Child of the Morning Star

by Tatiana Carey

  Atropa nodded but wasn’t convinced, it looked like the apocalypse from Noah’s Ark was going on outside. She let Lilith pull her away from the window.

  “Come on, let’s go make something before the power goes out,” she guided Atropa to the kitchen.

  * * *

  Lilith’s face seemed...thinner. Her cheeks had less fat on them and dark circles had formed under her eyes. Atropa didn’t comment on it though, she didn’t want to be rude. Besides, Lilith said the thunderstorm had kept her awake. Who was Atropa to question it?

  The two watched movies throughout the day, all the classics in the house. Atropa snuggled against the warm body beside her. “How many times does this happen?”

  Awareness flooded back into Lilith’s eyes, “What?”

  “The rain,” Atropa clarified.

  “Every month, to be honest. The town slogan should be ‘Wet and Thunderful!’” Lilith chuckled. She sighed and tried to focus on the cinema. Her eyes were fighting her.

  Atropa laughed, “That was horrible.”

  “But true,” Lilith added. She kissed Atropa’s cheek, “Can you make us some popcorn?”

  “Why me,” Atropa tried to give her best pout but failed. She didn’t want to leave the warmth the other teen was wrapping her in.

  Lilith smiled at the face, “One, I don’t know where it is and two, I made breakfast.” She used her fingers for emphasis.

  “Okay,” Atropa got up and pulled down her oversized shirt to go closer to her knees.

  “You’re no fun,” Lilith teasingly whined, lightly kicking Atropa’s plush butt.

  “Shut up!” Atropa blushed and ran into the kitchen, hearing a laugh behind her. She smiled, though a bit embarrassed. “Where is the popcorn?” she asked herself.

  Lilith’s stomach growled. She gripped at her abdomen. The world seemed to be against her today. Lilith stumbled as she tried to stand. She could feel the energy slowly slipping from her. Her jaw cracked and unhinged. It helped to relieve some of the pressure, but not all of it. Lilith turned to where the kitchen was, “I’m going to the bathroom!” she called and ran to the back door, silently slipping out. She couldn’t let Atropa see her like this, not yet. She’d just...Lilith couldn’t formulate a plan at that moment. She just needed to run.

  “Okay!” Atropa said back and listened to the popping. She was surprise the power still worked with the storm going on. Her fingers beat against the granite countertop. The loud ‘beep’ made her smile. She took out the bag and went to the living room, Lilith was still gone. The teen decided to tell her the popcorn was ready, she went upstairs and knocked on the bathroom door. “Hey, I made the popcorn. Do you want me to wait for you?”

  There was no answer.

  Atropa frowned at this, “Hey, you okay?” She looked down and saw the light wasn’t on, that’s weird. Atropa opened the door to find the room dark and empty. ‘Duh, she’s in the downstairs one.’ She trotted down the steps to the other bathroom and found no one there as well. Atropa nibbled her bottom lip. The teen felt fear beginning to creep inside her. She went passed the living room and into the back of the house.

  Slipping in she saw the back door was slightly ajar. Atropa cocked her head and opened it further, “What the hell.” She looked down, there were fresh footprints in the mud. “Lilith…” Atropa grabbed an umbrella and slipped on her rain boots.

  She ran outside, hearing the droplets beating against the plastic above her. Following the prints, Atropa ran toward the woods. She pushed through the trees and brush. Where could Lilith have gone? Her heartbeat matched her frantic steps.

  She raced through the slick mud, boots smashing against dead leaves, “Lilith!” she called. Thunder and lightning cracked, concealing her voice. “Lilith!” she screamed. ‘Please don’t be hurt. Please don’t be hurt!’ Atropa mentally begged and ran to the gnarled tree. She stopped in her tracks. Something was there. It was kneeling beside a tombstone.

  Atropa’s heart swelled with hope, “Lilith!”

  She made a move to run over but froze. It turned to her. That wasn’t Lilith. That was some wild animal, right?

  Red eyes locked with hers and her heart dropped. She stepped back, seeing how its twisted limbs unfolded as it stood. The thing was black and slumped over, but its height was still towering. It slunk its way over to her, as if gliding.

