Lilith gasped and stared wide-eyed at her.
“No.” Dagon groaned. Raquel clenched her jaw and stared at him with a heart-rending expression.
“Apologies.” Jetrel’s face turned the color of a sweet cherry. “It shames me to have been so rash and insensitive with my words.”
Lilith slowly stepped away from them. Her hands trembled and she clasped them together to keep them from shaking. She stood by Michael and took his hand in hers only to have him wrest it away. She swallowed hard and glanced at his stolid expression. She needed him now but he refused to look at her.
Beelzebub pranced to the group with Gabriel at his side. “Has the game ended?”
No one spoke a word. He scanned the grim faces of the other angels and crinkled his brow.
“What has transpired?” Gabriel frowned when he saw the distraught look on Dagon’s face.
“Somebody please tell us what has happened!” Beelzebub said in a shrill frantic cry.
“Gadreel, Samael, and Fornues have ventured into the East Forest,” Raquel said.
Gabriel gasped. Beelzebub screeched, as his hands flew to his face.
“Lilith also disobeyed God and entered the forest.” Jetrel glared at her. Lilith jumped at the mention of her name. “Yet here she stands, unharmed amongst us, while the others are still trapped in darkness.”
Michael stared at Lilith, a dour look on his usually engaging face.
Beelzebub gawked at her. Gabriel looked at her curiously.
Lilith flounced to Jetrel and gazed into her vivid blue-violet eyes. “Perhaps God chose to save me.” She stroked Jetrel’s smooth, black hair. Jetrel grimaced and recoiled from her.
“You do not seem pleased with God’s decision to save me.” Lilith’s cheeks flushed and she stared at the ground. “Perhaps you think your wisdom surpasses that of His?” Lilith believed God valued her. She was certain He knew she was powerful and would become even more so in time as she grew and developed her abilities.
“Enough!” Michael said. “No one knows God’s mind. We must wait and see what He has decided.”
“What God has decided about what?” Lucifer strolled toward the others. Lilith crossed her arms and dashed to his side.
“Three of our friends are trapped in the East Forest.” Michael watched Lilith fidget and squirm.
“The East Forest?” Lucifer’s voice was tight. “What are they doing in there in the first place? We all know it is against God’s law to enter any of the forests that border Guidance Park.”
“I wished to hide behind a flower bush with Samael.” Lilith looked down unable to meet his eyes. “But Gadreel and Fornues insisted we look for a hiding place where all four of us could hide together. I tried to stop them.”
Lucifer frowned. She kept her head down and tried to hide behind her thick long hair. He turned to Michael and Raphael. “What can we do to help them?”
“We can do naught,” Michael said. “If we enter the forest, we too shall be disobeying God’s orders, and we shall also run the risk of being trapped in shadows.”
Lucifer sighed and stared at the banned woodland.
“I have already been inside the forest. Perhaps I should return and try to release the others.” Lilith volunteered in a melodramatic fashion, knowing Lucifer and Michael would forbid it. She turned toward the forest taking deliberate steps.
“Certainly not, it would be futile.” Lucifer grabbed her arm. “Your intentions are good Lilith, but you shall be defying God yet again. He saved you once. If you choose to disobey Him a second time, what makes you think He would show such mercy again?”
Lucifer was unknowingly becoming her redeemer. Lilith gazed at him. “You are right. You are always so wise.” She believed everyone judged her. Loathed her. All except Lucifer and Beelzebub. She did not wish for Gadreel, Samael and Fornues to remain trapped in darkness for she would need them at some point to do her bidding. It was easy for her to manipulate them. She could no longer say the same for Raquel or Jetrel and certainly not Michael. She needed her allies freed.
Chapter 4
Original Punishment
Samael lurched and stumbled as he attempted to free Gadreel from the vines.
“Help me Samael!” The vines tightened around Gadreel’s body, immobilizing her on the ground. She writhed and groaned as the plant’s long, sharp spines penetrated deeper into her flesh.
