The Scribe Virgin smiled as she cooed to the the canary, her son had brought her, on her finger. Birds brought her such joy, they loved and never asked anything in return.
"Annalise."
The Scribe Virgin's annoyance prickled to life at the informal use of her name. But she knew that voice, had known it for thousands of years, and though it was a beautiful voice, it was cool and filled with dislike.
Sensing her annoyance, the bird flew off her finger to the top of a nearby tree.
The goddess got to her feet, her robes flowing around her. Her hood turned to the female who had materialized in her courtyard.
"Alexiel, it's so nice to see you again."
The tone of the words said otherwise.
A hiss came out of the hood of the black robes, similar to her own, that her niece insisted on wearing. "You know perfectly well, I call myself Lilth, and have for centuries."
The Scribe Virgin waved away that comment, "Oh, yes, of course. How could I have forgotten?"
Lilith apparently didn't like the sarcasm in her voice from the growl that came up out of her throat.
"Why have you called me here?"
There was a shrug in reply, "Maybe I just wanted to see my precious niece."
"Precious my ass," the muttered reply came with a harsh chuckle.
Easing herself back onto the lip of the courtyard fountain, the Scribe Virgin patted the spot next to her, "Here, come sit."
Though the other female came closer, she didn't sit, "No thanks. I'd rather stand."
The robes moved as the Scribe Virgin shrugged, "Suit yourself then." Looking up into the dark hood of her niece's robe, she said a bit irritably, "Do take that dreadful thing off your head. Beauty such as yours should be viewed by the world."
"Like you're one to talk," Lilith grumbled, but complied. Slowly she lowered the hood.
The Scribe Virgin did the same, willing her skin to shimmer instead of glow. Her diamond colored eyes met her niece's icy blue ones.
She looks so much like her mother, the goddess thought with a wistful sigh. "Ah, how lovely. You should reveal yourself into society, males would flock to line up at your feet for the honor of becoming your hellren. You are the most beautiful creature of your race, you must take some pride in that."
An unladylike snort came from Lilith's full lips, "Whatever. Now, cut the chit-chat and tell me why you've summoned me."
"Maybe I wanted to see how the Sisterhood is doing."
"Bullshit," it wasn't said in anger, but in a matter-of-fact tone. "You were against me forming the Sisterhood centuries ago. You still are,
even though we're as strong as your Brotherhood."
"Your female warriors could never be as powerful as my warriors," the Scribe Virgin said with a smile.
Lilith ignored that, "Tell me the real reason, Annalise."
The Scribe Virgin studied the unearthly beauty of her kin. Honey blond hair fell in waves to the back of her kness. She was tall for a female, but had the curves to make a male whimper and not to make her body look willowy. Her face held so much beauty, that the Greeks had named her Aphrodite since human men would fall in love with her on sight.
Though she could kill the entire human race if she felt like it.
Folding her hands in front of her, the Scribe Virgin spoke while keeping her eyes on Lilith's, "You understand your needing is fast
approaching."
It wasn't a question.
Lilith stiffened but quickly composed herself and crossed her arm over her volumptuous breasts, "Of course I know. And your point is?"
"I would like you to mate with a male this time around, instead of having your physician at your base put you under."
Lilith didn't answer, neither did she take her eyes off her aunt.
"You should pick a suitable male and use him. After the needing, take him as your hellren. Think about your race, Lilith. With you lineage, your sons could become warriors, your daughters Chosen."
"There are no more Chosen," Lilith pointed out.
The goddess waved that aside, "Then they may become warriors as well. But once you're mated I do not want you to fight anymore. Have your subordinates fight for you instead and lead them from a safe distance."
Then she was silent, waiting patiently for the explosion of anger she was sure would come.