Succubus Tear (Triune promise)

by Andreas Wiesemann

  “Saving the life of the innocent should never require repayment,” he said passionately. “Neither should the act of allowing corrupt justice to take place be rewarded.” He drank some tea from his small cup and continued. “But your story is a strange one, an incomplete one.” He set the cup down almost like a gavel. “One that I’d like to know.”

  Cain nodded. “That is fair. We—”

  “Perhaps tonight, Cain,” Amidres’ said, standing up. “There is plenty for me to do around the property.” Serenna helped him get his coat on and handed him a set of keys and a sack lunch. “I will see you two tonight I—ahem, we—will be most anxious to hear your tale.” Amidres’ kissed Serenna and went out the door without another word.

  Serenna looked to Al’bah, who had already collected the plates, placed them on the countertop, and had started to wash them. “Al’bah, how many times must I tell you that you are a guest here?” Her protest went unheeded, and Cain suspected that Al’bah had been doing chores all along while he was incapacitated.

  Cain initially tried to help out, but both girls immediately closed ranks against any attempt for Cain to do anything but relax, eat, or drink.

  “In fact,” Serenna said, taking out the thermometer out and handing it to Cain, “let’s see if that fever went down.” After a moment she read aloud, “Ninety-nine point six…better.” She looked from the thermometer to Cain. “But don’t go outside, Cain. It is colder here due to the elevation, and you are not completely well. If you exert yourself too much, you may get sick and lose your breakfast.”

  So Cain had little to do but try his best to eat and drink the overabundance that both women tried to put to him. There was a bit of tension between them, but he thought it would be best not to ask about it. Between chores, Al’bah filled Cain in on the gaps of his memory.

  The last thing Cain remembered was the day before Al’bah had burned all their possessions. He had no memory of the last day’s walk or the following five days. Upon reaching the house, it was a struggle for the three of them to get Cain inside; they couldn’t lay him on his back and decided to keep him upright next to the fireplace.

  Cain was upset over the loss of the money he had saved over the last decade. His anger only abated when Serenna harshly reminded him that it was a miracle he lived through that night. Not even to mention the next five nights.

  The first two days and nights were the worst. No one thought Cain would live as he hovered between death and hallucinations; punctuated by the horrifying sound of his thick, wet breathing, or his cries to people that weren’t there, not recognizing Al’bah the times he did call for her, and screaming at horrors imagined.

  Slowly, the three of them brought Cain around. And by day three, his hallucinations were calmer, and his breathing slowly got better. He was awake at times and able to move around, but they all thought he had suffered brain damage. He could barely remember anything from his past, and he couldn’t remember anything further than fifteen minutes.

  Amidres’ suspected that Cain’s brain might not have been fully conscious, and by the fourth day Cain did little but sleep. It was a struggle to wake him for medicine or liquid food. And when awake, he couldn’t recognize anyone.

  After Cain’s backstory was filled in, Serenna started to talk of herself and of Amidres’. The two of them were American citizens living just a few miles from the American-Mexican border. Their homestead was on a ridge inaccessible on three sides. The house itself was carefully camouflaged to all but a bird’s eye view, so they were left alone for the most part.

  Amidres’ had a severe distrust of both Mexican and American governments, and he did his best to live “off the grid,” generating his own power, growing or hunting food, and crafting what he needed or selling his works for money to buy the things he could not make.

  They had heard about Cain and Al’bah from bounty postings and the radio. However, Amidres’ found several discrepancies that did not make Cain’s case as cut-and-dried as the authorities made it out to be. The details of the story changed slightly several times. But there were other details that made no sense at all: an alert to Virginia, a possible Canadian border crossing, the manhunt’s new focus in Tennessee. It all made one wonder just what was really going on.

  Cain looked up to Al’bah. Her chores were done, and she was staring into the fire, sipping a cup of hot tea.

  “And, uh, what has Al’bah told you?”

