Mistress of the Damned

We finished the rest of our dinner while Xagon ordered a sandwich. He quickly shoveled it in as we finished the rest of the wine. I was feeling a little buzzed, which would help me get through the rest of the shopping excursion.

Instead of heading back to the shops, however, Azil led us into the swamp. My brow furrowed as I tried to figure out his next move. The little huts within the swamp sold wares and crafts. Azil purchased me a beaded bracelet and tied it to my wrist.

“This is really unnecessary.”

“Shhh—I don’t mind, Flipp. In fact, I’m rather enjoying myself.”

We then walked by a hut that had a sign out front that read, “Fortune Teller”.

Azil stopped and read the sign. He looked over at Xagon and nodded. Xagon went inside first and Azil motioned for me to go inside.

“Are you joking?” I spoke.

“C’mon, it will be fun.”

I raised my eyebrows, but in the end, I went inside. I had never been to a Seer before. To be honest, they always creeped me out. I didn’t believe that one should know their future.

The room was dark with only one solitary light on. The Seer was cloaked and sitting at a table. She didn’t say a word to us as we went to the table and sat around it. I was sandwiched uncomfortably in between Azil and Xagon. I leaned in to get a closer look at the Seer, but it was as if she didn’t have a face. I looked over at Xagon, but he wouldn’t meet my eye.

“Look at this girl, Seer, and you tell me what she is.”

My mouth dropped open, and I turned to Azil. “What are you doing?”

“I want to know how true Drayven’s statements are about you.”

My mouth hung agape. I knew there was more to the trip than was meets the eye. I side-eyed the Seer, terrified of what she was going to say. What would happen to me if she said I was Lilith?

“This is ridiculous. You’ve had too much wine,” I said, trying to make light of it.

“Shut up, Flipp.”

“Brimstone! Stop this right now, I’m not her!”

Azil grabbed me by the back of my neck, and brought me close to his face. I squeezed my eyes shut, unsure of what his intentions were with me. He came close to my ear. “I find it rather convenient that you were left alive on the boat by the Sirens,” he hissed in my ear.

“What are you talking about?”

“When we were attacked, they weren’t even trying to kill you, unlike the rest of us. They were trying to take you, Flipp.”

“They were taking me as a slave.”

“Maybe so,” he whispered. “Or, maybe someone knows something that I don’t. But I’m about to find out.”

I swallowed hard. He let my neck go, and I rubbed the back of it.

Azil turned back to the Seer and I glared at Xagon. He could have told me what was really going on. It was becoming clear to me that I couldn’t trust either of them.

“Speak, Seer, what is she?”

I stared at the Seer as my body shook. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to know the answer to the question. What would Azil do to me if I was Lilith?”

I closed my eyes and waited.