Michael knew what she was up to. He had seen this little stunt from her many many times throughout their time together. He also knew this was the night they would see Seneca. It had been a long time, and even though it would be nothing more than a casual observance of each other by all parties involved, it would serve as a warning that the time had come. His mind was not really on the task at hand other than the curiosity of the outcome. Did any of them really know what the end result would be? He knew Lilith had always thought she was the deserving ruler of the earth. He wondered why it mattered so much to her anyway. Did she not pretty much rule it now? She had created sin, and all things that go with it. Something that most did not know about her was that she had given each one on the tree of Darkness their power to control certain things. He knew she would not be satisfied with her power as it was now. She wanted the ultimate power and to control it all. He often wondered if she could not defeat God the day she was cast out of Heaven, what would make this go around any different? Could it be through the centuries since the vampires had separated and became different beings, and as darkness had taken over the minds of creation, that the numbers would finally sway to the side of evil? Could they possibly outnumber the good in everything and finally through sheer strength of numbers take over it all?
Seneca wondered through the packed crowd. Avoiding the oncoming rain of beads and cheap trinkets from the Mardi Gras floats. He would always remember the first parade he ever saw. He stood in awe as he watched people almost kill their fool selves to get a strand of beads. He had thought, “Look at these idiots trying to grab at this cheap shit.” Then, five minutes later he had become one of those idiots. He wasn’t sure what it was, what the allure was, but it sure was fun. He loved taking the children. Placing Kelsey on his shoulders and getting near the floats as they passed. They loved the children on the floats and Kelsey’s charm always made sure she got some of the better throws. Adam at seven was a little too big to ride his shoulders, but as long as he was close by to Kelsey, he got his share of trinkets also. The thoughts of his family being with him at the parades made him smile. But he knew he must quickly get the happy thoughts out of his mind and focus on what he was here for. It may not seem like a big deal to some, but to just see her again, and nothing more would ignite the ashes of the fire he had tried for so many years to put out. Even thought they both knew they were close to each other, they both knew what was about to happen, and it should not matter if they saw each other or not, but it did. Tonight was to be like the opening shot fired in the civil war. It would not decide the war, but let both parties know it had begun.
In some ways or in a lot of ways had not their centuries long battle been a civil war? They were all of the same thing, were the same thing. Except Lilith had sought the destruction of man since the beginning. His mother had been sent to create a beginning and an ending to all of it. She was the beginning and he was to be the end. What did the end result mean to the losing side? Would it be like the South after the civil war and to some extent even today? Would they feel like they were always looked down upon and just a little bit smaller that what they really were. Would there be a inferiority complex? He kind of doubted that. The only logical answer to him seemed to be one side would be destroyed, eliminated. If only man had sense enough to figure out that book of Revelations. It was exactly that, it told him all he needed to know about the outcome. He just hoped like hell it was right.
Lilith had been right, her choice of clothing was getting her more jaw dropping looks and pissed off mates. She had spotted him standing alone in the crowd and decided to make her move. He was young, maybe only 25, and his nicely cut blond hair stood out against his tanned skin and long sleeved dark green shirt. She had decided he would be tonight s feast. She knew he was here for one reason and one reason only. He wanted to see drunk chicks pull up their shirts and show some titties. He might even give one some of his beads if he could manage to sweet talk some not so innocent lady into showing them off to him. He had had his eyes on her and locked into a gaze ever since he noticed her looking at him. She was older than him, but there was something in her gaze that told him, this was his lucky night. He knew he was going to be lucky at some point, but an older woman made it even better. Her shirt was unbuttoned enough to let him see the nice plump rise of her breasts smashed against the buttons, making them strain to stay connected to the cloth. He would give her every bead he wore around his neck just for a chance to suck on one of them, or to bury his head in between their fleshy goodness. Damn, to be an older woman she was hotter and more fine than anything he had ever laid eyes on. She was like a goddess, was she even walking, it appeared she was floating on the air as she came toward him. He had never had this feeling of lust before, the ache in his loins was unlike anything he had ever felt, he was tingling, dying to get a taste of her. Her eyes were locked with his and he couldn’t break her stare. He didn’t know who she was but he wanted to know her name.
Seneca had spotted her weaving her way through the crowd, he saw the young man’s look and knew he saw her too, he knew she had locked in on him and was preparing to make him her night time snack. As long as she didn’t turn around and see him, she was blocked from his mind. His biggest concern was Michael, but even if Michael saw him, he would know and deal with it appropriately. As much as he hated the fact this young man was going to lose his life tonight, he had to let nature take its course. His goal was to let her know what she already knew, and to see he had not changed in the years since they last met. He watched as she walked up to the young man and teasingly rubbed her long black nails down his arm and he knew she was giving him her enchanting smile. It made him sick to his stomach to think of what she would do to him. He also knew that after tonight, he would have to leave town for a few days, there was one more thing he had to do to before the battle began.
