by Tony C. Skye
Julianna watches Lilith walk closer to the wall. A ghost rifle would be quite handy about now – if such a thing exists. Unfortunately, it doesn’t.
Lilith’s green eyes scan over the new writings upon the wall. When the words finish, Lilith taps on her lips in thought. A few moments later, she turns around and looks at Julianna with curious eyes. The young woman stands before her in a strange paper dress with no back to it.
“I see you found the red key,” Lilith informs the teen of her knowledge.
“No thanks to you,” Julianna answers bitterly.
“Yes,” the nude woman answers while turning towards a large rock. She walks over to it, turns around, and sits down. Lilith crosses her right leg over her left thigh and stares intently at the young woman before her. A few seconds later, she places both of her hands to each side of her body. Both palms find rest against the warm rock as she leans back.
“You are remarkable,” Lilith says adoringly.
“Stop it. You’re a liar.”
“Come now, young one,” Lilith’s smoky tone reflects an unshakeable calm, “Do not waste your energy hating me. I did lie to you. We both know that. But it was not to throw you off your path. I only wanted entertainment.”
Lilith sighs as she lustfully examines Julianna. She gently bites on her lower lip. Her unwanted gaze causes the young woman to subconsciously wrap her arms around her waist.
“And you must admit,” Lilith continues her explanation, “Watching you shake with pleasure as you were cursing Him would have been a true delight to witness.”
“You’re a pervert” Julianna says disgustedly, “You make me sick.”
Lilith smiles briefly as she sits forward again. Her right index finger begins tapping on her lips. When it stops, her finger remains rested upon her full lips.
“So says the one who has made me – a spirit soul – feel the pleasures of the flesh.”
Lilith lowers her hand and rests both arms on her bronze legs.
“Something I might add,” Lilith continues, “Is not supposed to be even possible.”
Julianna doesn’t respond. But it is clear to Lilith the young woman is a bit intrigued.
“You did not know it was like this here?”
Julianna shakes her head. Her glaring eyes hold fast her anger.
Lilith’s right arm motions towards the wall on her right, “And imagine my disappointment; whenever, I read those words before your arrival.”
Lilith rests her arm back upon her leg, “Not until a few moments ago, did I know if you would live or die.”
“I will finish the job,” Julianna states with finality. She flinches when Lilith suddenly stands up.
Lilith laughs.
“And then what?”, “Lilith waves both arms upward before lowering them. She points to her left towards the earth-line, “That is where you will go until your sentence is carried out…Mother.”
Lilith rests her left palm on her waistline and points to the wall with her right hand.
“You denounced Him,” Lilith’s tone turns vicious, “You bathed in the blood of one of His chosen ones.”
The woman of many ages waves both of her arms towards Julianna, “Do you actually believe your heat will be turned down because you have split a prophecy line?”
Lilith lowers her left arm – her right extends upward towards the wall extending into the clouds above, “He does not show mercy when He punishes, you stupid child!”
Lilith lowers her arm and her voice; yet, her tone remains cutting within its intent.
“Splitting a prophecy cannot stop Him. The prophecy will be fulfilled. Save the world. You are foolish.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about. Everything you say is a lie.”
Normally, this is the part where Lilith would have rushed her challenger and reveled in the ensuing beating that would occur. But this is what Julianna expects. Lilith closes her eyes, takes a deep breath, and exhales slowly. When she opens her eyes, they are filled with kindness and empathy. She speaks with a soft gentle tone.
“I understand your anger towards me. I deceived you for my own personal gain. I would be angry, too.”
Julianna’s demeanor softens as Lilith pauses. But the younger woman fights to hold her resolve.
“I was consumed by the lustful desires of a woman who has not felt such wondrous pleasures for thousands and thousands of years,” Lilith confesses.
“Be as it may,” Lilith’s dark brows narrow as she stares coldly into Julianna’s unsure eyes, “My deception would not have set your eternal course. As vile as you believe it to be, He would have still forgiven you. That is, had you desired this to be so.”
Lilith holds up her right index finger, “Only one unforgiveable sin.”
Julianna’s anger lessens with each word spoken. She doesn’t know why, but she believes the words spilling from Lilith’s lips.
Lilith lowers her hand to her side, “I did not teach you to blaspheme the Holy Spirit, child. But someone did. And you did it. Eagerly, I might add.”
“When you mocked the trinity, you mocked the Holy Spirit. And that is the only sin He will not forgive.”
Lilith glances out into the earth-line, “Did that someone tell you about this?”
Julianna looks down at her feet. The white sand around them is black.
“No,” the young woman answers with defeat.
Lilith turns her gaze back upon Julianna.
“Think, child. Did you feel Him leave before or after?”
“After.”
“And what I asked you to do,” Lilith pushes deeper, “Did it have the Trinity as a requirement?”
Julianna raises her head. She looks into Lilith’s watchful eyes.
“No. But it didn’t give the red key, either.”
Lilith laughs.
“No - I suppose it didn’t.”
