I lay awake in the darkness, listening for the sound I knew I'd never hear. My ears straining against the silence for any sound the night might give me, be they the footfalls of dreams or the hooves of nightmares. The shades of midnight hung loosely remembered in the cool, still air. Slipping from between the sheets I stalk across the moonlit room to the window and draw the shades.
"Just as I thought," I whispered to no one in particular, "Still bloody night."
A small laugh came from behind me, but I didn't turn. I'd been expecting her. In truth she'd been here for hours, waiting somewhere just beyond where my eyes could see her, on the edge of existence. I felt her then though. She filled the room with her being. Her smell alone intoxicated me with quickly squashed longing. This battle had been long in coming, and I didn't plan on giving so easily.
"Hello love," she said in meaning deeper than words. She said it in all the vast ranges of passion and lust possible. A warm tide swept over me and I fought for control, keeping everything in check.
Turning I looked at her for the first time and wished I had kept looking out the window. Dim light played across silken skin stretched over a figure no being between heaven and hell could resist. Countless ages of practice had perfected her art to this paramount of beauty and lust. Thick red lips rose in a small smile as she observed me, standing rigid and fighting with everything I have to resist her. And Failing. I could already feel the pull of her dragging me closer to where she was propped like some Empress of Courtesans where I had been laying only moments before.
"Its still warm," She observed, this time in English. When she spoke she purred, every word a keen accent, built from promises and desire.
"I would think so, I've been waiting from sometime now."
"You know I cannot enter a bed unless so invited." She replied her eyebrow arching into a perfect curve, like that of her.I caught myself and sent my eyes back to her face. She was smiling openly now. A smile that glowed in the quiet.
"You weren't invited."
"Oh but I was. As soon as you went to the window you called to me. Maybe without knowing it, but you called."
"An unintentional call does not count." I said crossing my arms and keeping a tight reign on my eyes. A rolling like silent thunder filled the room and suddenly she stood before me, hand grasped around my throat, a slight moaning growl escaping her chest, violet eyes glaring in a way that I knew meant she was slightly vexed. I knew dealing with Lillith meant being firmer in Resolve than you were in Libido. She wouldn't hurt me. I checked that thought over carefully and scraped it. She wouldn't hurt me wouldn't make it fatal. Yes. She wouldn't kill me, and probably would not hurt me badly.
"That," she whispered, seduction dropped for acid and lightning, and steel like nails burrowing slightly into my skin, "Stung."
I smirked, knowing that it would pacify her somewhat. She was always a sucker for things like that. Lillith loves a cynic, especially a bold one. "I thought you liked it rough."
"You know what I mean," she snapped, but removed her hand from my neck. "Of course, not everything has to be done on a bed." She said slipping her arms around my shoulders and whispering into my ear. I suddenly became forcibly aware of certain aspects of anatomy I had been trying hard to ignore. I slipped out of her arms and dove across the room. A stupid move, making her feel more the huntress and I the prey, but it was either a dive away or surrender.
"What's wrong?" She said moving forward, gliding across the floor. She ran her hand across her dark hair, "Wrong color for you?" it became copper curls, "How about this? Or this." Strands of sunlight glided down the copper curls and turned them into golden threads. "Or is it the face," passing a hand before it shifted seamlessly from angelic beauty to young and innocent, except for the eyes. You could never change that swirling violet vortex of ardor. "Or maybe it's the skin color? Something darker? No, you like something tan." She shifted again. She approached and I dived over the bed to escape. She laughed, cruel and rich and dark an inviting, I almost surrendered right then.
"No Lillith." I said.
"No?" she said feigning ditziness. "Oh, I see. Maybe this is all wrong together." She shifted again, the smooth feminine lines becoming more angular, the muscles expanding, breast shrinking, until an incredibly attractive boy stood spotlighted in the moonlight. He laughed again, the same as before if only deeper. "Is this more to your liking?" he said positioning himself so the moonlight could throw his leanness into sharp contrast.
"No." I said. In all honestly I wouldn't be able to pick if they were both offered and I free to choose. Lillith wasn't considered the Queen of Night's Favorite Pastime for no reason. They hadn't done any justice giving Asmodeus the right of the Sin of Lust. She'd been at it longer, and even he had availed himself of her on numerous occasions. Many had. Angels, Demons, Spirits, Gods, Mortals. Lillith wasn't picky about what you were if you could give her what she wanted. She always got it, one way or another. But, she also had the nasty habit of picking up on your train of thought; not reading your mind exactly, just picking up on the general feeling.
Smiling she did so now. "I can give you both." A voice said behind my ear and I jumped into a wall. The original female form stood before me, the male just behind its shoulder looking down to were I crouched against the wall. "I can give you more than both." A brief image of a small army of attractive forms flew before my eyes, "You can have whoever you want, whenever you want. Just name them and their yours in body."
"You offer satisfaction of the body, and enslavement of the mind."
She stood up and eyed me, smirking. "I offer freeing the body of its strains and needs so the mind is free."
"As long as it's on your leash. I know you Lillith."
"And I used to know you. A long time ago, Dezredel. We we're great then, we can be great again."
I stood then, suddenly looming in the shadows. "There is no more Dezredel."
"Oh but there is. I can feel him calling me, just beneath your flesh. He wants freedom. Together we can find it. Together we can free you human, and you Dezredel."
"You don't know the definition of commitment."
"Idiocy." She said coldly. "All idiocy for demons. We betrayed each other and took greater pleasure in making up afterwards. I never minded much, and neither did you. It was just good business."
"Maybe it was, but not anymore. I didn't call you tonight for seduction Lillith. I called you to say goodbye. I never want to feel your presence ever again. Ever. Not this lifetime, not ever again."
She stood up straighter and the boy behind her vanished. "Is this how you thank me? For keeping your secrets? For keeping you warm? For keeping you company? You had No One and Nothing when I found you. I helped you keep living by helping fill that damn hole that little bitch."
There was a loud crack and Lillith's body flew across the room and slammed against the shelves. Hand still held before me, shock at what I had done retreating under waves of fury, I whispered, "Don't-You-Ever-Mention- Her-Ever-Again. You-Are-Not-Good-Enough. You-Are-Nothing-Compared-To-Her."
Rising to her full and considerable height she responded, "I gave you everything!"
"WRONG!" I bellowed, "You gave me satisfaction. She Gave Me Love. You used me. She Saved Me." I stalked forward, instinct and anger kicking in as darkness flooded my body, "You have nothing to offer I haven't tasted before. Now get out, or do I have to make you?"
It was in that moment I knew I could. Divided as we where, Dezredel and I were still one in this at least, and the raw energy I could never summon at will now crackled at my finger tips crying out for use. In that moment I could blast he back to Hell.
And yet.I wouldn't.
She had kept me from giving in completely those first couple lives. Lillith's support had kept me going for centauries. I owed her something, and this did not cover the debt.
"Fine." A dress of gossamer, more like thick air than actual fabric, covered her even as she folded her arms. "Next time you see me it will be at the other end of a stake Dezredel." And she was gone.
Silence filled the room again and I collapsed onto the bed. I cried then, if only for a few minutes before rising and walking towards the window. Looking outside I felt the first glimmer of the sun poking from behind the trees. I would never have to go through the experience that was Her ever again.
That was good at least.
..Right?