Daystar

by Darcy Town

  Belial snarled and leapt for the Archangel. Andy flipped her onto her back and sat on her. “Stay still!”

  Paimon was confused. “What is going on?” He sniffed the air and froze. “There’s an Archangel in my house!” He snarled. “Get it out!”

  Dahlia sighed. “Paimon, chill out.”

  “No! Furcas would not have wanted an Archangel in his house! Which one is it?” He stormed towards her and put his hands on the pair. He grabbed Jegudiel’s chin. “Jegudiel the useless. I recognize that stench.”

  “Paimon,” Jegudiel squeaked and trembled.

  Paimon pushed him away. “Get him out of here!”

  Dahlia threw Jegudiel into the kitchen. She grabbed Paimon. “I need a babysitter for you.”

  He glared at her sightlessly. “I have Andy and Belial if you are so worried!”

  “I have need of them and the others at the moment.” She touched his face. “Only an equal can keep you from harming yourself and I did not have one to spare. So I kidnapped him. He is your prisoner.”

  Paimon smiled. “Then may I kill him?”

  Belial kicked her feet on the ground. “May I help?”

  Dahlia grimaced. “No one kills him.”

  Paimon frowned. “What about taking off his wings? At least one, that is reasonable.”

  “Not that either! Paimon, he is to be a guest in this house.”

  “No, he fucking is not!” Paimon pointed towards the door. “He goes now! I will not hear another word of this!”

  Dahlia threw Paimon into a wall. She grabbed him by the throat and lifted him off his feet. “No. He stays.” She looked to Andy and Belial. “Leave this place now.”

  The pair got up. They ran outside and straight into a nervous Helion, Berith, Whitney, and Apple. The door closed behind them, leaving them in silence. Dahlia put Paimon down. “You are going to do what you do best.”

  Paimon rubbed his neck. “Get drunk?”

  “Corrupt him.” Dahlia shoved Paimon in Jegudiel’s direction. “He is just a teenage boy, he has simple wants. The task should be easy for you.”

  Jegudiel looked confused. “But I thought I was helping.”

  Dahlia pointed a finger at him. “Shut up.” She looked to Paimon. “He cannot leave this house and you do not need to worry about his escape.”

  Paimon jumped to his feet. “What the fuck, Dahlia! I can be alone; I don’t need something to keep me occupied.”

  She smiled at him without mirth. “I know you, Paimon. I know what you need even if you do not. Trust me.”

  “No.”

  Dahlia shrugged. “It does not matter. You cannot leave this house either.” She touched the walls and the place sparked with energy. She pointed to the two of them. “You two will play nice. Jegudiel, you have one order and that is to prevent him from killing himself, besides that, you can try to escape all that you want. Though…” Dahlia snapped at the dining room table, food of every sort appeared on it. “I think you will find yourself distracted.”

  She walked to the couch and examined the flat-screen TV. “You have videogames?”

  Paimon rubbed his neck. “Of course, Furcas loves—loved them.”

  She gestured to Jegudiel. “Play with him.”

  Paimon stomped his feet. “Absolutely fucking not, I would not in a thousand years! He is not touching Furcas’ things!”

  Dahlia ignored his tantrum. “Clothe him.”

  Paimon’s cheeks turned red with anger. “He is not wearing Furcas’ things!”

  Dahlia walked to the door. “Deal with him. He is yours.”

  Paimon chased after her. “He is not replacing Furcas!”

  Dahlia smiled slightly. “Hmm. He does not leave until you have turned him to our side, by whatever means you are able to.” She smirked. “I think your means are quite clear to you. You do have a track record of relating well to young, male Archangels.”

  “You fucking bitch!” Paimon leapt and tackled her. Dahlia let him. Paimon pinned her to the ground. “He is not replacing Furcas!”

  She gazed into his eyes. “Did I say that he was?”

  Paimon burst into tears. “How could you do this to me, Dahlia?”

  “Because I can.”

  Paimon backhanded her. “I hate you!”

  Dahlia grabbed his wrists and forced him up. “I love you.”

  “I hate you! I never want to see you again! Get out of my home! Get out!” He struggled with her. Tears poured down his cheeks. “Furcas would not want this, Dahlia!”

