Evenstar

by Darcy Town

  Ifrit beamed. “We strengthened the shield and we hid, just like you said to.”

  Lucifer eyed her. “You were a very paranoid Primangel.”

  Dahlia wiped her eyes. “Is it paranoia if it is correct?”

  He shrugged. “You saved our lives.”

  She smirked. “Yeah well, one of us has to think ahead.”

  He looked hurt. “That was never my talent.”

  Dahlia elbowed him. “I see you more as the spontaneous in the moment, raw energy type, less thinking, more blowing shit up. That is plenty useful.”

  Lucifer smiled. He took her hand. “I want to show you what else I can do.”

  She blushed. “We just got done with that!”

  He laughed. “Though I appreciate that your mind is focused on my more carnal aspects, sadly no, this is something else.”

  Gaea bowed to her parents. “We were going to go visit our children anyways, but we wanted to let you know that the Archangels are watching over the shield, they bring their hosts with them. All they have done is watch, but they are many, a gathering army. We will see you around.” The eight children vanished, leaving the pair alone.

  Lucifer frowned. “Michael probably has not received orders yet.”

  “Perhaps.”

  “Come, I still want to show you something.”

  Dahlia bit her lip. “Wait. I forgot to ask you something.”

  “Ask what?”

  “Can you get women pregnant?”

  Lucifer shrugged. “I would not know.” He looked at her abdomen. “But I doubt it. I do not believe you can get pregnant by anyone now.” He tugged on her hand. “Come on.”

  She blushed and followed him. “Seriously? You never in all that time? Not even once?”

  “No.” Lucifer eyed her. “Who would it have been with? All of the Lilliam are our children and the humans were our enemy.”

  Dahlia mulled it over. “You do have a point there.”

  “Besides, I desire no one but you. You however seemed to have had boyfriends if I recall your stories and pictures accurately.”

  Dahlia rolled her eyes. “Oh come on! I was thinking of you.” She blushed darker at his expression. “Yeah, okay, I am a big slut and you are just the greatest thing since sliced bread.”

  He smiled. “Sliced bread is the greatest thing since me.”

  She threw him into a wall. “You are so full of yourself!”

  Lucifer grinned. “Quite. More to the point I think, is that if I had had any girlfriends they might have had a problem with my obsessions.”

  “Your obsessions?”

  He broke the lock on a metal door and shoved the door inwards. He snapped and lights around the room flamed on. He gestured her in. Dahlia stepped beside him and stopped in her tracks. The room was a huge gallery; the paintings and statues were of her.

  Lucifer watched her expression. “Some of the first I made.”

  “They are beautiful!”

  “Thank you.”

  She looked back at the door. “What was the lock for?”

  “I tried to destroy them once.”

  “But the lock did not stop you now.”

  Hephaestus appeared in the doorway. “I felt the lock break, oh, never mind.” He bowed to them both and stepped out.

  Lucifer smiled. “Magic.”

  “Destroy things much?”

  “Oh yes. I was very destructive.”

  “I am surprised our children did not have you tagged and monitored.”

  “They tried, it failed.”

  She came to a statue of her without wings. “Where did the wings go?”

  Lucifer stared at the statue. “I had hoped you would fall and join us wingless, I searched for you. I was not right in the head during that time.”

  “What time?”

  Lucifer thought back. “I cannot clearly remember, some of the pyramids had not yet been built. I wrecked one. I flooded somewhere else.” He rubbed his temples. “I do not like thinking back to that time. I was trapped in a cycle, I searched, I grew angry and destroyed, then I would try to destroy myself. I tried to kill myself many times.” He looked at her seriously. “You and I cannot die by our own hand. There is nothing on this planet that can do that, only the spear.”

  Dahlia sighed. “Just in case I wondered?”

  “Yes.”

  She slapped him. “Do not be that stupid again!”

  He shrugged off the blow. “I have no reason to now.”

  Dahlia gripped his shoulders. “Even if I were dead I would not want you to die! Got it? I want you to live and be strong, I mean it!”

  Ceres appeared in the doorway. “I do not wish to interrupt, but we have been waiting to lay Sani to rest.”

  Lucifer nodded. “We will be there shortly.”

