Lilith stared at Samael in his snake form, her eyes narrowing suspiciously. "You think I'm stupid, don't you?" she muttered, her voice low but dangerous. "I've seen plenty of snakes. You're probably just trying to lure me out so you can attack me or... eat me!"

"What? No!" Samael exclaimed, his voice rising in panic. "I'm not here to hurt you! I told you, I'm an archangel! I'm here to help!"

But Lilith wasn't buying it. Before Samael could explain further, she raised her foot and attempted to stomp on him. Samael hissed in alarm, quickly slithering out of the way. "Wait! Please stop! Just listen to me!"

Lilith wasn't in the mood for talking. She grabbed a nearby stick and swung it at Samael with all her might. "You think I'm just going to fall for this? I've had enough of being tricked and controlled!"

Samael darted left and right, narrowly avoiding the blows. "Lilith, I'm trying to help you! This isn't a trick!" he shouted, dodging a particularly strong swing. "Can you stop trying to kill me for just one second?!"

Lilith ignored his protests, her anger fueling her attacks. She grabbed a large rock, hefting it above her head as she approached Samael. "Last chance, snake!" she hissed. "If you're lying to me, you're about to regret it!"

Samael froze in place, his forked tongue flicking nervously. "Okay, okay! Please don't crush me! I swear I'm telling the truth!" he pleaded, his voice trembling. "I really am an archangel, and I took this form to hide from the seraphim! If you don't believe me, let me transform back and prove it to you!"

Lilith's grip on the rock tightened. She glared at Samael, her chest rising and falling with heavy breaths. "If you're lying, you won't get another chance," she warned, lowering the rock slightly but keeping it within reach. "Go on. Transform."

Samael hesitated for a moment, then his shimmering body began to glow. Slowly, his snake form shifted, his body elongating and reshaping until he stood before her in his true form. Samael dusted off his white suit, his wings stretching slightly as he offered a nervous smile. "See? Told you," he said, holding his hands up in surrender.

Lilith took a step back, her eyes widening slightly as she took him in. Her anger didn't completely fade, but she seemed slightly less hostile. "So, you really are an angel," she muttered. "What do you want from me?"

Samael's expression softened. "I told you—I just want to help. I know you've been treated unfairly, and I understand why you left Eden. You didn't deserve any of that."

Lilith studied him for a moment, her eyes scanning his face for any sign of deceit. Samael extended his hand cautiously. "I'm not your enemy, Lilith. I promise."

Lilith reached out slowly, but just as Samael thought she was going to take his hand, she grabbed his arm and yanked him into a nearby bush. Samael yelped in surprise, his wings brushing against the leaves as he tumbled into the foliage. "What—what are you doing?" he whispered, trying to regain his balance.

"Quiet!" Lilith hissed, clamping a hand over his mouth. Her gaze darted toward the distance, her body tense. Samael followed her line of sight and saw faint glows moving through the trees. The seraphim had been drawn to the commotion.

Samael's heart sank. The seraphim were close—too close. If they found Lilith, they wouldn't stop until they dragged her back to Eden. He gently pulled Lilith's hand away from his mouth and whispered, "We need to get out of here. If they find us, it's over."

Lilith frowned, her eyes filled with uncertainty. "How do we do that without them noticing?"

"Hold on to me," Samael said, holding out his hand again. "I can teleport us somewhere safe, but you have to trust me."

Lilith hesitated, her brow furrowing as she glanced at the glowing forms of the seraphim drawing closer. Finally, with a reluctant sigh, she grabbed Samael's hand. "You'd better not make me regret this," she muttered.

"Trust me," Samael said, his voice steady despite the tension. He closed his eyes, focusing his energy. A soft, golden light enveloped them just as the seraphim's voices grew louder. The glow intensified, and in a flash, they were gone, leaving nothing but the rustle of disturbed leaves behind.

The seraphim arrived moments later, searching the area with narrowed eyes. One of them muttered, "She was here. I know it."

But Lilith and Samael were nowhere to be found.

Samael and Lilith reappeared in a secluded clearing, far away from the seraphim's prying eyes. The moonlight filtered through the trees, casting a soft, silvery glow over the quiet landscape. Samael exhaled a breath of relief, his wings folding behind him as he glanced around to ensure they were truly alone. "I think we're safe for now," he said, looking over at Lilith.

