"LILITH!"
The male voice was closer. Zak's heart beat faster.
A memory flashed before his mind. Krissy had told him a story. A tale of a small little boy, hiding from a large ogre. How the ogre stomped all over the forest, yelling, cursing. But he never found the little boy, who lived happily ever after.
There would be no hiding this time. No running.
He staggered to his feet, manhood half limp, sticky with evidence of their union. Lilith shot up next to him, too fast for the boy to even offer help. They stood, nude, as a shape appeared in the trees. Lilith grasped his hand.
"Grandpa..."
The man was tall. Old. Blue denim overalls hung on a frame that once had been muscular, but still showed strength. Zak had never seen overalls, outside of a movie or TV. Had not thought they existed, were just some relic of the past, like white hooded robes or white powder wigs. The man wore a white short sleeved shirt under it, clean, but worn, like the denim itself, or the man. His face was clean shaven, head bald. Brown eyes were deeply set, as if age had caused them to fall back into his skull. Those eyes widened in shock, horror, as they fell on the two lovers.
"Lilith!"
The girl slid behind Zak, pain shooting through his hand as she squeezed. Her grandfather looked around him. Eyes falling on a two foot long hunk of wood, he bent down to grab it.
"Grandpa! No!"
Lilith's voice only seemed to enrage him. The man lunged forward, weapon raised.
"Get away from her!"
Zak didn't think. He found himself disengaged from the girl, dropping to his knees as she staggered back. Calm hands found smooth rubber. The sling rose, a metal slug already loaded, pulled back as far as he was able.
He released.
"GRANDPA!"
There was a crack. A thud, as the hunk of wood dropped to the forrest floor. The man, no longer an ogre, dropped to his knees, one hand clutching his forehead. The other, barely, broke his fall as his body fell forward. A whimper of pain oozed from the old man. Lilith rushed to his side, grasping him.
"Grandpa! I'm sorry! Speak to me! Please!" She whirled to Zak, blue eyes blazing. "What did you DO!?"
Zak felt cold.
He had hurt someone. Hurt an old man. The grandfather of the girl he loved. He wanted to take it back. Go back five seconds, ten seconds. Do something different. Anything. He had never hurt someone. Never wanted to hurt someone...
Lilith eased the man back, sitting him down on the ground, legs unfolded in front of him. Blood dripped from between fingers still clutching his forehead. Zak had barely begun to look around for something to help when Lilith pulled a surprisingly clean blue handkerchief from an overall pocket. She folded it, pulled her grandpa's hand away, slipping it onto the wound before placing his hand back on top of it. Her head dropped down, eyes focusing on his face.
"It's not that bad. Are you OK? Say something!"
A large, wrinkled hand reached out, touching her bare knee.
"D-did he hurt you? Are you OK, Lilith?"
She smiled, hand covering his.
"He didn't hurt me, Grandpa. I'm so sorry. I know he didn't mean it. You just scared him." Her eyes, suddenly hard, bore into Zak. Millennium of evolution told him exactly what to do. He dropped to one knee before the man, although staying well out of reach.
"I'm sorry."
Adult eyes fell on him, slowly focusing. Zak swallowed hard. He didn't like dealing with adults. Didn't know how. Just Tom. He wasn't an adult, he was his new Dad. Real adults frightened Zak...
Those deep set eyes changed. Widened. Zak thought he saw... fear? The man was frightened? Of him? Why?
"Grandpa!"
Zak looked at Lilith. She was looking down at her Grandfather's hand, its large fingers gripping her knee tightly. Zak could see white and red on her skin, the man cutting off blood. His eyes went back to the man's. The adult's expression was cold.
"I know," the man said, "what you are."
"Grandpa?" Lilith's voice was worried. "Grandpa, you're hurting me."
"Stay away from him, Girl. This one is touched. Evil."
"Grandpa! No he's not! Let go!"
"Yes he IS! Look at him! He has the mark! Evil has marked him!"
Zak rose.
Enough. Enough of this foolishness.
"Let her go."
"I will NOT let you have her!"
"GRANDPA!"
The man jerked back, hand grasping nothing. Lilith scrambled away, struggling to her feet, finger marks still on her bare leg. Zak found his sling back in his hand, another slug half pulled back.
"Stay there! Don't follow us!"
"Lilith! Don't follow him! This boy is evil! Can't you see it? Can't you feel it? Come here! Please!"
"Lilith, grab your stuff and get behind me!"
She hesitated. Zak saw her looking at her Grandfather. Could feel the tug of war inside her. If she went to him, all would be lost. Zak would never see her again. His eyes caught hers.
"Please. Lilith. I love you. Come with me. I'll protect you."
"He's lying! If you love Jesus, please, get away from him!"
One of those words must have been the wrong one, or one of Zak's the right one. Grabbing the pile of discarded clothing, the slim teen slowly walked to Zak's side. Her hand touched his arm, eyes wide with emotion.
"Don't hurt him. Please. Let's go."
