Taurus added, “Goodbye my little friend!” and Sophia, putting her anger aside for only a moment, waved back at him.
The woman stood near the front of the boat and pushed it along with the ferryman’s pole. The mist covering the water thickened and soon I could not see more than eight feet in front of me, but as we pushed our way through it and the silence, the mist eventually tapered. Visibility of the shore we had left seemed only a memory and whenever I tried to look back at it, I could see nothing but the overcast sky above the mist. The air was getting cooler; this was a welcome change. I studied my reflection in the crystal-clear water, watching it ripple calmly in and out of my vision. I hated how my hair looked, a messy mop of chestnut that matched an ever-growing scruffy beard that itched like mad. I was sure I had lice by now.
“Sorry to deter you from your original destination,” I said to the woman.
She replied with her back to me, “I wasn’t heading anywhere special, and for the price you paid I’d make the trip more than once.” She turned her head barely enough to see me. “I almost feel bad for accepting it.”
“Yeah, well I feel stupid for giving it up.”
“You are stupid for giving it up,” snapped Sophia, “and I hate you for it.” She crossed her arms and glared out ahead with a fat puckered bottom lip.
Tsaeb looked bored.
“Well a deal’s a deal,” the woman replied.
Silence consumed most of the way. The tension among everyone made conversation difficult, but Tsaeb and Sophia’s quiet behavior I was thankful for. I knew I would pay for what I had done later. I dreaded what Sophia would do to get her revenge. Tsaeb would make it a point to remind me every time I faced an issue, that giving up the mirror was a grave mistake and that the issue was caused by it somehow.
I could just take the mirror now and shove her out of the boat.
Sure, I could do that; but of course, I didn’t.
The new shore slowly began to come into view as the mist broke apart over generous sections of water. I could see the waterfall much better now than I could from across the lake, but it was still a considerable distance away. I noticed that Taurus was right about the sun. Everywhere the sky was overcast, but in one particular area behind a dense patch of trees, there was a great beam of light spilling out over the treetops. That was my destination and I was both eager to get there and tense about what I would face when I did.
I began to think of home. Visions of my apartment, my job and my friends all went by slowly and sadly in my mind. I thought about the park where I met the Devil, but not of the day it happened; it was two years earlier that I remembered. I had decided to take my sketchpad that day and draw the old abandoned train bridge that had become a landmark for sightseers. I was an excellent artist and could sketch anything in black and white so well that one would expect it to come alive from the page. For years, it was all that I wanted to do, to draw, and I dreamt of making a career out of my talent. But life took me on another road, one that had so far only landed me a dead-end job, a cheating ex-wife and a burnt body caused by a chain-smoking hag.
“Are you going to try to free the Angel?” said the woman. “It’s not easy to do, you know.”
“I wouldn’t imagine it was,” I said, “but yes, that’s what I’m going there to do...I think.” It occurred to me only then what I might have to do once I found the ‘Serpent that braids the Angel’s hair’, even though Taurus had already mentioned the Angel was a prisoner. Somehow, I knew freeing her would probably not involve guns or swords, or stealthy ninja moves—something I did not have in the slightest. I had the Devil’s eyes, and when I reminded myself of that, I moved my fingers over the outside of my coat to feel the contours of them and make sure that they were still there.
“You never did say where you ran off to, Norman,” said Tsaeb.
I flashed him an aggravated look.
“I’m sure you have some idea,” I replied. “I’m sure you could be more help to me than you have been so far, too.”
“No arguing on my boat,” the woman barked. “We’re almost there so save it for land.”
Sophia leaned over the side of the boat and began oaring the water with her hands. “Well, can’t this thing go any faster?”
“You’re saying I haven’t helped you?” Tsaeb sneered. “I didn’t almost lose my head with that succubus because of you, or keep you from losing yours in the Field?”
“Enough!” the young woman shouted.
“Not to mention,” Tsaeb went on, “giving up my ring to her.”
