by Rae Magdon
Lilith’s first instinct was to back away, but instead, she peeled her lips back over her teeth and held her ground. Her muscles bunched along the line of her shoulders. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Eva lift her staff. Lady Godiva remained perfectly still. Her head was still bowed, her face obscured by the long curtain of her hair.
The three Furies circled them, wings still outstretched. “Stop praying for the living one!” the first shrieked, fixing her blood-streaked gaze on Lady Godiva. Her voice was an unholy, grating terror, somewhere between human and bird and snake.
Lady Godiva did not look up. She kept her hands clasped and her eyes closed, lips moving without sound. Lilith wanted to shake her, to snap her out of whatever trance she had fallen into, but did not dare to take her eyes off the Furies.
“Call our sister, Megaera,” said the second one. “Let Medusa turn her to stone!”
“Medusa?” Eva hissed. “Fucking Medusa? She’s here, too?”
Lilith did not have time to answer. The three Erinyes slithered nearer, closing in around them. “Ask her to leave one for us, Tisiphone,” the last Fury hissed. “It’s been eons since I’ve tasted living meat...”
“What do we do with that one, Alecto?” Megaera pointed at her with a wicked-looking talon. She was so close that Lilith could smell putrid, rotting flesh on her breath. “We can’t eat it, and who knows if Medusa can turn it to stone?”
“Kill it!”
The three of them pounced, but Lilith moved faster. She lunged low and sliced out with her claws, catching the nearest Fury in the gut. The wound was shallow, but the snakes at its waist hissed in agony, trying to bite any part of her that they could reach. She snatched her arm back before their fangs could sink into her.
Another Fury flew at her, but Eva’s staff swung out in a blur, crashing down on top of its head. The Fury reeled back, obviously stunned, but another hurried to take its place. It stretched out its wings, and its forked tongue flickered in its mouth. It dodged around Eva, and Lilith screamed as its sharp talons sank into her side. She whirled around, trying to throw the attacker off.
That left her vulnerable to the first injured Fury. It went straight for her eyes, scratching and tearing. She tried to turn her face in time, but the talons ripped through her flesh, leaving long, bloody furrows down her cheek and throat. The gouges burned, and she snapped out with her teeth, missing the hand that had clawed her.
The Fury darted forward again, but before it could rip into her, Eva’s staff appeared between them. Lilith took the opening and staggered away. She watched in horror as the Fury latched onto Eva’s back, gripping the fabric of her shirt in its claws. With a few powerful flaps of its wings, it lifted her into the air, rising higher and higher as she dangled helplessly from its talons.
Eva’s screams gave Lilith the strength to throw aside the other two Furies. She spread her wings and pushed off from the ground, streaking up along the side of the wall. The other two Furies took off after her, screeching their rage, but she did not look back. Her eyes remained fixed on Eva’s dangling form. She reached out with her arms, stretching upwards and straining for speed. Only a few more yards...
A loud, booming crack echoed across the great wall. It ripped through the fabric of the sky, drowning out the Furies’ angry shrieks. The ground shuddered, the iron walls groaned, and the Fury carrying Eva loosened its grip in a panic. She dropped, her mouth falling open in a scream as she grasped at the empty air. Lilith forgot to breathe. She pumped her wings one last time, and opened her arms just as Eva’s weight crashed into them. She gripped Eva’s shirt, holding on tight as they spiraled through the air.
When she pulled them out of the spin, the world around her had fallen into chaos. Angels crouched behind the battlements, shouting and averting their eyes from the sky. The Furies flew in a frantic circle, clustering together and adding their own shrieks to the din. A great wind rose from nowhere, battering at her wings. Great, yawning cracks appeared in the stone below them, and Eva clung tight to her neck until they landed on the ground. For a moment, she was afraid that the great walls of Dis would collapse on top of them.
The loud roar quieted, and a brilliant blue light pierced the sky, stretching across the marshes. A blurred shape appeared, floating effortlessly over the River Styx, and Lilith let out a deep sigh of relief. “And with soles unwet,” she murmured against Eva’s hair, “he crosses over the water and sends the multitude scattering before his blade.”