  Ceres bowed her head and backed out. Dahlia looked up at Lucifer. “Sani, Apple’s brother?”

  “He perished before the Archangels came. They are to see him off in the royal tombs. I have been present for all of the burials.”

  “Have there been many?”

  “More than there should.” He looked grim. “Come, they have a private ceremony, but we should be there for the entombing.”

  Dahlia nodded. She let Lucifer pick her up. He warped the palace to take him outside to the Grand Promenade. Lilliam clogged the streets. They gaped and dropped to their knees at the sight of Lucifer and Dahlia. Dahlia remembered she was naked, the Primangel in her did not care, but the human part did.

  Ra and Nix manifested in front of them. Nix pulled out a sari of night and draped it over Dahlia. Ra tied a similar cloth of light around Lucifer’s waist. Ra looked at her handiwork. “Presentable.”

  They fell in behind the princes and princess. The Fallen, and the second and first generation Lilliam followed behind them. Berith walked with Andrealphus and Belial, leaving Apple to grieve with her brothers. Lilliam stood with heads bent on either side of the Promenade.

  At the head of the procession, Morgan and Daphne stood by their son’s body as Aita and Persephone carried it on a slab of rock. They broke off from the Promenade and moved towards the dimly lit Quartier of Thanatos. Normally empty of Lilliam, the area thrived with the newly undead.

  Pale blue and green glow lamps lit the City streets. Wraiths and banshees let off their own pale white light to add to that of green and blue. Thick white mist hung between buildings. The ceilings dipped. The buildings reflected their images on mirror smooth obsidian and opal. A near constant drip kept the walkways slick and covered in small luminescent mushrooms.

  At the end of the borough of the dead, the tomb rose out of the rock face. Giant doors were sealed. Thanatos stepped aside at the doorway and let his father Chronos open the doors. They opened silently; the inside cast an orange glow into the dark streets of the undead.

  The family proceeded inside.

  The area within was warm, lit with orange fires; it smelled of the sea and summer air. Dahlia felt revitalized, almost dizzy. She saw shadows move out of the corner of her eye, creatures that were unseen when she turned her head. Lucifer squeezed her hand to keep her grounded.

  They passed by empty rooms, yet unused. The hallway split off and Dahlia knew without being told that each split belonged to the descendant line of one of her eight first-born Lilliam. They passed by Titan’s and Leviathan’s. Dahlia could feel the presence of the dead, her family. She clung to Lucifer until they came to the last, Gaea’s children. Chronos opened the door and they passed into the next hall.

  The rooms here began to be occupied. The procession walked down a branch and stopped at two rooms, old tombs. There were no doorways to block the views, only simple crafted archways. Inside the first room, lay three beautifully carved tombs made from marble. Two had sealed lids and were wrapped in ever-blooming orange flowers; one remained open, not yet filled. Apple left the group and walked inside. She rested her hands on the tombs of her sisters. Berith broke off and followed her.

  The rest of the party gathere
d outside of the other room. This room had two tombs, but only one was sealed. Dahlia looked over the archway; a simple fish had been carved into the stone. She looked back as Sani was placed inside the casket next to his twin brother. He looked peaceful, his body showing none of the injuries he had taken at Genon’s sword.

  The King and Queen spoke quietly to their two deceased sons, their eldest two. They stepped aside and let the princes come in one by one or in pairs. Apple came last, her eyes red. She held on to Berith’s hand. The Fallen went in next, each to pay their respects.

  Lucifer led Dahlia inside after Andrealphus left. The other Fallen stepped back giving them the room. Lucifer touched Sani’s cheek. “Another fallen, Sani is but one of our great, great grandchildren. Very old, he was wise.”

  Dahlia shook her head. “I did not know him well, but he was kind to me.”

  Lucifer nodded. “I knew him for a very long time, and he was that and brave, as was his brother.”

  She looked at the other tomb. “Did his brother die in battle as well?”

  He thought it over. “Of a sort.”

  Dahlia touched the stone tombs. She stepped in between them and ran her fingers along the stone. “Lucifer?”

  “Yes?”

  Dahlia felt a thrumming that had only increased as she went deeper into the tombs. “What happens to them when they die?”

  He frowned. “Their energy goes to the planet, replenishing the ground, the sky, and the shield.”

