She needed privacy.
A space to talk to Ray freely. She didn’t plan on telling him anything about her situation, but there was so much she didn’t want Lilith to hear.
Her grimoire was limited, but it held a few protective spells. Things like wards and barriers. Some that cast out those who meant to do her harm. She had learned them while living with her uncle. It was necessary to protect herself.
Slowly, she flipped through the pages, eyes scanning each one carefully. She continued the repetitive ritual, flip, scan, pace, until she finally came to a stop.
Her gaze settled on the open page.
This would work
A simple soundproofing spell that had proven useful in the past.
Her eyes drifted toward the door.
It was locked.
But that doesn’t ensure her privacy. Lilith had made it clear that privacy wasn’t a given in this house.
Iris exhaled softly.
“Let her catch me,” she murmured, lowering herself to the floor in front of her altar.
If Lilith wanted to know what she was doing, she’d find a way.
She studied the page carefully.
Items needed:
- Blue chime candle (or white, in absence)
- Salt
- Lavender
- Dragon’s blood incense
Simple enough.
She gathered her materials, her movements slow as she concentrated her energy into the task at hand. Once everything was in place, she lit a sprig of rosemary, letting the smoke curl through the room as she cleansed the space.
The familiar scent settled her nerves slightly.
She took a deep breath, closing her eyes and letting the smoke fill her nostrils.
For a moment, the room felt like it was her own.
Once the altar was properly cleansed, she settled cross-legged on the floor.
Then she began to cast her circle.
She inhaled softly, picturing the protective barrier around her growing stronger, solidifying with intention.
Satisfied, she struck a match.
The flame flickered to life.
One by one, she lit the incense… then the candle.
Iris watched the smoke curl upward, twisting through the air before reaching for the salt. She sprinkled it carefully around the candle, imagining it expanding outward, forming a border around the entire room.
Protection.
Then she reached for the Lavender, repeating the action slowly.
Peace.
Her gaze lifted to the flame. Eyes steady. Focused.
She began to speak.
“Safe and quiet within these walls,
No noise exists, no shadow falls.
Gentle peace, a quiet mind,
Privacy is what I’ll find.
By my word… it is so.”
The flame flickered.
The air in the room shifted, sealing her spell.
The room fell silent, broken only by the faint flicker of the candle. A heavy stillness settled around her.
It had worked.
Iris closed her eyes, letting the quiet wrap around her as she began to relax
Then, a soft shift of fabric.
Her eyes opened, startled. She was no longer alone.
Without looking, she could sense Lilith standing in the doorway, watching her.
Iris stilled. She had let her guard down, if only just for a moment. Spellwork sometimes did that to her. Pulled her focus away from her surroundings.
It was a dangerous habit she had learned since leaving Uncle's house. She had become careless.
She exhaled softly and silently began closing her circle. The ritual had to be closed out before it was solidified, and if Lilith hadn’t stopped her yet, then she didn’t think she was going to.
After closing the circle, she stood up and began cleaning her space, putting things away. She paid no mind to Lilith as she worked
“I’ve never seen a witch in action,” Lilith spoke, breaking the silence.
“We don’t like being watched.”
A pause.
Lilith stepped into the room.
“You didn’t stop me.”
Lilith glanced around as the silence settled in. The noise from the hallway had disappeared entirely. It felt less like entering another room and more like stepping into a sealed bunker, cut off from the rest of the world.
Iris finished setting the last of her things aside before turning to face her.
“Did I have a choice?”
Lilith’s gaze moved slowly around the room, taking in the candle, the incense, the carefully arranged altar. She approached it with an unhurried curiosity, like someone examining something delicate…or unfamiliar.
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“No,” she said after a moment. “I suppose not.”
Iris tensed as Lilith drew closer, stepping subtly in front of the altar before she could reach it
“I locked the door…” Iris said.
Lilith stopped just inches away
“I know.”
She lifted a small ring of gold keys, letting them chime softly together
“You forget,” She continued, voice calm, almost gentle. “This room belongs to me.
A pause. A faint smile.
“Everything here belongs to me.”
The keys brushed lightly against Iris’s cheek as Lilith’s hand followed, the metal cool against her skin.
Iris turned her face away.
“Are you here for a reason?” She asked evenly, ignoring the comment, though she understood perfectly well what Lilith meant by everything.
She wanted Lilith out. Out of her space. Her silence.
Lilith studied her for a moment longer, then turned away, drifting toward the chair at the far end of the room.
“No,” she said, settling into it. “I smelled the herbs.”
A short pause.
“I wanted to see you in action.”
She leaned back, crossing one leg over the other. The action casual, like she hadn’t just intruded on a private moment.
Iris watched her carefully as she tried to figure out what she was thinking.
“You’re not…upset?” She finally asked after a long stretch of silence.
Lilith's brow lifted.
“Should I be?”
Iris hesitated, then shrugged.
“It was only a barrier.”
Lilith's lips curved slightly.
“Your barrier let me in.”
Iris stepped away from the altar and sat on the edge of the bed.
“Well, it wasn’t meant to keep you out,” she said quietly. “It wasn’t meant to keep anyone out.”
Lilith tilted her head, curiosity flickering over her face.
“No,” she murmured. “I suppose you’re smarter than that. You wouldn’t be able to keep me out regardless.”
The words stung; it was almost as if Lilith were calling her powerless.
