DUPLICITOUS DESTINY- CHAPTER 11: A HISTORY OF THE CREATION OF THE WORLD

The way lies open to me and I am greeted by more darkness. I take note of the torches that burn on the walls and give me a brief scope of a long room with a vaulted ceiling and no windows that I can see. As such, not a single beam of light can make into the room. I then switch my sight to see in the dark and am overwhelmed by what I behold.

Before I have a chance to register any of it, two black clad figures leap an impossible distance and land in front of me. They have red hair and to match eyes with pale white skin, marking them as being of the sovereign. I am frozen in place and prepare myself to fight them, but my fervor runs cold when I take note that there is a small army of them in this room and they are all poised to fight me.

“Children, my children, calm yourselves!” I hear a tremendous voice boom throughout the room that is clearly feminine and causes the overwhelming hostility to melt away. “Please, let your brother through! He deserves a chance to be heard!”

The two in front of me melt back into the shadow which gives the impression that they have vanished, leaving only their red pigment and pale skin to give them away. I look down the way and see a clear aisle left open to me at the end of which is a throne of black wood that sits in front of a tall wall that is also wide and isolates part of the room from the rest.

Upon a chair of twisted timber sits a lovely woman who wears a long dress of crimson and black. Upon her head lay a crown made of the same material as her chair which has been wrapped and woven several times, creating a headpiece with thorns. She sits forward while keeping her hands on the armrests.

Her hair is red with strands of silver and her skin is dark while her nails are white. She wears short sleeves that display the beauty of her skin despite the dark she's surrounded by and she wears nothing upon her feet. Her neck line is cut low, revealing an ample bosom that is barely covered by the garment.

She leans forward. “I am Lilith, first born of Hulsut, god of the light, queen of the black castle and mother of the fallen,” she introduces herself while gazing upon me over the great distance. “I ask that you come to me that I might know you better.”

I take upon myself the invitation and as I start to close the distance I feel a great wave of excitement that makes me want to run to her as though I were a child, completely abandoning all sense of self to be part of someone else.

A figure steps out of the darkness and stands in the middle of the aisle causing me to freeze in place. “Mother I must protest,” it is a woman, one of the sovereign and she stares daggers upon me.

“Kitulla, my daughter, what is your concern?” Lilith asks aloud and maintains a soft feel to her presence despite the interruption.

The objector turns to the seated monarch. “Mother you are far too trusting and I fear it will be your downfall,” she states her case and crosses her arms as she tries to maintain a fierceness in her person. “We all know that father resents us for the interference of Gertos and that resentment grows with every child you recreate to be your own. And it is only a matter of time before he does something drastic.” She turns her eyes upon me. “Such as sending an assassin to kill you.”

Lilith laughs. “Your concern is touching my child, but if Hulsut wanted to kill me he would do so during one of my walks in the light,” she reasons and wipes her mouth with the back of her hand. “And you know well enough that only those who are truly who they claim to be with no intent to harm me, can pass through my barrier. This is proof enough that Lothos is one of the fallen and therefore your brother.”

“I do not doubt that Lothos is who says he is, nor that he has fallen from Litonstanay,” Kitulla declares and shifts her focus to the throne. “But I also know the wiles of Gertos and that one day he will find a way around the barrier and visit death upon us all.”

“Child, you must listen to me,” Lilith petitions and holds out a hand to her which is taken by the woman after crossing the floor. “Look around you. Look at all of your brothers and sisters. It would be impossible for one man to kill all of you. He would be dead before he tried. Now, look at Lothos. He hasn't a weapon and he is newly fallen. He does not know the power that rests inside him. “Lothos, come to me.”

I hear the invitation and it is only through it that I dare to breathe again. Being called out as an assassin in disguise had me more than a little perturbed and I was shocked by how well that role fit in my head. As if, I am not a concrete person with their own sense of self, but merely a collection of reasons that can be easily swayed by a strong opinion.

