Man's Greatest Fear

"I guess this time I'll have to take them barehanded." Lilith cracked her knuckles as the creatures in the lead neared her. She could not get a good view of their features. They appeared to be made of ink. She couldn't even separate one creature from the next. She reached beneath her coat and pulled a knife from her belt. The blade was made of sharp bone that never went dull.

Before the first creature reached her, she vaulted into the air. With a quick twist in midair, she landed on its back and drove the knife blade into its neck. Black blood spurted over her hand. Before she could jump to safety, something seized her by her arms and snatched her into the air. Its flesh was cold enough to give her goosebumps. The sudden exposure to cold made it difficult to breathe, as if she'd been plunged into frigid water. Lilith struggled against the sensation of drowning as the creature's fluid skin flowed over her face.

Urged on more by fear than determination, Lilith took a deep breath and transformed. The creature was literally riven in half by the power burst. Lilith was covered with black blood. Lightning flashed uncontrollably across her skin. She noticed that she was somewhat fatigued, and the air around her was cold enough to condense her breath. The black inky creatures began to take on the more familiar form of the gargoyles that had attacked her over the sea. They formed a large circle around her as if to attack from all directions.

Lilith sensed a gargoyle approach from behind. She flipped over backwards in time to flick the knife towards it as if passed under her. The bone blade pierced the gargoyle's left eye. Two more gargoyles charged at her from two different directions. She dodged the first one, but the second caught one of her wings and tore the cartilage. She screamed when sharp pain shot through her spine. The gargoyle released the wing and placed its hand against the wound. Its liquid skin seeped into her flesh and began to siphon her blood.

Another gargoyle charged at her from the front. Lilith didn't see it until it slammed itself against her. It spread over her as if to create a cold cocoon. Lilith's scream was stifled as she felt something pop painfully in her back. She reverted to human form and fell from the sky. Both gargoyles splattered as she hit the ground facedown. Lilith tried to push herself up, but the gargoyles' bodies, or whatever they were made of, crawled over her skin like an organic restraint and pulled her back to the ground. She felt her strength continue to be siphoned through her back wound. She became disoriented and finally ceased struggling. The liquid flesh crawled over her face as she lost consciousness.

(X)

Lilith awoke on a stone tiled floor. Her first thought was to jump up and prepare for another fight, but she still felt some pain from the battle injury. She wondered for a split second why it hadn't already healed.

"Get up," a familiar voice said. "I know you're awake."

Lilith showed no surprise when she sat up. She looked up at Kaliel with a defiant expression. "Just as I thought," she said. "You're crooked."

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

Kaliel turned his back to her and deliberately stepped aside. Lilith saw she was inside what was apparently some kind of cathedral. The room was lit by torches on the walls and swinging from the ceiling as chandeliers. Where the pulpit would be, instead there was a large statue of a woman in classical clothing, like a caryatid. In front of the statue was an open casket. Stone tiles had been pulled away, and the dirt underneath had been dug up. It was as if a grave had been created in the floor.

"I guess you've figured me out," Kaliel said, "just as Kyra warned me. Now, I suppose, I'm obligated to congratulate you and ask your plans."

Lilith shook her head. "We have no plans. I don't know what you're talking about."

"You lie!" Kaliel spun towards her and unleashed a short barrage of lightning. Lilith withstood the assault, but she quickly lost her breath again. Kaliel approached her until he stood over her head. "Tell me the truth. What do you want here?"

"Those sea creatures attacked us first. You brought us here." Lilith felt blood well into her throat. "How did you do that? You stole my energy."

"Don't worry. It's only temporary, but I'm hoping I won't have to do it again."

Lilith summoned enough strength to stand. She felt herself growing stronger already. "I've been known to disappoint."

"I'm sorry to hear that. All I want is to survive. I've struggled to do so for over a century now, and I'm hoping you and the others can help me do that."

"How?"

"Strength requires a source. I've decided that you will be of use to me, which is why my pets brought you here alive instead of slaughtering you like the others outside."

"Your pets? Those beasts work for you?"

"They have no choice, really. If they don't keep me strong, then they will die as well."

Lilith bowed her head as she tried to understand what he was saying. "You created them. They're feeding you so you can keep them alive."

Kaliel nodded as if to affirm her accusation. "You have exceeded my expectations, not just as a woman, but as a person in general. Kyra was right that I should be wary of you. I can only imagine what your father must be capable of."

"He taught me. You won't be displeased."

"I'm happy to hear that. Unfortunately, I have to deal with you first. I need to get you under control so you can feed me."

Lilith instantly understood what he meant. "You mean to steal my powers. You won't be the first to try, and like all the others, you will fail."

"I'm not like the others. It takes a lot of energy to maintain myself and these creatures. My mind gave them life, and I intend to keep them alive."

Lilith reached around to grab her knife. Then she realized she'd lost it. "My father will be upset, but I can't take this anymore. I hope you don't think I believe that story about you father. I know for a fact that you are not the son of Sparda. Stop pretending you are."

Kaliel shrugged. "I am disconcerted by your continued lack of faith, but I am curious as to why you doubt me."

Lilith allowed herself to smirk. "That's easy. I know you are not the son of Sparda, simply because my father is. You two are definitely not related."

