Lilith Between Flesh And Spirit

Chapter Nine: Voynich Manuscript

Of course, Norea will come with Lilith. Who else does she have left in this world?

The speed of their ride makes the air washed over her face as she holds on to Lilith's waist like she holds on to the broken pieces of her life. Lilith is now her Sarah Connor—her anchor, and she is attached to her by an invisible cable of solidarity. She is no Dani Ramos and yet she witnessed her Grace/Seth being killed right before her in cold blood by the Archons.

They would stop at nothing until they get the Luminary's words out of her mind.

Running is their only chance to survive their hunt — the fugitive lifestyle on its endless road, with each lamppost on the street flickering over Norea. The darkness bringing her a short relief; the brightness reminding her to be on her guard at any moment, only her new growing tears floating away from her eyes betrays her genuine feelings. There is no time to throw it all overboard and mourn, no time to dig a grave in her heart for her deceased parents.

It could have been her birthday today, but who cares now?

Without warning, Lilith gets off the motorcycle and motions for Norea to get out.

Norea's eyebrows raise, her gaze clouding over the old book shop—the same one she used to spy on Lilith for an entire day before they met. After a curt nod, Norea also jumps out of the motorcycle, causing it to blink its light at her.

With a heavy sigh, Lilith pulls her blood bottles from the top box and rolls her eyes at Norea. "Just say thank you to it!"

Grimacing, Norea stands back from it. "I won't say thank you to a motorcycle."

Lilith clicks her tongue at Norea's refusal and taps the back of the two-wheeled vehicle. "Good work, my friend. Now go back to your owner before they'll report you as stolen."

At her words, the motorcycle starts its engine before hitting the road under the widened eyes of Norea. The latter stammers to find a logical explanation for what just happened, but it will be Lilith who will give it to her.

"Norea, you're pretty insensitive for a recently reincarnated avatar!" She tilts her head to the side at Lilith's remark. "Just be thankful to it because everything in this world has a soul just like you!"

Next, Lilith covers Norea's shoulders with one of her arms. "Now, welcome to my home, sweet home!"

"Do you have any secret doors like at the Noah's Ark bar?"

Scratching her head, Lilith frowns. "Don't tell me I just lost my free bathing access after killing that dragon snitch."

Norea only shrugs her shoulders in response as they both now stand in front of the locked shop door. Darting her eyes at it, then back to Lilith, Norea clears her throat, and her host only grins before putting her hand through a broken hole in the glass door to open it from the inside. It then swings wide open, allowing Lilith to enter first, and then she extends her arms to let Norea inside.

This is where they cast themselves off into the darkness of the material world that is Lilith's home. Norea could smell the earthy odour of the place. It reminds her of the rotting wood from the many old pieces of furniture, mould from a basement, or perhaps from the many books living there.

They attract her hand to stroke over their spines until she feels like a serpent bit on one of them. Tiny puncture marks on the tips of her fingers—a swelling with no wound that prompts her to take it out from its shelf and to peruse over its content.

As she turns through its many pages of illustrations, the unknown language in it grows to feel familiar to her. Norea knows this book and its author.

"It's the Voynich manuscript?"