“The creeping plants are making it difficult for me to get to you.” Samael could not move forward. The vines attacked him, whipping and coiling around his arms, torso, legs, and ankles. In addition to the spines, the dark leaves stung him with their prickles. Samael winced and howled in pain. “I need your assistance, Fornues!”
The vines had not captured Fornues yet. He crouched behind a mossy rock trying to make his body as small as possible. “What should I do?”
“Free me from these vines!” Samael grimaced and clenched his teeth as the red spines tormented him.
Fornues lumbered to him and began to rip vines off him, despite the injury to his hands as the crimson spines buried themselves in his palms. Samael finally broke free. Fornues fought the vines, stomping on creepers as they attempted to grab his friend yet again.
Samael trampled on the vines to get to Gadreel. He yanked and wrenched the plants coiled around her body until he freed her. He grabbed her by the hand. “Come, Fornues!”
Fornues continued fighting the vines to ensure they would escape.
Gadreel looked back and saw him still wrestling with the wild vegetation. “Fornues, you must come now!”
Samael pulled her by the arm and together they staggered out of the forest, leaving him behind.
Fornues fought as hard as he could. But he soon tired, and the trailing plants overran him. He collapsed, and the creeping vines slithered into and tangled in his long, wavy hair, pulling it away from his head. They twisted around his face, neck, and torso. The plants pinned his arms and legs together and tied him to the ground. Soon he was covered completely except for his heavy-lidded, hazel eyes, and tears dripped from their drooping outer corners.
When Gadreel and Samael tottered out of the forest and collapsed on the grass, the other angels ran to their aid. They were covered in scratches and red, inflamed rashes. Spines were buried deep in their skin. The all-consuming pain made them groan and writhe on the grass. Raquel and Jetrel tried to comfort Gadreel. Gabriel tried to remove the spines buried in Samael’s body, but the attempts only made him howl in pain.
The young angels could not believe the condition their companions were in. They had never seen injuries like these.
Dagon continued to stare at the edge of the forest, expecting Fornues to appear at any moment. When he did not, he proceeded to Samael. “Where is Fornues?”
“He was overrun by ferocious vines,” Samael told him in a low, raspy voice.
Dagon furrowed his brow and turned away. He panted as he moved toward the forest. He stopped and glanced over his shoulder. Seeing the others were occupied with Gadreel and Samael, he continued and crossed into the dark woods.
Lilith watched him enter the forest. She lowered her gaze and remained silent. Her lips curve upward into a faint smile. Soon the others would discover that Dagon has entered the forest in pursuit of Fornues. It was conceivable that someone would pursue him knowing he went in to save his friend. Perhaps Jetrel? She always tried to prove her courage. If she entered the dark woods, surely Michael would also venture in to save her, and then Raphael would follow. How wondrous it would be if they all went in––that way the focus would be removed from her and they would all be in the same predicament.
“What are we to do?” Gabriel frowned. “Nothing we have tried has helped them.” His airy, pale blue eyes displayed distress.
“I have done all I could.” Raphael placed a hand on Gabriel’s shoulder. “It seems clear that we are not meant to heal them.”
“We should pray for God to show mercy, for they suffer so.” Raquel fell to her knees
and closed her eyes in prayer.
“Perhaps God intended that suffering be the punishment for this disobedience.” Jetrel wore a stern expression.
“I agree with Jetrel.” Cam scrutinized Lilith, and his bouncing curls, tinged with red, bobbed as he nodded. “Gadreel and Samael disobeyed God. Now they must pay for their disobedience.” Lilith scowled at him.
“Perhaps you are both right.” Raphael approached Cam and Jetrel. “Still, we can pray for mercy.”
“I shall go ask permission to enter the portal to cross into Metá Heaven and ask God what is His will.” Michael stared at Lilith as he spoke. She fidgeted and tried to avoid the disappointed look on his face.
“Michael, the two of us shall go to God and speak on our brethren’s behalf.” Lucifer stood by him. “In the meantime, leave the injured be until such time as Michael and I return with Godly instructions.”
“Hurry.” Raquel looked at them with imploring eyes.