I didn't like that in the least. I want to be my own person, my own self, but I know that isn't possible through me. I need someone strong to latch on to and build myself up from there. I look to the queen and know that she is exactly what I need. As such, I start forward and have to stop myself from dashing with all possible speed.

Instead, I maintain a stride full of dignity and self importance. I look upon the many sovereign that line the aisle, all of whom are staring at me as though they are expecting something untoward. Their loyalty to their queen and mother is so strong that they would tear me apart should I even utter a word that could be considered disrespectful.

I try to put that all aside because I know if I don't I'm just going to be a quivering mess. No matter who I used to be, this is who I am and it's time I leave behind all of the things that are of no use to me anymore. I am a new man and as such I am confident I can raise myself up into a new existence that is waiting for me.

“There now,” Lilith speaks and puts my hand into that of Kitulla's. “Kitulla this is Lothos. He is your brother. Fallen just as you were and needing only to be reborn to be considered one just like you.”

The woman stares at me and then her hand before taking it back. “I will accept him for your sake mother, but he is not my brother,” she stabs at me with venomous words and backs down from the throne and back into the mass.

“You will have to forgive her,” Lilith excuses the snub and leans closer to me. “Prejudice is a vile serpent that slithers around all hearts and squeezes them till they have nothing left to give. But eventually, that serpent will tire of squeezing things and you will be accepted as one of the fold. Unfortunately, that likely will not occur until another is seen falling from the sky.” She giggles a bit. “But that is a matter for another time, for now I want you to tell me about yourself.”

I take a swallow at the lump in my throat. “You will have to forgive me, my queen,” I seek acceptance from the start and maintain a sheepish gaze with her. “But I have not proper access to all of my memories. I can recall being a citizen, an angel, in the city of Litonstanay, but my own identity remains hidden from me. I am hoping that you can help me to get back there and I will be able to reclaim what I have lost.”

Lilith smiles as she listens to me. “Hear me child and know that I speak truth,” she puts to me and splays her hand. “Every single one of us has lost something or had it taken away. None of them have been recovered, but we have all found a way to move on and live without it. Your memory is likely to be one such treasure. I cannot promise anything, but if you will give me the chance I will do everything I can to help you reclaim your identity as we forge a new one.”

I collapse to my knees. “Why is this happening to me?” I blubber like a child and lower my head to her hand.

“I cannot answer that,” Lilith delivers the bad news as she strokes my hair. “I can only share with you my own story and hope that you can make a connection.” I raise my head. “Will you trust me enough to allow me inside your mind?”

I nod without an ounce of hesitation.

Lilith smiles. “Sit yourself down,” she commands softly and and gestures to her feet. I do so and feel her hand upon my head. “Now, relax and open your mind to me.”

I do just that and feel my consciousness slip into nothingness and I along with it. I open my eyes and find myself drifting along in a kind of darkness that feels lighter than the emptiness I had only moments ago been mired in and yet, there is nothing to see anywhere.

“Can you hear me Lothos?” I hear Lilith speak inside my mind, but I can't help looking for her.

“I can hear you,” I respond and allow myself to look within my mind as I envision the body of the queen.

Lilith looks herself over. “You are quite observant,” she remarks and looks to her bosom. “Though my breasts aren't quite so big you silly boy.”

I blush, but do not correct the error.

“On to the matter at hand,” she continues and splays her hand wide. “You are baring witness to the birth of the universe as told to me by father himself.”

A bright flash of light steals across my sight and I am blinded.

“You poor child,” Lilith consoles me and places a hand on my shoulder. “Had I known your imagination was so vivid I would have warned you to keep your eyes closed.” She pulls away my arm which hangs in front of my face and rubs my eyelids. “There. Now, open your eyes.”

I do as instructed and my breath is taken from me. I remain in a dark void but I am now surrounded by a mass of floating orbs of various size, color and brightness. All of them move within a circular orbit around the one that is largest and brightest of all which does not move, that of the sun. And it is from this sphere that the god Hulsut steps forth in a body of gleaming gold. This is prior to being fused with Gertos and they became the Two.

