Epiphany: Reminiscence

XXIII. The face of the sin

She was losing herself in darkness, falling to a forsaken place, too weak to do anything. It was as if she was dreaming, her lids closing heavily over her tired, expressionless eyes. But a single thing shook her awake; a hand grabbing her in the darkness, intertwining fingers with her own.

Confused, Lucia looked in front of her, where she saw Seraphine smiling shrewdly towards her, obviously hiding something from her in that expression.

"Seraphine..." She whispered, feeling too weak to articulate any other words. For the first time, she looked to their hands, the only thing acting as a bridge between the two of them, between the past and present. Not even seeing her hand covered by black skin peeling off and revealing crimson blood between the cracks startled her anymore. That's just how tired and weak she was.

"It's alright, Lucia. Everything is alright..." Seraphine whispered, her eyes turning to violet, enchanting the young witch. Hypnotised by that enthralling colour, the maiden of the present let herself fall in slumber, caught only by the elder witch who, like a mother and guardian, caressed her head.

But then, Seraphine disappeared, becoming mist. Red ribbons tied Lucia's body instead, preventing her fall. The slumbering princess was safe now, just as Seraphine intended to keep her.

"You cannot fall asleep now, daughter born from the one true sin..."

These words whispered in her ear made Lucia widen her eyes, horrified by the hidden meaning that now resonated inside her. Silver scissors from a hidden hand cut the red ribbons chaining her, letting the girl fall further inside the darkness. And yet, that fall ended in only a couple of seconds, with Lucia landing on her feet as if she was a black cat, gracefully and instinctively.

She looked up, not knowing where she was. In front of her, a giant gate stood, shining and scattering in the darkness of that place golden light.

Lucia was stirred up with curiosity, stepping forward to inspect that which made her blood boil with excitement. There was no handle on the door, nor a keyhole. Everything was pure gold and the deep coldness of that gold made the young witch shed tears of sorrow, empathising with that which laid beyond these gates. Loneliness took over her heart as soon as she touched the surface of the gates, causing her to collapse to the ground.

"You're finally here..." The earlier voice that awakened her resounded, calling onto her.

Lucia twisted her body, looking behind her, and while still having tears rolling down her cheeks, she watched the darkness take form, a single maiden stepping forward from the miasma, more gracefully than anything in existence, like a butterfly flapping its wings. And yet, she looked sorrowful as well, dressed in black and covered by a black knitted veil, just like a widow. Like a shadow inside the darkness, she finally let her face be shown, framed by pitch black hair and adorned by violent purple eyes.

"Who are you..."Lucia asked, trying to stand up in front of the goddess. The stranger, however, only looked at the gates behind her, holding onto her golden staff. Finally, for the first time, she looked at Lucia and a bitter smile appeared on her face.

"I am the mother of all that exists in the darkness..."

And then, a great earthquake was heard, followed by the sound of something cracking. Behind Lucia, the gates had cracked open, spreading even more golden, blinding light from within the gap, as if hidden behind them was the Sun itself. And from there, winds carrying a shower of white feathers unleashed, letting the brilliant plumes fall alike snow in the winter.

"It's not your time yet either..." The maiden whispered to the gap in the gates, looking sadly at the feathers pouring down. Showing signs of frustration, she tightened her grip on her staff, hesitating in looking at Lucia. However, she stole countless glances of her silhouette, trying to understand the being of the one that stood before her.

"These of us that have transcended our condition for the sake of the world, accepting countless punishments from our creator... The three of us, who are bearers of the hidden truth, have been expecting you for a long time now."

"What do you mean?" Lucia asked, bewildered. "Who are you? Why have you been expecting me?"

"The promise that we're not able to fulfil... I pray that you will be capable of judging this world, whatever may your judgement be. He who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches," the maiden smiled and slowly stepped forward, passing by Lucia.

"What?" Lucia turned around, but immediately shut her eyes, blinded by the light coming from behind the gates, light which the stranger woman seemed to have no problems with.

"I've been guarding this place for so long... Ah, looking back now, I've honestly made a lot of mistakes..." Saying this, she turned to Lucia one last time and now, knowing that the girl couldn't see her, smiled brightly without any hesitation. Her eyes reflected the hope she could see in the blue eyed witch, hope which she thought impossible to regain. "My trials will soon come to an end but... I pray that you won't be one of my countless mistakes as well, Bright One. I pray that you survive and raise to the kingship we offered to you."

"Who are you..." Lucia asked again, for the third time, desiring only a name. Now, she calmed down, trying to understand the words of this woman. Seeing her like this, the stranger slowly nodded her head, agreeing to tell the girl her name.

"I am the first wife of the first man. I am..."

"Lilith."

"Indeed. Don't forget this place, for you will have to return here some day. But now, my daughter, it's time for you to go. The one laying beyond these gates is about to awaken..."

"Who's—"

"The end is where we begin, that's all you need to know for now," the elder witch smirked, interrupting her before Lucia could ask that inevitable question. And now, raising her staff to the world above, violent winds stirred up, carrying the white feathers away. The spell being woven, Lucia fell back in slumber, laying in a bed of feathers before vanishing in form of darkness.

The earth shook again and the gates cracked again, making way for a person. Lilith turned around and sighed nonchalantly before stepping forward.

"What else would you have liked to tell her then?" She asked but her only answer was another gust of wind coming from the light. Lilith couldn't help but laugh.

"Yes, old friend... Your son and my daughter will surely fulfil our promise, don't you worry. And if not...Well, that would be our fault for leaving them in the dark."

Saying this, she looked behind to where Lucia fell asleep moments before but saddened at the thought of leaving such a bright child in that world of violence. However, after the light intensified, Lilith turned around and walked towards the gates, lifting the curtain of darkness as she went ahead. Stars lit in the sky and the floor turned in a crystal lake, mirroring the lights above.

"Yes, I know. Let's just enjoy the little time we have left to spend together, Lucifer..."

And thus, she entered in the light of the crack, the doors closing after her. But even if these gates were closing, the seals of the world were breaking, signalising the beginning of the end.