Chapter 40

Arriving at the entrance to the Castle, Lilith could see a few more guards than usual. Sharl was there too, giving orders to several guards who were standing at attention as if waiting for some event. As her Celeste and Wendel walked into the large entryway, she spotted Sir Tanel and Lady Morwen along with her brother Maldwyn, Keven and a few other nobles. They were standing in a circle as if they were discussing something but all their heads turned to greet the three new arrivals.

“Oh good, we are all here now. Good Good. The coaches should be arriving soon.” Sir Tanel said as he looked around at the 12 or so people present.

Only a minute later, Lilith heard the clatter of several horses approaching. Turning around she saw a blue coach with silver trim pull up to the door along with another team of horses behind it presumably pulling a second coach. Sir Tanel began leading everyone out of the entryway as they began to board their rides for that evening. Sir Tanel, Lady Morwen, her brother, and her son all entered the first coach. Two guard could be seen climbing the rear of the vehicle, perching on a foot rests and a hand holds made just for such a purpose. Mean while a third guard climbed up front, joining the driver.

Behind the well appointed coach was a large covered wagon similar to the one Lilith had used to bring the lumber back from the woods a few days past. This one, however, had a large rain proof cover that provided shade and a wind break for its full length. Wanting to enter first she stepped forward sliding 10 feet at a time using her tail to initiate the movement just as she had been practicing earlier.

Arriving at the back, Lilith attempted to climb the wooden ladder at the back but she couldn’t lift her weight without breaking part of the ladder. She could feel the wood start to yield as she put half her weight on it. Stepping back she decided to try wrapping her tail around her feet. Now with a small enough foot print she tried and did jump successfully, teleporting to the middle of the wagon landing a couple inches above the floor with a slight thud. After sitting down she tucked her coils under the bench to make it easy for the others to board.

Finally Celeste, Wendel, Sharl, and 3 other nobles along with Hamlin Miles joined her in the back of the covered wagon. Lilith was wondering if the wagon was being used just for her in place of a second coach but concluded that it was primarily being used because it could fit so many people. Two maids and a guard then came in the back sitting at the end of the same bench Lilith was on while a second guard sat up front with their driver. With everyone aboard Sharl called out, loud enough to be heard by the front cart which promptly started to lead them down the path departing the keep, heading out onto Hill Road.

Soon the clip clop of the two, two horse teams could be heard sounding out as they moved onto the stone paved roads. Soon they picked up speed as they headed further down the Duke’s Way. As the cart began to shake and jostle with the bumps in the road Lilith felt a new sensation. It was soft at first but then jumped at her with sparks and waves. It was the feeling of sexual pleasure and it was coming from her tail. Lilith began to flush as the cart continued to bump and shake as it trundled down the road, turning right then left again. Soon it came to a stop, the horses slowing gradually. Lilith looked around a bit confused at the sensation but also disappointed that the ride had been so short.

“There already?” She asked.

“Ya the carts are really just to help with the trip back at the end of the night. We could have easily walked here.” Sharl explained.

“And where is here?’ Lilith asked while tilting her head, unable to see out because of the canvas of the covered wagon.

“The River Shining Tavern. Its the big red building we keep walking by.” Celeste said with a smile.

While she was waiting for the rest of the passengers to get out of the cart, Lilith looked down at her tail trying to pinpoint where the happy feelings had come from. The best she could guess it was about three feet back from the tip of her tail, where it began to get thicker. Once it was her turn, Lilith teleported down from the cart before she turned to follow the others into the well lit front entrance of the Tavern.

Inside there were large tables all draped with red cloth. Large candle laden chandeliers made of tainted glass and deer antlers hung above the room which was filled with many guests who all seemed to be in high spirits. There was a stage with a band playing to the right as well as a bar and kitchen to the left. To the back Lilith could see a game room with darts and a set of boards that reminded her of the ones used for corn hole.