He floats forward and halts a floating rock before grabbing a sphere composed of water. This he squeezes over the first planet and saturates it with a massive amount of liquid which leaves it a dried up husk and is discarded. Next he reaches into the water and draws up land to the surface that the Earth might have a place for his creations to live upon.

Hulsut takes hold of a gaseous giant, pulls it into two halves and smacks both together around the modified planet, thus giving it an atmosphere. So many words are flooding my mind and I can't be sure of any of them. All I know is that I am sharing my mind with Lilith so it is difficult to to tell who is thinking and who is speaking. But it's all I have so I endure to the best of my ability.

Father then seizes a lush green planet which he tears off the fertile carpet and uses it to drape the Earth with before discarding the ruined rock. He then puts his hand upon the burgeoning world and charges it with his power so that all the living things that are mere seeds waiting to sprout grow and thrive creating a land of plants and animals.

Hulsut shrinks himself down and flies to the surface where he walks among the living things and is shown the respect due to the creator who towers over them in the form of a giant. He knows that he will not be present to care for them and so he must fashion a warden to see to their growth and development that he might sail through the cosmos to ensure that everything is in its proper place.

The god of all creation reaches into the Earth and pulls forth a hunk of raw clay which he sculpts with his bare hands and fingers into the figure that I recognize as Lilith. There are a few exceptions though, her hair has not the silver streaks through it and her skin is the color of earth. She stands naked and as lifeless as a statue.

Hulsut holds his hand aloft and gathers the life energy that surrounds him causing the grass to turn brown, the plants and trees to shrivel while the animals curl up and die. He takes the ball of glowing light and presses it deep into her chest until the light is no longer visible and a single spark jumps from her and vanishes from sight.

A moment of complete stillness passes before the statue comes to life and sucks in the air needed to fill her lungs. She slumps forward, but catches herself and holds as she breathes in and out till she achieves a normal rhythm. She opens her eyes wide and looks upon her body as she comes to grips with her sudden existence.

“CHILD, MY DEAREST CHILD, MY BELOVED ONE,” the giant Hulsut booms from above and she drops to her knees. “I AM YOUR FATHER, CREATOR AND GOD. YOU ARE MY FIRST BORN AND WE SHALL CARE FOR THIS LAND TOGETHER. UPON THIS SPOT WE SHALL GROW THE GREATEST OF TREES, THAT WHICH BESTOWS IMMORTALITY.”

“I am your obedient child,” Lilith speaks for the first time while shielding her eyes from the golden glory of his body. “I will do as you command.”

Hulsut reaches into his chest and pulls forth a glowing seed which his daughter has dug a proper hole for and covers up once he drops it inside. The two tend and water the ground continually and within a week's time the sapling breaks from the ground and the very first of its fruit sprouts from the tallest branch and it glows brilliantly.

“HEAR ME MY DAUGHTER,” the god of all creation's voice cracks the sky and his ward drops to her knees in response. “I AM CHARGING YOU WITH THE SACRED MISSION OF PROTECTING THE ONE FRUIT THAT GROWS UPON THIS TREE. IT IS NECESSARY THAT IT REMAIN WHOLE SHOULD I EVER FIND MYSELF GRAVELY WOUNDED IT IS THE ONLY THING THAT CAN RESTORE ME TO FULL STRENGTH. IF EVER THE FRUIT IS TAKEN IT WILL REQUIRE ONE HUNDRED YEARS TO BARE ITS IMMACULATE FRUIT.”

“You can rely upon me father,” Lilith assures him as she braces herself against his full majesty and looks about. “But how am I to protect this land if I am forever tied to this most sacred of tasks?”

