Lillith's Tale

Lillith was different. Everyone knew it but very few could actually pin down what exactly it was. Perhaps the uneasy feeling that rose in all who met her came from Lillith’s serene calm and poise. Or perhaps it came from the silence she always maintained since the day she had been found as a barefoot, half naked 5year old wandering along the beach at dawn.

So many Government paid doctors and psychologists had visited Lillith over the years she had lived in the orphanage and yet none of them had learned anything from her apart from her name. Nothing about her past was learned and eventually they gave up and left Lillith alone in her silence.

Even though 11 years had passed since Lillith had arrived on the sandy beach she had finally been replaced as the main topic of discussion in the inns and taverns that were present on the Sea Breeze Coast. The villagers often commented on Lillith’s beauty whenever she was seen on the cobbled roads in town running various errands for the orphanage. Lillith’s hair was a soft golden brown that fell in waves to the middle of her back. Her slim, elegant body with skin the colour of porcelain was often pictured in the dreams of the young sons of the fishermen but it was her eyes that unnerved people. The bright oval eyes the colour of the green seaweed that washed ashore during storms that seemed to see into a person and show the emotion that her voice failed to do. Silence, Lillith found had become her defence against the world as well as her offence as it often unsettled and confused many people. She was condemned and had to pay the price for something that was not her fault. It continued to be her curse and her blessing as people pretended to understand her silence and interpreted it as they wished to.

The only place Lillith felt truly happy was on the beach with the salt air whipping her hair into tangles, the sea spray covering her skin and the sand massaging the souls of her feet as she walked into the cool ocean waves lapping at her feet. Lillith had been told over and over again by Miss Haversham (the Head Mistress of the Girls Orphanage where Lillith lived) not to leave the orphanage and go to the beach in case something happened to her, ‘as if it ever would’ Lillith thought to herself. Hearing a voice faintly calling her she turned away from the sea to look up into the dunes where a figure was running, stumbling and half falling in its eagerness to reach her.

Squinting as the figure grew closer Lillith smiled. It was only Sky a 10-year-old girl with short spiky brown hair and vivid blue eyes who had lived on the streets with her younger sister for 3 years before she’d been found and placed in the home. Sky was panting from the effort of running when she reached Lillith but still managed to pant out her message. “Haversham is lookin’ for ya. She’s goin’ bonkers cos you’re not there. There’s a couple o’ people wantin’ to talk to ya.”

Lillith frowned thoughtfully and sent an enquiring glance to Sky. “No idea what they want wiff ya. Better get going though, ‘afore she does us a favour and had a heart attack.” Sky grinned evilly and turned and began trudging her way back up the slopes of the sand dunes. Lillith nodded to Sky’s turned back and scooped up her shoes that had, up until now, lain discarded on the sand. Together they silently made their way back to the Orphanage.

Lillith pushed open the wooden back door and began to smooth down her dress and hair that had knotted and tangled in the wind.

“Lillith, there you are!” Miss Haversham said pouncing on Lillith as she began walking to her room. “What have I told you about leaving the orphanage?” She hissed her face white with worry. “There are some people here to see you, they’ve waited over an hour because of you dallying now go in and talk to them now. They are in my office.” Lillith was startled; usually all Miss Haversham did was give her a stern lecture. Nodding with a sinking heart Lillith walked down the hallway to Miss Haversham’s office.

Lillith had never told anyone anything about her past or why she couldn’t speak. They wouldn’t believe her even if she had. Her memories had come slowly back to her over the years until she had remembered all she had lost from that fateful night. Lillith was afraid that the people who had come to see her were the same people who had tried to murder her and her family. Instead of murdering her they had ended up separating her from her family unable to return which was why she spent so many hours waiting on the waters edge at the beach for her parents to return and take her home, even after all these years she had never given up and never stopped believing that they would return for her…. one day.

