by Tillie Cole
“No!” I cried and seized Phebe’s wrists.
Phebe pressed a kiss to my head. “Do not panic. This is a test from the Lord. No matter how long it takes, or what they put you through, you must triumph. The Lord will defeat the devil within you if you prove your devotion. You will be saved. The Lord will save your soul.”
“I do not want to go. I do not want to leave you… I am very afraid,” I hushed out in a broken voice. Fear had me in its grip and I felt I could not breathe.
“You will make it through. Your faith in the Lord can overcome evil.”
“I will miss you, Phebe.”
Phebe began to cry. “We will meet again, sister. Stay strong, and if you stray from the righteous path, think of me and you will find your way back home.” Phebe pushed me back slightly, her face stern. “Make me this promise now. No matter what happens, you will find your way back to The Order, to our prophet, to your home.”
“I promise,” I swore in a shaky voice.
Phebe and I lay down and fell asleep.
When dawn broke, a large bearded man dressed all in black, walked into my room and ripped me from my sister’s arms without a word. I did not put up a fight, nor did I protest.
Not one member of my family was there to say good-bye to me.
I understood; I was being shunned.
The scary man gripped my arms, placed a piece of material over my eyes, shutting out the world, and after a sharp sting in my arm, everything tilted to the side and I fell back into darkness.
*****
“Wake up!”
I gradually came to, prompted by someone nudging my arm. My hazy vision cleared slowly. A hand gripped my arm and pulled me upright. Nausea rolled around my stomach as I struggled to clear my head.
“Come. I am taking you to your new quarters.” Lifting my eyes, my blurry gaze fell upon the bearded man dressed all in black. On further observation, I realized he was not too old, but his dark eyes were harsh. He looked down on me as if I were evil incarnate.
He had taken me somewhere… I cast a glance around the room and my heart began beating furiously when I recognized nothing was familiar. The room was all white. The air seemed hot and thick. I felt I could not breathe. And the heat, Lord, the heat was stifling and my long dress was too hot to bear.
“Wh-where am I, sir? Where is my family?” I asked nervously, trying to calm down.
The man ran a finger down my cheek and smirked. “You are at the prophet’s commune. You are under the close inspection of the Lord’s messenger now, Satan’s whore. The devil shall not triumph in you. I will make sure of it.”
All I could do was gulp in trepidation.
“Come.”
He pulled me up from the small, hard bed and dragged me across the room, out into a huge settlement, a large village surrounded by long thick trees and acres of green pasture. People were milling about, focused on their chores, but they all stopped to stare at me as I passed. The women were dressed modestly like me and the men wore their familiar white tunics.
As I passed, some of the people recited scripture, asking the Lord to save my soul. Others spat on the ground at my bare feet, wishing me to burn in hell.
“Heathen! Whore! Temptress!” many shouted.
I cowered my head and hot tears burned my eyes.
The man I was following ignored them all, continuing to lead me across a vast field in the direction of a small cluster of houses. Pulling me harder, I tripped over a stone, whimpering as my foot throbbed in pain. There was no mercy from the man.
“I said come!” the man snapped, and I cried, letting tears fall for my father, my mothers, my sisters, my Phebe and… my evil soul.
But I confess I did not feel evil. Did not feel Satan living within me. But he had to be. The way I was being treated by everyone.
The Lord… the Lord has smite me. Forsaken me as his daughter.
Entering a narrow hallway, the man nodded at three men lounging around a table. They too were dressed in black with big heavy boots. They were all bigger and scarier than the men outside, seeming different somehow. When they saw me, their eyes lit up with interest. They immediately frightened me, so I kept my head down, showing my obedience.
I needed to prove to them that it had all been a mistake. That I was a good girl and embraced God’s love. I was not a daughter of Satan. I had to pass their tests like Phebe had said…
Like Jesus in the desert.
When we came to a large wooden door, the man thrust it open and dragged me inside. Three dark-haired girls immediately stood up from small cots and dropped to the ground, hands out in front of them and their foreheads to the cold stone. “Greetings, Brother Noah,” they said in unison.
