Wings of the Night

The night held secrets that whispered on the wind, carrying the weight of unspoken words and hidden identities. As Lilith stood before the enigmatic stranger, she found herself caught in a web of curiosity and caution. "You don't really need to know me," the stranger voice held a hint of detachment, a reminder that their encounter was shrouded in mystery.

Lilith's brows furrowed as she grappled with the strangeness of conversing with someone whose very name was a riddle. "Could I at least have your first name, please?" Her tone took on a suppliant edge, a plea for a shred of familiarity in this unfamiliar encounter. The stranger sighed, a fleeting moment of contemplation preceding their response. "My name is Red," the words were accompanied by a mischievous smile, a hint of mockery woven into their cadence.

Lilith regarded Red with scrutiny, her gaze probing for any trace of sincerity. "It doesn't even seem to be your real name," her annoyance seeped into her words. Red adjusted the cape on Lilith's shoulders, their touch gentle yet meaningful. "Call me Red, it's all you need to know," the levity in their voice was replaced with a weightier seriousness. "I'm a demon assassin, you've got nothing else to know about me. Let me take you back to your castle, and then I'll leave."

Stubborn pride surged within Lilith, her determination refusing to waver. "I can get back to the castle on my own, I don't need your help," she declared, her tone laced with a hint of defiance. Red's response was swift, laced with a blend of exasperation and concern. "Are you an idiot? It's dark and there are lots of monsters hanging around at this hour, but if you really want to die, you can go."

For a moment, Lilith hesitated, her resolve faltering as she weighed her options. "Finally, I'd rather follow you," she conceded, her annoyance tempered by a begrudging acceptance of the truth. Red fell into step beside her, their presence a shield against the dangers that lurked in the shadows.

As they journeyed through the night, Lilith's curiosity bubbled to the surface. She sought to unearth the enigma that was Red, to pierce through the layers of anonymity that shrouded them. "Why are you an assassin?" Her question hung in the air, accompanied by a silence that spoke volumes. Red's reluctance to answer was palpable, a wall of secrecy that remained steadfast.

Undeterred, Lilith pressed on, a persistent inquisitor in the face of Red's reticence. "Why walk me home when I'm the one who walked out of the palace alone?" Her words held a blend of genuine curiosity and an underlying desire to uncover the motives behind Red's actions. Red's frustration was palpable, a hint of impatience in their voice. "Don't you ever shut up?"

A laugh escaped Lilith's lips, her amusement a counterpoint to the tense air that surrounded them. "I know almost nothing about you, so I'd like to know about you because you saved my life once," she explained, a genuine desire to bridge the gap between them.

Red's response was laced with a sense of weariness, their patience tested by Lilith's unrelenting queries. "You walk much too slowly for me," they retorted, a hint of dry humor in their words. Lilith's steps quickened to match Red's pace, her determination to glean some insight into their companion's past unwavering.

With each step, Lilith felt herself inching closer to the enigma that was Red. Their exchange, though prickly at times, held a strange allure, a dance of words that pulled her deeper into the enigma of the night. And then, with a burst of unexpected movement, Red swept Lilith into her arms, her wings of purple flames unfurling behind her back.

Lilith's heart raced as the ground fell away beneath her feet, replaced by the sensation of weightlessness. She clung to Red, her fear of heights warring with the exhilaration of flight. "Well, you're afraid of heights," Red's mocking tone held a thread of amusement, a playful tease that resonated in the night air.

Lilith's voice trembled as she confessed, "I'm afraid of falling." Red's assurance was gentle, a soothing balm to Lilith's apprehension. The world below her unfolded like a canvas, the city transformed into a mesmerizing tapestry of lights and shadows. The palace, bathed in moonlight, stood as a beacon against the night's obscurity.

As they soared through the air, Lilith's questions gave way to the breathtaking spectacle before her. Her lips curved into a smile, a mixture of wonder and vulnerability as she absorbed the view from above. Red's presence, once shrouded in mystery, had become an anchor in the midst of the unknown.

With a graceful descent, Red brought Lilith back to solid ground, the balcony of her own room. Their parting was imminent, the ephemeral connection that had formed between them destined to fade. "And now you've arrived in your home, it's time for me to go," Red's words held a finality, a reminder that their paths were separate once more.

Lilith hesitated, caught between gratitude and a desire to extend the encounter. Before Red could depart, she launched herself at them, an impulsive act driven by a need to express her gratitude. "Wait, I haven't thanked you yet," her words tumbled forth, a sincere appreciation that transcended the boundaries of their roles.

Red's laughter echoed in the night, a genuine response to Lilith's unexpected action. "So you jump on people to thank them, you're so strange," her amusement was evident, a shared moment of lightness amidst the shadows of the night.

Lilith's gaze lingered on Red, her heart racing as emotions she couldn't quite decipher danced within her. "Why are you looking at me like that?" Red's inquiry held a hint of curiosity, a mirrored uncertainty that reflected Lilith's own emotions.

Shaken from her reverie, Lilith offered a simple acknowledgement. "Nothing special, thanks for your help. You can go now," her attempt at casual nonchalance belied the underlying turmoil that swirled within her.

Unseen by Lilith, her cheeks flushed with a delicate hue, her heart beating a little faster, the remnants of their encounter etching themselves into her memory. "See you next time, maybe," Red's words were a promise of possibility, a whisper of a connection that lingered even as they parted ways.

And just like that, Red was gone, leaving Lilith to her thoughts and the comfort of her room. As exhaustion pulled her into the embrace of slumber, a fleeting thought crossed her mind. "What an incredible evening," she mused before surrendering to the arms of sleep. But soon after, a jolt of realization roused her once more. "Oh shit, I forgot my wolf in the city..."