To Live In Revelry

by M L Adams

  To Live In Revelry

  Book 1

  M. L. Adams

  I dedicate this book to my grandmother, who never saw its completion, and to my friends and family who believed in me more than I believed in myself.

  Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Acknowledgements

  Prologue

  ‘What is dark within me, illuminate.’

  – John Milton, Paradise Lost

  Lilith sighed silently. She almost regretted how predictable this meeting would inevitably prove to be. Almost. But soon she would be free — free to live the life she deserved! She took a moment to survey the surroundings she had chosen for their little tête-à-tête. Yes, she had picked a good spot here, high up in the Shearwater Mountains where even the sure-footed goats feared to tread. They were far enough away from the hidden kingdom below, meaning Lilith could be confident of no eavesdroppers. She had no time for murder today.

  Lilith’s gaze came to rest on the distant figure of a man whose cocky gait was a sheer testament to his lack of intelligence. The renowned Serafin brother was on time — she’d allow him some credit for that. She smoothed a few strands of long red hair from her face and tried to temper the sneer that carved across her delicate lips. So many would have chosen to hide themselves away, hoping it would save them, however, she never allowed them the luxury of learning from their mistakes. Lilith shrugged slightly; such deaths were always down to the victim’s own stupidity. She was just doing her duty by cleansing the gene pool of humanity, ridding it of the scum that floated to the top.

  Lilith sauntered to the edge of the flat slate slab that protruded above the plains and composed herself. A stray shaft of sunlight temporarily blinded her as the sinking sun dipped below a travelling cloud, causing a shiver to ride up her spine. She had to appear calm and in control, for her temper would not help her in this meeting. Her lips twisted to form a smile that she hoped looked amiable. Her flowing emerald dress wrapped around her slim figure as she turned to acknowledge the surprisingly youthful face of the being she knew to be older than time. Her lungs faltered when she took her first true glance; his beauty was complete masculine perfection. Everything she had heard was true. Lilith tried to pull her eyes from him, but could not. Only the sea of anger that pooled within her offered her enough strength to pull back and recover.

  The Serafin brother halted in front of her, just shy of being polite.

  Lilith knew he was trying to show his apparent lack of fear. Never mind, she thought, it was a mistake she will soon rectify. Lilith steeled herself to look upon him again. ‘So, my little Serafin…’ She paced around him, taking him in. ‘You are the one who dared to defy our magnificent Adonai? How interesting… but let us leave that conversation for another time. I believe you are here to listen to my terms? I am sure, after taking some time to think them over, you will come to realise just how gracious I can be.’

  Striking eyes stared at her too boldly for her liking. ‘You, Lady Lilith, are anything but gracious,’ he spat. ‘Your deeds alone are a testament to this. I refuse to agree to anything before you agree to a few of my own.’

  Lilith wanted to scream. How dare he have the audacity to speak to her in such a manner?! She seethed and reeled with the overwhelming desire to plunge her thumbnails deep into his eye sockets and feel the two orbs burst, savouring it with joyous abandon. No, Lilith admonished herself. She may have need of him later… Too bad he would need to be fully functional to complete the tasks she had in mind. Feigning nonchalance, Lilith picked at her immaculate fingernails until her murderous rage was fully under control. With a deep breath, she drew herself to her full height. ‘Very well. I will hear you out.’ She had no doubt his demands would be totally ludicrous. ‘But only this once, so make it count.’

  Her opponent squared his shoulders and set his chin. If Lilith hadn’t totally sworn off men, she might have been interested in this one. She looked at him again. There was a spark of something strangely chaotic deep within his stormy eyes, and his chin had that little dimple she had once harboured a fetish for. She felt she could almost see why He had invested so much in this one.

  ‘If I do help you, I want your word that you will not harm her.’ He waited for Lilith to confirm this before he continued.

  Yes, she could agree to that. The girl would not be ‘harmed,’ as such. She nodded.

  ‘I want you to swear,’ the Serafin continued, pinning her with those strange eyes, ‘that when this is all over she will be leaving with me.’

