LILIT VC: day one in Istanbul and he's already learning so many new things!
seen from United States
seen from China
seen from United Kingdom

seen from United States

seen from United States
seen from Yemen

seen from Belgium

seen from Türkiye

seen from Canada
seen from Germany
seen from United States
seen from China

seen from Malaysia

seen from Malaysia
seen from China
seen from Latvia

seen from Malaysia
seen from Germany

seen from Canada
seen from United States
LILIT VC: day one in Istanbul and he's already learning so many new things!
Lilit (And Bovril)
Leviathan art dump 🤭
No longer an unkempt mess, her hair was combed and tied out of her face with a small elastic while one of Lilit’s usually tight braids was beginning to unwind at the bottom.
[What went on at the apartment while Alek was gone]
previous part>>
Part Four: Why Her and Not Me?
Lilith expected to wake up anywhere but in such a luxurious place and certainly not in a soft bed.
Her wings were spread out on the bed beneath her, and the girl was already in a white nightgown and under a white, soft, warm blanket. She didn't open her eyes right away, but instead listened. It was quiet. Then Lilith turned to her senses: there was no pain, but it was warm; the mask was gone, but neither were the scratches; her body felt fresh, weak, and hungry. How long had she slept? A good question. It was time to open her eyes.
There was no one in the room. That was good. Too bad there was nothing to cover her eyes with. Lilith turned her head and found herself in a double bed, flanked by two white nightstands. There was nothing on them.
Oh, you're finally awake.
Lilith even flinched. It seemed she hadn't noticed someone.
Don't look me in the eye. The bird warned immediately. You'll turn into stone.
Fine. I wasn't planning on it.
Throwing off the blanket, the girl sat up on the bed and looked around for clothes.
We had to throw out your clothes because they were unusable. Splendi has the gun now. By the way, you're visiting him now. By the way, what's your name?
Lilith didn't answer. Why burden herself with unnecessary information? She'll leave here anyway and never return.
Okay. I'll go tell Splendy you're awake.
There was a rustling sound, footsteps, and then the click of the door, indicating the boy had left the room. Lilith pulled her hands out from under the blanket and examined them. Her palms were as good as new. She also removed the blanket from her stomach and lifted her nightgown, examining the area where the severe wound had been. Everything was clean. It was as if the fight had never happened. Somehow, all the wounds, except for the missing feather, had healed and disappeared. Strange, because the girl clearly remembered taking the feather with her. Apparently, it was taken along with the weapon. She could only hope that nothing would be done to it or that they wouldn't try to repair it. Hope dies last.
Tugging her dress back, Lilith swung her legs to the floor and tried to stand. Surprisingly, despite her weakness, she managed it, albeit with difficulty. The floors were cold, but the bird didn't notice, not to mention the fact that her wings added weight, making it harder to stand, forcing her to sit back down a minute later. A vibration tickled her stomach, which wasn't a pleasant sensation. She needed food, or at least some sunshine. At least water, since her throat was already incredibly dry. Yes, Lilith had never felt this bad. But she couldn't say she had a hard life. Some people had had worse times. Right now, Lilith was more likely thinking about where she was and who had brought her here. Before her arrival, Lilith had thought she was alone, but the spider hadn't died from the powerful blow. Perhaps this was the very Varessa mentioned in the document. And he was still in the abandoned building. Damn it. She could only hope they remained untouched.
After a while, there was a knock on the door.
Can I come in?
Lilith caught herself. It seemed she would have to close her eyes to the newcomer. She crawled back under the bed and covered herself with her wings so that her opponent wouldn't see her eyes.
Well, come in.
It was actually difficult to speak. My dry throat was sore, it made it even more awkward.
The door opened, and a tall, thin figure walked in. A bell rang behind him, and he was wearing a black suit with multicolored polka dots. Upon entering, he immediately closed the door behind him.
Excuse me, may I know your name?
The stranger's voice was calm and gentle, as if he were speaking to a child, and Lilith was unnerved by the very intonation with which he addressed her. Not to mention the desire to speak, which was replaced by apprehension and the desire to rid herself of this feeling of danger by plunging a blade into the throat of the creature that was making her feel this way. But she was a guest, and such actions would be rude. She'll have to endure it.
Lilith.
She knew her real name from the professor's notes, but… For some reason, she just wanted to forget it, because… She was clearly not the same as before.
A beautiful name. Lilith, I am Splendorman. My guys found you in terrible condition in the forest and decided to help you. But despite seemingly fatal wounds that usually don't heal so quickly, you survived and now, just a night later, surprisingly, you're in excellent health. And judging by your wings and your skin, so pale that we initially thought you were dead, I can only assume you were a victim of an experiment. Am I right in my suspicions, Lilith?
These words were becoming increasingly tense for the girl. Her hands began to shake, and her breathing became deep and ragged. Her brows furrowed as suspicious thoughts raced through her head.
What's all this about?
She increasingly felt as if they wanted something from her, and it irritated her, as a lump of fear crept into her heart. Her social anxiety was making itself felt, forcing her to speak more harshly. It was becoming increasingly difficult to control herself, but "Nightingale" tried to hold on.
I don't want to be intrusive, so don't get me wrong. There are many people here who have suffered just like you. Each of them has suffered their own pain, which is why they have no place among people. I offered each of them a place to stay here and find a roof over their heads, a haven protected from the world. And it's not that I insisted, but I want to offer you the same.
He's keeping quiet. Something's wrong here. What's the catch? But at least it calmed the bird a little.
You have to pay for all the comforts. So what is that price?
Judging by the awkward silence, he was stunned by her question, which was clearly unexpected.
It seems you misunderstood me. Okay, let me rephrase. I'm very sorry you had to endure all the horrors that happened to you. And I want to help you get rid of this dark stain from your past with the help of a new, understanding family like yours. To help you cope with what you're feeling. And I ask nothing in return.
Help? Ridiculous. The girl's grin didn't hide it.