Lilith tilts her head slightly, “Do you think it would have made a difference if you were seventeen when you received it? Or if you were thirty?”
“I - I don’t know.”
“Prophecy does not care about age. I should not have done what I done to you. That is obvious now. But I still would have told you the truth many years from now.”
“I am sorry,” Lilith gives a rare apology, “I wanted you to enjoy your life until the last years of your ability to conceive.”
Within Julianna’s demeanor, Lilith sees the slightest bit of an acceptance of her apology.
“Don’t get me wrong,” Lilith continues, “I do wish for you to bear your child. It is my last dig at Him before He burns me. But your youth is precious. It is such a short time that any of us are allowed.”
Lilith looks back over towards the earth-line, “And some of us don’t even get that much.”
The woman of many braids lets out a quite sigh before turning to face the wall of writing.
“But none of that matters anymore. Instead of enjoying your youth, you are slicing into your wrists at the age of seventeen.”
Julianna watches Lilith’s braids dangle freely as the woman walks towards her favored rock. Lilith turns and sits down. She crosses her legs and places her hands into her lap.
“What you choose to do with your life now will have no bearing on your punishment. You already crossed the only line not meant to be crossed. If I were you, I would enjoy every moment of my physical existence as I could.”
Lilith waves her left arm towards the earth-line without looking into its wake, “There’s plenty of time for all of that.”
The woman lowers her arm and stares coldly at Julianna.
“It is forever. Your physical life is not.”
Julianna stands in silence. She studies Lilith’s non-condemning gaze before looking out over the earth-line. It appears as though some of its spiritual occupants can see her. Yet, there are those closer to its boundary that seems utterly clueless to the wall’s existence.
Julianna turns her attention to the wall, “If He cannot lose then why ar
e we doing this? What is the point of it all? It seems so senseless.”
Lilith nods, “You are growing up. The more you know – the less you know.”
Julianna turns her green gaze upon Lilith. The woman has graciously placed her long braids in front of her breast as covering.
“Do you believe you would have ever served Him given another life?”, Lilith questions.
Julianna shakes her head.
“Why not?”
“Because of what He did to you. Those same patterns are found all over the Hebrew texts. Every time He sent His people to war, He told them to take the women as wives. That’s rape. I don’t care how you spin it. It’s evil. And I will never serve that.”
“Yet, when you know He has removed His presence from your life, you suddenly desire to lie down and die? How does this make sense to me?”
Julianna decides not to correct the woman concerning her last question. It is apparent she has been working hard to learn the modern English language for Julianna’s benefit. Instead, Julianna agrees with a silent nod.
“No words?”
“No. Nothing to say. You’re right. It was kinda stupid.”
Lilith throws her head back and laughs. When she calms, she looks at the young woman in whom she views with adoration.
“It? I’d say you were completely stupid.”
Julianna’s brows narrow, “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Lilith raises her brows questioningly in response to the young woman’s challenging tone. She elects to ignore her once more, but her words are piercing.
“You feel Him remove His presence – someone you say you hate,” Lilith aggressively answers; “And then, you feel sorry for yourself and decide to do what? Kill your physical body so He can torment you over there?”
Julianna watches Lilith’s left arm point towards the earth-line, but she refuses to follow with her eyes.
“Suicide in and of itself I do not see as stupid. The reasons behind it are different. Maybe someone needs to escape endless physical torture beyond comprehension. Or maybe someone needs a quicker death than lying there for six months riddled with sickness. That kind of suicide is merciful and understandable. What you did was full of selfish ignorance. You did it because your emotions felt bad.”
Lilith points at Julianna, “Don’t try to tell me you did it because you were trying to save the world from your child. I know better.”
Lilith waves her right arm towards the wall, “I can read it for myself.”
Julianna stands there speechless. Giving up on any retort, she turns towards the earth-line and sits down in the sand.
Lilith enjoys the moment. Not because she has the young woman thinking about what she has done. Instead, Lilith focuses upon the black sand around Julianna’s buttocks and feet. After a few moments, the woman flips her braids over her shoulders onto her back and places her palms upon the warm rock. She slightly leans back and closes her eyes. Her mind houses thoughts of the lightning storm that is sure to come. Lilith smiles.
* * *
After making his rounds and introducing himself to every last person in sight, Frank decides to check in on his family. He makes his way towards the nurse’s station. This part of the wing is completely empty except for the two women at the station and a lone security guard posted by the elevator at the hall’s end.
This was the first area Frank cleared of non-essential personnel. As far as he is concerned, if they have nothing to do with his granddaughter’s care, then they have no business here. There is only one patient on this entire floor – his granddaughter. And the last thing his family needs right now is a bunch of busy bodies running their mouths like rabid dogs in need of a good euthanization.
Typically, however, Frank wouldn’t worry about such things – especially here. After all, every doctor, nurse, assistant, orderly, janitor, and maintenance personnel assigned to this floor is part of the Network. But sometimes people are just people. And people make mistakes. A common one is gossip. It might seem harmless at the time, but it can be damaging and hurtful – even if the intent behind it is not.
