Another pang of guilt hit her heart- he had assumed she had been forced into her behavior. How kind of him. How naïve. Oh, how she wished she could tell him the truth.
Why not? asked a little whisper of wind. No. No, she couldn't. He would despise her more than he already did. The anger, the hurt, the frustration, all of it to be laid out in the open, to be so vulnerable. She didn't want to, but it was as if she couldn't resist the urge to do so. The demoness felt compelled by a force not her own to reveal what she had hidden deep in her heart.
Speak the truth, Daughter.
"No, Arnel, the things I have done were of my own choosing, even if they were commanded by the lord of darkness. Rape, murder, deception- command or no, I would have done them regardless and done them happily. That is the nature of demons. We know no other way, and we desire no other way." She paused for a raspy breath. The next part was harder, more painful to face, but she would do it all the same.
"So to see you refuse to fall to the temptations of other men, I was first intrigued and then obsessed. I sought to torment you to see how far you would break. A curiosity became an obsession to have you for myself. I envied your wife; I cursed her to be barren and tormented you in your dreams to feel the same as I did. Then, when I could take it no more, I killed her!" Her fist came down hard on the bed, old frustration boiling back up again. Unfortunately, this little outburst caused her fingers to bleed more. Blood spotted the blankets.
"But then, my lord Molk gave me the chance to infiltrate your temple without being harmed. I took the guise of Sister Mercy, a power that could conceal me even from you. I was to torment you with this puppet and discover a weakness in the temple. But then I found the Book of Ekjin. Though it harmed me, I became enamored with it. So I convinced you to teach me to read it." Tears began to stream her face at the memory. It was so happy. "You were so kind and gentle; the words you read were a comfort I never knew. I'm embarrassed to say I fell in love with you and your god. So much so that I fell to the one temptation no demon is allowed to have- the temptation of Ekjin. I was discovered and this is my punishment: to be tortured by the harpies for all eternity. When I return, they will never release me again for failing to torment you."
She put her hand on his cheek and pulled him into a final kiss. It was slow and sweet, unlike any kiss she had ever given, but it felt right. Then Lillith looked deep into his eyes. "If this is to be the justice for my crimes, then I'm glad I had one last chance to say goodbye to you, my Love.