Let's start with the fact that I myself don't remember what was done to me. All I know is that I was embezzled, and the military was involved. And it seems my memory was erased, since I still remember almost nothing of my past. But judging by the few memories that have returned, it took everything most precious from me. From now on, I have no goal, only revenge. And as for my family… What do I need it for? I'm fine as is. So, if you don't mind, I'll take my things and leave. Thank you, of course, for your hospitality, as they say, but I really don't understand the point. And frankly, I don't trust you.
Oddly enough, her interlocutor didn't interrupt her once, letting her finish, but instead asked:
Well, have it your way. But let me at least find out where you're planning on staying? The city is full of soldiers now, and remaining unnoticed is quite problematic.
Lilith remembered the spider and thought. Because of that battle, she hadn't found a safe place. Was she really going to have to stay here? Her initiative wasn't great. So what should she do? But she still needed somewhere to spend the night. Well, whatever.
That's a good question, and I don't have an answer to it. The night I was wounded, I was looking for a safe place, but I didn't have time to find one. I was attacked first. Although there is a place I should check. I forgot something there.
In that case, I simply insist on staying here tonight and letting you spend the night with me, and then continuing the search tomorrow.
If so… So be it. And yet, can I have my weapon back? As I understand it, all your clothes were thrown away, right?
Yes. Unfortunately, they were beyond repair. However, my brother decided to make you a new suit and promises it will be ready by this evening.
So that's how it is. You decided to politely atone for the inconvenience, so to speak? But it's too late to worry about that now. She needs energy now. And water. That's what she asked the owner about.
Varessa was shaking with irritation. How dare that birdie stick her nose into this city after what she'd done?! And she still hadn't lived up to the professor's words! Rudeness! Rudeness and insolence! After this, Varessa simply had to teach her a lesson! Now the spider simply wouldn't leave her alone! No! She'd find a way to destroy this insolent, mangy lamb! She'd rip her wings off!
The beauty's wounds healed quickly, but the suit she'd found for herself was tattered, and its owner might have questions. So, while he was gone, the girl sat in a room resembling a bunker. Some old equipment was still there, so Aristarchus should like it here. At least, Varessa assumed so.
It's good that, unlike that bungler, who the professor predicted should be more experienced, the spider can do many things truly carefully and, in fact, perfectly. She cooks, sews, weaves, and dances… And this Eleanor only reads books, sings, and enjoys the theater. She can't do any housework, even though, as she says, she lived in the village. In short, she's a laughingstock. She doesn't stand a chance against a ballerina.
The light in the room worked, oddly enough. It seemed the girl had fixed it when she found this place. The lighting here was good. This added to the coziness of the place. She also found temporary provisions. They should last for six months. Besides that, she had already managed to tidy up a bit. And, as they say, nothing foreshadowed trouble, but… The professor appeared at the wrong time. Varessa hadn't expected him so early and hadn't even had time to get dressed before she heard his voice.
Let me guess: you saw her and tried to kill her, didn't you?
It was nearly impossible to read his mood from his voice, but not for the spider. She understood everything immediately and wanted to lie, but didn't even have time to open her mouth.
And don't lie to me about you trying to protect someone. I don't believe it. She wouldn't attack anyone right now. She'd rather be looking for a place to live temporarily. But you got in her way and put another crack in my plan.
The spider's eye twitched at these words. How that feathered creature infuriated her!
Fine. Next time, I'll drag her straight to the military, and then I'll find her relatives and force them to meet their daughter. She blurted out, offended by the man. Why can't he spend more time with her? Why can't they be happy without all these plans and without that idiot Eleanor?! Why does she have a place in their lives?! Why?! What does she have that Varessa doesn't?!
Varessa, what do you dislike about her so much?
That question… What doesn't she like? What doesn't she like?!
The spider-like claws opened and the two rear pairs pushed the ground, causing the ballerina to leap like a shadow toward the professor, grabbing him by the shoulders and slamming him into the wall. As she landed, she bounced with her rear pair, bracing herself on the ground, and with her upper pair, slamming into the same wall a meter above the man's head. But the professor himself remained unmoved and looked at the girl calmly, knowing she wouldn't kill him. She didn't have the guts to kill someone she loved so deeply. The girl, however, looked at him with a look full of hatred, her eyes wide, bared, and breathing deeply, hot air.
So what are you going to do? Kill me? Then go ahead. I'm waiting, Varessa.
But the woman she named looked at him for a moment, and then, calming down, closed her eyes, exhaled, and released the man, stepping away from him and folding the clews behind her back, covering their base.
You've become more nervous lately. I'm not sure you can be left unattended at all. And what you did today is proof of that.
Varessa's face darkened. These words were like a bolt from the blue. She couldn't hold it in any longer, and yet she began to whimper, a tear streaming down her pale cheeks, and soon she was sobbing out loud.
Why am I worse than her?! Why do you only talk about her?! Why did you need this 'thirteenth' attempt?! Why?! Why?!?
She screamed, sobbing and sobbing. A torrent of tears poured from her closed eyes, making her face completely wet, as well as the clothes on her chest. Now she looked more like a little girl whose older brother had offended her, simply playing a prank on the child. But neither tears nor the sight of the young woman whimpering on the floor could influence the scientist, unlike the fact that if he didn't react now, his lie about his boundless mutual love would simply shatter like a porcelain doll carelessly tossed to the ground. So he was a little at a loss, unsure what to do in this situation, which had arisen from the mistakes of his manipulations. But the situation had to be corrected, and the only thing that came to mind was to try to hug the ballerina and offer her a few comforting words. And that's exactly what he did.
Come on, Varessa, are you really jealous of me for that bird? The man approached the girl, squatted down opposite her, and with one hand, wiped away wide streaks of salty liquid, placing his palm on her cheek. The dancer, sobbing and twitching as a result, opened her eyes, looking at her lover with hurt but attentive attention. Didn't you hear what the ensign told me then?
He said… The beauty sobbed again. That they wanted to get her back without major losses.