  “That you both have been framed, and you were walking to avoid detection to cross the border.” She set her own cup of tea down. “She told us that you saved her from slavery. She said that her former master wishes to possess her once more. That her former master has the power and influence to frame you for heinous crimes, with little fear of retribution.”

  Cain nodded. “That is true. But I can certainly see how it would be inadequate, given how much attention we have been getting.” Cain turned to Al’bah and waited.

  Slowly Al’bah raised her eyes to Cain’s. Her eyes were full of a well-disguised hurt. She knew he was still upset over the loss of all his money and possessions. And try as he might to let it go, he was pissed.

  She knew this, and although she had apologized for it over and over again, Cain knew that she held some sort of smug gratification for her actions which, he had to admit, had saved his life. “I think I will tell them, Al’bah,” he said, his voice a little harder than he wanted it to be.

  Al’bah said nothing as she looked to Serenna and back to Cain, her face now showing a small amount of fear.

  “Could we have a moment alone?” Cain asked.

  “Of course.” Serenna got up and left the room.

  “Al’bah, say something,” Cain said, leaning back into his chair. “I want to know your opinion.”

  Al’bah sighed. “I am worried that you are going to tell them the truth. We have no idea how they will react, especially considering that they have no history with you like Charlie did, and they are not caught up in this struggle like Stella was, and still is.”

  Cain shrugged. “I have a feeling that they will not be a threat to us, but I can only tell them the truth. I’m certain they won’t believe it, unless you show them.”

  “No,” Al’bah said, crossing her arms. “I will agree to tell them the truth, but I am not of the theatre. I will not perform on command.”

  Cain had not expected this show of defiance. “Is there something wrong, Al’bah? Is there something you aren’t telling me?”

  Al’bah’s eyes changed; they went from stubborn to remorseful. “Cain, I am sorry! How many times must I continue to apologize for burning your money?”

  “But what does that have to do with—”

  “Anger! I can feel your anger to me! I can feel your blame! It hurts me, Cain! I can barely stand to be near you, now that you are like this! I—oh! It is so painful to be near you.” She closed her eyes and held her hands out. “What was I to do, Cain? You were dying. I know you worked long and hard for your currency. I felt the spiritual energy that surrounded every single piece of paper. You loving, you grieving those bits of paper tear me apart.”

  Cain forced himself to remain seated, forced himself to not shout. Even still, Al’bah flinched as though he had raised his hand to strike her. “Okay, what about if you were trapped under a rock, and I had to cut your wings off to save your life? Do you think that it would be so easy to let go of something like that?”

  The shock on Al’bah’s face made Cain immediately regret saying that. “I, um—”

  Al’bah bared a mouth filled with fangs; her eyes were jet-black, and her hair seemed to writhe as though alive. “No!” She stood and clasped her hand to his mouth. “I will not let you apologize for that comment! You said it! And you will deal with knowing that it crossed a line with me!”

  She bent her neck at an alarming, unnatural angle that would have killed a normal human, so her head was now at eye level with Cain. “Know this, my love. My most precious Bond! You, who saved me from the maw
of corruption! You, who I will love until existence is commanded to cease to be. You will not compare your money to me ever again!”

  She let go of Cain’s mouth and stood. Her eyes were still jet-black, but her hair and mouth were normal.

  Cain was livid and horrified at the same time; now she crossed a line. He stood, and despite her disturbing change, he stepped closer to her. “You’re right. My money was a testament to my life. Proof that I achieved all my life. You don’t understand. It was proof of all my torturous days, hours, and years I endured under the hot sun and freezing cold! My many injuries, and the endless struggles I endured!”

  Al’bah’s fangs returned, and her breath reeked of rotting meat and blood. Her scent burned in his lungs, and she pointed a three-inch-long claw to his chest. “And now it is gone!” she hissed, her voice sounding startlingly similar to Taint’s voice. “You worshipped money for so long, and now you have lost the equivalent of a god in your own mind! All of it sacrificed to save your life! You were getting ill, and you did not listen to my warnings! Are you so consumed by pride that you cannot remember I needed spiritual power attached to physical objects to make fire? I cannot produce fire on my own!”