At first, she could only make out a dark silhouette, but as it drew closer, it took the shape of a man. He had a strong jaw, dark skin, and a great, gleaming sword. White-feathered wings stretched out from his back, even larger than hers, and light poured from him, gathering around his head. Immediately upon seeing his face, her fear vanished. It was as if the earthquake had never happened.
Lilith fell to her knees, lowering her head in deference. “Michael.”
The angel’s sandaled feet finally touched the ground. He towered over her, his sword gripped in his left hand. “Your guide called for me, First One. I answered her, just as I answered your prayer of repentance.”
Suddenly, Lilith remembered Lady Godiva. She had been so entranced by Michael’s appearance that she had completely forgotten about her. She had been frustrated and confused when Lady Godiva had not joined in the fight, but now, she realized why. Their guide had been asking for help. Lady Godiva stepped forward to stand beside her. She did not kneel, but she bowed her head. “Master, the gate is closed. We cannot pass through. That is why I called you.”
Michael nodded his head. “I will open the gate, but I cannot guide you beyond this place, just as you cannot guide the First One beyond the Eighth Circle.” Lilith shivered as his eyes turned to her. “You must complete this journey on your own, just as you found the strength to earn your own redemption.”
Before she could say anything in answer, a hand gripped the back of her shoulder. “I won’t let her go alone,” Eva said from behind her. Her voice was soft, but determined. “I’m staying with her.
“She will not be alone,” Michael said. “You are the reason she fights. But I sense doubt in you, First One. You fear that her love for you is forced.”
Lilith did not answer. The weight of Eva’s hand on her shoulder suddenly felt heavier. She kept her face tilted toward the ground. “I don’t doubt her. I doubt myself,” she whispered.
“Doubt is the blade of the enemy. If you begin to doubt yourself, rely on her. She has placed her trust in you.” He turned to face the walls of the city, raising the hand that did not hold his sword. Ashen faces peered over the battlements, and he addressed them with disdain. “You, who are banished out of heaven! You despised ones! Your time and distance apart has bred arrogance. Stop protesting what has already been decided by your Creator!”
The fallen angels shouted with anger, but none were brave enough to offer a challenge. Gradually, their protests died out as Michael touched the tall gate with one hand. A pulse of light spread out from his palm, and the doors buckled. Finally, the metal bar that lay across them split down its center with a loud, sharp crack, and the doors flew open.
Michael stepped back, sheathing his sword and turning to face Lilith. “Rise, First One, and retrieve your soul. The way is open.”
Canto XII:
For flames between the sepulchres were scattered,
By which they so intensely heated were,
That iron more so asks not any art.
The fallen angels did not protest as Lilith entered the City of Dis with Eva and Lady Godiva at her side. Instead, everything remained eerily silent as she passed through the giant gate. She turned back once to look over her shoulder, but the Archangel Michael had vanished, leaving them to continue on their own. When she stared up at the sky, she was not surprised to see that the Furies had fled as well.
“We should be safe here,” she said as they cr
ossed the uneven cobblestones. There was no path to follow, only several large slabs scattered about at random, and she avoided them as best she could. “The Furies and the fallen angels only guard the gate, and the souls that dwell in the Sixth Circle are all trapped.”
“Where?” Eva asked.
She paused to nod at one of the stone squares, and Eva followed her gaze, a soft gasp escaping her lips. The slabs they had been circling were actually tombs, and smoke poured from their seams like steam trying to escape a pot’s lid. Some were built directly into the ground, and others stood upright. None were ornately decorated, but their purpose was clear. The sepulchers held the residents of the City of Dis, countless numbers of them.
“You seem upset,” Lilith said, observing how pale Eva had become. “This punishment bothers you more than the others we’ve seen?”
Eva nodded, chewing on her lower lip. “Claustrophobia. What sin does this Circle punish again? Because I’d rather be in the Second or Fourth Circle than locked in one of these for eternity...”