Yeah. And after I gave him the documents, he was killed that very night. And she did it. So the case was transferred to another commander. And that idiot told me: if she turns out to be the murderer of that officer, my contract is terminated. That means I could be in serious trouble with law enforcement for political-military and civil crimes. And for your disappearance, too. That's why we must bring Eleanor back before the military does and finish what we started. Because if we do that, we can live the life we've always dreamed of. Do you understand? All my crimes will simply be forgotten. But for that to happen, I need you to do exactly as I tell you and not try to do things your own way. Is that clear?
The spider nodded briefly, averting her eyes in shame and wiping her tear-stained face. But then, suddenly breaking down, she hugged Aristarkh Vissarionovich tightly, burying her nose in his shoulder.
I'm an idiot.
And although the professor knew it was the absolute truth, he understood how it would affect his puppet. So he continued to play the consoling role:
Hey, don't say that. You just didn't understand the gravity of the situation.
Besides warm words, he decided to also try some warm stroking on the head. And to his surprise, it worked better than any words.
Just please, pay at least a little more attention to me than to her.
Aristarchus even chuckled to himself. But if Eleanor ever revealed the truth to the ballerina, she'd most likely hate him and kill him herself, making things easier for the bird. Speaking of her and Varessa, it would be worth giving them nicknames. At least for Varessa. He'd think about it later when he had time.
Lilith was engrossed in reading. It was something along the lines of science fiction or a thriller. More precisely, she was reading one of the books from the "S.T.A.L.K.E.R." series. She was a huge fan of this literature, even though she'd never played the game and had no idea about its plot or the variety of endings.
But she wasn't reading out of any great love for these books, but simply because she didn't want to show herself to anyone, not to mention that staying indoors was safer for both herself and those around her. Who knows how the locals would react to the accidental murder of their friend, who unknowingly decided to look Lilith straight in the eye. After all, she couldn't yet control her "Medusa-Gorgon" ability, so she always hid her face under a mask with dark lenses, so no one could see her eyeballs. Yes, it was certain death, but Lilith considered such a power the preserve of weak and dishonest warriors. And she was no warrior. Now she was a fallen angel. An angel of vengeance and retribution, and divine punishment. And she would sweep away anyone who dared stand in her way, even if that "anyone" turned out to be God himself or Satan from the fires of hell.
The weapon had been returned to her, and so now the feather shone with a sparkle of cleanliness in its rightful place, even having recovered from all its damage and looking as good as new. To her great joy, it had been returned just as it had been found, and nothing had been done to it. The machetes and pouches with their contents were already lying on the table, tidied up by the feathered one herself. All that remained was to wait for her new suit to be made and then set out in search of a new mask and lenses for it.
But it was a pity to waste the old clothes. Lilith had sewn everything herself, after all. There was so much fuss with the seams, the fabric… And now it's all thrown away. It's frustrating and annoying, but what can you do? Alas, such is life. You can't argue with it. Such is her philosophy.
Speaking of philosophy… Lilith has been experiencing frequent mood swings and bipolar disorder with newly revealed memories. And her thoughts are very confused. This is all not normal. And she… Is she normal? Maybe all these years of torment were just a nightmare, and now she just can't wake up? Pinching herself, Lilith realized she wasn't asleep after all. This was upsetting.
A knock on the door distracted the girl from her thoughts, and she reflexively closed herself in a "cocoon" of wings, allowing the knocker to enter.
I'm sorry to disturb you, Ma'am, but Mr. Splendorman is calling everyone to dinner and asks that you attend as well, if you wouldn't mind joining them. A man's voice in a medium baritone came from behind her.
How kind—she'd been invited to dinner. It would be very impolite of her to refuse the master of the estate. Besides, she hadn't tasted proper food in a long time. So why not?
Okay, I'll come. And do you have any sunglasses or a ribbon to cover my eyes? I wouldn't want to turn anyone into a stone statue.
The man nodded and replied.
They'll bring you some of this now and take you to the hall.
And with that, he closed the door from the other side. Lilith sighed, finished her sentence, and, closing the book, placed it on the nightstand, waiting for them to come again.
This day was a relief: at least she got some relief from her ailments and suffering. And at the same time, she made new connections and acquired new things. Now the main thing is that tomorrow her life doesn't get even worse.
Оригинал на фанфикс>>
previous part>>
Part three: Spider.
A girl in a pink, torn dress and with brown, dirty, loose hair approached the table, holding a teddy bear in her hands.
Hoodie, where are you going? She asked quietly.
The man in the yellow-orange sweatshirt inserted the rifle part and, without looking at the little girl, answered:
On a mission. What a stupid question, Sally!
Toby said we might be having a baby and I…
No.
The boy already knew what this child wanted, but he also knew what would happen to the three of them if they took her with them. And if Toby didn't even feel pain, the same couldn't be said for the other two. They and Tim weren't made of iron.
Why? Sally continued to insist.
At the very least, it's dangerous. At the very least, Slendy will rip all three of our heads off.
These words upset the little girl a little, but she didn't press the matter further, calmly leaving the boy to his thoughts. If the owner of the house was against it, then why irritate him when people were just food to him? Be that as it may, since the mission, according to Hoodie, was dangerous, there was no point in going.
Lilith was awakened by a loud crash. It was coming from the first floor, where she could also hear the young man's swearing. Jumping up from her pillowcase and sitting up, she listened.
Damn. Argh, that hurts so much… He ran away, so to speak… I hope there's no one here, otherwise the boss will kill me if I bring my tail.
It looked like he was a mercenary or something. He couldn't get to the top floor, unless, of course, he could fly. After all, there were no stairs or other auxiliary structures here; everything had long since collapsed. Which meant he didn't need to be disturbed; there was nothing to worry about. Lilith stopped paying attention to him, but she still kept her ears open, in case she had to resort to drastic measures to calm the rebellion.
The day was drawing to a close, which meant it was time to prepare for a nighttime stroll. And it looked like she'd have to meet this wanderer, as there were no good machetesharpening stones on the floors above, so she'd have to search for them below. So she headed for the landing where the stairs used to be, spread her wings, and flapped them feebly as she dove down. As she approached the ground, she swooped down and landed softly on her feet, folding her wings back into place. She'd managed to pull her mask back on while walking down the hallway to the landing, so she wouldn't have to turn anyone into shreds of meat now. But before she could take a single step, a kitchen knife stopped at her throat. Lilith even chuckled, but didn't resist.