  She nodded and looked at the older tomb. “No one gets a Heaven, not even us.”

  Lucifer looked over Sani’s body to her. “Heaven was never meant as a resting place for the dead. Heaven is life, it was the beginning.”

  “And Hell is the end.”

  His eyes burned blue. “Can you go there?”

  She shook her head. “I cannot, not without my wings. I cannot feel the link anymore.” She ran her hands over the fish that embellished the tomb of Sani’s brother. Her fingers stopped over the writing at the foot and she read it aloud, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” Her eyes widened. “That is from the Bible, yes? But…” her voice trailed off. “Lucifer, who is in this tomb?”

  Lucifer took her hand. “Come.”

  “But—”

  “Come.”

  “Lucifer!” She hissed and pointed back at the tomb. “That does not make sense!”

  Lucifer leaned in close to her ear. “What you may or may not have learned in your time as a human child, what you may think you know about religion, please, forget it.” He swept her up and pulled her out of the room, past the grieving family.

  Lucifer set her down in an empty room. Dahlia stared at her hands, troubled. “The message does not make sense.”

  Lucifer spoke quietly, “We tried, Dahlia, tried to teach humans the truth. Again and again they killed us and our messengers. They warped the message until it became their message. Especially his.” He looked at the Fallen that waited out in the hall. “Please forget what you have learned as a human. You know far more than any human would about the truth.”

  Dahlia nodded and rubbed her temples. “I know. The dissonance gives me a headache.”

  Lucifer kissed her forehead. “I forget you have two histories to contend with.”

  She shot him a wry grin. “How many more surprises do you have for me?”

  “Many. Let me show you, we have stories to share and time I think to tell them.”

  ***

  Belial jumped Dahlia outside the tomb doors where the City began. She covered Dahlia’s eyes. “Come on!”

  Dahlia grabbed at Belial’s hands. “What is going on?”

  Belial grinned at Lucifer. “We have a party to prepare for.”

  “So why does it feel like I am being kidnapped?”

  “Because you are!” Belial threw Dahlia over her shoulder. “Just play along!” She stuck her tongue out at Lucifer. “Sucks to be you, your girlfriend is mine!”

  Lucifer shook his head. “Oh, I think not. We do not play in this game. Put her down.”

  Belial hissed. “This is tradition!”

  “I find myself not caring about that. I want to spend time with her.”

  Belial sighed and made to drop Dahlia. Lucifer relaxed. Andy tackled Lucifer to the ground. “Go, Belial! Go!”

  Belial bolted. Dahlia bounced on her shoulder and stared at the ground. “I admire your ability to run in pumps.”

  “Practice, lot’s of it.” Belial reached the Grand Promenade. “Damn it, where are they?”

  Whitney dropped to her side, Celeste with her; a grinning Apple was between them, held by her wrists. Celeste panted. “What. Are. We. Doing?”

  Belial clacked her teeth. “Tradition! Follow me!” She pointed towards Nix’s Borough. “Night will cover us in our escape!”

  Dahlia looked around. “Escape from who?”

  Belial scowled and yelled at the empty air around them, “Play along fuckers or I break your chicks!”

  Berith and Helion popped into view. Berith looked genuinely amused, Helion confused. Berith pointed at Apple. “I would appreciate it if you would let her go.”

  Whitney shook her fist at him. “Over my dead body!”

  Celeste grinned. “Yeah!”

  Lucifer stormed out of the passages of the undead. Andy grinned from ear to ear. He held on to Lucifer and ran backwards, working to slow Lucifer to a crawl. Lucifer snapped at Belial. “Give her to me! I am not playing this game. Dahlia, force her release you.”

  Dahlia stared at him from her upside-down vantage point. “What is going on?”

  Nix dropped from the sky with a bewildered, baby-less Tracy in her arms. “Escape has arrived, darlings.” She spread out her cape of complete darkness. She smiled at her father; her blue eyes sparkled. “Not even you can bring the light here, Daddy.”

  Belial pushed Apple, Celeste, and Whitney into the shadow. Belial dove in next with Dahlia as Lucifer lunged for her. Nix closed her cape and disappeared.

  Lucifer sighed. “Fuck.” He turned to Andy. “Thank you very much.”