"Lilith! Don't do it!"
Zak let the sling relax, metal slug releasing into his hand.
"Do not follow us."
Turning from the bleeding man, he grabbed his staff from against the tree, his other hand taking that of his wife. Swiftly, he led her deeper into the forest. Towards Eden.
****
James watched the two youngsters vanish into the trees.
He would not have believed it. Had not believed it. He was not a gullible man, after all. Religious, yes. Very. But not a fool. Not all the Holy Book said was Holy, and not all the minister said on Sunday's was gospel truth. No. Much as allusion, metaphor.
But the boy had the mark.
He had seen it. There, as plain as day. Strangely, James could not describe what he had seen, with the boy no longer there before him. Was not even sure he could have called it out to Lilith, for all she was standing right there and surely must have seen it herself. The mark. The mark, not of the Beast, perhaps, but of some otherworldly, unholy creature. Unchristian. More importantly, evil.
And she had gone. His granddaughter. Lilith. She had chosen this evil boy, over him. Much as her mother, his little Rachael, had chosen some Catholic, Atheist, whatever, from the city over him. She had left for love. Lilith...
James sighed, struggling to his feet, one hand still holding the cloth to his forehead. He couldn't blame her. The boy was beautiful. If he, as a teen, had found a similar brown skinned beauty in the woods, James would have gone to her, no questions asked. He was only human, and youth was foolish. And, he could be wrong. The mark might not be what he thought it was. His granddaughter might not be in danger.
Something moved by his foot.
James kicked out, even as a snake shot its head towards him. Fangs grabbed thick boot leather. He whirled, sending the side of his boot against the trunk of a tree. The sound of crunching came from the snake's body. He did it again. Again.
The snake fell to the ground, body limp.
James looked around the forest, eyes wary.
"Stay before me, Satan. Where I can keep an eye on you."
He knew where his granddaughter would be. Someone was living on that land, an old blue hatchback often now parked by the old gate. That would be the place. Should he try and rescue her? If it was safe for him to just go get her, then she was in no danger and there was no reason for him to go just yet. If she was in danger, true danger... most likely, he wouldn't make it ten feet inside.
He's wait. Pray. Let time pass. Be there if she fled, or sent word. He loved her, after all. Wanted her to be happy.
And... he could be wrong.
****
Lilith felt the very air around her change.
The day, up until that point, had been a dream. Unreal. Much of her life the past year she wished had not been real. That she could wake, find her parents standing there beside the bed. Mom telling her it had all been a bad dream. Dad hugging her, telling her everything would be all right. That life could continue on as it always been.
No. That had been real. So, too, must this be.
She looked at Zak. Her magical boy. That's how she thought of him. How could she not? She had found him in the woods, naked, like any creature of nature. Beautiful, like no other boy ever had been. Every word he said calmed her. Every touch excited, yet soothed her. He filled her thoughts, her dreams. Lilith had woken today knowing she would give herself to him. Dared dream he would, perhaps, take her to be with him, his family.
And here she was.
"It's different," she said, softly. Zak nodded, strong hand squeezing hers. Lilith looked behind. The forest there looked no different. They had not stepped from one world into another. Yet, they had. That fact was undeniable. Her very body tingled, from her bare toes up to her equally bare breasts, out to nipples unseen by anyone until today. Her eyes went back to Zak. "You feel it, too?"
"Every time," he said, smiling. She loved that smile. "You get used to each place, while you're there, but going from one to the other is always fun."
"What is it?"
"Her."
Lilith blinked.
"...Her?"
"It's..." Zak's face became troubled. She didn't like that. "It's complicated. I didn't tell you everything, Lilith. It's nothing bad, don't worry. In fact, it's wonderful! But, there's more to this place than anyone knows." He began walking again, Lilith automatically following suit. "I'll try and explain..."
****
A Goddess.
Lilith had left one bunch of religious nuts. Left their stupid rules and twisted morals behind. Now, it seemed, she had fallen in love with a boy from yet another cult. Maybe Grandpa was right.
"She actually talks to us," Zak was telling her. The two had come to a stream, turning to walk against the current. Lilith looked at the clear, cool water. It looked so refreshing. "That's the thing. It's not like church, where you prayed to Jesus and nothing happened. You ask something, and she tells you! It's amazing!"
"What does she tell you?"
"Well, for example, I told her I loved you, and asked if I could bring you here. She said yes!"
Lilith stopped in her tracks.
"You love me?"
Zak's face looked embarrassed, eyes glancing at his feet.
"Um, yeah. I do. Didn't I tell you?"
She couldn't remember. But he had said it now. He loved her. Loved her! Lilith dropped her bundle of clothes, grabbing Zak in a full body hug. He felt so good, so warm! She rained kisses on his face, swiftly finding his lips. She felt strong hands on her back, pulling her against him. For the second time that day she felt herself lowered to the ground, felt herself spread opened. Penetrated. Filled.
Love... this was love...
A soft voice floated through her head.
"Love us, as we love you."