Michael had been standing on the balcony watching the floats go by and seeing all the women lift their shirts to try and get a cheap strand of beads thrown their way. He was positioned to keep an eye on her and felt his anger rise when she made her move on the young man. He hated the twisting feeling in his guts at the love and hatred he had for her. So many thoughts of betrayal danced in his mind on nights like this. But just like everyone else, how, how do you take her down, and did he ever really want to? He saw her rub the mans arm, and when he turned away he spotted him. He knew he would be here. Knew it was time. Maybe in a selfish and stupid move her would let his rage fall down on Seneca. So what if his life came to an end, maybe the hell Lilith had prepared after death would be better than the hell she put him through here on this shitty little planet. What had Marius done to him so many years ago? Could he even think that way, he would have been dust a long time ago were it not for the gift. Just like everything in his mind as of late, it was all like the feeling in the pit of his stomach, twisted and sick. Allegiance to the dark side, faithfulness to her when she gave him none, hatred for the light, it was all an ugly mess inside his soul.
How stupid the mortal mind. Did it even occur to this man why a woman like her would want him? Just walk up to him and offer to give him a pleasure filled ride he would never live to remember? The human was so gullible Seneca told himself as he watched her take the man by the hand and turn to come his way. He quickly ducked in to the crowd, but knew it was too late, she had spotted him. He didn’t have any curse words to utter under his breath, however she had seen him was the way it was supposed to be. He had been so focused on her, he did not sense the attack coming and as she got almost to him in the crowd, Michael made his move. His rage, turmoil, anger, hared had all spilled over. He had spotted Seneca and when Lilith and the man were near him, he flew from the top of the balcony, not caring who witnessed his winged flight, and crashed down among them spilling Lilith, the man and Seneca along with some very drunk and screaming bystanders.
Seneca felt the blood flow down his cheek, but it was only briefly as the cut from his fall healed up almost instantly. The crowd was
in a panic seeing this thing that looked human with its winged back. They watched in fear as the wings folded into him and disappeared. His face was scratched from his crash, and his eyes were a glowing red with a hint of dull gray ash in the whites. Unlike Seneca, the dark ones wounds did not heal as quickly, and the blood trickled down his face until it reached his lips, he flicked his tongue and tasted his own life juice, and the anger flowed and pumped through his enraged veins. But even in his rage, he realized he had made a grave mistake, and spinning around to face the road and all the floats going on by like nothing had happened, he opened his wings, and flew into the night. Lilith was livid, she was almost face to face with Seneca and as much as she despised the human race, this was not the time, she had to finish her task of tasting the blood form this delicacy that lay on the ground with her. Seneca stared down upon her, and in a deep voice told her, “This is a new beginning to a age old ending, you know how this will end, you have always known, give up your thirst to rule it all.” As he turned and walked away, she smiled at him and said, “Yes, a new beginning, but this time the ending will be mine. In due time and place my old friend.”
The young man helped her up and tried to ask her was she all right and what was that they had just seen fly down and off into the night. But he could not utter a word. He wanted to ask about the brief conversation that had taken place and decided he best option at this point was to release her hand and run. Something told him this was not an ordinary female he had been smitten by. He dared not look into her eyes and turned and bumping into a few people in the crowd disappeared in the night just as Michael and Seneca had done. She could chase him and cause even more of a scene, but knew the damage Michael had done was going to make stories spread fast. How long would it be before stories of vampires were rumored around the city? She brushed herself off and while the crowd was busy starting those rumors she also disappeared into the night. The stories were already growing about what it was that had attacked them as she faded out of earshot.
News of the winged man attacking two men and a lady were spreading fast in the streets. She was livid with Michael and his foolishness at the parade. She would take care of him once back at their domain, but right now she had to flee the area and find her a new meal. As she flew over the Quarter, she landed at one of her favorite spots, atop the St Louis Cathedral. She gathered her thoughts and knew his recklessness must be punished. She had had enough of his jealous rages and it was time for them to stop. He was going to cost her everything, and there was no way she was going to let that happen. To hell with Mortis and all of the Council she was going to do what must be done to complete her destiny. She had waited thousands of years for this moment in time. It was not going to be robbed of her again, she would take control of it all and finally have her revenge against the creator. There was no doubt that even though he had created her, she could be and would be stronger this time, and she would take his seat in the heavens and watch him try and live among this wretched creation he had placed here. If he loved it so much why did he not still come down here and talk to these nasty things? Why had he given up hope when they committed the sin she created? Why did he send that Jesus here to save them all and give them the hope of eternal life. Could she not do the same thing for them with a bite to the neck? With a sucking of the blood? At least she had lived here with them and not abandoned them as he had. She had really given them life eternal all these years. She had given them the powers she had, although not in as great a strength. She would show him and all who were to witness who she was and she would watch them all bow down to Lilith, the Queen of the universe.
