Lilith: Eden's Planetary Princess (The Michael Archives Book 1)

by Robinson, C. E.

  “Not back to the Pharisees. Not after being with Aniel and meeting his friends,” Marije declared. “Especially you. Just one afternoon. No, no. No way I ever want to see any Pharisees again.”

  Marije’s expression dropped. “Oh no, Aniel is going to be so…”

  Skillit shook her head. “This isn’t about Aniel. He’s a big boy and can take care of himself. So, stop for a minute and think. What do you want to do? This is your life. Take your time. It’s a big question.”

  Skillit stood and walked into Collin’s cottage, leaving Marije to think about her future. Fifteen minutes later, Skillit came back with a couple drinks and handed a glass to Marije. She absentmindedly took a sip. It was alcoholic but not strong, just light, sweet, and rich with crisp citrus flavors. Skillit pulled a small pipe and a large bag of herb out of her pocket — filled the pipe — lit it — took a couple of puffs, then handed it to Marije. Marije took a deep inhale — high quality Soma, but clearly a different strain.

  “Probably not too surprising that Aniel was trying to make you more amenable to his questionable intents.” Skillit smiled light-heartedly as she took the pipe back, taking a puff while holding a match to see if any Soma was left. She tapped the ash on the step, refilled it, lit it, and handed it back to Marije. She sipped her drink, casually watching Marije smoke. “This is a special local strain. It will help clear your head. And don’t worry about how much we smoke.” She held up the large bag. “Collin is always trying to clear his thick head, so he has plenty.”

  For the next half hour, they just sat there and smoked. Skillit seemed to be in no hurry, just the same way she had been all evening. “Where did you come from anyway?” Marije wondered out loud. “I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

  “I’m honored to be here at this transition point. How do these things happen? Not even the Michael Son of Nebadon can answer that.”

  “And not even Sipheria can tell me why I keep getting attracted to the same women,” a male Angel, who happened to be walking by at the time, muttered to the stone path.

  “Oh please, Van,” Skillit called out with a laugh. “We all know that’s a lie.”

  “Well, that decides it,” Marije said blowing out a deep breath as she stood, stretching toward the moon.

  “That decided it?”

  “You know, I was raised in a middle-class Sadducee family on Soddom, the Celestial space right above San Berklar. So I know quite a bit about Azakamani myt…uh, Azakamani beliefs.”

  “It’s okay to say myth. It’s not a bad word.”

  “See, there it is again. That didn’t offend you!”

  Skillit shrugged her shoulders and shook her head.

  “And just a second ago,” Marije continued, “you placed limitations upon Michael of Nebadon himself, and that guy just placed limitations upon Sipheria. And these are two of your highest Gods. Right?”

  Skillit nodded.

  “If anyone where I lived openly said something like that in a public place, putting limitations on Lakshmi or especially Smigyl, they would find themselves in the tender company of Satan’s Cardinals where the inquisitors would purify them for the next few thousand years.”

  Skillit just nodded again.

  “So, here’s what I want. I want to do whatever it takes to eventually meet this Michael of Nebadon in person and have him show me the path to El Elyon, if there’s really an El Elyon.”

  “Yes sister. That’s it. That’s it. You got it! Now that’s something we can help you with.” Skillit jumped to her feet. She tossed the pipe to Marije, and then put two fingers in her mouth and gave three quick whistle blasts. Immediately, three guards, two female and one male, all wearing strangely colored uniforms, trotted toward them, appearing seemingly out of nowhere.

  “Guard detail, please. For our new guest, Marije.”

  “Yes Ma’am. Right away,” the male guard said with a sharp salute. He then trotted away while the two females split up, one taking a parade-rest stance looking in the direction of the guard trotting away, the other on the opposite side of Skillit and Marije looking in the opposite direction.

  “Thanks, Skillit. You’ve been great — a real friend to a stranger in need. I don’t know how to repay you.”

  Only a few seconds after the male guard disappeared, three more female guards arrived.