But that wasn’t what hurt.
What hurt was that she wasn’t wrong
Iris couldn’t cast a strong enough spell to keep a goddess out.
She wasn’t even sure she was strong enough to keep anyone out.
Besides, no matter how much she hated to admit it, she was tied to Lilith. Their bond was stronger than a legal contract signed with ink. It wasn’t a piece of paper that could be shredded or burned out of existence.
It had been sealed in blood.
In magic.
If she tried to lock Lilith out of her space, she would only end up locking herself out too.
They were bound.
“Were you trying to hide something from me?” Lilith said after studying Iris for a long moment. Her voice was tight, edged with irritation.
Iris lifted her gaze and met her eyes.
“Not hide.” She said evenly. “I wanted privacy. Even you have to admit that I don’t get much of that anymore.”
Lilith's eyes drifted over the room, lingering on the altar before returning to Iris.
“I suppose you’re right.” She said at last, “You’re not in trouble for your little spell.”
Iris hated the way her shoulders loosened at that.
As if she had been waiting for permission.
As if she cared whether she was in trouble.
She nodded once and stood up, moving to her desk to straighten the scattered papers and books. Ray wouldn’t mind the mess, but she needed something to distract herself from the awkward silence. From Liliths watchfull eyes.
The heavy quiet stretched between them, the spell suddenly making the room unbearable.
Then a chime sliced cleanly through it.
Iris flinched, the book slipping from her hands and thudding softly against the floor. In the sealed quiet of the room, her phone’s ring sounded unnaturally loud.
Her eyes drifted to the corner of her desk.
Rays number flashed on the screen.
She exhaled and reached for it, pressing answer as soon as it was in her hands..
“Hello.”
“Iris! I think I’m lost.” Rays' voice came through, breathless and panicked. “I headed out early and the address you sent brought me to a mansion.”
Her chest tightened as she moved toward the window. She had thought she was ready for his arrival, but now that he was here, it felt like a mistake.
Like a trap she had walked him into herself.
She leaned against the windowpane and glanced outside.
Sure enough, Ray stood near the top of the driveway, one hand shoved awkwardly into his pocket as he stared up at the house. He looked small against it. Out of place.
Like he was considering turning around before someone came out and forced him off the property.
She hadn’t told him that Lilith was wealthy.
“You're in the right place,” she said, steadying her voice. “I'll be down in a second.”
She ended the call and glanced at the time on her screen.
4:30.
“He's here early,” she said as she walked toward the door.
Lilith rose from the chair.
“I noticed.” She said.
And followed closely behind.
The walk down the stairs felt faster than usual. Iris wasn’t ready to open that door just yet, even though she knew it was inevitable.
She could feel Lilith close behind her. Turning around and running wasn’t an option.
Not that she would have done it anyway. Not with Ray waiting for her.
When Iris opened the door, a cool breeze drifted inside, raising goosebumps along her arms.
Ray lowered his hand just as he was about to knock.
Relief flooded his face the second he saw her.
“Iris,”
Within seconds, his arms were around her, pulling her into a tight hug.
The tension drained from her body as she hugged him back, burying her face into his shoulder and breathing in his familiar scent. She hadn’t realized just how much she’d missed him until that moment.
After a few long seconds, they pulled apart, and she finally got a good look at him.
Her chest tightened.
His skin was paler than the last time she’d seen him. He looked thinner too. The dark circles under his eyes had deepened; they almost looked like bruises.
“I thought for sure I was at the wrong place,” he said, gesturing broadly to the massive house behind her. “This is…a lot.”
A faint smile tugged at her lips.
“Yeah,” she said. “Sorry. I probably should have warned you.”
His gaze softened as it settled on her again.
“You look good.” He said. “I was worried.”
Before she could say anything, Lilith stepped forward—enough to be seen.
Iris had nearly forgotten she was there. The only thing that mattered for a moment was ray.
Ray's eyes shifted to her, studying her. Curiosity and confusion flickered on his face.
Iris stepped slightly aside so Lilith could stand beside her.
“Ray,” she said carefully, “this is Lilly… my girlfriend.”
The last word came out quieter than she intended.
Lilith smiled and extended her hand.
“Welcome,” She said smoothly. “I’ve heard a great deal about you.”
Ray blinked, clearlycaught off guard. After a moment’s hesitation, he reached out and shook her hand. Lilith’s grip was firm, but gentle.
“I haven’t heard much about you.” He said almost pointedly. The edge in his voice was subtle but noticeable.
Lilith released his hand.
“Well,” she said lightly, “why don’t you come inside? Make yourself comfortable.”
She stepped aside and gestured toward the interior of the house.
“Any friend of my Iris is a friend of mine.”
“Oh—um. Thank you,” Ray said awkwardly as he stepped past her.
Iris closed the door behind them.
Ray’s eyes moved slowly around the entryway, taking in the high ceilings and polished floors. He looked both impressed and overwhelmed—much like Iris had on her first day here.
He took a few tentative steps inside before turning back to her.
“Iris,” He said quietly, “what exactly is going on?”
She shifted under the weight of the concern in his expression.
“I know…” she said. “It’s all a bit strange.”
Ray gave a small, nervous laugh.
“I guess that’s one word for it.”
Iris met his eyes.
“I’ll explain everything,” she promised.
The only problem was… she had no idea how she was supposed to explain any of this.