11 of 1k : Lily's Pride part 5 : Lang

It had been a long night for Dr. Lang Shanko.  The lab had been cool and quiet running the new data on addiction.  There were a number of alleys near his apartment that were burdened with the diseased.  These hopeless souls didn’t know that a cure was maybe a few years away.  When he wearily reached his front step the sound of a cat hiss made him jump spryly and land gracefully at the bottom step in a defensive stance.  She was in the corner by the door, a pissed medium sized black cat her tail bushed out, her golden eyes glowing in the shadows.  Lang cautiously sensed around him without taking his eyes off the cat.  There was nothing else in the shadow, no one around ready to attack.  He slowly eased himself out of a fighting stance and sighed in relief.

“Are you ok with me opening my door?” He asked the cat and she slipped out of the shadow and down the steps to brush against him.  He gently knelt to pet her seeking wounds or broken bones, but from her scent he knew the problem.  “Naomi, Again?” he laughed at her and she growled.  “Ok, ok...I’m opening the door.  Don’t yak on my rug.” He instructed not that it would do any good.  Once the door was open she ran into the apartment seeking the safest coolest place to curl up and sleep, which would be his bed.  Lang sighed.  He was tired but knew if he slept now the cat would be gone in the morning and he had missed her.

“Kitty want some coffee?” He asked making his way into the kitchen.  He lives a very tidy orderly life.  He was not a collector, there were few books on his shelf that weren’t work related. a clean desk with a laptop in sleep mode, the small kitchen had an expencive coffee machine in which.

“no coffee.” Lilith whined from his bed, having transformed in privacy.  Her voice had a drunken heartbroken tone and it made Lang stiffen.  There were few things that bothered him as much as anyone hurting Lilith.  He made a single cup and walked into his small bedroom to find her on his bed pulling off her second boot. “Bitch stole my rings.”

“You know the pack knows better that to hangout with someone from another Pack.  Maybe you should adopt this in dealing with Naomi.” Lang suggested handing her the coffee.  She acepted it without thinking and took a sip.  Then frowned.  “I don’t want coffee.” she handed it back.  “I know. He said with a smile he refused to take it, removing his tie and hanging it back up.  Lilith watched him.  He should be in some hong kong action flick. short black spiky hair, dark asian eyes with a dangerous spark in them.  he’d be the young gun who got the innocent girl in the end after the old masters had killed themselves in epic battle.  Lilith was never innocent.

“Did something happen in the shadow?” Lang asked with a curious concern.  He had been raised among the pride but the ways of the Hunters were kept from him and the Pack kept a healthy friendly distance from Pride members especially Hunters.

“You know, I almost wish something big and threatening was ripping its way through shadow.  Or even a vampire.  A Vampire would be good.”

“A vampire would be bad.” Lang reminded her. He sat on the bed to allow her to cuddle into him which she did.

“A Vampire would be bad.” she remembered tracing the scar that Lang would forever wear across his chest.

“Unless a clever Hunter was there to taunt him, and pounce on him at his weakest moment.” Lang closed his eyes the incident was only a scar on his skin.  There was nothing he wouldn’t do over again where Lilith was concerned.

She pulled herself from him to lie down and look at him.  the coffee tipped carelessly to the edge of the bed.  Lang caught it before it fell and spilled placing it on the bedside table and Lilith giggled.  “one day you’ll get tired of rescuing me.” She warned him.

“Im not like you.  I don’t tire of things so easily.” He teased and accidenlty poked at something that was hurting her.  She sat up less drunk and more angry.  Her rings were indeed all gone.

“I’m not like them either.  I’m not.  I don’t fit in the Pride, I never did.  I don’t fit anywhere Lang.  I don’t fit anywhere.”  He grabbed her suddenly in a hug realizing her hurt was deep.

“I’m sorry Lily. I didn’t mean-” she squirmed in his grip she didn’t want to be hugged just yet.  Cats would be frustrating.

“Its not you Lang. Its not you its everyone else. Its the world and the Prides and tradition and I’m tired of waiting till it gets better.  I took out a boy about 14 this year.  The traditions demanded it.  He hadn’t gained control of his change in 4 years.  The moon pulled out the wolf and he had no control of it, but as a boy he was...he was...” She stopped talking and hugged herself.  “He was you.  He was you and the pack-”

Lang stiffened.  “Peter.  The pack elders said he was transferred to a Pack in California.”

