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Cozbi: Rise Of The She-Demon
"The zealots of the church and state
Shall e'er my mortal foe be;
But let me have bold Zimri's fate,
Within the arms of Cozbi!"
- Excerpt from "I Murder Hate," by Robert Burns.
1618 B.C.E.
"My Lord, are you sure we should be here?"
I trembled nervously as my new husband, Zimri, led me through the camp to his personal tent. I felt the eyes of the High Priests, along with others of the gathered tribe, move over my body as Zimri led me past. Their scowls were not at all approving.
"Of course, my darling," Zimri assured me. "You are my wife now, I can bring you anywhere I please."
"But, your people did not approve," I reminded him. "We were married in the eyes of my people, under our Gods, yes. But your High Priests refused us that same right."
"It matters not," Zimri dismissed me. "We have sworn oaths, and I have paid the purchase price to your father. You belong to me now."
Pulling me inside his tent, he closed the flap behind him.
"Remove your clothes." His instruction was firm, insistent.
I did as I was told, quickly shedding my long, flowing bridal robes. In moments, I stood revealed before my new husband, my olive skin aglow with sweat from the desert heat.
Zimri disrobed as well. I gasped at the sight of his manhood. It wasn't my first encounter with a circumcised male. Unlike the Hebrew God that Zimri worshiped, my Gods had no restrictions on sex, purity or chastity.
So I was quite familiar with the male sex organ. Up until this moment though, I had never seen one quite so... unimpressive.
Still, I understood my wifely duty, and dropped to my knees before him, eager to perform it.
Zimri, however, had not the patience. Pushing me to the carpeted floor of the tent, he moved above me, pinning me down with his superior strength.
His engorged member prodded eagerly at the entrance to my own tent. Without preamble or warning of any kind, Zimri forced himself inside me.
I found myself grateful he was not nearly as well endowed as the men I had been with before, since Zimri had given me no time to build my desire enough to ease his passage.
Still, as he thrust away eagerly, I felt my pleasure grow, soon finding a rhythm with him, my hips swaying as he pumped.
A rhythm that ended all too quickly when I felt his seed erupt within me.
Zimri collapsed over me, panting and sweating profusely. "Ah, my darling Cozbi, you truly are an exotic delight! I am looking forward to..."
His words were cut off by the sounds of an angry mob gathered outside our tent. Zimri turned his head just in time to see the frenzied, wild eyed priest burst in, a long, sharp spear in hand.
Trapped beneath my husband, I could only watch in horror as the invader lifted the spear high, his eyes glazed over with madness and rage.
Zimri cried out in fear, then agony.
I screamed as well. A sharp burst of pain exploded in my abdomen.
Then my world went black.
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Somewhere Outside Time And Space
"Wake up. Wake up, my child."
I lifted my head slowly. My eyes fluttered open.
The room was bigger than anything I had ever seen before, far grander than even my father's royal court, or the many temples my people had erected in honor of the Gods.
The granite floor was hard, smooth, cool to the touch. The stone walls of the long, rectangular hall seemed to reach to the heavens, as did the parallel rows of columns that ran the length of the cavernous space.
At the far end was a staircase, flanked by two massive stone pillars, gargoyle carvings perched atop each, along with a pair of brightly burning torches.
The staircase led to a dais on which sat a throne, wreathed in flames. A large, multicolored orb of glass, or perhaps some type of highly polished stone, topped the backrest, shimmering with an unearthly glow.
Upon the throne sat a figure, obscured in mist and shadow.
"Stand, child," the figure commanded.
I scrambled to my feet, naked, afraid, clutching absently at my belly.
"Do not be frightened, child." The voice was softer now, soothing. "Come closer."
I tentatively approached the foot of the stairs, eyes cast downwards, uneager to meet the gaze of the mysterious figure.
"Stop. Right there. Now, stand straight, child. Let me look at you."
Finding my strength, I lifted my head, my arms dropping to my sides, no longer attempting to cover myself.
Puffing out my chest, I stood proud and unashamed before him. Although his face was still obscured in shadow, I met his fiery eyes with my own defiant glare.
"I am no CHILD! I am Princess Cozbi, daughter of Zur, ruler of Midian, and wife of Zimri, son of Salu of the tribe of Simeon of the Israelites!"
"Good," his deep voice chuckled. "Oh very, very good. You have spirit, I like that! Oh yes, you'll do nicely."
"What do you mean?" I spat. "Where is my husband? I demand you bring me to him! I..."
Booming laughter cut me off. "Oh, my dear Cozbi! You are in no position to demand anything! Do you even know where you are? Stop and think for a moment. What is the last thing you remember?"
I thought deeply, struggling to recall. The memory came back in a flash; the angry cry of the priest, the blur of the spear, the wail of agony. I again clenched at the phantom pain in my abdomen.
"I... am I...?"
"Dead? Yes. I'm so sorry."
"And this is...?"
"The Underworld, yes."
"Are you Ba'al?"
Again the good-natured laugh. "No. But he is an associate of mine."
The figure stood and, with graceful ease, descended the stairs. The mist parted as he approached, revealing himself clearly; tall, lean, his body adorned in elegant, kingly robes of red and purple, edged with gold trim along the sleeves and hem.
Long black hair framed the angular features of his chiseled marble face. Slitted amber eyes twinkled with wicked merriment.
His thin lips offered a warm, almost loving smile.
I trembled at his terrifying beauty.
"Who are you?" I asked in wonder.
"I go by many names. One you might be familiar with is Asmodeus."
I nodded. "Ah. Yes, I have heard of you. You're... you're more... handsome, than I expected."
Again his smile inflamed my desire. "Do you know why you're here, my dear?"
I shook my head. His gaze as his eyes wandered over my body made my nethers tingle.
"You are here because your family sold you like a piece of property to a man from a tribe of wandering nomads who believe it is perfectly acceptable to slaughter any heathen who does not worship their vengeful God."
"But," I objected, "Zimri selected me, knowing I was not of his tribe, his faith. I had no choice in the matter; it was the will of my family that I be wed to him, to form a union between our people."
Asmodeus sighed in sympathy. "And yet his people slaughtered you as casually as one of their sacrificial lambs. Zimri broke the rules about choosing a wife from among the pagans. But they blamed you for seducing him, and so you also paid the price. Do you think that fair?"
I shook with brimming anger. "No."
"Good." Asmodeus grinned wider, revealing his perfect white teeth. "Neither do I. Now tell me, dear Princess; would you like to have your revenge? The ability to take down those men, and ones like them, that abuse their power and harm others for their own means? To seduce them to their eternal Doom?"
I didn't hesitate to answer. "Yes."
"Then kneel. Pledge yourself to me, and I will give you powers beyond imagination."
I knelt, bowing my head, arms raised in supplication. "I pledge myself to your service. I am yours to command, Lord Asmodeus."
"Very well. I accept your service." Extending his arm, Asmodeus offered his hand. I leaned in to kiss the goat headed ring on his finger.
Taking me by the hand, he led me up the staircase. Another throne, sparkling with gemstones the likes I had never before seen, appeared beside his, as if from nowhere. Flames encircled it as well, yet I felt no heat.
"Here, sit." With a gesture, he guided me to my seat before taking his own.