CHAPTER 3


 

 

 

AS AN ANCIENT spirit, Intunecat was aware of Lilith’s pre-existence to Eve but had only heard whispered rumors about the reason she had left Paradise. Now it made sense.

"So you were the cause of the Great Battle," he said, matter-of-factly. "I heard it was because Dis had angered his Twin but nothing specific. I understand there is no real love lost between the two."

"Maybe at one time, although I suspect they have affection for each other. I think both of them have mellowed somewhat over the ages. Anyway, I doubt I was the real reason for the battle," chuckled Lilith. "More like the final straw. From the very beginning they have never gotten along. I doubt if they ever will. Dis enjoys life too much. He’s like the proverbial child in a toyshop who doesn’t understand why he can’t have everything he sees. To him, there’s no such thing as hands off. Once he sets his sights on something, he has to have it, especially if he thinks it might be unattainable. Unfortunately, his brother is quite the opposite. He believes in rules and keeping things organized... you know... a place for everything and everything in its place. If his world becomes too disorderly, I think he gets frustrated, which is why he came up with all those ‘thou shalt nots’ when it came to mortals. It’s a shame. He had such great plans for humanity."

"So I’ve heard, although mortals aren't so bad... at least some of them... and those that are serve our needs quite well."

"True. I have to admit he’s not one to give up hope, though. When one experiment fails, he just starts over and tries something new. I don't know how many times he's destroyed the mortal world so he could recreate it."

The dark spirit laughed.

"So I've noticed. Every once in awhile I feel a few rumblings. Afterward, I notice the mortal world has a completely new face lift."

Lilith smirked. Intunecat's reputation for being overly serious was definitely undeserved.

"I know. It may be in for another one if things don't change soon. Unfortunately many of the humans haven’t evolved beyond their intolerances. Dis said that was his Twin’s biggest disappointment... and what keeps the hell fires burning as well as his coffers filled with souls. So you see, I'm more an excuse than a reason."

"Don’t underestimate your attractiveness, my dear. I can well imagine you were worth fighting for then and still are now."

Smiling at the compliment, the demoness let her gaze glide over the Dark One. Like Adam, he was extremely beautiful. Unlike him, though, Intunecat was worldly even if he had suffered an eternity of loneliness. Only the last few hundred millennia had brought him a semblance of companionship. For short periods he could leave the Darkness and roam both the spirit and mortal worlds. Born into darkness, the Light was painful to him. His fascination with Yemaya, the Illusionist, and her young lover, Dakota, had given the Dark One a new interest in life and a reason to venture beyond his domain.

"Are you going to tell me about the Great Battle? Some of it spilled over into our world. At the time, we were afraid it would destroy all of us."

"The Battle... Many friends were lost on both sides. Unfortunately, those most deserving of destruction survived," reminisced Lilith, sadly.

"Isn't that the way of things?"

"So it seems. There was a time when demons and angels were as one. They fought and they disagreed but never with the animosity you see today. It was never so... personal. There's no familial harmony like before but now some are consumed with so much hatred they are willing to destroy everything to achieve their goals. Instead of evolving into something greater, we are devolving into creatures controlled by our primal fears. I think in time it will destroy everyone."

"Perhaps... but if there are others like you then there is hope. Now, enough speculation on the future. Tell me about the Battle."

Leaning back in her chair, Lilith gazed into the darkness that surrounded them, remembering a time long ago.

"He was an excellent teacher. Dis, that is. He taught me about life... and love... and in the end... lust and selfishness. At first I thought he was magnificent, large and muscular, glowing red skin and an insatiable appetite. He was the perfect male. In time though, I realized his feelings were superficial... controlled more by his loins than his heart. There was nothing he wouldn't do to get what he wanted, and back then, he wanted me. When the Twin sent his Army to take me back, Dis gathered his Legions to protect me. At the time I thought it was because he loved me. His real purpose was to protect his property. Once he possessed something, he never gave it up willingly."

"And yet here you are," interjected Intunecat, interrupting her narration.

"As I said, willingly," she laughed, her black eyes glinting with humor. "Anyway, the battle raged for thousands of years until our forces were beaten back to the gates of the Underworld. We would have lost everything if Kali hadn’t switched her allegiance at the last moment. She was one of the Twin’s most powerful warriors."

"Kali... the same demoness who protects the whores?"

"The same. She was unique amongst the angels. She had the ability to project a beam of light so bright and radiant that it scorched everything in its path. Even Dis couldn't tolerate its searing heat for long."

"I never realized she was an angel."

"Few know... or remember that. When she first came to me and offered us her services, I thought it was a trick... a way to infiltrate our Legions before the final assault. I asked her why, after all those years fighting for the Twin, she would suddenly switch sides... and why I should trust her. Do you know what she said?"