The man’s name was Brother Noah.
“Stand! Immediately!” Brother Noah barked loudly, making me flinch and cower.
All three girls scrambled to their feet, and I was instantly taken aback by their beauty. They all had long dark hair, huge eyes, and the fullest of pink lips. One looked older than me, one was about my age, and one was younger. The youngest one had the biggest green eyes I had ever seen.
“Jezebel, Salome, Magdalene, this is Delilah,” Brother Noah announced.
I looked behind me.
Who was Delilah?
The three brunettes curtsied and greeted me as one. “Welcome, Sister Delilah.”
All eyes were then on me.
“Excuse me, Brother Noah, you are mistaken. My name is—”
Pushed forward with a hard thrust, I stumbled into the room, where the eldest of the girls caught me before I fell, the action cutting off my words. Her hand instantly wrapped around mine. I stared at the clasped hand and instantly felt comfort in her presence, the first bit of security I had felt in days.
Brother Noah moved to walk out the door, leaving me alone with the dark-haired girls, but not before he looked my way and stated, “Now that is where you are wrong. You are no longer worthy to bear your previous name. For your namesake was a pure woman, a deserved wife of Isaac, a woman in the Lord’s favor.”
I swallowed loudly, and the girl beside me squeezed my hand tighter.
As I stared at Brother Noah, he smiled icily and his brown eyes flared as he pronounced, “From this day forth, you are to be called Delilah. You are Satanic, born of evil and a fallen sister… You, Delilah, are Cursed.”
*****
Ky
“And that is how I became sisters with Mae and Maddie. That is the day I began my schooling under Brother Noah’s celestial tutorage. It was the day I learned to be obedient and… accept that I was less than everyone else.”
Feeling the biggest ache in my chest, like some boa constrictor was choking my fucking heart and lungs, I flipped my hand and gripped hold of Lilah’s. Yanking on her hand, I couldn’t help but pull her close to me. Ignoring her shocked face as she crashed into my chest, I wrapped my hand around the back of her neck. Our faces were barely apart. As I stroked my thumb along her cheek, Lilah’s eyes hooded at the touch and her warm breath began to speed up.
“You listen to me, woman, and you listen good. You ain’t inferior to me or any other fucker just ‘cause some twisted pedo wanted to keep you trapped in that cult. Just because your old man touched you, his friend touched you, then a stupid fuck of a kid got his first boner and lost his mind. You’re worth a fuckload, Li, more than any brother or slut here. You eat with me, walk with me, not two fuckin’ feet behind, and you never let yourself do otherwise. You ain’t a Cursed bitch in this club. You getting that, sweet cheeks?”
Lilah’s blue eyes were huge as I spoke. “Yes,” she replied. I should’ve pulled back, but I couldn’t. Instead, I inched my lips forward, hearing her sharp intake of breath, her eyes squeezed tightly shut.
She weren’t ready. She was just so fucking fragile. So fragile that all I wanted to do was protect her, never let her outta my sight.
Fuck me, but she had me enthralled. I was eating, sleeping, and breathing for this very beautiful b
ut very broken bitch.
Moving from the direction of her mouth, I ran my lips over her cheek, my bottom lip dragging on her soft skin. Lilah completely lost control of her breathing and her skin was hot to the touch. As a moan slipped from her mouth, I pressed a trail of kisses down to her chin, my lips brushing past hers.
“Fuck, Lilah,” I rasped out, chest heaving, all my control gone.
Lilah’s eyes snapped open and she stilled. Her tongue lapped around her lips, and I lurched forward to taste them, but Lilah pulled back, my hand dropping from the back of her head.
“I must… I must pray.” Lilah stumbled to her feet, took off for the embankment, and dropped to her knees, spreading her arms out wide, and five minutes later, head thrown back, she was in full flow, mumbling that bullshit “language with God.”