  “Furcas would not want you dead!” Dahlia shoved Paimon off her. “I am saving your life.” She wiped the blood from her nose. “You will see that eventually, Uncle.” She threw the front door open, walked out, and slammed it shut behind her.

  Dahlia looked to the rest of her Archangels. Andy stared in shock. “Dahlia, what the fuck are you doing?”

  Dahlia grinned. “Jegudiel wanted to see what love is like. Hatred and loss are good places to start.”

  “But Paimon!”

  Dahlia looked back at the house as a crash rocked the walls. “He has something to live for now.”

  Berith frowned. “What?”

  She smiled. “Trying to find a way to get Jegudiel out of his home as fast as possible.”

  Belial gaped. “So you’re not expecting them to, you know, get it on?”

  Dahlia burst out laughing. “Fuck no! Are you kidding? Those two?” She doubled over. “Oh, I think not.” She wiped her eyes. “Though the fear of it will drive Paimon to great lengths to get Jegudiel out.”

  ***

  Jegudiel scooted away from Paimon along the length of the living room floor.

  Paimon couldn’t see him, but his nose and ears twitched. He frowned. Paimon lifted the couch again and threw it.

  Jegudiel ducked out of the way and scrambled towards the staircase. He bolted upstairs.

  Paimon turned his head. “Do not go up there!” Jegudiel did not stop. Paimon snarled and gave chase.

  The stairs only led to one room per floor. Jegudiel realized this when he reached the top floor and had nowhere to go. The door at the top would not open for him. He pressed himself against it and stared down the stairs. Paimon came into view, his face rigid and painted with a scowl.

  Jegudiel trembled. “Please do not hurt me. I do not want to be here. I did not ask for this!”

  Paimon jumped up the steps. “Why the fuck should I care?”

  “I am not trying to replace anyone!”

  “Damn right you won’t! Furcas cannot be replaced!”

  Jegudiel wrapped his wings around his body. “Right, right. I know.”

  Paimon slammed his fist into Jegudiel’s ribcage. “You have no idea what you are talking about!”

  Jegudiel doubled over. “Love is my realm.”

  Paimon lifted Jegudiel and tossed him down the stairs. “What the fuck do you know about love?!” He kicked Jegudiel down another flight. “When have you ever been in love? When have you lost someone you love?” Paimon threw him into the living room. “You know nothing!” He landed on Jegudiel. “You are a clueless idiot! You’re a child!”

  “Yes okay I am!” Jegudiel held his hands up in front of his face. “I agree with you! All right?”

  Paimon got in his face. “I know when someone is saying something just to placate me. You cannot placate me! Your very presence is a desecration to Furcas’ memory! You are not even half of what he was. You never will be!”

  “I know, Paimon!” Jegudiel flinched. “I know that. I am not trying to be!”

  “You are worthless! He was far above you, more in every way. You…” Paimon jabbed a finger into his chest. “You are without value. You don’t matter.”

  Jegudiel held back tears. “To someone I matter.”

  Paimon scoffed. “To whom besides your ineffective shit of an older brother?”

  Jegudiel closed his eyes. “Someone, I do not know yet, but someone.”

  Paimon laughed. “You think someone will ever l
ove you? What is there to love? Stupidity, naiveté, or perhaps they will love your generally sappy nature. No, no one will love you. I certainly never fucking will.” Paimon jumped off Jegudiel and kicked him into the overturned couch.

  Jegudiel got up and limped towards the wall. He sat against it, and stared at Paimon. “What do you want from me?”

  “I want you to fucking leave!”

  “But I cannot!”

  “Me neither!” Paimon sat down. “And you can’t until you join our side?”

  Jegudiel nodded, blushed, and said, “That is correct.”

  Paimon smacked the back of his head into the wall. “Fuck!” He sighed. “I don’t suppose you want to do that now and get the fuck out?”

  Jegudiel stared at Paimon. “I, uh—it has to be genuine.”

  “Genuine?” Paimon threw his hands in the air. “Then what will it take for it to be genuine?”

  “Dahlia said I would be brought over through love.”

  “Damn it!” Paimon shouted towards the ceiling. “I am not fucking you!”

  Jegudiel’s mouth dropped open. “What?”