The pole came out of the water and smacked against the floor of the boat between Tsaeb and me. “One more word and you’ll both swim the rest of the way. Got it?”
The fury in her features demanded instant respect. Even Tsaeb, taken by surprise, stiffened and became silent without objection. The woman put the pole back in the water. She seemed more edgy than before. She was, however, a woman stuck in a small boat with two demons and a man who just happened to be the most wanted man in Creation. She had every right to be whatever she wanted to be, considering. She moved the boat a little faster now.
I stood carefully so as not to wobble the boat and dump us all in the lake.
“Would you like me to help?” I offered. I thought it was rude of me to be sitting back while she pushed the four of us across the giant lake. The only thing that stopped me from offering sooner was because of the substantial and unfair form of payment it took just to get the ride.
“No,” she said, still with her back turned, “but thank you.”
Tsaeb struggled to keep his comments to himself. He probably wanted to point out how I might surely steer us in the wrong direction, or get the pole stuck in the lake floor, or any variation of ‘Norman can’t steer a boat’. I choked back a laugh, finding it the funniest thing ever that someone actually succeeded in shutting Tsaeb up for once.
The boat slowed to a stop on the shore and everyone took no time getting out. As Tsaeb sloshed through the water the woman said, “Hey, wait,” and tossed the golden ring back to him the moment he turned. He caught it, looked at her oddly and shrugged while slipping it back on his undersized finger.
“That’s his way of saying ‘thank you’,” I said to the woman, putting extra emphasis on the words Tsaeb should have said himself.
“Hey, give me a break already!” Tsaeb argued. “I’m getting tired of being your punching bag.”
Maybe I was being too hard on him.
Sophia approached the woman and I was instantly put on alert. Sophia’s hands were folded gently in front of her and she looked sad and not at all threatening or mischievous. With her left hand, she touched her right eye and sniffled. Was it a tear? I was instantly taken aback.
“Please give back the mirror,” she said. “You really don’t need it, lady. I’m sure we can give you something else of value.”
The woman let the hood of her cloak fall away from her head and she felt inside for the mirror. Taking it out by the wooden handle, she kept the glass face down. It was apparent she knew already the danger of Vanity’s Mirror. “This,” she said to Sophia, “is certainly not something one like you needs in her possession. Imps are wretched, devious things that do not fear consequence, and I know this all too well.”
Sophia maintained her sad act, if it was really an act at all. I still was not sure.
“I’m really not all that bad,” said Sophia. “But come on lady, it’s not just about me. I know Vanity’s Mirror will show Norman the way to the Center of Eden and it’s where he’s got to go.”
I stepped beside Sophia. “She’s telling the truth,” I said, “but it’s okay, like you said, a deal’s a deal. I’ll find another way there.” I took Sophia by the shoulder. “We won’t bother you anymore.” I felt Sophia become rigid under my hand and this was the sign I needed to know that she was putting on an act after all. Sophia felt the mirror quickly slipping away and she was going to show her true colors again any second now. I needed to prev
ent that, because I was putting on a show, too.
“Wait,” said the woman, stopping us not a second too soon. “Look, I do feel bad about taking the mirror like this. Now, I’m not saying I’m willing to give it back, but I think maybe I could go along with you a little farther. Maybe stick around until you find your way?”
This was too easy. It was my intention to guilt her into giving the mirror up so I wouldn’t be forced to take it from her at any cost, but for her to offer to go along—last thing I expected. A half an hour ago the woman didn’t want to help at all. She practically recoiled at the mention of Samyaza’s name. She complained about being a target if she were to be seen with me. Now, she wanted to help and she wanted to go with us? I thought about the warning the Tree of Life gave to me, about how women of all kinds would be drawn to me. It was dangerous trusting anyone at all, most of all a woman. But I needed the mirror and I didn’t want to have to do anything that would later weigh terribly on my conscience just to get it back.
