Samael watched Lilith storm off. He hobbled after her, the wound made by the crocodile bite on his leg not fully healed. He found her sitting in a clearing.
“What is wrong?” Samael noted her expression of mixed sadness and anger. “Why does this new information upset you so?”
“It should have been me. I should have been the first. Why does Gadreel carry a progeny within her, while I do not?” Lilith looked at him wide-eyed.
“Perhaps it shall take a little more time for you to conceive.”
“Perhaps Dagon’s seed is the only one potent enough to create offspring,” Lilith scowled. Samael’s lips tightened in contempt.
“I am certain that my seed is as potent as Dagon’s!”
As she hoped, her malicious statement offended him. “Indeed? Why then am I not with child?” Lilith taunted him. “Perhaps I should lie with Dagon, so he may impregnate me. Seeing as there is no one else capable.”
Lilith jumped to her feet and spun to leave, but he caught her by the arm and pulled her toward him.
“I shall spill my seed inside you, and you shall bear many sons with my likeness. This is my oath to you,” he whispered as he nuzzled between her neck and ear. She pushed him away.
“We shall see.” She flounced away.
Satan sat with Gadreel under a Ficus tree as they feasted on its large, dark purple fruit. To him, it was important she give birth to a healthy offspring. He figured if she could have strong progenies, Lilith would be able to do so as well.
He intended to have many broods to do his deeds. It would be the ultimate revenge. He knew nothing would make Lilith happier. Be fruitful and multiply. Were those not God’s words? He would enjoy the freedoms here he was forbidden to experience in Floraison. Satan rubbed his chin, lost in thought.
Lilith returned and sat between them. Samael arrived soon thereafter. In silence they sat and ate the luscious fruit until they were satiated. The angels huddled together and slept for a while. Rest was good for Gadreel and her unborn child, and also for Samael’s healing leg.
Gadreel sensed a gentle tug on her shoulder. She woke to find Dagon leaning over her.
“Dagon!” In her excitement she unintentionally woke the others. “I missed you so.”
She embraced him. He picked her up off the ground and carried her away. Samael followed them with his narrowed eyes.
Dagon took her to a secluded place where they might be alone for a moment. “I do not have much time, but I desire to spend every bit of it on land with you in my arms.” They lolled together in a shady area. He held her hand and kissed her fingertips one by one.
“I missed you so.” Gadreel gazed at him and sat upright. “I have important news for you.”
“Please tell me what new tidings you have.”
“I am with child. Your progeny!” Gadreel waited with bright eager eyes for his reaction.
He tilted his head and creased his brow. “How is this possible?”
“I know not, but somehow it is so. I carry our offspring inside me.”
“Are you sure about this?”
“Yes, I am without doubt. Satan assured me it is so.” She placed his hand on her round belly. Something inside her shifted. He jolted, pulled his hand away and gawked at her middle. Her belly popped and he jumped. “That is remarkable! I did this?”
She nodded. “You have powerful seed. We are the first of our kind to conceive.” Gadreel pulled him to her and kissed him. He made love to her once more, and it was gentle and sweet.
*
Satan returned to sleep after Dagon carried Gadreel away, but Lilith was restless and left his side. Samael rose to follow her.
Lilith found a small, opened area surrounded by bushes, trees, and flowers. She enjoyed the feel of the soft, dense grass beneath her feet, and the citrusy fragrance of the flowers. She spoke to Samael without turning around. “Lie with me here, and do not stop until you have spilled seed inside me.”
Samael jerked. “Did you know all along that I was following you?”
Lilith spun to face him and smirked. She held out her arms and beckoned him to come to her. He proceeded to her like one who could not resist her and was willing to do all she desired.
After the deed was done, Lilith returned to Satan’s side. She lay close to him and fell asleep. Samael sulked once more.
Chapter 27
Revelations
Lilith sat upright and whisked her head toward the river. She jumped to her feet and dashed to the reptile-infested waters. When she reached the bank of the river, she stared ahead at the flowing water as though in a trance. She realized there were no crocodiles sunning on the banks of the river and it was no longer daytime.
How long had she been asleep? Where were the others? Why had no one woken her?
She walked to the edge of the water, but jolted at being suddenly surrounded by hairless, gray-colored mammals of tremendous size. They waddled and clomped about on four stubby legs in the fertile green valley.
Lilith observed the huge mammals with a quizzical expression. One of the beasts attacked her, knocking her to the ground as she walked toward the water. She made an attempt to transform into her snake form, but was unable to do so. She lay still, panting. “Fine, you do not wish me to enter the river.”
On all fours, she crawled away from the water and rose to her feet. The hippopotamus stayed by her side, watching her every move, pointing its enormous head and broad muzzle at her. She intended to fly away, but her feet remained bonded to the ground. Night turned to day. The sun bore on her head and shoulders without mercy. Yet she was unable to budge from where she stood. She closed her eyes. An earthy, green grass aroma emanated from the aggressive hippopotamus. The animal remained by her side, its huge belly hanging just above the ground, and grunted a warning.
Lilith opened her eyes and noticed an oily red substance oozing from the animal’s skin. She gasped. “The creature oozes blood? If I continue to stand here will I too exude my life force through my pores?” She said in an undertone.
