Chapter 19 - Turn
Lilith:
I stir in the bed, feeling better. Feeling a bit disoriented, I look for Cain, but the house is empty.
Concern weighs heavily on me when I see that he’s been gone for at least four hours. I reach for my mobile inside my pocket but realize that the screen is broken beyond repair. I must have broken it during my struggles at the temple. If Cain texted or called, I would not be able to retrieve them.
What if he was hurt when he went back to the falls? I think to myself.
It’s plausible considering that our powers are nulled at the falls. Seeing that I’m not going to rest until I know Cain’s unharmed, I flash to the falls. I call out for him, but the place is empty.
I’m about to flash to his home when a very tall female dressed in luxurious robes appears before me. Her hair is the color of flames, her skin is as pale as mine, and her eyes are crimson.
Something about her instantly puts me on edge. Her eyes are almost reptilian in their color, and her expression is one of a predator as she angles her head and looks intently into my eyes. “You must be Lilith.” I stiffly nod my head. “I am. Who are you?”
She raises her head and sneers, “I am Ma’at, one of the Divinity Pantheon’s rulers. I am the one who sent Cain to find you.”
She circles around me, her eyes running across my frame appraisingly. “Imagine my surprise when Cain disappears just when I’ve given him a deadline to bring you and the Tenebrous back to us. It seems that my little pet has been a naughty boy.”
I stand still while she hovers over me threateningly, “Cain is a good male,” I mutter carefully.
Ma’at scoffs, “Is he now? Did he tell you who he was?”
I swallow hard, “Yes, I know he’s Adam’s son.”
She seems taken aback by my answer. I guess she expected that Cain would continue to lie to me. Even though he didn’t tell me, he didn’t deny the truth when Lucifer outed him.
“I don’t have the Tenebrous,” I mutter. “However, I know how to get it.”
She snickers, “Oh, I know about your little attempt to find Hod’s arrow. How did that go?”
My brow furrows, and my heart stops in my chest for a couple of seconds, “You know? How?”
Ma’at snaps her fingers and flashes us to a large throne room. Startled, I look for an exit, but Ma’at chuckles, “There’s no way out unless I grant it. Now, take a seat,” she says as a couple of chairs on the other side of the room slide forward until one is right behind me and the other behind her.
Her expression is one of satisfaction when she takes a seat, “Oh, don’t worry, Cain didn’t tell me about it. I simply discovered the truth after one of my priests saw him creeping into the Pantheon’s archives. So why haven’t you harnessed the power yet?”
My breath whooshes out with relief when I realize that Cain didn’t betray me. I just wish I knew where he was.
For a moment, I consider lying to her. But I can tell that, like me, Ma’at will probably not tolerate a dishonest response. In fact, she might become angrier, and things can get ugly quickly.
“We were able to retrieve the arrow, but when we shot it into the Tenebrous, it didn’t work.”
Ma’at harumphs unsurprised, “Of course it wouldn’t work, you silly girl. The Arrow is meant to harness the host’s power, but only if the host is…well, dead. You have to choose to sacrifice your lifeblood to harness the power.”
At her dispassionate reply, my stomach drops. I can tell that she’s completely truthful. However, it doesn’t stop me from feeling dread at the thought that I have to die to harness the power.
Rising from my chair, I take a step back and shake my head, “No, I won’t do it. I won’t bloody agree to sacrifice myself, and you can’t make me. There has to be another way.”
Her smile is nasty as she rises to her feet, her flaming hair swinging erratically across her back, “There is another way. But I don’t think you’ll like it,” she swings her arm playfully as she continues, “If you don’t sacrifice yourself, then I will have to find your son and see if he’s agreeable. What do you think? Do you think he’d agree to sacrifice himself for the sake of saving lives, including his own childs’?”
Everything inside of me grows cold at her mention of Fallon. Fear grips me when I consider what she might do to him. Fallon may hate me, but I would still do anything to save him.
It seems that Ma’at somehow knows this.
Just as I’m going to retort, Ma’at snaps her fingers, and Fallon appears beside me. He looks around the throne room with confusion until his eyes land on me.
“What the bloody hell are you doing, Lilith?” he rushes toward me angrily. However, before he can do anything, Ma’at waves her hand and freezes him in place.
Fallon falters with confusion.
“You must be Fallon?” Ma’at states in the same way she introduced herself to me. My heart pounds wildly in my chest, and my fear heightens when she stops in front of Fallon and slides her finger across his face.
Fallon hisses angrily and tries to pull away, but he can’t move.
“You are quite handsome, aren’t you, pet?” she sneers, “Just like your father. But your eyes, your eyes are hers,” she nudges her chin toward me.
Fallon glares, “Who are you, and what do you bloody want?”
