Chapter 93: Lilith’s Test

Lilith was bored.

Terribly.

Horribly.

Unbearably bored.

She sat upside down on one of the couches in the Nightmare Hotel library.

Her legs dangling over the backrest while Fluffy snored nearby.

The giant Cerberus at full size, occupied almost half the room.

One of his heads was sleeping.

The second was chewing on a bone.

The third watched Lilith with mild concern.

Fluffy could tell that she was going to be up to something soon.

Lilith sighed dramatically.

The head chewing the bone stopped and looked at her with a puzzled look.

She sighed louder.

Fluffy seeing she was moderately ok started chewing the bone again.

She still had nothing to do.

With a groan she slid off the couch and landed on her feet.

“I wanna go on adventures.”

Fluffy’s middle head tilted.

Lilith pointed accusingly at the window.

“Papa Gene and Mama Selene get all the adventures.”

A whine escaped Fluffy.

“They fight evil while we are stuck here!”

Fluffy barked.

“They find treasure.”

Another bark.

“They discover secret worlds.”

The third head barked happily.

Lilith folded her arms.

“And I’m stuck here forever!”

Mother Sarah’s voice drifted from behind her.

“Not entirely.”

Lilith jumped.

The towering nun had appeared silently.

As she usually did.

Lilith was beginning to suspect Mother Sarah could simply appear wherever she wanted.

She could, but only when she did not feel like navigating the hallways.

To her, walls were pretty much a polite suggestion to her.

The monstrous nun adjusted her veil.

Purple eyes studied the young girl.

“You wish to join them.”

Lilith nodded furiously.

“Yes!”

Mother Sarah remained silent.

Sister Agnes and Sister Beatrice emerged from nearby shadows.

Moments later Sister Miriam appeared as well.

The four nuns exchanged glances.

Mother Sarah finally spoke.

“Then you will have to prove you are ready.”

Lilith straightened immediately into a soldier stance.

“What do I have to do?”

A slow smile crossed Mother Sarah’s hidden face.

“We recently captured intruders.”

Lilith blinked.

“Cultists again?”

Mother Sarah nodded.

“One hundred and three.”

Lilith’s eyes widened.

“That’s a lot.”

Sister Miriam spoke.

“They attempted to infiltrate the hotel again.”

Sister Agnes crossed her arms.

“They failed.”

Sister Beatrice smiled.

“They are currently imprisoned.”

Lilith looked between them.

“I think I can take care of them.”

Mother Sarah stared.

“…I will leave it to you then.”

Lilith immediately grabbed Fluffy.

“We are fine with going but i need to go get a weapon first!”

———

Later that day.

Lilith stood beside the weapon randomizer.

The machine hummed.

Its lights flashed.

A new item emerged.

Lilith grabbed it.

It looked like a normal umbrella.

She pressed the button.

The handle extended.

Ice formed slowly into a pole.

After a few seconds a beautiful sword appeared.

Lilith grinned.

“I’m totally going to Keeping this.”

The machine produced another item.

A crimson dagger.

Athena immediately analyzed it.

[Blood Drinker Dagger]

[Steals blood and vitality.]

[Repairs wounds of wielder.]

[Warning: Slightly cursed.]

Lilith nodded.

“Also keeping this.”

The machine seemed offended she hadn’t taken one of the more ‘weirder’ weapons available.

⸻

The prison facility sat beneath the hotel.

Several levels underground.

The cultists occupied an enormous holding area.

Most sat chained.

Others glared through bars.

A few prayed to the Hollow king.

Many looked terrified.

Their fear grew when the door opened.

Lilith skipped inside followed by Fluffy.

The Cerberus could barely fit through the entrance, so fluffy shrunk down to the size of a Labrador retriever.

One cultist laughed.

“That’s it?”

Several others joined him.

“Ha! They sent a little girl!”

“And a dog! This was supposed to be out executioner?”

Pathetic.

Lilith looked around.

Then smiled.

The laughter stopped.

Something about the smile felt wrong.

Very wrong.

One of the older priests stepped forward.

“You should leave, child.”

Lilith tilted her head.

“Why?”

“Because what happens next won’t be pleasant.”