With guards in front and behind they were shown to a set of tables where they were each directed to a seat by a steward. The young man who had pulled Lilith’s chair out for her however had to turn the chair sideways so she could sit down properly. For the time being she was seated between Wendel and Celeste while Hamlin and a noble named Gusto were seated across from her at the same table. Near by at the other table she could see Sir Tanel, Lady Morwen, Sir Maldwyn as well as Kevin Demura. This table had only the four of them seated with no one across from them giving the nobles a full view of tavern and its wide hall. To their side there were 2 maids in attendance standing close to each of the Daggerfords. Soon one of them stepped away to talk to a server who then rushed off to the kitchen.

Drinks were brought out only a minute later, each table having a cask of wine and a pitcher of amber ale. Their hosts were soon there and began taking food orders. Lilith ordered three plates of rack of lamb along with a bowl of beef stew. As they finished their orders everyone began talking about the day’s events, the daring rescue as well as the posibility of an undead army storming the city gates. Lilith however was more interested in hearing stories about Lady Morwen and things she had done and tried to steer the conversation that way.

Seeming to be eager, Sharl explained how she was the reason the town had a militia in the first place. She insisted on every able bodied man training two months a year once in the spring and again in the Fall. Every able bodied man participated but only 150 served at a time. A man could get another to take his place if he had need but otherwise desertion was punished with prison or a fine. She trained with the men as well, both as a foot soldiers and as Cavalry. None could complain when the Duchess herself was hefting the same equipment or training the same hours. In the past she had even led punitive forces with the cavalry to root out bandits and goblins that threatened the trade routes. But most of all she had kept the city free from onerous laws and corruption, at least until her kidnapping and imprisonment.

Fresh baked bread and butter were served most decided to ignore the cheap fair as it would spoil their apatite. Lilith already being hungry due to using pact magic earlier, decided to try some of the bread. Much to her dismay she found that she had difficulty chewing it. Her teeth being unable to pulverize the starchy food as they had no flat surfaces only sharp edges. Apparently her teeth were now made for eating meat only. Thinking better of it she decided not to spit out her food, instead she persisted giving her saliva enough time to soften it along with what her sharp teeth had managed.

Then Kevin came over switching seats with Wendel. He asked to join in on the conversation about his mother gladly telling a story of his own. Sharl was sitting to her left just beyond Celeste while Kevin was sitting to her right. The two girls now found their attentions divided as they were facing away from one another speaking to the two men at their sides. Kevin seeing that Lilith was having trouble using her right arm with the seat back being on her right decided to remedy the situation by ripping the seat back clear off the chair.

“Can’t you go one evening without destroying a piece of furniture Kevin?” Lilith asked with a smirk.

“I assure you the chair had it coming.” he said with a serious look in his eyes.

“So, what was it doing that offended you so greatly.” she asked

“It was blocking my view.”

“Oh you’re a cheeky one.” Lilith said with a smile.

“And you are an interesting one.” he replied turning towards Lilith a bit more.

“What makes you say that? Is it the eyes?” Lilith blinked a few times for effect.

“Among other things. But its mostly just you.”

“Me.. and what am I?” Lilith asked in a hesitant voice as if she didn’t know the answer either.

“Brave and loyal, thoughtful and beautiful.” He said with a small smile directed at only her.

“Come now. I am none of those things except maybe brave.”

“Very brave indeed to wear such a dress.”

“Oh this? Things like this are normal where I come from.” Lilith said as she bounced one of her crossed legs on top of the other.

“And where is that exactly?” he asked shaking his head slightly.

“A place called Earth.”

“That's an odd name why would it be called dirt?” Keven seemed confused for a second.

Lilith, remembering how that word didn’t seem to translate, so she decided to try something else. “Its a different universe not just a different plane. It is as far from here as possible, it is a world with no magic so it is very different.”

“No Magic as in the weave doesn’t exist there?” Kevin asked with a surprised expression.

“Yep” she nodded

“Then how would demons and devils and fey survive in such a place?” Kevin asked again more confused.

“They don’t, we have none of those things.”

“Then it must be a peaceful place.”