  “Well. Thanks again. I guess it’s off to prison for me.” Marije wrapped her arms around Skillit, gave her a big hug, and then turned and offered her arms to the three guards as they arrived. But they did not put her in shackles and lead her away. They did not even look at her. Instead, they took up posts all around Collin’s cottage, with one of them quickly walking into the cottage turning on all the lamps followed by heavy footsteps as she walked from room to room. Marije imagined she was looking under the bed and in the closets — clearly, she was searching to see if anyone might be hiding. Marije gave Skillit a deeply confused look.

  “No sister. That isn’t the way it works here.” Skillit wrapped her arm around Marije and escorted her up the steps. The last guard came out of the cottage. “Ma’am. The inside is secure.” Then the guard looked at Marije. “Ma’am. Is there anything we can get you?”

  Marije was unable to speak. She was not being led to prison in chains. She saw the thunderbolts on all the guards and the one who inspected the cottage held the rank of captain. She had just been called Ma’am by the captain of a team of Valkyrie guards.

  “Yes, Ma’am. I understand. If you think of something, just let us know.”

  Skillit entered the cottage alone after she saw Marije’s attention turn to the captain of the guard. Marije watched as the captain spoke with the other guards one by one. The woman was a full head taller than either Marije or Skillit — her face held a strong feminine beauty — her body a deep rich green with eyes exactly the same color. Just like the previous conversations she witnessed between officers and subordinates, the conversation between the guards was respectful and brief. Nothing since meeting Aniel this afternoon made any real sense, including this.

  For the first time since Marije had heard Karolita’s schemes, she felt…no, for the first time she had first met Karolita all those years ago, she felt completely safe. If by whatever inexplicable process, Karolita or one of her goons determined where she was, there was no way they could get past these guards. Irrespective of how perfect Karolita claimed her senses were, she probably would not even see these guards until she was in their custody.

  The captain of the guard reached down and gently took Marije’s hand and led her back to the cottage. She guided Marije to the bedroom where Skillit had laid out some women’s pajamas. She could hear Skillit in the bathroom brushing her teeth. How is it possible that someone who just claimed to be one of Lakshmi’s Yukta Yogi’s, the hated enemy, an accomplice to one of Lakshmi’s own daughters in multiple crimes is now being protected and treated like a welcomed guest?

  The captain of the guard helped Marije into an elegant pair of pale green silk pajamas and hung up her clothes on the back of the bedroom door. How did Collin just happen to have a pair of pajamas that perfectly matches my eyes?

  Skillit had jumped into the far side of the bed and was already fast asleep, breathing deeply and softly. The captain of the guard gently led an exhausted Marije to the bathroom. Skillit had laid out a clean hairbrush and toothbrush. Marije looked in the mirror as she brushed her teeth, watching the captain of the guard gently pull the elastic bands from her long blond hair. She took the hairbrush and carefully stroked down, all the time looking at her hair as a loving mother would. As confusing as it was, it was clear the brushing was more about affection than it was about straightening. The last individual to do that was her paternal grandmother on Azakaman.

  “I just don’t understand. What’s going on here? One minute I’m the enemy and the next you’re treating me like a long lost sister.”

  The captain of the guard looked up. Their eyes met in the mirror. “My name is Brigettie, Br
igettie Sachiel,” she lovingly said. “When Skillit asked you what you wanted to do with the rest of your life, didn’t you say it was to do whatever it took to meet Michael of Nebadon and have him show you the path to El Elyon?”

  “Yes. But how did you know?”

  “One of my guards was standing near by.” Brigettie smiled sweetly. “Regardless, is that still true?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then yes, in my heart and mind you are a long lost sister. Your desire is exactly the same as mine. This is the same thing Skillit wants. It’s the exact same thing every one of my friends wants. So you see, we are now on the same path together. So, in every way that matters, this makes us sisters.”

  Marije gently shook her head. It was simply too much to comprehend. “Brigettie. Do you think Skillit and I resemble each other?”

