Light & Dark (Closed)

[Miracle]

It was early morning in Crystal City with a couple more hours still left before the dual suns rose up into the sky and shinned down on another beautiful day on Genesis. The young High Priestess were one of the few people up early and would be the first one to arrive at the holy temple where she would get down on her hands, knees and begin to pray for guidance from the Lord Almighty. Being disconnected from his call back at Utopia was a most frightening experience for Miracle and something she wished to never happen again. The High Priestess honestly didn't know what she would do if she couldn't communicate with the same God that has given her so much in life.

"Father thou art in heaven, hallow be thy name; all things are possible through thee and nothing without. I come to you this morning in need of guidance. Never before has our very existence been threatened as it is now; the Arashi, Maricul and the threat of a global war. Please give me the strength I require to face the next storm that brews over me."

The holy sanctuary of Lord Yahweh began to darken as the High Priestess continued her prayer.

"I do not wish to make the same mistakes from the past. Every night I can hear the lost screaming in agony as their realms are destroyed by the Arashi's power. I cannot help but blame myself for their folly. If I had the chance to do it all over again, if I had thought for one moment to speak to the Arashi, perhaps I could have spared so much pain and suffering. I do not wish for there to be more death due to my neglect. Please, tell me what it is I have to do, what needs to be done to avoid our end. Please!"

[Luca Valentine]

Miracle was so deep into the conversation with her creator that she failed to realize the shifts inside the temple. How it grew darker and colder with each line spoken by the child. Soon she would feel a great chill that rivaled the former cold from the expanse itself as the light of the suns would never touch her. The darkness surrounding her was so thick the brightest of lights could not hope to see through it. Soon Miracle would not even be able to see the altar before her or the pews behind her. Miracle would however, if she paid attention, hear a set of light footsteps approaching her from the rear. The sound of heels clicking against hollow grounds until they came to a complete stop. Blue eyes shined through the thick darkness, a faint glow soon following those same very eyes joining it in union as a single voice reached the ears of the child.

“You can stop praying to a tyrant for starters.”

Miracle would soon realize she was now alone with the representative of The Seductress, Luca Valentine. Where Maricul would have been cold, Luca spoke with disappointment in her voice while a frown filled up her facial features. Expressing her feelings towards the child’s reliance on Yahweh when both she and Maricul agreed that Miracle did not need such a “twisted” deity as the one she prays to. Even if she didn’t follow them, at least be the lead of your own life. Not a puppet for a less deserving deity.

“It pains me to see you so reliant on him. It pains me to see a woman so reliant on any man really. We do not need a King to be a Queen.”

[Miracle]

Miracle would feel the chill shoot up her spine and opened her eyes just in time to hear the familiar voice of Luca at her ear. Without even turning to look at her the High Priestess of Lord Yahweh got up to her knees and then pulled herself up to her feet, back turned to Maricul as a symbolic message towards her feelings on her latest actions. Miracle felt Maricul had turned her back on her, so in turn Miracle would turn her back against she.

"Leave this holy place at once. I said all I had to say to you back on Utopia."

And with that, Miracle knelt back down onto her knees, staring intently towards the altar and issuing a silent prayer to her God to continue where they had left off before being so rudely interrupted. The High Priestess knew it was best not to get into an argument with the woman standing behind her and for now, there was nothing she could do against her but she also knew, that as long as they were in the temple of Yahweh, there was nothing Maricul could do against her in return. A stalemate more or less. An argument would prove pointless.

[Luca Valentine]

Luca had to admire her discipline, the restraint she had against what disgusted her so. A lesser warrior would have either struck her where she stood or verbally abuse her, as if either attempt would prove fruitful in the end. Nay, Miracle didn’t even speak with contempt towards her. It may the living deity wonder if there were anything that could set this child off. Then she remembered their fleeing from the expanse. The incident where the child had felt true anger for the first time towards a demon that caused even more pointless death. Was that what did it? Pointless death? Or was it something else entirely? Something deeper and far more personal than the child would be willing to share, or admit, even with her closest friends.

“I thought all was supposed to be welcomed in the house of God? Yahweh didn’t even turn the devil away when he came to tempt his children. All I have done is ensured nobody interrupts us. We had hardly any time to catch up back on Utopia.”

Luca walked up to the right side of the child, gently resting a hand against her shoulder while looking towards the same altar as she, remembering how it was the only thing left standing when The Second Aspect left the original Aircano, her home, a barren wasteland. God always did have to get the last word in somehow, didn’t he?