Lilith could not help thinking of the Ninth Circle, and a shudder ripped through her body as she imagined the cold kiss of ice circling her limbs, locking her in place for eternity. That world beneath the world was far more horrible than any punishment the Sixth Circle could offer. She stopped beside one of the tombs, shoving those thoughts back into the recesses of her mind. Thankfully, the sepulcher she had chosen was empty, with the top shifted off to one side. No fire burned within. It was obviously waiting for a sinner whose time had not yet come. “The Sixth Circle punishes heresy,” she said, perching on the edge. She crossed one thigh over the other and braced her weight on her palms.
Eva plopped down beside her, resting her elbows on her knees. “You mean you get sent here simply for not believing in God? I...I think I feel sick...”
“Of course not,” Lady Godiva said from beside her. “These tombs are reserved for sinful heretics, the kind that use their lack of belief to corrupt and harm others. Peaceful nonbelievers who dedicate their lives to progress and the improvement of mankind remain in the paradise of the First Circle, where they are justly rewarded.”
That seemed to ease Eva’s mind a little, and she raised her head, although her face was still paler than usual. Lilith rested a hand on her shoulder and leaned closer. “Try not to think about it. Dwelling on the punishments of the Circles can drive anyone mad.”
Eva turned to look at her, and a line appeared in the middle of her forehead. “You’re still hurt. I hardly even noticed…” Lilith held still while Eva’s fingertips grazed over her injured cheek. “How bad is it?”
“Not that bad,” Lilith lied. The gouges along her face and throat stung horribly, and they still felt wet.
Lady Godiva glanced between the two of them, obviously coming to a decision. “It’s been over a hundred years since the last time I crossed this Circle. Why don’t you two wait here and rest while I remind myself of the path? It isn’t a long distance.”
Lilith began to object, but Eva nudged her below the ribs with an elbow. “That sounds like a good idea. We won’t be too long.”
The corners of Lady Godiva’s mouth twitched up into a smile, and her cheeks dimpled. “Neither will I.” She turned and picked her way through the maze of stone slabs, vanishing out of sight.
“How awkward is it that Lady Godiva keeps leaving so we can fuck?” Eva asked once their guide was out of earshot.
Lilith sighed. “We should be thankful for her courtesy,” she said, trying to convince herself as much as she was trying to convince Eva. “She knows what I am and what I need.” She touched the side of her face, but quickly pulled her hand back, wincing with discomfort. It had hurt far less when Eva’s fingertips grazed the broken skin.
“It still feels a little awkward.”
“We could always invite her to join us next time,” Lilith teased. Putting aside her pain, she leaned in to flick her tongue against the shell of Eva’s ear.
Eva giggled and pulled away from her. “You’re terrible. We’ve already traumatized the poor woman enough. She might look like a sexpot, but I get the feeling she’s actually kind of shy.”
“Are you sure you don’t just want me all to yourself?” Lilith purred. Her hands drifted down to Eva’s waist, tugging lightly at the hem of her shirt. Eva lifted her arms obligingly, and Lilith wasted no time pulling it up and over her head, exposing the pale skin of her torso. She let out a low sigh as she stared at the outline of Eva’s breasts. They were barely covered by her fitted undershirt, and she stroked one of Eva’s shoulders, toying with the final strap.
Eva leaned back on her hands, and Lilith reached out to trace the curve of her breast through the fabric. It wasn’t enough, and so she pulled the undershirt out of the way, flicking the side of her claw against the stiff point of a nipple. “Can you blame me?” Eva murmured. She arched her spine, pushing further into the touch. “I love having your undivided attention.”
Lilith laughed and bent down to run her tongue along Eva’s pulse point. She smirked as it sped up under the heat of her lips. She could already sense Eva’s desire seeping out through her skin, and she breathed in deep, letting the taste settle on her tongue. “And I like having yours. Since I satisfied your desires last time, I think it’s your turn to service me. Kneel,” she ordered, gently nudging Eva off of the empty tomb and onto the ground.
