Lilith pursed her lips and snorted. "Oh, fine. Then may I ask what this superior life-form wants with me?"
Christine smiled. "You've been wanting to get a Sequence 1 Beyonder Characteristic from Mr. Door, haven't you?"
"Yes. What, can you give me one?"
"No, but we can work together."
Christine said, "I'll help hold off the Mother Goddess of Depravity and buy you a chance to communicate with Mr. Door. Whether you can get the Beyonder Characteristic is your business."
"Then what do you want from me?"
"The Brood Hive."
"???"
Lilith froze, stunned. "Come on. Never mind whether I'm capable of giving you the Brood Hive-even if I were, there's no way I'd give it to you, 'the Mother Goddess of Depravity's Earth-based offshoot.'"
Christine was not surprised by her reaction. She explained, "You should be able to tell that, although the Mother Goddess of Depravity gave birth to me as an avatar, thanks to Edward's uniqueness, I'm almost entirely an independent individual."
"I hate having my life in the Mother Goddess of Depravity's hands, and I certainly don't want to be absorbed by Her one day-to me, that would be no different from death."
"So I've only ever wanted one thing: to escape the Mother Goddess of Depravity's control. There are only two ways to achieve that: either the Mother Goddess of Depravity dies, or I gain power beyond Her control."
Lilith nodded. "Yes, killing the Mother Goddess of Depravity would be rather difficult, so you set your sights on the Brood Hive?"
"Exactly. If I obtain the Brood Hive and leave this place, the Mother Goddess of Depravity will inevitably follow me away. That would indirectly rid you of a formidable enemy as well. It benefits both sides, doesn't it?"
"Like hell it does!"
Lilith rolled her