30. Lily

The minivan was just where I had left it—thank goodness! I sighed with relief as I climbed into the car, slammed the door shut behind me, and locked it.

The first thing I did was to reach for the bottle of water I knew I had stashed under the seat. It was lukewarm from sitting in the car all day but I didn't care. I drank the whole thing thirstily, then jammed the key in the ignition and turned it.

At first I didn't think the minivan was going to start. It had a few false tries that put my heart in my throat. What would I do if I couldn't get it going? Despite my new status as a Princess in the Fae Realm, back here in the human world I was still technically just an unemployed mom. A broke unemployed mom and I didn't have the money for an Uber or a Taxi to get me back to my old house.

Finally, however, the engine turned over and the old minivan roared to life. I breathed a sigh of relief as I backed out of the parking spot and sped out of the Grab N Go parking lot.

I don't know if time flows differently in the two worlds, but a glance at my dashboard clock showed that it was eight o'clock in the evening. Which was good because it meant that Christopher should be home. I wondered if his little blonde girlfriend had made him dinner. I pictured the two of them eating whatever it was she'd whipped up and then settling down on the couch for a night watching a favorite show together. That was how we'd spent our nights after the kids were in bed—back in the good days of our relationship.

But had they been any good? When I looked back on my marriage with a dispassionate eye, I saw all the times I had eaten alone with the kids while Christopher worked late. Now I wondered if he had really been working—maybe he'd been having affairs.

How many nights had I put the kids to bed all by myself and then cleaned the house so it would be nice and neat for him while I waited for him to get home? Then, when he finally came in he might give me a kiss on the cheek…or he might just go directly to bed without even bothering to greet me.

He treated me like a maid and a nanny—like the hired help. No, not even that because it wasn't like I ever got paid for all that labor—he just expected it of me. And I went on stupidly delivering everything he wanted, right up until the day he kicked me out and changed the locks.

I wondered now why I had been willing to accept so little from the man who said he loved me. Why had I given up my dreams of a career to cook and clean for him for free—to raise his kids without his help? Why had I let myself be such a doormat?

It was thoughts like these that were simmering in my brain as I finally pulled into the driveway of my old home. I could see Christopher's Range Rover parked there but also a cute little hot pink sports car that must have had a custom paint job. It looked brand new and when I pulled in behind it, I saw that it had a bumper sticker that said, "Yield to the Princess."

I felt my irritation growing—my ex had never bought me a new car. Even the minivan had been used when I got it! But apparently his new girlfriend got anything she wanted. I squeezed my hands into fists—I would show them what princess they had to yield to! Christopher and his little blonde whore had better watch out because this princess was pissed off!

Then I realized what I was thinking and took a deep breath to calm down. Okay, I couldn't go into this situation all fired up or my emotions were going to get the best of me and Christopher would probably end up calling the police. I just needed to get the Jewel of Lolth from him and then get back to the Palace. After all, I had left both Sel and Krynn strapped into the Quenching chairs—who knew what Mordren and lady Elgiana might be doing to them?

The thought made me anxious and I pulled my long white satin robe tight around me as I climbed the front steps and rang the doorbell. There was nothing for a minute, then I heard familiar footsteps and Christopher muttering,

"Now who could it be at this hour?"

"It's me, you asshole," I muttered under my breath. "I'm here to take back what's mine!"

When he opened the door, it was clear my ex didn't recognize me at first.

"Uh…hello?" He frowned at me, his forehead wrinkling in confusion.

I couldn't help thinking that I'd used to consider him handsome. He had kind of a Dad bod and his hair was still thick and looked quite distinguished now that it was going gray at the temples. His blue eyes were probably his best feature. At least I had thought so when we were still together.

However, now that I had been at the Midnight Court and had seen all the gorgeous, perfect Fae, my ex-husband didn't look so hot anymore. I couldn't help mentally comparing his pudgy, slightly out of shape physique to Seldarin's muscular build and his faded blue eyes and ordinary features to Krynn's exquisite beauty.

It made me realize that Christopher was nothing special. He was just a middle-aged human man who happened to be a complete asshole.

But despite my severe irritation and yes, anger at him, I was determined to keep things civil.

"Hello, Christopher," I said, lifting my chin. "I'm here to get something you took from me."

Finally I saw recognition dawn on his face.

"Lily? Is that you?" He stared me up and down in disbelief. "What are you doing here this time of night? How did you get your eyes to glow like that—are those contacts? And what did you do to your hair—is that a wig?" And he actually reached out and tugged on a long piece of my hair!

"Ouch! No, it's not a wig," I snapped, pulling my hair out of his reach. "And it's only eight o'clock so stop complaining."

"You mean you got it dyed that way? Purple and white? Really?" He was still fixated on my hair but then he looked at the rest of me. "Hey—where did you get that robe? It looks really expensive! And did you get a boob job too?"

"No, you asshole!" I snarled, feeling even more pissed off. "I did not get a boob job!"