  “Oh, yes. Very much,” Brigettie answered softly. Then she bent her knees such that her face was aligned with Marije’s. “Do you think we resemble each other?”

  “Oh no. You are much more beautiful. Your rich green skin is remarkable.”

  “Well, I think your skin is simply lovely, and certainly its color is much more practical,” she said as she tenderly lifted Marije’s hand and stroked her arm. “Green is right in the middle of the visible spectrum. It can get pretty hot in this body. And I’m sure Skillit and Josephine and anyone else will be happy to complain about some limitations to their colors as well.”

  It was the first time Marije had ever heard anyone with such rich, pure colors do anything but brag about her skin.

  “I was talking about the shape of our faces. I think we resemble each other. Don’t you?”

  Brigettie’s knees were still bent so their faces were right beside each other in the mirror. Marije focused, trying to overcome her sleepiness. “Yes. We almost look like twins,” she said sleepily.

  “Thank you,” Brigettie replied. “What a beautiful compliment.”

  Marije stood beside the bed as Brigettie pulled down the covers. Marije barely felt herself tucked in. In seconds, she was asleep, a deep beautiful sweet sleep.

  Brigettie leaned down and softly kissed Marije on the cheek, whispering in her ear. “Dear Glimarije. Sweet little sister. I have missed you so much. Welcome home.”

  Chapter 45

  A Fantastic Adventure in the Woods

  The Children of Luminosity were right. Kill every single animal you can whenever you get the chance.

  —Karolita, Eldest daughter of Goddess Lakshmi

  Oceania

  After escaping from Josie’s earlier that day, Karolita returned to her room and had Eros, Guard1, and Guard2 switch into dainty, lightweight dresses and delicate underwear. All afternoon, they tried to look like any other Angel, Karolita doing her best to prevent her loyal minions from stealing beautiful things they saw their master admiring.

  Most irritating were the SLS who kept bumping into her and stepping on her fat snausage feet, feet that agonized her all day long. She was starting to hate her beautiful rich-blue heels that were one and a half sizes too small.

  Their lightweight dresses and delicate underwear had been comfortable all day, right up until two hours before moonset, when the clouds rolled in. Now their clothes were soaked, becoming all but transparent.

  It was not as if any of them were modest. Karolita was always happy to show off her massively enhanced breasts and full blue body on Glamoria. But on Oceania, deliberately walking around outside appearing all but nude would attract a lot of attention. Furthermore, they had another major problem — Eros.

  She/he/it had both sets of genitalia — large enhanced breasts and a generously sized penis. Eros did not care if she was nude; she was quite proud of her diversified plumbing, but Karolita knew she needed to keep Eros out of sight. They needed to get back to their rooms as soon as possible.

  There were long lines in front of the entrances to the housing areas. Karolita had to fight the urge to storm to the front of the queue and shove whoever was there out of her way. After all, royalty like her should not be inconvenienced by stupid pigeons. To keep from exploding into a rage, Karolita distracted herself by staring at her excessively large, aching feet.

  “Karolita, we have a problem,” Guard1, Karolita’s primary bodyguard whispered. Karolita flinched as a chill ran up her spine. She knew Guard1 would never say such a thing unless there was real danger. She would not want to suffer the fate that Karolita’s first primary guard, Guard0 had suffered.

  Guard0 had protected Karolita since she was a child. But as Karolita matured, she felt Guard0 had become too uppity. Finally, Lakshmi grew tired of Karolita’s complaints. Getting rid of a bodyguard was tricky because inevitably they knew far too many private family matters.

  Lakshmi told Lord Smigyl she no longer trusted Guard0 and suspected she might betray her daughter. That very day, Smigyl sent one of his premier Etherial assassins, High Brahman Priest Hondel Diagon, to collect her Ratna, thereby annihilating her existence forever.

  The High Brahman Priest was invisible to all as he tore Guard0 apart in the middle of an uptown Glamoria marketplace, her screams of horror and anguish bringing delight to Smigyl, Lakshmi, Karolita, and her friends. Karolita had repeatedly told Marije this story to terrify her.

