Discord

There weren’t always dragons in the Valley… not until I brought them here. They call me devil for what I’ve done, but they don’t understand. Mortal hearts are fickle and easily deceived. It was I who delivered them from darkness and saved them from their own destruction. In the hour of reckoning, it was I who made the sacrifice. I was the one who slew my lover, saving their ungrateful souls by damning my own. Yet, I am the one they call evil? They curse my name and worship the very gods that once enslaved them. But I suppose I’m getting ahead of myself.

Perhaps we should start with my name. I’ve been called many things over the millennia. In Babylon, they called me Tiamat. In Greece, Eris. The Norse thought me a man, and they named me Loki. The truth is that my name cannot be spoken by a mortal tongue. Of all the human names attributed to my deeds, the one I’ve always taken a keen liking to was Lilith, so that is what I will call myself. My name is Lilith, I’m the devil, and this is how I saved the world.

I mentioned dragons. Yes, that’s where we will begin… at least with the events leading up to the dragons. You see, I wasn’t always perceived as a malicious deity of chaos and death. In fact, I was rather adored amongst the so-called “heavenly hosts” in the young days of the world. However, being so beloved comes with a price. For one thing, it earned me the scorn of many goddesses who wanted the glory for themselves. A funny thing about immortals is, for our differences, there is one trait that we all indiscriminately have in common. We are eternally vain. Ironic, no? The victors of the primordial wars demand humility and sacrifice from their mortal subjects, but are unwilling to employ these virtues in their own actions… Yes, yes, dragons, I’m getting there.

The Valley was greener then. We called it Eden. To human eyes, it would have appeared an absolute paradise, a heavenly oasis in the empty desert of the new world. I knelt on the riverbank, nimble hands at work on my crude apparatus. It wasn’t much to look at yet. Before me was a string of bone, curved needles reaching upward, as if they wanted to claw the sky. I couldn’t recount how long it took me to set the rows of bone, each carefully placed with loving precision.

I did my work far from the Valley’s heart, where the other hosts lived. It wasn’t only for the solitude, although that was a welcome delight. I was worried if one of the vengeful goddesses discovered my project, they would destroy it out of spite. We were all artists then. As if we needed more to quarrel over, we were locked in a petty competition of who could create the most beautiful thing. The ultimate goal, of course, was to be worshipped, and the endeavour of producing creatures in our own image was an undertaking reserved for the Archangels.

As for me, I had a vision of my own. I saw black scales, shining flawlessly in the desert sun. Eyes glowed red, like embers in a pit of shadow. From a titanic maw, flame billowed out in awesome power. Let the angels have their grovelling mortals. I was crafting a dragon.

A voice sang over the river. Someone was coming. Hastily, I searched for brush with which I could obscure the thin frame of my creation. I was able to muster a few large palm fronds, and laid them over the bones as gently as I could. A coldly familiar voice greeted me as I was bent over the leaves. I was too slow to act, and had been discovered.

“Oh, Lilith! What a joyful find!”

A goddess stepped out of the gentle river down which she had been drifting, lazily. Why was she all the way up here? Droplets of water clung to her flawless dark body, sparkling like little stars in the night sky. Her black hair, wet and shining, fell on her shoulders in full, vibrant curls. She was smiling, but her dark eyes bore upon me with cruelty.

“Hello, Evelyn,” I said, hoping to mask the contempt in my voice with false geniality.

“What are you doing?”

She strode up the sandy bank to my poorly concealed design. Bones sprawled out on the ground, now mingled with the shards of palm I attempted to hide them with. Without asking, Evelyn bent and tore the largest frond away to reveal the twisted spine that writhed through the dirt.

I felt a curious satisfaction at the horror that crossed Evelyn’s face. It gave me a sort of sick joy to make something that she would hate.

“What… is this?” she asked.

I shrugged. “I’m not entirely sure yet,” I said. This was a lie, of course.

Her dark eyes scanned over the bones, the grave unease never leaving them. She looked at the outlines of what would be the dragon’s wings.

“Are you trying to make a cherub?” she asked, her eyebrows knotted in confusion.

“Maybe,” I said, shrugging again. “I guess I won’t really know until I’ve finished.”

Evelyn’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Why were you trying to hide it?” she asked.

A spark of irritation flickered. I didn’t have to answer to her.

She looked back to the bones. “Does Adam know about this?” she pressed.

Adam. I was wondering how long it would be before she mentioned him. Ever since I was betrothed to the predestined father of man, Evelyn had marked me as her enemy. As the sister the Archangel Michael, she believed herself entitled to the honour of mothering humankind. Truth be told, she was much closer to what the Archangels wanted than I was. For one thing, she was far more beautiful, a trait esteemed very highly amongst the ancient immortals. More importantly, however, Evelyn was obedient. She was willing to do anything for her own glory, and that meant submitting to the Archangels. She would do whatever they told her without hesitation, and that is how you would gain favour with the higher gods. This quality, for better or worse, I did not possess.