"You must have," he protested. "Just look at you—I can tell you're not wearing a bra, but you're not saggy anymore. I mean, if you'd looked like this while we were still married well…we might still be married, you know?" He gave an incredulous laugh and made a motion to indicate my new de-aged body.

I wanted to grind my teeth together but I was afraid I'd cut my bottom lip with my fangs—which Christopher still hadn't noticed yet, since his eyes were glued greedily to my breasts. Speaking of my fangs, they were itching and aching once more and the Thirst was coming back full force. The bottle of water I had downed in the car was long gone and my throat felt like sandpaper.

"Look, I don't have time to stand around talking about why you divorced me and left me with nothing—" I began. But just like when we were married, Christopher couldn't let me get an entire thought out without interrupting.

"Left you with nothing? I gave you the minivan, didn't I? Besides, it's clear you're doing fine for yourself," he scoffed. "I mean just look at what you're wearing and how much you've changed! Where did you get the money to get yourself all fixed up like that? Have you had plastic surgery? I like it except for the dental work." He frowned, finally noticing my teeth. "Are those supposed to be vampire fangs or what?"

"No!" I exclaimed, feeling my frustration climb even higher. "And I haven't had surgery of any kind but that's not what I'm here to talk about!"

Christopher shrugged.

"Sorry, I just asked because for the first time in years, you're actually attractive. I mean, maybe if you'd spent more time on your appearance instead letting yourself go, we might not have had a divorce."

"That's all you care about, isn't it?" I demanded, putting a hand on my hip. My throat ached from dryness but I was definitely going to have my say. "It didn't matter to you that I gave up any kind of career I might have had to raise your kids or that I kept your house spotless and did all the household labor without complaining." I poked a finger in his chest. "You didn't care that I always had your supper ready on time and got the kids to all their practices and meets and basically did everything I could to support you. All that mattered to you was that I was getting older and my boobs were getting saggy, so you decided to trade me in for a younger model!"

The words just came pouring out of me—they were thoughts that had been running on an endless loop inside my head ever since he'd kicked me to the curb and now I finally had a chance to get them out.

Christopher's face shut down immediately—just as it always had when I dared to complain about anything.

"All right, that's enough," he said coldly. "I see what happened here—you got yourself all dressed up and thought you could come win me back. Well sorry, Lily but I've moved on. So you might as well just go on back to wherever you're living?—"

"I'm living in the minivan, you son of a bitch!" I shouted, completely losing it now. "Because you kicked me out with nothing! After years of being your maid, nanny, and sex toy—until you stopped wanting me—you threw me out on the street with nothing to my name but an old car. You're an asshole—a selfish fucking monster!"

His face got even colder.

"Good night, Lily," he said and started to shut the door.

But I wasn't done with him yet.

"No, you don't!" I exclaimed, pushing my way into the house. Christopher tried to keep me out, but to my surprise, I was stronger than him. Maybe my rage was making me strong.

Or maybe it's the Thirst, whispered a little voice in my head, but I pushed it aside and ignored it.

"Hey!" Christopher complained. "You can't just push your way in like that!"

"Yes, I can!" I snapped back. "I haven't gotten what I came for yet!"

"Daddy-bear?" a young, feminine voice called from the other room. "Is everything okey-dokey in there?"

Christopher raised his voice, obviously trying to sound reassuring.

"Everything is all righty-tighty, Honey-bunny," he called back in a sing-song tone. "You just stay on the couch and wait for me. I'll be back in a minute."

"Okey-dokey, Daddy-bear!" she called back.

I raised my eyebrows at him.

"'Daddy-bear?'How old is she—twelve?"

Christopher bristled.

"She's twenty, not that it's any of your business."

"Oh no, of course not," I said sarcastically. "Why should the age of the girl you left me for be any of my business? Even if she's only one year older than your own daughter!"

Christian crossed his arms over his chest self-righteously.

"You leave my children out of this!"

"Your children?" I demanded. "I'm the one who raised them! Tell me something—do they know that you kicked me out with nothing to my name but a duffle bag of clothes and the old minivan?"

For the first time my ex looked uncomfortable. He shifted from foot to foot and cleared his throat.

"I told them that we split up and that you left," he said. "Amy called last night and wanted your new contact information but I told her I didn't know where you'd gone to."

I glared at him. This just got worse and worse!

"Let me guess—you made it sound like I left you, didn't you?" I demanded. "You acted like the divorce was all my idea—all my fault! How could you do that to your own kids? I'm practically the only mom they've ever known since your first wife doesn't want anything to do with them!"

He shifted again and frowned at me.

"Chris Junior and Amy are both grown up now. They don't need you anymore."

"Just like you don't need me, is that right?" I was getting so angry now I was actually seeing red. I mean it—it was like a scarlet curtain had dropped over my eyes and I was watching everything through a window stained with blood.

