“Observe him?” Dagon shook his head. “How am I supposed to do that?”
“There is no need for your abrasive tone. I can simply leave you to your predicament.”
“No, no––do not leave.” Dagon lowered his eyes.
“Come with me.” Lilith took him by the hand and led him to a large rock.
“I shall bring Samael to this spot. We shall demonstrate to you how to please and satisfy Gadreel. Remain hidden behind the rock at all times. Do not allow him to see you.”
She departed to find Samael, who slept under a small group of date palms. She shook him gently until he opened his eyes.
“Lilith? What is it? Is everything well?”
“Come with me, Samael. I crave you.”
He flashed a toothy grin, jumped to his feet and followed her. She guided him near the large rock and glanced in the direction where Dagon hid to signal his lessons were about to begin.
Lilith began by kissing Samael. He curled his arm around her waist and tugged her close. Holding her against him he eased her gently to the ground.
Samael nuzzled her neck, inhaling, taking in her scent while she tilted her head back and moaned with pleasure. Dagon observed how he caressed her body with his hands and his mouth. He watched her writhe and groan as Samael used his tongue in sensitive places. During the sex act, he continued to kiss and caress her, remaining tender until the end.
Afterward, Lilith led Samael away. Dagon emerged from hiding, having learned a great deal about the art of making love. “My enemy instructs me with his skills of affection.” Dagon shook his head and smirked.
Lilith and Samael strolled hand-in-hand until they approached the others. She let go of his hand and whispered in his ear, “No one is to know what happened between us.”
Samael nodded in agreement and slouched away.
*
Gadreel slumped under a tree near the water. Her stomach had settled a bit, but she sensed the same would happen the following day. She stared at the water.
“Where is Dagon?” Fornues asked suddenly in her mind.
“I do not know.” Gadreel wrapped her arms around herself.
“Dagon is quite fond of you. He left the waters to be with you.”
“I did not ask him to do so.”
“He shall suffer to a great extent when he returns to sea, and it shall all have been for nothing.”
“What do you mean?” Gadreel leaned forward.
“Whenever Dagon leaves the ocean and walks on land, he must pay a price. He shall experience great pain as he attains his aquatic form once more. When he enters the water, he shall suffer a horrible drowning death before he is able to return to the sea once again. I believe today you got a glimpse of what it is like to drown.”
Gadreel pressed her hands to her cheeks and jumped to her feet. “Does he not know these things shall happen to him?”
“Of course he does, but he said no amount of suffering would keep him from spending a few hours with you.”
“His words make my heart swell with affection for him.” She touched her bosom. “He left the waters knowing the agony that awaited him once he returned? To spend a moment with me?”
“Yes. He thinks you are extraordinary.”
Slowly, a rosy color spread across her cheeks. Soon after, she departed in search of Dagon. She ran into him as he strolled toward the beach. She giggled and kissed him on the cheek. Her face flushed bright pink.
“Where are you going in such a hurry?” Dagon asked, his voice tender.
“My heart yearns for you, and my legs led me to you.” She smiled the kind of smile that reaches places the sun cannot and warms your heart.
Dagon squinted at her as if her face was blurred. Gadreel leaned in and kissed him on the lips.
He slid his hands up and down her arms gently and gazed into her eyes with a concerned expression. “When I become aroused, a bony projection juts from my forehead. It is painful, but there is nothing I can do to stop it. In spite of this, I can assure you that I shall not hurt you.”
Gadreel tucked a lock of hair behind his ear and caressed his face. He closed his eyes as she did so.
Dagon put his arms around her drawing her near. He kissed her softly on the face and nape of her neck. He set her on the ground, in the same way Samael did with Lilith. He continued to kiss her shoulders and nuzzle his face between her breasts. She panted and arched her neck and back. His horn broke out of his forehead. The pain was evanescent. She caressed his face and glided her fingers over the ridges at the base of his tusk. “I am not afraid,” she said. He mimicked Samael’s moves throughout their sexual encounter and she moaned and writhed in pleasure.
