Revenge, and A Little Bit More

Chapter Thirty Seven: Paranoia

A couple of days after the power outage, and Lilith's confession of being terrified of the dark, Lilith had everyone in the castle on edge and annoyed. She had become more and more paranoid, afraid that Miranda might attack at any moment. She tied witch's bells on every single door of the castle, even down in the dungeons. Lily and Amy were reluctantly following her, carrying bells and making sure she doesn't go out on a paranoid rampage. Alcina had asked them to keep and eye on her that day, since she went out with the girls to find sustenance.

"Stop complaining, little wolves. We're almost done." Lilith sighed as she tied bells to their bedroom door. Lily and Amy watched, bored out of their minds.

"Guard our home, bell on the door, let evil spirits come no more." Lilith chanted softly to herself. She picked up each bell slowly, as if it was a bomb, ringing it three times before putting it on the door. The twins were audibly sighing, hoping their mother would let them go.

"Mom, we're starving. Can we go hunt, please?" Amy complained, Lily nodding in agreement.

"Enough now, like I said, we're almost done here." she hummed.

"Lilith!!" they heard Alcina yell from the foyer in an angry tone. Lily and Amy glanced at each other, and busted out laughing.

"Again, mom?" Lily laughed, rolling her eyes.

"She's going to kill you." Amy chuckled, handing Lilith the last bell.

"Oh she won't. I'm too adorable." Lilith frowned, concentrating on tying the bell.

"I'm on my way, love." she answered, making her way down to the foyer. She lit black candles in the hallway as she walked. When she entered the foyer, descending down the stairs, she saw Alcina standing in the doorway with her arms crossed.

"Hello, my love." she grinned guiltily at Alcina, holding her hands behind her back.

"Again with the salt? My love?" she huffed, pointing to the red and black salt lining the threshold. Lilith pouted, eyeing the line of salt.

"But it's for protection!" she complained.

"It's not just about the mess. You have my maidens cleaning up salt and nothing else! But do you not trust me enough to protect you?" Alcina questioned her.

"Of course I do. This... I'm just... Trying..." Lilith suddenly burst into panicked tears. All of the annoyance disappeared from Alcina's face.

"Oh, my darling. I know, I'm sorry. I know you're trying to help. I'm sorry." Alcina walked over and pulled Lilith into a tight hug, wrapping her arms around her waist.

"I don't... I can't lose you." she almost whispered. Alcina led her to the dining hall, to have something to eat. Afterwards they headed upstairs, to spend a little time with their daughters.

It was nearly midnight when the matriarchs went to bed. Lilith hesitated briefly before blowing out the candles on the nightstand. Alcina held open her arms, and Lilith cuddled into her embrace. Alcina pulled her closer from behind, placing a kiss on her claim mark in her neck.

"Sweet dreams, my love."

"Sleep well, little witch." Alcina hummed, sighing deeply as both of them got comfortable. The soon drifted to sleep, cuddled together snug and warm.

It was almost four in the morning when Alcina was harshly awoken by Lilith screaming. Her arms were thrashing as her nightmare ran through her mind. Alcina grabbed her arms and pinned them down.

"Lilith! Lilith wake up!" she yelled, watching with worry as her eyes moved behind her eyelids. She soon realized that Lilith was stuck too deep in her nightmare, unable to wake up. She panicked, not sure what to do, when an idea popped into her head.