CHAPTER 142: YOUNG LILITH XIV

~ Lilith’s POV ~

I grabbed my gown off the floor, yanked it on, and ran. Each step felt heavy, but I couldn’t stop...not now. I could feel his piercing gaze on my back, watching, judging, burning into me as I moved.

At the stairs, I stopped for a moment, wiped the tears from my face, and took a deep, steadying breath.

Alice’s presence floated through the air, unmistakable, familiar. Among all the others, hers was the one I recognized most clearly.

My chest tightened as I braced myself. I could not be careless. They should not know I was here ahead of schedule. They should think we arrived together.

As I ran, two familiar voices drifted to my ears. I skidded behind a wall, pressing my head close to its surface, heart hammering. I couldn’t believe it—I was about to strike tonight, and yet I was hiding like prey. The two voices were in a hurry, oblivious to my presence. That worked to my advantage.

One voice was Dahlia’s, sharp and commanding. The other—her Luna’s, soft but poisonous. I clenched my fists to keep from lunging, but the anger inside me surged. I knocked over a loose object by accident.

Both of them froze, their heads snapping toward the sound. My heart jumped into my throat. Instinctively, I whispered: "Versa!" The cloaking spell I had prepared wrapped around me like a shadow, hiding my form.

Dahlia’s voice cut through the night. "Wherever you are, come out!"

I steadied my breathing, shallow and controlled, ensuring no heavy exhale betrayed me. But the Luna already sensed something. I could hear her sharp intake of breath. Someone was here, she realized. I couldn’t let her know it was me.

I started moving again, careful, deliberate, silent. But as I shifted my weight, the cloaking spell began to falter. My leg emerged from the illusion, just enough to catch their eyes. Dahlia’s lips parted, ready to cast a spell.

"Versa!" I hissed again. Instantly, two nearby trash containers shot forward with the force of my spell, aiming for the two of them. I adjusted the trajectory carefully—less force on the Luna, not enough to harm her or her unborn child. I was no heartless monster.

The containers slammed into Dahlia and her companion with a loud clang, staggering them backward. The shock gave me the opening I needed. My legs pumped faster than they had ever carried me, my chest heaving, my breaths sharp and wild like a hyena on the hunt.

Then I stopped right where the crescent were... pulling out their weapons. Alice was the first to see me. Her green eyes widened, a flicker of relief and disbelief crossing her face. "Lilith!" she called, gripping her weapon tighter.

"Oh my God, Lily, where have you been?" Alice’s voice pierced the chaos. I pretended to be gasping for air, though truthfully, my chest was already heaving from adrenaline.

"I—I didn’t know you all had left," I stammered. "I rushed down here. They’re attacking tonight."

Alice froze, her eyes widening. "What? They’re attacking us tonight? And... and they already know we’re here?"

I nodded grimly. "Yes. If we stay together, we’ll all be destroyed. We have to split up. Move separately, and they won’t catch everyone."

Before she could respond, Jonathan pushed through the crowd, his face pale but determined. "What’s happening?" he demanded.

"They’ve figured out our presence," I said, keeping my voice low. "We need to leave. Now."

Jonathan’s jaw tightened. "Leave? Are you serious?"

"Yes. Back out. Now." My hands moved quickly, weaving subtle gestures. "Versa," I muttered, summoning a protective shield. A few witches nearby and the peasants around us froze as arrows suddenly appeared, aimed directly at us.

The arrows shot through the air—but then halted mid-flight, hovering, as if caught by an invisible hand.

"What?" Alice gasped, glancing at the frozen projectiles.

Jonathan barked orders sharply. "They know we’re here. We need to retreat, everyone! Now!"

I motioned to the group. "We need to go separate ways. If we stick together, they’ll wipe us out in one strike. Splitting up is the only chance."

He looked at me, disbelief and worry mingling on his face. "Split up? That’s... that’s dangerous. That would be very bad."

I shook my head. "It’s safer than dying together. We move now, or they’ll catch us all."

With a deep breath, everyone understood. The command was clear. "Split!" Jonathan barked.

Immediately, chaos erupted. Alice grabbed my arm, her grip firm, and we sprinted together. I felt the weight of responsibility pressing down on me—Alice was strong, brave, and trusted me, yet I couldn’t let her see everything.

Not Marcus. Not yet.

If Marcus saw me tonight... if he knew my presence or the choices I had made, the consequences could be catastrophic. I had to protect him, and to do that, I needed to move carefully, even if it meant pretending to trust the shadows around me.

We dashed through the corridors, arrows and spells whizzing past. My heart pounded in rhythm with my footsteps. Every sound, every movement felt amplified—the snap of wood underfoot, the distant shouts, the hum of energy as other witches and wolves cast protective wards.

Alice glanced at me. "Lily... are you okay?"

I forced a small nod. "Yes... just stay close. We have to keep moving."

Even as we ran, part of me kept scanning the crowd, watching for him. Marcus. I didn’t want Alice—or anyone else—to see the moment I caught sight of him. That could ruin everything.

And just as I had predicted, we charged straight into the pack of wolves—and Marcus was at the very front.

"C’mon, Lily! Let’s fight!" Alice shouted, her eyes fierce. My heart pounded in my chest.

Then our eyes met—Marcus’s gaze locked on me, piercing, unbreakable. I couldn’t look away.

"Lilith, come on!" Alice urged, noticing my hesitation.

"Do you know him?" she asked.

"No," I whispered. But the expression on Marcus’s face shattered at my words.

The wolves attacked. Alice transformed, massive and powerful, and leapt into battle. I dashed out, Marcus hot on my heels.