Give Me Something for the Dream That I Am In

[cain-excolo.livejournal.com]

Lilith's Garden
Evening, Friday 2 October

I have dragged my feet for what seems like months, though, in truth, I suppose it has been millenia upon millenia that this confrontation has been waiting. It is peculiar that it would occur now, in this place of all places, during this time. I already know what to expect in a way, but we have both changed over time, I am most certain of that.

Orderly, I lay the books one atop another then lift them and set them on the floor in front of the trunk beside my bed. Opening it, I lift clothing and an ancient blade out of it and set them aside. I shift things around, feeling more than looking for that glass cylinder. My fingertips brush it and a shiver runs down my spine. I had hoped that I would never use this. That a need would never arise for me to find her. I raise it to eye level and grimace at the locket of hair corked within the flawless green-tinged container.

I open it and lay the hair in my palm. My eyes fix on it for a long moment as the reasonable, logical side of me tells me not to do this. To shut it back away in the dark and never speak of what happened.

My fist closes around the locket of hair and I shut my eyes. A rush of heat hits my face and then is gone. I open my eyes to look upon an entrance that is quite similar to others I have seen before.

"Lilith," I shout out. "Grant me entrance or I will enter by force."

[OPEN to Lilith]

[CLOSED]

Comments

[lilith-qliphah.livejournal.com]

Emotion flits across his face at the mention of the Greek. As if in a town like this, that secret would be kept from me.

"She is not. She did not when I was first with her." "Naturally," I say neutrally as we continue to walk. "The Greeks have never been much use to anyone but themselves. Considering their lineage, one can hardly say that comes as a surprise."

He shakes his head and laughs, continuing, "I was exceptionally slow to learn that I would not find redemption through some other entity. It should have only taken my time with you, but, Such is the folly of Man."

I see his sense of humor has improved over time. "My, my, so he can be taught," I say. A smile stretching slowly across my lips, "I was beginning to wonder if perhaps the fruit from one of those trees had gone bad. But it is that folly which makes you all so much fun," I wink, flashing him a wicked smile. I think it was rare moments like these, along with a hunger for suffering and blood that nearly rivaled my own, which held my interest in him for as long as it did. And that dark skin of his did look positively divine covered in their blood. Glimmering like a dark crimson jewel in the moonlight. "Perhaps you will find your redemption though me," I laugh, "The irony would suit the creator I think." And it would hardly be the first punishment to be like that.

[cain-excolo.livejournal.com]

"Naturally. The Greeks have never been much use to anyone but themselves. Considering their lineage, one can hardly say that comes as a surprise."

I cannot stop the small smile that pulls at my mouth. "And which of the Greeks did you have the pleasure of knowing?" Oh, the innuendo there that I am certain is quite accurate.

"My, my, so he can be taught. I was beginning to wonder if perhaps the fruit from one of those trees had gone bad. But it is that folly which makes you all so much fun," she winks and gives me a wicked smile so like the ones I would get when we were consorts. I find that I am smiling back as I remember the lighter reasons for wanting to be with this fiery woman. "Perhaps you will find your redemption though me. The irony would suit the creator I think."

"It would, yes? Perhaps you will be correct and that we have finally come upon each other again for more reason than simply tormenting each other."

[lilith-qliphah.livejournal.com]

"And which of the Greeks did you have the pleasure of knowing?" I laugh. "Ooh, It wasn't my pleasure, believe me," I say rolling my eyes. "I found most of them to be a tremendous bore, especially their patriarch." They were always far to wrapped up in each other to be of much use to me. And I can hardly care about what one god does to another. Now, turning them against their worshipers is another thing, that was always sooo much more fun.

"It would, yes? Perhaps you will be correct and that we have finally come upon each other again for more reason than simply tormenting each other."

Cain looks at me and smiles back, and when I look at him I can still see those things inside him that he always so desperately tried to hide or repress. The anger and rage and the desire for revenge, and as much as he will never admit it to himself, the fact that he enjoyed it. I never make them what they are, I just show them what's already there. "Oooh I'm sure we have. Simple torment can be such a bore after awhile," I tease, squeezing his arm. "When you live as long as we have, nothing is ever simple," Torment is only the beginning of what is in store for you, dear Cain. As I said, I do not forgive and I never forget. Redemption can come in many, many different ways. "But we did have such wonderful fun," I laugh, smiling playfully up at him.