  “Wait,” Atropa whispered, still trying to process everything. It listened and stopped before her, head cocked.

  Atropa let the umbrella fall from her grasp. She stepped out from underneath the tree and gazed upon the twisted creature. A tanned hand reached out to touch the monster’s cheek.

  It nuzzled into her palm. It’s face, or lack of one, was familiar. Atropa felt her throat close as she hiccuped, “Lilith?” Its fiery eyes stared into hers. “You’re…” she didn’t know what to say. She didn’t know what to do. The creature wrapped its arms around her.

  Atropa felt safe. This was her shadow after all.

  Chapter X: A Monster

  Atropa shook on the couch. She was soaked and hadn’t gotten around to changing yet. She gripped at the blanket around her shoulders. Her body was fucking freezing, not to mention the shit she’d just witnessed. It all hit her at once. “Oh, oh fuck…” she curled into herself. The part that scared her most was that she wasn’t surprised. She honestly should have seen it coming. The way Lilith knew so much about her, how she was able to break into the house, all of it made sense.

  Lilith was still in her unearthly form, with lengthened limbs and hellfire eyes. She was silent, with a hand resting on Atropa’s knee. This plane brought out the demon in her. A human guise only lasted so long, and hers had finally run out. She couldn’t really speak while like this, well she could, but Atropa’s halfling ears wouldn’t comprehend it.

  Said girl was staring down at the creature in wonder. “You could have told me,” she finally said and ran her hand over Lilith’s cheek. “I wouldn’t have left,” she assured. She watched the creatures maw part then slowly close. Atropa took the clawed hand in hers. “Can you turn back?” she asked.

  Lilith shook her head. She needed something that would tie her to this realm. A soul, a deal, something.

  “Did you want to leave me?” The girl asked.

  Lilith frantically shook her head. She squawked then closed her mouth. Of course this conversation had to come up when she couldn’t talk back. She looked around and saw a picture of the two mortals, Atropa being purposefully absent in the photo. The demon pointed at them and tried to gesture them taking Atropa away from her.

  The girl seemed to comprehend it. She asked the demon, “Did you try to find me?”

  Once again Lilith gestured. She had tried to find her, she’d tried for so long, but those damned mortals kept moving to sanctioned ground.

  Atropa didn’t really understand Lilith’s movements, but she knew the demon was trying to tell her she tried to find her. The biggest issue now was turning Lilith back. The demon was looking at her hopelessly.

  Atropa wanted to comfort her. “It’ll be okay,” she assured. Atropa took the clawed hand. Lilith stopped her movements. The teen smiled. She leaned forward and placed a kiss on the creature’s lips. Something stirred inside her. A new found power and connection. A breath of air was taken from her lungs. Atropa pulled back and gasped.

  Lilith stayed kneeling. Her form slowly slipping back. Her arms shortened and her legs became unbent. The feathers that had framed her face now became hair. Shadows turned to porcelain as her skin cleared. She smiled up at Atropa with tears in her eyes. The girl didn’t even know how powerful she truly was. Lilith shot up and stole another kiss from her.

  Atropa giggled at the demon’s eagerness. “Wait, wait,” she said, placing her hands on Lilith’s shoulders, “What happened to you? Why’d you leave me?”

  Tears filled Lilith’s eyes as she was now finally able to explain. “I didn’t want to. It took so long to even find you in the first place. Those bastards had ward a
fter ward up. Those damn things are why I reverted back, I used most of my energy up just breaking in to get that fucking book.”

  Atropa beamed, “For me?”

  “Of course for you, always for you,” Lilith laid a kiss on Atropa’s hand. “I was made for you, Atropa. You’re my life and my world. The angels above nor the demons below could ever stop me from being yours.”

  Atropa snorted at the admission, “That was so fucking cheesy.” She cradled Lilith’s face in her hands, “I don’t need any crazy declarations of love. Just be by my side, that’s all I want.”

  Lilith smiled, “I can do that.”

  Atropa quirked an eyebrow, “Now, how the hell did I turn you back?”

  “With your powers of course,” Lilith stood up and stretched. She felt energized. The spells the angels had cast around town no longer weighed her down.