  “Not even if I were blackout drunk and the highest I’d ever been. I am a one man, man! So if she thinks my dick is going anywhere near your—”

  “Wait!” Jegudiel jerked. “What? I do not want that! Why would you even think about doing that to me?” He edged away along the floor. “No!”

  Paimon cocked his head to the side. “But I thought.” He looked confused. “That’s not what you are here for?”

  “No! I mean, I did not think so! That was not told to me!” Jegudiel looked at the door with worry. “Why would that make me want to join your side?”

  Paimon rubbed his temples. “You like girls then?”

  “Girls?”

  “Chicks, broads, bitches, things with tits like Dahlia.”

  “What?” Jegudiel got to his feet. “I don’t fucking know!

  “Ha!” Paimon pointed towards the sound of Jegudiel’s voice.

  Jegudiel looked around. “What?”

  Paimon smiled. “You said don’t and fucking.”

  “So?”

  “Quick learner.” Paimon sniffed the air and got to his feet. He wandered over to his table and found a knife. Jegudiel flinched as Paimon stabbed it into a steak. Paimon lifted the meat up and took a huge bite. He could not see Jegudiel, but he could hear him panting, he could smell his fear. Paimon sighed. No longer under the illusion he was supposed to fall in love with Jegudiel, his feelings of hatred dulled to annoyance. “Come here.”

  Jegudiel watched the blade. “Are you going to stab me with that knife?”

  “No.” Paimon waved the steak around.

  “Do you promise?”

  Paimon grinned. “No.”

  Jegudiel stayed where he was. “What are you doing?”

  Paimon took a bite and swallowed. “Eating.” He grabbed for a bottle of wine and decanted it. He fumbled for a cup and poured himself a glass. “Now I am drinking. I love drinking.”

  Jegudiel sniffed the air. His pupils dilated. “Why?”

  “It is fun. Don’t you do things for fun?”

  “Yes!”

  “Such as?”

  Jegudiel smiled and stared into space. “I sing and compose poetry. Do you want to hear some?”

  Paimon groaned and looked away. “You recite anything and I will beat you senseless with one of your own limbs. Got it?” He pointed his knife to the right of Jegudiel. “How the fuck can you create poetry? You have no experience in anything. You are a baby. Do you talk about the sparkly lights in Heaven, or the choirs of angels? That’ll get the girls wet and ready to go.”

  Jegudiel blushed. “I…I have watched humans and Lilliam. I think I may know something.”

  “Changed my mind.” Paimon knocked back his glass and refilled it. “Recite me your best.”

  Jegudiel frowned. “No, you will make fun of me.”

  “Fine.” Paimon switched to drinking straight from the bottle. “I feel a deep, unending pity for whatever poor creature attracts your attention. What a pathetic thing she will be to desire you, a wet blanket.”

  “That is not very nice of you to say.”

  “Oh! I am sorry.” Paimon got another wine bottle. “I am so incredibly sorry. Did that hurt your precious set of feelings? Please forgive me, I am ever so remorseful.”

  Jegudiel frowned. “You are mean.”

  Paimon threw a pear at Jegudiel. “Lighten up, pansy.”

  Jegudiel dodged the fruit. “Do not call me that.”

  “What’re you going to do about it?” Paimon threw another piece of fruit his direction.

  Jegudiel set his jaw. “You want me to hit you, so that you can hit me back and feel better in general. You’re grieving and want to take your mind off of it by making something else hurt as bad as you do inside.”

  Paimon shrugged. “When you say it clinically, it doesn’t sound as satisfying.”

  Jegudiel frowned. “I will not comply. I am against violence in general, unless forced by Michael.”

  “Oh, is that why you engaged in that pathetic attempt to attack Furcas and I?”

  Jegudiel blushed. “I am sorry, but it was that or having our wings removed. But I do not do it for fun. I do not have fun at the expense of others.”

  Paimon stabbed the air with a spoon. “That’s the spirit! Kill fun! You’re going to woo your future damsel with offers of boredom! You’ll fight on our side with ennui! Reciting poetry at Uriel until he falls asleep?”

  Jegudiel bared his teeth. “I want to tear that fucker into pieces! He should be flayed alive! Ripped apart!” He punched the wall. “I want him to die painfully!”