[cain-excolo.livejournal.com]

"Ooh, It wasn't my pleasure, believe me. I found most of them to be a tremendous bore, especially their patriarch." I nod. Two hundred years serving Eris in Greece and I learned the same thing. Eris and her sisters were really the only interesting ones. All the others were so self-absorbed and generally whiny. That's not to say she and her sisters were not completely focused on themselves.

"Oooh I'm sure we have. Simple torment can be such a bore after awhile. When you live as long as we have, nothing is ever simple, but we did have such wonderful fun."

I do not want to agree with her, but what she says is true. I let myself loose in my thirst for revenge. Revenge against my parents for losing Eden-- Lilith let me in on that dark secret of my mother's weakness; revenge against the Creator for cursing me; and revenge against myself for having struck Abel down. That thirst so often left me drenched in the blood of countless men, men whom took it upon themselves to think they could eliminate the blemish upon Earth of the Marked Man and the First Woman.

"We certainly did. And now you are here, hmm? Looking for more fun?"

[lilith-qliphah.livejournal.com]

"We certainly did. And now you are here, hmm? Looking for more fun?"

I laugh, hugging his arm tighter against my side, "Have I ever had to look for it?" In this town opportunity practically runs straight into you. Its just a matter of what one has a taste for that day. I do wonder if he's met the pretty little blood drinker yet and what Cain will do once he does. His disease may well hide him from Cain but I think it will be interesting to see.

"Besides blacksmithing and folly, what are you doing here, hmm? Looking for some fun of your own?" I ask playfully, turning slightly an tracing a warm finger lightly over the tattoo on his arm. "This is new," I say smiling up at him.

[cain-excolo.livejournal.com]

"Have I ever had to look for it?"

I shake my head and laugh with her. "Never and most certainly not in Excolo."

"Besides blacksmithing and folly, what are you doing here, hmm? Looking for some fun of your own?" She traces the design darker than my skin. "This is new."

"Not so new. I used to think that Excolo was merely another stop in my wanderings. Over six years and, now that I know who is here in this place--" Like Lilith and the Serpent and numerous gods that seek to harm the people with whom I live. Not to mention Eris and Kaeli and Laurence and Kate and countless others that I have grown and am growing to care for more and more-- "I do not believe that I will be leaving it," I say with a finality that I am certain will not be lost on her.

[lilith-qliphah.livejournal.com]

"Not so new. I used to think that Excolo was merely another stop in my wanderings. Over six years and, now that I know who is here in this place--I do not believe that I will be leaving it,"

He is staying because he knows we are here and believes he will find his end here as well. Or rather hopes is more accurate, I think. "Well, I'm sure you will be leaving it, the question is when and how," I laugh. Or if I will allow it, and why would I want to do such a thing when his immortality causes him to suffer so deliciously. As does Iblis's pet god, whom I am far from done with yet. Judging by the currents of power in the town, he has been a busy little thing too. "I guess we will just have to wait and see, won't we," I say as we reach the edge of the forest.

Pausing, I consider him for a moment, I could ask what he plans to do while he is here, but I have little interest and he would be even less interested in telling me were I to ask. Our conversation is at an end. Smiling I release his arm and step in front of him, "But for now, I think it is time for me to take my leave." I lean forward, brushing my lips against his cheek, "Until next time, dear Cain," I say, fading into the night.

[cain-excolo.livejournal.com]

"Well, I'm sure you will be leaving it, the question is when and how," she laughs.

"Of course." I know that she thinks she has some deciding power over my End, but I think her ego allows her far more credit than she has for that.

"I guess we will just have to wait and see, won't we." She pauses and I can feel the decision she comes to, can see the slight change in her body language. She is finished here. "But for now, I think it is time for me to take my leave." Leaning forward, she kisses my cheek and says, "Until next time, dear Cain," then everything fades to black.

Slowly, my eyes open and I am returned to my room. Opening my fist, I let the locket of her hair fall back into the trunk. My friends need to be warned. Laurence needs to know about what happened to him. Kate should know about what happened to him. Not only will I not be an active participant in Lilith's cruelty, she will neither find me such a cooperative nor such a passive person.