“Your pack was lied to.  I was given the task of removing him.”

“Lilith...” He looked at her rising off the bed.  “Why....why are you telling me this?  Lilith you shouldn’t be telling me this.  Traditions state that Prides and Packs keep their own council”

“Screw the Traditions Lang.  I don’t know if the Pack is as it should be but I do know that my Pride is not.  Or I just don’t get it.  Maybe the Pride is fine and I’ve become the corruption.  But i was trained to protect the Pack and the Prides from things of Shadow and Death.  I’m supposed to be doing this for the good of all mankind that's my purpose.”

“I guess so.” he said confused. He did not know what or why the hunters did.  Peter had been a sweet kid.  He was finding it hard to reconcile that his Lilith had hurt...no, killed the boy.

“I don’t want to do this anymore.” Lilith said and now she was crying.  He watched her a moment before melting back to the bed and holding her.  She was lilith.   No matter what she did, she was his Lily.

“Then don’t.” He told her.

“Defy the Pride?” She looked up at him, her eyes now big brown watery pools.  Lang paused.  He wasn’t sure what to say, but as the moment of silence grew longer he nodded.

“You could, Lily.” Lang decided.

“They would hunt me.” she said sobering up.

“You are better than they are.” Lang told her.

“But what about Sophie?” Lilith moved to the edge of the bed.

“Sophie?”

“A girl cub.” Lilith explained.   Her words puzzled him.  “Her birth name is sam and she’s one of us.  except not a kitten, she’s a cub.  But she calls herself Sophie and is as much a girl as I am.”

“Will she wolf?” Lang asked now curious.

“I don’t know, but I do know that no matter what her change is it won’t follow the Traditions.  The Prides won’t tolerate a male cat.  and if she does wolf, how will the pack handle that.”

“We’re a bit more accepting than you might think.  It might not be so bad.”

“If she turns into a female wolf?”

The idea blew Lang’s mind and he couldn’t say anything for a moment.

“Is that even a possibility?”

“She’s something new.  Or very old Lang.  Likely something we’ve been destroying for ages.  cause we destroy anything that doesn’t fit in the traditions.”  As she spoke Lang’s eyes darkened.  

“Not this time, Lily.” she felt the ripple of the wolf rise in him.   “This one we protect.”

“I can fight the Pride, but Sophie is just seven.  I’m not sure if she can feel her true nature.”

“get some sleep, Im going to talk to the Pack and see what we can do about this.  Maybe we can take custody of the cub early.  then you won’t have to go against the prides.”

Lilith blinked at him.  “Do you think?  I mean...I hadn’t thought about appealing to the pack.”  Lang kissed her on her forehead.

“Yes you did.  thats why you are here, silly cat.  Your part of the pack and we are part of you.”  She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him almost ready to cry again, but Lang genly pulled her off him and tucked her into his bed.  “It’s going to be ok Lily.  You get some sleep and stay here till I get back.  It’ll all be ok.”

She looked up and he could sense the words she never said to him.  Another tradition she was not ready to break.  “I love you too.” he said softly picking up his coffee cup as he left the room

10 of 1k Lily's Pride part 4 : Miss Piggy

Miss Piggy

Miss Piggy’s house smelled.  In the clean places there were the sharp scents of 

chemical floral air fresheners.  In the boys room and the den it smell of sweat sox, oil, rubber, and dirty laundry.  Sophie sneezed and her eyes watered.  Her eyes watered a lot since she was moved here.

Miss Piggy tried to be nice.  She was a tall athletic woman with her bown hair in a sporty pony tail.  She spoke in soothing artificial tones.  She didn’t smoke or drink like Lilith had.  Instead Miss Piggy was a coffee addict.  Growly in the morning with out her first cup.  She wanted Sophie to know that her home was their home, and they were to call her “Mom” or “Mrs. Houseman.”   But she refused to call Sophie by her name and referred to her as Sam.  So while Sophie would mumble “Mrs. Houseman,” when she needed to in her head Mrs. Peggy Houseman would forever be Miss Piggy.

Miss Piggy had put all Sophie’s things in storage for safekeeping, and before they got to the new place made two stops.  The first was to a Department store.  She tugged and pulled and measured and made Sophie try on lots of ugly boy clothes.  Whenever Sophie found something she liked Miss Piggy would smile falsely, shake her head and say “maybe next time” which made Sophies skin itch.  Miss Piggy was a liar.

