Dead Man Walking: Living By Day, Dead By Night

To say that Olivia and the girls had a hard time getting people to talk about anything other than the Cult's propaganda regarding the founding of the city, and who the goddess actually was, was a complete and total understatement.

Whether it was irreverent loyalty, or quite frankly intimidation. Nobody dared to say anything that countered the narrative the Cult of Elysium had set forth. And as the hours passed, and sun began to set. It was starting to become abundantly clear that nobody in this city was ever going to talk about the truth regarding such issues.

That is until they saw a curious sight. At the exit of the second gate, which led back into the agricultural area of the city. There was an old, haggard woman, who was desperately pleading with the city's guards to let her through, to let her leave the city.

"I'm begging you! You have no idea what's going on in this foul place! I have seen her with my old eyes! She wasn't human! She was one of them! And yet the goddess was leading her into the castle!

Please, let me leave this hell behind. I'd rather take my chances out there in the wasteland!"

Such words were easily considered heresy within the walls of Elysium, and the guards immediately began to beat the elderly woman, while chastising her for her remarks!

"You crazy old hag! How dare you defile the Goddess' good name with your blasphemy! I think a night in a cell with straighten you out!"

Elena quickly interfered, using her temporal blade to slash through the clubs that the men were using to beat the old woman with. The guards damn near pissed their pants when they saw what damage the weapon could do, and instantly scurried off without even putting up a fight. No doubt to gather reinforcements to deal with this major threat that suddenly appeared.

With them gone, Angelica quickly approached the woman, and healed her injuries, wounds that no doubt would have been the death of her had Angelica not been nearby.

With the green glow of her hands illuminating her gorgeous face, the old woman stared in disbelief, as she instantly recognized Angelica from the wanted posters that had previously been posted around the city prior to the battle of Tahoe, and the peace which Zane had forced upon Valeria.

"You… You're the great Heretic of the East!"

Angelica frowned when she heard this, she was aware that the people of the Great Basin desert referred to her by the title of Saintess, but the Great Heretic of the East? That was a new and unpleasant nickname.

Still, she was quick to help the woman to her feet, where Elena immediately began to interrogate her.

"Normally we charge for that, so you better tell us all about this woman who was with Valeria!"

The old woman's eyes darted back and forth. By now, the bells were ringing, signalling all guards that there were heretics within the gates. And because of this, she quickly agreed to the conditions given to her.

"I'll tell you everything you want to know, but this place is about to be swarmed by the cult's militia. Come with me! Swiftly!"

Spurred on by the old woman's tale, the group had no choice but to follow her to wherever she was leading them. Which was ultimately to a cellar and a rustic and abandoned building not far away. Once inside, the old woman lit some candles and began to speak of her tale.

"This place… This city… It's not what it appears to be… Hell, the cult itself doesn't realize that they are merely livestock for the dead. I had some suspicions that something was going on after people I knew started disappearing.

The cult said they were promoted, and were chosen to live in the upper area, which is sealed off from all of us. But I knew that was utter crap. I knew those people well. We were friends, family even if such a thing exists in these dark times.

They were not true believers, they only did what they were told, and said what was appropriate because it was better to live here than out there… But today… I saw her…. That monster! The monster who brought Los Angeles to destruction.

She's not like the other undead, she appears human enough on the outside, and can even speak like one… But she is anything but! I saw her once before, months ago, when the people of LA were still trying their best to cling to their city blocks.

The dead did not harm to her, and they even obeyed her commands. I was lucky enough to be one of the few who escaped the city with my life intact. I was thankful when the refugees all gathered together to form this city, even if it was beneath the banner of some awakened fool who called herself a goddess.

But… Now I know the horrible truth, especially after seeing that monster here. This city isn't a stronghold… It isn't the last bastion of human civilization in his apocalyptic world. It's a slaughterhouse. Meant to raise a surplus population for the dead to feast upon.

Why else would the goddess welcome that monster into her city? That's it, that's all I know… And if you don't mind, I plan to get the hell out of this slaughterhouse before I'm on the menu! So, believe me, don't believe me, I don't really care!"

When Elena heard this story, she immediately froze on the spot. They had left Zane alone with the Horde King of LA. That was a Tier V Horde King. It had to be! If Zane was alone with her… Then…. Then…

---

The moment after Lilith pinned Zane to the ground, she called out to Valeria, who was indeed in the bedroom, sitting there, petrified, not out of any form of ailment, but rather fear. Fear of Lilith. She had merely been used as a puppet to lure Zane to Elysium so that Lilith could speak to him.

And she had fulfilled her purpose. Now, Lilith no longer needed her, at least not for the time being, and she made this clear.

"You! Pet! Out! I want some alone time with my little brother!"

Valeria did not bother saying a word. She scurried off like a cockroach which had been exposed to the light. Zane only barely saw her appearance, and it was one that was terrified. And he understood why.

Lilith was an entity that he, no humanity, had no business dealing with. She was powerful beyond even his wildest dreams. The gap between a Tier I and Tier II undead was already a large hurdle to pass. But between Horde Kings, the difference in power between the tiers was like crossing from hell to heaven.

Zane may be able to fight Tier I Horde Kings, and even then he was inferior to the likes of Gwen, who was at the top. But against a Tier V Horde King like Lilith, he was quite literally powerless before her. And the difference showed.

Especially after Lilith picked up him like a doll and placed him in a chair sitting at the dining area of Valeria's personal quarters. She sat across from him, resting her dainty chin in the palm of her hand, all the while staring at Zane without blinking.

The eyes which focused on his figure were undoubtedly those of an Apex predator. One that was curious about its prey, almost as if the prey did not meet her expectations, and this was exactly the sentiment that Lilith expressed at the very next moment.

"You are far less, how do we say… Fearsome? Then I expected you to be… I mean, even that pathetic whelp Bartholomew looks more intimidating than you do… How the hell did you beat Gwen? What kind of sick, twisted trap did you set for her?"

It was abundantly clear to Zane that Lilith had some kind of affection towards Gwen, as she seemed quite pissed that he had done away with the girl. Zane wanted to say something, but he still couldn't do so. Causing Lilith to speak up with fury in her voice, at least until she remembered that she had forgotten to unbind him.

"What? Cat got your tongue!?! Are you seriously going to sit there and de- Oh wait… I forgot… Silly me, sorry about that… Hold on a second while I fix this…"

And no more than a second passed before Zane felt like the weight that was pressing down upon his tongue had completely vanished, causing him to inhale deeply and cough a little before finally speaking up.

"Holy hell! What the fuck did you just do to me?"

Lilith appeared almost offended that Zane had not answered her question immediately after she gave him back the gift of speech, and she was quick to narrow her eyes menacingly while she told him as such.

"You answer my questions, and maybe, just maybe I'll enlighten you to the difference between the two of us… I am actually curious myself about the topic... But not curious enough to let you squirm your way out of my interrogation… So talk… What happened with Gwen, how did you kill her, and who resurrected her?"

Upon realizing that his life was quite literally in Lilith's hands. Zane quickly decided that it was best to tell her the truth, and nothing but the truth, so help him god. Because if he managed to piss her off with even the slightest lie, he was well and truly a dead man.