Damon grabbed her arm in an attempt to stop her as she walked away.
"What the hell was that?"
Lilith did not turn around. She exhaled slowly, pressing her fingers to her temple as a dull ache pulsed behind her eyes.
"What."
Damon frowned, tightening his grip just enough to make his frustration clear.
"Do not play dumb with . Telling everyone about the elixir. And the fact that you knew its na."
He had never known that detail. He only knew there was an elixir at the heart of the Black Tower, sothing that could cure his sister.
Lilith turned sharply, brushing his hand away as if it irritated her.
"And what about it? You think a few more people chasing it suddenly makes it unattainable."
Damon studied her face. The exhaustion was unmistakable. The edge of her confidence looked worn thin. His voice softened despite himself.
"Hey. Are you doing all right."
Her lips pressed together. The muscles in her jaw twitched.
"Am I doing all right? I should be asking you that."
The outburst caught him off guard. She inhaled slowly, forcing herself to calm down.
"Great. I am doing great."
She clearly was not.
Damon pulled a chair from his shadow storage and set it beside them.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
She shook her head.
"I am fine. Leave it be."
He frowned.
"What is your problem?"
She drew in another breath, heat rising in her chest.
"I am fine. I just need a mont to collect myself," she said coldly.
Damon’s eyes drifted to the flower tucked into her hair. The unease it stirred finally pushed him to act. He appraised it.
The appraisal skill really was useful.
"So," he said quietly, "how many tis did you do it?"
Her eyes flickered. She bit her lip.
"You appraised the flower, didn’t you?"
He did not deny it.
"Judging by how angry you look, I am guessing things did not work out for us in your previous attempts."
She let out a hollow chuckle.
"No. Everything went great. But do you know what the problem was."
She raised her hand and pointed straight at him.
"You. You were the problem. The first ti was a disaster. The second was no better. The third was an improvent. The fourth was almost perfect. But in every single one of them."
Her finger trembled.
"You were the issue."
Damon crossed his arms, brow furrowing.
"My plans worked well enough. I cannot account for every variable. That is war."
"Hah," she laughed bitterly.
"How arrogant. You still do not see it. You were the reason we are still trapped in this hellhole."
She clenched her hands together, fingers digging into her palms.
"I do not understand it. Help understand it."
Her voice cracked with confusion and anguish. Damon stayed silent, watching her unravel.
She looked at him, teeth clenched.
"I do not understand this obsession with killing yourself. Why? Why do you glorify death? Death is not defiance. It is a coward’s exit. The living are the ones who need closure. You just disappear mid sentence. Wishes, dreams, ambitions. Gone."
Her legs gave out. She dropped to her knees.
Then her voice changed.
Flat, cold and controlled yet she continued.
"You know what hurts more than watching you die. Realizing that my words will never be enough to stop you."
"I will never be enough."
She lifted her head slowly.
"And for that, I will never forgive you for betraying our promise."
Damon did not respond. He turned away, unable to et her gaze.
He had so many things he wanted to say.
All of them collapsed into one word.
"Sorry."
She scoffed softly.
"Haha."
She stood.
"Fine. Do as you please. But know this. I am dropping the gauntlet. This ti I will not lose. You will live whether you like it or not. This hell you want to escape. You are not going anywhere. I swear it by the forgotten na of the unknown god."
Her oath completed. The stigmata on her back flared with dim, ominous light.
Damon slowly turned his head. He did not want to look at her. He did not want to see a Lilith who stood against him.
Their relationship had always been built on trust. Understanding. She had always been at his side, hero or villain.
Now she was opposing him outright.
"We all make choices in this world," he whispered. "I made mine. I only hoped you would respect it."
She glared at him, fury burning in her eyes.
"I cannot. Not when you are so wrong."
He finally faced her fully. The loneliness settled in.
"Yes," he admitted silently. He felt very lonely.
"You will not win, Lilith. It is hard to play a ga when the outco is decided by your opponent."
He crossed his arms.
"Is that why you revealed the elixir? If I die, I would entrust it to you. I know you would carry out my will even if you hated for it."
He raised his hand slightly.
"I do not even need the elixir. It is useless to a dead man. I only need to make sure you get it."
She smiled coldly.
"I will not."
He chuckled softly, looking at her with sothing almost tender.
"You will. You will not let Luna die. You love that girl as much as I do."
He stepped closer, lowering his voice.
"Does this not remind you of the old days? When we played cat and mouse around each other. The rules are the sa. The result too. My life is on the line again."
He leaned in, brushed a kiss against her cheek.
"Well then. Good night. We have a long day ahead. I will be counting down to the day I die."
His tone was casual now, almost light, as if the truth had freed him.
Lilith bit down until she tasted blood.
"I really did not want to do this to you, Damon," she said quietly.
"But you forced my hand."
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