Lighting up another smoke, I sat back against the rock and stared, still tasting her vanilla skin on my lips.
Chapter Ten
New Zion, Texas
Prophet Cain
My people were here in their thousands as I walked down the aisle to the ceremonial altar. Men, women, and children all bowed to the floor as I passed, blessing my name and speaking in tongues as the Holy Spirit filled them with his love. I held my breath¸ trying desperately not to show my nerves.
Judah walked behind me, praising the people’s devotion with his hand on their heads, and the elders followed doing the same.
I approached the stage where three attractive young females awaited. They dipped their heads as I stood before them. Placing my hand on the top of their heads, I blessed each one.
“Rise,” I instructed. They immediately did as I asked. A red-haired woman stepped forward and gestured to the pulpit and the microphone.
I saw Judah nod at her in approval and had to ebb a smile. Judah had told me he was interested in a female. I assumed this was her.
“Your name, sister?” I asked, and her eyes widened in surprise. It still took me back by how my people were around me. They praised me, worshipped me, and I felt completely unworthy of it all. An imposter.
“Phebe, sir,” she replied with a slight tremor in her voice.
“Thank you, Sister Phebe,” I said, smiling.
As a blush crept up her cheeks, she covertly cast a glance at Judah. He indicated with a dip of the chin that she had done well. Sister Phebe beamed her joy.
Turning slowly, I faced my congregation and almost lost my footing. The sea of eyes staring back at me was astounding; row upon row of my followers seemed to go on for miles. The gravity, the sheer importance of my calling to these people suddenly hit home and, drawing in a deep breath, I walked to the microphone to do what I had been trained to do. With every step my legs shook, my breathing stuttered and a pit of unease ran through my veins.
Thinking through the speech that my council had helped me construct, I steeled my nerves and resolved to my fate, acted out the role I was expected to fulfill.
“My people, my heart is filled with the utmost joy as I gaze upon you this evening. We have all gathered here tonight to mark our new beginning, our genesis, here at our new home… our promised land… our New Zion!”
The people began to nod and smile. Conditioned to sit still until the prophet called for celebration, they obediently stayed calm and waited for me to speak.
“The past few months at The Order have been very difficult. Our faith has been tested and stretched to the very brink of our collective sanity. Many lives were lost. Our sacred first prophet was killed while practicing his duty to bring us God’s new revelations.” The men and women were openly weeping; sniffs and cries greeted my words. Strangely, those actions brought with them a sense of power, and I felt a sense of acceptance that I had never felt before settle within me. These people were lost. They needed my help. Fueled by adrenalin, I continued.
“But do not weep. Do not mourn for our fallen leader. He was the first messenger sent to us by the Lord, to teach us the path to righteousness. He is with the Lord now, content in paradise, and that is truly a blessed place to be. A place we will all one day be.”
The soft cries stopped, and I looked across to Judah and the elders. Their expressions assured me I was doing this correctly. Many thoughts ran through my mind as my hands shook with excitement. Maybe this was where I was supposed to be? Right here on this altar, dressed in ceremonial robes and preaching the Lord’s words.
A woman in the front caught my eye. A woman who was looking upon me like I was the answer to her prayers. It made me feel strong… it made me feel different. It made me feel alive.
“We have been breeched and attacked by evil, by Satan’s agents on Earth. But like all of God’s prophets—Moses, Noah and Abraham—these trials and tribulations assure the Lord of our unwavering devotion. These challenges on Earth will be rewarded in the hereafter.”
My people became antsy, some throwing their head back in prayer and others holding their hands in the air in agreement with my sermon.
I felt floored as I realized that I was the cause of their rapture.
I was doing this to them.
My words… they were powerful… worthy…
I smiled and suddenly felt filled with a powerful force, one that seemed to eliminate any residual nerves. I became filled with the conviction of our cause, my heart racing as I felt reborn.
I was doing this to them… me! They were bowing down to me!
A wash of the breeze over my skin felt like a cleansing of a river. Like I was being baptized.
