#madamspellman

Lilith’s smirk deepened as she stepped forward, ignoring the thinly veiled hostility in Zelda’s tone. “Oh, I think you’ll find I’m here for more than idle chit-chat.” She paused, her eyes narrowing as she assessed the witch across from her. “We need to talk.”

Zelda exhaled softly and finally placed the wine glass down. “This should be interesting.” She straightened, her eyes narrowing. “What is it this time, Lilith? Need the coven’s help to reclaim Hell again?”

Lilith chuckled darkly, but there was something different in her eyes—a flicker of vulnerability, quickly masked by her usual confidence. “No,” she said softly, her voice lowering. “I need your help, Zelda.”

There was a beat of silence. Zelda, caught off guard, raised an eyebrow, intrigued but far from sympathetic. “My help?” she repeated. “And what, pray tell, has driven the mighty Lilith to come groveling to me?”

“Groveling?” Lilith’s eyes flashed dangerously, but she continued. “There is a darkness far older than the Dark Lord rising,” she began, her voice now serious, without a hint of her usual gamesmanship. “An ancient coven, long thought to be extinct, has returned. They seek power—power that once belonged to me. They’ve already started gathering their forces, and if they succeed, not even Lucifer himself would stand in their way.”

Zelda leaned back in her chair, studying Lilith with narrowed eyes. “And what do I have to do with this? What could possibly make you think I would offer my assistance to you of all people?”

“Because they’re not just coming for me,” Lilith said, her gaze hardening. “They’re coming for anyone who stands in their way. Including your family. Including the coven.”

Zelda’s face betrayed nothing, but inwardly, her mind raced. She had always known that Lilith was a master manipulator, always calculating her next move. But this? This seemed different. Desperate, even. For the first time, Lilith wasn’t offering a trade or a pact—she was asking for help.

Still, Zelda wasn’t one to be easily swayed. “You expect me to believe this isn’t just another one of your schemes?” she asked, her voice icy. “That you aren’t just trying to use me to get your throne back?”

Lilith stepped closer, her expression turning deadly serious. “I don’t care about the throne,” she said, her voice low but fierce. “Not anymore. This is bigger than Hell, Zelda. If they succeed, no witch, no mortal, no demon will be safe.”

For the first time, Zelda saw the fear in Lilith’s eyes. Not the usual fear of losing power, but something deeper. Something primal. And for the first time in years, Zelda felt a chill run down her spine.

There was a long pause as Zelda weighed her options. She didn’t trust Lilith—how could she, after all the betrayals? But if what she said was true… the consequences were too dire to ignore.

“Very well,” Zelda said at last, her voice steady. “I’ll listen to what you have to say. But make no mistake, Lilith—if this is some kind of trick, I will burn you to ash myself.”

Lilith smiled, though there was little joy in it. “You’ll find I’m being quite sincere, Zelda,” she replied, her voice soft but carrying an unspoken threat. “This time, we’re on the same side. Whether you like it or not.”

Zelda rose from her seat, her sharp eyes locking with Lilith’s. The tension between them was palpable, like the calm before a storm. She took a deliberate step closer, her voice dropping to a chilling whisper.

“We are never on the same side,” Zelda hissed, the words slicing through the air like a blade. Her gaze was fierce, unwavering. “Not now. Not ever.”

Lilith’s smile faltered for the briefest of moments, but she quickly masked it with her usual confidence. “We’ll see about that,” she replied, her voice cool, but Zelda could see the flicker of frustration in her eyes.

The two witches stood inches apart, their powers crackling just beneath the surface. Neither would admit it aloud, but they both knew that despite their hatred, despite their distrust, they needed each other—whether they liked it or not.

A storm rumbled in the distance, as if the very world sensed the brewing conflict between them. Whatever was coming, it would test them both in ways they had never imagined.

——