Leaving the church Lilith started walking down the street, her mind a million miles away. She knew Pastor Eilish had been right. She had to let Eli go. Not just because of the obvious threat of the Preacher-man, but because she was the last thing he needed in his life. She was a demon and by nature she was supposed to be cold, calculating, and distant from humanity. Elijah was the antithesis of all of that. Almost since time began she had delighted in tempting and seducing men and the occasional woman from every walk of life so why was Eli different? What could have changed? Had she changed? What was happening to her? She had always been confident in who she was and her place in this existence. Now she wasn't so sure.
Lost in thought, the demoness never noticed how many houses she passed, nor did she see the gas station or the funeral parlor that marked the route she was absently following. She didn't realize just how far she had gone until she was standing in front of a cemetery whose entrance was right where the road made an abrupt right turn. Lilith knew this place and in particular she was fond of a spot hidden in the woods down a farm road on the other side of the memorial park. Seeing it so close, she started running, following the asphalt as it went past the graveyard and further until there was nothing but trees on either side. Her sharp eyes looked around until she finally spied the remains of a driveway that was almost entirely hidden by foliage and long forgotten.
She darted into the overgrown path and climbed over a log barrier. She continued up the nearly invisible track pushing her way through the thick brush until she reached what was left of the once stately Springlawn Farm. The old place was little more than a hole in the ground with a chimney on one side and a few dilapidated out buildings, but here she felt safe. Turning right she followed an almost invisible foot path until she came to the edge of a small forgotten lake with its dull and dismal water. This was where she wanted to be. Here no one could see her and she could think things through in silence.
Looking out over the land before her, the demoness' eyes took in the view of thick overgrowth with its thorns, vines, and wild greenery then turned her gaze down at the water before her. The cloudy, confused and shadowy depths seem to mirror her existence and more precisely what she was feeling at that moment. Before Eli, had there ever been a time when she truly felt happy? Had she ever really felt like she belonged anywhere? No. She looked down at the keychain hanging from her charm belt and touched the word 'home'. Strange, she had only known Eli three days, but she felt more at home with him than she had ever felt before. Only one other individual had ever touched her so deeply and that relationship was equally as complex. It had happened more than a thousand lifetimes ago at a river that was now long gone. Its waters were a far cry from the murky depths before her now.
Lilith closed her eyes and thought back to that time. A moment in history when the world was new and the fragrance of flowers filled the earth. She could remember a sky of perfect vivid blue and grass like velvet beneath her feet. In particular Lili thought back to the river with it's sparkling clarity, fresh clean smell, it's roaring waterfalls and babbling water. How amazing was it that something like water could be both powerful and gentle even at the same time.
Eden was not a place Lilith could easily describe to anyone. While some of its fruits and plants existed in other parts of the world, many more did not. It was lush and green with flowers and fruits of every shape and kind. The Garden once sat where the four rivers known as the Pishon, Gihon, Tigris and Euphrates met, but with the fall of man it had vanished along with two of the waterways. Lilith had loved Eden, but her turbulent relationship with Adam had created a dark cloud that marred paradise. Fortunately she had found a haven within the garden that made her happy. When she wanted to get away from Adam she would go to a small tributary that flowed off the Pishon and wound its way down a high waterfall into a secluded pool before continuing down stream. In those early days of existence she had loved going to that pool of water and resting on its banks. Adam wasn't there to tell her every move to make and she felt truly happy. She never imagined that such a small piece of paradise could ever be so life changing or that her sanctuary would lead her to him.
The memory was as vivid to her as though it had happened only yesterday. It had begun like any other morning with Adam giving his usual list of commands. Lilith naturally ignored them all and spitefully slipped away to that little spot of earth that was her sanctuary. She always turned a deaf ear to Adam's orders and every evening she would sit there while he harped on her for not doing what he said. As if it changed their existence one iota. How many times could a person look over the animals? God provided creatures with food and water so why should she spend her time checking up on them? Why should she gather food for her and Adam when the garden was so plentiful? It was a waste of time.
Following her usual path, she stopped long enough to gather a handful of figs before continuing on to her little private corner of Eden. She was almost in sight of the river bank when she heard a strange splashing coming from the water. Peering through the bushes she saw the most beautiful creature she had ever seen. In some ways he looked like a human male and yet very different.
While his face wasn't clear from where she sat, she could make out other things about him. The strange being was tall, with a well-defined muscular body and long golden hair that had a gentle wave and flowed down past his shoulders. She could also see two sets of wings on his back. One set that appeared to be positioned high on his shoulders so that it could cover his face when closed. The second was a bit lower and slightly larger. She could only imagine that these were primarily used for flying. It was not until he emerged from the water that she saw he had another set lower down that covered his feet.
What also surprised her was that he wore a fine red cloth edged in black that was wrapped and girded around his waist and groin. This seemed a strange thing since she had never worn any sort of coverings on her body and neither had Adam. Why would you, when the sun felt so warm on your skin and the wind was so cool and refreshing? Everything about this strange being intrigued her and she couldn't help watching it, wanting to know more.