“It wasn’t your fault, Miracle. What happened with The Second Aspect, I mean. I doubt even the Lord himself could have stopped The Arashi by that point. The Creator maybe, but it couldn’t care less. We’re all expendable to them when it comes to their precious “grand design” they just don’t care.”

[Miracle]

“I thought all was supposed to be welcomed in the house of God?”

"But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness."

Miracle resumed her prayer and pleaded Yahweh's forgiveness for breaking their connection to simply reply to the subject of so much grief and torment in this world. The High Priestess grew uneasy when Luca laid a hand on her shoulder but relaxed in the knowledge that her Lord would protect her from anything the female wished to do unto her while they were alone in the now pitch black sanctuary.

“We’re all expendable to them when it comes to their precious “grand design” they just don’t care.”

"But you do?"

[Luca Valentine]

Luca looked disapprovingly towards Miracle’s response to her earlier question while shaking her head.

“Citing a verse of God’s word out of context to insult another is far more likely to lead you to ungodliness than what I have to say.”

Luca slowly removed the hand she had placed on Miracle’s shoulder and walked over to her left-hand side as she spoke.

“Genesis is as much my home as it is yours, Miracle. Of course I care about its future. That is why it will have a place in Grand Utopia.”

Grand Utopia; the name she intended on using when the only realm that remained after the merging was Utopia. She suspected many would try to stop her, only a fair few had the chance of actually succeeding however. Such as the one she was currently standing in front of.

“I had hoped that you would be by my side. That you would stand at my right hand. I see now that will never be more than a mere fantasy.”

[Miracle]

Miracle had heard enough and she would beg for Yahweh's forgiveness later while standing up to face Maricul, as that was who she recognized her as even in that form despite it's role in Maricul's plans, and looked her straight in the eye while her own started to narrow.

"If you care anything about Genesis' future, anything at all, then you would stop your plans for a one world's conquest and help us prevent the end of all mankind by the hand of the Arashi! Instead you risk an even worst fate for everyone that lives here and in the realms that have survived the wrath of the Second Aspect!"

Anger. Not directed at the person but more so the sins she were committing and the sins she continued to commit, much how Jesus was angry at the Pharisees she was angry at the living deity of Utopia.

"I will remind you of the house you are a guest in, I will remind you of the very ground in which you now stand, the power that resides here and my ability to summon that power through prayer. Tell me then why I should not call upon that power to destroy you here and now!?"

If he would allow it just this once, allow Miracle to bend the rules of no violence in his temple, then a stalemate could potentially very well turn into a one-sided battle between them. Someone had to stop Maricul and never before has Miracle been so close to managing it. How could she pass it up any longer?

[Luca Valentine]

There it was, in a flash of light that threatened to blind the living deity. Anger. But not just any anger. Righteous anger in its purest form. It was so attractive and in Luca’s mind only prove to enhanced The High Priestess’ beauty. She saw beyond the guises of a child and bared witness to the beautiful woman that could one day be the Queen of this world, but would she have Yahweh as her King? Or take to heart what Luca said about not needing a King to be one. Not caring what Miracle would do in response Luca brought a hand up to her cheek, caressing it as she looked into her eyes and smiled.

“Is this righteous anger?”

Maricul wanted her, oh god how she wanted her. She could not think of anything or anyone else in the universe she wanted more than the High Priestess just within arm reach of her. It was sick, the things she thought about doing to a mere child, but the deranged mind of Maricul did not see a child. She saw a woman. A woman she wished to corrupt in more ways than one. A woman whose voice she wanted to hear scream, “I denounce God!” before embracing her at the altar. For The Seductress there would be no greater victory than to hear those words leave Miracle’s lips before joining with hers to defile the very holy grounds of Yahweh right under his nose. Miracle would be able to see it in her eyes, how much she wanted her mind, body and soul for her own.

“He’ll never be able to satisfy you, Miracle. Not in the way I can.”

[Miracle]

The rage took over her body completely, whether or not it was righteous or not anymore was hard for anyone to say, before she even realized what it was she had done Miracle had slapped Maricul across the face hard enough to leave her with a red hand print across the cheek. Hot angry tears dripped from her eyes as with a simple stare from the Seductress, Miracle actually felt violated. To the point where Maricul might as well have raped her right where she stood. The High Priestess was too angry to move, too angry to talk at first. When she finally did manage it her voice was shaken and had to force the words out of her throat.

"If you're going to think such disgusting thoughts shamelessly while in God's house right in front of me, at least have the decency to look at me with your real face!"

