Evenstar

by Darcy Town

  Celeste stepped to the back of the group. “I am not coming willingly.”

  Tokala looked back and grimaced. “My suit is getting trashed anyways.” He shifted to a fox and launched himself at them.

  Whitney bit Tokala’s ear and kicked him. Helion gaped.

  Dahlia kicked Tokala in the ribs.

  Belial whooped and brought a barrel down on his head. The fox snapped at them and kicked them to the side. He bit down on Celeste’s arm and twisted, dislocating her shoulder. The boys cheered for their side. The girls glared at them.

  Tokala jumped backwards. Celeste went into a berserker rage. She beat on his face with her free hand. Apple bit his tail. Tokala kicked Apple and leapt backwards. He slammed Whitney and Belial into the wall and scratched at Dahlia, but she dodged.

  Celeste slammed a fist down on his nose, making him yelp and drop her. She rolled to her feet. Tokala grabbed Celeste by the throat, shook her, and dashed up the stairs.

  Paimon and Furcas let him go by.

  Lucifer folded his arms. “We are done now? Dahlia, let us go together.”

  Paimon and Furcas looked up at him. “Are you kidding?”

  Lucifer frowned. “Why would I be kidding?”

  Berith shook his head. “You never had to do this before. We all must collect our women.” He stepped past Paimon and Furcas and smiled at Apple. He unsheathed a sword. “I would prefer if we went one on one.”

  Apple looked to the other girls. “I’m fine with that.” She pulled a rapier from her back. The silver weapon slid easily from her green silk dress.

  Dahlia gaped. “Where did she get that?”

  Belial fell next to her, looking serious. “Magic. Pretty neat huh.”

  “I want one.”

  Sparks flew as Apple and Berith crossed blades. Apple sliced clean through Berith’s tie.

  Whitney dropped beside Dahlia and Belial. “So are we next?”

  Belial nodded. “You two are yeah.”

  Dahlia snorted. “You are going to go willingly?”

  Belial frowned. “What?”

  “With Andy.”

  Belial looked up to Andy. “I, oh…I suppose he is my date now. Shit.”

  Dahlia and Whitney laughed and sat back to watch Apple and Berith. Apple sliced off a pant leg. “You’re slow!”

  Berith rolled his eyes. “I don’t want to damage you, and your dress is rather lovely.”

  Apple smirked. “Damage me? Doubtful.”

  Belial cupped her hands around her mouth. “Don’t let him taunt you, Apple. He is trying to make you screw up!”

  Berith parried her blade. “Fine, then I will wait for you tire.” He dove and sliced off a large lock of her long black hair.

  Apple looked at the discarded hair in horror. “You son a bitch I’ve been perfecting that for centuries!” She kicked off the wall and punched him in the face. She flipped backwards and brought the sword down, shearing off his sleeve. He swept his blade to the side and took off another chunk of hair. Apple growled and leapt on him. Berith grabbed her arm and pulled her into a headlock. He ran from the room while she kicked and screamed. Fire blasted down the stairs.

  Paimon pushed Helion in next.

  Helion fiddled with his bowtie, still shirtless. He looked at Belial. “I cannot fight you.”

  Belial got to her feet. “Too bad for you?”

  Whitney rolled her eyes. She stepped up to Helion and punched him in the eye. She hugged him. “Okay, let’s go.”

  Dahlia and Belial shared an ‘Aww’ moment, and looked up.

  Lucifer and Andy eyed each other. Lucifer pushed Andy ahead of him.

  Andy stumbled into the room nervously. “I never said I was going to do this.”

  Furcas and Paimon got behind him and blocked the stairs. “Too bad.”

  Lucifer grinned wickedly. “It is tradition, Andrealphus.”

  Andy whirled to find Belial and Dahlia staring at him with toothy grins. Andy gawked at Belial’s dress, and his cheeks went red. He held his hands up. “Belial, I did not purpose this for you and I. In fact, I am appalled that they would put us in this position. I mean, despite what we said to one another earlier no formal courtship was announced and I feel rather awkward about making this presumption since only formal couples are supposed to be involved. So I understand fully if you wish to stay here, or stroll out on your own volition.”

  Behind him, Paimon and Furcas looked pained. Lucifer sighed and shook his head. Belial smiled at Andy, amused.