  “I’m that powerful?” Atropa asked in wonder. Again, she shouldn’t be surprised, but moving things and making people sick paled in comparison to literally changing a beast into a beauty.

  Lilith nodded, “You’re a lot stronger than you know.” She offered her hand, “How about we test it out?”

  Atropa stood and let the other lead her outside. “What did you mean by you were made for me?”

  Lilith frowned, “It’s a long story.” Her hand was squeezed as Atropa ordered, “Well then, start talking.”

  * * *

  The figure rose from the clay soil, gasping for breath and clinging to solid ground. It hawked up chunks of mud and earth from its throat. The body shook off the dirt and wiped its eyes clear. The figure looked around, it was beautiful. Tall things circled around it and small things of every color stretched across the land. Creatures flew around and sung to one another.

  What a strange place.

  A snapping twig made the figure flinch. The thing looked at the other. “Who are you?” it asked.

  The other figure smiled and looked at the sky above him, “Thank you,” he praised then turned back to the one sitting in the mud. He moved closer and spoke softly, not wanting to frighten the newly made human, “I am Adam. I am your husband.”

  “And who am I?” the thing asked. It wiped at its eyes again.

  Adam thought for a moment, “You shall be… Lamia, my wife.”

  “Lamia…” the thing repeated. She moved slowly and leant on Adam to stand up without stumbling. She was like a newly born fawn.

  “Come with me,” Adam said. He guided the female through the dense garden and to the water. “We must bathe you, my dear.” He helped her into the pool and washed her face clean of muck and clay.

  Lamia slipped fully into the water, coming up to reveal her flesh and long dark locks.

  Adam gasped at the clean sight, “Your eyes are the color of the forbidden fruit!”

  Lamia blinked and wrung out her hair. “What is that?” she asked.

  Adam took her hand, “I shall show you.” They walked through the forest and past the clay she had formed from. Lamia listened as Adam explained the world around her. “The lord made this paradise for us. He gave us life and animals to have dominion over. I am man, you are...I do not know what to call you, but together we will care for this garden.”

  Lamia nodded. “What are we made of?” she asked.

  “We both come from the Earth that you awoke from. This place is our home and sanctuary. We may work and prosper as we please. However there is one rule, we must never eat the forbidden fruit,” he stopped before a gnarled tree at the center of the garden. “This is the forbidden tree.”

  “Why can we not have it?” Lamia asked. She saw the pulsing masses hanging from the blackened branches. Her stomach rumbled in hunger at the sight, as well as her mind. She was so tempted, then Adam spoke.

  “Because the lord said,” he curtly pulled her back. She was getting too close to the tree for his liking.

  “But why? Why make something if he did not want us to use it?” Lamia asked. She turned to see Adam’s puzzled face.

  “It is his word,” Adam said firmly and took the other away from the place.

  Days stretched on and Lamia grew bored of the world and its shimmering sun. She would pass by the tree to stare at the fruit before Adam called her away. The man grated on her nerves. Pompous and proud. One night, she escaped to lay below the tree. It was the best sleep of her life, so she began to go back night after night. It became her safe haven.

  Gentle whispers would come from the fruit and lull her to rest. She would hum and sing back, watching as the fruit pulsed with her tune. Lamia wanted one desperately, but alas, she was too short to reach.

  Soon, she stopped coming when Adam called. She ignored his pleas and decided to remain and tend to the tree. The poor thing had been neglected. She’d sing and water it daily. She’d talk to its fruit, who would mumble in return. Each passing day, it became more lively. The branches were no longer blackened and the fruit was no longer shriveled. Lamia adored her work and her tree. The fruit whispered to her in praise as it flourished on its healthy branches.

  On the seventh day, Adam came. He was furious, not only had his wife disobeyed him, but she had taken to the tree. He swallowed his fear and grabbed her by the wrist, “You will come with me at once! You are to be my wife and my helper, not the tree’s, now come!”

  Lamia growled at this, “I will not!” She pushed away from the other, “The creator made us in the same way. We are equals, we share power. I will not blindly obey you!”