Lucifer and Michael flew away to seek God’s guidance.
Raquel closed her eyes again and continued praying. Jetrel glowered at Lilith, who stood head down with her hair draped over her face. The others kept their eyes on the injured, which continued to wince and moan, except for Hashmal who stared at the edge of the forest.
“Why do you think God spared you the agony inflicted on Gadreel and Samael?” Jetrel asked Lilith.
“Perhaps because they entered the forest first.”
“Yet I feel it was your influence which led them to the forest.” Jetrel gritted her teeth.
“I might have mentioned the forest, but Samael entered first and Gadreel followed.”
“What of Fornues?”
“He trailed Gadreel into the forest.” Lilith inhaled a sharp breath.
Jetrel studied her face.
“It does not seem just that Gadreel and Samael are punished,” Cam said, “and who knows what perils Fornues endures in the forest, while you, Lilith, stand before us unharmed.”
Jetrel nodded in agreement.
Lilith puffed and frustration crinkled her eyes. “I was the last to enter the forest!”
“But you did go in!” Jetrel clapped her hands on her hips.
They glowered at each other.
“Do you mean to punish me on God’s behalf?” Lilith asked Jetrel and Cam, in a scathing tone.
“Of course not.” Cam pulled Jetrel away from her. “I simply state that God’s ways are mysterious. When Michael and Lucifer return, we shall know what to do.”
“Dagon has vanished from our midst.” Hashmal moved closer to the edge of the forest.
Raquel’s eyes snapped open and she jumped to her feet. “Oh, no! He must have gone in to save Fornues.”
Raquel ran to Jetrel, and they embraced each other. They all stared at the darkness beyond the trees.
“Perhaps you should go after him.” Lilith pointed at Jetrel. “You are so brave and strong. I have no doubt you can save him. Raquel would be most grateful.”
Jetrel’s charged indigo eyes glared at her.
“No,” Raquel said. “Only God can save them. If it is His will, He shall lead them out.”
Lilith rolled her eyes upward.
Moments later, Dagon staggered from the forest. He held Fornues, whose feet dragged. As soon as Dagon cleared the bordering trees, they both collapsed on the lush green grass of the Park. Once more, they gathered round the wounded, unable to help them. Both Dagon and Fornues were covered in spines, cuts and welts.
Raquel passed her fingers through Dagon’s long, flaxen hair. His handsome face bore many scratches and deep cuts, yet he still smiled at her. It seemed the corners of her mouth were too heavy because she did not return his smile.
Dagon winced as he lifted his arm to caress her face. “Your eyes are like an emerald lake, flooding your exquisite face with sweet tears and your hair is glowing firelight that warms my soul. Admiring your beauty soothes me and lessens my pain.”
Raquel did smile after hearing his dulcet words.
“What did this to you?” Beelzebub rubbed his cheek.
“Vines––monstrous creeping vines covered with long, sharp red spines,” Dagon said in a gruff voice. “Their large leaves fluttered like wings, allowing the vines to soar through the air.”
Beelzebub gasped. Raquel bit into her fist. The others stared wide-eyed. “The vines attacked us.” Dagon cringed and groaned. “They restrained us and flayed us, gashing and stabbing with their spines and leaf prickles.”
“It was by the grace of God you were able to escape,” Raquel said.
“Those were the border guardians of the East Forest that you fought, Dagon,” Michael approached them. Lucifer was by his side.
“We shall carry the wounded to their cottages at Sonnoris,” Michael said.
“There, Samael and Gadreel shall remain for three days, suffering the effects of their wounds and the irritant the red spines inflicted on them. Fornues and Dagon shall remain in their rooms, but shall agonize one day only, for Fornues is easily influenced and Dagon’s intentions were good when he entered the woods to save his friend. After the angels have suffered their corresponding fates, we are charged to take them to the River of Life, where they shall be healed.”
“What of Lilith?” Jetrel looked at him with an intense expression.
Michael glanced at Lilith but quickly shifted his sight to Lucifer avoiding her anguished expression.