Ma’at arches a brow and mutters, “Well, it seems that the Tenebrous’ power—the power Lilith held for thousands of years, is commencing its path of destruction. You know that it has already consumed the island that was housing it,” she glances back at me and mutters, “It’s all over the news.”
She snaps her fingers again, and several television screens appear before us, showing the horror of the Tenebrous as it spreads across the ocean like a disease. The once beautiful Indian Ocean with its blue waters looks like a black hole.
My world turns on its axis as I listen to the human reporter’s panicked and horrified voice. Another screen shows crowds of protesters and religious groups rallying in different parts of the city, citing that the world is ending.
Scientists talk about global warming and the end of the world while mobs of people riot around cities, destroying anything within sight.
Another screen shows natural disasters like fires, hurricanes, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions that seem to be currently occurring.
It’s a horrific sight to see.
Fallon glares at me, “Do you see what you’ve done?”
If he could kill me on the spot, I’m sure Fallon would do so at that moment.
Ma’at must see his animosity because she cackles, “Well, it seems there’s no love lost between you two. However, that does not change the fact that the host’s sacrifice is required to harness the power.”
She releases a dramatic sigh and vanishes the screens, “Unfortunately, Lilith does not want to sacrifice herself, and the only option left is you.”
I want to retort, but it seems that Ma’at has taken my ability to speak because I can’t move my lips.
Fallon’s head snaps back with surprise, “Why would you need me?”
Ma’at jeers, “Because only the host or the blood of the host can be used to harness the power. And you, my dear…” she leans close to Fallon and mutters, “…are…whether you like it or not…her blood. Your sacrifice will save the world, including the life of your love and your child. I’m sure you have seen firsthand what has been occurring. You know that it's not long before it consumes everything around it.”
I shake my head heatedly, but Fallon’s expression blanks as he realizes what he has to do. Fallon is the noble type, so I know he’ll readily agree. But I refuse to let him do that.
Tears glide down my face as I try to break free of Ma’at’s hold.
Ma’at ignores me as she gazes intently into my son’s eyes, “Do you really think Lilith would sacrifice for anyone?”
Fallon manages to shake his head. His jaw is tight, and his expression is icy when he looks at me, “Lilith has never cared about anyone but herself.”
Anguish strikes me at my son’s resolute words. After all that he has said, you’d think I wouldn’t feel so gutted, but I do.
However, I do not give up my struggles.
“What would you do for those you love?” she asks him.
Fallon’s eyes glaze with tears as he answers candidly, “I’d do anything. I’d do anything to save my family—even die for them.”
He sounds so impassioned that it pains me because I can tell that he thinks that I would not do the same.
Ma’at smiles with satisfaction before she turns to me and asks, “Is there something you wanted to say?”
I blink my eyes, hoping that she’ll take my movements as an affirmative since I cannot do anything else.
Ma’at waves her hand again, releasing me from my forced silence. As soon as she frees me, I blurt out the words I was trying to say, “I’ll do it! I’ll sacrifice myself to the Tenebrous! Just please…don’t…don’t hurt my son.”
I sound so despondent that I almost don’t recognize my own voice. Tears continue to run down my face as I look at my son and the goddess through blurry eyes.
“Please, just let him go, and I’ll do whatever you wish,” I mutter.
Fallon’s eyes widen with incredulity, but then they darken with suspicion. I can tell that he doesn’t believe a word that I just said. He probably thinks that I’m concocting a plan to betray everyone.
Ma’at steps back, her eyes shifting from me to Fallons’. “Very well, I will accept your sacrifice. However, I’m not letting your son go until our bargain is met.”
My chin quivers. “How can I trust that you will let him go?”
Ma’at throws her head back and laughs, “And why should I trust you when your own son looks at you with mistrust?”
`Fallon remains silent as he observes our interaction. He doesn’t refute her point because he agrees.
Seeing that it’s the only option I have, I nod my head. “Alright, I will do as you say.”
“Unfortunately, it’s not that easy,” Ma’at says. “Now that the power has spread, we will need Hod’s Arrow to harness it. Do you have the arrow?”
I shake my head, “No, Cain has the arrow.”
Ma’at arches a brow menacingly, “I will contact Cain. However, I should warn you now not to expect Cain to save you. Cain’s power is the Divinity Pantheon’s power, and if he interferes, I will end him and kill any chance he might have of redemption,” she takes my chin between her fingers and squeezes tightly, “Do you understand, Lilith?”
I grimace with pain and nod, “I understand.”
Ma’at looks at both of us and waves her hand again. A cloak of darkness falls upon me, and all sound disappears. As I lose consciousness, the last thing I see is my son’s suspicious expression.