140 Reprieve

Avalon.

"Here." Lilith handed him a cup of coffee while intending to take a seat near him.

Aucuses took it from her grasp, but before she could sit, he gently drew her towards him, causing her to fall into his lap.

"Hey." Lilith grumbled. "I'm holding a cup of coffee."

"Oh." Aucuses smirked. "It doesn't matter if it completely spills on me. You often seemed to forgot that we are gods, not some mortal couple."

Lilith snorted, but she eventually sat obediently in his lap, increasing his smile just a tad.

"How is it?" She inquired as they sipped their coffee.

"As divine as you." Aucuses said cheekily.

Lilith's ears turned crimson as memories of the previous night flashed through her mind as a result of his words.

She pushed the steamy images to the back of her mind and changed the subject, knowing exactly how this conversation would end: with him and her in bed.

"How did you persuade Amanises?"

Before responding, Aucuses let out a sigh of disappointment. "I simply stated the facts about Salinger and stated that I would assist her in dealing with him."

"Salinger?" Lilith inquired, her brow furrowed. "Did you figure out what was wrong with him?"

"Did she not tell you?" Aucuses was surprised.

Lilith shook her head.

"I assumed you two were friends or something like..." Aucuses said.

"No." Lilith cut in with an odd expression. "What prompted you to think that way? From the beginning, it was just a deal between us. Though, now that you mention it, I am somewhat closer to her than others. However, it was completely due to our circumstances. And that is anything but friendship..."

"You know..." Aucuses grinned. "You both really looked that way in my imagination..."

Lilith scowled. "Aucuses, how typical of you. .."

"Okay…" Aucuses pressed his fingers against her lips, causing her to fall silent.

He then continued after kissing her lips. "Where did I leave off? Ah, Salinger. He was able to connect to the river of Eternal Darkness."

"A sefirot?" Lilith was stunned. "How did he.."

Aucuses interrupted, elaborating. "He built his own underworld on the ruins of Ancient underworld of the Ancient Goddess of Death, Gregace. She was the first to actually connect to the Eternal River."

"So, that black bird really had something like this up her sleeve." Lilith reminisced. "It's no surprise, she was so haughty at the time..."

"Well…" Aucuses nodded. "She didn't matter in the end, did she? Though she lived longer than many ancient gods, she was still defeated by the creator, who ruled over the entire chaos sea. Her single tributary was grossly inadequate."

"Just a tributary?" Lilith asked, her troubled heart somewhat at ease.

"Indeed. Salinger should have inherited it from Gregace when he finished constructing his underworld," Aucuses said, nodding. "He should have immediately faced the river and might have fought against it all this time."

He continued, solemnly looking into her eyes. "You know, a tributary is still dangerous. If Salinger is able to fully control it, he will be unstoppable unless we all band together. And after what had just happened, I don't see that happening."

In the end, he rolled his eyes.

"No.." Lilith shook her hand, setting their empty coffee cups on a nearby table and leaning even more on him. "It won't be like that. He cannot master it even if it's just a tributary. Salinger is not an idiot. He should knew when to stop."

"That's the issue, my love," Aucuses chuckled. "Madmen often don't know when to stop."

Lilith's expression became solemn as she nervously shifted in his lap. Then, she looked at them in the eyes. "So you made a deal with Amanises just using this."

"Yeah." Aucuses nodded. "And, guess what? she agreed immediately to my offer,"

Lilith frowned. "That's unlike her."

"I know, right." Aucuses smiled brightly. "That is why I think she has feelings for me."

Lilith laughed, clutching her stomach. "I also think that you are just being narcissistic, Aucuses. Amanises having feelings for you? Please!"

Aucuses scowled. "Says the one who has fallen hopelessly in love with the same man."

Lilith's laughter died away as she kissed him on the lips. "No, I don't mean you. It's Amanises. In comparison to us, her humanity is very low. However, there is also a chance she has feelings for you. But, it sure isn't love."

She continued in a low tone, her eyes narrowing at him. "In the end, does it really matter?"

"No, my love." Aucuses affirmed, sensing the jealousy in the air. "It doesn't matter."

Lilith snorted at his smirk and turned away, though her eyes softened.

Then she went on. "So, in the end, Amanises backstabbed Leodero, huh?"

"Yes." Aucuses said. "Just like you're going to backstab your 'son' in the future."

Lilith let out a chuckle.

He laughed as he continued. "I believe we should form a club, you know, the betrayers. And I shall be the leader."

Lilith gave him a strange look. "That's great idea and all. But enough with the jokes."

His laughter died away as she went on. "There are still a lot of important things that need our immediate attention, you know. Like Bethel Abraham?"

"No.." Aucuses drawled, his tone indicating his annoyance. "Don't bring him up right now. There is still time. He hasn't retuned from the cosmos."

"If he does. Don't go barging in on him without me," Lilith asserted.

"It's far too risky, Lilith. He is most likely already corrupted by 'Her,'" Aucuses said, his eyes welling up with concern. "I don't want you anywhere near him."

Lilith still had a stubborn expression. "Can you handle the corrupted him on your own?"

"Regardless of what you say, I'm still not allowing you to participate in that battle."

"And I can handle him just fine," Aucuses said, shaking his head. "I will soon ascend to the status of dual pathway god."

Lilith finally sighed. "At the very least, bring Amanises or Badhiel with you to that battle. Just in case."

"Okay. I will." Aucuses promised.

"So, when are you going to ascend?" Lilith inquired, her attention drawn to his final words.

"Perhaps this month." After some thought, Aucuses stated. "Or the end of the year."

"Do not promote without my presence." Lilith insisted.

"I won't." Aucuses smiled.

Lilith wanted to continue, but Aucuses interrupted, hugging her and placing his head on her neck, making his hands wander into her dress.

He said silently, "Enough with the serious subjects, my love. Remember that this is our reprieve."

Lilith glared at him, sensing his hands moving into her. But she didn't stop him at all.

"Wasn't last night the greatest?" He inquired, his voice deep and commanding. "Answer me, Lilith."

"Yes…" Lilith murmured, biting her lip and suppressing a moan as his hands reached that spot.

"Then let's do it all over again, shall we?" Aucuses asked in a way that left no room for denial.

Lilith suddenly smirked as she pushed him back onto chair, climbed on top of him, and positioned herself between his legs.

"Of course, my love." She stated vehemently…

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