Chapter Nine: Asleep in Death
1172 Words
When Lilly and Aiden returned home from being on their honeymoon, not only was there an unexpected visitor, but he came with an unexpected gift. Lilly was just about to start the day and start getting their new home organized when the doorbell rang. Aiden had already left for work and so it came as a surprise to Lilly. She wasn't expecting anyone...
Lilly went and opened the door, and almost immediately shut it when she saw who it was. Damian stood there, his expression solemn. Lilly started to close the door, she had nothing to say to him.
“Wait Lilly, please I just want to talk, I even brought a peace offering.” Damian says quickly.
Lilly gave an annoyed sigh, “Fine, come in.” She says opening the door and letting him in.
Damian came in carrying a covered object. He set it against a wall and then sat down in a chair near it in the living room.
“Do you want a drink?” Lilly asks going into the kitchen and getting herself one.
“Sure, I’ll take a drink, if you don’t mind.” Damian says.
Lilly brings the drinks in and hands him one, then sits down across from him. “So, what do you want Radames?” She asks.
“First, I want to apologize, I was wrong for what I've done, and I don't expect you to forgive me. Second, I want to say that I’m happy for you, I’m happy that you found love and are with someone who deserves you. Third I brought a peace offering.” Damian says getting up.
He sets his drink down after taking a sip and gets up, he walks over to the covered gift, and pulls the covering off it. Lilly lets out a gasp and gets up to look at it. It was the picture that Radames had asked her for when she had been an artist. Lilly went to it and gently touched the painting.
“I wanted you to have this to remember that not all things in your lives have been bad. You were a wonderful artist; I wonder if you still are sometimes.” Damian says looking at the painting.
Lilly lets out a small laugh, “I've never tried, but thank you, it is a good reminder that not all things were bad. There were many good moments. My parents, my art, you... All my lives have had good and bad in them, and as odd as it is, they have all been worth it in some way. Even with the heartbreak.”
“Well at least this time you won't have to die, you can be immortal and live life like you were meant to.” Damian says before going and sitting down to drink his drink.
Lilly goes and sits down and takes another drink. “Maybe, maybe not. I guess we will see won't we.”
Damian was curious about her response, but he didn't want to pry too much. So, he let it go, it wasn't his decision, not anymore.
“I should get going, I just wanted to give you that.” Damian says quietly finishing his drink.
Lilly nods, “Thank you.”
Damian gets up and starts to leave, but Lilly stops him. “You know, we could be friends, it doesn't have to be like this between us.” She says.
Damian smiled, “I would like that. I guess I’ll see you later then.” He says...
Lilly smiles, “See you later.”
And that was how they ended up being friends, Aiden was fine with it because he trusted Lilly and because he didn't know anything about their past together. But as her twenty-first birthday drew closer Lilly knew she had to make a choice.
She did make a decision but it wasn't the one Damian thought she was going to make. Lilly helped her mother become immortal, by sacrificing her father. As much as Lilly loved her father, she knew he would never understand her like Vanessa did.
To make things even worse, when Lilly told Aiden the truth about what she was it led to them fighting. She told him that on her twenty-first birthday she would die, and he believed her, it angered him she should have told him this a long time ago. Aiden was right she should have, but Lilly wanted to enjoy the time she had with him without her looming death getting in the way.
On the day of her twenty-first birthday Lilly woke up early and left, she went to see Damian, she knew she was going to die today and as much as she loved Aiden, there was a part of her that needed to be with Damian on that day. She took Damian took the coven's safehouse, where she had set up her death.
Damian looked at what Lilly had set up, “Are you serious Lilly?” He asked concerned.
Lilly smiled, “I figure if I’m going to die anyways, I’m going to die on my own terms, the way I chose to die.”
Damian let out a sigh and shook his head, “You know this is crazy right.”
Lilly laughs, “I think the word you're looking for is ironic. Here I am asking you to burn me at the stake, like all the other witches have been killed. It's a fitting end for me. So, let’s get to it before the gods decide to kill me some other way.”
Damian shook his head again, “Do I have to? It's going to be painful; I don't want to make you suffer.” His eyes were in tears, he didn't know if he had the strength for this.
Before Lilly could answer, someone else did. The Goddess Bastet put her hand on Damian's shoulder, “I promise I will make sure she feels no pain. Now do as she has asked.”
Damian nodded and tied Lilly to the stake, Lilly looked at him and smiled, “Just so you know, I never stopped loving you. Even if we weren't together, I still love you. And who knows maybe we will see each other again in another life.” Lilly whispers.
Damian felt the tears fall from his eyes, “I love you to Lilly.”
He stepped away from her and then picked up the can of gasoline she had ready for him. He poured it all over her, and then with the tears streaming down his face he whispered, “I'm sorry,” lit a match and tossed it onto her gasoline-soaked body...
Lilly smiled at him, tears falling from her eyes as she looked at Damian and Bastet. As the flames consumed her Bastet and Damian watched, both crying gently. When it was over and the fire burnt out, Bastet let out a long sigh.
“She will suffer no more, this is the last time.”
- Writer
