Poison The Triad

Lilith's POV 

The sound of running water fills everywhere, echoing in the bathroom. 

Steam fills the air until it's almost heavy and thick, the scent of expensive jasmine clogging my nostrils…the kind my mother loved. 

But no matter how much perfume is poured, it still can't reduce the bitter, metallic stench of blood at the back of my nostrils….my mother's blood.

At this moment, I feel empty, as though my consciousness has floated elsewhere, staring down at the maids as they mindlessly scrubbed the hell out of my skin. 

They don't even try to be gentle just keep scrubbing my legs so hard, the skin bruises, turning bright red. 

And each time they scrub the spot where her blood touched me earlier, I subconsciously flinched, the urge to scream out until I can't anymore rise. But unfortunately, my throat feels tight, as though I swallowed broken glass. 

I just gaze lifelessly at the mirror, my eyes lingering on the black diamonds choker. It still sits right on my neck; a wicked reminder that I don't belong to myself anymore, but to three devils. 

“st…stop” I whisper, my voice cracking and raw. “I..I can wash myself, please” 

The head maid frowns, not bothering to look at me as she pours a thick, gold oil on my shoulders. “You're wanted perfect by the Triad, Lilith” she says, her eyes hardening. “And we received orders to make sure you're….perfect” she then grabs another bottle of oil. “Your mother's dead. Don't ruin your already swollen face with more tears” 

Just then, the senior maids finally let go of me, walking out to go get my supposed wedding clothes. But one maid stays behind. She's wearing a surgical mask and a cap that hides her face. 

I press my knees towards my chest, trembling in the corner of the huge marble tub. But suddenly, the girl locks the heavy door behind her. I flinch, my heart almost jumping into my throat. 

But when she pulls her mask down, my eyes widen in shock.

My best friend, Sloane. What the hell was she doing here? 

Sl…Sloane?” I say, almost yelling. The sob lingering in my chest finally breaks out. It's messy and loud. I run out of the water without any care, wrapping a towel around my body. 

“Oh, goddess, Sloane…you…you saw everything that happened. They….those devils, they killed my mother! Help me get out of here, Jax….” 

“He's gone, Lilith” Sloane says in a calm tone which almost scares me, gripping my shoulders steadily. “Jax is halfway to the border as we speak with a bag full of cash. And there's no ‘escaping’ here for you. At least not through the door” 

I stumble, the world spinning. “Jax…he…he really left me?” 

She doesn't reply, just reaches for her pocket and pulls out a tiny bottle. Inside is a dark, glittering liquid that swirls like oil mixed with something else I can't fathom. 

“This is Nightshade Marrow” she says in a low whisper, placing the cold bottle in my palm. 

“Smear it across your lips. The second their skin touches yours, they'll be dead. It would look like a heart attack, like they died from extreme excitement” 

A frown forms on my forehead as I look at the bottle, my hands trembling so hard, I almost dropped the glass. “I…I'm not a killer, Sloane. I can't” 

Sloane frowns, digging her skin into my skin, her eyes burning with rage. “They fucking killed your mother right in your eyes! And they'll use you like an animal until you start thinking you're one, Lilith! Do you want to spend your life as a sex doll for those three devils, huh?! Kiss them! Kill them! Do it for your mother” 

Before I can say another thing, she lets me go and slips out just as the other maids are about to come in. 

The older maids dressed me in a white silk held together by thin gold chains. It's so transparent I might as well go in naked. 

After that, I'm led to the main room. 

I'm standing in front of the mirror, my heart beating violently. I stare at the poison. Just then, I hear heavy feets approaching the door…. it's them, the Triad. 

With shaking fingers, I open the bottle in a hurry and rub the liquid over my lips, then discard it in a hidden corner. My lips now look unnaturally swollen and red….like a doll made for a funeral. 

The big doors open. Malakai, Vane, and Roman walk in. They took off their jackets. Their shirts are open, sleeves rolled up. They look like animals ready to eat.

"Leave us," Malakai says. The maids leave fast. Malakai looks at me. He tilts his head, noticing something. I'm not crying. I'm just standing there, quiet.

Roman walks over, touching the bed. "Look," he says with a mean smile. "She stopped crying. She almost looks... like she wants us here."

Vane goes to the door. Click. The lock sounds like a gunshot

The doors creak open. Malakai, Vane, and Roman walk in. They took off their jackets, their shirts open, sleeves rolled up. They look like animals ready to eat.

"Leave us," Malakai says. The maids leave fast. Malakai looks at me. He tilts his head, noticing something. I'm not crying, I'm just standing there, quiet.

Roman walks over, touching the bed. "Look," he says with a mean smile. "She stopped crying. She almost looks... like she wants us here."

Vane goes to the door. One Click. The lock sounds like a gunshot.

Malakai walks to the bed. He lifts my chin, makes me look at him. My heart is beating loudly. My lips are tingling, It's a weird, numb feeling. Sloane never told me what it would do to me.

Malakai leans down. His face is so close that I smell the woodsy scent on his skin. 

Just then, he suddenly stops, his nostrils flares. 

"You smell different tonight, Lilith," he says. His thumb touches my lip, picks up some oil. "Sweet. Like flowers at a funeral."

He stares at his thumb, then back at my wide, terrified eyes.

Slowly, he raises his thumb to his own tongue.