“I don’t know. We seem to make our own troubles more often than not.” Lilith's face contorted remembering the terrorist attacks on her own country and the constant wars in the Middle East.

“So there are nations like Luskan where you come from?”

“Yes and much worse. There are people so devoid of humanity that they would kill themselves just to kill another.”

“So just like that necromancer you fought today?”

“Is he dead? Like can he be killed normally? I am pretty sure I hit him with a bolt of lightning but he got away.” Lilith asked seeming a bit flustered.

“They sacrifice things and get different gifts in return. First, they sacrifice their own soul. Then they begin to sacrifice the souls of others. They get more power with each act of horror they commit, Orcus revels in it. They can be killed but it normally takes someone with divine power to do so. The power of one god to offset the gifts of another.”

“Then I might have a chance.” She said with a smile.

“So you have some divine magic?”

“I think so but I’m not sure.” Lilith said as she gripped the Holy symbol hanging close to her neck.

“You know I don’t pay heed to the warnings of my mother. If you are in the good graces of Lathander then you are good enough for me.” He said giving Lilith a serious look forcing her to look away.

“She isn’t wrong though, I may be more trouble than I am worth.” Lilith shied away from his intense gaze instead looking across the room at a table of guests who were laughing loudly. Her eyes then moved to Celeste who was getting similar treatment from Sharl who had a hand on her knee.

“How so?” Kevin asked scooting his chair a bit closer to hers.

“Because I may just eat you out of house and home.” She said before she downed a full tankard of wine.

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Kevin let out a good laugh taking a big swig from his own stein.

Then as if on cue the wait staff came out carrying their food. There was some confusion as Kevin’s and Wendel’s meals had to be moved between tables. The spread laid out for Lilith covered a good third of the table in almost comedic proportion to the rest.

She had been craving the meal for the past ten minutes occasionally having to swallow between sentences to keep herself from drooling. Being surrounded by people of such high character seemed to make them smell like food prepared by the finest chef. Celeste still smelling like a honey baked ham, but now in addition to that there was a new smell the smell of actual food. Lilith excused herself from the conversation for a moment taking big bites of her lamb as she focused on the satisfaction of actually being able to sink her teeth into something. Each bite was doing more now than they ever had. Her teeth accidentally slicing through the lamb bone as she got a bit over exuberant. Many heads turned her way hearing the crunch. Slowly Lilith managed to pull the bone out of her mouth before continuing on to her second rack of lamb. Her teeth made short work of the supple meat as she closed her eyes in ecstasy at the taste even letting out a few embarrassing noises in the process.

Looking around for the stew she noticed Kevin staring at her intently. “You really seem to be enjoying that.” He said having put down his own fork and knife.

“It has been so frustrating. I have been surrounded by food all day while trying not to club the same people with my tail. All the while they just kept surrounding me trying to shake my hand and....” Lilith blurted this out as she pulled the bowl closer to her.

“Did you just refer to people as food?” Kevin interrupted tilting his head at her.

“Maybe, but really I am just talking about how they smell.” Lilith cringed a little realizing her mistake.

“Really then what do I smell like?”

Lilith leaned over to smell Kevin making sharp sniffing noises in order be a bit more dramatic. Her angle exposing her cleavage slightly as she leaned in. “You smell like a bacon cheese burger with all the fixings. Like one of the gourmet ones with all the spices.”

“What’s a cheese burger?” Kevin asked, wresting his head on his hand. His elbow then resting on the table next to his empty plate.

“Well it looks like that will have to be my second invention.” Lilith said as she put a finger up to her face in deep thought.

“So people really do smell like food to you?” he asked looking at her intently.

“Yes ever since Lathander gave me my latest gift.” she admitted.

“Why couldn’t he have just given you wings and a better sense of direction to go with it?”

“I know right? But it seems this demonic body is growing through its life cycle and what comes next is even less pretty.”

“How so?” he asked scrunching his face.

“Well, I am wearing this dress for a reason. I wanted to show off my legs while I still have them.” Lilith said as she swallowed a big chunk of stew meat without bothering to chew it.

