“Lilith.” Daisy’s voice was far more commanding, taking a more defined edge but still maintaining the ethereal quality in her words. It was incredible what she could achieve with just the use of her voice, but the effect seemed to barely weigh down on Lilith.

Were you able to put together the group?

“I’ve put together a young group of thirteen who are dedicated to the mission of restoring the power in Leith back to the ordinary citizens. They’re known as the Apostles,” she whispered, staring up at the moon with her hands pressed together in a prayer. “But, if I may ask, Lilith, why are you so willing to get rid of the Leiths? Aren’t they all of your beloved children?”

No, my dear. We are merely connected by blood, but I do not recognize any of them. My children would not stand for those values .

Admittedly, it pained Lilith to utter those words. She was just like the Leiths. She watched as they tortured ordinary citizens, let them suffer and die on the battlefield for the purpose of glory and indulgence. And in the end, it was all her fault. If Daisy could provide the mere salvation of relief and existence, Lilith would take it.

“What about that young boy? Victor Meyer?”

Get the Apostles together in a few years to sabotage the machine. If things go well, it should release me so I may have a direct influence on your world. You’ve been visiting me less and less, Daisy, but I assure you that I am always watching over.

“I know. It’s been harder for me to bring these for you,” Daisy paused for a moment, her hair a mixture of brown and white streaks. “When will it be my turn?”

Once the machine releases me and I come in contact with the girl, I’ll be able to restore your powers to their full extent, too.

In truth, Lilith didn’t want to give Daisy more power than Morrigan. Despite Daisy being her sole and most truthfully devout follower, Daisy’s love for the people around her was fabricated and full of ulterior motives—just like King Leith. Morrigan on the other hand seemed… different.

Daisy silently nodded, her head barely moving, before she lifted an arm and gently caressed a face, one that was not there. “I will come back to you, Lilith.”

Lilith could hear the shifting in the bushes of a man that Daisy herself could not sense. This was the future she saw all those millenniums ago. This man by the name of Mr. Brown would report Daisy, and that’s when their true plan would start. No one else had known about Daisy’s powers except for James, and even he treated them with stigma and carefulness, tediously ensuring he wouldn’t make a wrong move. His love sprung from his deep fear of the woman sleeping in the same room as him.

Lilith watched Daisy move away and made no move to warn her. In the end, General Kristiansen would be the most crucial player to her goal, and if this is what it took, so be it. By a stroke of misfortune, Morrigan had been chosen to become both a victim and Lilith’s salvation.

***

“No, no!” Daisy cried, tears streaming down her face as she struggled against the officers. “Morrigan!” She reached out a bare hand in a desperate attempt to grasp for Morrigan as Daisy was being thrown into the back of a Leith vehicle.

How could this be happening to her? How could this be happening to the most devout follower of the Luminous One? This must be a mistake.

Her hands were quickly restrained behind her by gloved officers as she was thrown into a cramped metal cage in the back of the vehicle. Tears streamed down her pink face, and her hair had almost turned fully white by now. She let out little vulnerable hiccups while sniffling, her eyelids red and puffy in contrast to her gray eyes.

“I’m so sorry,” she whined, little breathless whimpers coming out of her mouth, “I didn’t mean to hurt any of you.” Her voice was thick, full of that lively and lovely quality that she carried herself with. “I can heal them. I can do whatever you want from me.”

One of the officers whipped his head around to face her, holding a taser in his hand. Daisy cried even harder, her shoulder slumping and her hands cupped into her lap in a pathetic and pitiful manner. She reached her hands out and vulnerably exposed her bare forearms. “Tase me if you must, but please understand that I’m only a mother who wants to protect my child,” she sobbed, wiping her tears with a pale shoulder.

She leaned against the bars of the cage, looking at the officer with her hair draping over her face and her lips slightly parted, trembling. “You understand, don’t you? Isn’t there someone you love so dearly that you’d do anything for them?”

The officer looked at her, enthralled by both her beauty and her voice. It was such a simplistic way to get people to understand her—it was so alluring and ethereal, and in a world that lacked beauty and life, it seeped vitality into the air around her. He dropped the taser and slowly turned around, his eyes lingering on her for a moment.

***

“You understand don’t you?” Daisy gave a little smile as she leaned over the interrogation table, her delicate face resting in her small hands.

General Kristiansen stared at her through the bridge of his nose, looking down on her. His thick arms were crossed in front of his chest as he took a long drag of his cigarette before burning it on an ashtray in front of him. “Why should I believe you? Your “power” shouldn’t even exist.”

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Daisy giggled, brushing a strand of her hair back behind her ear. “Because I think our goals align much more than you think,” she smiled, leaning even more of her weight onto the table. “I want to bring back Lilith’s power full swing. To me, there is nothing more beautiful than witnessing God’s power firsthand. You, on the other hand, could benefit from her descent, no?”

