Insatiable

Published: April 2, 2026 · Updated: April 2, 2026

I awoke to the sound of the grass beside me crunching, as Lilith bent over me.

“Come on, let's go, we’re still a ways from The Gates.” she said, and then she walked away.

I couldn’t help but stare as she stalked away, there was a swagger to her strut that accentuated her hips. It was almost hypnotic. As I wiped the sweat and sleep from my face using a corner of my shirt, I reflected on my feelings around this woman. Every word was sweet as honey, every look captivated me more. I could hear the sounds of Orpheus’ lyre edging in my thoughts. I spiraled, thinking of the night before and the looks we shared. Even in her ecstasy she returned my gaze. She had bared all to see in a display just for me. Liber was just a tool to show me what we could accomplish, what giving her satisfaction would look like. Once I arrived with the group I could hardly look her in the eye, I didn’t want her to see my desire.

“Nice pendant, I don’t know how I didn’t notice such a brilliant stone yesterday!” said Lilith, reaching out and clasping it in her hands admiring the large octagonal sapphire inset in a gold pendant from a glittering silver chain. I had a sharp inhale. I was so caught in her closeness and scent that I couldn't find any words. I'd never seen the pendant before, but that was the last thing on my mind. She let it drop, bringing me back. I picked it up, and turned it around in my hand to see the back, but it was smooth. She was already walking away before I found my tongue, and by that point I still didn't have an answer.

“The mountain is called Gehenna Peak, at least now it is. This was once Olympus...” Liber trailed off as we started our march down the well-trodden path.

So we walked The Plains of Limbo, and after some time they struck up a tune. I felt a privilege to be witness to it. It made the kilometers pass swiftly, almost without burden. The music had a very strong bolstering effect. Maybe that was just being in her presence, exchanging glances, hearing her beautiful voice.

Once the full mountain came into view my mouth hung agape at the divine elegance. The entire mountain appeared to be white marble, with an immense gate carved into its side. As we got closer I could see the gate was barring access to a large staircase carved directly into the face of Gehenna Peak.

"First you must reach the summit, then you may begin your journey to rebirth." Liber said from the front of the group. "To be honest, I am envious. I am not allowed to participate in the rebirth. I was banished here to The Plains as a false idol, never to feel the breeze on my face, the rain on my skin, or the unadulterated serenity of a forest grove. There are others like me, 'false idols', imprisoned here after our followers were snuffed out. I feel some still pray to me, some still seek the old gods, some of our ways even survived the decimation that was The Age of Holy Fire, when Mūtel condemned all but himself and his followers to flames. For nearly three millennia we've been disconnected from humanity, able to feel their prayers, but unable to react. Most of our strength was lost with our followers."

Suddenly the ground began trembling beneath our feet, as if a pack of animals were headed toward us. Then, in the distance a black shape appeared from the base of the mountain, and it was getting bigger. A vicious shout, no bark, was echoing all around us. It was unmistakable, Cerberus, the three-headed dog of legend was coming straight for us, and he did not sound happy to see us. I could clearly see all three heads distinctly, with foam rushing from their mouths. This dog was in a frenzy, I couldn't do anything but stand in awe and horror at the sight.

Quit pissing yourself, the dog is not there for you. The old one has come too close, the dog is to keep them out.

Then, suddenly the dog halted, maybe fifty meters from us. It stared directly at our group and gave a low, vicious growl.

"Ah, yes, well I suppose this is where I leave you all. I don't want to wind up as puppy chow as some others have. Good luck, and remember that each of the challenges are able to be overcome, you just need to be strong. Not in body, but in mind and soul. Well, some physical strength will come in rather handy, I've heard from some. You might end up like Sisyphus, after all." Liber said, then turned and began walking away.

"Wait!" Orpheus hollered. "I'm not going through those gates, nothing but pain and misery awaits me beyond them, and in rebirth. I know you want me to go, spread your name and songs, but I wish to stay here and continue our search for the perfect harmony, the perfect song!"

"We've had millennia to create together, it's time to spread the music. Share with the mortals the fruits of our labor." Liber solemnly replied. "Although, I suppose there's no way for me to force you." He said with a wink.

"Luckily, we won't need you and your lyre to open The Gates, coward." Lilith said jokingly.

So our party split. Orpheus and Liber headed back the way we had come, while Lilith and I continued toward the mountain. Once Liber had left, Cerberus seemed to guide us along the path. A guard dog leading us home. I just remember being in constant amazement at the deep black fur, it almost seemed to be made of shadow itself.

As we approached the massive gates, they seemed to stretch to the sky itself. When we reached their base, Cerberus sat at his post beside The Gate, and flopped the ground to resume chewing on an ancient bone. The Gates were finely carved like a set of castle bastion doors. As we approached, a smaller built-in door opened to reveal the stairs behind. Without hesitation, I stepped through, Lilith followed behind me, then we began our ascent up the marble stairs. After the walk here I was exhausted, by the time we were a quarter of the way up the mountain my legs were unstable, and my head was swimming. I was panting hard, but Lilith seemed to have no problem. I was going to keep going as far as she would, I wouldn't let myself keep us back. Thank Gods for the handrails.

