Chapter Text
Lilith stood patiently, carrying a small tote bag, wearing a beautiful maroon, it looks beautiful against her dark skin and brown hair. I unlocked the door and tried to smile. Why this early? I thought to myself, bracing for a warm hug.
“Good morning, my dear Priya!” She spoke; I shushed her and motioned her to the couch where Snapper slept. Lilith looked shocked at the sleeping Snapper. I guided her upstairs to talk. We arrived in my room, and Lilith sat on my bed. I move toward my nightstand to remove the map, invitation, and Snapper's note. Eyes all around the room, her beautiful maroon dress. Her beautiful black, curly hair, she’s so pretty. I snap back to reality, realizing I’ve been staring. I clear my throat,
“So, good morning!” I quip. Lilith doesn’t seem very focused.
I start again, “What brings you here in the crack of dawn?” Lilith’s posture changed as she focused on the conversation.
“Oh, I wanted to see you before the party!” She blushes behind a drawn-up sleeve. I cannot help but blush as well. Someone visits just to see me?
I cleared my throat, “So, do you want some breakfast?”
“That would be nice!” Lilith smiles.
We walk down into the kitchen, walking very lightly so as not to wake Snapper. I grab some eggs from the icebox and light spices. I get the pan. Grabbing matches and some firewood, I light it, but the fear in my heart still resides. Mixing eggs as softly as I can, I pour the eggs into the pan, and a sizzle awakens. Lilith sits politely at the dining table, which reminds me of the only two chairs I own. I’ll use the rocking chair. Folding and putting in the final spices, I make the eggs. I put them on a separate plate and investigated the icebox to see if I could add anything. I grab some of the cooked fish and put them into the pan. Heating them, I chop them up with my spatula. Once it is warm enough, I put them with the eggs and put the plate on the table. I find the plates and grab us some as well as Snapper. We eat together till we get our fill; the overlapping smells of fish and eggs fill our senses with delight.
“Do you want any more?” I ask, making sure she has eaten enough.
She declined politely, cleaning off her plate in the sink. I walk over to Snapper to try to wake him before the food gets cold, but he was already up!
Snapper looks up at me in a playful manner and asks, “So who was that?”
I stumble my thoughts, “Oh— that’s um Lilith”
Snapper plays a devilish smile and walks into the kitchen.
“Nice to meet you, Lilith!”
He offers a hand to her. She takes it with a polite smile.
“Nice to meet you as well!” “I believe you are Snapper?”
Snapper spoke, “That’s correct!”
He sat in a seat across from Lilith and ate his breakfast. The early light began to shine from the kitchen window in the front of the house.
“Well, I might as well get ready for the day." Since I was just rudely awakened.
I head up the stairs to my room; the cold flooring upstairs chills against my bare feet. The bathroom is colder than the rest of the house; the symmetrical tiles are soothing. I grab my brush and pull my hair into a small ponytail. My orange hair is trapped in the sink. I pull it out and put it into the trash. I hear a knock on the door. I’m startled, but before I can say anything, I hear Lilith’s voice.
“So, I brought you something.” She said shyly.
I pry open the door to see her holding a small, wrapped object. I pick it up from her hands and take a closer look. The wrap is a beautiful sunset color. I open it and it’s a beautiful orange-yellow dress! I lift it to see the rest of the skirt when I notice a small fabric of a different color at the bottom of the wrap. I grab it to see a veil that would cover my face.
“I’ve been looking for one of these! How did you know?” I spoke.
Lilith looked to the flooring and muttered while fidgeting, “Snapper had mentioned when I saw him outside the shop. I believe you didn’t notice him out there.”
I stifle a laugh. Snapper stalked me yesterday! Lilith nodded, “Yes, he was outside when I left!” I laugh and pick up the veil and look toward the mirror. I felt a lot more confident than before. Wearing the yellow veil, I walk over to my room. I put on the dress and tie the veil more comfortably. I open the door to see that Lilith had gone downstairs. My face feels hot wearing this dress; the neckline is down lower than my usual dresses or shirts. I close my door and notice a note.
“Me and Snapper are downstairs we are ready for the party whenever you are!”
I should probably head down, but I notice something on the back it's been scribbled out lightly. I put it against the light of the window,
“You look very beautiful”
I blush so hard my face turns into a tomato like color. I slap it to bring myself back into a normal state.