Intunecat shook his head no.

Memories of the moment Kali entered her world flashed through Lilith's mind. She told Intunecat about the golden haired, blue eyed woman who had appeared, uninvited, at her home in the Underworld. She was nothing like the wild woman working with her now. With orange and purple hair and lavender eyes, she was definitely more interesting looking.

"Is it normal for someone to change so drastically before becoming a demon?"

"Always! It’s essential if they are to dwell in the Underworld. Angels don't tolerate the environment well and can only stay for short periods of time."

"I know the feeling," empathized the Dark One.

"I can imagine. Anyway, back then Kali looked young... too young to be one of the most feared angels in the Twin's army. Her demeanor was quiet and timid as if she were unsure of herself. That surprised me. Don’t get me wrong. When she entered my chambers, she stood proudly before me but strangely subdued. It was an interesting blend."

Her mind flashed back to the moment Kali appeared in her chamber.

"Cumo said you wish to talk with me?"

Kali nodded but said nothing.

"Why me and not Dis?" Lilith asked, tipping her head slightly.

"He would not understand. You will."

"I see... and what is there to understand? You serve his brother. That says it all."

"Not all!" murmured Kali, her head bowed sadly.

Feeling uncomfortable, and yet not knowing why, Lilith remained silent for a few moments waiting for the angel to continue. When she didn't, the demoness decided to press the issue.

"Would you care to explain what you mean or am I supposed to guess?"

"My Master once told me that the most important thing for an angel was to be true to thyself. It was the only way we could be assured of achieving perfection. I have thought about that for a long time and I now realize I am fighting for a cause I no longer believe in. Before I became a warrior, I was a messenger between the Overworld and the Underworld. I was happy. My life was simple. When I pledged my loyalty to my master, he told me I had the potential to be great if only I had the desire but I wasn't ambitious like others. I willingly served both of the Twins as long as it didn't conflict with my oath to my Master. Now I find I can no longer honor that oath."

Lilith had never met such a tormented soul. Kali was not only betraying her master, she was betraying her own self and everything she held sacred. The demoness couldn’t imagine what it felt like to make such an enormous sacrifice.

The image of Kali standing proudly before her torn between her loyalty to her master and what she knew to be right still brought tears to Lilith’s eyes. Shaking her head to banish the emerging emotions, she looked into Intunecat's dark eyes, her own reflecting a long felt sorrow.

"You can't imagine the sadness in her voice when she told me this," Lilith whispered, her voice breaking slightly as she remembered the anguish on the angel's face.

"I heard Kali was an honorable demoness.  It must have been a great burden for her."

"More than any of us will ever know."

"Why did she change her allegiance?"

"She was true to herself."

Again memories flooded Lilith’s mind as she continued her narration.

*  *  *

True to herself... and she was, Lilith though, remembering how that one moment in time had changed the future for both demons and angels.

"Why not?" asked Lilith.

"Before and above all things, I am first a woman. I will not force another to do that which she does not wish to do."

"This is rather sudden. Why the change of heart now?"

"Sudden? I have spent a millennium agonizing over this and no matter what I choose I will be damned."

Lilith knew she was right. Once the Twin learned of her doubts, he would release her from her duties, although he would never cast her from the Overworld. First, she was too dangerous as an enemy but more important, the demoness knew Dis's brother truly loved his followers.

"I doubt your master would be so harsh to you. He has a tremendous capacity for forgiveness, so why should I believe you?"

"Because I am here, now. It isn't easy breaking my oath. My only consolation is that in doing so, I am, in a way, obeying my master. I must be true to myself and that means I must honor your decision of free choice. I will defend your right to choose your destiny until you have been granted your freedom. Then I must return to my master for my punishment."

*  *  *

That was the moment I knew I wanted her on our side. What else could I do but accept her? It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. When she rallied the demons and minions, we marched through the gates of the Underworld to confront the enemy with new energy. We had the will to continue the battle for thousands of years if necessary... perhaps even longer."

"So why didn’t you?"

"I grew weary of the battle and the losses so I told Dis enough was enough. Both sides had paid a terrible price trying to defend my freedom. I offered to return to Adam if it would end the conflict. Needless to say he wasn’t happy and I don't blame him. How do you just say stop to something that has cost so much sorrow? We both felt like we were discarding those who had sacrificed themselves for our happiness... and I was happy back then. It was the first time we argued but there was little he could do to stop me."

"And you returned to Adam?"