“YOU RAISE A FAIR POINT DAUGHTER,” Hulsut rumbles the very Earth with his voice and curls his chin. “THEREFORE I SHALL RAISE A RACE OF ANGELS WHO WILL ASSIST YOU IN TAKING CARE OF THIS LAND. AND THEY SHALL RESIDE IN THE CITY I WILL CONSTRUCT THAT SHALL FOREVER BE ABOVE THE EARTH ITSELF. IT SHALL BE CALLED LITONSTANAY AND IT SHALL BE MY DWELLING PLACE.”

With the last of his words spoken the god of light ascended into the sky where he assembled his city and gave rise to an issue of angelic servants. It was these winged humanoids who flew to the Earth and assisted in caring for the land, the plants and its inhabitants. As such, the Earth thrived and that which was dead was renewed.

Lilith worked diligently while keeping an eye on her sacred task and used her free time to cultivate materials that she used to stitch together a simple set of clothing. These were supplied to her through her heavy diet of vegetation with an occasional meat which was assisted by the docility of the animals who had no fear of death.

In those days Hulsut walked the Earth and saw to its health and cultivation alongside his daughter. They speak at length with each other and it isn't long before she becomes comfortable with his awesome person and no longer falls upon her knees when he speaks, but maintains a proper speaking position while not being foolish enough to stare upon his glowing body.

In this manner does time progress and Lilith's intelligence increases exponentially having been shared the mysteries of the universe which has been passed to her through her father. The enlightened woman keeps at her work which fills her with joy and a sense of purpose and the angels are ever present when she has need of them.

Though these angelic helpers were clearly the superior of the species they never once questioned the fact that Lilith was in charge. They were only too happy to be of assistance and derived much joy from the manual labor which was never more difficult than encouraging a plant to grow a certain way. As such, the years passed on, but no one grew older.

It was one such far flung day that Hulsut flew down to his daughter. “HOW FARE YOU MY CHILD?” he asks with a voice like pealing thunder and stands fully erect in his giant body.

Lilith turns from her work and stands up. “I fare well my father. I trust the same can be said for you,” she responds and wipes the dirt on her hands over her clothing.

“INDEED I DO CHILD,” Hulsut presents an agreeable statement like the Earth splitting open. “AND I HAVE DECIDED THAT IT IS NOT RIGHT THAT YOU SHOULD BE THE ONLY ONE OF YOUR KIND. YOU SHOULD HAVE A COMPANION TO KEEP WITH YOU AND TO SHARE YOUR LIFE WITH. TO THIS END I HAVE DECIDED TO CREATE NEW LIFE. BUT I HAVE LEARNED THROUGH YOUR CREATION THAT I MUST START SMALLER AS THAT WILL REQUIRE LESS ENREGY.”

Wasting no time, the god of all creation reached into the Earth and pulls forth a much smaller lump of clay. He takes the time and care to sculpt what will be the first baby, the first male, and is soon complete in his task. A boy of brown skin like the first woman is created. He then pulls upon the surrounding life force which also affects Lilith, but are soon contained and the tiny seed is placed within the babe who lies upon the ground.

A pregnant moment of sheer anticipation passes before the body starts to writhe and a terrible scream issues from its dry throat.

“It's rather noisy, don't you think father?” Lilith observes and covers her ears, which does little to diminish the volume.

“INDEED MY CHILD, I HAVE DECIDED TO WITHHOLD THE INTELLIGENCE I BESTOWED UPON YOU THAT HE MIGHT GROW AND LEARN UPON HIS OWN,” Hulsut issues forth like a raging river, but does not move. “AND HE WILL GO ON SCREAMING FOR AS LONG AS HE IS LEFT UPON THE COLD GROUND.”

Lilith identifies the invitation though presented as only a suggestion. She braves the squealing creature and lifts him from the Earth the same as she has done for the many pregnant animals she has come across. As such, she brings the babe near and finding that it paws at her bosom, she exposes her breast and gives the child suckle.

