Gadreel remained in the rear of the creature’s mouth, holding on to one of its immense teeth. The creature emerged from the river and spewed her onto the bank. Sprawled on the side of the river, she inhaled a sharp breath. She lifted her hooded, brown eyes and stared imploringly at Hashmal, who stood before her. As she trembled and stared at Hashmal and the massive head of the creature, her lips set in a grim line, the leviathan transformed into Esar. She rose to her knees pressing her hands to her bosom and burst into convulsive sobs. Esar walked to her and offered his outstretched hand. He pulled her off the ground and prepared to take her to God’s throne room where her fate would be determined.
Samael and his troops delivered a gruesome death to many holy angels with their swords coated in poison from the trees on Mount Verve’s summit. At one point he was able to pause in fighting, and he scanned his surroundings. His shoulders slumped and his brows knitted in a frown when he saw countless of his troops lying on the ground dead or dying.
He wavered. “We are losing this battle.” He looked stunned as he muttered. “How is this possible?” He looked toward the northwest and saw Michael’s spear dive like a golden falcon and strike Lucifer down. He panted openmouthed and dropped his bloodied pike. He gawped as Michael grabbed Lucifer and restrained him effortlessly. His clouded eyes rolled about and settled on the South Forest.
He would escape through the dark woods, for all was lost now that Lucifer had been captured. Lilith was able to make it through, and so would he. He picked up his pike and a dead soldier’s sword from the ground. Gripping both weapons, he stormed toward the dark woodland. He made it into the forest but soon afterward, he heard someone behind him––making a clicking noise in the back of his throat. His knees began to falter and he staggered as he recognized the sound. Without turning around he stopped and slammed his eyes shut.
Hashmal cleared his throat and expelled his fiery breath setting the vegetation surrounding Samael alight in vigorous flames. The heat emitted by the fire scorched Samael’s skin. He pivoted on his heel and faced Hashmal with a gapping mouth stare and outstretched arms. “I shall not escape. Do not burn me I implore you.” Fire and smoke enclosed him. He wheezed and coughed, and tottered unsteadily then collapsed.
As he lay crumpled on the ground, a disembodied arm reached to him through the heavy smoke and pulled him out of the forest and back into the Park. When Samael was done expelling hot, thick smoke from his lungs, he lifted his eyes and saw his captors.
Hashmal and Gabriel, in spirit form, stood before him. Hashmal glared at him with fierce red eyes and yanked him by the arm to his feet. “We shall take you before God for judgment.” Once all the generals of the dark forces were detained, it was only a matter of time before all of the rebel angels were vanquished.
Lilith, and the remaining rebels were shackled and blindfolded before they were taken through the portal into Metá Heaven. Once inside the throne room their captors stood behind them and compelled them to their knees. Their blindfolds were removed and they were forced to recline on the ground in prostrate manner, eyes closed tight and face buried, lest they be blinded by God’s presence—for they were marred by sin and no longer pure. They were lined up a short distance from each other, but they could not speak nor hear anything other than God’s voice directed at them.
Lilith did not shed a tear as she lay face down in the presence of God. Her face was crimson with fury, nostrils flared, she curled her lips with icy contempt and gritted her teeth. She did not know what her fate or that of the others would be, but she would not show fear or weakness.
Then God spoke.
Lilith, thou hast always refused to abide by the existing rules in Floraison. Thou hast a rebellious heart, persistently craving more and not realizing thou already had all thy heart desired. Thou aspired to be Queen of Floraison. As the highest-ranking cherubim, thou wast royalty. Yet thine ambitions hath no bounds. Thou hast imparted thine own punishment.
God set his sights on Lucifer.
Lucifer, I loved thee. Thou wast my favorite. In thee, I created perfection with the most beautiful light. Thou shalt no longer be called Lucifer for thou art no longer the light bearer; darkness is what now resides in thee. From this moment forward thy name shall be Satan for thou hast become my adversary. Thou chose to follow a baleful creature, turning from the light and benighted by her desires. Thou hast disappointed me the most.
