âThey are,â Lilith agreed frankly, âBut Iâve never been one toâŚbaulk at danger, or to flee from it. So Iâm asking regardless. I know youâreâŚmotivations for ever pairing yourself with the warlock are entirelyâŚ.power motivated, a desire for a position that in the Church of Night seems only to be achieved for any witch byâŚattaching themselves to one warlock or another. And who higher than a High Priest?â There was no one higher in any individual coven than the priest who presided over it all, and any once close to that person would have power also by mereâŚ.association. Zelda had it by sibling connection when her brother, Edward, had ruled the Church, and now she intended to regain it by marriage.
âBut I want to know if thereâs something that matters more than aâŚ.ladder climbing match. Family is important you, anyone with half a brain cell can see that soon enough, but is anything else? Or is power yourâŚsole motivation with everything?â Something Lilith could indeed understand, better than most in fact, butâŚsometimesâŚcertain feelings, certain thoughtsâŚexperiences, could alter that, could place somethingâŚunexpected ahead of ambition itself. Lilith had known thatâŚrarely, yes, but she had known itâŚ.and the question was, the true reason behind her dangerous hypothetical, was if Zelda had known it too, knew it now in fact.
âI see,â Lilith nodded, pressing her lips together in consideration at the witchâs answer. As the denizens of Hell had developed, as their numbers grew in size, Lilith had slowly come to be valued by so many demons, so many fallen angels, by her position only, what she could offer in ways of power, ability, herâŚproximity to the Dark Lord. Her character, her interests, her opinions were all simplyâŚset to the side, unimportant, undervalued..of no value at all in fact. It had been a long time since anyone had ever appreciated for who she was and not what, the things her mind could offer not her powerâŚa petty and perhaps even human wishâŚbut one she never quite repressed entirely.
And now here it was again. A person she had connected withâŚgrown toâŚ.like very much despite her best efforts, and the only thing that would see the other return thoseâŚsentiments, was Lilithâs power and not Lilith herself.
âWell, I amâ She told the woman in a suddenâŚconfession driven by emotion and a desire to prove the witch wrong, âI am more powerful than Blackwood. More important..too. If the Dark Lord didnâtâŚinsist he be kept alive for now, I would have squashed him like the bug he isâ
Bristling a little, Zelda leant back in her chair as she listened to Maryâs questions. Whether the witch was looking for an honest answer or just trying to needle her, Zelda wasnât sure but either way, it was as though she could feel the judgement radiating from Mary. Foolish of her, perhaps, but sheâd thought that if anyone understood her, this woman did. Evidently not.Â
âPower matters to me because of the other things I valueâ she said crisply, almost hugging her own stomach with a posture that belied her clear, confident words. âIt allows me to protect my family, the life I have built for myself and anything or anyone that might come along with it.â Still irritated, her face crinkled into a frown as Mary continued, making claims that seemed... impossible.Â
Zelda just looked at her, trying her best to absorb exactly what Mary was saying, words that didnât really seem to make sense until something finally clicked. Perhaps she had been a little tactless talking so openly with her... her official match about her marriage plans. It hadnât even occurred to Zelda that it might affect Mary at all, let alone emotionally but maybe sheâd been wrong. Maybe that was why the witch was... not boasting, her tone was too sincere for that, but talking so seriously about her own abilities. Certainly, from what Zelda knew of the other woman, she was at least Faustusâs equal where magical ability was concerned but as for being more important... Well, to the Spellman family, she was but that hadnât seemed like the sort of importance Mary meant. The other witch wasnât making a huge amount of sense but it was obvious that Zelda needed to smooth some ruffled feathers. Taking a deep breath, she internally shifted gears, leaning in a little and meeting Maryâs eyes.Â
âYouâre a very powerful witch, Mary, I have no doubt about thatâ she said in a low, soothing voice, the tip of her index finger gently stroking the inside of the other womanâs wrist. âYouâre intelligent and talented and... charismatic,â Pausing, Zelda brushed some stray hair behind her right ear, a flicker of a smile crossing over her face when she continued. âI hope I havenât caused you to believe that when I look at you I see anything other than a... truly marvellous witch, a marvellous woman.â
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