Once Sophie had sporty new sneakers that pinched her feet and weren’t as pretty as her sandals, and boring jeans, and a green shirt with a dinosaur on along with two bags full of much the same then it was time to go to the second destination; a barber shop.

“But I don’t need a haircut.” Sophie tried to explain.  She received another false smile.

“It’s a little long, hun.” Miss Piggy said.  Sophie wished she wouldn’t say “hun.”  It reminded her of Lilith and made her throat tight.

“I like it this way.” Sophie told Miss Piggy but Miss Piggy was already talking to the barber.  Sophie was led to the big chair, and shrouded.  The Barber smells were strangely antiseptic.  Her barber was a woman.  She had butterflies hanging from hoops on her ears.  Sophie sat resignedly as her head was spritzed with water.  “I like your earrings.” she said softly expecting to be ignored.  Instead the barber whose name was Pepper gave her a real smile.

“I like your new shoes.” she said taking out a comb from a jar that had pink liquid in it.  Sophie imaged how cool it would be if wherever Pepper combed her hair it turned her hair pink.  She kept her eyes closed to avoid the mirror’s lies and listened as her sandy brown hair was clipped then buzzed.  Sophie’s eyes watered.

“It’s ok, you look so handsome now...here open your eyes and see,” Pepper said giving Sophie a neck paper to wipe her eyes with.  She held up a mirror but sophie kept her eyes fixed on Pepper’s pretty face.  Her hair was chestnut brown and curled unnaturally lovely.  She smelled of Sweet Pea and hair gel.  Her kind smile was warm and real.  Sophie could tell Pepper liked kids.  She was pretty sure that Pepper had one of her own a little boy she loved.  Miss Piggy suddenly grabbed Sophie hand and roughly pulled her off the chair while handing Pepper a twenty.  The rest of the Journey to Miss Piggy’s house was silent.  Sophie had angered her new foster mom somehow.

Jay and Logan were seven and eight.  George W was 12.  These were Sophie’s new family.  Jay was dark skinned and taller than Sophie but thin.  He looked comfortable in his red striped shirt and Jeans.  He was almost bald which made him look smaller.  Jay was wrestling with Logan who was dressed much the same except in blue.  The two boys were battling over the one gameboy they would all apparently have to share and Jay was whining a “it’s my turrrrn.” it an annoying pitch.  Logan seemed to know this already and clamped onto the gameboy tight smiling with anger while trying to pretend innocence.  Logan was stocky and stronger than Jay and enjoyed throwing his weight around. He had black curly hair that Sophie noticed was allowed to be longer than hers.  

George W was lounged on the one comfortable chair watching the tv in the den.  He had a football jersey on.  He had blue eyes and blond hair and a chin dimple.  Sophie liked chin dimples.

“Not another one.” Logan whined letting go of the gameboy causing Jay to fall backward.  George W barely acknowledged anyone had come into the den.  The room was a mess of torn board games and ruined toys.  The couch the boys were on was the color of cooked squash and smelled moldy.

“Boys. I want you to meet-”

“Sophie!” she interrupted extending a polite wave.

“Sam.” Miss Piggy said louder and glared at Sophie.  That got Geoge W’s attention.

“Sophie? Like a girl?” He asked.  His eyes very very pretty Sophie though.

“Yes.” She told him.

“No.” Miss Piggy said over her. “Sam as in Strong Side Linebacker.  Sam’s part of the family now so I want you all to give him a warm welcome while I put his things away.”

“Your not putting him in my room.” Logan informed her.

“Your room has the free bed in it, so as a matter of fact I am.”  Miss Piggy said sweetly and Logan turned hatefully toward Sophie as Miss Piggy walked away.

9 of 1k Lily's Pride - part 3 : Tradtions

Traditions

There was the musky sweet smell of sandalwood and a warm brown arm draped itself over Lilith’s shoulder.  Naomi slinked catlike beside her, perching herself on Lilith lap and taking a long sip of Lilith’s drink.  This flirtation was for the benefit of the bars nearby patrons.  Naomi nearly purred, craning her head around to gaze into Lilith’s dark brown eyes.  Lilith couldn’t remember if she was trying to be forgettably unforgettable or unforgettably forgettable.  Either way, it was Naomi’s way of blending in and it always made Lilith smile.