"I did... or at least I offered to. By then, though, he had decided it wasn’t in his best interests to take me back. I was too independent and knew too much. It frightened him." Lilith laughed, remembering the panic on Adam's face when she stepped into Paradise and told him she had returned. At first he hadn't recognized her. The dark hair and eyes were so different from the red hair and blue gray eyes of the woman he had known. After talking with her a few minutes, he knew his life would be Hell if she stayed. "He told the Twin he preferred loneliness to my companionship and asked Him to grant me my freedom. There wasn’t anything the Twin could say after that so I was permitted to leave Paradise as long as I never returned... as if I ever would."

"That’s it? Just like that, the end of the story?"

"Not hardly. Actually more like the beginning. After the Great Battle, Kali had changed. She was no longer innocent, and she was greatly disillusioned with herself. Still, she returned to the Overworld as she had promised. The Twin forgave her for her betrayal but banished her from his kingdom. I don't really think he had much choice considering she would never have been happy amongst the angels. I believe it was actually an act of kindness. He told her he understood her decision and was happy that she had followed her conscience. I sometimes wonder if things would have been different if he had been that understanding with me."

"We'll never know, but dwelling on what might have been serves no purpose."

"I know. Anyway, poor Adam was alone for a long time. Eventually, the Twin took pity on him and created a new woman. This time he used one of Adam's ribs rather than the original dust. I think he thought it would somehow make her different... maybe not so equal or at least less forceful," smirked Lilith. "It’s hard to believe anyone, especially someone as intelligent as his brother, would think a sentient being could remain unchanged forever. He should have known better after me."

"It takes getting burnt at least once to learn hot doesn’t mean warm." The dark spirit chuckled.

"I know. For the longest time, I felt sorry for Adam. He really wasn’t a bad person. It certainly wasn’t his fault what happened afterward."

"Ah. You mean the Adam and Eve saga. I’m aware that she enticed him to eat the fruit and how they were kicked out of Paradise."

"I suspect you know the sanitized version. Would you like to hear what really happened?"

Raising both eyebrows, the dark spirit cocked his head slightly, making eye contact with the demoness.

"Certainly. I suspected there was more to it than the rumors."

Smiling, Lilith grinned.

"Well, like I said. Eve was created to be the dutiful wife... and she was for a long time. The Twins decided to call a temporary truce, although it didn’t last more than a millennium. Out of gratitude for her help, Dis gave Kali command over his Legions... not that he could have done anything else. Even he recognized she could be extremely formidable. Things quieted down with both sides doing their best to ignore each other. Had it not been for the Child..."

Lilith’s words faded as she remembered the Child... her child... and Dis’s. She was beautiful with glowing red skin, and emerald green eyes. Her long red hair and slender build were her only resemblance to her mother, the human image of her mother. Everything else about her, she inherited from her father... only she was worse. Where Dis sometimes used deceit for his own selfish purposes, she used it for malicious reasons. Everything she did was to inflict misery. Amongst the Underworld inhabitants, the Child's presence meant nothing but trouble. Tolerated by the demons and minions because of her father, she was ignored by most and avoided whenever possible. Once she focused her attention on Adam, he never stood a chance.

"Did I lose you?" Intunecat asked quietly, interrupting her musings. He had been sitting for several minutes watching the fleeting expressions passing across her face. Within her, he sensed a great sadness.

"For a moment. I was thinking of my child," Lilith said, her voice almost a whisper.

"You have a child?"

Intunecat was stunned. He would have never guessed her to be the motherly type.

"Once... but not now. She was... unexpected. Dis and I didn’t think it possible to bear children so we didn't take any precautions. When I realized my body was changing, I didn't know what was happening. How could I? I was created not conceived."

Again, as if forgetting her surroundings, Lilith's thoughts drifted toward her daughter. Time dulled the disgust she had felt for her.

Strange! I haven't thought about her in a long time.

Doing so made her uneasy.

"Do you mind if we continue this another time?" she asked not wishing to pursue this subject.

"Of course not, my dear," he replied, sensing her discomfort.

"Thank you. Now, as much as I’ve enjoyed my visit, I must get back to the Club. Kali and Agra have planned a party for Cammie. You are welcome to join us if you wish."

"Enter a club filled with females? I think I’ll take a raincheck. It’s bad enough that I’m outnumbered in the spirit world, let alone intrude on a bar filled with intoxicated humans and beautiful demonesses," he teased.

"I fully understand. Even I find it hard to put up with sometimes. Perhaps we can continue this discussion another time," she offered, feeling guilty for leaving so abruptly.

"You are always welcome here... and don't worry. I am always here to listen."

Standing, Lilith patted his arm affectionately and walked into the darkness. Intunecat looked down at the spot she had touched, running his fingers across the area. It tingled pleasantly. He enjoyed the warmth of her touch.