Lilith watched from behind a pomegranate shrub. Now that Gadreel has found a lover in Dagon, she would stay away from Samael. She strutted away with a satisfied grin.
Gadreel and Dagon continued to find pleasure in each other’s arms until the sun began to grow dim.
He brushed her wild, golden curls off her face. “It is almost time for me to return to sea. Please do not look upon me when my transformation begins.”
“Why not?” She scowled. “I am aware of what happens to you and I desire to be by your side when you change. Perhaps I can help alleviate your pain.”
“Perhaps you can.” Dagon closed his eyes and gently rubbed his face against hers. It was much better to be gentle and kind to your companion. Lilith was right and he was grateful.
“It is time to go!” Satan shouted.
“Let us go to the water.” Gadreel extended her hand to him. “We can wait there until you have transformed. I shall be with you, and Fornues shall be there as well.”
Dagon nodded.
They rushed to the water. The others were already there. Dagon advanced a few feet into the water. Gadreel sat next to him with her hand in his. Together they anticipated the transformation.
Lilith watched the sunset. Exquisite hues of purple, pink, and ruby colored the clouds as the radiance of the sun calmly diminished.
After watching the sun disappear behind the horizon, the fallen angels witnessed Dagon’s agonizing change. He stared at Gadreel’s glistening eyes during the transformation. Those dark russet eyes rimmed with thick, long, lashes that brushed her cheeks every time she closed her eyes. She caressed him as he tried to conceal his pain, but the agony was etched on his face.
After the transformation was complete, Dagon and Gadreel uttered their goodbyes. Samael sulked as he watched. Lilith peered at him with an insolent grin on her face.
“I shall see you in a few days,” Dagon said. Gadreel pressed a hand to her bosom as he swam away. Fornues trailed behind.
Lilith strolled over to Gadreel and played with a lock of her hair. Gadreel was jarred by the unexpected gesture.
“This is why we must pursue our revenge,” Lilith said. “Or perhaps you are at ease with Dagon’s suffering whenever he leaves the waters to visit you?”
“Of course not. I suffer knowing of his agony, but vengeance shall not change anything.” Gadreel hurried away. Lilith glared after her with a tightened jaw.
Chapter 25
Gadreel’s Tumble
Satan took to the skies. Lilith followed close behind.
“It is time to go, Gadreel!” Samael crossed his arms over his chest. Her eyes rested on the ocean and she ignored his bellowing. He gritted his teeth, flapped his wings and whooshed to the sky.
At the sound of rushing air, Gadreel lifted her eyes and saw her comrades soaring away. “I must hurry after them, but I feel so weak.” She fluttered her wings with all her might and became airborne. “It is going to be a challenge to keep pace with them, but I need to make an effort.”
Gadreel remained at the rear of the group. She preferred not to be too close to the others lest she become queasy. She did not have the strength to flap her wings nonstop, so she drifted through the air.
For a couple of weeks, they flew to the east by night and reposed by day. Every time they landed, Ga
dreel hurried to the shoreline. She had not seen Dagon since their last encounter at the beach with the date palms. Her eyes darted over the water as she stood on her tiptoes and searched for him. When she saw no sign of him she hung her head and dragged her feet to the nearest palm.
During their stops, she tried to nourish herself. It was vital she develop enough energy to proceed. Her bouts of nausea and vomiting had lessened in the last few days. She thought she might be getting better, although she still tired easily.
From the sky, Lilith and the other fallen angels viewed a monotonous landscape: sand and beaches punctuated by date palms and other desert trees and plants. Around the sixteenth day of their journey, Lilith spotted a river extending a considerable distance.
“Behold!” She pointed to the river. “There may be an abundance of food in and around that body of water!”
Satan and Samael aimed their sights in the direction she indicated. They all made a sweeping descent and landed near the river’s bank, except for Gadreel.
She did not have the strength to control her landing. She plummeted from the sky, shrieking and whirling. She tumbled into the river, making a huge splash. Samael and Satan rushed to her aid.
