Man Destroyer

Part 9

Chapter 17: Paradise Lost

The flames of the Phoenix reflected in Zelda's wide eyes as she stared at Lilith's original form; they flickered as the beak of the beast opened and the voices spoke for the last time, "Do not call upon us again, witches. Your fate and fortune are your own to claim, we shall have no part in this Earthly game. Remember our exchange as promises were made and know, while there is no timeline on their execution, we will show no mercy to those who betray us. Now go with our blessings for you are no longer cursed by men." The winged creature rose to the tip of the vaulted ceiling as Zelda and Lilith followed it with their eyes and then it disappeared, raining grey ash down on them.

With a satisfied smile, Lilith turned back to Zelda and was surprised to see her getting to her feet, angrily wiping tears from her face, streaking it dirty with ashes. "Zelda...I-"

The High Priestess cut her off, shaking her head bitterly, "How much more am I supposed to take, Lilith? Honestly, when does this end? When does loving you become easy?!" She choked back a sob. Zelda shook her head, closing her eyes, "I can't keep watching you die, Lily. I can't take it."

Lilith hurried to the redheaded witch, grabbed her hands, and forced Zelda to look at her. Zelda pulled her hands away and grabbed her face instead, studying the smooth curve of full cheeks, looking for those sharp cheekbones, emerald eyes searching the witch's dark browns, the lack of blue in those eyes felt like the sky had fallen and Zelda's heart ached at the stranger her love had become. As infuriating as they were, she welcomed the tears that welled in her eyes because they blurred the stranger before her, yet another obstacle she would have to overcome in the endless trauma that had become her existence.

The dark haired witch tenderly wiped Zelda's cheeks free of tears, "I'm still me, Zelds. In fact, I'm the truest version of myself that I've ever been."

Zelda pulled away and stepped back, "You're free now Lilith. You can be whoever you want, do whatever you want, go wherever you want...." The witch trailed off, the insinuation hanging heavily over their heads as she swallowed thickly, turning away from Lilith.

Lilith felt her guts roll at the thought of losing Zelda, her mind clear of all her suffering, she knew she could live any number of realities. Catching a glimpse of herself in the reflection of St. Peter's coffin, it was a reflection she barely recognized anymore; cupping her hands in front of her face, she blew into them and guided that breath against her face and up and over her head, pulling it down her auburn locks.

Zelda's gasp encouraged Lilith to open her brilliant blue eyes and smile, pointing upwards towards Heaven, "Well, they did say I'm the most powerful being on Earth, didn't they?" She grabbed Zelda's hand and pulled her close, "I think that means, among many things, that I can choose to look the way my love remembers me best. Because you, Zelda Spellman, are the only place I want to be, the only thing I want to do, and my life is infinitely better being a person worthy of you first and foremost."

Reaching up to trace the lines of Mary Wardwell's face once again, the sharp cheekbones, the hollow of her cheeks, her straight nose, dark brows above the brilliant blues, and the witch's hands sank into those thick locks as she sighed; "Are you sure, Lily? I can get used to your...other....face."

"But I can't get used to the way you look at it so yes, I'm sure." Lilith smiled softly and leaned in to kiss her beloved. The kiss deepened as the witches clung to each other desperately, their love wrapping tight around them like the ribbon of a binding spell. When they pulled back from each other they both had tears shining on their cheeks.

"Where is Deianeira?" Lilith wiped Zelda's cheeks tenderly and then her own.

"She's with Eva, I told her to go back to the hotel and wait for us. I suppose we have to go on to Vienna now?" Still holding onto Lilith's waist, their hips pressed close, Zelda glanced at St. Peter's coffin with a sigh.