Lilith felt guilty pleasure at Kaliel's expression of shock. He caught himself and calmed enough to speak. "You're lying."

"No," Lilith said. "Sparda is my grandfather, and I have the blood to prove it. You knew the people would have recognized the swords, which is why you confiscated them on the beach."

To Lilith's surprise, Kaliel laughed. "You are indeed a worthy adversary. It's a shame what I must do to you." Kaliel raised his hand. Lilith heard a snap and crack from the shadows. She then felt vibrations through the stone floor. A man, which could not be mistaken as human and more than twice Lilith's size, dragged its hulking body towards them from the shadows. Its cumbersome muscles seemed to hinder its movement. Its skin was covered with thick dark brown fur, and it wore a large dog collar. It was more of a huge ogre than a man. It dragged a long bullwhip. Lilith instinctively braced herself for attack.

"You might as well let him take over," Kaliel said. "He is the greatest of my creatures. No man can overcome him. I know no woman can."

Lilith huffed. "Then this will be the first."

The muscular giant shook its massive head as if to clear it. Bowed legs carried its bulky body towards her. It walked as if it were in pain.

"Come on," Lilith goaded. "Do something."

As if it had tapped into a secret energy source, the giant straightened and lifted the bullwhip. Lilith reached out as the whip lashed at her. The tip wrapped itself around her hand with a painful snap. Blood welled up in her palm. Before the giant could recoil, she snatched the whip from him. She released her end as the whip stock flew towards her. She grabbed the stock, spun on her heel, and snapped the whip back towards the giant.

The tip of the bullwhip wrapped around the giant's neck. With her feet planted firmly in place, Lilith pulled the whip until her arm was fully extended behind her. Kaliel watched in awed silence as the giant struggled unsuccessfully against a woman less than half its size. Lilith's free hand reached out and seized the middle of the bullwhip. Her face betrayed the increasing effort of pulling the whip further. The leather began to fray. Lilith began to give way when the giant pulled back. The frayed section snapped. Lilith stepped back to maintain her balance. She tossed what was left of the whip aside. The giant lost its balance completely and fell to the floor. The stone tiles around it cracked under the impact.

Lilith blew threw her teeth. She caught Kaliel breaking his own fingers in frustration. He glanced back at her for a moment. "I was hoping I wouldn't have to do this," he said, "but you've left me with no choice."

Before Kaliel even finished speaking, Lilith gasped as she felt cold fluid splash across her back. It was the same substance as the gargoyles' skin. Frigid black flesh quickly wrapped itself around Lilith's neck. Her neck, wrists, and ankles were restrained by ropes of metamorphic flesh. Lilith dropped to the floor as the tendril around her neck began to slowly constrict. She watched Kaliel stand over her as she struggled for breath against the dominating cold. Several blood vessels in her eyes burst from the pressure.

"Enough," Kaliel finally said. "She's no good to me dead." The bulky giant sat up and growled. Kaliel waited patiently for the giant to get to its feet and walk to his side. Kaliel was silent for a few seconds as if in thought. His next words filled Lilith with terror.

"Bury her with the others."

Lilith's attempt to scream was reduced to an insignificant cackle. She felt more blood vessels rupture under her skin as the giant lifted her by her neck. It carried her to the burgundy casket in front of the statue. In a single smooth movement, the giant slammed her into the casket. The force of her fall caused the lid to fall closed. Staring into confined darkness, she banged her fists against the lid, but something was holding it down. Lilith listened in frightened silence. All she heard was the cranking as the casket was sealed. She jerked when she heard tapping on the lid, followed by the sensation of being dragged. She braced herself until she felt a short drop. The sudden stop caused her head to smack against the lid.

Lilith fought to maintain consciousness and sanity against fear. Though she wasn't claustrophobic, she thought she could feel the casket imploding. She felt her heart skip a beat when the first pile of dirt fell onto the casket. Lilith gazed up into the stifling darkness. She listened as the sound of dirt falling onto the casket gradually became muffled. Her eyes stung as blood flowed from her eyes. The bloodflow calmed her enough to continue listening. When she heard the stone tiles being slid into place above her, she closed her blood filled eyes and screamed.

(X)

Kyra held her hands up as Dante jumped to his feet. His knee hit the table, which in turn shifted the chess board. Every chess piece either toppled over or rolled to the floor.

"What is it!" Kyra said. "What happened!"

"I . . .I don't know," Dante stammered. "Something with Lilith." Dante contemplated the impact of his own words. "Something's happened to Lilith!" Dante moved for the door.

"Wait!" Kyra called. He stopped but didn't turn around. "If you go looking for her, you may put her into greater danger."

"I don't think that's possible right now." Dante thought for a moment before asking, "Do you know where she is?"

Kyra slightly bowed her head as if she were at a loss for words. "No," she answered. "I don't."

"Then, at least," Eryc said for her, "don't go alone."

Dante adjusted his coat collar and continued on. "Go with him," Kyra said to Eryc. "I'll be all right. Go after him." Kyra waited until she heard the door close. "I'm sorry," she said into the air. "Gods help that young woman if he has her in the cathedral."