|
Post by Liana on Jul 4, 2009 2:05:53 GMT -4
The grief was driving her insane. She'd never felt grief before, not even when she was human. Not that she could remember at least, it had been a very, very long time since she'd been human. Liana had taken Harper's body back to Seattle, leaving it somewhere obvious for the authorities to find. She figured that way at least the humans would be off his back... not that it mattered any more of course, but she figured he needed some kind of peace.
After Harper had been officially declared dead, she'd stolen the body back and buried it herself, about half a mile away from where she'd.... from where he'd died. She didn't know why it had to be there, but it seemed like a good place of rest... or maybe it was ironic. She'd been burned at the stake so what would she know?
Back to being insane. She was crazy on a level that even demons didn't often go to. It hurt so much she had retreated into the sub-conscious of her host body, allowing the real Liana to take control while she kept the body running. But did the girl go home and get on with her life? No, of course not, that would be too much to ask. Instead, the real Liana, who had been aware of everything the demon had done, killing, torturing, falling in love... had decided to spend most of her time in front of a mirror trying to console the distraught demon. Which only made her feel worse for using the girl and damaging her body so much that Liana would die if the demon ever left. Which then made her think of Harper, which made her feel like crap, which made human Liana try and make her feel better which would start the whole process again. It was a vicious cycle.
So after a couple of weeks of failed... whatever it was the girl was trying to do, demon Liana retook control, pushing human Liana as far into the subconscious as possible so she could not a) try and talk to her, or b) see what she did. That last part was most important. Because she was fairly sure the human Liana would have tried very hard to talk to her out of what she was going to do next, had she known about it.
Because what she was about to do was risky, stupid and probably wouldn't even work, but she had to try. If Lilith was in a good mood, maybe something would work itself out, but if she wasn't... well... then that was another way to put an end to all this nonsense.
Taking a deep breath, Liana cautiously walked up the steps to the old church and pushed the door open, knocking loudly. She hoped Lilith was home. She didn't know how much longer she could deal with the whole grief thing.
|
|
|
Post by Lilith on Jul 4, 2009 2:46:14 GMT -4
Lilith had been lying down on one of the pews, a twisted smile of malice and glee on her face. The final seal was so close she could taste it. And then Lucifer would return and destroy everything this pathetic little world had to offer. She glanced up at the still blindfolded statue of the son of God. Did that make him her brother? She didn't know. And she supposed it didn't really matter. Once Lucifer had changed her, made her better, any tie to them had been severed.
Either way, the man who looked out over the church, though no longer able to give that judgmental stare, would have died for nothing. And it pleased her to think that all of Gods hard work, everything he did to save mankind, would be for naught. She sighed contentedly. Yes, life was good at the moment.
She heard the door to her church creak open and a hand pound on the hard wood.
"Liana," she said without looking up. "This is a surprise. Is there something you need?"
|
|
|
Post by Liana on Jul 4, 2009 2:55:36 GMT -4
When Liana heard Lilith say her name she was relieved. Which only served to prove how crazy she had actually become, but that was beside the point. She ventured further into the church, frowning slightly while she looked for Lilith, eventually finding her lying on one of the pews. She was in an adult host this time. One she hadn't seen before. It was definitely a different sight.
"...Is there something you need?"
Liana forced back the slightly hysterical laughter that threatened to erupt out of her. Was there something she needed? Yes. Was it something she shouldn't have? Hell yes. Was she stupid enough to ask for it anyway? Please see the answer to question two.
"Yes, actually," she said finally when she was sure it was safe to speak. "I..." Now, how to explain to the first ever demon, created by Lucifer, the angel with the serious hatred of humanity, to let her bring a human back to life. "I want to make a deal."
|
|
|
Post by Lilith on Jul 4, 2009 3:03:02 GMT -4
Lilith sat up suddenly and fixed her attention on Liana.
"You want to make a deal?" she asked, standing up and walking towards the other demon, a curious look on her face. "And what could you possibly want to make a deal for?"
She circled Liana, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "More importantly, what could you possibly offer me in return? I already have your soul," she reminded her.
Eventually, Lilith stopped circling and leaned against one of the pews, her eyes sill on Liana. This was a most fascinating request. "Well?" she asked. "What do you want?"
|
|
|
Post by Liana on Jul 4, 2009 3:14:16 GMT -4
Liana found it very difficult to keep her eyes on Lilith as she circled her. She thought it would be rude to turn around so she had stayed where she was, getting nervous every time Lilith was behind her.
