Authors: Heaven Liegh Eldeen
“We have to go. Leave the children with Rahovart.” Nicor grabbed Persephone, jerking her out of the cell and slamming the door behind them. I rushed
to
the door
,
but it had closed before I managed to get to it.
“Son of….” I shouted, leaning my head against the door as I punched it.
“It’s going to be al
l
right.” a tiny voice hummed as the sound of whimpers filled the room.
Turning around, Annahail sat huddling
with
her brothers in an attempt to comfort them. I didn’t have any experience dealing with children
,
since
I had none of mine own
,
and the
children
of Earth
had their own choir of Angels
.
I had been at a
loss
as to what to do.
“Your sister is right.” I said, sitting down across from them with my elbows on
my
knees.
The sounds of battle echoed through the cavern walls. War cries filled the air. As to not cause the children to wince by saying his name, I prayed silently to Father for it to be my brothers laying Hell under siege to rescue me instead of going after Etta as ordered.
Watching Annahail care for her brothers as I finished my prayer, I wondered if Etta knew the fate of her pregnancies. Had Persephone told her she guided her offspring from the Labyrinth and had been raising them to take Lucifer’s throne? If Persephone had indeed told Etta,
d
id she fear I would not accept them?
I wouldn’t have blamed her
,
but I
wish she’d trust
ed
me more than
she
did
.
It
was
quite the shock
,
but over a millennium ago I swore to love Etta no matter what came our way
,
and it had been a promise I didn’t make lightly. I knew the day we wed we would be tried and tested. I had to admit figuring out how her children would fit in
to
our lives would be the biggest test of them all.
If I succeed in gaining the last piece of Etta’s essence
,
we would reside in Heaven
,
while her kids stayed here in Hell. If Etta had knowledge of their existence would she be torn between her duties as a mother or would she deny her rights, turning her back on them
?
If she did know, why didn’t she tell me? Did she have no interest in being a mother to Alastor’s seed? If so, it would pose another problem. Scorn the children and they may grow up with a deep hatred for Etta and
me
. Should one of them ascend to the throne, the grudge in their heart may fuel the fires between Heaven and Hell instead of extinguishing them as Persephone
and Lucifer’s Seers
foretold.
Though having never committed a sin, Annahail and her brothers wouldn’t be allowed to pass through Heaven’s gates. I
had been damn
ed
to Hell once before and found my way back to the right path but unlike me, Etta’s children had never held a heavenly form.
Contrary to popular belief, Father is not the only celestial being
able to
create new life. When He created
his first children, the Son and the Spirit
, He bestowed upon
them
,
and only them
,
the gift of procreation.
As Father filled his world with barren and sterile children
,
the
Heaven’s erupted in conflict over
w
hy
his first born son and daughter
had
been granted a
n
allowance
far greater than
their siblings. To cease the protests, Father granted the gift of conception to his children. However, Father made sure his top legal advisor, Lucifer, put in a clause
stating
before a couple
would be allowed to
bare offspring, they had to be deemed worthy by Father, the Son
,
and the Spirit. To prevent any possible infiltration or inside attack
,
Father had Abihail amend the clause after her brother fell from grace to ensure no creature created from Demon blood
would be granted
pass
age
through the gates of Heaven
.
Born D
emon half
-
breeds
had
damned
Etta’s children
to an eternity of forever being just that
, Demons
. Should Etta choose to be a mother figure,
we
would have to leave the safety of Heaven’s gates to live on the outskirts of both worlds.
My thoughts had been getting ahead of themselves. Before I worried about what the future might hold, I needed to figure out how to ensure I had one. Wounded, physically tired
,
and emotionally exhausted, I would be unable to bust out of the cell. Even if I managed with three kids in tow, getting out of the gates and to the Wastelands would prove difficult. If I managed to escape, I would be vulnerable to attacks out in the open.
Looking at Annahail, I caught a glimpse of her strong demeanor crack as the cries of the wounded and the scraping of metal against metal grew louder and closer.
“Hey, do you guys
enjoy
music?” I asked, attempting to turn their attention from the war raging on outside the cell walls.
“Yes
,
but we don’t get to listen to it much. Grandma says listening to music will draw attention to us
,
but
G
randpa
Nicor sings to us at night before we go to bed.” Annahail answered.
“Oh, he does?” I said
,
surprise
d
.
I’d always seen Nicor as a rough and tumble kind of Demon. Imagining him singing
,
much less singing children
’s
songs
,
seemed far from the Demon I knew.
“What songs does he sing to you?” I continued my attempt to avert their attention.
“Well, all sorts but at bed time he sings ‘Time to Say Goodbye’ but switches the word ‘goodbye’ with ‘goodnight’.” Annahail answered.