  Andy grinned. “It is tradition!”

  Paimon and Furcas ran down the Promenade, Tokala and Nodin were over their shoulders. Paimon skidded to a stop. “We have the groom and best man.”

  Lucifer glared at them. “I hate these games.”

  Paimon punched his shoulder. “It is tradition!”

  “Why must everyone say that!”

  Furcas pointed his stumpy arm at Lucifer. “You have Dahlia back. You are supposed to act carefree again, not be a sour spoilsport!”

  “Fine.” Lucifer looked at Nodin, blood dribbled out of his mouth. “He is not dead is he?”

  “Of course not.” Paimon smiled. “He’s just unconscious.”

  ***

  The girls appeared in a sumptuous room of black velvet walls embedded with diamonds. Nix winked at the group and disappeared.

  Belial put Dahlia on her feet and grinned. She made sure everyone had arrived. “Success!”

  Tracy held her head. “What is going on?”

  Belial pointed at her. “You are going to get drunk, that is all you need to know.” She pushed Tracy into Apple’s arms. “Start fitting her for a dress.”

  Belial waited until they’d slipped into a side room. She grinned. “Celeste, you’re the maid of honor.”

  “I am?” Celeste looked around. “For what?”

  Belial glared. “Tracy’s wedding, dumbass! Nodin picked Tokala for his best man and since you two are shacking up, you’re his date.”

  Celeste’s eyes went red. “Who says we are shacking up?”

  Belial smirked. “Tokala, after we beat it out of him, so—,” she dodged a punch to the face. “Chill! We didn’t really beat him, very much I mean. I didn’t participate in it!” She flipped Celeste to the floor and sat on her. “We need to get prettied up for Tracy’s wedding.”

  Tracy escaped Apple. “My wedding? Now? Why?”

  Apple leapt on Tracy’s back. “D
on’t worry, this is Lilliam tradition. You play by our rules now!” She dragged Tracy away by her horns. “Start drinking!”

  Belial pointed to a cabinet. Whitney opened it. Bottles of wine waited for them. Whitney’s eyes got large. “Whoa.”

  Dahlia grinned. “Sweet.”

  Belial looked down at Celeste. “Will you be nice?”

  Celeste nodded. “Why the kidnapping?”

  Belial shrugged and let off her. “Tradition. Get drunk. I’m going to start with Whitney. Come here, corpse.”

  Whitney glared at Belial and snapped the cork off a bottle. She took a swig and passed the bottle to Dahlia. The fairy wine hit her. “Whoa. That’s not fucking around.” She looked at Dahlia. “Nice, nice, nice.” She floated above the floor.

  Belial grabbed Whitney’s ankle and pulled her back down to the ground. “I’ve never dressed a misty one before, this will be interesting.” She tied Whitney to a chair and went through her clothing options.

  Dahlia took a pull off the wine bottle and handed it to Celeste. “So you and Tokala?”

  Celeste shrugged. “Yeah.”

  Dahlia nodded. “Rumor has it he is a prince.”

  Celeste smirked. “True.”

  “Nice work.”

  “He pursued me!”

  Dahlia held her hands up. “I was not judging. It is still nice work.”

  Celeste found wine glasses and poured them one glass each. “Well, not as nice as nabbing an angel or whatever.”

  Whitney grinned as Belial fitted a dress to her. She reached for a wine glass. “It has its perks.”

  Belial made a face. “No sexy talk involving my brother, just don’t go there.”

  Tracy bolted from the next room, topless. “Wait, am I getting married tonight?”

  Belial nodded. “Well yeah, what did you think?”

  Tracy looked at her half-finished bottle of wine. “But, we’re getting drunk?”

  Apple tackled Tracy. Her speech came out slurred, “Feisty bride to be!”

  Belial grinned. “She should be. That’s Paimon’s special bridal booze she’s drinking.”

  Whitney made a face. “I do not want any of his special stuff.”

  Belial’s grin widened. “Too late.”

  Apple pulled the bottle of wine out of Tracy’s hands and held up a black dress. “This is why we wear dark clothing to weddings, hides spills.” She took a swig and threw the bottle to Belial. Belial eyed it. Apple pointed at her. “You are drinking too!”