What kind of little bird are you?
A voice came from the left. It seemed to be a teenager, maybe a little older than the girl. She spread her wings slightly and used one to push the boy away, knocking the knife from his hands. Without even deigning to glance at him, the "angel" walked forward, scanning the floor for stones suitable for sharpening. If it weren't for her keen hearing, she wouldn't have heard someone running towards her from behind, swinging a huge weapon.
Go to sleep, bitch! She heard.
But Lilith had no desire to speak. She didn't turn around. She had to choose the right moment, which turned out to be the distance between them, five steps. The boy didn't even have time to comprehend what had happened before he was thrown back by a wave of sound. His body hit the wall, then sank to the ground, and after that, only groans came from him.
You know that ability of one character in the game "Mortal Kombat," where a certain woman can create a pink sound wave with a scream? Well, Lilith had roughly the same ability, which she was using now. True, the scream wasn't loud enough to accidentally kill the guy.
The stone was found quickly enough, so within five minutes she was sitting on the sheet, sharpening one of the machetes. She heard the boy come to and go about his business. After a while, he left too. Lilith was alone again.
Masky left before Jeffer returned, so he didn't hear about the "object" they'd talked about over dinner. He also didn't know where to go first, so he decided to scout out the situation in the city first. And the situation wasn't great. Soldiers with machine guns were stationed everywhere, at almost every turn, the city was completely cordoned off. Something had happened here recently, and it had to have happened within the military base, since there were so many of them outside it now. Someone had caused a huge commotion here. This was bad, since getting into the city seemed impossible. Unless, of course, someone helped. And no one except Slender would do that. Bad. Then it would be worth at least observing from the sidelines. Although the chances of learning anything from here are extremely slim. And yet, they'd have to go back.
Lilith knew she was taking a risk, but she also knew she had nothing to lose. They wouldn't have time to do anything to her, because the hologram was controlled and could easily trick them. At least, that's what she thought. Luckily, she was wearing dark clothing; she was almost invisible in the night. And her wings were fast in the air.
Pulling on her mask and hood, she jumped off the fence in front of the building where she'd been staying overnight and headed toward the small town. The path led past a lake, behind which stood a pine forest. Judging by the memories she'd already recovered, it was in this forest that they often walked with the dog, and it was there that they'd gotten lost on purpose. Maybe Lilith would go there someday, but for now she'd just pass by. Right now, she had a specific task that needed to be completed as quickly as possible. Otherwise, she'd have to build somewhere in the forest herself, felling a few trees. It would be difficult. Although Lilith had good striking power, she was weak on her own. And wings wouldn't help, unless she could find some rope that could support the weight of the wood. Holograms might help, but energy doesn't last forever. Spending it on construction would be neither safe nor logical. You never know when it might come in handy.
The cloak was still wet and cold, creating a contrast against the already dry and warm spot on her leggings. Nothing bothered her anymore, come to think of it. Emotions had become something on par with… On par with procrastination. Why show someone your feelings if you know they can take advantage of it, pushing a sore spot? And to whom? Besides, the mask concealed her face, so no one could see a thing. Isn't that just pointless?
In fact, people have a lot of similar things. Lilith didn't understand much of it, but it didn't bother her. People aren't judged by themselves, much less their lives and customs.
As soon as Lilith entered the city, her soul immediately became restless. She became afraid. Why? What was she afraid of? Was something wrong? Or was she being watched? She'd have to use the hologram. The right wing unfolded, and a small "feather" separated from the frame structure. It quickly floated in the air in front of the "angel," creating an image of a man in military uniform around itself. The young man looked around and headed forward, into the town, toward the multi-story buildings. Sometimes it's better to be safe than sorry.
Looking around, looking for a place to hide, she spotted a military truck. Its cargo area was covered with a sheet, making it difficult to tell if anyone was inside. She took a chance and peered inside. No one. No one in the cabin either. Good for her. Jumping in, she sat in the farthest, darkest corner to make herself harder to spot, and began tracking the hologram.
The guy disappeared a couple of minutes later, leaving a small "feather" in its place, as there was a risk of it opening up. The feather itself clung to the ground, leaving a centimeter beneath it, and continued on. It flew past buildings, giving Lilith an image, and sometimes flew under cars. And that's how Lilith would have found refuge if she hadn't lost visibility. A white noise formed before her eyes, and because of this, she had to disconnect from the dagger. But she managed to spot a shadow on the asphalt. It was a person. A girl, to be more precise. And she had long tendrils behind her back. She may have broken the "feather" with one of them. Or maybe with her heel—who knows? The fact remains: she understood everything and is already looking for the weapon's owner. And the owner doesn't need that. But it seems she will still have to face her enemy, if that's what he wants. Well, Lilith will give her what she wants, whoever she is.
Varessa recognized the feather. That devil was up to something again. But she wouldn't go anywhere without the feather, which meant Varessa could finally get rid of her. However, the professor wouldn't be happy if he learned that the "spider" had helped the military. So what should he do? Bring him the "thirteenth"? He'd forget about his favorite again and devote his time to the feathered one. But that way, he'd restore the contract and be happy. And what about Varessa herself? No. She'd destroy that hick and live happily with the one who changed her for the better. She'd make Eleanor regret that she'd ever survived the experiments.
The legs opened and landed on the ground, lifting the girl above it. Her kimono shook slightly, and her knees bent. The "spider" dropped slightly, then jumped sharply.
Oddly enough, no one approached the truck. This was both good and suspicious. Although Lilith couldn't be killed with a knife or a gunshot, all her wounds healed only during sleep. She also experienced pain, and it wasn't pleasant. So she wouldn't want to get stabbed in the back.
She looked around—no one. She jumped out, looked around, listened—nothing. After some thought, she decided not to climb onto the rooftops, to get a better view of what was below. And below, there were soldiers stationed at almost every turn. This was bad. But what could she do? She'd have to stun and knock out the guys. Although Lilith didn't have the strength for that, she'd have to do it with the handle of the machete, which she'd grabbed just in case. Taking it from under her cloak, she headed in the direction where she'd last spotted the blade.