She understood. In that moment, no further explanations were needed. The Lady. It all made sense.
"Welcome, Lilith."
****
The three strangers were just climbing out of an incredibly beautiful and inviting pond as Lilith and Zak followed the stream into the clearing. The waterway widened here, deepening, slowly flowing around a large rock in the middle. On the other side, it became a stream again, continuing back on a winding course towards its source. Lilith felt the itch of dried mud on her back. She needed a swim.
"Hello!"
The blonde girl was waving, face joyous. Lilith blinked. She was nude, too. And pregnant. Both of the girls were. Neither fact did she find embarrassing. Lilith should have, never having been around nude or pregnant girls before. Nor did she feel self conscious of her own appearance. She smiled, maybe a bit shyly. These were her boyfriend's family, after all. She wanted to make a good impression.
"Hi."
The blonde came up, all smiles. She was beautiful. Skin tanned, limbs slim yet strong. Gathering Lilith up un a hug, she spoke softly in her ear.
"Welcome, sister." The girl pulled back, still holding Lilith, her smile real, honest. "I'm Alice. We're so glad you're here!"
"Thank you!"
"And this," Zak was saying, motioning to the black haired teen, "is my sister, Krissy. Krissy, this is Lilith."
His sister. Lilith looked at the girl. Her skin was NOT the wonderful brown of her love, but the golden tan of the light skinned in summer. Her body was also not slim, to be charitable, but it fit her, and she stood with self confidence And, frankly, if Lilith had breasts like that, she'd be full of self confidence was well.
"Hello."
This time, Lilith went up to the teen and hugged her. It was the natural thing to do, years of upbringing and taboos seemingly swept aside in moments. Krissy hugged her back, if a bit hesitantly. She sensed Alice was the outgoing one, or at least the more assertive. She smiled at her sister-in-law.
"Zak has told me about you."
"And we plan on telling you ALL about him." A smile formed on Krissy's face as she spoke. Yes, this was Zak's sister. Lilith could see it now.
"And," Zak's voice came to her, "this is Tom."
She turned, releasing Krissy. A man stood before her. Tall. Impressive. Nude. He towered over her, as tall as her Grandpa, at least. His chest was broad, a bit hairy, muscles well defined under smooth skin. Her eyes dropped down to the soft, yet large, penis hanging below a thatch of brown hair. She immediately shot her eyes up to his face, below a larger thatch of brown hair wet from swimming. He reached a large hand out to her.
"Welcome."
She took it, shaking. Zak came up beside her, grinning.
"Tom is, well, sort of my chosen Dad, just like Alice is my sister."
"Which means," Alice said beside them, "he's going to be both brother and uncle to our babies, without the usual incest that causes such things."
"So," Lilith said, looking between them, "You two are..."
"His wives," Alice said, taking Tom's arm. "Just as you are Zak's. And, no, there's no sharing."
"Good," she said, taking Zak's arm. "He's mine."
****
Lilith lay herself down on the soft mattress. It was different. No springs, coils, or other supports. Just a cloth bag stuffed to make it soft. She wiggled her body a bit. It would take some getting used to, but she thought she could sleep here.
Her eyes looked around the room. It was bare. Log walls, with no decoration. No furnishings, apart from the bed, and a bookcase. In the starlight shining in through the open window, she could see a duffle bag laying against a wall. She'd have to add her touch here. Some color. Paint. She'd have to find some paint, maybe do some art to hang. She loved painting. This part of the forest was so beautiful, she could spend years just painting views of the small part she had seen today. And the outhouse. She just HAD to paint the outhouse!
The bedroom door opened. Zak. He stood there, light from the living room fire casting a glow behind him. She saw his eyes widen in amazement, hoped he didn't see her own do the same. The others were somewhere beyond, talking softly. Slowly, Zak moved farther into the room, closing the door behind him.
They were alone.
"You're beautiful," he said. Despite all that had happened, Lilith felt herself blush. She pushed herself up on her elbows.
"So are you."
He walked forward. When the boy came to the end of the bed, he crawled up onto it. Lilith watched, trembling, as he slowly moved towards, then over her. She dropped back down flat onto the bed as his head came over hers, his body on all fours above her. He reached a hand down, touching the corner of her eye.
"Your glasses."
"On the shelf. I never sleep with them."
"And I've never slept with anyone."
"Me either..."
His lips touched hers. His body lowered. Lilith could not help but moan. Hers. He was all hers. The incredible magic forest boy was hers, forever. The world outside didn't matter. Nothing mattered but him... him...
****
The old man sat out on his porch, looking up at the sky.
Always, before, he had found comfort looking up into the heavens. Found signs of Jesus, confirmation of much of the Good Book. Tonight, he searched in vain.
"Tell me what to do, Jesus," James asked the sky. "Tell me how to keep my Granddaughter safe."
The sky was silent. God was silent. He was always silent. The old man nodded.
"That's OK, I can wait."
He began to rock. The smaller, empty, chair beside him stayed still.