“What are you drinking?” Naomi asked looking dubiously at the glass she had just swallowed from.

“Ginger ale.” Lilith answered softly noting the looks the two of them were getting from the people at the bar.  One guy across the bar was trying hard not to look like he was staring, but Lilith knew he was hoping to catch her and Naomi in a kiss.  She blushed a little as Naomi “tsked” in disapproval.

“Sober this early in the day?  At Least offer me a cigarette, love.” Naomi slid sultrily off Lilith’s lap.  Lily pointed to the patch now covering the head of her salamander tattoo.  Naomi looked at in puzzlement and then laughed.  There was nothing sexy in Naomi’s laughter it was a purely joyous sound.  Lilith laughed herself.

The bar crowd seemed to diminish in a fog til there was no one in the world but Naomi.  She stopped laughing  and sat on the stool beside Lilith, just as the man who had previously been sitting there suddenly had to go to the bathroom.

“I could feel your brood from across the state.” Naomi said taking a sip of the man’s beer.  “Oh, that’s better." She set the amber filled glass down and licked the bits of foam from her upper lip.

“Do you ever want to give it all up?” Lilith asked allowing a little of the hurt she was feeling to leak into her voice.

“Are you in Love?” Naomi sat up now fully attentive.  She pulled her thick black hair away from her ear, the silver bracelets slid subtly up and down as she moved.  Thier voices were now tuned to the rhythm of the music.  No one would hear them except another Hunter or a Wolf.

“Yes, but not in the way you think.” Lilith toyed with the thin red straw sticking out of her drink.  “I had to move a cub from one pride to my own.  It took a couple of days.  The cub was too young to expose to traditions yet.  I ended up having to drive.  Too many coincidences and the cub would have noticed things.”

“I hate delivers almost as much as discoveries.” Naomi nodded she was relaxed now, more real, less sexy and sparkly.  She was only able to do this with Lilith and those she trusted.  “Every once in awhile I’ll recognize a face on a missing poster as one of my discoveries.  I can’t help but feel sorry for the families left behind.  Their greif is tangible...” she took another swig of the man’s beer. “But they’d be grieving just as hard when the change came on.  Traditions protect everyone.”  Her last words were the bible code of the Prides. Each Prides was different, except when regarding Traditions.

“But, what if they don’t?” Lilith asked suddenly.  Naomi was her closest friend and rival.  She respected Naomi’s skill in the hunt and the effect she had on those around her.

“What if they don’t?” Naomi echoed and then tilted her head a little.  Lilith was a poet and philosopher among the hunters and always had a way of thinking in new and challenging ways.  “What if the Traditions don’t protect everyone?”  She was tempted to take another sip of what Lilith was drinking but then remembered it was sugar water.  “Well, they protect the families.”

“Not all of us.  how many more Wolves have we had to hunt down compared to the hunters in Granmary’s time?”

“Well, the world is already a swirling in the toilet bowl you know that.” Naomi laughed a little but was now concerned for her friend. “Why don’t we leave this place? Come back to my apartment and cuddle on the couch.”  Lilith smiled.  She loved Naomi just at that moment.

“For one you don’t have an apartment. And a cuddle is not a cure.” Lilith said with her tragic smile.  “But I’m thinking of going against my Pride.” she confessed.

“Lilith...” for a moment Naomi could only look at her. This was the one subject that one never kidded about.  “wha....why?”

“I met a little girl.” Lilith swallowed hard missing Sophie.  “She was trapped in a little boys body.”

“Ok...” Naomi leaned in. “a what...a transgender kid...so?”

“Cub.” Lilith said and needed to say no more.  Naomi blinked, finished the beer as the Bartender was putting down another and then took two more swallows before she looked back at Lilith.

“Lily thats not possible.” Naomi finally said. “The kid must have been messing with you.”

“Which would be a lie.  And as I hunter it would make my skin itch. No, Naomi she was not lying.  she was a little girl but not a kitten a cub.”

“But we’re not like them.  I mean we can’t... I mean the boys got a wolf in him.” The beer wasn’t enough so naomi didn’t bother drinking anymore.  “Lilith...oh my god.  What did your Pride say?”

“Traditions.” Lilith nearly spat out. “What could they say.  Granmary leads the Pride and she already decided that Soph was going to Peggy Houseman’s with the other Cubs there.”

“Well, atleast your Pride is taking the cub in.” Naomi said working hard to find a good point.