It figured a psychopath would choose an opera song
,
but I had to give him credit for bringing culture to their world instead of singing the songs of the battlefield
as
I would have expected.
“It’s a good one
,
but I’m afraid I can’t sing well enough to do opera. Do you want to hear a silly song I know?”
During my time serving as a Demon on Earth, I had plenty of houseguests who had small children. The parent
’
s
incessant
need to play squealing children’s song had driven me beyond the point of insanity. Anytime a new children’s videotape, DVD, or CD made its way into the home, I found a way to destroy
it in order to prevent the wretched dancing and singing of purple dinosaurs from torturing me all hours of the day. I had done well at it until the computer age came to be.
Prior to the Divad’s moving into my dwelling, I had another
M
arine have the misfortune of sharing a roof with me.
With three small
,
bastard step-children and an infant of his own, his worthless wife would use the television and computer as a babysitter
,
while she’d sit in the back yard smoking pot and texting other men she’d met at the bar the night before.
With the oldest child being only
four
and the others still in diapers
,
it had been forbidden by celestial law for me to interfere with their lives. Even simply unplugging the computer while the children put annoying songs on repeat would draw the Arch
e
s to my home. Day in and day out
,
until their father came home, I would be beat over the head with elementary rhymes, second
-
rate guitar strumming, and grown men dress
ed
up in costume as they sang off
-
key
.
Eventually
I
’
d
been able to
recite each tune word for word.
It had been a skill I deemed worthless until now when I
found myself trapped in a cell with three small frightened children of my own.
“Sure.”
Annahail replied excitedly.
“Okay
;
it’s an easy one
,
so you can sing along if you want.”
Singing the words to ‘
A
pples and
B
ananas’, the children smiled as their fear subsided. By the third verse, the kids were giggling as they danced around, singing along. Botis danced over to me, tugging on my arm to join the fun. Soon Uphir and Annahail had joined him in coaxing me to my feet.
Picking up Uphir, I did a goofy waltz, singing, as Annahail and Botis twirled around my legs
.
Suddenly
the cell door opened. Putting Uphir down, I spun on
my
heels to block them from what may be on the other side of the door.
“We have to go now!” a bloodied Nicor yelled, tossing me my shield and sword.
“What’s happening?” I asked.
“C’mon children.
Hold each other’s hands and no matter what, don’t let go.” Persephone ducked under Nicor’s arm, reaching for Annahail’s hand.
Following Nicor out, we rush
ed
in
a
single file line down the corridor away from the approaching clatter of fighting. As we came to an intersecting hallway, Nicor motioned for us to halt. Peeking around the corner, he yanked a Demon running down the hall as he passed, slitting his throat then nodded for us to follow him.
“I need to know what is going on.” I whispered as we rounded the corner.
“A cluster fu—” seeing the children, Nicor caught his tongue. “Lilith and her
minions
showed up just as your massive rescue party came searching for you and Etta.” he continued.
“Why would they be searching for Etta here?”
I asked
, dumbfounded.
“Don’t have a clue.
Shh
.
Put
your hands behind your back.” Nicor said as we came to a guarded cavern.
“State your business.” A sentry called out as we approached.
“Taking these prisoners to a more secure location.
Step aside.” Nicor ordered.
“We’re under orders not to let anyone through. You’ll have to take them somewhere else.” The guard rebuffed.
It had been then I realized Nicor
was
leading us to Lucifer’s private quarters. Having spent quite a bit of time in his room, I knew an exit hid behind a large self
-
portrait of Lucifer.
Nicor had
a great idea
,
but
I doubted
he took into account the exit led right into Susman territory.
With three small children and no way for me to flash, we’d never make it through the horde of pig-men.
“Step aside!” Nicor roared, taking a battle stance
.
A thunderous
boom erupted shaking the ground and walls, knocking us down.
Scrambling to my feet, I flung myself over the children, protecting them from rock and debris falling from above. As the ringing in my ears ceased,
a still
ness
permeated
the cavern.
The sounds of battle cries and weapons crashing against one another faded into an eerie, calm silence.
Helping the kids up as the dust settled, an onslaught of sentries encircled us. Nicor and I lunged for our weapons on the ground,
just as
a familiar foot stepped on my sword then kicked it back. Arms folded across his chest, Lucifer stood over us.
“Why would one of my top generals be aiding an enemy?” Lucifer crouched before Nicor, taking the war hammer from his grasp.
“And what do we have here
?
My favorite concubine huddled up with half
-
breeds?
My, my.
Something delicious is going on here.” Lucifer continued as he stroked Persephone’s hair behind her ear.
Shooting each other wary glances, we remained silent.