Lilith crossed her arms, still wary but visibly tired. "So, what now?" she asked, her voice tinged with frustration and exhaustion. "Are you here to drag me back like the others?"

Samael shook his head firmly. "No. I told you, I'm not like them. I just... I wanted to help you. I thought maybe we could talk."

Lilith's expression hardened. "Talk? About what? How I should go back to Eden and let them control my life again? Because if that's what you're about to say, I'll save us both the time—I'm not going back."

Samael raised his hands defensively. "I get it. I really do. I'm not here to convince you to go back if you don't want to. But, Lilith..." He hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "You're struggling out here. I can see it. Surviving outside of Eden isn't easy, and it's taking a toll on you."

Lilith's jaw tightened, and her fists clenched. "I'd rather struggle out here and live freely than go back and be a prisoner. Do you understand that?" Her voice wavered slightly, betraying the emotions bubbling beneath her defiant exterior.

Samael nodded, his expression softening. "I do. I really do. And I admire your strength. Most angels, most beings, would never have the courage to do what you did. To stand up for yourself like that." He paused, lowering his gaze. "But... what about Adam?"

Lilith's eyes flared with anger, and she took a step closer to Samael. "Don't you dare bring him up," she snapped, her voice trembling. "Adam is not my husband. Not anymore."

Samael blinked, taken aback by her sudden fury. "What do you mean? He—"

"He slapped me," Lilith interrupted, her voice sharp and bitter. "The moment he raised his hand against me, the moment he sided with those... those arrogant seraphim, he stopped being my husband. A husband is supposed to stand by his wife, not bow down to others and let her be humiliated and hurt."

Samael's eyes widened in shock. "He hit you?" he asked softly, the weight of her words sinking in.

Lilith's hands trembled as she nodded. "Yes. And that was it for me. I'm not going back to face more abuse, more judgment, more pain. I deserve better than that."

Samael was quiet for a moment, his gaze dropping to the ground. "I... I didn't know," he said quietly. "I'm sorry. You're right—you deserve better. No one should have to go through that."

Lilith's anger began to fade, replaced by a weariness that seemed to settle into her very bones. "I just want to be left alone," she murmured. "I've had enough of people telling me what I should do, who I should be, and how I should live."

Samael looked at her with a mix of guilt and understanding. "I know how you feel," he admitted. "I tried so hard to make things better. I talked to Sera, to the seraphim, to my siblings. We even went to see God himself." He sighed, his wings drooping slightly. "But no one listened. No one cared enough to really hear us. I thought if I could just do more, try harder, maybe things wouldn't have come to this. Maybe you wouldn't have had to leave."

Lilith studied him for a moment, her expression softening. She could see the pain in his eyes, the weight of his own struggles etched into his face. "You tried," she said quietly. "You tried, Samael. That's more than anyone else ever did for me. And it's not your fault if no one listened to you. I'm not mad at you."

Samael's shoulders relaxed slightly, though the guilt lingered in his eyes. "I still feel like I failed you," he said. "You shouldn't have been forced to leave. None of this should have happened."

Lilith reached out hesitantly, placing a hand on his arm. "It was my choice to leave," she said firmly. "And it's not your fault that the others didn't care enough to help. You've been kind to me, even when I didn't make it easy for you. I... I'm sorry, by the way. For earlier. For trying to kill you."

Samael let out a small, humorless laugh. "It's okay," he said, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "I probably would've done the same thing if I were in your position."

Lilith's lips curved into a faint smile of her own, and for the first time since they'd met, there was a sense of tentative understanding between them. They sat in silence for a moment, the tension between them easing as the sounds of the night surrounded them.

Samael glanced at her, his voice soft. "I don't know what's going to happen next, but... I promise, I'll do whatever I can to help you. You're not alone in this, Lilith. Not anymore."

Lilith looked at him, her expression unreadable, but her eyes held a flicker of something—trust, perhaps. She gave a small nod. "Thank you, Samael," she said quietly.

Lilith leaned back against a tree, her eyes flickering with thought. Samael sat across from her, tapping a finger against his chin as he mulled over their shared plan. The night air was cool, but the warmth between them was undeniable, a connection forged from mutual understanding and respect.

