Persephone
She Who Destroys
As Florence hid within the shadows of their hiding place, she couldn’t believe the exchange going on between Carolyn and Eve. Instead of striking down the sinners and heathens where they stood, the Holy Mother intended to work together with them. Although she had her reservations about working with their potential enemies, she nevertheless stepped out from the shadows when Eve called for her and the others. Even if there was a temporary truce between them, she would still keep her weapons close, in case the truce fell apart.
As the group made their way down into the hole, Florence kept her distance from the heathens and the sinners, and stuck near Lillian, reaching out mentally to the other Awakened Listener to try and communicate in secret. ”Why is the Holy Mother tolerating these sinners and heathens? We should be killing them where they stand, not working with them as if they’re our allies!”
"She's using them," Lillian replies telepathically, and quietly. "There is no other explanation for what mother is doing, sister."
"And what if she isn't using them? What if she intends to make peace with those who fear and despise us? I believe in mother, Lillian, I truly do, but this isn't right. If she does try and extend an olive branch towards our enemies, what will we do?" Florence knew that the sinners couldn't be trusted, and she hoped that Lillian felt the same way.
"We will be stronger than them. We are stronger than them. Any peace between us will only be temporary." Lillian replied, glancing over at Florence. Unlike Eve, who had a far more temperate and compassionate aura, Lillian projected something far more animalistic and childish.
"If we are so stronger than them, then why don't we strike now, and slaughter them where they stand? God did not make peace with the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah, she destroyed them for their sins, and we should be doing the same with the sinners of Bunker Chicago. We are the heavenly host, sent forward to claim the Promised Land for God, are we not? We are warriors, not pacifists, and these whelps are little more than dirt beneath our boots!" If Florence had kept herself restrained before, she showed no indication of doing so now, as her ever-present zeal presented itself in full display.
Eve turns and in a single, swift movement, steps in front of Florence. Within the same moment of time, she raises the back of her hand and slaps Florence hard enough to send her onto the floor. "Enough!" Eve states audibly, for a change. There was a hint of anger within her now, before she switches back to speaking telepathically. "Many lost children remain among the Children of Sodom. Thousands of them, who know not of their destiny, who look upon us with fear--fear, because we are the unknown! We are the ones who have invaded their home in their eyes! They must come to see that we are not here to harm them. We are not here to destroy them, but to enlighten them. Even now, the lover of The Old Guard's leader has started to become enlightened, started to realize her full potential. Not to live in fear of what she is, but to embrace it... It is only because she came to realize that I wished upon her no ill, no fury or wrath, and allowed her to make her own choices.
To think in methods of war would be to doom thousands of lost children. Lost children that you should fight to protect, for not but three weeks prior, you were among them yourself. If you should find yourself incapable of abandoning the inferior human elements within you that cry to destroy, maim, and kill, especially against our own kind... Then you will find yourself rendered lonely and sundered, and like the rest of humanity--doomed to your own failed nature."
Florence remained on the floor for a few seconds, utterly stunned by Eve's outburst, before she slowly came back to her senses. Staggering back to her feet, she stared at the other woman with shame in her eyes. "Forgive me, Mother, I spoke out of turn. I have known only the cruelties of war, whereas you have experienced enlightenment, and thus know the best course of action. I will not question you again." For now, there would be no more talk of violence against the sinners, lest she risked further angering Eve.