“I'm overthinking it’s nothing!” I try convincing myself
I put my veil on and check the dress before walking downstairs. I reach the bottom of the steps and see Lilith and Snapper talking,
Snapper beams, “So we will be traveling to Belum after the party!”
Lilith looks a bit sad I don’t understand why, but I put on my leather loafers that I often walk in and walk over to Snapper and Lilith. Snapper gives a thumbs up and Lilith has a small blush around her ears. She clears her throat and stands up,
"Well let's get to it!”
She walks over the door and grabs her shoes. Snapper looks at me and nudges my side, with a sly grin that means he did something or about to do something. I give him a glare as to not cause a stir. Snapper grabs his plushie and walks toward the door, I join them and step outside into the rising sun.
***************************
We walked for a little while until we arrived on campus; the shrubbery is still as clean as it was years ago. I look toward the bench I used to sit on every day during lunch, my past classes, and the main hall for meetings or announcements. The towering church style buildings are bland, and the only splash of color is in the winding vines on the higher steeples and points. We walk into the dining hall, and we are greeting with the echoing voices off the high ceilings. The benches are longer than my entire house and they are wooden. Chandeliers touch the high ceilings and illuminate the entire hall. People stand in groups, they vary in age, most are my age others are older and wiser. The dean walks over; she is an older woman with brown hair and gray streaks lighten her hair. She has a green shirt with a dark red bow and dark trousers. Her name is Miss Morton, and she is also a survivor of the fire. Her voice is raspy, and her neck has a small burn mark.
She spoke, “Good morning, Lilith, and who do we have with us today?”
Snapper hid behind me, but since he is big, he didn't hide very well. Miss Morton glanced at me, and then it hit her.
“The Lord Dein!” “Is that little Priya!” She shouted a bit too loud.
I shifted now there was few people my age looked toward me and whispered among themselves. Now I felt the need to hide behind Snapper.
Lilith noticed and spoke, “She’s my plus one,”
Miss Morton raised an eyebrow, but she dismissed it and gave us the food passes for the eloquent meal that will be served. I grab Lilith’s hand and move over to a quieter spot I relive a sigh of relief. I don’t enjoy parties of any sort. I sit down on one of the great hall benches and close my eyes for a second. I try to slow my breathing, but then someone walks over.
“Is 'a' theur Priya?” a gruff man questions.
I just wanted to cloister myself into my room, yet I am here. Then I realize I knew that why of speaking. I look up from the bench I was laying my face on to see Tommy Lakes. He has gotten a lot bigger than he was as a teen, and his short brown hair is now along his back. He smells of fish and the ocean, and his face is rougher. He speaks in Belum. He looks at Lilith and walks over to her and whispers loud enough for the both of us to hear,
“Ah knew theur 'ood gerr wi' eh up” He teased
Lilith blushes, and I sit there confused, Ah knew... I knew, gerr wi’ eh up... I came to the sudden realization and buried my hand in my hands. Tommy laughs a joyous laugh, and he roughed up the head of Snapper.
“Naw whoa is dis daft child?” Tommy peered over at Snapper.
Snapper hid more now behind Lilith,
“Ah dint ta scare t' beeam, soz.” He comforted.
Tommy sits down with me and starts talking about his day,
“Naw ah wor art ont' docks today fishin 'n when ah looked intoa uz mail ah noticed summa' tucked back! it wor t' invitation! ah 'adn't seen it while today! ah 'ed neya tahhm ta change ah just when on o'a!” He rambled on.
I sit and nod politely, I cannot understand him, but I will still listen. Snapper had relaxed a bit and now had sat down, and Lilith had followed sitting next to me. So here we are, Snapper on Tommys right, me on Tommys left, and Lilith on my right. Tommy goes on about his day and any other thing he can spout. Now as he was talking about a dinner he had at the docks. The lunch bells rang. Everyone quieted and sat into the bench with a coordinated silence. An usher of silence followed. A chair screeched against the hard cold flooring and at the front of the hall a podium stood. Miss Morton stood next to an old stout man, his faces were solemn and yet, a delightful smile hid behind their serious faces. The stout man cleared his throat,
“Now I know all you are hungry, so I’ll keep it short,” He flipped a paper and looks out into the long hall, “I am proud of every one of you, and even if you didn’t go all the way to graduate. My hope is that you are enjoying your life at any stage of your life, and that you are successful in what you choose. Now with that over with, let’s eat!”
I pull out my lunch ticket and look toward the halls great doors opening. Servers come with platters of food on carts. Snapper is look up at the high ceilings; Tommy is patiently waiting hungrily. A cart stops by and the server asks,
“Any dietary restrictions?”