The question of what she had to offer was the one that got her. She had momentarily forgotten that the usual demonic currency was souls. And she didn't have one. Not anymore.
"A few weeks ago, I killed someone," she said, deciding to start with an explanation. "A human. And I want him – I want to bring him back.... I don't have anything to offer but name your price... I'll pay... whatever it is." She heard the desperation in her own voice and fought not to grimace. So this is what love did to people.
"Please..."
|
|
|
Post by Lilith on Jul 4, 2009 3:46:03 GMT -4
An amused smirk found it's way on to Lilith's face as she listened to Liana's request.
"My, my," she said, giggling slightly. "Liana, have you fallen in love with a human?" She shook her head, tutting at her. "That was a silly thing to go and do, darling..."
Being in a good mood, and having less cold feelings towards Liana than she did for other demons, Lilith was inclined to help her. A little bit. Sort of.
"This human," she said, walking away from Liana. "he wouldn't be the telepath everybody was looking for, would he? Because word is, he was kidnapped from his cell, by a demon, and later rescued from and angel, by a demon... does this sound familiar at all?"
|
|
|
Post by Liana on Jul 4, 2009 3:58:30 GMT -4
Liana wasn't surprised that Lilith knew about Harper. Lilith always seemed to know everything. She also wasn't surprised to hear that falling in love with Harper had been less than intelligent. She knew that already. But there was very little she could do about it. The design flaw in demons, one that they inherited from their creator, was their inability to let things go.
She nodded. "That's the one," she said lamely. "Can you do it? Can you bring him back?"
Liana knew Lilith could... well, she was 99% sure she could. Problems would arise if Harper had gone north instead of south. But she felt she should ask anyway. Just to be polite.
|
|
|
Post by Lilith on Jul 4, 2009 4:04:19 GMT -4
Harper Benedict. Telepath and general pain in everybody's ass. That's the human Liana had fallen for, killed and wanted back. Well now, wasn't that interesting?
Harper had indeed been sent to Hell, according to her intelligence, because apparently asking a demon to kill you is considered suicide. Who knew?
"You know, don't you, that bringing him back will only bring him into a new hell when Lucifer rises?" Lilith asked.
"And of course I can do it," she said, smiling broadly. "But I'm not going to."
She walked over to Liana until she was standing only inches away from her. "You are."
|
|
|
Post by Liana on Jul 4, 2009 4:14:27 GMT -4
Liana did know that life would be no different to hell once Lucifer rose. But at least up here she could protect him. And an angry, pissed off, post-hell Harper was better than no Harper at all.
She looked at Lilith hopefully when she announced she could do it, her expression quickly becoming one of despair when she added that she wouldn't.
And then the bomb was dropped.
"You are."
Liana stared at Lilith, more confused than she'd ever been... ever. "I... what?"
|
|
|
Post by Lilith on Jul 4, 2009 7:39:13 GMT -4
Lilith giggled at Liana's swift change of emotions and then her eventual confusion. She patted Liana's cheek lightly and tilted her head to the side.
"You told me to name my price, Liana," she explained. "And this is it."
"Your love is in the pit," she said the word distastefully. She'd never had much patience with that particular emotion. "If you can get to him, and pry him away from whoever happens to be working at the time, you and he will have a clear way out of hell. If not..." she thought for a moment. "Then you join him on the rack, and this time, there's no coming back from it."
A sadistic smile spread across her lips. "You'll be risking yourself for him, Liana, quite romantic don't you think?"
|
|
|
Post by Liana on Jul 4, 2009 7:55:04 GMT -4
Liana knew Lilith was making fun of her. But there wasn't a whole lot she could do about that either. Lilith was one of the most powerful beings she'd ever come across. If she wanted to mock someone, then mock someone she would.
On the other hand, Liana could think of a hundred reasons why going into hell to pull Harper out was not romantic. Not at all. First of all, it was very nearly impossible so her going into the pit wasn't so much risky as completely suicidal. Secondly, her demonic form was somewhat less than attractive, even to herself. She didn't want Harper to see her like that. Ever. The list went on and the more she thought about it, the less she liked the plan.
Until she envisioned herself mourning Harper's death for the rest of eternity. And she decided she had no choice.
"Okay," she said with a sigh. "You've got a deal."
|
|