Eva fell obediently to her knees, smiling as she brushed her hair away from her eyes. Her eagerness was endearing, and Lilith reached down to caress the side of her face, savoring the swell of possessiveness that rose in her chest. “Good girl,” she murmured. “Now, help me undress.” Teasingly, she lifted one of her boots and rested it in Eva’s lap. She shuddered as soft hands ran up along the leather to undo the buckles, and groaned with relief as her hooves were freed. They never fit quite right in her boots anyway when she shifted.
Her pants followed almost as quickly, and once her clothes had been kicked aside, Lilith draped one of her calves over Eva’s shoulder, spreading herself open. “What are you waiting for?” Eva’s eyes immediately focused between her legs, and she ran the side of one claw over the swollen nub of her clit, drawing back its hood. She laughed when she caught Eva sliding her tongue over her lower lip. “Don’t you want to lick me?”
“Yes,” Eva breathed. She dipped her head, but stopped just short of her goal.
Lilith couldn’t bear to make Eva wait for more than a few seconds. She pulled her fingers out of the way, reaching out to trace the swell of Eva’s lower lip with the glistening tips. “Then put that pretty mouth of yours to work.”
Eva took the invitation immediately, and Lilith sighed as soft lips folded around the stiff point of her clit. The heat and pressure almost made her hips rock forward, but she clutched down on the edge of the stone sepulcher with her free hand, forcing herself to hold still. She had ordered Eva to service her, and it wouldn’t do to rush. “Slower,” she purred. A soft whimper broke in Eva’s throat, but Lilith shook her head. “I want you to take your time.”
Eva shifted back and released her with a soft pop, replacing her lips with flat, broad strokes of her tongue instead. They stopped just short of her clit, deliberately missing the sensitive bud, but each slip and curl made her inner muscles flutter with want. Lilith groaned, torn between forcing Eva back up and pushing her further down. She hesitated for too long, and the decision was taken away from her. Eva’s tongue dragged lower, testing the ring of muscle at her entrance, and she let out a low hiss of approval.
Even though she knew that Eva had shifted her attention there for selfish reasons, Lilith could not stop the hot pulse of wetness that flooded from deep within her. It covered Eva’s lips and chin, making her pale face glisten. The sight was almost enough to break her resolve, but she shifted her thighs further apart, determined to enjoy herself a little longer before she fed.
She allowed Eva to play fo
r a while, pushing down her need as much as she could. The muscles in her thighs and stomach tensed, twitching with pleasure whenever Eva’s tongue pushed deeper inside of her. It curled forward, pressing and coaxing, and every time it scraped over the sensitive spot against her front wall, she released another shuddering spill of warmth. The swollen bud of her clit throbbed just above Eva’s soft mouth, aching for attention again.
“You’ve had your fun,” she panted when it became too much, pulling Eva’s head away and urging her back up. “Now, finish what you started.”
Her orders were followed immediately. Lilith groaned as Eva tugged at the firm point of her clit, flicking over the tip with little velvet licks. She reached out, unable to hold back any longer, and latched onto the arousal pulsing from her prey. It bloomed open around her, and her eyes flashed as she drank her fill, shuddering at the intoxicating pull of emotions. The extra stimulation soon had her hovering on the brink, pushed near her limit by Eva’s clever mouth and the richness of her desire. Eva increased her efforts, flicking her tongue faster and rubbing against the seam of her pants.
“You’ll get your turn,” Lilith panted. Her head tipped back, and she ran her claws through Eva’s mussed hair. She could sense that she was causing her lover some mild discomfort, but it only added to the intensity. “Once I come in your mouth, I’ll let you ride my thigh.”
Eva gazed up at her with pleading eyes, swollen pink lips still sealed around her, and the sight made Lilith come undone. She cried out, her inner walls fluttering as she rubbed herself against Eva’s mouth. She seized and shivered, wrapping herself up in Eva’s desire as she rocked through each pulse of her release. Somehow, Eva managed to follow her bucking hips, and Lilith loosened her grip, easing the pressure just enough to give her a little freedom.