Mother Is the Name
Mother is the name for God on the lips and hearts of all children.
Winnifred woke beside the fire. She lay half covered by a threadbare blanket from her parents' old bed on the dirt floor. This morning she was breathing in cool air. Something beside her stirred; Sarah rolled over with groggy eyes and flashed a tired smile at her sister. Mary finally stopped snoring.
Weak sunlight fought its way through the crust of the window casement across from the hearth. It shone on Sarah's blond hair like a flame to a mirror as she sat upright and stretched her arms, arching her back.
"Good morrow," a low voice purred. Each of the three girls sat bolt upright, frightened by the sudden burning presence of the man in the corner.
"Master!" Sarah threw her arms around his neck and kissed it, her lucky rat's tail bobbing in her tight fist the whole time. He gently untangled himself with a considerate grin and placed her hands over her own heart.
"Good morrow, little ones," his voice caressed Mary's cheek just as his palm did while he stepped lightly across the room. She beamed reverently from the floor and shooed a wisp of hair from her eyes. "And you," the Devil cooed deeply, his eyes locking on Winnifred's. Her heart skipped a beat.
The world went quiet and still.
"You all will meet me in the forest after breakfast." His eyes glowed redder as the silk ribbon in his hair peered from behind his shoulders. "Today is an important day." With not another word, he tapped his cane on the floor and vanished in a dissipating gold mist.
"Today!" Sarah shouted with glee, arms outstretched and eyes raised high, twirling on her tiny ankles.
"What could it be, Winnie?" Mary implored with damp, glistening pupils.
"Master has business for us," she breathed lightly, relishing the thought of serving such a great power as the Devil himself. Her eyebrow raised before she fled from the house to the apple tree in the yard to pick a small meal for them. They devoured the apples fiendishly so that they could attend their meeting with haste.
Mary strolled distractedly through the trees; Sarah danced between the boughs with a song on her lips. Winnifred stepped with conviction deeper and deeper into the forest. The sun climbed higher into the sky as they walked further away from their home. At last, a queer chill wind blew all around them, stopping the three girls in their tracks. Sarah's pale hair whipped around her face, blinding her as she fought to keep it calm. The gale suddenly fell and when each opened her eyes she saw their Master and a thin woman with long brunette hair wearing an even longer purple gown embellished with silver swirls.
"Good morrow," the woman cooed. Her violet eyes were a few shades lighter than her dress and much brighter. Her bright crimson lips curled upward.
"This, my children, is Lilith," the Master explained gently. "You will treat her as a mother ought to be treated." He stopped and waited for some sign of reply. The girls simply stared with awe at the woman's beauty and presence. "Go on," the Devil urged lightly. "Love her."
Three pairs of arms entwined around Lilith's waist and neck, and she held all their bodies with a strange warmth. Countless words of praise were murmured against hair and flesh and clothing.
"Sarah," Lilith whispered, "What a lovely young woman you've become." Sarah smiled sheepishly and exploded into loud giggles. "And Mary, I'll have to teach you how to make my delicious scorpion pie." The strange notion did not even stir apprehension in the girls' eyes. "Winnifred," Lilith's voice became serious. "You have amazing potential."
"Thank you, Mother," she replied reverently.
"Have you enjoyed your gifts?" The Devil asked with amusement. The three sisters nodded and sang words of thankfulness. Sarah hopped about, twirling her lucky rat tail. Mary voiced her intent desire to learn what was possible with her new cauldron, clasping her hands excitedly. Winnifred thought of her new book and how she longed to open it and discover what magic awaited within.
A comfortable haze covered the girls' minds as they all sat on the forest floor, propped against the tree beside which Lilith curled herself, in turn resting their heads in her lap as she caressed their hair lovingly, crafting small braids in Sarah's hair. She told them stories of what could be possible with their newfound talents. She revealed how to harness what they already knew to ensnare the minds and hearts of men, to seek what could not be seen. There they lay, an unusually happy family at last, the Devil tracing his onyx buttons with the glass of his fingernails. After a long time, as the sun burned hotly above the canopy, he spoke.
"Read your book, Winnie. Teach them. You now have the power to lead them on a fantastic journey. We will return at the new moon, and then you will see what you have never known."
"Yes, Master," the sisters said in synchronization, lifting their heads and brushing off their dresses. Lilith bestowed on each of their foreheads a tender kiss, turned away with a backward glance and disappeared in a violet haze. The Devil followed soon after, touching the crown of each girl's head and then vanished from sight, leaving behind a gold shimmer.
Mary, Winnifred, and Sarah all stood palm against palm in a circle, stepping side to side together, heads back and hair in the breeze, relishing what would become of them all.
IDK
May 4, 2005