Lucifer inhaled a sharp breath. I did it for love. His body was racked with sobs.
God ordered the rebels be taken to the edge of Floraison to await sentencing.
Restrained by the Archangels and Powers, the rebels waited. They were not close enough to see each other, and only heard the voices of the angels restraining them and God’s voice. They were not told that all the rebels had been dispersed along the edge of Floraison. Each thought he or she stood alone.
Thou hast sinned against me. For this, thou shalt be cast out of Floraison to live on planet Earth amongst the creatures thee thought so vile.
Lilith jutted her chin. God’s words were like knives in her ears and the muscles in her face tightened. God commanded the rebels’ garments be removed. Her body stiffened and she clamped her fingers into the tender flesh of her palms. Snarling she fought against the holy angels as her vestment was removed by force. She did not know how or when, but she would have her vengeance.
Thou shalt suffer many adversities, for thou wast ungrateful for the many gifts I bestowed upon thee.
Gadreel allowed the Powers to undress her without a struggle. She stood with slumped shoulders, stared at her feet and wept.
Thou shalt not remain in your likeness. As thou enter the Earth’s atmosphere, thou shalt be transformed.
Lucifer slouched, his body racked with pain. He cringed and moaned as the Powers removed his garment. His pride was in equal pain. He thought about his humiliating defeat. How could he have failed? He sensed Lilith’s presence. What must she think of him now? He lowered his head.
God sentenced all remaining rebels, with the exception of a few chosen ones, to live in exile on planet Earth.
Ye shalt be in exile, and planet Earth shalt not welcome ye–– ye shall always be outcasts. Ye mayst seek redemption, but mayst never return to Floraison. Earth shall be thy prison for all time.
One by one, the angels of darkness were cast out to live amongst the creatures they despised. The fallen angels were never to set foot in Floraison again.
BOOK II
Earth
Chapter 1
Lilith’s Fate
Lilith fell to Earth, crashing through trees, feeling the collision with every branch she broke along the way. She landed on moist ground and lost consciousness. When she awoke face down in the dark mud, she blinked owlishly at the dense vegetation surrounding her. Sunlight was barely able to filter through the massive trees.
She trembled as the forest absorbed her warmth. “I suffer an odd, distressing decrease in temperature I had never perceived in Floraison––not even in the forbidden forests.” Her brows knitted in a frown. She passed her hands over her arms and touched her hair. “My skin and hair are wet, as if I had emerged from Lake Serena.” Dark mud covered part of her arms, hands and chest. She brought her muddy hands to her nose, sniffed, gagged at the smell and wiped as much of it as possible against a rock.
“Everything about this place is eerie. The smells, the sounds––even the air feels dense like it’s refusing to share its nutrients with me. It’s hard to breathe.” She looked around, eyes wide, forehead puckered. “Shall I survive this ominous atmosphere?” She lowered her head and heaved a deep breath.
Everything around her had a peculiar odor, different from anything she had sensed before. The damp leaves, wet moss, and vegetation combined to form a woody, musky, and slightly decaying odor. “The smells of decomposing plants, animal droppings, and wet creatures lurking about are horrid and repulsive!” She squirmed, her nose wrinkled at the smells and she gagged again. “I am not safe he
re.”
“Where beams of light shine through the trees, strange shadows dance.” She screwed up her face ready to cry. “This harsh planet evokes memories of the terrors I endured in the East and South Forests in Floraison, but I shall not cry.” She clenched her dirty hands. With each new noise, her heart leapt to her throat. Branches creaking, leaves rustling, birds squawking, hostile screeches from unknown animals, the beat of paws against the ground—these sounds created a symphony of fear.
“I must remain calm,” Lilith told herself in a low voice. “After all, this is Earth. I watched most of Creation, and I did not witness God create anything as menacing on this planet as in the forests in Floraison.”
Still, she knew much had happened besides creation during Creation.