  “Peh! You were quick to want to burn it even before I got sick! Seems like you got what you wanted after all. Are you satisfied?”

  Al’bah’s eyes went from a black void to a burning red inferno without skipping a beat. Her hair changed into a writhing mass of black snakes with burning green eyes. They hissed and bore their dripping fangs at him. “Just say it, Cain! Declare that you love money!”

  Spurred by the weight of all his loss and his fury, Cain stepped forward and grabbed Al’bah’s shirt and brought his nose to touch hers. He was finished with being cowed by spiritual creatures. If Al’bah wanted to hurt him, Cain would allow it and never have it be said that he was afraid of her. “Fine! I love money!”

  The snakes hissed even more menacingly but backed away from Cain’s face. Al’bah raised her wickedly clawed hand between their chests, and gently pushed him away, her face still contorted with fury. “And now it is gone, and you have nothing to show for it, save your life! And though I am sorry to cause you grief, I will never relinquish my satisfaction of destroying your wretched idol!”

  Cain felt something within him snap. He wanted to kill something! How dare she!

  “What are you doing to me?” Cain mumbled, feeling his head spin.

  “You call upon strength that is no longer there. Your body is spent.”

  Cain flailed out and would have fallen if Al’bah had not grabbed him. That she was able to without cutting him wide open surprised him. She gently laid him upon the floor and shook her head, with tears in her burning crimson eyes. “Such rage,” she said, starting to rise. “So be it, Cain. Be mad at me for as long as you wan—”

  She stopped, as Cain tried to grab her arm but only managed to brush his hand across her elbow, barely able to whisper.

  “Al’bah…please…”

  Al’bah stopped and leaned closer on all fours.

  Her expression made Cain want to cry again. Even though her eyes still glowed with bloodlust, and even though she bared her wicked teeth, her expression of anger was not one that came from fury, but of hurt. He had hurt her to the point of provoking her… and for what reason? What right did he have? She saved his life, and she only wanted his love. Did he really just give it to money?

  “It’s not so easy for humans to let go,” Cain said as he panted and gasped for air. “It’s not easy for me to let go of the last ten years of my life, and have nothing to show for it.”

  Cain closed his eyes and brought Al’bah’s clawed hand to his face. “I know you saved my life. I know you feel my remorse and anger. But I am not like you, Al’bah. You know. And I wasn’t strong enough.”

  Al’bah had returned to normal; her violet-blue eyes sparkled with tears, her brow was furrowed with confusion, and she bit her lower lip. “I know this, Cain. Perhaps you should sleep. I—”

  Cain grabbed her hair. No! I must find a way! How can I tell her! How can I pass my understanding? He felt something within him reach out and touch Al’bah. She gasped, and her face filled with a different kind of shock.

  “Please,” he gasped, struggling to speak. “Allow me…to be weak. I’m only human, after all. God knows I am weak, Al’bah. I…I wish you could know. I wish I could show you.” His breaths became calm as he felt the peaceful lull of unconsciousness take him.

  ***

  Al’bah looked into Cain’s peaceful face for several minutes. It was the first time she actually felt Cain’s soul touch hers. It was an experience she had before with other beings like her, but never with a human. She had touched Cain’s soul before. But this was different. Cain’s soul had become spiritually stronger somehow, and instead of placing her hands in water, the water reached out and placed its hands in her.

  Do I dare to believe that his pride is breaking apart? Do I dare believe that all his spiritual energies are returning to him?

  “Is he asleep?” Serenna asked upon reentering the living room.

  Al’bah shook her head. “No, but he is weary all the same. I had to put him on the couch.”

  Serenna stared at Al’bah for a moment and went off to prepare the evening bread. “Al’bah, please come with me,” she called over her shoulder.

  Once in the kitchen, Serenna got the dough that had been made a few days before, and with Al’bah’s help she began to make the final preparations. “Al’bah, you know that fornication is a sin, yes?” Serenna said bluntly.

