Eve: In the Beginning (14 page)

Once they arrived at the alcove, Eve took down the hanging mats that covered the marks on the wall. Adam took one and wrapped it around his waist. Eve took the other one and wrapped it around her waist.

Adam crossed to her and pulled her into his arms. She leaned against him with a sigh.

“Can we finally sleep tonight?” she whispered.

Adam’s heart thudded. “I’ll stay awake for a while, just in case.”

Eve lifted her face. “What more can Lucifer do to us?

Adam brushed the hair back from her face and her neck. He leaned down and kissed her neck and felt a shiver go through him. He pulled away abruptly. He’d kissed Eve plenty of times, but kissing her now was somehow different. The kiss echoed throughout his body.

“I should keep watch,” he said, reluctantly releasing her. He felt he had to put some distance between them. He didn’t completely understand the new sensations flowing through him as he thought about his wife. Perhaps the knowledge would come in time. She seemed reluctant to let go of him too.

He sat at the opening of the alcove, staring into the night, for a long time, as long as it took for him to be sure that Eve had fallen asleep. Then he crept onto the sleeping mats next to her. He watched the curve of her shoulder as it moved with each breath. Then, careful not to disturb her, he scooted next to her and buried his face in her hair, closing his eyes. He’d never realized how flawlessly their bodies fit together.

It was a long time before he finally fell asleep.

I am warm in Adam’s arms, and they have never felt so perfect against my skin. I could lie here forever, but then I remember that we no longer have forever.

A chill weaves through me, and I know it’s more than the realization that I’ve eaten from the fruit of the tree of knowledge. I feel Lucifer’s presence as I’ve never felt it before, and his presence is far from a dream.

I open my eyes to find Lucifer staring down at me.

His lips are curved into a smile. The morning sun spreads plenty of light inside the alcove. My hand goes to my hip, and I’m grateful that I wrapped myself in the mat last night. I don’t want to be exposed to Lucifer ever again, even if he is my brother, even if he has seen me in my nakedness before.

My other hand is entangled with Adam’s. He slept with his arms around me all night, and I did nothing to move them. I pull my hand from Adam and sit up, keeping my gaze on Lucifer.

“Why are you still here?” I whisper.

His eyes are no longer intriguing to me now that I see who he truly is. And although I know his deception was part of the greater plan, I still don’t want him here — in my private alcove that I share with my husband — observing us as if we are mere foolish things.

Lucifer’s gaze moves from my face down the length of my body, and I feel my skin grow hot. I stand and back away from him until I’m against the wall. I know he can’t touch me, but that doesn’t stop the sting of being in his presence.

“Your task is finished here,” I spit out.

Adam awakens and is on his feet in an instant. He stands between Lucifer and me, and although he has no idea what’s going on, I’m grateful that he’s blocking me from Lucifer’s gaze.

“Leave,” Adam commands, moving closer to Lucifer.

Our brother puts a hand on Adam’s shoulder, and even though I know Adam can’t feel it, he flinches. Does he feel Lucifer’s touch twist his heart as it’s twisting mine?

“I’ve come to discuss your new knowledge with you,” Lucifer says, his voice pleasant and smooth.

I can’t believe I had ever found Lucifer’s voice pleasing, for now it claws at my skin.

“We’ll take our instructions from Elohim,” Adam says.

“Do you think Elohim will speak to you
now
?”
Lucifer answers, and I can imagine his black eyebrows arching in disdain. “Not only will both of you be cast out of the garden but you will be cast out of Elohim’s presence as well.”

I know Adam well enough that although I can’t see his face, I sense that this pains him.

“Leave,” Adam repeats, this time his voice harsher.

Lucifer takes a step toward the alcove entrance, and his gaze roves over me as he passes by, his expression arched in amusement.

“I’ll see you both very soon,” he says.

Adam stays in one place until Lucifer has left. Then he turns to me. The sleep has long fled.

I realize I’m shaking. Adam’s arms go around me, and he holds me tight. “Why is our brother still here? Hasn’t he done enough?” I ask.

Adam’s expression is grim when he pulls away. “We’ll go to the altar. Surely Elohim knows what has happened. He has to visit us now.”

I nod, my questions colliding. Emotions rock inside me, fighting for recognition. What will Elohim say — to Adam ... to me?

It’s done
, I think. There is no changing my choice now.

I let out a sigh and follow Adam out of the alcove, clinging to his hand. Lucifer doesn’t seem to be hovering around the dwelling, for which I am grateful.

On the walk to the altar, my eyes grow wet. More than once, Adam stops and dries my cheeks, absorbing the wet with his hands. I see that his eyes are reddened, and I wonder if that is how mine look. The closer we get to the altar, the harder my heart pounds.

We haven’t even reached the clearing when we hear the voice of Elohim.

“Where art thou, Adam?” Elohim’s voice seems to penetrate my very soul.

I stop walking, and Adam stops next to me. Neither of us moves for a moment. Then Adam, still holding my hand, steps out into the clearing.

I have seen Elohim many times during my existence in the garden, but I have never felt reluctant to meet His gaze.

Elohim doesn’t actually walk on the ground but strides above it. His white robe reminds me of the white earth in my dream about the tree. Next to him is another Elohim, one whom I now recognize as the Only Begotten, our brother who said He’d follow Elohim’s plan. I wonder if either of them can tell by just looking at us that we have partaken of the fruit.

