Chapter 51 51: Close
Lia's fingers kept moving closer to finishing the last stretch of the spell she was casting.
She was sure she could finish it before Atlas reached her. Unfortunately, she had underestimated the speed of Atlas. With the risk of the spell being completed, Atlas gave it his all as he jumped ahead with his full might.
His sudden boost in speed even stunned Lia. She also increased her speed. Unfortunately, it was too late. The last few inches proved to be more than miles as Atlas covered the gap between the two.
Atlas grabbed both his wrists as he clashed with the lady. Lia dropped to the ground with Atlas falling on top of her. He was saved by just one moment. If he were even a single second late, the spell would've been completed.
"Enough!" Atlas roared in rage. "Listen to me this Instant!"
He was already very frustrated at being attacked when he had done nothing wrong to the lady. She literally blew up the entire building to take him out for some reason, and she wasn't even listening to him. Just how crazy could a person be?!
"I told you I'm not here to hurt you! I was in the city to take revenge on the Vampires! That's all! I didn't even know a witch was here! It was just a coincidence that we met!" Atlas exclaimed.
"You are here for revenge on Vampires? You mean you were the one who... In the restaurant...?"
"That's right! I was the one who killed the Vampire Captain in the restaurant and the others, all so I could hurt the Vampires! Since I needed a place to hide, I went to the Brothel to take shelter. I wasn't planning to sleep with anyone. It was there I saw you. As soon as I heard stories about you, I realized you were a witch!"
"I also know witches aren't on good terms with the Vampires, so your presence made me think that you were here with the same goal to hurt the Vampires! That's why I selected you! I wanted to talk to you about cooperation between us since we have the same enemy! But before I could even find an opportunity to explain to you, you blew up the entire place!" he continued, clearly angered by everything that had happened.
"If I hadn't jumped out at the right time, I would've been hurt so bad!" he further added. "Even then, I thought maybe you misunderstood my intentions, so I followed after you to explain, and yet you attacked me again without giving me a chance to explain? Are all Witches as stupid as you?!"
"Hey!" Lilith chimed in. "You know not all witches are like her. There are smart ones like me too."
Atlas simply rolled her eyes at Lilith's response.
As he was lying on top of Lia, having her hand grounded so she couldn't cast any other spell to hurt him before he finished. The two bodies were so close to each other that Atlas could even feel the heartbeat of Lia, which was rapid as she saw Atlas so close to her. It was the first time A man was so close to him.
She was even worried if Atlas was going to kiss her suddenly since their lips were only a few inches away from each other.
Atlas didn't know what she was thinking, nor did he care. He only wanted to finish what he wanted to say. "We might not be friends, but we aren't enemies either. And I don't want to hurt you. If you don't want to work together, you can leave! I won't care anymore. I did my part. I am going back. If you want to come with me, come. If not, go in the opposite direction."
He brought his lips closer to Lia's face, making her close her eyes in fear. She didn't know that he wasn't coming for her lips. Atlas brought his lips closer to Lia's ears as he softly warned her. "But let me promise you one thing. If you still attack me, next time you won't be alive to listen to my words."
After finishing, he rolled to the side and stood up. He patted his clothes that had gotten dirty. "I need to find new clothes as well. These burnt clothes will attract so much attention, all because of you."
He started walking back towards the city with calm steps. After taking a few steps, he stopped. He lazily glanced back. "Are you coming or not?'
Lia didn't know why but she felt she could trust Atlas. He had her hands in control, and he couldn't do anything he wanted. Still, he freed her. Maybe he really didn't want to hurt her? Also, her Grandma wanted her to find the one who killed the Vampires in the restaurant. Now that she found him, how could she let him go? It was certainly a good idea to work with Atlas.
"Enemy of my enemy is my friend, I guess." Lia stood up, patting her clothes as well. She ran to Atlas. "I am sorry for attacking you without listening to you. But it's really hard to do that since, in that much time, anyone can kill you. So I am always wary."
"I can understand being wary, but at least be sane? Don't kill allies just because you're wary. If I were like you, you would've been dead before we stepped into your room," Atlas lazily replied. "Anyway, what was your aim in coming to the city? You also came to destroy them? Did you have any plans?"
"I didn't come to destroy them," Lia replied, sighing. "I came here for something more important..."
"What could be more important than killing them for a Witch?" Atlas inquired, frowning.
"You wouldn't understand even if I tell you. Just think of it as the Carlisle Clan having something really important for us. I'm here to steal it and, in the process, ruin them."
"I won't understand if you tell me?" Atlas smiled, amused. He had Lilith with him. Was there something he couldn't understand?
"Why don't you try telling me? Who knows, I might understand."
