Chapter 222

"Lilith? Like Lilith, Lilith?"

She settled into the chair beside me. "Guilty as charged. I prefer Lila these days."

I sputtered for a few minutes while Malik got a platter of olives and assorted cheeses from the fridge and Lila watched me like I was amusing but not too bright.

In the Garden of Eden story, Lilith was human, not a demon. She was supposed to be Adam's first wife. Gelman had said she was a witch. It was only later mythologies that referred to her as a demon. Granted, those were written by men and being both a witch and a woman with a strong sexuality would have been enough to earn her the demon label, but at some point, had she truly become something other than human?

"How the hell are you still alive?" I said. "What are you?" Heat slashed across my mouth, searing my lips together. Panicked, I thrashed in my seat, struggling futilely to open my mouth.

"Lila," Malik chastised.