"No, I don't need you either." Christopher lifted his chin. "I have a new life now—and a new wife. So I think you'd better go now—we have nothing else to say to each other."

I still had plenty more to say, but it occurred to me that I was forgetting the whole reason I was there. I had to get the Jewel of Lolth and get back to the Palace. Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to get to the point.

"Fine," I gritted out. "It's not like I want to spend any more time with you than I have to. Now that I know what a disgusting pig you are, I never want to see you again! I only came over here to get my necklace and then I'll leave."

"Your necklace?" He raised his eyebrows and shook his head. "What necklace are you talking about?"

I clenched my hands into fists, my nails biting into my palms.

"You know damn good and well what necklace I'm talking about! The same necklace I've worn to every single special occasion since you've known me. The one that was found with me when I was a baby. The one you decided to lock up for ‘safe keeping' and then wouldn't let me have when you kicked me out!"

My ex kept the slightly confused look on his face, which I knew damn well was an act.

"I'm sorry, I really don't know what you're talking about. You didn't leave anything of value here," he said loftily.

"Other than the necklace, I completely agree with you," I snapped.

I was practically growling with frustration and the Thirst was raking my throat with sharp claws. The bloody window I was looking through was getting redder all the time. But still I tried to control myself. I really tried.

"Christopher, I know you have it," I told him. "Just give it back and I'll never bother you again."

Finally, he dropped the confused act.

"No," he said, looking down his nose at me. "According to the terms of our divorce, anything you left in the house when you vacated the residence belongs to me."

"That necklace has been with me since I was found as a baby!" I exclaimed. "It's literally the only thing I have of my heritage!"

"Your heritage?" He gave me a disbelieving look. "What are you talking about? You don't have any heritage—you're just an orphan that got left at the fire station because nobody wanted you. You're acting like you're some kind of princess or something!"

His words were so hurtful—and at the same time, so on-the-nose—that I didn't know whether to laugh or scream at him in rage and frustration. But just at that moment, a little blonde girl (who looked more like seventeen than twenty) came around the corner.

"Daddy-bear?" she said, taking Christopher's arm possessively and nuzzling her cheek against his shoulder. "What's taking so long? The pizza is getting cold."

"Sorry, Honey-bunny," Christopher apologized, never taking his eyes off me. "I'm finishing up now."

"No, you're not," I snapped. "Not until you give me my necklace!"

"Daddy-bear, who is this lady?" The blonde girl's eyes got wide. "And why is she dressed like that? It's not Halloween."

"She's nobody and there's nothing to concern yourself with, Honey-bunny," he said tightly. "Just go back in the other room and wait for me, okay?"

"Well…okay." The girl shrugged, obviously willing to accept whatever he said.

Just like I always did,I thought. Just like?—

But when Christopher's new wife shrugged—(I couldn't believe he had actually already married the little skank)—the motion opened the collar of the white silk button-down shirt she was wearing. And there, winking at me from the hollow of her skinny neck, I saw the necklace. The intricate silver filigree and Royal Purple jewel couldn't be mistaken for anything else. It was the Jewel of Lolth—my special necklace and he had given it to his side piece!

Suddenly my rage flared out of control. Like a freight train jumping the tracks, I felt the Thirst take hold of me in a vice grip and drive me forward. I'd been fighting it for hours, trying hard not to hurt anyone. But now I wanted to hurt. I wanted to kill and maim and rend and tear and bite!

Lunging for Christopher, I grabbed him by the shoulders and shoved my face into the side of his neck.

He gasped in shock but before he could react and try to push me off, my seeking fangs had found the thick vein pulsing just under his skin. With a single bite, I pierced his flesh and then the fresh, hot blood was flowing into my mouth.

My ex gave another strangled gasp and belatedly tried to push me off. But now that the blood was pouring down my throat and finally slaking the terrible Thirst that had been driving me crazy, I wasn't about to let go. In that moment I was nothing but a mindless drinking machine—a starving animal fixated on getting nourishment in any way I could.

I shoved his flailing hands away contemptuously. I was much stronger now—even more than I had been earlier. I found that out when Christopher finally managed to wrap one hand around my arm…and I peeled it off, breaking two of his fingers in the process.

He howled and tried to get away from me again, but by this time I had my arms wrapped around him and I was bending him backwards and forcing him down as I sucked and swallowed…sucked and swallowed…sucked and swallowed.

I became dimly aware that his little blonde wifey was staring at the scene with amazement and horror. Her china blue eyes were getting rounder and rounder as she watched me suck the blood out of her "Daddy-bear." Probably if I let her live, she was going to need all the therapy to deal with this scene.

Not that I cared. I was too busy finally slaking the Thirst. I could hear Christopher's heartbeat as I drank him dry. At first it was frantic—thud-thud-thud-thud-thud! But then, as I drained him, it began beating slower and slower. Thud-thud…thud-thud…thud-thud…

And then there was one last thud and I didn't hear it anymore.