  It took Guard1 only one time to learn not to give Karolita a panic attack over something that was not a threat. Guard1 had her clothes stripped off and chained to a wall. Eros then thrashed her with a belt while Karolita and her friends watched. When Karolita’s friends left, the agony and torture at Eros’ hands continued in earnest. She never again needlessly alarmed Karolita.

  “What is it?” Karolita asked gasping for air and suppressing the urge to run.

  “There’s a sign. It says, ‘After green moonset, all visitors must present visas and passports for reentry and submit all bags and boxes for inspection.’ There are Valkyrie guards checking everyone before they enter.”

  Karolita glanced up. She saw a long line of tables with Angels standing along one side and Valkyrie guards along the other side rummaging through every box, bag, and more importantly, every purse. She could see various Angels absentmindedly presenting merchandise receipts while the guards watched every move intently. Stupid pigeons. Too stupid to see danger when it’s staring them in the face.

  The items her minions had stolen for her were in her purse. Of course, she had no receipts. She felt she could lie convincingly, saying she had thrown the receipts away. But receipts and stolen merchandise were not her biggest issue.

  She was carrying several weapons for protection — and to secretly kill some pigeons and collect their eyes. And when she found that double-crosser, Collin…

  I could just throw them away, she thought to herself as she glanced at a garbage container. More Valkyrie guards appeared. At every garbage container it seemed like a guard was standing nearby, vicious eyes glaring and condemning. Some had massive black guard dogs with them.

  Karolita’s Celestial weapons had a low-level characteristic glow. Her purse was especially designed to block this glow. If she removed a weapon, it would be spotted immediately. She could pull out her money, passports, and visas then throw away the purse but with the cruel eyes of the Valkyrie so close, they would probably spot someone throwing away a beautiful purse like hers.

  “What should we do?” Guard1 whispered back to Karolita.

  Karolita glanced behind her and down the long lines. There were no guards at the exit. This was their only chance to escape.

  “One by one, let’s step out of line. Push down your panic. Don’t run. Look like you’ve forgotten something. I’ll go first.”

  Isle of Belize

  As they walked back to their boats, Parvarti and Pegasus merrily nattered away about whatever came to Parvarti’s mind. Behind them, Josephine and Collin walked side-by-side saying nothing. A lovely day of snorkeling for Josephine and Pegasus had unfortunately ended in the unexpected company of Parvarti and Collin.

  It’s over — pure and
simple. Josephine’s intellect tired from an endless stream of circular logic that always ended with the same answer.

  No way Sipheria can look the other way on this one. I’m busted. After only eight thousand years, this career path is over. A lot of people are going to be angry and disappointed. I’ve lost my command position — I accept that — they’ll just have to get over it, too.

  She stole another glance at Collin. He did not return it.

  They can take away my privileges. They can take away my ribbons. They can bust me all the way down to private. They can even send me back home to Ninveth. So what? I’m still a Tertiaphim. No one can take that away from me.

  Off in the distance, she heard a rumble of thunder and a flash of lightning in the direction of Oceania’s main island.

  And then it simply happened. Bird Colonel Josephine P. Doulmahel let go of her pride. She finished her own personal thunderstorm of emotions, her own personal cataclysm. At that very moment, her mind stilled and she emerged to the other side.

  Now, only one question remained. What do I do next? She looked at the sky. The stars seemed more beautiful than she could ever remember. They called to her. Maybe now I can track down my mom and finally spend some time with her.

  Sipheria’s words came to her again. “When you’re trying to decide what to do, look at what’s right in front of you.”

  She looked over at Collin; well, to the back of his green head. What’s he studying in the tree line? Ah, a monkey. Certainly one of the most aggravating beasts genetic diversification has ever created.

  Then it clicked. Collin jumps from one relationship to another just like a monkey jumps from limb to limb. Maybe I’m supposed to help him, if only to listen.