Daisy’s voice was thick like a sweet syrup, and it coated the room in that dripping luxury and allure.

“Prove it to me. Prove that you can communicate with Lilith.”

“Why, of course. As a daughter of Lilith’s most valued power, wouldn’t it be natural,” she sighed with a wink. “But, because my power is weak, I need a blood sacrifice to speak with her.”

“A blood sacrifice?”

“Yes, it can be anyone. I’m fine with an ordinary, too. I’m flexible.”

“So now you’re both a murderer and committing treason against Leith.”

Her mouth opened into a wide grin as she laughed before she brought up a slender hand to shield her face. “You have such a funny way with words, General Kristiansen.”

“I’ll organize it for you. You have one chance to prove yourself or you’ll be burned or gunned down. Understood?”

“Don’t worry yourself so much, General. I’ll show you the power of Lilith.”

Lilith watched the scene unfold, a sour expression crossing her face. What a terribly deceitful woman. Daisy weaponized love and attraction to gain power, an edge, and it was sickening. Yet, Lilith was doing something similar, no?

It was simply in the nature of humans.

***

General Kristian reentered a few days after, kicking the unconscious body of an older middle-aged man. The man’s blond hair stuck to his muddy forehead, his eyes squeezed shut in pain. He almost looked familiar to Daisy.

“Use this man,” he commanded in his gruff, harsh tone.

“May I ask who this beautiful man you brought me is?”

“He’s an ordinary who was drafted into the war on the border. Does it matter?”

Daisy laughed as she moved to straddle the unconscious man. “May I borrow a knife? Unless you want to participate, of course.”

General Kristiansen looked hesitant for a moment before tossing her a small blade and pointing a gun at her, his finger already on the trigger if she were to do anything remotely suspicious.

“What’s with the long look?” she smiled, and her face wrinkled in such a human way; her skin seemed to carry beautiful stories with each imperfectly perfect mark. “You don’t need to worry about me when it comes to the Luminous One. Lilith is most cherished.”

She took the blade and drove it into his chest repeatedly as he let out a strangled cry before his heart was pierced. Blood splattered all over her, but she continued to look ethereal as the red liquid, appearing black from the dim light, dribbled down her thin arms.

Her humming was a raining tonic that rose and fell with perfectly soft cracks. She sang meaning into those sounds that they’d never find again unless she were to utter them once more. Hair glowing a blinding white, she stared up at the moon through the small window in the prison cell.

Hello, dearest.

“Hello,” Daisy’s voice chimed back. “I brought you a guest. Can he hear you?”

Of course. He is a child of me.

General Kristiansen's eyes were wide and crazed as he stared at her before cackling, reeling over and clutching his stomach. His eyes remained wide open the entire time, his whole face turning a deeper red then purple from how hard he was gasping for air.

Daisy smiled and turned back toward the sky. “That is the impact your will has on people, Lilith.”

General Kristiansen finally caught his breath, his hungry eyes still peering at the moon. They were so wide his eyelids seemed to almost retract behind the sclera. “Lilith, how may I assist with your descent?”

I will come down through the body of Morrigan, but I first need Victor Meyer’s machine to be a success. If you fund it, Daisy will take care of the rest.

Lilith said those words through tightly clenched teeth. It wasn’t necessarily true—she had no plans on “descending” the way that Daisy would have imagined. Her sole goal was to escape into the afterlife, and that meant Morrigan taking her place. Morrigan would become even greater and more powerful than Lilith, if Lilith could just breach into Morrigan’s life.

General Kristiansen seemed surprised at the words but didn’t question further. “Victor Meyer? Alright, as long as Morrigan is secured,” he muttered, picking up his phone and dialing Mr. Brown.

“Morrigan—you will protect her at all costs. If she shows any symptoms, call me immediately.” General Kristiansen barked the orders into the phone before hanging up.

Thank you, my dear children. I can ensure that I am always watching over you, and you may reach out to me whenever you must. But for now, await the production of Victor’s machine. As for the Apostles, they mustn't know about the full extent of our plan.

***

Morrigan now approached the government facility, Elizabeth and Victor following suit just behind her.

“Your hair is turning more and more white, Morrigan,” Elizabeth commented, throwing a black hood over her head. “It’s easy to recognize you.”

[D on ‘ t wo rr y abo u t h e r. Ge t to Gen er a l K r istian se n .]

Of course, mom. I’m going to avenge you and dad today.

Just before they could slink in closer to the facility, the woman with bright pink hair emerged from the green bushes, a strangely warm smile on her face.

“We’ve been waiting for you, Morrigan,” she said, kneeling down. Elizabeth immediately recognized her as the woman from the party, tensing up.

The pink-haired woman looked down at Morrigan’s feet. “You may call me Apostle One.”