02 Kasabian - Shoot The Runner...Night of the Huntress:
Simone’s Notes:
Lilith is a female Mesopotamian storm demon associated with wind and was thought to be a bearer of disease, illness, and death. The figure of Lilith first appeared in a class of wind and storm demons or spirits as Lilitu, in Sumer, circa 4000 BC. Many scholars place the origin of the phonetic name "Lilith" at somewhere around 700 BC despite post-dating even to the time of Moses. Lilith appears as a night demon in Jewish lore and as a screech owl in Isaiah 34:14 in the King James version of the Bible. In later folklore, "Lilith" is the name for Adam's first wife. Hebrew: לילית; Arabic: ليليث; Akkadian: Līlītu, are female or male nisba adjectives from the proto-Semitic root L-Y-L meaning "Night," literally translating to nocturnal "female night being/demon", although cuneiform inscriptions where Līlīt and Līlītu refers to disease-bearing wind spirits exist. Another possibility is association not with "night" but with "wind," thus identifying the Akkadian Lil-itu as a loan from the Sumerian lil, "air" — specifically from NIN.LIL "lady air," goddess of the South wind —and itud, "moon." The earliest reference to a demon similar to Lilith and companion of Lillake/Lilith is on the Sumerian king list, where Gilgamesh's father is named as Lillu. Little is known of Lillu and he was said to interfere with women in their sleep and had functions of an incubus, while Lilitu appeared to men in their erotic dreams. Such qualities are further suggested by the Semitic associations made with the names Lila and Lilitu, namely those of lalu, or wandering about, and lulu, meaning lasciviousness. The Assyrian Lilitu were said to prey upon children and women, and were described as associated with lions, storms, desert, and disease. Early portrayals of such demons are known as having Zu bird talons for feet and wings. They were highly sexually predatory towards men, but were unable to copulate normally. They were thought to dwell in waste, desolate, and desert places. Like the Sumerian Dimme, a male wind demon named Pazuzu was thought to be effective against them.
On New Year’s Eve, Gracia and Kim were helping Dahlia Winston load groceries into the house. They had all just gone shopping for the morning and Dahlia needed some help. They all walked up to her front door.
“Thanks to all of you guys for helping with through this pregnancy,” the widow said once they all got inside. The women set the bags down on the counter.
“No problem,” Gracia said. “We’re always happy to happy.” However, something did not sit right with her and Kim. Now, they both had kids with their husbands/boyfriends. They knew after nine months the baby was born. It was now ten months and Dahlia was *still* pregnant. Something really wasn’t right here. Maybe it was time to voice that.
“Dahlia,” Kim spoke up.
“Yes?” the widow asked she was putting things away. Kim took a moment to phrase this just right.
“When are you due?” she asked at last. Dahlia paused and thought about that for a moment. She gave her friend a little shrug.
“I don’t know,” she replied.
“Doesn’t it hurt at all?” Gracia asked.
“Sometimes,” the widow replied. “But, I’m used to it by now. Say, would you all like to stay for lunch. I’m still not used to eating alone knowing that Mark’s not coming back anymore.”
“Sure,” both WAGs said. Dahlia smiled warmly.
“Great!” she said. “I’ll set everything up!”
“No, no!” Kim said quickly. “We’ll help you!”
“You sure?” Dahlia asked.
“Yeah,” Gracia said. “You should take it easy.” The widow felt a little sheepish.
“Are you sure it’s okay?” she asked. “I just don’t want to feel like I’m imposing or anything…”
“Oh no!” Kim cut in immediately. “It’s fine. Just do what Gracia said and take it easy.” The widow finally nodded.
“Alright…” she said softly.
“Good,” Gracia replied. “Now, just go and sit down for a while! We’ll let you know when lunch is ready!” She quickly led Dahlia into her own living room.
“Okay, okay!” the pregnant widow said quickly as she felt rushed into the living room. Gracia helped her into an armchair. Dahlia looked around slightly confused.
“Alright,” she mumbled. “I’ll just sit here, then… I guess…” The other two WAGs got right to work with lunch. However, a change of plans occurred right in the middle of everything. Halfway through preparation, the WAGs heard a loud squeal of pain. Gracia and Kim both raced into the living room. Dahlia sat in the armchair couched over in pain. They hurried over to their friend.
“Dahlia, what’s wrong?” Kim asked frantically.
“My water broke!!!” the widow whimpered. The WAGs looked down at the floor. Her water spilled all over the rug and seeped into the floor below. Finally, the baby was coming.
“Oh shit,” Kim mumbled. “We need to call an ambulance!!!”
“Right!!!” Gracia said with a nod. She reached for her purse and whipped out her cell phone.
“Start breathing, Dahlia,” Kim said calmly as their friend called 911. Dahlia complied right away. Here began the birth of the first half-breed.
Meanwhile, Manami hit Amestris. She was planning to end the year with a bang. And what better way to do that than engage in some meaningless sex, drug and alcohol binge, conversions, parties, blood drinking and a little murder here and there. It was New Years Eve, after all. Why shouldn’t she get to have some fun after all? Manami looked her best tonight. She had on her favorite little black dress with the hard stiletto heels. She looked and felt sexy tonight. With a little make-up and she was ready to party.
“Heading out tonight?” Faerie asked her as she made it to the front door.
“Sure am,” Manami replied.
“Have fun,” the fairy told her.
“You too,” the Fallen Princess said back. “And find yourself a girlfriend!”
“Sure will!” Faerie told her. Then, Manami headed out the door. The princess had a busy night tonight. She started at a club named Desire Named Fire. This was a new place. Manami always wanted to go here. Yet, she never found the time to do so. But today was different! Manami gracefully entered the club. The end of year energy swallowed her up right away. Clubbers in their twenty were dancing in intoxicating desire and euphoria. They seemed to have the same idea as her in a lesser extent. Manami looked around happily. “Just like I imagined!” she thought. The fallen princess walked through causally. The music pumped loudly with each step. Manami began plotting about how to bring more places like this to the city. But, she couldn’t worry about work at all tonight. The princess was supposed to relax and enjoy herself. That was the plan after all and she was going to carry it out—no matter what.
Manami walked over to the bar. The tender looked her up and down for a moment. He really did like what he saw.
“Can I get you anything tonight?” he asked. Manami looked at him in seductive way.
“That would depend on what I fancy,” she answered. “Do I want a drink or do I want you?” The bar tender felt himself getting nervous.
“D-Do you want both?” he stammered out. Manami gave him a wicked little smirk.
“You know,” she said. “I like you. I really do. Give me what you think is best!” The bar tender nodded quickly.
“Yes sir!” he said. “One shot of Malibu coming up!” Manami smiled at him at wickedly.
“Good boy!” she said. Her new “friend” got right to work. The fallen princess sat back smiling. That was just too easy. So easy it was boring. After her drink, Manami went out on the dance floor to score more slaves for tonight. Humans were just slaves to their own desires, really. That’s what made them more entertaining. Ai-Oni and Manami both saw that very well.
By the night end, the Fallen Princess had racked up eight phone numbers and seduced four boys to the club bathrooms. Manami went through the whole night drinking, getting high, drinking blood, sleeping around, and turning more men into incubi. All in a night’s work, really. She just had to get in the last bit before the year was over. Even more so since the first half-breed was being born tonight. The plan was getting stronger and moving along rather smoothly, more so than she hoped. As midnight drew near, Manami lied in bed banging her last man of the night. She began counting down to midnight in her head. The end of innocence sailed in quickly.
Five… Four… Three… Two… One! The new year and the unholy war of the huntress had begun!
02 Kasabian - Shoot The Runner...