Sunning on the riverbanks were numerous reptilian creatures, which moved about comically on four short, splayed legs. Several of the reptiles beat their long, powerful tails on the ground when they caught sight of the angels. Others slid into the river and rolled around, wetting their scaly hides. Lilith, Satan, and Samael watched in astonishment as small birds fed on meat scraps inside the gaping mouths of the crocodiles.
Samael decided to step through the hordes of crocodiles to enter the water. If diminutive birds have the courage to forage inside the beasts’ mouths, he could certainly walk past them.
Gadreel floated in the water near the edge of the river. The largest of the reptiles swam around her. She appeared lifeless, yet the crocodiles did nothing to harm her. How was this so? They encircled her, as if forming a wall of protection.
Samael waded across the river toward her. Immediately, crocodiles lurking in the shallows surrounded him. The rough, massive creatures were submerged beneath the surface, except for their noses and yellowish-green eyes with vertical black slits, which peered at him.
Samael lifted his hands and his eyebrows joined in a frown. He expanded his wings and balled his hands to make fists, scanning from one beast to another. He continued inching closer to Gadreel until he got hold of her. As he attempted to fly off with her in his arms a crocodile gripped his leg with its massive jaws.
Samael howled in pain as the immense pressure of the beast’s teeth pierced his flesh. He released Gadreel, who splashed into the water once more, still unconscious.
The massive animal dragged Samael deep into the river. At the bottom, the crocodile beat him against a rock. He flailed and wriggled, attempting to free himself from the crocodile’s bite.
When Satan heard his cries, he transformed into the red beast. He whizzed in the air above the crocodiles and crashed into the river to rescue his ally. He caught the creature at the bottom of the river. The beast held Samael’s leg locked in its jaws.
Satan attacked the crocodile with the sharp, pointed end of his tail. He stabbed it repeatedly on the head. As its life came to an end, the creature’s mouth sprung open, releasing Samael’s gnawed leg. The reptile’s blood mingled with his and dispersed to cover the surface of the water.
When Lilith saw Satan spring into action, she too transformed into her alter ego, the powerful snake creature. She pulled Gadreel from the water, thrashing a few crocodiles along the way. She placed her limp body on the grass and waited until she regained consciousness.
Satan laid Samael alongside Gadreel. He pressed his lips together and grimaced in pain. Lilith examined the huge gash on his leg. She frowned.
“We must stop the vital life force from leaving his body.” Lilith paced scanning every living thing around her as she searched for a way to help him. A curious plant caught her eye. She rushed to it. It exhibited hairy, dull green leaves and lovely little flowers. The odd plant beckoned her. She reached out to it cautiously, recalling the hostile vegetation in the forbidden forests.
When she handled one plant’s hairy leaves, she suffered a painful sting. She recoiled and stared wide-eyed at her fingers. They were red and inflamed. She shook her fingers as they throbbed with pain.
Following her intuition she obtained a large leaf of another plant lying nearby and used it to gather a bunch of the stinging plants. She took them to Samael. Utilizing the sizeable leaf again, she crushed the stinging vegetation in her hands.
“This plant has a painful sting but it shall stop the bleeding.” She demonstrated the mashed plant to Samael. “Do you trust me?”
Samael panted and trembled but he bobbed his head.
“This is one of the special talents I received from God. I am sure of it now. I have my visions and the knowledge and ability to cure others by using elements of the natural world.” She applied the remedy to Samael’s open wound.
Samael’s eyes bulged as he experienced the excruciating, prickling pain of the plant’s acid working on his wounded leg. He howled and squirmed gripping the ground in pain as Lilith continued to compress the stinging foliage into his gashes.
“Be still, Samael!” Lilith gestured for Satan to hold him down.
Samael opened and shut his mouth trying to form words. He shook his head, groaned and gnashed his teeth in agony.
Lilith exhaled in relief. “I have stopped the bleeding. Your leg shall heal quickly now.”
“The pain is hard to bear,” Samael said in a low, gruff voice.