Lilith considered that.

Then nodded.

“You’re right.”

The cultists relaxed.

Then Lilith added:

“This definitely won’t be pleasant… for you.”

Silence filled the prison.

The priest frowned.

“What?”

Lilith drew her new dagger.

The blade gleamed crimson.

Then she opened her umbrella.

Several cultists laughed.

The umbrella was pink.

Covered in flowers.

It looked ridiculous.

Lilith smiled.

The umbrella snapped shut.

The fabric folded inward.

Metal extended.

Ice formed.

Within seconds it had transformed into a beautiful sword.

The laughter died.

Lilith pointed the blade forward.

“Fluffy.”

The Cerberus growled.

“Dinner time.”

The prison exploded into chaos.

Fluffy moved first.

The massive beast smashed through a line of cells.

Stone shattered.

Metal twisted.

A cultist disappeared beneath one enormous paw.

The impact reduced him to little more than red paste.

Screams erupted.

Lilith moved.

Fast.

Far faster than anyone expected.

The sword flashed.

Blue light streaked through the room.

A cultist froze solid.

Another.

Then another.

Ice climbed over their bodies.

Their screams became muffled.

Lilith spun.

The sword cut through several frozen statues.

Bodies shattered.

Chunks of frozen flesh scattered across the floor.

Blood painted the walls.

Lilith giggled.

The cultists suddenly understood why Mother Sarah had approved this test.

She wasn’t a child.

She was simply a monster in miniature form.

One priest attempted a spell.

Dark energy gathered around his hands.

Lilith appeared in front of him.

The dagger stabbed into his stomach.

The weapon pulsed.

The priest screamed.

Blood poured from his body.

Straight into the blade.

His skin shriveled.

His body aged decades within seconds.

Lilith pulled the dagger free.

The wound immediately closed on her own arm.

The blade had transferred the stolen vitality.

“Cool.”

The priest collapsed.

Dead.

The remaining cultists panicked.

Some tried fighting.

Others tried running.

Neither worked.

Fluffy barreled through them like a living avalanche.

Heads disappeared.

Limbs flew.

Bodies smashed into mangled piles of flesh...

One of fluffy’s heads bit a cultist in half.

Another threw someone into a wall hard enough to leave a crater.

The third simply swallowed a screaming man whole.

Meanwhile Lilith danced and skipped through the battlefield.

Elegant.

Almost graceful.

Like a ballerina performing a beautiful routine.

A ballerina surrounded by murder.

Ice flowers bloomed wherever she stepped.

Frozen corpses decorated the prison.

Blood covered the floor.

One cultist tried sneaking behind her.

The sword flashed backward.

His arm fell off.

Lilith turned.

“Oh.”

The cultist stared down at the missing arm.

Then screamed.

Lilith stabbed him through the chest.

The dagger drank deeply.

Within moments he resembled a dried husk.

The prison became full of screams.

Soon even those vanished.

Hours seemed to pass.

Although, in reality, only thirty minutes had gone by.

Eventually the final cultist remained.

A head priest.

The groups leader.

He knelt amidst mountains of bodies.

Blood covered everything.

The man laughed weakly.

“You Monster.”

Lilith approached.

The priest smiled.

“You’re no better than us.”

Lilith thought about that.

Then shrugged.

“No.”

The priest blinked.

“No?”

Lilith smiled sweetly.

“I’m a tad bit worse.”

The sword descended.

The prison became quiet.

⸻

 Mother Sarah waited patiently outside. 

The prison door opened and Lilith emerged.

Fluffy followed close behind.

Both were covered in blood.

Neither had suffered even a scratch.

The Cerberus looked pleased and full.

Lilith looked happier than she had all week.

Mother Sarah examined her.

No injuries.

No fear.

No hesitation.

Sister Miriam appeared from nearby shadows.

She glanced inside.

Then slowly nodded.

The prison resembled a nightmare.

Bodies.

Blood.

Smashed Ice sculptures.

Chunks of flesh.

Broken walls.

The remains would take days to clean.

Sister Miriam looked impressed.

“She passed.”

Lilith brightened.

“Really?”

Mother Sarah nodded.

