Prologue

 

Everything was laid out before her.

All she had to do was to follow the specific instructions that would prevent a war between good and evil. “Thank you, Tithoes,” Delilah spoke aloud into an empty room, then rolled over in bed and opened her eyes. With meticulous concentration, she replayed each step of her dream making sure she understood every detail. If Tithoes, the god who watched over those asleep, were kind enough to offer a solution to her problem, then she, in return, should be grateful enough to follow his instructions.

Today was the start of the change. Change that would correct everything and give her peace of mind. Never before had she harbored any hope, not even the slightest thought that a solution would come. But today was different. She already sensed the shift that was taking place.

Centuries ago Delilah was considered the most powerful ruler in all of Ancient Egypt. An irreconcilable force of nature, she was highly revered and identified with deities such as Isis and Aphrodite. But Delilah was more than just a powerful ruler, favored by the gods and pharaohs and given many gifts of great mystical power.

Delilah had a passionate soul, yet a ferocious temperament. When she loved, she loved deeply. When she hated, she hated with an unreasonable passion that lasted forever. Because of this deep love and hatred Delilah now lived her days in utter turmoil.

It began with a child. A child that meant everything to Delilah but more to the safety of humanity. She was the goddess of moral excellence and goodness, the keeper of the seven virtues of humanity. Holding such a title, naturally this child needed protection from a world of evil doers. It was Delilah's duty to protect her child not only for humanity’s sake, but because she loved her deeply.

Here in the spirit world, the gods dealt with problems swiftly and sometimes unjustly. Not that they were heartless or uncaring; they had greater concerns and obligations that required steadfast loyalty to all. The safety of the human world took precedence over everything. It was their unwavering duty to keep universal order, to look out for the greater good of all, not just for the good of one.

Summonsed before the council of gods, Delilah voiced her concerns regarding the safety of her daughter. They listened and sent her away so that they could deliberate.

In Nirvana, the upper echelons maintained a hierarchical system. These were the authoritarians. There were many gods and goddesses above Delilah, and they made the final decision on everything. Especially threats that could destroy the human race.

Delilah loathed authority. Those who sat in judgment passing down their cruel laws and unfair sentences as though they were without sin. They were all stubborn. Ancient in their ways. Horus, Amon, Anubis and Hathor, the lot of them made her sick. She reeled with disgust every time they spoke of keeping harmony in the human world, asserting that it was their duty to make sure, no outside forces interfered with the balance of nature. Delilah had a duty just as well. To protect what was most important to her.

Now, an outside force was threatening the human world. Yes, she was the cause of this mistake, but she was doing everything within her power to correct it. Such things took time. And a well thought out plan. For centuries, the gods remained silent giving her time to remedy the problem on her own. But as the centuries came and went, Delilah came no closer to finding a solution. The gods felt it was time to intervene and rectify the problem themselves.

Atum, creator of all the Egyptian gods called upon Zeus, the Greek god of the sky and ruler of the Olympus to assist him. The two gods hurried off into the sacred temple slamming the doors shut behind them. They alone would decide the fate of her beloved child. Thanks to Tithoes, Delilah had a plan, and it was time to put it into action.

Stepping out of bed, she used her powers to dress herself in a dazzling white dress that accentuated every curve of her perfect body. The gold lace trim around the hem sprinkled like fairy dust that graciously dragged along the floor behind her. With a solid gold band around both wrists and a plunging neckline, she was the personification of elegance.

It was all a part of the plan, to use her body, beauty and brains to accomplish what needed to be done. She was a natural seductress with eons of experience. She knew exactly what to do and precisely how to do it. There was no such thought as shame for the people and things she loved.  

No one should have the right to decide the fate of others, she thought, as she stood before a mirror admiring herself. Of all the goddesses in the world who lived before and died after her, none even came close to her beauty. Delilah means amorous, delight, temptress. And that she was. 

Recalling the steps of the plan that Tithoes set before her, Delilah stretched out on her chaise and readied herself for the second step-The beast.