Unspoken Desires

Lilith's heart raced as she abruptly stood from her seat, an unmistakable sense of urgency coursing through her veins. Her gaze darted toward the open door, and there, in the doorway, stood Lila. But Lila wasn't the oblivious sibling she had anticipated. She quickly discerned the distressed expression etched upon Lilith's face.

"What's the matter, Lilith? You look like you've seen a ghost," Lila quipped, a playful smile dancing on her lips as she observed her sister's agitated demeanor.

Lilith, still reeling from Red's sudden disappearance, turned her head back towards the empty space where the mysterious woman had stood only moments before. Panic gripped her for a moment, her voice caught in her throat. She took a deep breath before attempting to regain her composure.

"I was just surprised by your sudden entrance," Lilith replied, her voice steady but her eyes still searching for any trace of Red. She didn't want to reveal the true source of her disquiet to Lila.

Lila, raising an eyebrow, shot Lilith a skeptical look. She knew her sister better than anyone, and something was definitely amiss. However, she decided not to press further. Instead, she came to sit next to Lilith, her tone taking on a more serious note.

"I've come to apologize for our row last time. I shouldn't have behaved the way I did," Lila began, her voice laced with genuine remorse. Then, her hand clenched into a fist as she continued, "I also wanted to say that it's fine if you have feelings for Ava, but don't let them affect you."

Lilith's eyes widened, and she turned sharply to face her sister, a mixture of surprise and irritation in her voice. "Feelings for Ava? Lila, where did you get that idea?" Her words came out sharper than she intended, revealing the depth of her frustration.

Lila, undeterred by Lilith's defensive response, leaned in closer. "Come on, Lilith. It's not hard to see how you act around her, how protective you are. I know you better than anyone else. You don't have to hide it from me."

Lilith's face flushed with a mixture of embarrassment and anger. "You're reading too much into it."

Lila's eyes narrowed as she pressed on, her voice unwavering. "You've been saying that for years, Lilith. But I've seen the way you look at her. You can't deny your feelings forever."

Lilith's frustration bubbled to the surface. "I can't believe you're accusing me of this right now, Lila. We have more important things to worry about than my personal life."

Lila's tone softened, but her resolve remained firm. "I know, Lilith. But it's important to address our own emotions too. We can't fight these demons effectively if we're carrying a burden of unspoken feelings."

Lila, undeterred, voiced her own determination, her eyes reflecting a deep-seated resolve. "I'd just like to avenge Mum's death and for them to know the same suffering we went through," she confessed before regaining her composure.

Lilith nodded in agreement, acknowledging the shared pain and purpose that bound them together. "Yes, you're right, Lila, but what can you do when we can't kill them?" she mused, her voice tinged with frustration. Deep down, Lilith couldn't help but feel a sense of relief that the demons they sought to destroy were proving exceptionally resilient.

"You're right," Lila concurred, her tone somber. "We should probably think of another plan. But in the meantime, rest easy, Lilith. You need it after everything that's happened to you." With those words of comfort, Lila rose to her feet and pulled Lilith into a warm embrace.

"I'll let you rest now, and I'll start my research," Lila stated before making her exit, closing the door behind her as she left Lilith to her thoughts. Lilith lay back on her bed, sighing heavily as she contemplated the events of the day. "I thought I was going to get caught with Red in my room," she admitted to herself, a mix of fear and excitement coursing through her.

"We almost got caught," a familiar voice chimed in, causing Lilith to startle and tumble to the floor. There, standing before her, was Red, her enigmatic presence undiminished.

Lilith blinked in surprise and relief, accepting Red's offered hand as she was helped back onto her feet. "You're fine," Red assured her, her laughter filling the room. Lilith couldn't help but join in, the tension of the moment giving way to shared amusement.

"How did you disappear from the room and then reappear?" Lilith asked, her curiosity piqued by Red's mysterious abilities.

"A magician never reveals her secrets," Red replied, her eyes twinkling with amusement. Then, she leaned closer to Lilith, lowering her voice to a whisper. "But maybe I'll tell you someday, if you're nice to me," she added, her breath tickling Lilith's ear.

Lilith felt a shiver run down her spine, unsure how to react to Red's flirtatious remark. She pulled away slightly, looking into Red's eyes for any sign of mockery or malice. But all she saw was a playful smile and a hint of admiration.

"So, you're in love with Ava?" Red asked, changing the subject abruptly, her tone teasing and playful, causing Lilith to blush.

"No, absolutely not," Lilith protested, trying to hide her embarrassment by covering her face with her hands.

"Yet your own sister said you were in love with Ava," Red pointed out, a mischievous glint in her eyes. Then, she couldn't resist taunting Lilith further by starting to sing, "Lilith is in love, Lilith is in love," before darting into Lilith's room, with Lilith hot on her heels, attempting to playfully hit her.

"I'm not in love with Ava," Lilith insisted as she chased after Red, a playful smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

"Then who are you in love with?" Red asked, turning around and facing Lilith, blocking her way with her arms.

Lilith stopped in her tracks, feeling trapped by Red's gaze and proximity. She tried to look away, but Red gently tilted her chin up with her finger.

"Come on, tell me," Red urged softly, her eyes searching Lilith's face for any clue.

Lilith felt a surge of emotion rising in her chest, making it hard for her to breathe. She wanted to say something, anything, but no words came out of her mouth.

Red smiled gently, sensing Lilith's confusion and hesitation. She leaned forward slowly, giving Lilith time to react or pull away. But Lilith didn't move. She felt drawn to Red's lips, as if by a magnetic force.

Red stopped just before their lips touched, looking into Lilith's eyes one last time. She whispered softly,

"Maybe it's me."

Then she kissed Lilith lightly on the cheek and pulled back quickly.

Lilith gasped softly, feeling a warm sensation on her cheek where Red had kissed her. She touched it with her hand, as if to make sure it was real.

"Well, I believe you, but I hope for your sake that Ava doesn't come into your room," says Red mockingly, before starting to approach the window. 

"See you next time, Princess," Red said with a wink, her figure disappearing from the room as swiftly as she had arrived.

Only seconds after Red left, someone knocked on the door.

"Can I come in?" came a voice from the other side, shattering the remnants of the playful atmosphere that had filled the room.