“You are ready.”

Lilith squealed.

Actually squealed.

Then hugged Fluffy.

The Cerberus wagged his tail happily.

Sister Miriam faded back into the darkness whispering, “Leave the cleanup to me.”

Nobody asked what that meant.

Nobody wanted to know.

⸻

Jesse Belle helped Lilith pack her supplies.

The large woman carefully filled a small backpack.

Food.

Bandages.

Extra clothes.

Snacks.

Lots of snacks.

Lilith approved.

The Caretaker watched from nearby.

His repaired mask hid his expression.

Though Lilith suspected he looked worried.

Jesse Belle finished packing.

“There now.”

Lilith accepted the bag.

Then suddenly hugged both of them.

The Caretaker froze.

Jesse Belle gently squeezed her.

Lilith squeezed harder.

“Thank you.”

The giant horror couple exchanged a glance.

Then hugged her back.

The Caretaker patted her head.

Lilith smiled.

“Don’t worry.”

She pointed dramatically.

“I’ll be back before dinner.”

Jesse Belle laughed again.

“Of course you will.”

Mother Sarah opened a portal.

Darkness split reality.

The gateway revealed another world.

Lilith waved.

Then skipped through.

Fluffy followed.

The portal closed behind them.

⸻

Elsewhere.

Inside the resistance town.

Chaos ruled.

Messengers ran everywhere.

Scouts shouted reports.

Soldiers prepared weapons.

Entire groups moved through the streets.

Everyone seemed busy.

Lilith blinked.

“Wow.”

Fluffy barked.

The Cerberus drew many stares, even after shrinking size.

Lilith wandered through the town.

She had absolutely no idea where she was going.

Several minutes later she spotted someone familiar.

Sort of.

A giant bear-man carrying supplies.

She saw similar bears in the toy store

Baby bear.

The resistance captain.

Lilith ran over.

“Excuse me Mr. Bear!”

Baby turned. Seeing no one he looked around.

Finally the massive warrior looked down.

Lilith looked up smiling at him.

Several seconds passed.

The bear scratched his head.

“Uh…”

Lilith beamed, “Do you know where Daddy Gene and Mama Selene are?”

Baby blinked.

“…What?”

“They came here.”

Baby stared.

The little girl seemed completely serious.

He crouched slightly.

“Who are you?”

Lilith puffed out her chest proudly.

“I am Lilith.”

She paused dramatically.

“Queen of Monsters.”

Baby blinked.

Lilith immediately blushed.

“And I came to help papa Gene and Mama Selene.”

Several resistance members nearby stared.

Baby looked confused.

Then amused.

Then confused again.

Finally he shook his head and laughed..

A deep booming sound.

“Ahhhhh! You’re that Lilith?”

She nodded.

Baby had heard stories.

Many stories.

Most involved chaos.

Some involved cookies.

All sounded ridiculous.

Yet somehow believable.

Lilith pointed.

“Can you take me to them please?”

Baby looked around.

Then shrugged.

“Sure.”

He picked her up.

Lilith immediately climbed onto his shoulder.

Comfortable.

Like she’d done it a hundred times.

Baby continued walking.

As he moved through town he gave her a tour.

Scouts.

Soldiers.

Resistance members.

Children.

Animals.

Everyone.

Most found her adorable.

Fluffy helped.

The giant Cerberus apparently loved attention.

Soon they reached a large building.

Voices echoed from inside.

Baby nodded.

“They’re planning the next mission.”

Lilith’s stomach growled.

Loudly.

Baby looked up.

Lilith looked embarrassed.

“When’s lunch?”

The bear laughed.

“I have no idea.”

They entered.

Inside sat the resistance leadership.

Maps covered tables.

Plans decorated walls.

People argued.

Others debated.

Gene stood near the center.

Selene beside him.

Neither noticed the new arrival immediately.

Baby cleared his throat.

Everyone turned.

Lilith waved from his shoulder.

The room fell silent.

Gene stared.

Selene blinked.

Several resistance members looked confused.

Lilith smiled brightly.

Then asked the most important question of the day.

“So…”

Her stomach growled again.

“When’s lunch?”

The entire room erupted into laughter.