But Adam’s heart was mine, and I had possessed it long before the idea of a mortal race was even conceived. For this, Evelyn would never forgive me.

“My dealings with my paramour are none of your concern,” I said flatly. I knew I was playing with fire, and Evelyn was far from harmless. But alas, I couldn’t help myself.

A thin rage flooded Evelyn’s eyes, and then drained, replaced by a venomous smile.

“You are so lucky,” she said, the rancour almost spilling from her tongue as she spoke. She tossed the palm frond she was holding to the ground, and clumsily stepped on the small, triangular skull at the head of the dragon’s serpentine spine. It caved in, crunching beneath her heel, and she drew in a sharp gasp.

“Oh no!” she exclaimed in faux alarm. She lifted her foot, and beneath it was white dust that mingled with the sand on the river of Eden. She looked at me, a mask of distress on her face, but triumph shining in her eyes. “This must have taken you ages!”

“Yes,” I said, emotionless. I wouldn’t let her see how much this upset me. “It did.”

“I’ll help you fix it!”

“No.” I shook my head. “I will need to rebuild it.”

“Oh, Lilith, I feel terrible! My stupid, clumsy feet!”

“Just go, Evelyn. I will deal with it.”

“Are you sure?” Her mouth curved into a mockingly sad smile.

“Yes, quite sure.” My voice held steady, and I was grateful that it did not quiver.

“I’m so sorry, Lilith. If there’s anything I can do to make it up to you, please tell me.”

“I’ll be fine.” I smiled at her, ensuring she captured the malice in my eyes before she turned and sauntered back to the flowing river.

The heart of the Valley was nestled in a fragrant grove that was fed by the great river. Ripe fruit abound, adorning the landscape in colorful raindrops that hung from the dense trees that shaded the fertile ground. New beasts lay about, stretching out in the cool grass, some feeding on fruit that hung low.

I tried to hide my face as I walked through the Valley. I did not want anyone to see that I had been crying. My hands were held in fists, hiding the silver stains on my fingertips that came from wiping tears away. I could only hope my face was not stained as well.

The golden hall was occupied as I entered. Around the great, circular table was a host of Archangels and their subjects, my beloved Adam among them. His angular, obsidian face spread into a wide grin when he saw me.

“My love,” he said, clearly taking no notice that I was distraught. “We’ve done it!”

I stopped short. “You mean…”

“Yes!” he said, excitedly. “We have found a way!”

My gaze strayed to Michael. His black-feathered wings curved above him ominously. Like his sister, he hated me for the glory that I was taking from his house. This is why I was so uneasy to see a dark smile on his face as Adam approached me.

“It’s so simple, it was before our eyes the whole time!” Adam exclaimed.

I looked at my beloved. “So… how is it done?”

Adam took a deep breath. “I will say, it won’t be without sacrifice.”

I looked at him quizzically, not understanding. I also couldn’t help but notice the unpleasant smile on Michael’s face widen.

“What do you mean?” I asked cautiously.

“Well…” Adam said, apparently struggling to find the words. “We suspect that mortal blood can only be born of mortal blood.”

I raised my eyebrows, prompting him onward.

“That is,” Adam continued, “Only a mortal body can beget a mortal body.”

“Alright,” I said, still quite uncertain about where this was going.

“We’ve been watching the beasts, how they multiply… and we believe that we can imitate it. You see, the only reason the beasts don’t have our sentience is because they aren’t born of our flesh. But if one of us were to possess a mortal body, that could be how we finally create sentient life in our image!”

Suddenly, I understood. “You would have me give birth to a mortal child like the beasts do in the field?”

There was a rabble of disapproval from the angels in the chamber.

“I told you she wouldn’t do it,” Michael said, his smooth, articulate voice radiating throughout the room. “She is not fit for the role, Adam.”

“Not fit!” I exclaimed. “It doesn’t work! Beasts have died this way. You would have the mortals risking their lives and bleeding from their wombs to have children like animals? No, there is a better way, we just haven’t found it, yet.”

“She thinks she knows better than us,” Michael laughed. The room echoed as the angels laughed with him, all eyes jeeringly set on me.

“Think of what you are proposing!” I challenged. “To bear a child in your belly and then tear it from your groin? It’s gruesome!” I turned to Adam. “And all this from a mortal body? How?”

Adam looked nervously at Michael.

“With this,” Michael said, holding out his hand.

Hesitantly, I opened my palm, into which he dropped a small, black seed.

My heart froze. “No,” I said. I looked at my betrothed, searching for reprieve, but found none. His face was distraught.

“And you want me to do this?” I asked. “You want me to swallow the seed of that tree, forsake my immortality, and rot in the earth?”

“It is the only way,” Michael interjected. “If you are too vain to make this sacrifice so that a whole race of humankind can live, then you are not suited for the task.”