The trees loomed over her. They seemed to have eyes, which glowered at her with malice for breaking their limbs on her descent. The wind wailed through their distorted trunks causing an awful, lamenting clamor. Lilith’s body stiffened.
In some ways, the noisy, wretched gusts reminded her of Fornues, who always whined or grumbled about one thing or another.
“Oh, Fornues, how I wish you were here. Even the company of a dimwitted ruffian such as you would be better than being alone.” Her chest heaved, and her eyes burned with pooling tears. “I shall not weep!” She slammed her fist on the ground.
Where could she go? Was she imprisoned here? Was she doomed to die in this revolting forest alone?
“Lu–Lu,” Lilith wished to scream his name, but could not pronounce it. She made another attempt.
“L-Lu-Lu–Satan.” Lilith gasped. “Satan?” She cocked her head left and rolled her eyes to the right corner of the canopy. After a short moment, Satan was the only name she could remember calling him.
Above, an owl screeched. She flinched, then lifted her face to see it land to perch near another owl. The two began to hoot in harmony. She crossed her arms and with her hands cusped her upper arms and rubbed. “Satan––I need you more than ever.” She heaved a deep sigh.
Where was he? Had he suffered the same fate as her? Was he far away—or close by, perhaps? “Please, give me a sign, and I shall come to you.” Her voice was but a breath.
Yellow eyes glared at her from overgrown bushes. Her breathing became fast and shallow, and her heart pounded.
She made an awkward attempt to get off the ground but failed to rise. Using her arms to push herself off the wet soil, she tumbled face first into the mud again. “My legs must be bound together.” She kicked and struggled to free her limbs, but when she finally set eyes on her lower body, the color drained from her face.
She dug her fingers into the ground and clutched handfuls of dirt crushing it in her fists and then flinging it at the trees. She shrieked, her face crimson with rage. For a lengthy period she sat on the cold, wet dirt with her face in her hands, shuddering, seized in utter grief. She cocked her head back and released a long, drawn out scream.
“Banishment was not enough?” Lilith glared upward. “You transform me into a lowly, revolting creature, requiring me to drag my body through the filth of the Earth for the rest of days?” She brandished her fists. “I shall have my vengeance!”
Lilith now possessed the naked torso of a woman, but the lower body of a snake. She examined herself further and discovered her four wings were no longer white, but black like the jungle. They were covered in eyes, some with brown irises, some with blue ones, resembling her own. Again she screamed in horror and shook her head, unable to accept the transformation.
With a sharp intake of breath, she scrambled to trace her eyes with her hand.
Yes, they were in their proper place.
She proceeded to explore the rest of her face with her fingers. She passed her hands over her head and clutched her hair. She touched her shoulders and chest and realized she was not changed above her waist. She took a deep breath, feeling ample relief.
She tittered. “I am but half a fiend. It is better than being a complete monstrosity.” She slammed her eyes shut. “Things shall not always be as they are.”
She wiped the tears and mud from her eyes and face. “I must leave this place.” If she was exiled to this planet then there was a chance that the others were too. She must try to find them, for she no longer wished to be alone. She needed Satan and the others if she was to exact her revenge, and there was safety in numbers.
The forest was too dense so she did not try to fly, but she made another attempt to move. By undulating her tail and pushing it against rocks, twigs, and irregularities in the soil, she was finally able to advance. She slid along the jungle floor, not knowing where she was headed in the dark, only that she wished to exit the eerie place as soon as possible and find her friends.
Slinking ahead, she passed strange plants and twisted vines reminiscent of the South Forest. She shivered. Her head turned in several directions as she moved. It was never still.
She forced her way through the tangled vegetation until she heard crying in the distance. She halted and leaned with her right ear to determine where it came from. “That sound is familiar. Could it be one of my allies?” She proceeded in the direction of the weeping.
Lilith pressed the back of her hand over her nostrils. “The stench of the rotting wood and plants is overwhelming.” She shuddered and focused on the beams of light fighting their way through the tall, dense trees. The radiance of the sun was dissimilar from the light in Floraison. She was fascinated by it and feared it at the same time.