“What?” he asked scrunching his face even further the wrinkles all converging between his blue eyes.

“That thing behind me, that's not a tail. That’s part of my body. I can feel my organs inside it digesting my food as we speak.” Lilith said while tilting her head down with a slightly dejected look before something else caught her attention.

Lilith noticed Sharl stand to face the entryway behind her. Curious, she turned to follow his gaze seeing a guardsman entering from outside. The new arrival was soaked as it seemed to be raining quite heavily now. A light flash of light confirmed her suspicions but no sound was heard over the lively band and joyful guests. After shaking off some of the rain the guard approached Sharl and began to repeat some message to him. Sharl nodded before dismissing the guard. He then went over to Sir Tanel and Lady Morwen repeating the same thing for both of them to hear. Lady Morwen’s face lost a bit of its color as she turned to face Sir Tanel looking for a response. He just nodded and pushing his plate away. With a new purpose, Sir Tanel and Sharl stood giving their apologies to the table before they left, heading into the dark of night.

“Kevin can you find out what that is about? I don’t want to get up and risk knocking over a table or something.” Lilith looked to him swishing the tip of her tail slightly as it was wrapped around both hers and Celeste's chair.

“Certainly, I want to know too.” He said as he stood up and turned to go speak with his mother.

“Whats going on where did Sharl go?” Celeste asked turning in her seat to face her friend.

“He left after receiving a report. I think something is wrong.” Lilith clasped her holy symbol to say a silent prayer but before she could start mouthing the words she heard a pair of words in her mind. “I’m sorry” The sudden apology only served to put her more on edge. Standing up, she began casting Mage Armor.

Hearing the familiar Rune words Celeste did the same before they both turned to face the door as two more guards entered the tavern. One of the new arrivals approached Lady Morwen, who had just finished speaking to Kevin.

As Kevin returned he had a troubled look on his face, his eyes meeting hers even as the sound of splintering wood shattered the silence that had come across the table. But instead of worrying about the sudden noise, Lilith was focused looking to Kevin for an answer.

“Scouts spotted the orc army. It is larger than last time and it will be here by the second morning.” Kevin said with a sigh before he continued. “Sir Tanel and Sharl are getting the coach and covered wagon brought around for us. We need to head back to the keep. There is much work to be done.”

Lilith gripped her holy symbol asking why her parties were always getting interrupted but there was no answer. Letting out a weary sigh she then turned to look back at Celeste only to find both their chairs were now in pieces having been crushed by her tail in a fit of panic. Sheepishly she turned back looking at Kevin and shrugged. “Well I guess you are off the hook for destroying the back of my chair.”

“What chair?” He asked with a smug grin.

“Ha, ha.” Lilith replied before all three of them began stepping over the broken pieces moving towards the door just behind the Daggerford brother and sister. Hamlin took it upon himself to leave a sizable tip on the table before joining them as they boarded their rides. Exposed for a short distance Lilith jumped in first braving the steady down pour only to find that the road had turned to mud. With their shoes and ankles coated in mud the guests piled in not saying much as another peal of lightning momentarily lit up the streets.

Once situated in the wagon, Lilith shook the rain out of her hair before complaining about the sheer volume of mud that her tail and feet were covered in. It was a brown clay, likely made of river bottom silt, great for farming but it was clinging to everything it touched. The wagon soon began moving as another flash of light could be seen in the distance. This time Lilith could hear a small thud and rumble about ten seconds later. The ride was much smoother this time compacted soil now much softer than it had been only an hour before. After about ten minutes they were back at the castle where the party began hopping off into the area in front of the entrance that was thankfully covered in gravel rather than mud.

Lilith began to clean her tail by leaving it out from under the roof letting a down spout hit it and wash away the mud. She soon did the same for both her feet before walking under the first arch of the castle entrance. A few maids and stewards began lining up with water and rags to clean the feet of the entering guests as they entered. Lilith, Wendel and Celeste however began using prestidigitation on themselves and the others making short work of both the moisture and mud much to the relief of the staff.