This silences the screaming infant, allowing for endearment to take the place of the utter revulsion. Having never had a meal before he drinks long and hearty and must be turned to the other breast as he has drained the first. Such was his appetite and it was only satisfied when much milk was gone from the second.

“I PRESENT TO YOU ADANI,” Hulsut introduces the child with speech like falling rain. “HE WILL REQUIRE A GREAT DEAL MORE CARE THAN ARE COMMON AMONG THE OTHER ANIMALS. HE SHALL GROW AND BECOME STRONG AND WILL ONE DAY BE CAPABLE OF CARING FOR HIMSELF.”

The days carry on and Lilith tends to his needs. She had never before dealt with a creature that had such constant need while being wholly unprepared to fend for itself and its screams are beyond the possibility of measurement. The end result being a frazzled woman who doesn't sleep much as his needs only seem to intensify when she is resting, most often during the time when the sun's light is softest.

Thankfully, the angels are more than capable of taking up the slack, leaving Lilith free to take care of Adani and tend to the immortality fruit. Fortunately, this state of screaming inefficiency only lasts for a week. After which, the child develops more constructive measures of communication, including a rudimentary grasp on knowledge.

This simple change creates a drastic difference. Lilith is still woken at the worst times, but being prodded to wake with a clear message for milk was so much easier to deal with than an ear piercing scream that would not hush until the need was addressed. Eventually, the child learned the difference in regard to time and held off his demands for a more active hour.

Adani grows as time passes and proves himself a bundle of curiosity. His grip on language leads to the creation of an inquisitive bombardment that only ever lets up when he grows weary. Even Hulsut could not answer all of his questions and for the first time was heard to laugh, though its first incursion was somewhat unnerving, it made those gathered shrink in fear.

Lilith did all she could to raise the boy and see to his development both physically and mentally. She even shared all she knew without reserve, feeling that the secrets that had been shared with her deserved to be known by all parties concerned, including how to craft clothing, a necessity for a boy who grows so rapidly. After a fashion the child started to create his own theories and possible solutions which left the woman and even the god of light, speechless, for in those days the being who kept the universe moving always took time to walk with his children.

Within a year's time of being alive Adani had grown into a proper specimen of manhood and the woman couldn't have been more proud of him. He learned all he could and knew how to care for the land just as well as any. There was only one secret never given to him, that of the existence of the immortality fruit which grew just beneath the protective branches of the tree and could not be spotted without knowing what you are looking for.

Hulsut floats to the ground and stands to the backs of the industrious pair who are busy about a plant. “MY CHILDREN, COME TO ME,” he commands with a voice like the crashing of a boulder and the two complied without hesitation. “I AM PLEASED TO SEE YOU ARE BOTH STRONG AND HEALTHY. I HAVE DECIDED TO START A NEW SPECIES THAT YOU WILL BRING ABOUT BY MATING AND BARING MORE CHILDREN. LILITH, MY DAUGHTER, ADANI MY SON, I HEREBY MARRY YOU AND DECLARE YOU MAN AND WIFE.”

The two are flabbergasted at the proposal. Having lived and cared for animals they knew what sex is and they are also familiar with birth. The man looks upon the woman and puts forward his hand that she might take it and seal the matter as it were. He'd never lusted after her before, but these words opened up in him a desire to take and to have her.

Lilith turns away as a look of horror crossed her face. “Father please listen to me,” she petitions the supreme being while approaching him. “I have refused you nothing and done all that you have asked of me without complaint, but he is my son and cannot be my husband.”

Hulsut lowers his body closer to the ground. “HEAR ME MY DAUGHTER,” he starts in with a voice like a falling tree. “YOU KNOW WELL THE BEHAVIOR OF THE ANIMALS. THEY WILL BRANCH OUT WHEN THERE ARE MORE OF THEIR KIND TO BREED WITH. HOWEVER, IF THEY SHOULD FIND THEY ARE ISOLATED THEY WILL TURN TO THEIR FERTILE PARENTS TO CONTINUE THE SPECIES. THIS IS THE SITUATION THAT YOU FIND YOURSELF IN. IT WILL TAKE SEVERAL GENERATIONS BEFORE INBREEDING IS NO LONGER A REQUIREMENT.”

