Lily is sitting thoughtfully on the edge of the bed, mentally listing the things she should bring with her when suddenly there is a knock on the door.
"Come in!" Lily calls dully and walks quietly to the door.
Snake opens the door quietly and Lily stares at him.
Snake swallows quietly and says, "Scale should be here soon."
Lily raises an eyebrow bitterly and asks, "Was that all?"
Snake bites his lip and says, "Yes."
Lily gathers herself and replies, "If you're ready to talk to me, I'm ready to listen. Remember that, Vitali Snakov."
Snake nods, looking down and watching Lily's shadow head for the door.
Snake sits on one of the armchairs in the corner of the room and puts his head in his hands, gripping his hair with both hands.
The truth. A word that would have set him free.
Freed him from the shackles of lies he had wrapped himself in and which had given him so much pleasure at times. He didn't know why.
It was an inexplicable feeling. A feeling that would tell you to stay away from a person, no matter what you want. What your soul desires, desires. Requires.
Lily is all of these. Even if she doesn't admit it to herself, she can make any man do what she says with just a few words and a captivating look in her dark blue, black eyes.
That was self-evident. And that's what gave her this limitless power. Cleopatra's captivating and otherworldly beauty and wisdom, Italian temperament and English elegance and aristocracy.
---------------------
But as soon as Snake tries to get to Lily's room again, he hears Alina angrily yell, "You're doing it again!"
Lily and Than look at each other and run towards the kitchen where the voice comes from and see Alina and Lev arguing there.
"You're not going anywhere!" Lev hisses angrily.
"And what makes you say what I can or can't do?!" Alina asks, raising an eyebrow.
"What's going on here?" Alina asks loudly, standing next to her.
Lev swallows and says, "You are staying here, Alina."
"Then why did you say that I have a free chance to make my own choice?" Alina asks, pulling away from the boy.
"Because we made an agreement!" says Lev, running his hand through his hair.
Lily grabs Alina's left hand as it reaches for her knife and whispers, "You don't have to."
Alina glances over at Lily and lets her left hang and gives Lily a broken look and Liy continues, "I know this can be painful for both of you."
"I don't want to hurt him," Alina replies barely audible.
"And you don't," Lily whispers in the girl's ear and looks at Levi, "I believe you both know what's best for you. It is only necessary to say it."
Alina nods quietly and says, "I know you want to stay by my side. I want to stay by your side too. But I'm afraid that we can't do it anymore standing separately like this. So if you want to follow me, I will join Lily Black's empire. But if not, I have no place next to you."
Lev nods quietly and quietly walks up to Alina, "I want you. Always. And maybe you're right." and looks at Lily and says, "Maybe it would be wise for us to join forces and join the Queen of Ghosts' empire."
"My empire might really need whatever is offered to it. If I take over the world now," Lily answers quietly.
"Then take us," answers Lev.
Lily nods quietly and walks back towards her room.
Than glares at Vassili, who has stepped closer to Alina and then moves back to her room with Lily.
"Never thought a lion cub would protect his rebel like this," Than mutters.
Lily rolls her eyes to herself and asks Than, "Do you have to give everyone we meet a cheesy nickname?"
"What can I do! It's my special quirk, a black flower," Than replies jokingly.
Lily smirks to herself and mutters, "That it is."
Than steps closer to the girl and grabs the girl's chin with two fingers and turns the girl's face towards him and asks, "What's wrong with you, black flower? Who took the power and fire of this black flower?'
Lily sighs to herself and says, "Snake. He's been behaving very strangely lately."
"The armadillo is always acting strange, black flower. That's his specialty," Than answers with a shrug.
"Trust me, I know. But... it was different." Lily answers looking down.
Than brings the girl's eyes more or less level with hers and says, "Never look away when you talk to me, black flower."
"I'll try not to, Than," Lily replies, quietly placing her hand on the boy's chest.
"What would you like me to do?" Than asks more quietly, leaning over Lily.
"I can't get out of there, Than," Lily answers, swallowing.
"Where are you stuck, little hell?" Than asks in a soft voice.
"It's like I'm stuck between the jaws of a snake," Lily answers quietly.
Than puts an arm around the girl's side and guides her to one of the chairs and says, "Whatever you think... we're here. And sometimes we probably cling to you, that's for sure. But we only do it because it's our masculine instinct - to protect a woman who seems to be in an inescapable situation."
"It's not that anymore, Than. I've never felt it before. It's like I'm his...property." Lily answers trying to hide her face.
Than lets go of Lily and asks, "Would you like to talk to Kro? I'm afraid that only he can help you here..."
"The last time I spoke to him, we agreed that the main topics of conversation would be issues related to ensuring the political stability of the Wendel Empire," Lily answers.
"Lily, we break the rules all the time!" Than exclaims suddenly.
"True. But if we want to be strong internationally... would breaking the rules constantly leave us a... good impression?" asks Lily, frowning.
"Yes," Than replies.
Lily looks at him questioningly and waits for Than to continue, "We are who we are. And we've known it all along. Each of us has been constantly throwing up our tantrums, and no one has ever been bothered by it. And this is how it becomes when you grow up internationally. It's just that in a bigger world, the game board gets bigger and some paradigms have to either rise or fall a bit."
Lily nods quietly and says, "Okay. You know I believe you, Than. I just have some time to think."
"Take as much as you need," Than replies, smiling at the girl.
Lily nods quietly and walks quietly to the door.
YOU ARE READING
Queen of Wendel: Warlike
Mystery / Thriller"Why shouldn't he take care of you?" Shadow sighs quietly. There were many reasons. Secrets, past, weapons, girl's personal ethics. Not to mention her wounds. Her body was covered with knife wounds that always reminded her of her angry battles with...