"The stairs are meant to drain your stamina, it's only a taste of what's to come" Lilith said with a coy smile. "There is no turning back once you cross The Gates, you either climb or become part of the mountain."

"Shouldn't we have rested before we started?" I huffed out.

"Now what's the fun in that?" she smirked.

So we took a continued. By the time we reached the top I was more dragging myself along the handrail than I was climbing. At the summit there was a small hole that appeared to lead to a cave, and Lilith shoved me through. When my eyes adjusted I saw this was no cave, we were in an opulent dining room. The walls were adorned with some of mankind's most beautiful paintings and sculptures. There was a long table adorned with covered serving platters, and there were two chairs at either end of the table with a red velvet lining. The carpets were red, with some black banisters hanging from the ceiling. There were red velvet sofas, and in another room I could see a four-poster bed with red and black curtains.

"I thought we were supposed to have our own personal Hell, this isn't what I had imagined mine would be like. It's not the color scheme I would go with." I quipped.

"Oh, but it is. It was personally designed for you by me. I'll admit the decor is my design, but that isn't the test." Lilith replied, then snapped her fingers and the lids on the platters disappeared, revealing the contents. There were delicacies that I had only ever heard of, and of course the home favorites. Any of the food I've ever wanted, or could want was suddenly available to me. I stared in amazement, then I noticed the wine cart was covered in drugs: weed, pharmaceutical amphetamines, benzos, oxycodone, cocaine; hell, it even looked like there was Viagra.

"Pick your poison" she whispered in my ear, and a shiver ran down my spine. I turned to face her and saw that she now showed her true form. She was no mortal soul, she had kept her long red hair, but her body had become a pale red color, and her wings unfurled. She had several short horns just below her hairline, almost resembling a diadem.

"What the fuck, Lilith?" was all I could manage.

"What, did you think that you would be all alone in your torment? No! Someone has to figure you out, build your prison, hold the keys, and crack the whip. Now, I've gone through all this trouble preparing your favorites. Sit down, have some food, some wine, and as many drugs as you want. Your heart won't fail here. Indulge, this is The Ring of Pleasure, after all." she said coolly, and I suddenly felt very compelled to do exactly as she said.

She stared at me while we ate, the platters always refilling, but my stomach remained empty. The food was delicious, perfectly prepared steaks, lobsters, potatoes, broccoli, pies, rolls, and tarts. Then the cart rolled toward me, a lit joint and cigar, with a bump to start. A glass of red wine sat filled next to it. I picked it up for a sniff, sweet like ripe berries. So I imbibed, and the wine was the finest I had ever tasted. Perfectly balanced sweetness with a spice blend I couldn't even begin to understand. I set my glass upon the table, then bent over to snort the cocaine and picked up the lit smokes. I never had a nose for cocaine in the living world, but here it felt like lightning. When I looked back, more was already prepared. I couldn't help but go for more. My thoughts raced, and my body filled with euphoria.

Lost in my greed, I remembered the smokes in my hand. The cigar was rich and overpowering; I needed a draught of my wine to clear the taste, and the joint was potent. My brain was swimming in chemicals, conflicting emotions, my face was numb, and my body was following, but I felt amazing. The higher I got, the less my thoughts mattered, and the tastier the food got. Plus with the looks my demon hostess was casting my way, I felt absolutely insatiable.

At one point she simply stood, stared me down, and walked into the bedroom. I finished the last of my wine, and my smoke, then poked my head in the room and said "Shouldn't we hit the showers after hiking for God knows how long?" Without a reply, she snapped her fingers and I felt clean, and I was naked. There was even a fresh taste in my mouth. So I approached the bed, and parted the curtains to find Lilith back in her human form, laid bare on the bed.

She came to her knees and said "You are my prisoner, you will do well to remember that", then took my cock in her mouth. After her share of teasing she leaned back and spread her legs for me, inviting me to return the favor. I did with fervor, reaching up to feel her breast as her breathing began to quicken. I lightly played with her nipples as I continued licking and sucking. She pushed my head back to stare into my eyes, then invited me to lay next to her, and straddled me once I was.

I was captivated, I had no thoughts of my own. She led me through the exact dance she had shown me with Liber, and it was exhilarating. We switched positions so that I was on top, giving me the illusion of control. Our bodies were slick with sweat when she reached up to grab my shoulders to come in for a deep, sensual, kiss that drove me over the edge. We crashed together on the silken sheets, our breaths ragged, still in an embrace.

So it was for what seemed centuries. An addiction to my sins of lust, gluttony, and greed. Food and drugs, drugs and food, and fucking in opulence. It really did seem like heaven, until the boredom and unfulfillment set in. It seemed I was doing all I wanted without any real torture, my jail contained everything I thought I wanted in life. This wasn't life, this was Hell. I began to wish for life again, for the bird's song and true sunlight on my face.

The more I thought about my previous life, I realized that the things I took for granted each day were the things I missed the most. I wallowed in my depression each day, but it was never enough to drag me from my new home, my new love. I truly think I did come to love that place, it met my desires, and exceeded them, at every level. It's likely I'd still be there if I hadn't noticed a blue glow coming from beneath the bed one night.