As she opened the door to Miss Haversham’s office the smell of salt water wafted over to greet Lillith’s nose. Pushing the old creaking door open Lillith saw shelves and shelves piled high with musty books that held life’s stories, pictures and most importantly tales of daring princes rescuing maidens in distress, mermaids, silkies and sirens. Her gaze shifted from the books that lined the walls to a woman who was sitting in one of the uncomfortable, patched chairs. Even though her back was turned Lillith knew that the woman’s hair was shoulder length and blonde, her eyes a dull blue, her face thin with a small pointed nose and flawless white skin.

The woman turned to face her and she looked exactly as Lillith knew she would. She looked the same as she had when Lillith had seen her last all those years ago drifting in the ocean…

…Lightning flashed across a sky that threatened to spill over with rain. The sea had tossed everything around that night, as if furious at what was happening in its depths, but powerless to stop it occurring. Lillith screamed in fear as she broke the surface only to have it cut off as seawater replaced the air in her lungs when the next wave washed over her. The blue eyes that faced her were only a few meters away and steadily coming closer filled with anger and evil desire for Lillith. As Lillith finally resurfaced further away from the woman because of the undertow of the storm the woman yelled wordlessly in anger and hurtled a silver dagger that flashed in the darkness of the storm. The heavy handle struck Lillith’s head causing her blood to mix with the salt waster seeming to only intensify the storms wrath. The clouded sky faded from her sight as Lillith’s eyes closed over. The thunder rolled across the sky as if mocking her as she descended slowly into a place that was darker than the night…

…The woman’s voice sliced through the memory of Lillith’s past. “So at least you recognise me little one,” she softly mocked. Miss Haversham walked through the door closing it over but not latching it silently guiding Lillith to a chair as she walked past before she sat down noiselessly behind her neat desk. Miss Haversham cleared her throat and shuffled papers on her desk before speaking to the silent women before her.

“Lillith,” Miss Haversham began, “This is Melody Blake and she is your mother…” Lillith interrupted her with a wordless snort of disbelief. Both Melody and Miss Haversham frowned at her. “Once she formally signs these papers she will be your legal guardian,” finished Miss Haversham as she slid the wad of papers across the desk to Melody. She loved Lillith because she was quiet and seemed to calm and control the other children who lived here with her silence despite her occasional wanderings to the beach.

“Yes come on Lilli,” Said Melody her smile false as she automatically shortened Lillith’s name, “We have lots of catching up to do once you’re settled in my apartment of course.”

Lillith turned, her poise similar to that of a self-assured, confident woman rather than that of a child. Her eyes turned a piercing shade of blue ice as they connected with Melody’s. The voice that tinkled through the air was soft yet held a certain amount of power as if someone had yelled a command. “No.” The simple word stunned both Miss Haversham and Melody into silence creating surprised looks on both their faces. It was Lillith who had spoken shattering her 11 years of silence. “No,” she repeated, “I won’t go.”

The silence that filled the room was thick and punctuated only by the creaking of the office door as it opened revealing the other occupants of the orphanage. They rush forward squealing with joy and laughter when they heard Lillith speak; interrupting the meeting to hug and congratulate Lillith on regaining the voice she never really lost.

Miss Haversham recovered quickly silencing the girls with only a few words and harsh looks. Ignoring the fact that Lillith had finally spoken after all these years she asked only one question, “Why?”

Lillith shrugged out of the hugs of her friends, “On the beach before I was brought here she hurt my parents and tried to take me with her. When I resisted she tried to kill me as well.” The pain and fear of that night flashed across her face and could be seen by everyone present.

“You stupid girl!” Melody hissed harshly, “Do you honestly not know what power you posses? Your Mother was the most powerful of us and our precious leader. She is weak and fool.” Everyone in the room was looking at Melody as if she had just grown a second head. All except for Lillith and strangely enough, Sky. “She weakened us all ever since she married your pathetic human father and lived trapped between our worlds on that stupid floating house. She is an abomination to our kind, and yet she remains our glorious leader.” She spat. Just about every one was slowly backing away thinking Melody was some sort of escaped mental patient, how wrong they were. Melody continued to speak into the silence that clouded the room. “She was weak then but she’s even weaker now. Her control of the tides wanes and soon it will be your turn to rule. You will be stronger than her…”

“With you to support me, I assume?” Lillith sneered back. Before sinking back into her accustomed silence.

