversation was about to unfold.

"Can't you see I'm packing?" Lilith rolled her eyes, gesturing towards the open duffle bag she had been filling with clothes and her already packed suitcase sitting by the door. It was typical of her brothers to suddenly show concern, especially after assigning her a task. With a sigh, she gently placed her MacBook Pro into her Louis Vuitton briefcase, ready to address whatever matter had brought Satan to her doorstep.

"I see that, but what's all this for?" Satan loomed over his sister intimidatingly, his arms folded across his chest as he regarded her with what appeared to be concern. Despite his imposing demeanor, there was a flicker of genuine interest in his eyes as he awaited her response. Lilith was accustomed to Satan's aggressive displays of love or concern, but this time, she couldn't help but feel annoyed. After all, he was partly responsible for her added stress, having agreed to and even taunted Luci into making this decision.

"Obviously, I'm gonna go have a vacation with Kacia in New York. What the f**k do you think?" Lilith retorted with a heavy dose of sarcasm, her words dripping with mockery. She indulged him with a reply to his seemingly nonsensical question, but her tone made it clear that she wasn't taking him seriously. Instead, she was focused on the task at hand, too preoccupied with unlocking her phone to bother with giving him the attention he seemed to crave. There were more pressing matters at hand, like figuring out what else she needed to pack before her departure.

"I'm being f*****g serious, Lilith!" Satan growled, his voice laced with frustration as he snapped his fingers in front of her face, trying to break her focus from her phone. He felt a surge of anger rising within him at her dismissive attitude, his patience wearing thin with each passing moment. It irked him to no end that she seemed more interested in her phone than in his genuine concern.

"You all agreed to give me this stupid task and NONE of you wanted to hear my plan. So it's too late for any of you to take it back and play the worried big brother card. What's done is done. You made your beds now f*****g lay in it. Meaning let me f*****g handle it how I want to and just watch." Lilith's voice dripped with sarcasm and frustration as she unleashed her pent-up anger. She felt a surge of satisfaction at the sight of Satan’s stunned expressions, relishing in her moment of triumph. As she spoke, her hands moved with purpose, zipping up her black Louis Vuitton suitcase with swift, determined motions. With each pull of the zipper, she felt a sense of empowerment, knowing that she was taking control of the situation on her own terms.

Her glare intensified as she locked eyes with Satan, her defiance unyielding. She refused to back down, refusing to be belittled or underestimated any longer. How dare he snap his fingers at me, she seethed inwardly, her indignation fueling her resolve. With a quick flick of her fingers, she texted Desmond, summoning him to her floor to retrieve her bags. It was a small act of pettiness, perhaps, but it brought her a sense of satisfaction nonetheless. She would handle this task her way, consequences be damned.