The mammals stopped feeding and formed a line to enter the river.
What force was keeping her frozen to this spot?
All of a sudden, she found herself below the surface of a great body of water. Surprisingly, she was able to breathe underwater. She saw trees, plants, and flowers, similar to what grew on land, as if the immense river had swallowed the solid earth.
She appeared to be standing in a river within the river. The water from this underwater stream was much denser than the water surrounding it, so it sank to the bottom, forming a clear separation. It appeared to be a channel of water flowing over the riverbed.
Lilith wished to follow this submerged waterway, and to her amazement she was able to move, so she followed it to a creature lying on the river bottom. She moved a few steps closer and became fixed to the spot once more.
The creature was bound in chains. For a brief moment, she was made to feel its pain and suffering, its loneliness, and its tremendous fury. She opened her mouth to scream, but could produce no sound. Physical pain overtook her entire body. A myriad of emotions threatened to drive her mad. A deep burning pain in the center of her core made it hard for her to breathe. The rage and torment experienced by this creature were too much for her to bear. She desired her own existence to end.
Soon, the intense suffering came to an end. Lilith’s pulse beat fast and hard as if her heart was on the verge of bursting. The water that encompassed her pushed against her with great force, like a giant and powerful hand closing on her crushing her in its tight fist. Her eyelids stretched as far open as possible. She longed to escape the underwater prison, but was unable to move. She was compelled to watch as the pitiful creature lay restrained and was made to suffer. She was forced to listen to the being’s painful screams and mournful laments, alternating with its soft, desperate, blubbering pleas and frightened whimpers. She had never experienced pain and suffering to such a degree. Why did this creature suffer so? She suffered
but a moment of its torment, and had desired death. This creature’s agonizing was infinite.
The creature was hideous, with blotchy greenish skin, seaweed-like hair, and pointed, brownish-green teeth. Its skin was covered in tooth-like scales and algae. Its arms and legs appeared gelatinous, punctuated by lumps of broken and calcified bone. It did not appear to have feet. Instead, long serpentine projections with transparent fins grew in their place.
The monstrosity’s face was bloated and grotesquely malformed with a wide, large mouth. Its eyes were sometimes black, at other times red. They peeked through wisps of moldy diaphanous fabric. Its nose was flat with slits for nostrils. Small water creatures scurried in and out of its orifices. Its face was gruesome to look upon, and staring at it too long caused physical pain.
This ineffable creature was created from pain, misery, and rage.
At a distance, Lilith saw an underwater dust cloud. As the fog approached, she discerned a large bloat of hippopotamuses in its midst. The mammals trotted gracefully on the river floor.
The creature in chains lay in the path of the herd. Emotions deep inside Lilith were unchained––good in her that had long been buried arose and she suffered for this creature. She strained to move toward the creature. She wished to help it move away from the approaching pandemonium. Her mouth moved to warn the beast, but her efforts were in vain for she could not move or utter a sound.
Once again, Lilith was forced to watch as the chained creature thrashed desperately to release itself and escape from the oncoming stampede. The creature’s efforts were to no purpose. The bloat of hippopotamuses trampled it, as if its existence was unknown.
Its screams were terrible––piercing and disturbing. She covered her ears, but even so she did not escape the agonizing wails of the creature in chains.
After the mammals rushed the creature, they continued on their way. Lilith raised her eyebrows high and her mouth slackened in horror. The pathetic creature survived and continued to groan and howl in agony. It was smashed, broken––even more revolting and deformed than before, but it went on living. Death would have been a mercy.
The creature wept and shrieked, pushing her to the edge of madness. The pain was too much to cope with and exhaustion infiltrated her bones.
The creature grew silent and swung its face toward her. Its gaze felt like an act of violence. She believed her eyes would bleed from witnessing such a stare but they seemed locked onto the monster’s red gaze. Then came its chilling voice.
“Help me.” She heard in her mind. “It is I, Beelzebub. Release me from these chains, so that I may escape this prison and walk freely on the surface with you and the others.”
Her heart seemed to jump and become wedged in her throat.
“I have spent an eternity on my own and suffered much, and continue to endure unspeakable agony.” His voice was low and raspy, but powerful enough to send chills through her body. In moments the voice boomed without a flinch and crashed like a surge through the water until the river was filled with only its voice.
Lilith trembled. What form of deception was this? How could this pathetic creature be her bright and joyous friend? She shook her head in disbelief.
“It is I, Beelzebub. I have not been bright or joyous in quite some time. Pain and suffering have distorted my appearance, and made me unrecognizable, but it is still I. Help me, for only you can.”
Lilith beheld the repulsive life form claiming to be her ally. How could this be so? Had he been bound in chains this entire time? What good would his life be after what he had been through and after what he had become?
Lilith no longer wished to think, but her mind continued to form thoughts against her will. She reflected on Beelzebub––the amusing and gorgeous creature in Floraison. The splendor of his long, wavy, golden hair as it reflected the light of brillante. His large, deep-set eyes had been a shimmering green and always appeared to be laughing, even when he was not. His mischievous smile was contagious.