“She’s going to be stripped of her identity and forced to behave like the other boys.” Lilith’s voice was steady but full of controlled anger.  Naomi had heard that Lilith hadn’t been discovered in time.  She reached out with a warm brown hand and gave Lilith’s a supportive squeeze.

Lilith was pale in the bar lights, she had that irish look with the long black hair and porcelin skin but her eyes were deep brown and full of emotion right now.  Naomi thought her idea of finding an apartment to cuddle in was still a good one.

“Maybe that will be good for her..er..the cub..you know.  toughen him up so that he’s got some bite when the change comes.”

“Maybe.” Lilith said blandly, then she looked at Naomi with doubt and fear. “but what if she changes into a cat?”  Neither of them said anything for a moment.  Only Lilith would ever think such a thing.

“It’s not the way this works.” Naomi told herself as much as Lilith. “Tradition tells us, girls become cats, boys become wolves. Girls guard the spirit, boys guard the bone.  When the change comes on him, if his body is the body of a boy, he’ll be a wolf.”

“And if She isn’t.” Lilith interrupted, “If she’s anything else, she’s an aberration.  Then it becomes our duty as Hunters to protect the Traditions and destroy the aberration.”

“well...yeah.” Naomi agreed uncomfortably.

“How hypocritical is that?  We are all aberrations. We are all freaks.”

“Lily if you go against the traditions I’ll have to hunt you.” Naomi said suddenly, her hushed voice full of desperation and fear.

“Omi if I have to kill Sophie in a couple of years, you’ll have to hunt me anyway.” Lilith hugged herself and fought the tears that had been haunting her since she left the little one back at Granmary’s.  Naomi hugged Lilith almost savagely.

“We need to get really really drunk, in fact we need to infect a little bauchan revelry and get everyone around us drunk and dance till we puke and wake up god knows where with god knows who” Naomi said pulling Lilith off her stool.  Some traditions were better than others.

8 of 1k Lily's Pride - part 2: Broken Promises

Broken Promises

Granmary’s house smelled of pine cleaner, warm cookies and old people.  Lilith paused at the doorway to light up a cigarette and a soft voice beside her breathed out a disappointed “You promised.”  The lighter went back in the denim purse.  “Sorry, kiddo I forgot.” Lilith smiled down putting the cigarette pinked with lip marks back in the pack.  “Hey why don’t you go out back to the swings while I talk to Granmary?  We’re early.”

Sophie hugged her pink teddy bear book bag.  She looked up worriedly at Lilith.  “Will you get to say good bye before you go?”

“No.  Because you’ll be coming with me when we go.” Lilith knelt down to the seven year old.  Sophie sucked in hopefully but didn’t say anything.  “Go swing sophie.  you can fly on the swings.” Lilith turned the little one to the door and Sophie ran out.  As soon as she was out the door Lilith almost lit up again, but she had promised.  She instead walked through the hall of the old house towards the kitchen and smells of warm cookies.

Granmary was at the sink rinsing some dishes.  She had a frumpy old lady dress on and her white hair was in a bun, from behind the image of grandmotherly goodness pervaded the room.  As Lilith stepped into the kitchen, Gran whipped around like a spooked cat.  Her wet hands crackled and her sharp face glared then softened and laughed. “Goodness Lily, Im going to need to put a bell on you.”  

“Im sorry, Gran.” Lily crossed the room and kissed Granmary’s cheek.  “Can I dry?” Lilith asked dropping her purse on a chair as she walked by and picking up a hand towel.

“If you like.” Granmary said approvingly.  Lilith missed this sometimes, the old house and Granmary’s kitchen. “Your early, girl. You are usually the last one if you come at all.”  Lilith said nothing but took to drying the mixing bowl.  “You must want something.” Granmary decided.

“Maybe I just want your company and a few more cookies than my cousins.” Lilith said with a smile.

“Maybe.  This batch came out really good.  How’s the delivery going?” Granmary asked now very interested in her dish.  She had a way of striking at the heart of a matter as if it was of little importance.  Lilith put the dish down.

“I want to keep this one.” Lilth said suddenly.  She surprised herself with how loud and forceful it came out.

“Thats all been set Lily, you know that.  Peggy has the room for one more, she’s got herself a nice little house with a big back yard, and boys of the same age.  Peggy’s happy to foster this one too.”