She found it quickly. As expected, someone had pierced the mount, which contained numerous microchips. It even left a dent in the asphalt underneath. But Lilith didn't know anyone with such power. Picking up the "feather," she examined it and was about to put it in her pocket, but heard a whistle. Before she could react, she found herself pinned to the concrete. Her arms were pierced by the sharp, claw-like tips of the clench, which extended upward and hid behind the back of someone the "angel," unfortunately, didn't know. Her wings were also pinned to the ground by another pair of spider-like iron legs, but they weren't pierced like her arms. The broken "feather" was somewhere to the side, while the spider slowly lowered her body, landing on her feet.
Now Lilith was very glad that she had the willpower to keep her from screaming, and the mask that hid her grimaces. The little bird didn't know how she managed to hold back a scream of utter pain as she writhed. But one groan still escaped her lips.
Varessa looked at her with disdain. If Lilith had seen that look, she might have been surprised by the amount of hatred in the "arachnid"'s eyes.
And he said you were more experienced than me. But what do I see? Pathetic, whiny, weak… Did he really overestimate you?
Varessa spoke slowly, as if she were exerting pressure not only physically but also mentally. And what a shame that this method didn't work on the bird. Gathering her strength, she took control of her feathers, and the blades, free of the clench, separated from her body. Controlling them was difficult, but Lilith managed it. She immediately aimed them at the stranger, trying to distract her. And she succeeded. At least the "spider" jumped back against the wall, trying to fight her off, and Lilith managed to get up and reclaim her "feathers." But Varessa reacted quickly, leaping at her opponent again, wanting to pierce the girl's head, but her clench blades collided with the cross of machetes, which Lilith barely managed to reach. Then the spider tried a side attack, but her wings blocked her reach there too. She tried a kick, and…! The ballet shoe blade missed the bird's belly by a centimeter. Lilith dodged just in time.
To her credit, the spider was quite nimble and agile. But Lilith would certainly have more experience. With a flick of her wings, she charged straight at her opponent, knocking aside one of the machetes and slamming the girl's chest into the wall. At that distance, only speed and strength could have affected the blow, but neither was of much use to the bird. Then she added: first, she struck Lilith's stomach with her knee, and then slashed it with the machete. The spider screamed and swung her claws at Lilith, catching her cheek. The claws also began to unleash a hail of chaotic blows, smashing into her wings.
Lilith was distracted by the stomping of boots. They were already coming this way, and that was bad. And this distraction turned out to be her mistake. The spider pierced the bird with her claws, sinking them into the flesh, then pushed the weakened body of the shocked girl away and fled somewhere upward, abandoning the wounded woman to her fate.
When the soldiers arrived, they found nothing but damaged asphalt. And no one paid attention to the new crack in the building's façade.
Flying was difficult. Lilith tried to stay conscious, so as not to fall from such a great height, but her eyes threatened to close. Her vision was blurring, her strength was fading, and the pain refused to leave her. She didn't even think about where she was flying, crossing the town line and finding herself above the forest. Finally, she began to descend, feeling her strength draining away. This time, the landing was hard: she couldn't even get to her feet and passed out in midair, rolling along the ground for several more meters.
Nina emerged from the fog, skipping, followed by Zero and Smiledog. They'd asked Splender for permission to leave, as they hadn't been in town in a while. The girl in the pink sweatshirt stopped and turned to look at her companions.
Well, where shall we go first?
Zero paused for thought. Honestly, she didn't care, as long as they didn't get into trouble along the way. She'd only gone with Nina because Splendor had asked her to; otherwise, she'd be sitting there, reading a fascinating book, engrossed. But Splendorman was worried about Nina and wouldn't let her go anywhere alone, given her personality and lifestyle. And why did she even need to go anywhere?
It seems like you needed this. Personally, I don't want to go anywhere.
The girl in pink was not surprised by this answer.
Oh, don't choke me. Nobody forced you to follow me.
Zero groaned, rolled her eyes and clicked her tongue.
Yeah, right. And tell me I can go back.
Well, yeah. I don't need a nanny.
Nina spun on her heel and stomped forward. Zero merely sighed wearily and followed her.
Splendy thinks otherwise.
Splendy needs a nanny, but I don't.
Realizing this lady couldn't be changed, Zero said nothing. But her companion refused to calm down.
Um… Zero? Do you see what's there?
Nina pointed somewhere into the distance, glancing at the monochrome one, but she saw nothing in that direction.
It looks like you really do have schizophrenia. There's nothing there.
But Nina suddenly became more serious and continued to stand her ground.
Can't you see? There's something shiny there! Do what you like, but I'll run and check it out.
And she really did run ahead. There was nothing else to do, so Zero had to follow her. Smiledog also ran after Nina, and when he stopped, he barked at something behind the bushes. The girl ran up, stopped, and looked surprised.
Zero, I was right! Go faster! Wow! Just look at this!
After a while, Zero began to see a glimmer of something behind a bush. She wasn't particularly interested, but she didn't resist.
Nina looked at the girl covered by an iron wing. The fabric of a torn, angular hood lay on her head, and a cracked mask covered her face. The girl was unconscious.
Zero, however, wasn't indifferent to what she saw on the ground. Quite the contrary, for some reason she became uneasy and immediately began examining the cold body.
Smile, run to Splendy, he needs to see this.
Having somehow managed to slide the wing off the body and onto the ground, the girls rolled the carcass over onto its back. Zero immediately ripped open the bodice and tossed it aside, beginning to examine the wound, which had already begun to quickly regenerate.
What are you doing?
Nina didn't understand this reaction, but she had no intention of interfering. Zero didn't answer. She examined the pockets under his cloak and found kunai knives, shuriken shaped like playing cards, and two machetes. Glancing at the mask, she noticed three cracks smeared with blood. But underneath them, there wasn't a single scratch. Apparently, this girl had the ability to regenerate, otherwise she would have been in worse shape. But that didn't mean she needed help. Taking the pouches and machetes, she asked Nina to keep an eye on the creature and ran toward the mansion.