  Al’bah dropped the salt tin she held and blushed a deep red.

  Serenna kept working on her portion of the dough and said, “You know, Pastor Hughes is set to visit next week. Perhaps you and Cain could talk to him.”

  “I—that is to say, you know…” Al’bah stammered, picking up the salt tin and focusing intently on her own portion of the dough.

  “Well either way, I hope that you and Cain are on a path to God and salvation,” she said, dropping the subject.

  I hope we are too, Al’bah thought longingly, sparing a glance to Cain, who had at last fallen asleep.

  It was not long until the bread dough was finished, with little else to do but wait.

  “Al’bah, I can tell you are upset. What is wrong? Did Cain give you a hard time about his money again?”

  Al’bah did not even look up from the table and nodded, and started to cry.

  Serenna pulled up a chair and held her close. “Easy, child. Men are strange in their ways. I would wager even Amidres’ would be like this over the loss of his newest power tools. He doesn’t mean it.”

  Al’bah bawled out, “But he does! He blames me! Oh! And even though I saved his life, it is true. I did what I had to, but he is still upset.”

  “Come now, Al’bah. Surely there are redeemable qualities in Cain? A beautiful young lady like you wouldn’t be with just anyone?”

  That was true, but Al’bah was certain Serenna did not mean her statement as she or even Cain would understand it. She sniffed and wiped her nose with a cloth. “I know, he is mine.”

  “Well see, there you are. How long have you known him?”

  “Hmmm, four weeks, I think.”

  Serenna gasped. “And you’re already engaged?”

  “Yes,” Al’bah said, wishing she did not have to use a different, convenient definition to Serenna’s language. She had told them that they were “promised and Bound” to each other. Which they took to meaning engaged to be married.

  “Well see, there you are. A handsome man like Cain also wouldn’t be with a beautiful young lady if there wasn’t a good reason. You two just got together—you hardly know him, and he hardly knows you. Give it time. A good relationship needs time to grow like a good tree.”

  Al’bah crossed her arms. “Relationships are different than love. Relationships can be so tiresome without tenderness. All love needs is our decision.”

  Serenna smiled a
nd blushed. “Ah, so very true. Amidres’ and I only knew each other four months before we were married. He said the same thing to me.” She winked at Al’bah and continued to smile. “Just be patient with him. Give it three months, okay?”

  Al’bah blinked. She did not expect Serenna to be so…well spoken. There was a certain logic to her words. Cain was human, after all. “Thank you, Serenna.”

  Chapter 60

  Where Worth Lies

  “The best deceptions are made of a portion of the truth. The weakness of humanity does the rest.”

  —Walter Stratton

  “My apologies, Cain.”

  “What? Purity? What are you…?” Cain sighed deeply. “I’m asleep again, aren’t I?”

  Purity nodded. “Cain, it is by my action that your currency and your health were taken from you.”

  “How is it that you could have taken it? Al’bah is the one to blame for my money, and the freezing cold was to blame for the pneumonia.”

  Purity shook his head. “Cain, there is more than what you can see. Already you are beginning to realize this. The cross man bears is never the same nor as great as that of the Savior of mankind.” Purity pointed to Cain’s hand. “Already you are becoming different as the object of your worship is taken from you.”

  Cain looked at his hand; it had a faint purple glow, much like Al’bah’s eyes.

  “Your Bond strengthens.”

  Cain felt his anger rise, but it was faint, distant—almost as if it were the memory of anger.

  “Why did you do it?”

  “Because Taint was going to destroy you by giving you everything you wanted.”

  “What?”

  “Do you not see? What need would you have for a God, if you saw yourself as one? Taint’s goal is to corrupt the world, as ordained by darker masters.”

  “Why am I so important? Why is Al’bah so important?”

  Purity looked as though he wanted to turn away, to not meet Cain’s eyes. “Because your Al’bah is a Succubus.”