That image of Beelzebub was in stark contrast to the monstrosity before her. However, she saw changes in every fallen angel she had encountered. Perhaps being bound in chains, and suffering catastrophic physical and emotional distress, had indeed changed him into this grotesque monstrosity lying before her. Her body slumped and she covered her head with her hands. Tears flowed from her eyes, only to disperse and intermingle with the river’s water.
She wished to help him and made efforts to move again, but it was impossible. Forced to only witness his suffering, she did nothing.
“I knew I would get no help from you!” Beelzebub’s thunderous snarl made her head throb and her body trembled. “You and the others have betrayed me! My body is poisoned and twisted with the hate I feel for you. I detest you most of all, Lilith, for it was your plan that landed me in this watery prison. Someday I shall escape, and I shall have my revenge!”
Immense pressure began to build in Lilith’s cranium. She no longer heard Beelzebub’s words but he continued his harangue about how his allies had shunned him. She uttered soundless, desperate cries.
*
“Lilith, please awaken!” Satan shook her as she squirmed and cried in her sleep.
She jolted upright and attempted to get to her feet, but her knees faltered. She grabbed Satan’s shoulders. “Where are we? Why did you leave me? How many suns have set?”
“Lilith, please try to be calm.” Gadreel stroked her hair. “What happened in your sleep that disturbed you so?”
Satan, Samael, and Dagon stared at her with puzzled faces. Lilith shifted her eyes toward the river. Reptiles still lay on its banks, and there were no large, gray mammals grazing there. The sun was beginning to set, and it was much cooler. Everything was as it should be.
“What happened?” Satan asked. “One moment you slept against this tree and the next you shook with sobs. Your shrieks were agonizing and awful. We took turns trying to wake you, but could not. Please tell us what transpired.”
Lilith struggled with whether to tell them what she saw, or keep it to herself.
Perhaps if she told Satan what her vision revealed he would stop his relentless search for Beelzebub, and instead, they could begin their journey to the Garden of Eden. She finally decided to reveal everything to them.
“I have seen Beelzebub.” There was a terrified expression on her wan face.
Satan puckered his brow and the others gasped in amazement at her words.
“I have traveled a ways from here to another river where our friend has been imprisoned since we were cast out of our celestial home.”
The others glanced at one another with confused expressions.
“How is this possible?” Samael asked. “You have not moved from the spot where you sit.”
“Perhaps my body has not moved, but my mind and spirit did travel. I saw Beelzebub lying at the bottom of a huge river, wrapped in chains.”
Dagon nodded. “During my account, I did mention Beelzebub was bound in chains. I also heard Michael speak of a great river that would be prison to him and the other bound angels.”
“Was he alive? Was he aware of your presence? Did he say anything?” Gadreel asked without taking a breath.
Satan raised a hand, gesturing for silence.
Lilith’s lips quivered. “I shall relate to you what I saw. Beelzebub is no longer the happy, playful angel we remember fondly. He has transformed into a grotesque creature, one too agonizing to look upon.”
Wearing a piteous expression they waited for Lilith to continue.
“His mind has been poisoned and corrupted by great physical and mental anguish, as well as loneliness. He threatened to annihilate us, for he blames us for his circumstances.”
“Is he more hideous to look upon than I?” Fornues interjected from the shoreline, where he waited, listening to their words.
“Fornues, my friend, you have the appearance of a fierce and powerful warrior beast. You are not a monster,” Dagon said.
“On the other hand,
Beelzebub is horrifying and malformed. Catching a glimpse of him would make you wish to pluck your eyes from your head,” Lilith said to Fornues and the others.
“Does this mean we shall no longer search for him?” Gadreel looked at Satan with doleful eyes.
“No.” Satan scanned the faces of the others. “He is still one of us. We owe it to him to try and help him if we can.”
Lilith frowned. “We are powerless to help him.”
Satan shook his head. “I am not so sure. From what you have told us, he is infuriated with us. He thinks we abandoned him. The one thing I am certain of is that we must release him from his chains, so he may walk on dry land with us. If he has suffered great torment, loneliness, fear––we must help him, or end his miserable existence.”
The others nodded in solemn agreement, except Lilith who gulped and slowly closed her eyelids.
“The sun shall soon hide,” Satan said. “We should be on our way. I have seen such a river as Lilith described in my travels. Many large, gray mammals grazed on the lush grass of its banks. It is but a few days away.”
After hearing Satan’s orders, Gadreel accompanied Dagon to the shore where Fornues awaited.
“Hello, Fornues.” Gadreel raised a hand in greeting. “Take good care of the father of my unborn child.”
“I shall do as you say,” Fornues said without speaking.
Dagon and Gadreel embraced each other awhile.
“Take good care of yourself and our small one.” He rubbed her swollen belly.
Gadreel waved goodbye. “I assure you, I shall.”
One of Fornues’ tentacles wrapped around Dagon’s torso and held him above the water until he changed into a merman. When his transformation was complete Fornues pulled him into the sea.
“It is time to go!” Satan called. Gadreel nodded and followed the others.
The Fall of Lilith Page 36