Once they were clean, Sir Tanel, Sharl and Wendel went ahead first. Tany announced that they would be in the master study over his shoulder as he seemed to be in a rush. Lilith followed behind joining the returning nobles as the regent grabbed parchment and pen to begin issuing orders. The first of which was addressed to Gonald, directing him to clear out the remaining guests in the banquet hall before gathering the other guild leaders in the Court room for a war council meeting. Sir Tanel signed it before pressing wax to it with a ring. The now official order then went to Sharl to deliver. Next was an order to have runners notify the outlying lands and have people and provisions brought inside the town walls before nightfall the next day.

Sir Tanel continued writing order after order. One order called up the Militia in full, while another asked near by kingdoms for aid in case the battle devolved into a siege. Another letter was sent to the Lords Alliance telling them of the sighting of a necromancer leaving Cromm’s Hold and the likely involvement of Baroness Cromm with Orcus the demon lord of death. This letter however was handled by Wendel who soon transmitted it to a known scribe in Waterdeep who took such messages at this time of day. Finally the war council was convened in the Ducal court. Most of the guild masters were present along with Sir Tanel, Lady Morwen, Lilith and Wendel. Celeste stayed outside the room with Sharl as neither of them had title or station to grant them a voice in the meeting.

Lilith kept mostly quiet as the council discussed the two most pressing issues, the completion of the new weapons, and the gathering of people and supplies inside the city walls. Each guild promised to do their part, some offering to build temporary store houses or loaning out carts. Gonald seemed to have the most on his plate. Twenty percent of the steel still needed to be smelted but he seemed confident it would be done by noon the next day. He then specifically asked for Lilith's help finishing the last of the spears so that his craftsmen could focus on making the shields. If things went poorly some of the men would have shields that weren’t lined with metal. But if everything went according to plan all the shields would be complete by midnight the next day if not sooner.

Lilith promised her help but reminded them that she still needed the raw materials and a good nights rest in order to be at her best. Other plans were made concerning live stock and new fencing to contain them. Then the issue of housing for the people’s from outside the town was discussed. When the clock struck eleven the meeting was adjourned with Lilith finding Celeste and Sharl waiting for her outside in the back hall.

“Some party huh?” Lilith said to Celeste as the rest of the Guild leaders and a few nobles walked by also leaving for the night.

“Ya! Why does this keep happening?” Celeste asked looking at both Lilith and Sharl.

“I don’t know but these orcs just made my enemies list.” Lilith said stamping a foot in anger.

“Do you really keep a list of your enemies?” Celeste asked.

“Just in my head. It is a short list though. Mosquitoes, Fire ants, Telemarketers, Lady Cromm, and every orc that spoiled my party tonight.”

“Whats a….. never mind it is too late.” Celeste said with a yawn.

“I will walk you to the tower there short stuff.” Sharl said putting a hand on Celeste’s shoulder.

“Thanks my champion.” She said, looking up at him matching his gaze.

Lilith waved goodbye as her friends walked arm in arm into the banquet hall heading for the castle entrance beyond.

Now that all the stress and rush were over, Lilith noticed a new sensation. Feeling a pressure in her tail she was only a little panicked as she had time. Not wasting a moment she teleported into the banquet hall then left, down the guest hall to the end, where she opened the first women’s lavatory she came to. Feeling a rather distinct pressure building in her tail she pushed it into the small room sitting it over the wooden toilet seat. Soon there was a sweet release as nature ran its course. ‘god I hope no one sees me like this’ Lilith thought to herself as she was standing 4 feet outside the lavatory holding the door open, with her tail going inside.

Just as she finished Kevin came around the corner seeing her standing there with an odd look of satisfaction on her face.

Lilith just about had a heart attack at the sight of him. In a blur she turned around to face into the lavatory casting prestidigitation on her tail then quickly left letting the door close on her tail as she moved down the hall towards him trying to act as if nothing embarrassing had just happened.

