Lilah's one of the
most gorgeous woman Eve's ever seen, and she's dead. Her flawless
white skin borders on a deathly pallor, with coal eyes contrasting
brilliantly; her figure too slim to be healthy, glossy hair that
never loses its shine or grows.
Eve watches her lick her lips,
the wetness glistening like blood and is sorely tempted by them.
Lilah's the first human she's known for an extended period of
time and she's curious. But she only thinks, never acting, because
curiosity is what got her into this mess in the first place.
She's
a child of the Senior Partners, the little girl poking around in her
parents' business. They caught her and decided to oblige her
curiosity. Now Lilah teaches her the nuances and mannerisms of a
youthful human woman, and departs intimate information about her
duties as the liaison to Angel and his group. Rule number five: keep
your friends close and your enemies closer.
"You always know
what your so-called friends are up to. You need to learn about your
enemies. But understand that most of your friends are secretly your
enemies, so keep them close as well, which leads to rule number six:
don't sleep with either of them."
"Why not?" asks Eve.
She doesn't quite understand human emotions and feelings yet, but
it seems that Lilah is particularly sensitive about this
rule.
"Sleeping with the enemy is not the way to go."
"But
the Partners told me to do everything possible to corrupt them?
Wouldn't sex be a good way?"
"It can warp your judgment.
Throw you off course and confuse you. Don't do it."
"If
I can't sleep with my friends or enemies, who's left?" ask
Eve.
Lilah tightens her lips, adjusts her Versace scarf and
continues with her lessons. Eve decides not to pursue the topic. She
is supposed to listen and learn, not question.
Once she
questions Lilah how she attained her icy beauty, and Lilah smoothes
her hair back on her forehead, like a small child. "There are some
things that only come with death," she says, her voice a tinge
bitter. "And it doesn't make up for everything. Tell that to
them." From her tone of voice, Eve assumes she means the Partners.
"Rule number eight: you pay for everything at one point or the
other. Nothing's free."
Lilah's paid for everything
she's ever gotten. Rumor has it that Lilah's paid for her looks,
position, power, success and lover. Eve thinks it cost a lot and
wonders how much she'll have to pay. She wants lots of things.
She'll start with Lilah's grace and beauty and work her way up to
good food and lovers. Such things are highly valued according to
Lilah and Eve has taken her value system to heart.
"Why do
you think I tell you about such things?" Lilah asks, leaning close
to Eve so those perfectly shaped lips are poised above hers.
"To
learn from you so I can successfully walk in the world?" answers
Eve, hoping she got the right answer.
"That's the answer
they drilled into you," whispers Lilah. Her arm slinks around Eve's
waist and she slips her hand under her shirt, icy fingers caressing
her warm back, pulling their bodies close. "But what do you really
think?"
"I..." Eve closes her eyes as Lilah's mouth
moves down her neck and sighs. "I don't know."
"To
conquer the world, maybe? To dominate all, control and gain
power?"
"Yes," says Eve, barely hearing her, wanting her
to continue.
"Rule number ten, maybe the most important rule
of them all," Lilah whispers to Eve, her lips nuzzling as her
fingers push up her shirt. Abruptly, she twists Eve around and grabs
her in an armlock, twisting her wrists.
"Your body is a
tool," she hisses. "Use it wisely." And then she departs,
tossing her words casually behind. "The lesson is over for
today."
Eve watches her hips sway as she walks away.
