Wendy

Chapter 17: Beguiled

"We could hear the earth. Everything that had the life of God flowing in it was connected to us," Eve said as the dark shadow faded from the moving pictures.

Wendy saw the figures of Adam and Eve walk at the beach of the garden. They were talking and laughing when suddenly what looked like an insanely large tiger dashed out of the vegetation nearby. It prowled to and fro, sizing up the two figures who had now stopped walking.

When the tiger saw it had their attention, it began advancing with slow lazy steps that quickly turned to a quick run. It charged towards them like it was heading for a fight, with striped skin gleaming and sharp canines bared. If the couple were scared of the large animal, they didn't show it. Instead they stood their ground with hands still firmly clasped.

The tiger launch at the man first, toppling him to the sand. Wendy's hand flew to her mouth then shut her eyes quickly. When she heard soft laughter, she slowly cracked her eyes open. The picture she saw made her mouth fall open.

The tiger was covering Adam's face with slobbery licks from a huge tongue. The man's laughter rumbled as he lovingly scratched the feline beneath its jaw. Wendy watched the animal's tail swish in ecstasy then it flung itself at Eve, giving her a good lick.

"Yes, you're a good tiger, perfect in every way." She heard the Eve in the image say in a voice light with laughter.

"Then, we could communicate with animals. But what we had didn't last..." Eve voice wasn't sad, it just sounded a bit regretful.

The image in the hall changed to that of the tree at the middle of the garden. It wasn't more beautiful than the rest, if anything, Wendy thought it looked rather ordinary.

As Wendy watched, she saw the dark figure that appeared to be clothed in a robe of black smoke appear close to the tree. He floated towards a creature that was curled at the base of the tree, then began to speak. The entire scene played before them like a movie.

"Let me use your body for a while," the dark figure requested in a hypnotic voice. Wendy watched the long creature uncurl itself lazily, it looked like a snake but not as frightening as those on earth. It had six short sturdy legs and silver coloured skin that mirrored light as it moved its massive frame.

Why should I do that? The creature asked. Wendy noticed the serpent's mouth did not move but it still spoke. How?

"Don't you want to be useful? What do you even do all day?" the dark figure circled the creature as he asked his question. Wendy noticed his gloomy frame seemed to be sucking the light around him.

Why do you want to borrow my body? It asked with open suspicion.

"You keep asking questions. The curious one, eh?" The figure levitated a few inches above the lush green grass and clasped his hands at his back.

At least I am allowed to be that. The creature stated then turned away, intending to walk into the meadows close by. As if anticipating its move, the figure disappeared in a puff of black smoke and reappeared in front of the serpent, causing it to stop in its track.

"Aren't there so many things you're not allowed to do? Such a sorry existence, don't you think?" The dark figure's voice sounded like he really felt sorry for the serpent.

I don't know what I think. Why are you so...dark anyway? The serpent asked with a bored expression on its scaly face. Its sapphire beady eyes held little interest as it sized up the shadowy figure.

"My friend, what is light without the dark? Darkness is the absence of light. Darkness is an innocent thing, it is light that makes me exist."

Oh, really? The serpent seemed to think deeply about what the figure said.