“I understand your plan father, as well as your reasoning,” Lilith establishes a baseline for her argument and shifts her footing. “But could you not create another woman as you did me that Adani might have a proper wife to mate with?”

“NOTHING IS BEYOND MY ABILITY!” Hulsut's voice blasts like thunder splitting the sky and his two children fall to their knees.

“Please forgive me father!” Lilith shouts into the dirt where her face remains. “I did not mean to question your power!”

Hulsut reins his awesome power in and places a gentle finger upon her shoulder. “THERE IS NAUGHT TO FEAR FROM ME, DAUGHTER,” he speaks in a low voice likened to the wind as it whips about the mountains and the woman rises again. “IT IS WITHIN MY POWER TO CREATE LIFE. HOWEVER, THE NATURE OF MY EXPERIMENT REQUIRES THAT YOU PROCREATE WITHOUT MY ASSISTANCE THAT I MIGHT LEARN MORE ABOUT YOU THROUGH YOUR BEHAVIOR.”

Lilith holds for a moment and looks to Adani whose face is awash with confusion. “Father, you are the wisest of all beings and I would never question your motives,” she prefaces her statement as gently as possible while feeling a kind of fervor grow in her. “But when I look at Adani I see the screaming infant who needed my breast to suckle, the child that I helped to clean himself, the boy who looked to me to gain an understanding of the world and trusted me implicitly. I could never take him into myself that he might shoot his seed into me. And were I to give birth to another male I would be required to fulfill the obligation a second time and if it were a female Adani would be required to wrestle with the same issues.” She looks upon the god of light. “Ask of me anything else and I will do it, but I cannot do this.”

“YOU DARE DEFY ME!” Hulsut blasts with a voice like a hurricane and stands to full height again.

Lilith endures the bombardment while Adani drop to his knees. “It is not my intent to cause you distress,” she starts in easy, but builds her bravado with each word uttered and stands that much taller. “But this is a request I cannot fulfill.”

“YOU DARE REFUSE ME!” Hulsut rages and all of nature responds to his intense anger. “YOU ARE MY CREATION! YOU HAVEN'T THE RIGHT TO REFUSE ME!” The god of light's tantrum threatens to tear the world apart.

Lilith holds her place upon the crumbling ground. “Father please listen to me!” she begs, but her voice is lost to the raging god.

Angels fly down from above. “Father!” they call as one while they attempt to weather the storm. “You must release your anger or you will destroy the world you took such pains to create!”

Hulsut erupts with incredible energy, but sends the destructive blast upward where it impacts a passing planet and is destroyed in an instant.

The god of righteous anger looks upon his cowering subjects and takes note of the woman who, though shaken, remains standing. “YOU DISAPPOINT ME DAUGHTER,” the being of incredible power speaks like the sound of waves washing ashore. “YOU HAVE FORCED MY HAND AND NEARLY BROUGHT ABOUT DESTRUCTION OF THE WORLD. THERE IS A STREAK OF SELFISHNESS IN YOU THAT WOULD TAINT THE EXPERIMENT. ANGELS, TAKE HER AWAY TO LITONSTANAY AND PLACE HER IN A CAGE.”

The angelic figures bow. “Your will is our desire,” they speak as one and two take hold of the woman and fly away.

They construct a kind of giant birdcage of gold which they hang from the middle of the city so the lone prisoner can gaze upon the land below.

“What wrong what have I done?! What crime have I committed?!” Lilith begs of anyone who will listen as she presses against the bars. “I only wished to be myself and to be loved equally by those around me, is that so terrible?! Does that deserve imprisonment and punishment?!”

The angels ignores her ravings and carry on with their activities while all of those who yet live take note of a dark spot on the sun itself.