  Andy blushed and kept going. “Not that I would not want to fight you, I think it would be fun, we’ve had lots of fights! You are a great opponent! In truth, I do kind of look forward to this, because we are such pals and pals can fight and that is okay. Right? Say something? Please? Can you hit me already so that I will shut up?”

  Belial punched Andy in the stomach. She shoved him to the wall. “You are such a hopeless idiot.” She kissed him on the lips.

  Andy froze in shock.

  Furcas hissed. “Kiss her back already!”

  Andy wrapped his arms around Belial, closed his eyes, and kissed her. He felt as if his feet had left the ground. He opened one eye to check, no, he was still on the ground. He pressed her to him and slowly pulled his head back. He looked dazed.

  Belial let him go and smiled. “You win, I have been vanquished, let’s go.”

  Andy spoke in a daze, “No fight?”

  Belial tore his tie off and shredded his shirt. “You’ve been fighting with me since day one. Besides, I’d like to keep my dress intact. Out.”

  Lucifer waited for them to pass. He gazed at Dahlia. “This will not be a fair fight.”

  She gave him a once over. “Oh really.”

  Lucifer stared at his fingers. “You are not as strong as us.”

  She folded her arms. “Well fuck you too.”

  He glared. “I do not want to hurt you.”

  She shrugged. “So? I do not think I care.”

  Lucifer walked into the room. Paimon and Furcas slipped behind him and stood in the doorway, grinning. Lucifer held out his hand. “You are drunk. There is no point in this.”

  Dahlia took a step away from him. “Oh really?”

  “Yes.”

  Dahlia punched the wall creating cracks in the rock. She pulled her hand back; her fingers were broken and bloody. She shook her hand out and red light healed the wounds. “I am just as strong as you are.”

  He nodded, appreciative. “Regardless, I have been in this form longer and I think you are still not used to being drunk. In your head, you are still a twenty-something girl who cannot keep her footing when inebriated. Face it, you are a happy drunk, not an angry drunk.”

  Dahlia’s jaw dropped. “You are going to be hurt.”

  Lucifer grinned. “Dahlia really, you are slurring your speech.”

  “I do not need to speak well in order to hit you.”

  Lucifer folded his arms. “Can you even see straight?”

  “No.”

  “Then stop this.”

  “Your pompous ego is so big I can hit you regardless of which one of you I throw punches at.”

  Lucifer strode towards her. “Enough.”

  Dahlia moved in a blur and slammed her fist into his stomach. Lucifer doubled over. She kneed him in the chin. She jumped away before he could grab her.

  From the stairs, Paimon and Furcas watched rapt. Furcas nudged Paimon. “Which one of us would be the chick?”

  Paimon smirked. “Uh, you, obviously.”

  Furcas glared at him. “Yeah okay why? I don’t dance or sing. Oh, I also don’t bake cupcakes and decorate them with pink frosting.”

  Paimon rolled his eyes. “You preen over yourself and sew.”

  “You write poetry.”

  “You take it. I give it.” Paimon leaned in. “Case closed, you’re the girl.”

  Furcas socked Paimon in the arm. In the background, Dahlia and Lucifer plowed into a rack of wine bottles. Dahlia shrieked as Lucifer pinch
ed her ass. She kicked him in the face and he slammed into barrels.

  Paimon rubbed his shoulder and scowled at Furcas. “You are such a child.”

  Furcas sulked. “I do not preen over myself, and I am not a child and I don’t always take it.”

  “Preen queen, baby.”

  Furcas knocked out Paimon’s front teeth with a punch. “At least I’m not the mother hen of the group!”

  “Mother hen?” Paimon spit the teeth out and tackled Furcas. The pair wrestled towards the fountain. Lucifer tripped over them and fell backwards. Dahlia laughed and jumped on top, kicking and punching all three of them.

  ***

  Nodin gazed at his bride to be with fondness; she had blood on her horns and wine down her chest. His heart fluttered happily. He wore scraps of cloth and stood at the altar barefoot. His mother and father looked on teary-eyed. Tokala stood next to him, naked and nonchalant, his hands at his hips. Across from him, Celeste stood with her arms folded, eyes red; she smiled when he did not look her way.