  “Stop this madness!” Adam demanded. “I am man and I shall not have an unruly wife. I was made in his image and you after.”

  “We were made the same, of the same Earth and image. I am no frailer than you!” Lamia defied and saw the man’s confused face.

  “Come with me, or you shall be no wife of mine,” he threatened. “No child of mine you shall bare, nor home you shall keep.”

  “Good! I am wife to none, I shall be the mother to none. I will have no home to keep, nor man to help. I shall be me and my own. I need only me and my own. I do not need you!” Lamia turned from the other and ran.

  “Lamia!” Adam called. He watched the slim body slip through the dense greenery and disappear into the brush. He fell to his knees and began to pray.

  The female dodged the trees that seemed to close in around her. Lamia pushed passed the branches and landed in the mud again. In anger, she wallowed in the clay and tried to sink herself inside it once more. “Take me back!” she screamed and ripped at the Earth, “Take me back!” She dug and tried to have the earth swallow her, but it would not. Frustrated and tired, she kneeled in the soil and sob. “Curse you!” she screamed at the sky, “Do you not hear me?! I curse you and your name!”

  “You are a sight for sore eyes.”

  The smooth voice made Lamia whip around. “Another?!” she said in disbelief and then growled, “leave me be, I shall be wife to none!”

  The angel laughed at this. “I am here not for that. I am simply here to speak with you.” It stepped closer, “I am Lucifer, the light bearer. I wish for you to join me.”

  Lamia glared, “Why me?” She stood up straight and saw her height was a bit shorter than the other. “I am Lamia.”

  “No,” Lucifer whispered, “You are so much more. You are the first creation that I have not despised. You, who was not weak and submissive to their so called ‘power’. You are one of a kind.” The angel placed his hands on the female’s shoulders, “With me, you will be much more.”

  Lamia cocked her head, “I will?”

  “Yes. Together, we shall be much more.” Lucifer placed a pulsating mass in her hand, “Eat this and see what the world shall become.”

  Lamia looked at the fruit then at the angel. This was the fruit that was forbidden. The one she had nurtured and grew. Defiance boiled inside her chest. She smiled and took a large bite. She chewed, hearing the harsh ‘crunch!’ and swallowed. Lamia smiled at the taste, it was sweet. She took in a breath, watching the world flash before her eyes. Thin
gs that were once unclear suddenly became tangible. Secrets became unlocked, and time seemed to have a higher meaning. Her eyes watered as the world fell into place. “What was that?” she whispered, a single tear rolling down her cheek..

  Lucifer smiled, “That was the knowledge the maker kept from you.” He gripped her arms, “I can give you so much more. I can give you what the creator has robbed you of, the love and equality of another.”

  “Love?” Lamia had never experienced such a thing. She saw it in the flash though. The female frowned, it looked so inviting.

  “Yes, the love of an innocent. You want it, don’t you?” he whispered. He could see Lamia burning with hunger for power and the emotion he would provide. Lucifer only needed to push her a bit more. “Follow me,” he said in her ear, “and you shall find the soul you seek, the one you yearn for.”

  “I do not know what that word feels like,” Lamia said, “but I want to.”

  “You will have it, give it time and you shall find it, my Lilith.” Lucifer rubbed the pale cheek, “You shall be a night creature and plant the seeds for my followers. You will nurture them and help them grow. Do you understand?”

  Lamia nodded, “If I do this, will I have my love?”

  “Yes.”

  Lamia frowned, “For how long?”

  Lucifer frowned, he didn’t answer. He watched as she stared at the fruit. Unable to say anything, he touched her wrist. Her eyes widened, a flash of euphoria then a flash of horror before acceptance.

  “I see,” Lamia whispered. She looked to the sky, it was a beautiful color, like that of the water.

  Lucifer watched her take in the world. “What is your answer?”

  Lamia smiled, tears streaming down her face. She would not go back, only forward,“I accept.”

  Lucifer beamed, “I expect great things from you, Lilith.” He slipped into the trees and out of sight.

  Lilith walked out of the mud and into the grass. She plucked a flower from the ground. It was gorgeous and was the color of her eyes. Lilith pressed it to her chest.