Reborn.
I was being reborn, and my people were witnessing this act. This God appointed act.
Rider, the man who was lost, hurt and spurned by the woman he loved, burned by the brothers he held dear drifted away on the breeze and Cain, the man I had been groomed to be since birth, stepped forth.
Blinking, and feeling rejuvenated, I preached, “Tonight, I ascend as your prophet, as God’s vessel to his devout followers. And he has spoken to me, guided me, and revealed the action we must take.”
A hush fell upon the commune, and I waited for the perfect moment to continue. A soft wind blew, shaking the trees, and I smiled. This somehow felt… right. Fated. Prophesized.
“Our Lord has called for us to unite, to join together against evil, against those who try to destroy our faith, against those who would distort the infallible and perfect word of our creator.”
My people leaned forward, hanging on my every word. When I looked to my right, Judah and the elders were doing the same. I had them in the palm of my hand.
“The devil walks among us, and I know this to be true. I have lived with his denizens, walked alongside them, and witnessed their sinful ways. It cannot be tolerated and it must be stopped. We, the chosen people of New Zion, have been given a crusade to exact revenge on those who wronged us, those who murdered our holy brothers. Mark this night as history among our people. For tonight I call Bellum Sanctum… a Holy War against Hades and all those who defend him, all those who spread their immorality and wickedness like a plague.”
This time my people could not contain themselves and rose to their feet, praising the Lord, signaling their agreement.
I watched the scene and a fire ran through my veins. A bolt of adrenalin surged through my body, and I felt my soul merge with the divine. Every cell in my body vibrated with raw power, my mind expanded with a newfound knowledge delivered spiritually from the Almighty himself. I felt omnipotent and omniscient, a veritable god among men.
I had… Lord! I had become the Messiah!
As I looked upon my people, my eyes flared with excitement. They praised me, yelling and rapturous in their devotion. My people were united. We could not be stopped. My people were fueled with the Lord’s wrathful revenge, an army of pure-souled soldiers, thirsty for my command.
Holding up my hands, I gestured for the congregation to calm. A silence fell upon the throng as my heart thundered in my chest. “We will dedicate all our time to the new crusade. Men will become skilled sol
diers, fierce warriors against sin. Women will do their duty as sisters, as celestial daughters, and share in God’s love the best way they know how. They will relieve the burden the men will face, care for them, nurture their whims. We shall prevail as one people. We will be stealth in our approach; we will strike unannounced when the Lord reveals it is time. We shall become a plague on evil, a plague of pure light that destroys the darkness of sin and wrongdoing throughout God’s precious humanity. Just as the Lord cast plagues on the Egyptians, freeing his people, we too will be victorious in this fight!” I raised my voice and the congregation shook and dropped to the floor in praise.
Spreading my arms wide, I bellowed, “I AM Prophet Cain! I AM the way. I AM the light. I AM your new shepherd. My brothers, my sisters, join me in God’s quest to finally rid this world of its malevolent demons, of Hades’s plan to plunge this world into a living breathing hell. Rise with me. Fight with me. For I AM the door to Heaven… I AM the key to our salvation!”
The people lost control, overcome with emotion. The Holy Spirit took over their hearts and raised them to a celestial high. I watched and rejoiced that they had believed every word I had said.
All I could do was stare and stare at the rapturous crowd.
Had the Lord spoken through me? Was I his intermediary? Was I the word… Was I truly was a prophet of God?
Could it be true?
A hand rested on my shoulder and squeezed. I turned to find Judah at my side. He opened his mouth, tears running down his cheeks. He then shook his head as he choked on his words, too emotional to speak. I pressed my forehead to his and my palms on his cheeks. My twin clearly believed I was the new Prophet and we savored this moment. I knew this day would change everything. We had both waited for this day our entire lives, but the reality of being here was almost too much to take.
“Brother…” Judah rasped and gripped me tightly. “You are going to save us all.” His eyes met mine and he kissed my cheek. “You are going to save us all…”