“You’ll go with us?” I said.
She put the mirror away. “Sure,” she said, smiling, “I think I can do that, but once you get where you need to go, I’ll be on my way and Vanity’s Mirror will go with me.”
“Great!” I said. “Thank you.”
Sophia, despite being jealous that the woman had features she did not have and, of course, having the mirror she wanted so badly, was smiling now too. As long as the mirror was in reach, she still had a chance to obtain it later. I felt that Sophia’s obsession with Vanity’s Mirror might turn out to be more dangerous than the woman and her strange willingness to help.
We left the boat, entered the forest, and within minutes, arrived at our destination.
“Shhh,” the woman warned.
We crouched quietly behind an enormous piece of stone that appeared to be what was left of a toppled scaling pillar. There were intricate grooves cut into the stone down its length and inside those, pictures of winged beings in combat with horned beings. The pillar was covered in thick green vines and patches of healthy green moss where tiny insects worked diligently. There were other pieces of the toppled pillar lying around, broken from its base and head and scattered about the forest bed.
We were close enough to see everything clearly, but far enough to stay hidden. Out ahead, the sun beamed down like a giant pool of orange and sparkling white. The light reflected particles of dust caught in the sun’s warm beams. Patches of flowers dotted the ground over a thick mound of endless moss. The moss was everywhere. It spilled out over the ground and everything that lay in its path as if a giant had laid it down like a blanket. There were mushrooms; little colonies of them. Everything touched by the light was magnificent, from the landscape to the mystical butterflies that fluttered about serenely.
But nothing was more magnificent than the Serpent and the Angel.
“How long will you hide?” said a silky, deadly voice.
I swallowed and looked to see who had spoken. It became quickly evident that it was the serpent, Samyaza. He was looking right in our direction with a gaze of piercing eyes.
Samyaza was extremely tall; his form perfectly masculine and feminine just the same. His hair was jet-black, flowing unrestricted against his pale white flesh. His chest was bare and he wore a long black leather kilt, straight and heavy down to his ankles. It split on both sides, revealing black pants underneath. Behind him, a large set of black, feathered wings gave Samyaza even more stature.
“Have you come to bring me an offering?” His tone was self-possessed.
Tsaeb grabbed my sleeve and whispered harshly, “Go along with it!”
The four of us stood and stepped carefully away from the pillar and moved toward the light, but Tsaeb and Sophia stopped just shy.
“Y-Yes....” I stuttered.
What was I was supposed to use as an offering? I doubted I had anything on me that would qualify as one.
“We’ve brought you a girl,” said Sophia, indicating with her eyes that the woman who had Vanity’s Mirror was the offering. Sweet revenge.
The woman shot a hateful glare at Sophia, half of her wanting to object, but the other half restraining that desire.
I went along with that as well, glad I was not having to come up with these lies so quickly all on my own. If it were left up to me, the scene would have already turned sour. I took the woman by the arm harshly to make it look as though it was real and I prayed she would not punch me for it.
I hoped I could pull this off.
If only I had some idea of what I was supposed to do, where I was supposed to bury the Devil’s eyes, or even if I needed to bury them both, or bury them at all. What if it had to be precise? What if I only needed the left, or the right eye, and if so how would I know now which was which? I bit down on the inside of my cheek. I started thinking about the boat not far away, mapping out an escape plan in my head.
Everything became very clear to me when the Angel raised her face.
Where her eyes should have been, there were sunken black holes. The dark hollows seemed even darker than they were next to the creamy backdrop of her skin and hair, which was surely as smooth as silk.
She wore practically nothing as every inch of her naked skin could be seen through the thin black nightgown that covered her. She sat at Samyaza’s feet as he towered over her next to a stone altar of sorts, draped in moss and flowers. Her long, beautiful white hair glistened and sparkled in the sunlight as it went through Samyaza’s fingers, stroke after stroke after stroke.