Tommy raises his hand and spoke a bit softer than usual,
“Aye ah cannot ea' fish.” He admits
I turn to him,
“You're a fisherman?” I question.
“I've bin allergic ta fish uz whole, bur ah doa love fishin sa ah just wear umpteen o' protection!” He spoke.
I never knew that. He did always pack a lunch and was cautious around food. You learn new things every day, I guess. I picked a chicken lunch, and Snapper picked a beef lunch. The chicken is smothered in a pale gravy, and the chicken is breaded. I remove my veil for the time being. I ate with the sound of clinking silverware against ceramic plates in the background. The plates had an intricate design and looked like the sea. Another server comes by with various jugs full of teas and sweet drinks. I just go with water and take small sips and ate my chicken at my normal pace. It fills my hungry stomach; it’s a comforting feeling being full of delicious food. I finish about half of my chicken when I look over at Snapper and Tommy on my right, and Snapper and Tommy had finished their chicken and Snapper looks toward me and asks,
“Are you going to eat that?” He asked with food in his mouth, it was very gross.
I pass my chicken over to him and listen to what Tommy is saying,
“Uz gaffa 'as sa menny expectations o' uz, 'n ah dooant mean ta carp bur it's flaggin',” He speaks in a low tone incase his boss does pop out of nowhere.
“I've bin wukkin real 'ard art ont' pia. uz gaffa 'ed uz wukkin late shifts, 'n daft quotas! i've 'ed enuff!”
He had gotten a bit louder to be heard in the hall of chattering people. I’ve had enough of the noise and people, and it most have shown in my face to Lilith. While Lilith looks curious at me, Snapper and Tommy ate their second serving; I lay my head on the counter and fold my arms as a pillow and block my ears.
“Are you okay?” Lilith had slighty yelled to get her voice across the noise.
“I’m fine” I say a bit too rudely, but she doesn’t take offense.
“You don’t look fine”
“Then stop looking” I blurt,
Lilith looks a bit shocked but laughs it off. She looks toward the high ceiling, there were small windows, and from those small windows you could see it had begun to rain. After a couple minutes, Snapper and Tommy are talking and standing with most of the people who had finished their food. I stand to my bodies own avail, and I want to get up and leave. I want to atleast get out of the noise and the crowd, but I don’t want to be rude. I feel a hand on my left shoulder; Lilith stands next to me and points to the door. She is offering to wait outside with me, and I graciously accept. We exit through the smaller court doors; it leads out into a small area in the courtyard with an awning. When the doors shut behind me, I relieve a groan and sigh that releases tension in my head and shoulders. I hate places like that, and I prefer to be in the woods surrounded by wood as far as the eye can see. Lilith sits down on the bench nearby, it's the one I sat every day at lunch. She looks a lot calmer, Lilith always has a wood spine even when were alone, but she let down her guard today, just for this moment. The rain smells against the stone walkways, and the platter on the roof and floor makes a calm yet unorganized percussion rhythm. I sit next to her, and her wood posture is back suddenly as it disappeared.
“You don’t need to, -” I try to say, but Lilith breaks by sentence halfway.
“I want to go,” She speaks.
“Pardon?” I ask confused
“I want to join you and Snapper," She blurts keeping her eyes on the rain
“I mean sure I’ll just need to-” I start again but.
She stands up, back to the rain facing me, and she seems like she going to yell,
“I mean I know the language, and I can help navigate. I don’t know how to help with whatever you’ve got going on, but I want to be with you!”
I whisper when I say this, “I was going to say yes anyways.”
Lilith stands for a minute and covers in a red tomato blush stretching from ear to ear. She covers her face and sits next to me. She lost her wood posture and is now keeling over blushing next to me. I pat her back and speak,
“I need all the help I can get, and plus the boat has bunkbeds in the cabin.”
“I was assuming the worse,” she says beneath her arms.
“I sure understand that.” I say relaxing my body into the hard wooden bench. I pull the veil out of my pocket and consider putting it on,
“I like you without it,” Lilith says low enough for me to mistake the words, but I am sure that is what she said. I cough and put the veil in my pocket. Suddenly the door swings open revealing three of the people in my class. They glance my way and walk over to Lilith who has composed herself into her perfect self-everyone sees.
“How’s going V?” One of them says to her playfully.
“Oh, never better!” She speaks in a higher tone and tilts her head.