  Lilith couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of it. It was not a pleasant sound. ‘Now, now, little princeling!’ Lilith's hands curled on her hips, the nails biting deep into her flesh. Better they dig into her than his pretty face; she reminded herself. She tutted with disappointment. ‘That just will not do at all! And I thought you were the intelligent brother. Where is the sense in me helping you retrieve that girl and receiving nothing in return, hmm?’

  His brow crumpled in a fierce frown, and Lilith was surprised to find the look strangely appealing. ‘What exactly do you have planned for her, Deserter? I am not fool enough to think you wish to resume your motherly duties. Not after all these years.’

  ‘Oh no!’ Lilith cried. ‘No, no, no!’ She shuddered at the memory of motherhood. Her skin wanted to crawl off her bones. She didn’t know how he’d managed to learn who she was, but it really made little difference now. ‘And “Deserter” is a strong name to be called by the likes of you, don't you think, oh Fallen One?’ She watched with satisfaction as the colour drained from his face. ‘However, we could come to some sort of arrangement, I’m sure.’

  ‘So, your plan for her is…?’

  ‘She will bear an army, silly.’ She flicked his perfect nose playfully, but there was no light behind her stony gaze. ‘My army of demons!’

  Chapter 1

  ‘There are echoes in your voice, everything you said

  Everything you’ll ever say, written on the mirror

  A thousand, thousand times I’ll stake out your altar

  When rain falls through the darkening light

  I’ll find you; find you on the other side.’

  — Anya Allyn, Dollhouse

  Four days earlier.

  Eden wandered slowly through the dense forests of her childhood alone, but it didn’t bother her; she had spent most of her life alone in one way or another. She ducked and weaved between the pendulous branches of the weeping willow, laughing as it brushed her bare arms in greeting. How could she be lonely when life in all its glory pulsed around her so?

  Fissures of light speared down from the endless blue sky high above the treetops. The air was thick with bird calls and the sharp chirping of insects, though most fell silent as she passed. A sharp woo-hoo, woo-hoo sounded to her left, making her jump, but it was only a paradise bird on the prowl for a mate. Eden smiled, silently wishing him luck with his endeavour, and began to sing a few lines of a much-loved lullaby as she passed.

  Gathering the fresh herbs and shoots for their evening meal was a ritual Eden performed every morning, but as of yet, she had no idea what that meal might be. She sighed at the sight of her empty hands. ‘I suppose I could cook the mushroom dish again, she thought aloud. ‘Gabe and Josh will actually eat that without much fuss if I don't put anything green in it.’ Eden's younger twin brothers, Gabriel and Joshua, had suddenly developed an irrational fear towards vegetables, which was proving quite difficult seeing as they were all Eden's family ate out here in Revelry. Feeding the two was becoming a dai
ly battle, but it was one of the few tasks her parents had assigned her, and she did enjoy the time she was able to spend amongst nature.

  A large snap sounded above, and Eden ducked for cover, as a large rotten branch thudded to the ground beside her.

  Brushing the debris from her hands, Eden stood and glared up at the canopy. ‘Hey! Be careful up there!’

  There was a moment's pause before a reply echoed down from above.‘Sooory, Eeedn…’

  Eden waved her understanding, recognising Mosi's voice. He was one of the newest members of the sloth family, and they took their job seriously in ridding the trees of any dead or decaying wood. ‘It’s okay, Mosi. You gave me a fright, that's all.’

  ‘I coome doown.’

  ‘No! No, there's really no need for that,’ she added quickly. ‘You stay up there. No harm was done, honestly!’ Eden made a hasty retreat. She didn't want to be rude, but it would take days for Mosi to make his way down to the forest floor. No joke.

  Stopping to pick some parsley, Eden found herself absent-mindedly rubbing at a numb spot in the centre of her chest. Uneasiness settled upon her. Something or someone was watching her, she could feel it. Warily, Eden peered through the trunks and into the shadows. Her heart skipped a beat, startling her. This was a first. She had never felt unsafe in Revelry before. Had never heard the sound of her blood rushing through her ears the way it did now. Another branch snapped nearby, but this time it didn’t come from above. Her breath quickened, and a prickling sensation crept across her skin.

