5. Lily

5

LILY

T he water seeps through my clothes, chilling me to the bone as I scrub the cold stone floor of the main hall. Griselda looms over me, sneering.

"Miss a spot, and you'll do it all over again," she snaps, flicking a drop of water onto my face.

I bite my tongue, focusing on the rhythm of the brush against the stone.

"Look at you, Enoch's little pet," another demon whispers as he passes, his voice dripping with mockery. "Think you're special now, human?"

I don't respond. My arms ache, my knees throb, but I keep working. The castle hums with demonic activity around me, snippets of conversation floating by.

"Did you hear? Mistress Bethana's in one of her cranky moods again."

"She gets this way every time a diplomat is coming through and she has to throw a party. Just wait, we'll have a ball or something soon."

The tension in the air is almost tangible, a constant pressure against my skull. I finish scrubbing the last tile and sit back on my heels, wiping the sweat from my forehead. Griselda's shadow looms again.

"Don't think you're done. The kitchens need cleaning too."

I nod, standing up and stretching my stiff muscles. "I'll get right to it."

She smirks, satisfied with her small victory, and turns away. I start to gather my cleaning supplies to go toward the kitchens.

A familiar presence fills the doorway. I don't look up, but my pulse quickens.

"Lily," Enoch says, his voice low. "We need to talk."

I glance around, ensuring we're alone, then meet his eyes. "What is it?"

"I'm sorry," he says, stepping closer. "I didn't realize how much danger I'd put you in."

I shake my head. "It's not your fault. They are looking for an excuse."

"Still," he insists, "I should have been more careful."

I put down the rag, crossing my arms. "So what do we do now? Pretend we don't know each other?"

He sighs, running a hand through his hair. "No. We just need to be more discreet. Keep our friendship hidden."

I nod, understanding the gravity of his words.

"I'll protect you," he suddenly says, his eyes fierce. "No matter what."

A shiver runs down my spine at the intensity of his gaze. "Thank you," I whisper, the words feeling inadequate.

He steps closer, his hand brushing mine.

I squeeze his hand briefly, drawing strength from the contact.

He nods, an amused look on his face. "This isn't exactly a good start to hiding our friendship," he says, looking down at our hands in wonder.

There's heat where we are touching. I wonder if my skin feels cool to him.

He abruptly turns and leaves. I watch him go, my heart a confusing mix of hope and fear. Then I pick up the rag and get back to work, the warmth of his touch still tingling on my skin.

The damp chill of the castle's lower levels clings to my skin as I pass through the narrow corridors to the kitchens, my thoughts churning.

Whispers about a magical artifact float around like smoke, and I can't shake the feeling that it's the key to everything. They say it grants immense power, that it's the source of Bethana's tight grip on the castle.

I overhear a couple of demons in the hallway.

"You think she keeps it in her chambers?"

"Maybe. But it’s heavily guarded, wherever it is. Only Bethana knows for sure."

The idea of finding this artifact and using it to free myself—and maybe even others—takes root in my mind. Enoch's face flashes before my eyes, and I realize he's become part of this fantasy.

Later, I stumble more than walk toward my chamber, exhausted, only to find Enoch sitting in a hidden corner of the castle, his back against the cold stone wall.

The dim light from a nearby torch casts shadows across his face, highlighting the tension in his features. He doesn't notice me at first, lost in thought. The sight of his handsome, dark face creates a flutter in my chest and I am no longer tired.

"Mind if I join you?" I ask, stepping into the alcove.

He looks up, startled, then relaxes. "Of course. I was just thinking."

I sit next to him, the stone cold against my skin. "About what?"

"Nothing." He runs a hand through his hair, frustration evident in his movements.

I lean back, letting my shoulder brush against his. "Your face looks pretty serious for nothing."

He glances at me, a small smile tugging at his lips. "You think you know my face, then?"

"A human has to tune into these things," I tease, nudging him gently. "Otherwise, we'd be lost."

He laughs, a sound that warms me more than the torchlight. "You have a point."

Silence falls between us, but it's a comfortable one. I study his profile, the way his eyes flicker with thoughts he's not sharing. The castle seems to hum around us, an undercurrent of magic in the air. I feel a pull, a connection between us that’s growing stronger with each passing day.

"I never expected this," he says softly, breaking the silence.

"Expected what?"

"To care about a human."

I swallow hard, my heart pounding in my chest. "Feelings have a way of surprising us."

He turns to face me, his eyes intense. "You make me question everything I thought I knew."

I reach out, my fingers brushing his cheek. "Maybe that's not a bad thing."

His breath catches, and for a moment, the world narrows to just us. He leans in, his lips inches from mine. "Lily..."

"Yes?"

"Do you trust me?"

I nod, the words caught in my throat. "I do."

His hand cups my cheek, and then his lips are on mine. The kiss is soft at first, tentative, but it quickly deepens, a fire igniting between us. My heart races, and I feel the castle respond, the magic thrumming through the walls, reacting to our connection.

We pull apart, breathless. "Did you feel that?" I whisper.

He nods, his eyes wide. "The castle... it's like it's alive."

"Maybe it is," I say, my fingers still tingling from the kiss. "Or maybe it's just us."

He smiles, a real, genuine smile that lights up his face. "Whatever it is, it's powerful."

He leans in again, and his lips close over mine, sending fire through me. I lean into him, kissing him back, feeling myself come alive under his touch.

The castle shifts beneath us, the stones creaking and groaning as if responding to my feelings. Enoch and I stand in the dim corridor, the flickering torchlight casting eerie shadows on the walls.

"This place is reacting to us," Enoch murmurs, his crimson eyes narrowing.

"I wonder if anyone else noticed," I reply, feeling the chill seep deeper into my bones.

"It would be impossible not to."

He takes a step closer, his hand brushing against mine. "We need to be careful. If anyone sees these marks, and this reaction of the castle…"

"They'll know," I finish, swallowing hard. "Both humans and demons. We're putting ourselves at risk."

His jaw tightens, and he nods.

A sudden noise from down the corridor makes us both tense. We press ourselves against the wall, listening intently.

"Did you hear that?" I whisper.

He nods, his eyes scanning the shadows. "Stay close."

We move quietly, the sound of our footsteps barely a whisper against the stone floor. The castle seems to pulse around us, its magic a living, breathing entity.

As we round a corner, we come face to face with Griselda. Her eyes widen in surprise, then narrow in suspicion.

"What are you doing here?" she demands, her voice sharp.

"Just checking the corridors," Enoch replies smoothly, his grip on my hand tightening. "Making sure everything is secure."

Griselda's gaze flicks to me, then back to him. "And why is the human with you?"

"I needed an extra pair of eyes," he says, not missing a beat. "She has a knack for noticing things others don't."

Griselda snorts, clearly unconvinced. "Just make sure you don't get too comfortable, human. Your place is in the kitchens, not wandering the halls."

I nod, keeping my expression neutral. "I'm on my way from there to my chambers, Griselda."

She gives us one last suspicious look before turning and walking away, her footsteps echoing down the corridor.

"We need to be more careful," I say once she's out of earshot.

Enoch nods, frowning.

We part at my chamber door, our fingers lingering until at last he turns and ascends the stairs.

The castle settles around us, quiet, still, and waiting.