Abaddon (Demonology III)

II

FINN

The Voice was growing stronger. I had first heard it on my final trip to Heaven, when we called out to God for help in defeating Lucifer. Ever since then, it grew stronger and stronger. It was malignant, spreading its cancerous cells to each and every section of my mind. I recognized it faintly, but the memory was as distant as a childhood dream. I was clutching at straws, trying to weave together the web of my memory. Who was this mysterious voice? I didn't know if they were trying to help me or lead me to my doom. But one thing was clear.

  It wanted me to fight.

  I was avoiding fighting. Why? There were many reasons, but I didn't know which one troubled me more. Was failure my biggest concern? Was I afraid of letting all that I loved slip through my fingers? Was I afraid of facing Abaddon, Lucifer, and their entire army? Did I fear their sinister clutches? Or was I just ready to let everything go? No, that couldn't be it. No matter how hard I tried, I would never rest in peace. I would never die.

  I took a step out. The late night rain drummed violently against all that was exposed. The beach ahead of me looked more like the product of a nineteenth century adventure novel, with daunting waves slapping on the shore and not a single animal in sight. The wind howled, whipping my long hair around my face. Sea salt flew into my face, finding homes in my eyes, nose, and beard. I had grown a lot since the Great Cataclysm. Being a Demi God accelerated but then suddenly halted my aging. I went from an eighteen year-old to a twenty-five year old in a matter of months. 

  I looked back at the house. Lilith was up and was watching me from the screen door. She had her hand to the glass, as if she wanted to get out but was being held back by some unseen force. Her face was emotionless, but her eyes told me all that I needed to know. They were saying the same thing that the Voice was.

  I made my way back towards the house and placed a hand on the screen door.

  "I can't." I whispered, knowing that Lilith wouldn't hear. She seemed to read my lips, though, as she shook her head in discrepancy. 

  "Yes, you can." She cried over the wind. Her achromatic eyes bore deep into me, daring me to deny her. If I were still human, I probably would have crumbled under her influence. She seemed to know that as well, but it didn't stop her from trying. She wanted to fight. She wanted to affront her father and brother, but she didn't want to do it alone. 

  She slid open the door and pulled me inside. Now that she was in her true form, she was much stronger than I. She held me close and placed her lips by my ear. 

  "As long as I've known you, you've always been one to fight." She whispered. Feeling her breath tickle my ear sent a shiver down my spine. "You pushed yourself to fight, even when your body clearly wasn't capable. You were on the verge of the death, yet you were still eager to join the battle. And now . . . you can't be the same person. I love that Finn. If that's not who you are anymore, then . . . I don't love you." She released me and turned to the door. 

  "Wait." I followed after her. She threw a hand up behind her, causing me to freeze in place.

  "Finn, unless you can prove to me that you're still the same person, I don't want to hear anything that you have to say." She turned to face me and gave me an expectant stare. Perspiration beaded down my face as I struggled to resist her power. I may have been a Demi-God, but Lilith's power was still hard to handle when she tried her hardest.

  I managed to regain control of one of my legs, and I took a step towards her. My muscles contracted as I continued to fight her power, but I managed to free my other leg. It was as if my blood had turned to lead. I powered my way towards Lilith, watching as a small smile reluctantly broke out across her face. 

  Once I stood toe-to-toe with her, I grabbed her and pinned her to the wall.

  "I'm not the old Finn. I'm much better. And if you think you're not strong enough to handle me, you can leave." Lilith smiled bitterly at my challenge. She placed her hands on my shoulders and pushed down, causing me to drop to my knees. 

  "You're nothing but a boy to me, Finn. So if you think that I can't handle you, you couldn't be more wrong." She knelt down and looked me in the eyes. "But I admire the fire in you. Why don't we go upstairs, and you can show me what you can do?" I trembled a bit. Lilith was much more impassioned than I ever saw her. She placed a hand under my chin, sending paresthesia throughout my body.

  With the greatest of ease, Lilith brought me to my feet and dragged me upstairs. With a wicked grin, she threw me into the bedroom and locked the door behind us.

LILITH

Finn may have been a Demi-God, but he was still like most men; he thought with his other  head rather than with his brain. He didn't show it, but he was driven by his own personal cravings and fulfillment - also known as me. So I wasn't surprised the next morning when he said to me;

  "I'll go with you, and we'll fight them - together." He whispered. "I don't want to lose you. If this is really what you want . . . if you really believe that we stand a chance, I'm willing to give it a shot." 

  "Good." I sprang to my feet and unfurled my wings. Even after all this time, Finn still looked at them with wonder. And every time he did, I felt like the most beautiful woman in the world. To enjoy it a little more, I stretched, arching my back and nimble limbs. Being back in my real body made me feel much more mischievous. I wasn't malevolent like most demons, but I wasn't as nice as I was as "Eva."

  "There are many ways into the palace. I can use them like artifacts to open gateways, but that's the easy part. Once we're inside, we're at his mercy." I gestured for Finn to follow me downstairs. He raised a dubious brow, but followed. "My brother has guards inside the palace, and soldiers in this realm. We'll be cornered. So, we have to do some damage in this world before we move in."

  "What are you thinking?" Finn folded his arms and rolled his head around. I admired his muscular form. It looked like every vein on him was standing out. With no human blood the power running through his veins was almost too much for him, so his body had to adapt to avoid destruction. 

  "We cause a disturbance. A little civil disobedience to draw out some soldiers. But it needs to be notable. We need to put my brother on edge, maybe even a little fearful. And I know just what to do - we steal an artifact."

AUTHOR'S NOTE

I'm back bitches.