Chapter 4 Restless Reflections

Immediately Lilith got close to her home, she cleansed herself of any forbidden magic that may have stuck to her. The reason for this is that witches are known for their sharp senses, and her mother is definitely not an exception. She's able to sense any strange scent from her that is not familiar to witches.

Lilith pushed open the heavy oak door of her family home and slipped into the dim, familiar corridors. The scent of simmering herbs and old parchment mingled in the air-a quiet reminder of the traditions her mother held dear.

Her mother's name is Seraphina.

Seraphina is a powerful and enigmatic witch with an air of quiet authority. Her deep auburn hair, streaked with silver, flows like liquid fire, framing a face carved by both wisdom and loss. Her sharp emerald eyes, ever watchful, hold the weight of battles fought and betrayals endured. Once an idealist, she now stands as a pillar of strength for her people.

Lilith found her mother, Seraphina, seated by the fire, her fingers idly tracing the rim of a brass chalice. The room was silent except for the crackling embers, their glow casting flickering shadows along the stone walls.

" Good evening, mother." Lilith greeted as she stepped towards her.

"How did it go, my dear?". Seraphina asked while turning to face her.

Lilith answered with a tone that had no trace of emotion, "The division is complete and each breed has claimed their territory. Construction of gates at the borders can commence as soon as possible."

Seraphina nodded in satisfaction.

Lilith thought about Daemon and their conversations earlier today. Lilith swallowed, a deep ache settling in her chest. "How did it end?"

Her mother exhaled slowly, the lines on her face deepening. "With silence." She swirled the dark liquid in her chalice, watching it move as if seeking answers within. "After the last battle, there were no more words left to be spoken, no treaties left to be broken. The gods withdrew to their celestial throne, leaving us to our fate. The demons, once our allies, turned their backs on us, and now we are nothing to them but bitter enemies."

Lilith clenched her fists. "Did it have to be this way? We fought together once-against the gods, for our freedom. And now..." She shook her head. "Now we are as lost as they wanted us to be."

Seraphina studied her daughter carefully. "You are too young to remember what it was like before, but trust me when I say-unity was an illusion. The demons were never truly our kin, Lilith. Their betrayal was inevitable."

Lilith flinched at the cold certainty in her mother's voice. "I don't believe that."

Seraphina's gaze darkened. "Then you are still naïve."

Seraphina continued. " I don't know why you are sounding this way. I told you from the beginning that demons are not to be trusted. You should stick with what I say."

A silence stretched between them, filled only by the whisper of dying flames.

Lilith finally spoke, her voice softer. "What now?"

Her mother's expression hardened. "We survive. We rebuild what was taken. And we never forget who abandoned us when we needed them most."

Lilith's heart twisted. A part of her understood-her mother had lived through pain she couldn't imagine. But another part of her, the part that still burned with questions and forbidden thoughts, couldn't help but wonder:

What if not all demons had turned their backs?

And what if, just beyond the walls of her mother's grief and anger, there was still something left worth salvaging?

With these questions burning through her mind, she bade her mother goodnight and headed for her room.

Later that night, in the solitude of her modest room, Lilith lay awake. The gentle hum of the night pressed in around her as she stared at the ceiling, her thoughts far from the safe confines of home. Every now and then, memories of the day's secret encounters - the lingering touch, the shared glances, the unspoken promises, surfaced in her mind like fleeting echoes.

She remembered the way Daemon's presence had stirred something in her - a blend of danger and allure that challenged everything she had been taught. Even as the harsh reality of the divided world circled in her thoughts, that forbidden connection offered her a small spark of defiant hope.

In the quiet darkness, as she wrestled with her emotions and the inevitable weight of destiny, Lilith wondered if that spark could ever ignite change-a change powerful enough to mend the fractures of a broken realm, even if it meant defying the very laws that sought to keep them apart.

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