“Why can’t I foster?” Lilith asked her fingers wrapped around the fish ring and twisted it.  It was a habit, and Granmary sighed walking over to the table.

“Come sit Lily.” Granmary directed her to the chair that had her purse on it.

“I’m not too young.  I could do this Granmary.  I could foster this one.” Lilth held the chair a little before sitting.  “The thing is....I don’t know how to explain it.  I feel like I’m supposed to.   I feel like no one in the family is going to understand her but me.”

“oh if I had a nickel for each time one of you girls said something like that.” Granmary chuckled then frowned, “Did you say she?”

“And Peggy is the worst.  I love her an all, but she gets her boys all rowdy, sporty and loud.  If I can’t keep her then maybe she can stay with Helen?”

“Helen only does girls, Lily you know that.  Sam wouldn’t be appropriate in Helen’s house.” Granmary stood up and looked out the kitchen window at the child on the swings.

“What’s that boy doing in a dress Lily?” her tone was one of puzzlement.

“Her name is Sophie and she picked out the dress to wear today.”

“Did he put his hair in pigtales too?” Granmary lifted up the glasses from the chain around her neck to get a better look at the child.

“No, I did that.  Sophie tried to put them in this morning and they looked scraggily so I redid them for her.”

“Him.  His name is Sam, Lily and he’s not one of us.” There was a dangerous undertone to Granmary’s voice that made Lily stiffen.

“She wants to be called Sophie. She wants to wear dresses and be a girl.  She told me thats who she feels like one the inside.  Like her skin is all wrong.”

Granmary turned back to Lilith still frowning.  “I may have some of Tommy’s clothes upstairs that might fit him.  We need to get him changed before Peggy gets here.”

“Or I could just keep her.”

“No, Lily.”

“Why not?” Lilith almost stamped her foot, as Granmary calmly walked back to her seat.

“First of all you’re one of our finest Hunters, Lilith.  You still too young and restless to enjoy settling down for the sake of a child.-”

“But-”Lilith started to interrupt and Granmary held up her hand.  and Lilith sighed sitting back in the chain twisting her rings.

“Secondly we need to look at what's going to be best for Sam.  I know you think that letting the boy express himself is good for him but when the change comes and he faces the other boys of his pack they will tear him to pieces.  Our job is to prepare him for what he’s going to be, and coddling him will only kill him.”

“He doesn’t have a pack, he’s a stray.” Lilith muttered as if Granmary didn’t know this.

“When the change comes he will either have to earn his way into a pack or they will hunt him down and destroy him, and if they don’t you yourself might be assigned that job.”

“Maybe I don’t want to do this anymore.” Lilith looked out the window.  Sophie was sitting on the swing reading a book.

“You’re probably just a little burned out.” Granmary said gently.  “You know you’ve earned yourself some time off.  I can bring this up at the Pride tonight.  Maybe one of the young members will pounce at the chance to show off her skills as Huntress.”

Lilith felt a tightness in her throat and looked away from Sophie.  She reached into her purse and pulled out a cigarette.

“Not in the house dear.” Granmary frowned.

“Fine. I was on my way out anyway.” Lilith stood up and grabbed her purse.  “The kid's things are in two suitcases in the trunk.  Keys are in the ignition.  It won’t go well for anyone if Sophie goes to Peggy’s maybe one of the other Cousins who doesn’t have anyone can look out for her.”

“Don’t worry about Sam dear.  He’s going to be well looked after.”  Lilith left without looking back. the cigarette was lit before she reached the door and she puffed out two long drags just to blow some smoke.  She should have known they wouldn’t listen.  Once on the porch she thought of Sophie on the swing, how easy would it be to take the girl now before anyone got here...and have the whole pride searching for both of them.  Naomi would love that.  She’d be the first to volunteer for that hunt.  Lilith made her way by foot back up the winding drive, and a few feet away from the house before she kissed a ring and put out her thumb.  After a few minutes a red sports car pulled over to her side of the road.  

“Can you help me I’m a little lost.  I’m meeting a client at her house and my gps just went down I can’t be late for this” came a voice as the window lowered revealing an attractive buisnessman? Lawyer?  It didn’t matter.  Lilith leaned on his door.

“Give me a ride and I’ll get you anywhere you need to go.” she told him and could hear the click of the passenger door unlocking.   