“Love thyself, lose thyself.”
--
I GAZED UPON THE Angel and a gut-wrenching shudder nearly brought me to my knees. I couldn’t understand how I felt I could cry just by looking at her; it was overwhelming.
“You could have cleaned her up first,” said Samyaza, analyzing the woman discontentedly.
Samyaza was stunning with greenish shimmering scales on his cheeks and temples and around his crystalline sea green eyes. Even the hiss that laced his voice, it too had sex appeal. I admired and resented him, finding myself strangely envious of this being.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “Will she not do?”
“No, she will do,” said Samyaza, this time revealing a long, forked tongue. He took one hand from the Angel’s hair and curled a finger toward himself. “Come,” he said and the woman was lifted from her feet and began to float toward him.
I winced. This was not part of the plan. But then there never was a plan to begin with. I was sure though that if there ever had been, the woman would not have ended up as the bait. It wouldn’t have gone this far.
Samyaza set her down upon the ground near the Angel. If she had felt safe enough to speak, all of her words would have been acidic.
“Yes?” Samyaza said looking over at us all, seemingly annoyed by the fact that we were still there.
It took a second for me to realize the reason for Samyaza’s inquiry.
“W-We uhhh,” I stuttered, looking for words fruitlessly at first. “I uhhh, came to ask my three sacred questions. I thought this offering would be enough. Was I wrong?”
No one, not even me knew what I was talking about. The Angel’s statuesque posture shifted subtly; her powder-white chin turned in attention and her face appeared silently inquisitive.
She knew what was going on, though it seemed a struggle for her in some enigmatic way. Other than the fact that she could not see.
“I-I knew it was true,” I continued to perform, “everyone says it, but I didn’t believe it at first.” I turned and scolded Sophia with a dangerous look right before she said something that might have made my lies harder. Thankfully, she understood and remained quiet.
“Everyone says what?” Samyaza inquired with a cautious eye.
I went a step further and walked fully into the light, bowed deeply and put on my best candid face.
“Just that when a follower brings you gifts,” I began, “that you allow them any three questions and you answer them truthfully.”<
br />
Samyaza’s head cocked to one side. “Why the hell would I do that?” he said, looking offended and amused. “Someone lied to you.” The laughter in his voice stung me.
“Oh, I see,” I said and then added quickly, “I guess then I should warn all of those people I met on the way who were coming here, too. They had a lot of stuff. They say you’re like a god or something, that you know the answers to everything and that they think you’re even more worthy than...than Lilith!”
All of my lies seemed to enrich the color of Samyaza’s eyes, but the last one made the corners of his beautiful, perfect mouth seethe with egotistical delight.
“I do apologize for disturbing you.” My stutter was gone now that I was more confident my ploy was working. I started to walk away, but as expected, Samyaza stopped me.
“I was only testing you,” Samyaza said with a hint of rearrangement in his voice. “Go ahead and ask your two questions. I’m true to the word of my followers.”
“Three questions,” I corrected, holding up three wiggling fingers.
Samyaza laughed foolishly. “Oh yes, yes,” he said, nodding and waving, “ask three questions then.” He turned his chin upward and tried to look important.
I knew better than to expect truthful answers, or even halfway truthful answers, but I was only trying to buy myself some time. I needed to give the Angel back her eyes; those that I was certain belonged to her though I couldn’t imagine how they got where they were when I took them. I piddled around, pacing through beams of light, wasting as much time as I could get away with, which wasn’t going to be much, I realized.
“Get on with it, then,” Samyaza demanded, looking bored and irritated.
I stopped and turned to face Samyaza, placing my fingers around my unshaven chin, tapping gently one after the other rhythmically. I looked deeply in thought for a moment, until Samyaza began to speak and I stopped him just as his smooth and flawless lips began to part.
“How long have you been in these woods?” I wanted to be sure not to bring too much, if any, attention to the Angel and my interest in her.
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