The night was growing old and the streets were almost empty when she spotted the drunken bum staggering down Jackson Square. She would wait until he seated himself on one of the benches and then grab her undesirable meal for the night. It would be nowhere near as delicious as the morsel she had lost because of that idiot and his moment of weakness. The old bum took his seat, and opened up the newspapers that would be his nights blanket. He had his eyes closed and was saying a prayer for God to help him in his drunken misery and to be good to him and help some kind soul give him a meal tomorrow. He was the typical French Quarter bum, and she could smell him long before she reached him. She was calming down from her rage with Michael, and decided to have a moment of weakness in her twisted sort of way for this poor soul. When the bum opened his eyes, she was seated beside him. The stench of piss, old dirty clothes and cheap bourbon ravaged her nostrils. He nodded a hello and she asked him how he was. He said, “Lady, I ain’t been worth a damn in a long time, and not gonna be worth a damn much longer. I’ve seen enough misery in 5 years to kill most men, but I’m still out here everyday trying to survive.” With as much pity as she could muster, she told him, “You poor soul, you probably haven’t had a good meal in forever. And when was the last time you bathed? Why don’t you come with me, and let me treat you to a warm bed and meal for tonight?” He had a look of sadness on his face when he looked at her and asked, “You mean it lady? Are you serious? I’ve never been one for charity, but I have also learned from an old saying my daddy used to tell me, beggars can’t be choosers.” She took him in all his filth by the hand, and lead him down the street. He was too drunk to notice much and was having trouble placing one foot in front of the other. She was getting hungry and sometimes stench did not seem a good way to end the night.
Michael did not even bother to go back to the abode. He knew he had made a careless mistake. He was more scared of her right now than he had ever been. What was he to do and where was he to go after this? She would punish him more severely than ever for what he had done. How she would do it, he wasn’t sure, but it would be misery for him. If she could find him. Maybe he should grab a freight liner and hide in the cargo hold and make his way back to Rome. There he could confront the council and ask for their protection. He knew they offered little if she wanted him, but it seemed the best option at the moment. What had happened to him, why had he lost his cool. He had always been able to control his frustration with her, but when he saw her touch his arm, and then to see Seneca in the crowd, it was more than he could handle and he snapped. It was so unlike him. He had to find a way to make amends with her, and to seek her forgiveness if he wanted to rule beside her. Oh, the pain in his head, he didn’t know what he wanted.
“The time is upon us. Whatever you wanted to say last night, that time has passed. I know this has not been easy for you. There is still so much more you do not know, and cannot be told until I have your answer. And even then, I may not be able to tell you.” He looked at her and hoped she would give him the answer he wanted to hear, but not sure it was the right one. “Seneca, yes, this shit has driven me crazy the past few days. None of it is as I dreamed it would be, but then again, that was all it was supposed to be, a dream. You were never supposed to be real. You were a movie, a book, a work of fiction. All of you were supposed to be dreamed up in the mind of someone and taken to new levels over the years. It was never supposed to be about creation. Never supposed to be about my God being one of you. It makes no sense to me that all I am is a chess piece in someways. I mean nothing to your God, because he certainly is not mine anymore. Everything is about your kind. When I believed otherwise, I had a home to go to, either a heavenly home or one of damnation. Now all I have is nothing. I have no hope of a better life after this one. All there is for me is dirt. To go back to what I came from. To sleep and rot away. Never dreaming, never reaching a goal that I had faith in ever since I was old enough to know. But to know what? That my existence in the Bible is not really mine but yours? That is the thing I cannot get over more than any other thing you have told me. Yes, yes, Amaranth bothers me, but to think my only reason to be here is to be a personal blood bank for you and your kind, nags at me like nothing ever has.”
“I’m so sorry Summer. It was something you humans were never supposed to know. Why do you think those of us who are of the light have been almost a secret society. There are tho
se of us who are married and walk among you that never tell their partner. I was so thrilled when I learned of your love of vampires, even though you thought of the other ones in a way. You can still have that immortality that you seek, you can still have a purpose. You can have a place in heaven that you talk about. You just have to come join me. Those on the dark side have the only salvation they will ever know in the fire that Lilith has created for them. There is light and darkness, but it is for a different race than yours. You know this. You can join me and have that gift you seek if we should ever perish. I cannot decide for you, I could have decided, but I did not want that for you, I could still decide and in time you would forgive me. But I have not made one of my kind in many, many years. I wanted the choice to be yours and only yours and that is why you know these things that no other human has ever been told. You know what even the Council does not.”
Thirst Page 9