Nina wasn't happy about this. She was bored. Why should she watch over a corpse anyway? Who was this, anyway? Crouching down next to him, his playful hands reached for the mask. It was a white mask with no face. It had only eye sockets covered with dark lenses and black patterns. She had no nose or mouth. Nina touched the edge of the mask, startled—the half-corpse had grabbed her hand and was holding it tightly, refusing to let her remove the element of concealment, despite the searing pain in her now-bleeding hand.
Hey! Let go, you crazy woman! I don't give a damn about you!
Nina pulled her hand back, feeling how easily the stranger let go. She, in turn, remained motionless, biding her time.
Splendorman arrived, already agitated. It was clear he was worried about his guest and had no intention of leaving her. The smile on his face twisted, betraying concern, and his thin arms gently scooped up the poor woman's limp body.
Nina, please take this corsage, wash it and take it to Trender. Let him fix it.
A corsage? What is it? Does Nina know?
Are you talking about this? The girl clarified, pointing to a torn piece of clothing on the ground. Splendor nodded and walked toward the fog, carrying the girl's barely breathing body with him.
Varessa wasn't idle; she was trying to wipe the blood from her claws and the tips of her cleavers. She was succeeding. Professor Aristarkh Vissarionovich was due to arrive soon. This fact worried the beauty, as she didn't want to tell him what had happened. She had also changed her clothes, as she had had to throw out the old ones, and her stomach had already returned to normal. Now all she had to do was keep quiet, but that shouldn't be a problem.
After washing the blood from the rag, she wrung it out, hung it on the pipe to dry, and left the restroom, folding the cleavers behind her back. She walked down the hallway into the darkness. A clicking sound, like the clicking of her pointe shoes, echoed across the floor. But at some point, the clicking stopped. The girl stopped.
How interesting. But the professor said you were dead.
Varessa turned around. An officer stood a few meters behind her, his hands behind his back.
Colonel? Herman Pankratovich? She clarified.
Exactly. And you, as I understand it, are the previous—the twelfth—subject. Am I correct?
Perhaps. Why did you come here?
Varessa tensed. She hadn't expected strangers here, much less military personnel.
I wanted to ask Aristarkh Vissarionovich a couple of questions. But I see I can get the answers sooner. Allow me to ask you a few questions. Let's not wake the professor. You don't want him to find out about your mistake today, do you?
Varessa already realized she couldn't get away with it. The only way was to kill this insolent commander. But even killing him wouldn't work—there would be too many consequences.
And to make sure you don't have any ulterior motives, I warn you: I have the report in writing. If I'm gone, it will fall into the wrong hands.
The old man hedged his bets. What a bastard. Oh well, he doesn't have long left.
Follow me, Colonel.
Оригинал на фанфикс>>
previous part>>
Part Two: Notes. Who am I?
A yellow taxi pulled up to the checkpoint and a man in a gray coat, jeans and black shoes got out. He had glasses with rectangular lenses on his nose and a black leather briefcase in his hands. The car drove away when he had already approached the young guy who had come out of the booth and showed a document confirming his identity. The young man understood everything without words and immediately opened the lattice gate in front of the guest, letting him go ahead. Aristarkh Vissarionovich went inside, walked through the corridor and came out on the other side of the fence. A slightly plump officer in a uniform with two stripes and stars on his shoulder straps came out to him. They shook hands and headed straight to the tent where the murder took place.
In addition to him, several more soldiers were killed, but what killed them … Also unknown. Only four were stabbed … With shurikens, if you can call them that. The others had their throats cut.
Shurikens? Interesting. I should ask the lab for evidence. At least some of it.
Hmm, interesting. Can I examine the other bodies later?
We have limited time, so we'll see. But if you're interested, they can bring you one of the bodies for a detailed study.
Thank you.
The bodies were still there, cold and pale. The "greens" were walking around them, taking pictures, collecting evidence and basically doing everything according to the regulations. This created extra disturbing noise, which could not help but upset, not to mention the very "good" call that ruined the morning. But it was not the first time for the professor to work in such conditions, and so he only winced slightly and approached the corpse of his recent acquaintance. The severed head lay on the other side of the tent. Judging by the cut, the object was well sharpened and looked very much like a sword or katana, maybe a machete. But it was clearly not done with a "pen". The marks were from the sole of a military boot. By the way, she liked this kind of footwear. And the shoe size was right.
Nothing was missing from his desk?
Aristarkh Vissarionovich glanced at the table, noting how drops of blood splashed onto the surface. There was something lying on it during the murder.
One of the soldiers said that he brought the major a folder with case №13. They didn't find it here. Maybe they came for it.
One more fact, but it still doesn't confirm the assumption.
Can I examine the bodies from the towers?
Do you have any assumptions?
Aristarkh turned to the officer and headed out of the tent. The smell here was not for the faint of heart.
So far there are two ambiguous facts that cannot accurately identify the killer. The major was killed with a sword or machete, and the marks on the ground are from military boots of her size. She liked such shoes, but it is still not clear. I need to examine the wounds of those killed on the tower.
As the scientist assumed, the soldier on the tower had a slit throat and no marks. The cut was indeed from a "feather", albeit a small one. The blow was lightning fast. Most likely, she immediately made two holograms. At least it was definitely her - Eleanor.
The boys froze for a moment, trying to comprehend what was happening, but quickly returned to reality.
If you follow me… Blame yourself.
With these words, the girl picked up the files and turned to the fence, getting ready to leave, but reflexively stopped when she heard a voice behind her.
Stop! - The boy with the axes responded, not even understanding why he did it. - Why are you here?
The other two in masks glanced in his direction, one of them, who was holding the camera, closed it and put it in his jacket pocket. The second hesitantly followed the example of the first, putting the weapon in his hoodie.
