She should have guessed.

A friend of Mark's, he had to be equally fucked up.

And yet, it seemed to be the way of this town, there were few exceptions to the rule of macabre that spread through Westriver’s population. Everyone had their vice’s, their dirty little secrets and even dirtier little thoughts. The trick, was finding out who’s was what. Yes, that seemed to be it, there was a dividing factor, she was a step closer to unravelling her precious mystery and with each person she spoke with a little piece of the blank puzzle slid into place.

David was far too easy to read, however he would not be unsettled easily, he was still a challenge. His dialect was refined but his delivery was dark and lecherous, she found herself actually longing for Mark to return to the table but did not let this show on her face. She didn’t even so much as shift in her seat, she did nothing to let him know how uncomfortable he made her. Instead, Lilith inhaled and studied David for a few moments, her hand lifted and she began to fondle the crystal orb dangling so delicately about her slender neck, she played it about her fingers and her eyes glazed over.

He’d loved her, she knew that, she’d known that all her life, she just had no idea how deep his devotion was seeded. He’d find her in the playground, crouched in the sand with tears in her eyes while boys being boys held an off-white stuffed rabbit over her head. They were not children to him, they were cretins who tarnished the precious flower she'd once been. Those children went home to their parents with broken eyes and busted lips where they sat in silence, afraid to speak of what he had done to them. Yet, in contrast, he’d held her so close as she cried into his shoulder. Years later and she still came to him when she cried, his embrace was warm and secure and he never stopped holding her until her tears ceased.

She blinked, the ambience of the restaurant flooded her, had it been long? Mark was still at the counter, her silence could not have been more than a few moments and she was still able to respond to David.

“Kill me?” she spoke as if she didn’t believe he could. “I’ve known men far more capable of murder than little boys such as you.” It was not meant as an insult, rather as a reflection between himself who despite seeming, when she’d first looked upon him, to be older than her by a handful of years, she realized now that he still attended their school thus he was either her age or a year older, no more. It was his relation with Mark that gave him away, it was too close, too regular and Mark didn’t quite seem the type to stand on a street corner making dealings in the shadows. No, she pictured him pulling David aside at lunch or after class, away from the prying eyes of teachers and peers.

She’d paused but continued as if she hadn’t. “Even they could not kill me, given the chance,” she licked her lips and looked David up and down. “No, I’m willing to bet the only reason you’d have to kill me would be if I stole a bite from one of your little fish sandwiches. Not much chance of that I’m afraid,” she had the distinct feeling she needed a cigarette between her fingers to complete her look. “I’m in the mood for something meatier.”

Oh yes, Lilith could play these games all day long with the best of them, she was quick, her wit was sharp, she rarely faltered and she never backed down.

She recalled he’d spoken of addiction and leapt upon that topic with the hopes that he’d follow her train of thought without the need for elaboration.

“Murder, simply murder – that would be far too easy. No, it’s the drive, the reason, the method. A murder is but a single action, it’s story would scarcely fill a page. However, the story behind it…” she chuckled very softly, “That story could fill a thousand pages.”

He hit her on a more personal note then, she fought not to let the look of surprise wash over her features and felt she accomplished it naturally. Lil raised one brow as was her trait and grinned casually as she pressed her back flat against the chair, she lowered her arms, held them straight down, curled her fingers about the sides of her chair and gripped tightly. The sides of her jacket fell open, her corset was very tight, ribbed with lines that followed the smooth, slight curves of her body, it left little to the imagination, the bust was cut low, the thick straps hugged over the tops of her shoulders and a small section at the front was laced loosely closed. It seemed that the back was laced too by the end of a black ribbon trapped between her hip, her jacket and the back of her chair. She watched as his eyes followed the garment down to the heavy belt about her hips and the crotch of her jeans before she swiftly lifted her heeled boot and planted it on the edge of his seat, between his legs, dangerously close to a rather tender spot.

“Perhaps, does knowing that I could crush the pride of your youth at a whim make you shudder deep inside?” Her smile was devious, she was playing with fire, what could be more exciting? Lil bent her knee slightly and tilted her head to the left as she lifted her left hand and swept all her hair over her over that shoulder. There was a moment of silence, Lil sighed and drew her foot back, even went so far as to push her chair back an inch before she relaxed and stared straight at David with that same look of cool disposition as she’d sat down with.

He’d pissed her off.

Mostly because he was right.

She was a little wet.

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