  With an explosion of leaves, an emu emerged through the thicket and cried out at the sight of her before running straight past without even a backwards glance. Eden would have yelped too if it all hadn't happened so quickly. Axin, the emu, wasn't someone to be trifled with. Taller than Eden by some inches, he towered over most. Axin had been born with a strange nervous disposition, but it was unlike him to be this skittish. Eden sighed, wondering what else might fall on her today or try to run her down. Still, dinner wouldn’t find itself.

  Multiple small trails wound their way past the soft branches of the willow to peel off in different directions. The larger pathways she could see around her were created and maintained by the elephant herd. Eden picked one of these familiar paths, which lead down to the Sloe River. She really needed to refresh herself. The forest was humid at the best of times, but a storm seemed to be brewing, thickening the air with its impending release. The Sloe River was Revelry’s main source of fresh water, running all the way down from the highest points of Shearwater Mountain and continuing through Revelry and out to the sea. Eden vowed that she would one day follow the river’s winding path to witness the mystery of this great ocean of blue for herself.

  The smooth, compacted trail melted into the turbulent waters of the river, and Eden walked until her feet dipped below its cooling waters. She closed her eyes in ecstasy, feeling regeneration enter her in cooling waves. The sound of the rushing water over rounded pebbles, the hushed whispers of the leaves, and of all who lived amongst them, soothed her. For a while, she forgot about the strange feelings that plagued her.

  Eden's moment of peace was soon interrupted by a small cry for help. Her eyes snapped open and surveyed the scene. A tiny flash of brilliant blue and silver caught her eye as it struggled to maintain its grip on a submerged river pebble. ‘Oh!’ Urgency turned Eden's movements into clumsy strides as she hurried over to the struggling victim.

  ‘Help!’ it cried in a tiny voice, before slipping below the surface.

  Eden's left foot suddenly wedged between two large rocks. She landed in the water with frightening speed but then picked herself up and continued, ripping the bottom of her dress on something unseen in the process. Finally, she made it to the little creature and scooped it up with her hands. It was a newly hatched dragonfly. Eden knew they spent the first period of their lives underwater, but soon gained their wings to become creatures of the sky. Usually, the dragonfly larvae swam to the riverbank, where the water currents were at their calmest before they transformed, but it looked like this one had gotten lost.

  ‘Are you okay, little one?’

  It twitched its wings in an effort to dry them and wiped water from its large metallic eyes. ‘Yes. You saved me! Our Adonai answered my prayers and sent you just in time.’ Its tiny voice was very high-pitched and filled with awe. ‘How can I thank you?’

  Eden laughed. ‘You can thank me by staying safe from now on. I'm just happy I reached you in time.’ It was true that their Lord worked in mysterious ways. ‘How about I take you to the bank? You'll be able to rest there.’

  ‘Please.’

  Eden turned and made her way back to the riverbank, but this time she selected her footing very carefully. Her left foot smarted from where she'd trapped it between the river stones, and she knew her dress would now require some mending. She sighed; her mother would not be pleased.

  Once out of the water, Eden set the little dragonfly on a nearby fern. It still looked shocked and half drowned, but dragonflies were amazingly robust.

  Eden settled herself down on the ground. ‘My name is Eden. What's yours?’

  ‘Triska.’ Her elegant silver wings buzzed in greeting.

  Eden smiled. ‘It’s nice to meet you, Triska. How are you feeling now?’

  ‘I am much recovered but will rest here for a while to build my strength. You have my deepest gratitude and thanks, Eden. Please, do not linger on my account. I will see you again — I'm sure of it.’

  Eden hesitated, unsure if she should stay a little longer, but the little dragonfly laughed and buzzed her wings to signify she would be fine on her own.

  ‘May Adonai's blessing be upon you, Daughter of Eve.’

  ‘And upon you, little sister.’