Given the chance, Martha would just tell him that he is being silly. She would remind him that every single person of the Network must swear an oath upon penalty of death before they can become a member. And she would be right. But people are just people. People make mistakes. In Frank’s experience, the fewer apples there are, the easier it is to find a rotten one.
After Frank reaches the nurse’s station, he turns left, and walks the few remaining steps to his granddaughter’s room. The observation window is covered with blinds from the inside. It’s Martha’s way of letting him know she is in there with Julianna.
He gently taps on the door and waits. A few moments later, Martha opens the door. Frank hands her a coffee.
“There’s a room next door if you get sleepy,” Frank whispers, “I’m going back to the house to pick up some things. I’ll be back when I can.”
Martha nods and mouths the words I love you.
“Love you, too,” Frank whispers. He leans in and kisses her before quietly closing the door.
* * *
“Is my little anguisette going to pout the entire time she is here?”, a smoky voice questions.
“I’m not pouting,” Julianna answers defiantly. She turns her head to the left and looks at the teasing woman.
“And what is anguisette? I don’t even know what it’s supposed to mean.”
Lilith sits up.
“You are pouting,” Lilith corrects sternly, “Like a little child.”
“I’m not a child,” Julianna counters with glaring eyes.
“You want to know what the word means, look it up librarian. You want me to beat you like one of my enemies, just keep doing what you’re doing. I’ve had enough of this.”
“That’s your answer for everything – hurting people if they don’t agree with you.”
“I have bit my tongue several times on this day,” Lilith informs, “But I will not be trampled on as though I were weak. You push and push. Do you desire me to cross your line?”
Julianna does her best to relax her facial expression. The last thing she needs right now is to tangle with this warrior goddess. Lilith would run through her in mere seconds and wouldn’t even break a sweat.
“I just don’t understand you is all,” Julianna answers calmly.
Lilith closes her eyes and deeply inhales the aroma of beach air within her nostrils. She speaks teasingly, but not mockingly.
“You make it hard for me, little anguisette.”
Lilith opens her eyes and stares intently into Julianna’s curious gaze.
“You push and provoke me,” Lilith explains, “Then you submit with those wanting eyes. It is hard for me to control myself around you. You tease at my sexual nature as if you are a master puppeteer. And you do these things without trying.”
Julianna’s left brow lifts slightly.
“Hate to break it to you,” Julianna informs, “But the last thing I want from you is sex.”
“Sex?”, Lilith mocks. She pauses to contemplate Julianna’s paper dress. The woman starts laughing.
“Don’t laugh at me. I thought that’s what you were saying,” Julianna responds quickly. She throws her right arm upward in a single waving motion, “See? I don’t understand you.”
Lilith scans the exposed area in the back of Julianna’s paper dress. The girl’s body is perfection. No blemishes or markings.
“You have beautiful skin,” Lilith remarks, “Reminds me of the moon at night.”
Julianna shakes her head doubtfully. She turns her attention back towards the earth-line.
“Your voice reminds me of someone who has throat cancer,” Julianna counters.
“Your provocation, is it by accident? Or do you not care if you anger me?”
Julianna looks at Lilith – green eyes full of her anger and frustration.
“You laugh when I assume you want me for sex, then you loo
k at me like the way you’re doing right now. At this point, I don’t give a damn if your bipolar ass is angry or not. In my world, they’d put a straitjacket on you, pump you full of the much needed meds you’re missing, and call it a day.”
Lilith silently studies the mouthy woman. A few moments passes before she takes her braids and covers the front of her body once more. She begins patting her lips with her right index finger. Julianna, also, sits in silence – her hard glare not wavering. When Lilith lowers her hand from her mouth, she notices Julianna subconsciously shift her body into a position better suited for a quick advancement to her feet. Lilith grins.
“Here’s what I think,” Lilith speaks calmly, “I think you do not mean to do what you do. I think you are unaware of yourself and your abilities as a woman.”
Lilith stands to her feet. Julianna fights to remain seated, but Lilith sees the concern on the young woman’s face.
“You do not purposefully try to bring my wrath so I will lose control of myself and attack you,” Lilith explains; “No. I believe you see it as speaking your mind. But you can speak without doing this. I have seen it from you.”
“I don’t want you to attack me,” Julianna defends, “That doesn’t even make sense.”
“Shut up!”, Lilith lashes out angrily.
Julianna flinches.
Lilith calms her voice, “I am speaking now.”
“I see a woman who does not know why she does these things – a woman who has lied to herself for so long she doesn’t know who she is.”
“Sex,” Lilith waves her right hand towards Julianna, “This is all your limited mind can see.”
Lilith, slowly, begins walking towards Julianna. She can see the nervousness growing within the young woman’s eyes.
“Let me tell you something about your world,” Lilith continues, “Your world thinks it is open and free about sex. Your world exposes women to the point they become objects to those around them. In some cases, they might even see themselves as objects.”
Lilith growls disgustedly as she walks within arm’s reach of the young woman.
“Hmm,” Lilith mocks whenever Julianna swallows nervously.