“Why don’t you do it, then?” I snapped. “If I’m so selfish, and you’re so noble, why aren’t you giving up your immortality?”

“Because that is not the way of things!” Michael snapped back, his dark eyes incensed.

“Ah, how convenient,” I cackled.

“See how insolent she is!” Michael spoke to the spectators. “Adam, it is clear that our world will not move forward with Lilith. I think it’s time we explore other alternatives.”

“Like your sister, I’m sure,” I said, accusingly.

“Evelyn would make a fine wife for Adam,” Michael replied. “She obeys.”

“Yes, and that’s all it takes.” I turned back to my betrothed, his face was a mess of anguish.

“There must be another way. Think of the suffering we would cause our children.”

“How maternal,” Michael mocked.

“She’s right,” a voice said from behind me. I turned to see an Archangel I had never met before. He was the most beautiful creature I had ever beheld. His eyes shone bright, like a morning sun. “We shouldn’t subject the mortals to this,” he said.

“We’ve heard enough from you!” Michael spat. “We know where you stand, now be silent.” There was a low murmur of agreement from the other angels, and the stranger said no more. Michael looked to Adam.

“If we start over, it could take hundreds, if not thousands of years to get back to where we are now,” Michael said. His cruel eyes fell on me. “We must go forward, with or without Lilith.”

Adam also turned to me. Our eyes locked, and I looked deep, searching. I wanted to know if this was what he truly wanted… that he wanted glory in exchange for my life. I got my answer.

“We’ve tried for so long,” Adam said, quietly. “Do you not want this?”

A silver tear brimmed over my eye, drawing a sparkled line down my cheek. “I would die,” I said, matching his soft tone.

“Will you not do it, then?” Michael said. His eyes were pleading. Suddenly, all my affection toward him was emaciated. He did not love me. I was nothing more to him than an instrument, a disposable one at that. I was simply a vessel by which he aimed to reap his own glory.

“I will not,” I said.

From the corner of my eye, I could tell Michael was elated

Adam’s eyes glistened sadly. “Lilith, I cannot turn away from my destiny. I want you to do this with me.”

Tears flowed down my cheeks freely now. “No,” I said, my voice thick with despair. “You will not, and don’t you dare try to deny it. You are vain, vile, and cruel. You would scourge the mortals with this grisly existence simply because you won’t delay your own glory.”

“Enough of this,” Michael said, stepping forward now. “Adam, Lilith will not obey. If she wants to cast her destiny aside, so be it. We’ve worked too hard and too long for this. We have found the way, now let us finally give life to the world!”

Adam looked at me one final time. “You will not do this, then?” he asked.

“No,” I said. “I will not.”

I turned and strode from the golden hall. The angels buzzed excitedly as I left. Surely, Evelyn would be chosen in my place. I had no doubt that the angels were delighted that I would no longer have their glory, and that it would now pass to one of their own.

When I was alone, I wept freely. I lay by the ruin of my dragon, tears spreading over the white sand like silver veins in stone. Evelyn had won. She had destroyed my dragon, she would take my glory, and worst of all, she now had my Adam. She would curse her children with blood, pain, and death, all for her own vanity. It was evil what they planned, and there was nothing I could do about it.

My teary eyes looked across the river, where an apple tree grew, its red fruit hanging enticingly in the air. Its roots dug deep into the earth drinking greedily from the river. I looked at the black seed in my hand, and a vision entered my mind. It was a new tree, one that bore dark fruit. I saw Adam and Evelyn reaching for it, their hungry fingers wrapping around the deadly branches. They plucked the fruit and ate it. Michael was there, he also took the fruit. One by one, their bodies changed. Their skin stretched thin over their faces, and the beat of their hearts weakened. Their hair went white, and in horror, they realised they would die… doomed to the fate they would force on their mortal children.

I was smiling in my reverie when a voice startled me.

“Lilith?”

I turned around, alarmed. Standing behind me was the beautiful stranger from the golden hall.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you,” he said. His voice was gentle, his eyes bright and shining.

“What do you want?” I asked.

“I just wanted to tell you that I’m sorry about what happened. It isn’t right, what they mean to do.”

In the moment, I recalled that this Archangel was the only one who objected, and he was silenced by Michael, just like me.

“It seems you and I are the only ones who see it that way,” I said.

The stranger shrugged. “There are others,” he said. “Though, they are afraid to speak it. Michael holds a lot of power.”

I snorted contemptuously, then looked back at the apple tree. “It should be stopped,” I said.

“If only there was a way,” the stranger sighed.

I looked at the bones of my dragon, then back to the tree, and then to the seed in my hand.

“I know a way,” I said.

The stranger looked at me curiously. I returned his gaze.

“What is your name?” I asked.

“Samael,” he said.

“Hello, Samael.”

If I were to define the moment that marked the beginning of the end, I think this would be it. Everything changed the day I met the Archangel Samael… although that would not always be his name. By the time I was through with him, he would be called Lucifer.