Lilith clenched her fist until her knuckles, which were hidden by black leather, turned white. For some reason, she didn't want to say anything about herself, and she also wanted to respond with some rudeness. But she decided to simply ignore the question, stepping further. But the whistle… She heard the whistle. The body moved to the side on its own, letting the object flying at her pass by. The axe was flying straight at her head, but met a tree. However, this axe was intended for a tree. The girl froze. The mask turned towards the trio.
It's not polite to leave like that when you are addressed, especially with a question.
Funny.
It's impolite to throw axes at travelers and shoot everyone you meet. And what I did was just good natured, compared to what I did today.
The situation is heating up. This is bad. Well, if the guys won't leave her alone, then she'll have to resort to brute force. Lilith is already tired today. Although she is grateful to these guys, they distracted her from her memories.
Besides, why do you need this information, boy?
After these words, the girl turned around and went on her way. The man in the black mask and hoodie patted the younger on the shoulder and, like Masky, turned into the depths of the forest, following his friend.
.
.
.
A girl in a mask and with iron wings?
The tall one thought, frowning.
Yes. I don’t know what she meant when she said this, but there were fresh red stains on the folder. Judging by the smell and color, it was blood.
Hoodie spoke for all three of them. He pulled the mask down slightly, revealing his mouth and nose.
She stayed in the forest?
I doubt it. At least she spent the night on the outskirts, and then disappeared. Maybe she was hiding from someone.
Maski took out the very “map” the girl had used to cut the cartridge from his pocket and put it on the table in front of the faceless creature. Slender began to examine this trinket. Something was bothering him, something was wrong here. The thin one was tormented by a bad feeling.
Maski, you’ll go look for her tonight. Hoodie and Toby will be on duty in the forest. You need to find out as much about her as possible, preferably without being seen. Watch her for a while.
I wonder, who is she anyway? A victim of an experiment? Why is she even doing all this? To get revenge? So she'll kill this bastard and then what? Why hasn't she asked herself this question before? What does she even want?!
It's funny. She suddenly asked herself a lot of familiar questions. They were draining her, making her hate herself, afraid of her abilities and thoughts, withdrawing into herself and getting stuck in the depths of the abyss, devouring her heart and turning her into a soulless killing machine. It's… Cruel, terrible and… Cold. Everything around her ceased to matter and exist, she was left alone. Unneeded, withdrawn, spoiled, broken… Like an old, broken, torn toy that was thrown away and forgotten. Or maybe she really is just a doll? Just a puppet, faithfully moving her limbs in time with the fingers pulling the strings. A puppet who hates the one who makes her follow a long-written script that kills her from the inside. The time will come and only a mask will remain, which she calls by such a beautiful name as "Lilith". Does she want it? Or does she just not care? And Lilith? What does she want? Blood? Or revenge?
The arrow of feelings, which struck straight into the heart and struck the girl, was storming her wall of calm and emotionlessness, which she had built for so long, so as not to be subjected to these feelings of internal pain before her eyes, so as not to show weakness. The computer in her head began to malfunction, giving multiple errors, as if the technology was trying to get its owner out of such a tight rope of emotions, tying her both from the inside and from the outside. But it was not working out well. She was already shaking. She was… a monster. A monster that could not be killed. It was her fate to suffer in this agony of feelings. And Lilith was confusing her more and more along the way.
This time, the clap of the paper hitting the floor helped her. The folder had fallen out of her hands. How long had it been standing like that? Her legs were already screaming about tiredness. Lilith glanced at the table by the window. It was covered in dust. That was bad. She didn't want to dirty the folder with that dirt at all. It was already covered in concrete chips. She picked up the valuable papers from the floor, shook them off, looked at the photo again, and then looked around the room.
The building was in a dilapidated state. Once, as a former friend told her a couple of years ago, it was a psychiatric hospital. Now it is just a red brick building with broken windows, which they so carelessly decided to cover with boards. Some of the wooden pieces have long been lying on the ground under the windows, leaving a free space in the frame behind them, into which sunlight seeped. The boards of the roof frame were rotten and you reluctantly wonder how this roof is still holding up at all. But it is there, and that's okay. The floors in some places were covered with cracked white tiles. But in the room where Lilith was, there were no floors, no door, no frame, no lamp, no cabinets… All of this had long since left the room, starting a new life with another owner, unlike the table and the stool by the window, which, despite the time, were preserved very well. Who knows, maybe the girl's soul will be preserved as well as this furniture. But for now, it is subjected to decent psychological blows, breaking into crumbs, like shards of broken glass.
The girl suddenly remembered what had happened that night and put it all together. This table was as lonely as she was. And just like her, this table was lonely because of someone else's interference. This brought back memories of the thoughts that had visited the "angel" before the three found her. She wanted revenge. So why not make revenge her goal? This was perhaps the only thing she wanted before she found a way-
What way? To kill herself? Why? No. No. She would not look for bald spots in life. On the contrary, she would make each culprit of her suffering feel everything that she felt. Each would try themselves on the operating table, everyone would feel the knife cutting through their meaty insides. She would make them regret what they had done. But… It wasn't her, it wasn't… Eleanor. Yes, it was Lilith, it was her goal. And Eleanor? What about her? Does she have a goal? Or will she have to support the idea of an internal bloodsucker? It seems she has no choice. One way or another, she has finally set a goal. It is time to start fulfilling this goal.
Opening the folder, the first thing she saw was a sheet with her medical data. The paper was still fresh, so it was clear that it had been filled out relatively recently. Perhaps even before her memory was erased. She would get acquainted with this later, she did not care about it now. First, it was worth reading the notes left by a certain Klinkern A. V. The computer in her head immediately gave out data for this surname and gave out the name: Aristarkh Vissarionovich. Perhaps Project "13" belonged to him. This would be clear after reading. The girl moved the medical card to the very bottom, went to the table and, sitting down on it, began to read, having first removed her mask.