"Book of Lilith..." Lia exclaimed after taking a long pause. "We got information that the Carlisle Clan has found the Book of Lilith. My clan sent me here to bring that book back."
"Book of Lilith?" Atlas inquired, curious. "What's in it?"
"All the spells I ever created," Lilith answered before Lia could ever answer.
On the contrary, Lia shook her head. "I can't tell you what it is. It's the secret of Witches. Just know that Werewolves and Vampires can't use the book of Lilith."
Atlas didn't know what he found funnier. These people looking for the book of Lilith when Lilith herself was here, or the fact that they thought he would know if they didn't explain?
"She's not entirely wrong. Werewolves and Vampires can't use the spells in my book. However, there are still some exceptions," Lilith chimed in. "For Example, Master Castiel could use all the spells wherever he wanted."
"Atlas, I think you should look for that book as well. It could be handy in your training," she added.
"Why?" Atlas inquired.
"What why? It's just a fact that Werewolves and Vampires can't use it. They don't have the constitution of a Witch," Lia replied, thinking Atlas was asking him.
Lilith knew who he was talking to. She also replied, "That book contains all the spells that I created in my entire life. That was more like a Journal of Spells since I can't remember most of the spells. My memory is weak in that department. That's why I carried that book and wrote any spell I came up with in it. If we can get that book, I can teach you some nice spells."
"And before you ask why can't I teach you now, It's because I only remember High Grade spells. You aren't strong enough to use them. That's why that book can be good for you," she further added.
'So I need to steal that book before Lia can get there. And that too while working with Lia. Moreover, that book is with the Carlisle Clan, possibly in a very secure place. Not hard at all,' Atlas thought, seemingly in a sarcastic mood.
Honestly, he didn't care for any Grimore. All gee cared about was getting his sister's body back. And if he had time left after that, he could think about the book.
Still, he knew there was a problem. Lia was after the book. She wasn't going to let him take the book that easily if she found out.
"I came here for only one reason. To take back the Lost Book of Lilith! With the help of that book, my Clan can rise to prominence again. We can get enough strength to face the Vampires without being scared! That book can change the entire hierarchy of this world!" Lia explained. "What brought you here?"
"Don't tell me you just came to destroy the Carlisle Clan alone?"
"I came here to bring my sister back," Atlas replied.
"Your sister? Was she kidnapped?"
"No. She was murdered." Atlas glanced at the moon in the sky. "Her body was taken by the Carlisle Clan. I didn't even get a chance to bury the body. I'm here to take the body back and bring the Carlisle Clan to rubble!"
"So you lost someone as well." Lia could feel the genuine sadness from Atlas. She knew he was serious. "Your sister isn't the only one they killed. So many Witches have died at their hands. If you can help me get the book of Lilith, I must be able to help you get your sister back and destroy the Carlisle Clan."
"That's exactly why I approached you. We can help each other. I'll get the book, and you can help me with what I want to do. It can make things easier." Atlas smiled. He chose his words very carefully as he spoke about getting the book.
He didn't say he would get the book for her. He was very Vague, so he wouldn't need to break a promise.
"That would be perfect! Grandma would be so happy when I tell her about this." Lia smiled beautifully as he thought about being praised by her Grandma for finding someone who could help her. Her chances of success had suddenly increased.
"Ah, Lia?" Atlas called.
"Yeah?"
"You know, at the speed we are going, it would take a long time to get back to the town. I would miss the selection of Servants, which can help me get inside the Carlisle Clan without raising suspicions. How about you use that spell again and help the both of us get back in the city faster?" Atlas suggested.
He didn't want to use more strength in running if he didn't need to since that increased the chance of Blood Lust. If he could, he wanted to use Lia's spell to fly back.
"I'm sorry, but I can only use that spell once in a day," Lia smiled wryly. "I can't fly again, and neither can I help you fly."
"Do you have any other spell that can help us travel faster?" Atlas inquired.
Lia simply shook her head again. "None."
"Sigh, such bad luck," Atlas scratched the back of his head. "Looks like I'll have to do something myself."
He stopped and looked back at Lia, from top to bottom. "What's your weight?"
"Ah, fifty-five. Why?" Lia asked, frowning. Just what was Atlas planning.
Unfortunately, she was soon going to find out.
Atlas took a deep breath as he walked closer to Lia. "I will have to carry you with me. We need to get there before sunrise, or it'll be hard to enter the city. Moreover, I need you there so you can help me in the selection."
Atlas placed one hand behind the shoulders of Lia and the other behind her knees as he picked her up in his arms like a princess.
"Eek?!" Lia let out a squeaky voice in shock. She was once again so close to Atlas. She was literally in his arms like a wife who was being carried to the bed by her husband on the night of marriage.