Miss Haversham remained sitting in her chair through all of what happened drinking out of a bottle of forbidden alcohol quietly absorbing the oddness that surrounded her.

“Enough Melody,” Sky stepped forward to stand in front of Lillith. “Your scheming plots have to end now. You can never take and rule the throne of our people,” Lillith turned to look at the person who had been her friend for years, stunned. She had never guessed that Melody was one of her own people. Sky was standing tall and straight rather than her usual slouch power and authority swarmed around her small figure.

“Our people?” questioned Lillith.

“Yes,” stated Sky keeping her eyes on Melody who was becoming clearly more and more agitated. “Mermaids and mermen. I was sent by your mother ti protect you until you were ready to return home and she was able to come to you her self without risking your safety.”

“Your mother was a fool,” snarled Melody her face red and her hair straining out of its confines in anger, “she was a fool not to think I would find you first!” An insane sounding laughter escaped from between Melody’s lips.

“Cut the crap Melody,” Sky ordered calmly seeming far older than her years, “Milady loved Lillith and never wanted her to be used by you and your power-hungry friends, even though it broke her apart to be away from you,” Sky said the last part to Lillith, her voice softening.

“You and your high minded morals are pitiful,” laughed Melody. The two were totally focused on each other now arguing about the past and present political stances of the Mer-people. There was a small tug on Lillith’s hand looking down she saw Angel, a black haired 6 year old who pointed backwards towards the door which the other girls had disappeared through long before. Lillith nodded understanding. Together they stepped silently backwards out the door and down the hall without being noticed by Melody, Sky or the already half drunk Miss Haversham. It would not be long before they found out she was missing though. “Go and tell the others to go to town and hide for a few hours.” Lillith whispered to the girl who nodded and said, “Like hide and seek?” Lillith almost laughed out loud, “Yes exactly like hide and seek.” The girl rushed off to hide in town while Lillith shook her head at the girl’s childish enthusiasm and retreating shadow before turning and heading down towards the beach.

~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~

As Lillith wound her way through the extensive sand dunes she relaxed feeling the warm sand oozed between her toes and the wind wove in and out of her hair, spreading salt across her skin. There was a voice calling to her so softly she Lillith thought that it was just the sound of the wind at first. Looking at the shoreline trying to find the source of the call she saw a womanly figure dancing in the shallows, waist long blonde hair flung out behind her, skirts flowing and tangling between her legs without influencing the steps to the dance. When she got closer Lillith saw the woman was smiling and crying, her eyes were blue, blue as the sky, blue as the ocean. “Mum!” Lillith called, joy and happiness welling up inside her as she ran to greet her mother. Her mother’s face changed as happiness changed to fear and she beckoned Lillith to hurry. Lillith turned and saw what was wrong. Melody had found her. She was screaming, her blonde no longer sleek and shiny but tangled and knotted. There was blood dripping from her face and on to her white shirt where her lip had been split. The anger on her face was clear to all, as was the fact that that she deranged as her only way to gain control over the Mer’s was gone.

Lillith continued to run to the surf away from the woman who had tried to murder her all those years ago and to her mother. Together, mother and daughter fled to the safety of the waves, stripping off their suddenly confining clothes and flicked their scaled tails heading towards the ocean. The cool waves caressing their bodies as they made their journey free and unafraid of all that had happened. They took slight detours along the way as they laughed and played in amongst the fish and seaweed. Soon they could see a dark object casting a shadow on the sand a houseboat, her father’s. Then the eerie singing of the Merpeople greeted their ears welcoming them home after so long apart. Lillith smiled and sang the song from her childhood with them as they came into view. She was born of both sea and land but now she was home, the tears of joy flowing from the whole clan into the sea. Hearing a splash she looked up to see her father swimming towards her looking rather odd wearing his snorkel and flippers. Lillith knew that suddenly home had a whole knew meaning to her as she hugged her baby sister Annalea, who had been born in her absence. This was home.