Man Destroyer

Part 4

Chapter 7: The Night Before

A circle of candles surrounded Lilith on the floor of the cave as she astral projected to Hell, unwilling to go in person and put herself in Lucifer's grip. Zelda watched over her, her hands held above her, murmuring spells of protection as her lover dove deep. Deianeira, bound to Zelda's torso with spider-spun silk, watched with her arms outstretched as her Mother's eyes closed and her spirit left her body. The lamia began to cry, a heartbreaking sound rarely heard. Zelda bounced from foot to foot, trying to focus on the protection spell but unable to be heard above the demon child's cries. Her spell forgotten, Zelda wrapped her arms around the babe and tried to console her.

Lilith awoke on the stairs of the throne and was immediately shackled in place, a heavy iron collar encircling her neck, as Lucifer roared; "Where is she LILITH?!"

Eyes wide, her hands gripping the collar, Lilith had to remind herself that she wasn't really there and that Lucifer couldn't really capture her. Her heart hammering in her chest, her breath shallow, she stood shakily and cursed herself for the physical reaction she was having. Taking a deep breath, nostrils flaring, she dared to meet his gaze; "She is safe and ready for your arrival. Tomorrow night we shall feast and you are invited to meet and celebrate the birth of your daughter at last. We will summon you at the witching hour."

Lucifer's eyes narrowed in distrust and he reached out to grasp Lilith's throat himself, his fingers disappearing through her, his rage growing as he realized she was astral projecting; "You couldn't even be bothered to come here in person to tell me this? I grow weary of you and your games Lilith!"

"Can you blame me?!" Lilith motioned wildly to the collar around her neck. "Do you expect me to trust you?" She scoffed, unshed tears burning in her throat as memories threatened to drown her in sorrow. "I loved you and you would so quickly cast me aside like nothing. I am nothing to you."

"You are not nothing Lilith. You are a tool. A weapon. My henchman. My...." Lucifer leaned forward to hiss cruelly. "Bitch."

Lilith snarled at him and spat on the floor. Lucifer laughed, "I've used you, it's true, but ask yourself this Lilith." He leaned closer still and whispered harshly, "Did you not <em>beg</em> to be used?"

The Mother of Demons felt something within her snap and suddenly she was back in the cave, rolling over onto her hands and knees, she screamed and swept her hands out to scatter the candles across the floor. Zelda, who had been bouncing furiously and trying to sooth Deianeira, spun around in shock taking in the sight of wax splattered everywhere and Lilith curled up into a ball, sobbing. Rushing to her Queen, Zelda knelt down and pulled her close, holding both demoness' as their wailing harmonized.

"Every ....threat we... have... faced and...we will face...is because of me." Lilith spit out words in between gulps of air. "How can I ever....forgive myself?!" Deianeira reached out and clawed at Lilith's neck as she cried, leaving behind thin red lines that lazily oozed crimson droplets, staining her neck with a physical representation of her misery.

"The only thing that matters is where we go from here, Lily." Zelda's soothing voice, a balm on Lilith's aching soul. "You have to forgive yourself for not knowing what you didn't know and you have to remember, when Lucifer met you, you were a blank canvas - you had no reference point, there was nothing to compare your life or your decisions to or against."

Zelda smiled, kissing the tears from Lilith's cheeks as the babe began to still, having cried herself to sleep. "My Lilith, don't you see? You are Creation itself. From nothing as the Earth was just awakening, you have become who you are without any guidance or curriculum. It was Lucifer who took you for granted, who neglected to see the beauty he held in his hands, who was too selfish to understand the gift you are to this world. I grieve for what you might have become if left to your own desires and devices but regardless of then, you have now and there is nothing stopping you from becoming exactly who you were always meant to be."