“You are clothed,” Elohim says.

Of course he notices our change in appearance. It certainly gives us away.

“Why do you cover yourselves?” His voice dominates the air, coming from everywhere at once, even though it’s coming from only him. Adam’s fingers tighten around mine as Elohim continues, “Has thou eaten of the fruit of the forbidden tree?”

“Yes,” Adam says, his voice strong, but I hear the tremor inside of it. “Eve ate of the fruit ... I ate as well so that I should remain with her.”

My breath stills as I wait for Elohim’s response. His eyes shift to mine, and His voice is softer when he speaks. “I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat. What hast thou done?”

I can’t hold Elohim’s gaze, and I look down at my hand that is intertwined with Adam’s. If only Elohim had come to visit the garden earlier to answer my questions. But if this was all part of the plan ... and we’d need to make this choice eventually ... I lift my gaze and look at Elohim.

My mouth feels dry, but I push through the words. “Lucifer enticed me, but I desired it before my brother came into the garden.” I rush on, knowing this might be my last chance to explain before we’re cast out. “I want to have knowledge, as the gods do, and I want to follow all of thy commandments, including the commandment to multiply and replenish the earth. This I cannot do without my body having blood, and I cannot multiply without my husband.”

I let my breath out, hoping Elohim will be merciful. Then a movement makes me snap my head to the right. Lucifer is standing in the trees just to the side of Adam and me. He leans against a tree, his mouth curled into a smile. Sheer numbness overtakes me. Why hasn’t he left?

Elohim’s gaze moves to Lucifer as well, and I find myself holding my breath again.

“Lucifer!” Elohim says in a thunderous voice. “Thou hast brought death to this garden. Because of this, thou shalt be cursed above all cattle. Thou shalt also be cursed above every beast of the field.”

I can’t help looking at my brother to see how he receives this news. His pitiless smile lessens yet stays cruel on his face. His eyes narrow, drawing his eyebrows downward. He glances at the Only Begotten, then quickly away.

Elohim continues to curse Lucifer, telling him he will spend the rest of his days upon his belly and eating dust.

Lucifer tries to argue with Elohim, but Elohim overrides his speech. Elohim declares that there will be enmity between my seed and Lucifer’s seed, that my seed will have the power to bruise Lucifer’s head. Lucifer is given the power only to bruise our heels, but this does not deter Lucifer at all.

He looks over at me, his expression full of triumph. I don’t understand it. Does he enjoy being cursed by Elohim? Then I realize that his triumph is because he will still be able to influence us.

The vindictive smile that transforms his face is directed at me.

And God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Genesis 2:7

I move closer to Adam as Lucifer slinks away, moving past the tree of knowledge. His form blends into the grove until I can no longer make out his shape. My breath comes easier after that, although I wonder if Lucifer has truly left the garden, or if he is merely hiding someplace, watching us.

Adam slips his arm around my waist, and I realize that Elohim is speaking again. Elohim looks directly at me as he says, “Thy sorrow and thy conception will be multiplied. In sorrow thou shalt bring forth children. Thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.” I nestle against Adam further, and his hold tightens.

I will be having children. At last. I know this now. It will be as Elohim says. Anticipation courses through me. There will be sorrows, but I will have Adam by my side. I look up at Adam, and his gaze is tender, open.

Elohim continues, his gaze now on Adam. “Because thou hast eaten of the fruit of the forbidden tree, the ground will be cursed. In sorrow thou shalt eat of it all the days of thy life. Thorns and thistles shall it bring forth ...”

Adam nods, his jaw clenched tight.

“By the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread,” Elohim says, his voice lower, gentler, “until thou shalt return unto the ground — for thou shalt surely die.”

My body tenses, and I close my eyes.
We’ll die.
Our bodies will no longer last forever. I want to look at Adam now, to see how he is taking Elohim’s proclamations, but when I open my eyes, I can’t tear my gaze from Elohim’s face. His voice is softer than when he spoke to Lucifer, but it holds the same firmness and power. It also holds love — a tangible love.

“... unto dust shalt thou return.” I lower my head as Elohim pauses, then says, “I have created coats of skins to clothe your bodies.”

On the ground before us I see coats of skin. I pick up one of them and touch its softness. The coat reminds me of the skin mat Lucifer put in our alcove, but this coat is much softer.
I swallow against a new lump in my throat, which formed at the thought of another animal death, and cradle the coat in the crook of my arm. Adam picks up the other coat and examines it as well.

We both look up as Elohim speaks again, reminding us of the commandment to multiply and replenish the earth. He explains how our bodies must unite in order to produce a child. My mind spins as I consider what Elohim is saying. He tells us that our natural desires will take over, and the result will be the conception of a child. I glance over at Adam to see what he thinks of this information; he is gazing straight at Elohim. My heart is thumping hard as Elohim explains the pain of childbirth and the blood that will be associated with it.

I look down at my hands.
I will have blood in my body, and with blood I’ll bring forth children.
I knew some of this already, but now that it will become who I am, I marvel to think about it.

Adam’s arm tightens around me, and a flood of warmth sweeps through me. I exhale, realizing that this is Adam — my husband — and together we’ll do as Elohim asks.

Then Elohim speaks to the Only Begotten, “Behold, Adam and Eve have become as one of us, knowing good and evil. Now I will send them from the garden, lest they put forth their hands and partake also of the tree of life and eat and live forever in their sins.”