I wasn’t really paying attention to what they were saying, but an usher among the two boys standing near the entrance caught my ear.
“-Yeah the docks are closing up tonight”
“No kidding, I mean I don’t want to risk a curse here”
Crap, we need to go to the docks. I move to check on Lilith and she is deep in conversation. I stand to get Snapper to leave. When Tommy opens the door,
“Thas chuffin' goan Belum! ah'm tooa. ain't 'a' eur surprise!” Tommy announces before all the strangers.
“Naw ah'm goan mek eur proposition! wha' if ah join theur? ah kna ta move t' boats!” He stands proud and happy with himself. I can only tolerate three people, but he plays well with Snapper,
“Okay, uh I guess I need more supplies, and we need to leave now,”
I try to get myself mentally prepared for this, but I was thrown headfirst into sixteen feet deep water without a life vest. I was so prepared I had my plan checked out. I grab Snapper and Tommy and Lilith goes to get their clothes and other supplies. Me and Snapper go to the docks to prepare the boat. Guards protect the dock and make sure we know what we're heading into. I change on the boat in the bathroom and mentally prepare for the long ride with my friends. Tommy was the first to arrive, and he was ready. He grabbed many things other that we have,
~Boat repair items
~More snacks
~Sheets
~Compass
~Water
~Flare
~Big Floatation device
Tommy starts to tease as he’s pulling out the many things out of his canvas bag,
“Wor theur plannin on makin it art o' Brico?”
I laugh; I am glad he is coming now. He has a lot of expertise in boating, and I was nervous due to my nightmare last night. Lilith arrived later, and we casted off. The bow bounced with every wave, and we started slowing to get out of the harbor. The rain was light, and it coated our deck with a slippery and dangerous wet mess. Snapper dawned a mop and aimlessly started to mop Tommy controlled the boat in a small, covered housing. Lilith sat in the cabin embordering to pass the time. She made a flower bouquet and set it aside. She walked out into the deck to check on everyone. We had now made it out of the harbor, and we picked up speed I stood in the small housing to keep Tommy company while Snapper mopped. Tommy and I talked,
“Naw wha' eur theur plannin ta doa I' Belum?”
I hadn’t really explained to everyone about how I found Snapper, or on how we might have awakened a deity. Not even on how we plan on helping said deity.
“Me and Snapper were curious about traveling and this was our first choice,” only slightly lying.
Tommy and I sat in the housing for two hours, Tommy watched and steered. I had gotten comfortable and taken off my dress shoes. Snapper is taking a nap, and Lilith sat in the cabin making sure nothing happened. It had gotten darker, and the sky looks turbulent. Tommy tries to reassure me,
“Naw it will be fine theur worried lahl fish.”
“It doesn’t look fine Tommy” I persuade
“’eear ahl prove it ta thee sa tha'il gi'o'a thy whimperin” “Tek dis,” He motions to the wheel
“I’m not comfortable enough Tommy” I pray for him to understand, but he just leaves the wheel unattended anyway. Tommy walks out into the deck and stands in the middle next to the mast. As I stand holding the wheel he heckled,
“See its fine theur chik'inn! ah'm still stand-” The sky tore open. A blinding light. A shattering boom. I flinched, my cry for help lost in the ringing silence. The world went white. Then there was nothing but a high-pitched scream in my ears. I wake on floor, my skull rattling inside my head, I shout until my voice is heard
“-ommy!” My voice is horse and loud
Snapper and Lilith run into the deck. The boat swayed from no hands being on the wheel. The pounding rain had gotten heavier, and the drumming sky continued. I can barely hear now over the sky roaring. Snapper runs to the wheel and Lilith grabs my shoulder and tries to lock eyes with me. I stand violently to reach him, to get to him, to save him. Lilith lunges to keep me from walking out into the deck but I need to get to him.
“What are you doing!” Lilith screams over the pouring rain and rocking boat. I point out into the deck to Tommy,
“He’s out there?” She yells to keep her voice heard among the crashing waves and rain. She is still holding on to my shoulders to keep me from running.
“Let me out there!” I pant; I need to make sure he gets the care he needs.
“Stay here I’ll get him!” Lilith barks back, and she darts out into the dark murky rain. I can’t stay still I am now standing in the housing while Snapper steers. I watch from the window as Lilith runs for Tommy, and I see her pick him up only to struggle.
“I’m coming!” “Don’t worry!” I yell towards Lilith.
Moving my lead legs toward Lilith and Tommy.