Final acceptance (Elys POV)

Elys sat at the table, enjoying some light reading as the afternoon sun warmed the house. As she read, she nibbled at a small plate of fruit, and smiled to herself. Things were going astonishingly well, and all signs pointed to a pleasant time in the future. Thoughts of the future, however, were interrupted by the past sitting down across from her. Kali, looking nervously at her, sat and waited patiently for Elys to address her.

“Hello, Kali. Isss there sssomething you need?”

“I wanted to talk to you, Elys. I’ve been talking to the other girls and trying to get to know everyone, and apologizing for...everything. I’ve been putting off talking to you because everyone says that you’re the most unhappy about me being here. But I can’t let that stay, if I’m going to be part of the family.”

Elys puts the tablet down, and looks at Kali. Kali’s golden eyes look nervously into Elys’ silver ones. The silence drags out for a little bit before Elys speaks.

“Itsss true, at firssst I didn’t like the idea of you joining usss. After all, you were the enemy. I have to sssay, after what I’ve ssseen and heard thisss week...I wasss wrong.”

Kali looks shocked. Elys smiles at her. Having had several discussions with Maya and Anna about their interactions with the Lilim, Elys had to admit that the changes in Kali seemed as genuine as they were dramatic.

“You know that all of usss talk about everything that goesss on here. And you know that Maya and I are together. I wasss wrong about you Kali. Either you’re the most incredible liar the world hasss ever known, or you’ve genuinely changed.”

Kali smiles, and says, “You don’t know how much your approval means to me. You’re the most beautiful, elegant, and composed girl here. It feels like getting a parent that actually cares about me...”

Elys laughs. “Oh come on, I’m only a couple yearsss older than Josh! Dont turn me into a mommy figure!”

Kali giggles. “The way I hear it, you’re kinda into that sort of thing...”

Elys gasps and laughs. Just from that joke, Kali rose on her estimation. It would be much easier to get along if they could tease and joke with each other.

“Hey now, only sssometimesss! After all you’re the big ssstrong intimidating angel here, I’m jussst a sssexy sssnake lady!”

Kali laughs again, and nods. “Ok, I’ll hold off on the role play then. Still, it means a lot that you approve of me now.”

“I do, but if you ever turn on usss, you’ll make a very pretty ssstatue.”

They both chuckle, and the conversation turns to lighter topics.