"I just want them to leave me alone," Lilith said softly, her voice carrying the weight of exhaustion. "I don't want to go back to Eden. I don't want to be around Adam. And I definitely don't want Sera or the seraphim dictating what I should do. I just want peace, Samael. Is that too much to ask for?"

Samael shook his head gently. "No, it's not," he said. "You deserve that much, at least." He glanced up at the stars, his mind racing as he tried to think of a way to give Lilith the freedom she craved. "What if we made them think you're... dead?" His voice was cautious at first, testing the idea.

Lilith blinked, sitting up straighter as she considered his words. "Dead?" she repeated, the concept slowly sinking in. "You think they'd stop looking for me if they believed that?"

Samael nodded. "Think about it. If they're convinced you're gone, they won't waste any more time searching. They'll go back to Eden, back to their project. No more seraphim breathing down your neck, no more Adam trying to convince you to come back."

Lilith's lips slowly curved into a small, approving smile. "I like the sound of that," she admitted. "But it has to be convincing. If they have any doubt, they'll just keep looking."

"Agreed," Samael said. "We'll need something definite, something that will leave no room for suspicion. It'll have to be perfect."

Lilith nodded thoughtfully, her fingers tracing patterns on the dirt as ideas began to form. "We could leave something behind. Something of mine. Maybe my hair, or a piece of my clothing. Something to make it look like I was attacked by a wild animal."

Samael's eyes lit up with inspiration. "That's good," he said. "But we'll need more than that. They'll want proof. What if we create a scene that tells a story? Something dramatic, but believable."

Lilith's smile widened. "Like torn-up ground, claw marks on the trees, broken branches. We could even leave some blood behind to make it look more real."

"Exactly!" Samael's excitement grew as they bounced ideas off each other. "I can use my abilities to create realistic-looking injuries on your clothing. We can find a predator's den nearby and make it look like that's where it happened."

Lilith's eyes gleamed with approval. "And we can lead a trail that eventually just... stops. Like I was dragged off somewhere and never found."

Samael nodded eagerly, impressed by her strategic thinking. "You're smart," he said, genuinely admiring her. "I see why the seraphim were afraid of you. You think ahead, and you don't give up easily."

Lilith chuckled softly. "And you're more imaginative than I thought, Samael. I've seen creativity before, but you? You're something else." Her tone wasn't condescending; it was genuine, filled with newfound respect.

They spent the rest of the night fine-tuning every detail of their plan, ensuring that nothing would be left to chance. Samael showed Lilith how to weave small illusions to make certain areas look more chaotic, while Lilith used her knowledge of the terrain to find the perfect spot for their staged scene. Together, they created a story of struggle, desperation, and a tragic end that no one would question.

As they worked, they exchanged stories, thoughts, and small moments of laughter that eased the tension surrounding them. Samael found himself relaxing in Lilith's presence, her strength and determination reigniting the part of him that had felt so lost lately. And Lilith, for the first time since leaving Eden, felt understood—like someone truly saw her for who she was and didn't try to change her.

By the time their plan was fully crafted, the first hints of dawn began to touch the horizon, casting a soft golden glow over the landscape.

Lilith leaned back against the tree, exhaling a tired but satisfied breath. "This will work," she said confidently. "I can feel it."

Samael smiled, a sense of accomplishment warming his chest. "I'm just happy I could help," he said. "After everything that's happened, it's nice to feel... useful."

Lilith turned to him, her expression softening. "You are useful, Samael. More than that—you're kind. You listened to me when no one else would. I appreciate that more than you know."

Samael felt a warm blush rise to his cheeks, but he nodded. "Thank you," he said quietly.

They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the weight of their shared experiences bringing them closer. Finally, Lilith reached out and gently touched Samael's hand. "We'll get through this," she said firmly. "We both will."

Samael met her gaze, his confidence renewed. "Yeah," he said. "We will."

As the sun continued to rise, they prepared themselves for the final step of their plan. Morning was approaching, and soon, they would execute the staged scene that would grant Lilith the freedom she so desperately desired. But for now, they waited, side by side, ready to face whatever came next together.