“Your pain shall subside soon.” She rubbed her hands together.
Satan released him and he closed his eyes and leaned back to rest.
Chapter 26
Gravidity
After a long while, Gadreel opened her eyes to the scrutiny of Lilith, Satan, and Samael.
“What happened?” She glanced from one face to another, brows knit.
“You fell from the sky,” Lilith said. “You plunged into the river. I saved you yet again.”
Gadreel had a look of chagrin on her face when she learned of this rescue. “Oh––” She heaved a deep sigh. “I am grateful to you.”
“What is happening to you?” Lilith peered at her. “I have seen you expel the contents of your stomach through your mouth. It weakens you. Why do you do this?” Gadreel had acted oddly before, but never like in past weeks. Lilith worried maybe their time on Earth was nearing its end, and she, being the weakest, would be the first to perish.
Samael cocked his head. “This behavior is most strange.”
“I do not know what is happening to me, or why.” She bit her lip and wrapped a curl around her finger in a preoccupied way. “Food refuses to stay within me. I spew what I eat by force, like my body wished to expel something that did not belong. I feel weak and tired all the time. It took everything I had to follow you here.”
“What is happening to your body?” Lilith pointed at her belly. “Your midsection is huge and round! I have seen you grow bigger by the day.”
Gadreel gaped at her abdomen, which was much bigger than the last time they landed. Suddenly, her belly popped, becoming tight, hard, and spherical. She screamed. Samael and Lilith recoiled. Lilith stared at her wide-eyed. Samael shook his head in disbelief as he moved further away. After a short while, her belly softened again.
Gadreel panted and stared at her middle unable to move. “I think my life on this planet has come to an end.”
“Perhaps you have consumed toxic vegetation? Have you eaten anything the rest of us have not?” Lilith asked. “In the South Forest in Floraison, there were many poisonous plants and seeds. They killed many of my troops. Perhaps on Earth, there are hostile seedlings as well.”
Gadreel shook her head. “I have not consumed anything you have not.”
“There is a parasite living inside you!” Samael exclai
med in a horrified tone. “Perhaps it crawled inside you while you slept. It depletes you of your substance and when it is done growing, it shall burst out of you!”
Gadreel shrieked and pressed her hands against her cheeks. Large drops fell from her eyelashes and splashed on her belly.
“Enough!” Satan shouted. Gadreel gawked at him.
He smiled with his mouth and his eyes and he stood with open arms. “There is something living inside you, for you are with child.”
Gadreel gasped. She stared at her belly, stunned. Tears continued to drop from her eyes. “Are you certain of this?”
He raised his eyebrows. “As sure as the ocean is vast.”
She covered her mouth with her hands and guffawed.
Satan looked at Lilith sideways. “How is it you did not know of Gadreel’s condition? It is peculiar that by means of your visions and knowledge you did not know she was with child?”
Lilith looked away and lowered her sight to the ground. “I did have an inkling of suspicion, but I refused to believe that Gadreel would be the first of our kind to produce offspring.” She reached out to pass her hand across Gadreel’s belly, but she grabbed her wrist and stopped her. Lilith yanked her hand away. Her muscles grew tense and her eyes narrowed. “How could you be the first to procreate? It does not make sense.” Her nostrils flared. “Do you think carrying a child inside you makes you special? You are still the maladroit––Gadreel.” Lilith leapt to her feet and stormed away.
Satan sucked air through his teeth and shook his head as he watched her go. “Indeed, you are unique, Gadreel.” Satan turned to her. “You are the first of our kind to conceive. You have shown us that this is possible. Now, I shall spread my seed and fill this planet with my own kin.” He cocked his head back and laughed.
Gadreel stared at him wild-eyed, as a damned soul on the edge of Heaven might look at the Power angel who shall push one to one’s destiny. She smashed her eyes shut and shook her head as if she could shake loose those remembrances. She looked down at her belly and felt giddy once more. She was carrying a child. She would not die. Instead, she would soon bring a new life onto this planet.
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