Chapter 5

Only a few minutes later Celeste returned carrying two dresses and a corset. “I brought two you might like”.

“Thank you and please lock the door” Lilith called out still sitting in front of the mirror.

“Oh. Right” Celeste returned to the door after setting the clothes on the bed and turned a brass key.

“Sorry if I scared you earlier I didn’t realize my eyes were so bright red” Lilith said thinking of how to put the young girl at ease.

“Its ok they are pretty in a way.” Celeste said apologetically.

“And you know I’m not dangerous right. They wouldn’t invite me to a party like this if I was dangerous.” Lilith said as she struggled to brush the back of her head effectively. It reminded her of trying to put suntan lotion on her back.

“Oh let me help with that.” Celeste asked as she held out her hand for the brush.

Lilith passed it off with a short “Thanks”.

“Your hair is really long and so so red. How long did it take to grow out?” Celeste asked with the first bit of excitement she had expressed all day.

“I don’t know its not my hair really. I mean I just found myself in this body this afternoon when Wendel summoned me. I do think its a nice shade of red though, goes with the eyes too.” Lilith leaned forward resting her chin on her hands with her elbows resting on the desk.

“So what kind of demon were you before?” Celeste asked in genuine curiosity.

Lilith thought for a bit but finally decided to tell Celeste the same thing she had told the others so far. As she finished brushing her hair and set the brush down Lilith turned and told her with a smile “I wasn’t a demon before I was a human just like you. Perhaps a bit older but just as human as you or Mr. Wendel.”

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Celeste stood back a bit in shock. What she was hearing wasn’t possible but also seemed to make sense considering this woman’s calm demeanor.

“Its complicated but I told Sir Tanel and Wendel the same thing and his fancy ring confirmed it.”

“You mean the interrogation stone?” Celeste asked.

“So that’s what its called” Lilith said in a drawn out voice. Lilith stood up and looked at the dresses on her bed. She was definitely going with the white and blue dress.

Once Lilith was holding up the dress to see how it would look Celeste rushed over and hugged her from behind. “So he wasn’t in any danger this time? Oh thank the gods. Last time he lost a toe.”

Celeste let go as soon as Lilith turned around to look at her. “A toe?” Lilith asked holding a hand to her mouth. “What would a devil want a human toe for?”

“I think they wanted it to scry on him” Celeste stood back nodding in approval at the dress.

“Well all that is done and over. His devil contact is stuck on dirt with no powers and I am here and at your service for the foreseeable future. Although, I will probably require some payment in gold for my troubles but I will settle for a banquet tonight.”

“Are you sure? Wendel still has nine toes left you know.” Celeste said with a smile as both girls broke out laughing.

A familiar set of foot steps could be heard just outside the door followed by two knocks. “What are you two going on about I thought I heard my name” Wendel asked his voice muffled by the door.

“Nothing go away” Lilith yelled loud enough so that she could be heard through the door.

Celeste pointed back at the bed. “Corset first and then the dress and then shoes.”

“Sounds like a plan” Lilith said as she took off her leggings to reveal a black set of embroidered panties. The embroidery was done with flames and pitch forks rather than the usual roses or vines. At least the color would match the corset she thought to herself.

Lilith’s frame and muscle tone seemed to be that of a fitness model and she fit into the dress perfectly.

Once they were done Celeste went off to find Wendel and report their success. Lilith continued to clean up the room and cast prestidigitation on the arming jacket and the leggings cleaning them so they were ready for tomorrow. Luckily the shoes were flats and wouldn’t be visible under the dress. She sat down on a chaise lounge as it was easy to get down and up out of.

It was only then that something occurred to her. She hadn’t been thirsty or hungry all day. She hadn’t needed to use the restroom and it had been over 6 hours since she had arrived. ‘they expect me to attend this banquet I hope eating isn’t a problem’ she thought to herself. Lilith then went and hung up the unused dress in her closet. It was a good fit but the black dress seemed like it didn’t fit the occasion.

A few minutes later Sir Tanel, Wendel and Celeste returned the first two in much finer clothes than before. Sir Tanel no longer wearing armor and Wendel no longer wearing robes. Instead they wore silk shirts and baggy pants that seemed to gather along the knee and tighten around the calves and ankles.

Lilith stood and gave a small curtsy as Celeste had shown her earlier And they all clapped for a second.

“How long do we have?” Lilith asked.

“About thirty minutes” Wendel replied. “There are a few things we need to get straight before we are announced for the banquet.”

Lilith nodded expecting a few lessons on decorum and a list of who not to piss off.

“The Duchess is not who she appears to be. She has been replaced by a succubus for quite some time and we need you to help us capture her.” Wendel said in a calm and controlled tone now familiar to Lilith.