Chapter 21

"What in bloody hell is happening!" shouted Iblis.

"Dad, calm down," suggested Rudyard. Iblis turned o his son.

"Rudyard, how do I calm down when my sons and I are sitting before the Blue Djinn of Babylon and Nirod FUCKING Godwin!" he screamed.

"You just had to throw a curse word in there," sighed Nimrod, who was lazily leaning on the wall before them. Faustina Sachertorte was seated at a large table in the room, beside her sat Pandora. The two women conversed and seemed to have came to a mutual agreement.

Pandora looked up at Lydia. "Lydia, I need you to tell me everything." she said softly.

"Everything about what?" asked Lydia.

"Your life Lydia."

"I have nothing to attribute to," stated Lydia coldly. Pandora's eyes softened.

"I realize this is difficult for you, but I need to know," she pleaded.

"No you don't it's my life not your's," said Lydia, "You have no right to even ask."

"Lydia, I understand this new and scary for you, but you have to work with me if you want help."

"She doesn't need you, Lydia has us." argued Rudyard. He crossed his arms against his chest and scowled.

"Rudyard, your not enough defense for what's coming."

"She's right, Iblis please understand this is in the best for the Ifrit." added Faustina. Iblis sneered.

"Since when is it your job to decide what's best for my tribe. All you do for us it give us cruel punishments." he spat in disgust.

"Please, I am only trying to protect you," sighed the Blue Djinn.

"From WHAT!" yelled Jonathan. Pandora and Faustina turned to Lydia.

"Lydia, would you care to explain?" asked Pandora. "I know you are aware of what's happening."

Lydia's eyes shifted around the room, she wanted to speak but she just couldn't. She nervously twisted her hands and stared helplessly at her feet.

"Lydia," called Rudyard. "Lidie?"

"They're trying to protect you from a very bad person, that's all." said Lydia.

"Could you be more detailed?" Jared irritably asked. Lydia turned her head up to the ceiling and frowned.

"From my father," she whispered. Pandora noticed her odd behavior and began to panic a little.

"Lydia, I need you to focus." she snapped. "I need you to tell me about your life."

Lydia turned her gaze from the ceiling directly to Pandora.

"My name is Lydia Marie Stewart. I was born April 6th, 1994. It was 3:33 in the morning." she began. "My father is Belphegor, demon of vanity and sloth. His strongest month is April, and he named me Filia Vanitas, it means Daughter Vanity in Latin. He came to this plane to find married happiness that mortals speak of. He never found it and proved the rumors were just rumors. He left when I was three, but he came back when I was six. He left me alone in that house for eight years. I have a very, very bad destiny ahead of me and I'm terrified. Recently I've felt his presence again, I have gone through demonic possession once so far, and I see things. I am aware of the eminent danger I bring to the Ifrit and Marid tribes of djinn. There is a war coming and its close."

Pandora studied Lydia's fearful expressions.

"Ms. Patterson, want do you want to do about this?" asked Faustina. Pandora turned back to her and sighed.

"We need to get both tribes underground," she replied.

"What the hell is going on!" questioned Iblis. "I'm the leader of the Ifrit, I will decide the course of action. Lydia and in my care, not your's."

"You do not understand the servility of this situation," scolded Pandora. "You are not of the same malevolence as a Prince of Hell."

"I can do better!" shouted Iblis.

"Iblis, please think of it. Demonic entities is out of our range of knowledge." noted Nimrod.

"So, you're telling me to give up?"

"Not give up, but live to fight another day," asserted Nimrod. "There is no use to try and fight now. We know nothing about these monsters."

"He's right Iblis, we need to gather intel." stated Faustina flatly.

"They want to kill my son, Nimrod. They want to kill Rudyard." revealed Iblis bitterly. "Lydia told me that her father has ordered her to kill Rudyard. She doesn't want to do it and I don't want that to happen. He's threatening my family."

"Everyone in room is threatened by Belphegor."said Pandora. "What we need to do now is just lay low."

"What about our casinos?" asked Timothy. "what will happen when all the Ifrit lay low, huh."

"If you're worried about your percious bad luck, don't." hissed Nimrod. "Belphegor and his minions will do it all for you."

Lydia sat quietly watching them argue. She gripped Rudyard's hand tightly. She hated each moment the anger and tension rose in the room.

"Has anyone ever thought about what was happening with me?" she crackled. Everyone turned their attention to her.

"You're arguing about petty details and problems. Do any of you care that Belphegor could wipe out the entire djinn population if he wanted. He could even be in this very room. We're in danger, that's all that matters." she sputtered.

"Lydia's right," agreed Pandora. "We have to stop fighting and save that for the monsters."

After everyone left to their respective bedrooms Rudyard and Lydia went to theirs. Lydia immediately went to the bedroom.

"Lydia?" called Rudyard as he entered the room.

"Yea, babe?" she answered quietly.

"How are you?"

"I'm fine," she lied. Rudyard came up behind and hugged her tightly.

"You know I love you right," he said. Lydia nodded.

"I will always love you, Lydia. Never forget that."

"I won't baby." Lydia lazily brushed her finger tips against his skin. Rudyard brushed aside stray strands of hair from the back of her neck and laid gentle kisses to her hairline. Lydia leaned closer to him and sighed. Rudyard stopped kissing and looked at her.

"I hate it when you're sad," he muttered.

"I hate when I'm sad too." she remarked. Rudyard kissed her forehead and laid her on their bed. He laid nest her and threw one leg across hers. He tighten his gripped around her and placed his face in the nape of neck.

"You know Lydia..."

"What?" she asked.

"I brought a couple condoms with me, I stuck in the side table's drawer."

"So?" she breathed.

"So, let's have some fun," he suggested. Lydia turned to face him. She leaned her forehead against his.

"Fine, but only if I get to be on top." she stated. Rudyard smiled and reached over to the drawer of the condom.

"Deal, babe," he cheered.