  Paimon’s mouth dropped open. “Whoa there, kiddo.”

  Jegudiel paced. “He hurt Belial!”

  “You like Belial? Get in line.”

  “No.” Jegudiel frowned. “It’s not about Belial. I mean it is, but what she had with Andy was pure and what he did to her impure. It was not right. He ruined their love. They should have been together and now they cannot.”

  “Well you have multiple people ahead of you in the Uriel death pool, so sorry. You probably won’t get your chance to tear him apart.”

  Jegudiel ignored him. “And Michael. He helped separate Dahlia and Lucifer. Again! And you and Furcas! When will love conquer all? It is supposed to you know!” He paced. “The greater the obstacle the greater the return, but I keep seeing chances taken apart, I cannot stand it! Love has to win sometime!”

  Paimon smiled. “You’ve just been looking haven’t you?”

  Jegudiel stopped in his tracks. “Looking?”

  “You’ve been looking for an excuse to join our side. Maybe you didn’t think of it that way, but it doesn’t sound like you tow the party line, know what I mean?” Paimon shook his head. “Never mind, just an expression.” He ate some ice cream. “You want Dahlia and Lucifer to succeed.”

  “I want love to succeed.”

  “Same thing. No wonder Dahlia grabbed you.” Paimon smiled. “You haven’t spoken a word of this to anyone in Heaven have you? I doubt you could have.”

  Jegudiel frowned. “I told Selaphiel. He always told me to keep my opinions to myself.”

  “Smart brother.” Paimon grinned from ear to ear. “Come here.”

  Jegudiel eyed him. “Now what?”

  Paimon held up a plate of bacon. “You are going to eat something.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I am your boss and I say so and you are still my prisoner so you have to do what I say. Get over here.” He pointed to the food. “You are going to eat one of everything, and then you are going to start drinking.”

  Jegudiel took a seat at the table. “Why?”

  “Poets and love-sick fools are supposed to be drunkards. Trust me, if you want to be a genuine lover instead of a fluff piece, start imbibing.” Paimon shoved a bottle in his general direction. “So drink. Then we are going to watch a few things.”

>   Jegudiel picked up the bottle. He sniffed it and took a sip. “What kind of things?”

  Paimon licked his fingers. “Educational things.”

  ***

  Dahlia invited the Fallen and the first and second generation Lilliam to a conference inside the palace. She stared at the hardwood table that had been set up inside the throne room. The others waited for her to speak.

  She nodded to herself and looked up. “I am going to get Lucifer back.”

  Belial grinned. “Fuck yes!”

  Dahlia rapped her fingers along the table. “I will need volunteers for a distraction. It will have to be good, because I need the Archangels pulled out of Heaven, as many as you can get.”

  Belial raised her hand. “Volunteering.”

  The rest of the Fallen followed suit. Behind them, the first and second generation Lilliam nodded their assent as well.

  Berith rubbed his beard. “Who goes with you and who stays for a distraction?”

  Dahlia looked away. “I go alone.”

  The room broke out into shouts. Dahlia jumped on the table and slammed her heel down. “Silence!” She met the gaze of everyone in the room. “I am not going into a battle. I am not planning to fight a single person on my own, got it? This is a nab ‘n’ grab operation only.”

  Belial hissed. “Then let one of us go and do it!”

  Dahlia shook her head. “So you can be overpowered instantly and used against me as a hostage? No.”

  “But you said you would not engage and fight!”

  “I do not plan on it, but that does not mean that the opportunity will be missed entirely.” Dahlia stared at the ceiling. “If any of you come with me you will die.”

  Andy stood. “You do not know that!”

  Dahlia smiled sadly. “The odds I am afraid are against this entire operation. Against me they are great. Against one of you solo they are insurmountable.”

  Berith cracked his knuckles. “Why are we not storming together? We have more this time and one of theirs as a hostage.”

  Dahlia shook her head. “No one cares about Jegudiel besides Selaphiel, and he is not a hostage anyways. Look, I cannot afford to have the gains we made set back by having us lose our wings again. We are two people down already.”

  Andy frowned. “Then why go at all now?”

  Dahlia’s eyes went dark. “I have to.”