  Whitney and Helion were next in the wedding party. Helion sported a black eye. Everyone assumed he had his shirt ripped off; Whitney and he let them continue to think that.

  Berith and Apple stood beside them. Berith’s clothing was burnt and sliced. Apple’s dress was intact, but her hair was short, very short, and not cut evenly. She glared at Berith.

  Andy, Belial, Furcas, and Paimon stood off to the side near the King and Queen. Behind them, the Grand Promenade was covered in Lilliam, princes and their partners first, and the rest of their generation divided by family line.

  Lucifer and Dahlia stood in front of Nodin and Tracy. Dahlia’s dress was more or less in one piece, though it was shorter than it was originally. Her feet were bare. Lucifer was bruised and cut up. He still had glass in his hair.

  Everyone in the wedding party kept their wounds unhealed for show. The Lilliam loved a spectacle. Lucifer joined the hands of Nodin and Tracy. He smiled. “You have my blessing, and if it is your wish then you are joined in marriage.”

  The pair looked at each other. “It is.”

  Lucifer nodded his head. “Then you are married.”

  Dahlia put her hand on Lucifer’s. She looked at the pair. “May you continue to have healthy babies, lots of them and if you want, new types of Lilliam!”

  The pair shimmered and Dahlia pulled her hand back. Tracy grew a second set of horns. Nodin’s eyes shifted from amber to orange.

  Lucifer looked at Dahlia with a smirk on his face. “At least you added the caveat ‘if they want.’”

  Dahlia blushed and whispered, “What did I do?”

  “I think we shall see with their next round of children.” Lucifer let go of their hands and the pair turned to face the rest of the Lilliam. Nodin kissed Tracy and the Promenade erupted into applause.

  Fireworks went off over their heads. Paimon grinned as the bombs he’d rigged earlier exploded in the air, no doubt sending minor shockwaves through the rock to the surface of the planet.

  Food laden tables materialized on the Promenade. Lilliam volunteers served as wait staff and passed out drinks. The party spilled off the Promenade into the City. Streamers and decorations hung between houses. The Lilliam needed a celebration after the trials they had suffered the last week.

  A table had been reserved near the palace for the Fallen and their dates. Lucifer escorted Dahlia over. The pair eyed each other and walked stiffly.

  Dahlia spoke out the side of her mouth, “I cannot believe you broke my legs.”

  “You broke my arms and my neck. You should have come when I asked.”

  “I never come when asked.”

  Lucifer snickered.

  Dahlia elbowed him. “Stop thinking dirty thoughts.”

  Lucifer shrugged. “You make it so easy for me.”

  Dahlia pulled out of his grip and smiled. “Then maybe I should not.” She took a seat next to Paimon. She pulled Furcas down on her other side. The pair looked between her and Lucifer and then to their food. Lucifer sighed and took a seat next to Belial.

  Belial looked between Dahlia and Lucifer. “Uh-oh, someone got in a fight?”

  Lucifer snapped his teeth at her. “Commentary is not needed.”

  Andy laughed. “Satan angry!” He ducked as Lucifer tossed a knife at his head.

  Furcas leaned over to Dahlia. “So in your opinion which one of us would be the girl if we had to do that ceremony, Paimon, or myself?”

  Dahlia stabbed at a steak, meat unidentified. “Huh?”

  Paimon leaned in. “Don’t listen to him, Dahlia. He lies!”

  Furcas pointed his fork at Paimon’s face. “You don’t even know what I said.”

  “Doesn’t matter, it is lies!”

  Furcas rolled his eyes. “So which one of us?”

  Dahlia rubbed her temples. “This is what you were fighting about in the cellar?”

  “Yes.”

  She laughed. “Is this what happens to couples when they spend eternity together?” She cut into her steak. “What am I about to eat?”

  Paimon squinted. “Dragon. Now which one of us is the guy? It’s me of course; in fact it is so clearly me that you really don’t even need to answer.”

  Dahlia chewed and swallowed. “You two, despite being weird fucks, are both men. You realize that right?”

  Furcas leaned on the table. “Yes, Dahlia, obviously.”

  Dahlia stuck her fork in his face. “Then shut up.”