"March 16, 2000 Entry #1 Today I had to lie that my ex-girlfriend died. I did it on purpose and consciously so that if there were any errors in my plans, I would have someone who would stand up for me and help me finish the job. The one I'm talking about… She's only fifteen. She's a good candidate for a helper. Since she's into ballet, I made her some ballet shoes with sharp, cutting toes. She really liked them. I also bought her some jewelry… claw-shaped rings that fit on your fingertips. She liked that gift too. Something tells me I won't have to control her. At least, she's made it clear she has no intention of leaving me. But a new "rat" is supposed to arrive tomorrow, and I'm not sure Varessa will react calmly to the new arrival. I might have to show her that she's close enough to me, while keeping her at a distance.
Varessa? A beautiful name. And very familiar, too. And something inside Lilith screamed: she can't be trusted, she's not someone worth dealing with. But she's still worth remembering.
Varessa, while not an experienced fighter yet, can kill. Even so, I plan to train her. We might have to conduct these sessions at night. It depends on how she gets along with her new friend.
A friend? Funny. I wonder if he still thinks Lilith could be friends with her if she loves him so much? But this is only the first entry. What will happen next?
"March 17, 2000 Entry #2 Eleanor. A good name. However, she's quite a moody girl. I also see signs of bipolar disorder in her. She's either frightened and hesitant, unsure what to do, or she breaks free, resists, and rebels. She has a negative attitude toward everyone and everything she sees here. It will be difficult to find common ground with her, but I don't think it will take long. In any case, she has no choice. Her personality immediately turned Varessa against her. I'm not sure it won't be a problem for me, but I hope they get along. And I have a hunch she's a social phobe. Today… and probably the whole week, I won't touch her. For now, I plan to keep an eye on her, study her character. I don't deny that she'll give me some ideas.
So that's how it is… It's clear why she had a premonition about Varessa. It's also clear that Lilith was in his lab for several years. About six years have passed since this recording was made. In that time, this professor could have studied "Subject 13" thoroughly and even planned a lot. One thing is certain: killing him will be difficult.
Eleanor? Is that her real name? Is that her real name? Is that why it feels so familiar and dear? Is that why Lilith's heart is throbbing now? It really is a beautiful name. Only she liked "Lilith" better. She didn't understand why, but the fact remains. And she would still be happier if people addressed her by her new name. However, she would remember the old one forever.
Varessa, Varessa, Varessa. What kind of Varessa? Who is she? Is she truly so loyal to Aristarchus? If so, then the chance of meeting her has increased, so much so that we need to prepare for her arrival and study her abilities, skills, and capabilities. But there are no documents in this folder on "Object #12" other than the notes. That means they're either with the military or in that lab. It's not worth returning to the former for now, but the lab… There's a risk of meeting her there. So we need to somehow get her out of there, somehow distract her. But how and with what? A good question, one she'll think about later. For now, it's worth studying the folder I have and thinking about a roof over my head for a while. Sleeping in the rain, even if you love it, isn't exactly the best idea. I need to find a place to stay for a while. Maybe some sealed or abandoned building would do? I should check it out tonight, and for now, I'll find somewhere to sleep. The question is: where? There's no bed in this room, and sleeping on a hard surface without a blanket is uncomfortable and cold. The cold is completely out of the question, considering Lilith is a real cold person. And if she wants to sleep, she'll definitely need to find a blanket. So… Maybe she needs to go to the store. But so what? If some salesperson sees her, no one will believe him. They'll probably think he's either lying or just a psycho who stole her bedding for some reason. Either way, the questions will be directed at him. So it's decided: around lunchtime, she'll head into town and make some cashier bring out her bedding, and maybe even something tasty.
Lilith still had energy, because she can gain it not only from food and water, but also from sunlight and sleep. Sleep is also when regeneration occurs most rapidly. But that doesn't mean she can't desire things, like a normal person. After all, we all often want to pamper ourselves. And that's normal. So Lilith wants to experience the pleasure of taste, even if it's only for a short time.
But we've strayed from the main topic. She'll do all that a little later, but for now, you can read a couple more posts. Maybe she'll learn something else about herself.
"May 30, 2000 Entry #3 Eleanor turned out to be a very versatile and indefinable person. She's interested in many things, and, frankly, I like her even more than Varessa. Sometimes, I'd even say rarely, we hear her sing. She clearly has talent. However, she doesn't want to show it to anyone and sings only when, apparently, she thinks no one can hear her. But she said she got her voice from her mother and from birth, and she mostly sings lyric poetry. She also loves the theater. She always enjoys reciting lines from various plays she's been in. Occasionally, she'll open up and share something about herself, but she quickly guards herself if you suddenly ask her about something. Varessa has spotted her more than once, either reading a book, writing a notebook, or drawing. I've even read what she writes. I can confidently say she's a natural literate person. But she's especially interested in puzzles, diamond painting, and cross-stitching. And, oddly enough, she has a bit of a fetish for stationery. She recently told me that she'd never had a Rubik's cube before, but she really wanted one. I bought her one, and she happily sits and solves it, even for hours. I bought her a wooden nightlight—she painted it and asked for varnish to help the paint stick. And it wasn't just the nightlight that did this. She also decorated the uniform the soldiers brought. I can say she did it quite beautifully. But along with the positives, there are also noticeable negatives. Over the past two months, she's tried to escape more than ten times. Varessa is already tired of catching her and bringing her back. The last time, she even said that Eleanor, although weak, had a heavy hand, especially if she had something in it, and that it was getting harder and harder to catch her. So she wouldn't do it anymore. This was a sign to me that it was time to start working, so tonight is her first operation.
So tomorrow will be the anniversary of her first changes. I wonder. Should we celebrate this day? Why? Although… We could celebrate it. With revenge.
Lilith suddenly realized she was being haunted and tormented by abnormal thoughts. It seemed the amount of death she'd suffered at her hands so far was hardening her soul. Or perhaps it was loneliness that was truly destroying her. In any case, this feeling… This thirst for blood… It was abnormal. She needed to get rid of it. Perhaps she needed to take a break from revenge for a while and do something relaxing? Yes, that's what she would do. Perhaps reading or drawing would brighten her day and calm her down?
next part>>
Оригинал на фанфикс>>
ended my favorite shot from a recent video - https://youtu.be/hGJtxuMzlnc?si=ZS1NYSvHH-elN1S5