She halted and stared ahead slack-mouthed. A tree’s root grew around a huge rock, concealing it almost completely. Vines and other creeping plants devoured what remained. “If I stood still long enough, would the jungle consume me too?” She burst onward and made haste.
Lilith heard bubbling water nearby and smiled. “The thought of cleansing this filthy, black mud from my face and body is alluring.” She followed the sound to a cascade, which emptied into a lake in the midst of the jungle.
The air at the waterfall was crisp and fresh. She heaved a deep breath. She crawled to the edge of the bank and peered into the water. “What menacing creatures lurk underneath these waters?” She recalled the snakefish that mercilessly attacked her troops in a river in the South Forest.
“There is nothing like that here on Earth.” She tittered and slid into the lake. She flailed at first but then realized she could move effortlessly in water. She positioned herself underneath the cascades, grinning as the water splashed on her shoulders and back, kneading her painful muscles.
Feeling clean and refreshed she resumed her trek to find the source of the wailing sounds. She slithered along, accidentally bumping her arm into a large, thorny bush.
Lilith howled and cringed in pain. The jungle whirled and she swayed. Peering at her limb with a painful grimace, she saw small barbs buried under her skin. She shook her arm to dislodge them, but this only caused her to stoop and moan.
With her fingernails, she pulled at one of the thorns and shrieked. Steeling herself, she pinched the exposed head of a thorn and was able to pull it out of her skin, though she winced all the while. Once the thorn was gone from her arm, the pain began to diminish. Sobbing and flinching she pulled out the thorns one by one. In the end, her arm was red, swollen, and continued to throb, but the pain was fading, so she proceeded.
She came across massive animal prints in the mud. “These marks were made by a creature that walks on two enormous feet.” She jolted and scanned the area for any sign of the brute. Nothing. She proceeded in silence and remained alert.
A creature jumped out from behind a huge tree and stood a few steps in front of her. Lilith stared with wide eyes and stood motionless. The beast’s body was covered in thick, brownish hair, and it appeared vaguely human. “I remember seeing a creature such as you near the end of creation.” She observed it.
The creature’s head was large with small brown eyes, which appeared to have knowledge behind them. Its arms were longer than its legs, and its larg
e hands were shaped similarly to hers. The beast moved from side to side, beating its wide chest, and making grunting noises. Lilith tilted her head sideways, and squinted in a curious manner unsure what to make of the animal’s display.
After a while, the animal advanced toward her, walking on its knuckles. Her body stiffened and she leaned away from it, extended her arms before her and waggled her hands. “Do not harm me!” When the beast reached her, it rose to a two-legged stance and peered at her face, as if trying to understand what she was.
The mammal scrutinized her injured arm with its beady eyes and began to grunt and hoot, as if attempting to communicate with her. Lilith gagged at the animal’s breath. “You are beginning to bore me beast.” Frustration crinkled her eyes. Her tail began to rattle.
The animal gawked at her in a way that suggested it found her appealing. It reached for her hair, but she smacked its hand away. Her brow knitted in a frown.
“You dare touch me?” Her eyes burned with hatred. “I do not wish to be tainted by a creature as revolting as you!” She gritted her teeth. “The beasts on this planet do not know their place. I do not belong here. I am a celestial being.” She stood straighter and jutted her chin with pride. After a short moment, her face wilted and she stared at the ground with slumped shoulders. Did God toss her unto this world to become merely another beast? “I shall never accept this.”
“I am not an animal!” Lilith shouted to the Heavens, clenching her fists.
The gorilla growled and beat its chest. She flinched and stared. The creature grabbed her injured arm and yanked her toward it. A bolt of pain traveled through her arm, and she squealed.
The ape released her at once and retreated, its beady eyes wide. Lilith’s tail whipped out, coiled around the gorilla’s body, and began to thrash it violently. The animal’s painful groans were terrible. Birds squawked, felines roared, and other mammals grunted, snorted, and growled in unison as if protesting her cruel act.
The Fall of Lilith Page 21