  ***

  Gabriel flew in a tight circle above Ladriam’s shield. He ran through calculations in his head. Behind him, the other Archangels moved the contraption he had built from the moon to the Earth’s orbit. He ignored them and focused on his numbers. His eyes flicked down to the surface of the planet from time to time. He rubbed his hands. Something nagged at him, but he could not remember what.

  Michael grabbed his foot. “Stop circling.”

  Gabriel looked at him. “Why?”

  “It is annoying, start setting your machine up.”

  Gabriel nodded then frowned. “Michael?”

  Michael glared. “Yes?”

  Gabriel chewed on a finger. “Is there something of me down there?”

  Michael scowled. “Gabriel, what does that even mean?”

  Gabriel scratched his fingers through his messy red hair. “I do not know. I just feel there is something of me down there. Is there?”

  Michael fingered the spear. He looked at the planet then back to Gabriel. “No, nothing, now get to work.”

  Gabriel nodded. “All right.” He flew to his machine and pulled out tools.

  ***

  Music floated along the Promenade. Dahlia felt her desire to dance growing. She had lost her self-conscious attitude about it. Paimon watched her wiggle in the seat. “Dahl-face, do you want to dance?”

  Dahlia grinned at him. “Who is asking? Patience, Paimon, Uncle Pai, or Paul the prom date?”

  Paimon drummed his fingers along the table. He shook out his shoulders and wrinkles appeared around his eyes, his hair turned silver and he sported a goatee. “Your loving and most awesome uncle.”

  Dahlia gawked. He stood and offered her his hand. She took it and followed him out to the dance floor. He pulled her close as the music changed to a waltz. Dahlia looked back to Lucifer who in turn tried not to look at her in an obvious way.

  Paimon grinned. “You and Lucifer okay?”

  She blinked. “Hmm?”

  “You two, fighting?”

  “Oh, not really, I am pouting. I forgot that we roughhouse in a serious way.”

  Paimon nodded. The dance floor filled up. He moved her effortlessly around the other couples. “How about in general? We were worried you were going to take his head off.”

  “I think he wishes I did. He cannot stand my forgiveness and he refuses to forgive himself. I am worried he will not get better.”

  “It may just take time, Dahlia.”

  “I know.” Dahlia sighed. “How did you forgive
yourself for Furcas? How long did that take?”

  Paimon winced. “I think it would be fair to say that I have not, but time and good memories help to overwrite the bad.”

  “But you stay together, you are happy.”

  “I try and keep him happy. I irritate him with the small things simply so I can make it up to him, like a game.” Paimon smirked. “I think we have made a fetish out of makeup sex, it’s really the only kind we have.”

  Dahlia blushed. “Okay, turn back to Paimon, if we are going to talk about sex it is not going to be with my uncle, though I love you dearly.”

  Paimon shifted to his regular self. “Your lingering human values are so endearing.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Whatever.” She looked away. “I tried the sex thing, but he is still guilt-ridden.”

  “It may take a few thousand more times.” Paimon’s expression grew serious. “He needs to feel as though he has atoned and made it up to you. Trust me when I say that he wants to make it up to you. So let him, just don’t allow him to sulk. He will feel better when he sees you happy. Your happiness will infect him like a plague. He can’t possibly give you a good time if he is a mopey bitch now can he?”

  Dahlia nodded. “True.”

  Paimon swept her across the Promenade. “I will have Furcas make some suggestions to him for gifts, just act surprised and accept any gifts, favors, sexual or otherwise, that he gives you.”

  “Will do.” Dahlia smiled. “Thanks for the sagely advice.”

  “Anytime.” Paimon looked at their table. He watched Furcas accept a misty hug from Whitney. The pair got up and went to the dance floor. Paimon’s face fell a little.

  She looked past him. “What is wrong?”

  He looked embarrassed. “Nothing.”

  “Liar.”

  Paimon’s eyes narrowed. “Why is it that you are the only person that can tell when I’m lying, even as a human girl? It was infuriating in high-school.”

  Dahlia smiled. “I think having a hand in twisting your mind has given me an unfair advantage. So what is wrong? Are you worried about Furcas?”

  “Worried, no, he will live.”

  Dahlia looked him over. “Then you are sad. Why? You should be joyful! He is healed!”

  He scowled. “Again with the knowing too much.” He made a face to hide his discomfort. He eyed her and let the façade drop. “He never dances with me.”