The magma lake boiled and erupted, spewing lava, which scorched and ate away at the prisoners’ flesh. Satan and Samael wailed in agony and horror. This would be their eternity, and this knowledge brought them close to madness.
Esar was unwilling to bear the terrible heat and gases from the magma lake a moment longer. He soared from the volcano to meet the other holy angels, leaving behind the tortured cries of the condemned.
“Let us be gone from this cursed place,” Esar said upon reuniting with the others. He shifted to his angel form, and they departed the cold, desolate location and returned to their celestial home.
Chapter 51
The Beginning of the End
Dracul remained motionless, dominated by terror as he watched his father’s capture. Trapped under Raphael’s net like an animal, Satan used his last bit of strength to glance in his son’s direction. Their eyes met, and in his father’s eyes Dracul saw a reminder of his wish for him to remain hidden in the forest.
What could he do? He did not have the strength to save his father and Samael. Dracul lifted his drenched eyes to the sky. He squinted, focused, and saw a figure within the trees. The feminine creature hiding amongst the branches sported a tail similar to his. She appeared to be a powerful being. He thought to call upon her, but his instincts quickly warned him against it, although he did not know why.
What was she doing hiding amongst the trees? Why would she not try to help his father? She was one of them. Was that a smile he saw on her face?
Dracul looked askance at the creature and shook his head. He curled up into a quivering bundle on the ground. Every sound, no matter how minute, made him jolt. He placed his cold, clammy hand over his heart as he sought to understand.
His father and Samael were captured by celestial beings. He watched them being burned alive by a fire-breathing angel and taken away by a large and terrible beast, while a fallen companion watched delighted, hidden within the trees of this forest. “I have no one to care for me,” he whispered hidden between trees and overgrown shrubs. He was alone in the woods.
His mind seemed to unravel as he stared into oblivion. How much can a young, fragile mind endure?
*
Lilith witnessed Esar, in the form of an enormous monster, carry in its clutches Satan and Samael, burnt and bound together in chains, away to share a fate similar to Beelzebub’s.
“Things could not have come to pass any better.” Lilith shook with laughter and clapped her hands. “Now that my deeds here are done, I shall leave this wretched place and find a dwelling suitable for a goddess.”
She flew out of the trees in her snake form. As she tore through the sky, she spotted Adam and Eve. “It looks like the humans are establishing a new beginning on lush grounds near a large river.” She planned to continue on her way, leaving them in her past, but when she saw Eve stroll away from Adam, she could not resist having one last exchange with her.
She swooped down and landed behind a large plant. In silence, she slithered to the tree where Eve was picking fruit.
“Greetings.” Lilith stepped from behind the tree in angel form.
Eve jumped and dropped the fruit she carried. “You! What are you doing here?”
“Why do you ask? Are you not happy to see me?” With a sardonic grin, Lilith picked a fruit from the ground, and took a bite.
Eve staggered away from her. “Why do you torment me so? Have you not done enough?”
“I merely assisted you in doing what you desired all along.” Lilith savored the fruit.
“Since you misled us, Adam and I were banished from the Garden of Eden to live among dangers unimaginable.”
Lilith chuckled and then noticed Eve’s rounded midsection. She tossed the fruit to the ground and hurried to her. She touched Eve’s belly. Eve recoiled.
“You are with child!” Lilith clapped her hands.
Eve swallowed hard and looked away. “I am aware of my gravid state.”
“I was not the only one who misled you, was I?” Lilith sauntered around her examining every inch of her. Eve shook her head wearing a wounded expression.
Lilith poked her lip out to mock her. “His name is Samael or Satan, whichever you choose, for they are one and the same in this matter.” Lilith was delighted to see realization dawn in Eve’s honey-colored eyes.
“You carry his offspring.” Lilith looked at her with a sour expression.
Eve flinched and shook her head vigorously.
“Yes! The seed you carry is only part human. It is a powerful and malevolent creature you tow.”
Eve trembled staring at the ground.
“Adam need never know,” Lilith said. “You never told him of your shameful acts with Samael, so why confess now?”
Eve stared wide-eyed at her, tears of anguish meandering over the curves of her face. She passed her hands across her belly.
“It would not be wise to disclose this information to him now.” Lilith waved her pointing finger from side to side as she spoke. “Only harm can come to you and your unborn child.”
Eve buried her face in her hands and whimpered.
“Adam shall never know.” Lilith glared at her middle. “Your son shall be beautiful. He shall grow big and strong, and make you proud to be his mother.”
Eve gazed at Lilith’s sulking, resentful face, and almost pitied her for her pain. Lilith caught a glimpse of sympathy from her and pounced, straddling her on the ground.
“How dare you pity me?” Lilith’s chest heaved with rage. “I am a powerful godlike creature! You are a pathetic being of no significance!”
“I do not pity you! You have ruined my life!” Eve muffled a scream.
Lilith leapt to her feet. She clutched Eve by her hair and lifted her. Eve bit her lip as she sobbed, not wishing Adam to hear her cries.
“You carry perdition in your womb,” Lilith whispered in her ear before releasing her hair and shoving her. “But you shall love him nonetheless, for he is a small innocent creature, and it is by no fault of his that he was conceived.”
Eve slammed her eyes shut and pressed both hands over her mouth.
“I speak only the truth,” Lilith said in a honeyed tone.
“Please, leave us be. I implore you.” Eve sobbed. “You have brought enough havoc into our lives.”
“I shall be on my way, but rest assured that the damage I have caused shall forever grow, rippling across the planet until the entire earth is touched by the devastation of my deeds.” Below Lilith’s unmoving eyes was a grin that showed almost every tooth and stretched her lips thin.
She expanded her wings in preparation to leave. Eve saw the plethora of eyes glaring at her––judging her. She gasped, her knees faltered, and she tumbled to the ground.
Lilith pointed to her belly. “You shall name your son Cain, which means spear, for just like Michael’s golden spear struck Satan’s chest and marked the beginning of his end, so shall your son be the spear that shall mark the beginning of the end for mankind.”
Eve trembled before the piercing eyes in the face and wings of her accuser. She threw herself face down on the ground. Her body shook with sobs.
“When you gaze into your son’s eyes, Satan shall forever be reflected there.” Lilith took flight; laughing, satisfied she had finally delivered her vengeance.
The Fall of Lilith Page 47