Kevin had stopped in his tracks, he was staring at her as if trying to make sense of what he had just seen.

Lilith began moving faster shooting forward 15’ at a time by coiling up and pushing forward across the marble floor. Soon she was at her room where she unlocked and opened the door with a start before pulling her tail past her. She then slammed the door, locking it for good measure. Her embarrassment weighed heavy upon her. Leaning back against the door she let the oppressive mass push her down before she was startled by a sudden voice from the hall.

“Rest well I shall see you tomorrow.” Kevin said from just beyond her door.

“Yes. Good night Kevin.” Lilith called out as she began to look around her room. For a moment she just sat there, gathering her thoughts before her eye was caught by the rolls of fabric sitting on her dresser.

Lilith still had more magical energy left so she used some of the fabric and most of her remaining magical energy to make a few more bras. This time she made two for Lady Morwen and a second one for herself. Now feeling the sum total of the days stress, Lilith got undressed. After undooing the mud flap she hung up her new dress, took off her holy symbol putting it next to her ring box in the closet. She then took off her bra before cleaning it and herself with prestidigitation. Finally free of all her accouterments she slunk over to her bed falling face first on the soft comforter. There she she stayed, motionless, face down, lying on her bed naked, clean and utterly exhausted.

After a minute she once again pulled her tail up between her legs hugging it like a body pillow, the rest of it going under her head, supporting her, while the end wrapped around until it reached the small of her back. She lie awake for some time recounting the days events. From nearly biting her friend’s arm off, to being honored in front of most of the town’s nobles and guild members. She could help but smile remembering the most delightful conversation she had with Kevin to have it interrupted by some militant orcs who preferred raiding villages to raising crops.

She was relaxed not sleeping just resting secure in her locked room free of the sights and smells of the outside world.

Then she heard a tearing sound somewhere inside her body as if a sheet of wrapping paper was being cut by a pair of scissors. As it progressed her stomach felt more and more full. It had a sudden weight and bulk to it that confused her. And then the sound stopped and the mass started moving. Something was in her belly and it was alive. It moved and spun in different ways. She could feel it pressing out on her like it was looking for a way out. Then it began to press in a new direction and Lilith felt something rise in her throat. The sensation continued and intensified before she felt an uncontrollable urge to vomit.

Luckily it was only momentary, her stomach didn’t wretch but her head did tilt back. There was no noise and no heaving she simply opened her mouth and out it came. She could feel it leave her lips as it slid by. The odd sensation made her want to cough but it was impossible, her mouth was full of something long and smooth that was leaving her body. Out it came, more and more, until the last of it left her mouth and circled back looking at her with unblinking eyes. It was unmistakable, a king cobra. About 10’ long with black scales and red eyes.

Lilith finally did cough, gagging a little before she regained control of her airway and throat. Quickly Lilith got out of her bed pushing away from the serpent. Her tail too pushing out behind her crushing the night stand closest to the window as she retreated. But the snake just sat there coiled up in a series of neat tidy circles. Its head tracked her as she moved back around the room and confirmed that the door was locked. Lilith then checked her codex and sure enough Summon Fiend was being cast again but the spell rune covering it was impossibly small as if it had just started again only moments before.

“Fuck!” Lilith said out loud as she moved further away from her bed pulling her tail behind her as she watched her new guest. Then she heard a voice in her head.

“Hello majestic one. How may I serve you?” It was a male voice but spoke out of respect and some fear.

“Stay in the closet and do not bite or harm anyone for any reason.” Lilith said not knowing what else to do. ‘I just want to go to sleep’ she thought as the cobra began to move in the direction she was pointing.

“As you wish your grace.” The snake said into Lilith's mind as it moved off the bed before slipping under the crack of the closet door.

Lilith went back to her bed and checked the rest of her spells to see if it was done being cast. Just as she expected only Summon Fiend had a magical rune covering it that got slightly bigger every minute. The icon was much smaller now as if it had just started casting anew.

