and a demon .
2
Ivy found herself back in the State Street Diner , being as it was one of the few places in the nearby area still open after midnight on a Tuesday . The old witch , Lillia , spooned tomato soup past her chapped lips , taking a bite from her dry wheat toast every few spoonfuls for good measure .
“ Do you need anything else ?” Tabitha asked , stopping at their table . She gave Ivy an odd look , telling her she didn ’ t particularly understand why she was feeding a homeless woman at close to one a . m . when she had just gotten off work less than an hour before .
“ I ’ m good ,” Ivy said , her appetite long gone by the appearance of Lillia and the grotesque way she was eating .
“ Those are lovely markings , dear ,” Lillia said . She was referring to Ivy ’ s tattoo . She had an ivy vine stretching on her left arm from her wrist to her shoulder , visible now that she wore only her tank top and jeans . She had gotten the ink after she chose her new name .
“ Thank you ,” Ivy said . “ Why did you find me ?”
Lillia slurped up her soup , not looking at Ivy . “ I did not come here to find you ,” she said . “ You ’ d call it a coincidence , meeting after all these years , but I do not believe in them .”
“ What do you believe in then ?” Ivy asked . “ Fate ? Destiny ?” “ Nothing as dramatic ,” Lillia replied . “ Then why is it more than a coincidence that you ’ d find me ?” Ivy asked . “ What is it that you seek ?” Lillia asked . “ That is why you sought me when you were a teenager . You were seeking revenge .” Ivy thought . Her life didn ’ t seem worth the effort she put into it . She had no current lovers , male or female , her apartment was small and filthy , and her bank account barely had enough in it to keep her going weekto-week . It all stemmed back to the day she had walked into a Fairfield home and asked a demon to exact her revenge , giving up her life .
“ I want the demon ,” Ivy said , feeling like the voice came from a mouth that wasn ’ t her own . “ I want revenge for what his deal did to me .”
Lillia cackled , reminding Ivy of a real witch . “ Are you still letting vengeance consume you then ?” she asked .
“ You said you were here for a reason ,” Ivy said . “ Are you going to help me find him or not ?”
The smile left Lillia ’ s face . “ You sure have grown , girl ,” she said . “ Do you remember his name ?” Ivy shook her head . “ Lannus ,” Lillia said . “ So I have the name now ,” Ivy said , committing it to memory . “ How can I find him ?” “ That I cannot tell you ,” Lillia said , “ but I can point you in the right direction .” “ Tell me ,” Ivy said . Lillia just stared at her . “ Oh ,” Ivy said . “ I get it . You want something ? I barely have any money , and I have no belongings you ’ d want . The most I can afford is the dinner I just bought you , so tell me how I can find Lannus or get the fuck out of my life .”
Lillia cackled again . “ You ’ re so dramatic ,” she said . “ I ’ ll help you for the entertainment alone . Go to New York City . Find a man named Bao .” Is that a first or last name ?” Ivy asked . “ It is the only name you ’ ll need ,” Lillia said . “ Make your intentions known , and you ’ ll find him .”
“ Fine ,” Ivy said . “ I guess it ’ s New York City then .”