[Ayen]

The sudden burst of blind rage at the hand of Miracle came as a surprise to even the living deity. In a way she felt triumphant triggering such a reaction from the world’s greatest Samaritan. As Luca straightened her head after the impact from the slap had turned it, her face morphed back into the black pixy cut headed woman with brown eyes dressed in blue. Maricul: The Seductress.

“Fair is fair.”

Maricul cracked her neck, the hand print on her cheek disappearing as she then exposed her other cheek to Miracle, performing a move Jesus Christ himself has performed over two thousand years ago. The turning of the other cheek. It was both to allow Miracle to continue to vent her rage towards her and taunt her at the same time.

“One more for the road?”

[Miracle]

Miracle raised her hand to strike the woman again but looking at her now, seeing how she turned her cheek made the High Priestess see Jesus standing before her ready to be smacked again. She took a step back and fell down to her knees ashamed of what she has just done, allowing her anger to get the better of her. Something that has never happened before now. Even in the expanse she maintained a level of control in the midst of her anger. It made the High Priestess want to weep but she held back the tears, not wanting to give Maricul anymore satisfaction.

"Please.... Please leave. If you care about me the way you've always claimed, then leave me be."

[Ayen]

Maricul watched and tilted her head as Miracle caught the purpose behind the simple gesture. Her eyes following the child as she went down to her knees and, in an almost one-eighty degree turn of her personality, Maricul knelt down in front of her and attempted to consult the child, gently resting her soft hands on Miracle’s shoulders.

“Oh, Miracle. This is what happens when you allow yourself to be objectified by religion. It makes you feel guilty for emotions that are completely natural.”

Maricul’s hands ran up to her cheeks, acting more like a mother trying to comfort their child than a woman who wanted to lay with one to fulfill a sick fantasy she has been harboring for the past two months.

“Tell me, is a god who guilt trips his people for what comes natural, who condones the death of millions, slavery, rape and sexism really the kind of god you want to devote your entire life to?”

[Miracle]

The words spoken by Maricul would have fueled the fires for any follower of Yahweh, Miracle however did not respond in any more violent outbursts as she simply stared towards the Seductress calmly. Many people has tested her faith now, to the demons of the underworld and Lord Beelzebub to the Arashi and even Lord Yahweh himself. In all of those instances the High Priestess remained a loyal follower of Yahweh, never forsaking him and wandering away from the path - willing to do her Lord's bidding no matter how unpleasant the task was. She saw Maricul's words for what they were; nonsense spewed by a foolish woman. The High Priestess stood up and continued to look down into the eyes of the goddess in denial, showing no signs of being upset by any of the words just spoken.

"What is becoming of you, Maricul? Was it not you who said, "Mankind has no need for gods!" was it not you who professed I have surpassed Lord Yahweh? If I surpassed my Lord, why then would I want to give praise to you?"

Miracle's words were like daggers looking to pierce the very skin of the hypocrite now knelt beside her. For the first time since they've known each other the High Priestess tone of voice and main facial expression was ice cold, rivaling that of the crystal ice which made up the city and the expanse outside it.

"Leave this place or I'll remove you myself."

[Ayen]

Maricul watched as the child began to regain her composure and for the first time since she’s known her, the High Priestess showed it was possible for her to be just as cold as anyone else when it came down to it. It was alluring and kept the living deity’s interest as she too stood up, towering over Miracle by a couple of inches, looking down into those calm violet eyes of hers while the servant of Yahweh finally called her out on her alleged hypocrisy, ignoring her question in the process and turning the tables on her. Maricul only chuckled.

“So. You’re starting to finally figure it out.”

Maricul turned her back on Miracle, taking this time to admire the decorations on the walls in the temple while continuing.

“Technically I’m not a god. I’m what you would call a paradox. Someone who has broken their shackles to fate and work outside the laws of creation. In a manner of speaking, I am above the gods and the only limitation to my abilities now, is my imagination.”

The Seductress turned back around to face Miracle, a serious expression now covering the otherwise arrogant tones that was on her face just seconds ago.

“You haven’t a chance of defeating me in battle, Miracle. You’re five hundred years too early.”

[Miracle]

Miracle, refusing to be intimidated by the shocking revelation of what Maricul was, closed any remaining gap between them while keeping the cold hardened expression plastered on her face.

"The source of my power isn't."

It was far more ancient compared to hers if she wanted to get into ages when it came between them. The young High Priestess held her ground, no longer content with tolerating the creature's presence in the holy house of Yahweh, and judging by how the air in the room was chilling, neither was Lord Yahweh.