  Eden looked up at a patch of blue sky made visible between the tall trees and tried to push away the deep feelings of unease that had returned to keep her company. Her dress and slippers were wet and torn, but it was her left foot that troubled her the most. It throbbed with every step, but Eden pushed the pain aside. There would be time later to doctor herself; for now, she had to find their dinner.

  The sharp rat-a-tat-tat-tat of a magpie sounded nearby. It wasn't even past noon — plenty of time for the day to blossom…

  Or it could take a turn for the worse…

  Eden grimaced at her dark thoughts and kicked a nearby stone down the beaten path. She knew it was only a product of her imagination and the lingering feeling of unease she'd felt earlier. Maybe she should speak to her parents about it? An image of her mother resurfaced; Eve’s copper skin and dark hair highlighted the soulful brown eyes narrowed in disapproval — the exact look Eden would come home to if she returned in tatters. And if Eden returned in tatters and empty-handed… she dared not think of it. Then again, Eve was a loving mother, always quick to forgive. Eden just couldn't stand the thought of disappointing her.

  Eden's parents had been blessed with Gabriel and Joshua late in life. Eden could remember the twins being a handful from the very beginning, but they were worth the drama they caused. Gabe and Josh were clever, strong-willed and curious little boys with mops of curly black hair and flashing blue eyes. A game of quest lay in wait around every corner, causing their parents a never-ending torrent of worry. One day they would grow up and put such things behind them, but until then Eden made sure she took on her quota of duties.

  Feeling unusually low, she sought reassurance from a young palm tree. Hello! She greeted it by resting her fingers lightly on a waxy leaf and waited for its answering echo. Sure enough, there it was, in the thrumming, resonating depths of its broad stem. It returned her greeting by curling its leaf and cradling Eden's palm more securely, thereby dissipating the tightness brewing in her chest.

  A sudden stinging sensation chose that moment to erupt from Eden's big toe, rousing her from her moment's tranquillity. She hissed through her teeth in pain. She dared not look; she knew that there would be blood showing where her big toe was nestled in
its slipper.

  Eden drew in a deep breath of moist air, made rich by the fertile earth, to calm her. She focused on letting the hurt from her toe slip away as she released her breath — just as the waxy leaf released its gentle hold on her fingers. Breathe in, breathe out and let go. Dinner wouldn’t pick itself. It wasn't long before Eden spotted what she was looking for and began filling the pouch sewn onto the front of her dress with mushrooms and other useful fungi. The slow and steady task of gathering allowed Eden's mind to touch upon the events of the past few years.

  Since before Eden could remember, she and her family had lived in the shadows of the great Shearwater Mountains. It was situated on the outskirts of the dense tropics of Revelry, where they were removed from everyone and everything, but Eden both loved and loathed the solitude. When she'd been much younger, she'd asked her father if there were others like them, but he had just smiled before mussing her hair. She'd been too confused to ask again after that. That was until Eden made a discovery that had changed their lives forever.

  It was during one of these foraging walks, four years ago, that Eden had inadvertently stumbled upon the Serafin brothers, Luca and Micah. It had been an unusual day from the beginning. That evening, the sun had seemed to linger in the sky, refusing to relinquish its duty to its more sombre counterpart. As a consequence, Eden had lost track of time and used the sun’s generosity to venture deeper into the forest than she'd ever been able to before. Thinking back to it now, Eden realised it hadn't been their voices that alerted her to their presence — no, it had been a soft prickling of awareness that slipped over her skin, sharpening her senses. Without meaning to, Eden had discovered the brothers’ homestead. It was a low-lying log cabin that backed onto a steep hill. Eden had never seen a construction like it. Her family had always chosen to use what nature provided as a home, blending with their surroundings. She couldn't believe her eyes. All along there had been others like her, only half a day’s walk east from her family’s dwelling! Not knowing what else to do, Eden had hidden in the dense foliage and watched. She had picked an excellent vantage point amongst the tightly packed greenery, so she could observe any goings-on in peace without being spotted.