“Your punishment, Lilith, shall be the worst of all.” Michael frowned and approached her but did not look into her eyes. “You are the reason the others entered the forest, yet at the first sign of trouble you ran, forsaking your brethren.”
“Gadreel and Samael left Fornues behind too.” Lilith rubbed the back of her neck and squirmed.
“God knows what occupies our minds and hearts, and he punishes us accordingly.” Michael’s eyes were stormy green seas as he focused them on her forehead. “You must suffer a worse fate than the others. You must enter the East Forest alone and remain within the dark woods until God instructs us to call you out.”
Lilith’s eyes widened, her mouth dropped open, and all color drained from her face.
“No! Gadreel, tell them!” She ran to her injured friend. “Tell them the truth––that it was all your doing. Tell them you and Samael entered the woods first.”
“She speaks the truth. Samael and I entered the forest first. Please show leniency.” Gadreel’s red, puffy eyes implored Michael.
“We must fulfill God’s orders.” Michael gestured to Cam to come forward and help him. “We cannot question God’s motives, for He knows everything.” Together they grabbed Lilith by the arms and took her to the edge of the forest.
Lilith stared at him in shock. “You would do this to me?”
Michael continued to avoid her stare and tears began to meander down his cheeks. He swallowed hard. “This is not my doing. It is God’s will and I must obey.”
Lilith looked at him with a pleading expression. “Please, help me.”
Large drops rolled off his face. He glanced at her and shook his head. “I cannot disobey God.”
Lilith shrieked in frustration and tried to pull away, trembling with fear.
“You must not struggle so,” Michael said. “Enter the forest God wills it!” She stared at him, her blue and brown eyes flashing with anger.
“We shall throw you in if we have to,” Cam said.
Lilith looked once more at Michael, expecting him to save her. Their eyes met, but he turned away quickly.
“Wait, I know she must be punished for it is God’s command but maybe I can accompany her.” Lucifer rushed toward Michael and Cam. Hashmal and Esar grabbed him before he could get any closer. “Let go! I want to go in with her.” Lilith stared at him in awe.
Michael frowned. “What you are asking is not in accordance with God’s command. You were there by my side. You know what must be done.” He appeared perplexed by Lucifer’s behavior. Lucifer lowered his head.
L
ilith shifted her sight from Lucifer to the forest. Her heart pounded. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath and then snapped them open.
“Release me.” Her tone was brusque. “I shall walk in of my own accord.” She wrested her arm from Michael and glared at him. Cam stepped aside. They would not perceive her as weak. She would do this and prove that she was strong and brave. She did not believe God would destroy her. He simply required punishment for those who break his laws.
She glanced over her shoulder at the others and then looked to the forest again. Trembling she took another deep breath and inched her way inside the trees until she was enshrouded in darkness, and the others could no longer see her.
When she was out of sight Michael fell to one knee and pressed his face to his hands. He appeared inconsolable and the other angels surrounded him and tried to comfort him.
Once inside the forest, Lilith began to pant in fear. Her eyes flickered in every direction, searching for a safe place. She must remain calm.
A beam of light entered through a small opening in the canopy. She made her way there. The incandescent light illuminated a large rock and made it sparkle. That was it! That was where she would remain until she was summoned out of the forest. She plodded to the rock, stood before it, and allowed the radiance to wash over her.
She lifted her eyes to the source of the light. The hole looked large enough for her to fit through. She could fly beyond the forest through the opening above. She could remain above the canopy where she would be safe and nobody would see her.
Lilith climbed to the top of the boulder and tried to expand her wings, but they hung limp and heavy and did not budge. She made several attempts, but they would not move. She could not fly within the forest.
A gust of wind pushed her off the rock. She landed hard on the ground and winced. The vines that covered the forest floor began to slither toward her. She jumped to her feet.
Creeping plants twisted and looped around her ankles, anchoring her to the ground. She gasped at the flutter of wings as vines zipped through the air around her. Unable to move, she panted while creepers whipped around her wrists, twisting tightly. The plants held her arms and legs apart.
The Fall of Lilith Page 4