‘What have I done? What have I done?’ Lilith screamed into her own mind. Once again she collapsed face first into her bed writhing around not knowing what to do. Was this going to happen every night now? Would that thing give the maid a heart attack when she found it during the day? How long would it be here on the mortal plane? Was it evil? What if it wasn’t evil and she had just condemned it to a life in darkness? Was it a new life? Was it something she had created? What did she owe it as it’s creator?

Knowing she had no chance of sleeping with so many unanswered questions, Lilith called out to the serpent. “Snake, whats your name?”

“Rumdala is my true name oh beautiful one. But you may call me whatever you want.” it replied again speaking into her mind.

“Ok, I’m going to call you Noodle One. Come up here I want to talk to you.” Lilith said while patting the middle of the bed next to her. She had already drawn her tail up onto the bed draping it across the opposite side, towards the window.

Sure enough, the snake came out from the closet its head poking up over the foot board of the bed, before it moved to the center of the bed in front of her.

“Ok Noodle, where did you come from?” Lilith asked in a very tired voice.

“I came from you.”

“No I mean….. Did you come from the abyss or did you come from one of the hells?”

“I don’t believe so, the first thing I remember is being in darkness and then finding my way out of your mouth to lie before you.” The snake spoke into Lilith’s mind clearly and calmly as it swayed left to right.

“Do you know what you are?”

“I am your servant and you have named me Noodle One.” He said proudly as he hooded up.

“Are you hungry?” Lilith asked her head now at the same level as the snake.

“I don’t know. What does hungry feel like?” It asked, tilting its head about 45 degrees as its red eyes focused on her.

“Ok, I can’t deal with this.” Lilith was tired and wanted to go to bed, she didn’t have the energy to explain the metaphysical meaning of hunger, want, desire, loneliness, or boredom. “Look Noodle, do you have any will of your own? What do you want to do if I give you no orders?” Lilith asked trying to get to the crux of the problem.

“I want to stay with you and follow your commands.” He said with a small bit of pride.

That wasn’t very much of a will. Nor was it hard to satisfy. What should she consider this thing? It seemed more like a blank slate than a fiend. “Ok I command you to never bite or hurt anyone. Do you understand that?”

“I believe so it is very easy for me to keep my mouth shut. I can talk to you with my mind after all.” He said this in a smooth fashion as he moved slightly closer to Lilith.

“You can sleep on the bed with me but when I am gone you need to hide in the closet or under the bed and don’t let anyone see you except me.” Lilith concluded thinking that if all he wanted was to be closer to her, she could at least permit that while she was asleep.

“I will do as you say magnificent one.”

“Just call me Ms. Devine and try not to wake me.” Lilith then brought her tail in close for a hug, wrapping her arms fully around it while Noodle One moved over her to sleep on the unused pillow.

Sleep found her quickly as she had many dreams, each of them seemed to be derived from the days events. This series of jumbled stories culminated in her dreaming about eating dinner with Kevin at a Tavern surrounded by red walls and red carpet. But of using a knife and fork she simply pressed her face into her plate in order to eat her food. Looking next to her plate she wanted to taste the wine before drinking of it fully, she brought her head down to it and stuck out her tongue to lap at the surface. Lilith noticed her tongue was strange, forked like a serpent’s. There in her drink she saw her reflection in the smooth surface of the wine. There staring back was the expressionless face of a giant cobra.

Recoiling at the sight, Lilith’s tail swung back and forth knocking over tables chairs and guests. Many of the people around her flew across the room landing with dull thuds.

And that is how she woke up, to the sound of dull thuds against her door.

‘knock knock knock’.

“Wake up Lils we got work to do.” It was a gruff dwarven man’s voice, the voice of Gonald and it was the last thing that Lilith wanted to hear so early in the morning. She could feel something move down her bed and then onto the floor. Quickly she sat up only to see the black tail of Noodle One slip under her closet door.

‘Knock knock knock’

“I’m up, I’m up! Just give me a minute.” Lilith shouted out as she went to retrieve her arming jacket and armor.