7 of 1k Lily's Pride - part 1; Sophie

Sophie put her arm out the car window.  She liked the wind pushing her hand and made it go up and down.  Other cars had air conditioning.  Silver had windows.  Sophie preferred windows.  Lilith sighed heavily.  She was in a mood and driving didn’t help any.  She didn’t like to drive.  This was a long drive.  The cars all seemed to annoy Lilith.  Sophie didn’t know why.

“Get your hand in the window.” Lilith growled tensely.  Sophie turned her head to look at Lilith.  Of all her aunts she liked Lilith best.  Lilith had long dark shiny hair and wore scruffy jeans, and could make smoke rings.  Lilith had silver rings on all of her fingers, some fingers had two rings.  One was of two fish chasing each other.  They were gripped to the steering wheel at the moment.

“Why?” Sophie asked curiously allowing her arm to dangle and ride the wind a little longer.

It was always this was with Sophie.  She never just did anything.  She wasn’t trying to provoke people to anger, she just needed to know.   Lilith understood more than the other “Aunties” but at times it was annoying.

“I don’t suppose because I said so would work?” Lilith asked with a little smile in her voice now.  Sophie thought about it letting her hand rise and fall, and then because she liked Lilith she pulled her arm inside the car for a moment.

“Why though? Why can’t I fly my arm?”

Lilith relaxed and smiled wider.  How long had it been since Lilith let herself “fly?”

“Its not safe.” Lilith told her.

“Why?” Sophie turned now to gaze at Liliths profile.  She could see the little lizard tattoo poking out of Lilith's embroidered tunic style earthy green shirt sleeve.  She wanted a tattoo.

“Well, if I swerve your hand could get squashed.” Lilith said she now fumbling one handedly into her purse.  She was getting another cigarette.  This was apparently a 3 cigarette day.  Lilith was trying to quit.  Sophie could have reached in the denim purse and pulled out the cigarette box and lighter, but she was trying to help Lilith quit.  She watched Lilith's hand root around, flashes of neon orange nail polish dancing among the purse silt, then rising triumphantly with lighter and cigarette.  

“Your an excellent driver.” Sophie stated.

“Why, thank you.” Lilith said with half her mouth while the other half held her cigarette in place.  She kept driving one handed and lit her cigarette as Sophie stuck her hand out the window.

“Soph!” Lilith snapped. “I told you to keep your hand in the car.”

“Well, Im trying to quit.” Sophie said looking up at the cigarette, “But it seems to be a one arm out the window kind of day.”

That made Lilith turn her head and look at the little girl.  Sophie was barely seven.  Her sandy brown hair was brushed up into pig tails.  She was tall for her age, but had a very innocent of face so that when she took the worldly tone, Lilith always ended up laughing.  She laughed now.

“This is the last cigarette of the day.” Lilith promised.

“You're the grown up.” Sophie said looking back out the window.  “I just want you to be an old grown up one day.”

Lilith took one last drag of the newly lit cigarette and ground it out.  She wanted to be an old grown up one day herself.  It was a new thought but one that was growing inside her.  Growing old used to something to laugh at and now...since Sophie really, things were different.  She needed to get Grandmary to see this.  She needed to get the other “Aunties” to listen.  It made her want to light up another.  Instead she cleared her throat.

“Ok Kiddo, you win.  Now arm in.”  Sophie obediently pulled her arm back in and beamed at Lilith then shifted.  “Lilith?”

“What hun?”

“Im bored.” Sophie confessed.  Long car rides were hard. She couldn’t read or she’d get sick and there was nothing else to do.

“Wanna play a game?” Lilith offered and Sophie wondered what kind of game Lilith could play while driving.

“ok.” the little girl sat up.

“Using only signs and licence plates, spell your name, where you live where you are going and who you are going to see.”

“I can do that.” Sophie said excited pulling against her seatbelt to get a better look outside.

“Bet you can’t finish before we get to Granmarys.” Lilith challenged.

“Oh an S. An S right there and an O.  Oh,I like this game!” Sophie said delighted.  Lilith stole another peek at her neice.  She listened to the name being excitedly spelled out and sighed heavily again.  The had to understand how special Sophie was.  The had to understand that she belonged to Lilith now.  Somehow Lilith had to get Granmary to agree.  She badly wanted another cigarette but instead pointed out an exit sign.

“P for ‘pensylvania!’ P for sophie.” the little girl said.  The world was spelling her name.  Suddenly the car ride was not so bad after all.