Daystar

by Darcy Town

  Paimon’s eye ticked. “I really do not care at the moment.” He stared at Jegudiel. “Maybe we just hurt him a bit and throw him outside the shield. That won’t kill him and if say Michael came along and impaled him, that wouldn’t really be our fault.”

  Bean lashed out and kicked Paimon in the ribs. “Shut the fuck up! You hit him again and I will gut the both of you and make you eat shit for weeks! He is mine and I say what happens to him so you can go fuck yourselves right to Hell!”

  Furcas and Paimon gaped at her. Furcas pointed. “What did you just say to us, young lady?”

  “You heard me, Daddy!”

  Paimon held his side. “Children do not talk to their parents like that!”

  “I am not a fucking child!” Her eyes glowed pink. She broke out in hives. “I’m not a simpleton! I’m not!”

  Furcas touched her arm. “Bean, just calm down—”

  “No!” She flung his arm off her.

  Paimon grabbed her by her waist and lifted her off her feet. He hugged her. “Bean, you need to listen to us. We know you’re—”

  “No! No! No! How many times do I have to tell you? I am not a child!” Tears ran down her cheeks. “Are you that fucking stupid? I thought you were both geniuses! Are you brain damaged when it comes to me?”

  Jegudiel spoke as blood dribbled out of his mouth, “She is not totally a child.”

  Furcas raised his foot threateningly. Jegudiel cringed. “I am not defending her or myself! It’s the truth! Why do you think she knows so much! Learned so quickly! Furcas, she has your handwriting. Paimon, she cooks for herself already, she has your recipes memorized. She can play your videogames without having to learn. She probably made the drugs she used on you. Don’t you get it?”

  Paimon grimaced. “Look just spit it out, kid.”

  Jegudiel tried to sit up. Furcas kicked him back down. Jegudiel winced. “She is you, the combination of the both of you. She’s not a normal child.”

  Furcas and Paimon looked at Bean. Bean sobbed. She hit at Paimon’s wrists breaking them. “Let me go, Daddy!”

  Paimon dropped her.

  Bean clutched at the shower curtain around her and wiped her eyes. “I thought you both knew!”

  Furcas’ voice was a whisper, “What are we supposed to know, Bean?”

  Bean hugged herself. “I have all of your combined knowledge, ever since I was born. I know how to give the perfect blowjob and how to remove almost any stain from fabric. Thanks, Daddy.” She looked from Furcas to Paimon. “I can synthesize every kind of chemical you can, and yes, I was the one that drugged you, not Yoshi. I know your code with Gabriel. I know you beat the holy living shit out of Daddy the first time you two fooled around. I know neither one of you has ever been with anyone else but the other. You love each other very much. I want that too! I want that with Yoshi! I want love and everything that comes with it!”

  Paimon stared at his hands. “You’re refined and condensed us? That’s…”

  Bean grabbed at him. “I am Bean! I am your baby!” She looked to Furcas. “Daddy, why are you looking at me like that?”

  Furcas stepped over Jegudiel and gave her a once over. “I…I thought you were a kid.”

  Bean’s sobs renewed. “I am! This doesn’t change that, does it? Does it?” She looked between them frantically. “No, I am! I am! Please!” She clutched at them. “Mommy-daddy, say something! I am Bean! I am your baby! I am! Please say something to me, Mommy-daddy!” Her voice trailed off into tears.

  Paimon and Furcas stared at her, then at each other and back to her. Paimon opened his mouth, but he did not know what to say. Furcas leaned on Paimon, equally as speechless.

  Bean let out a ragged wail. Her wings blurred and she bolted past them. She was out of the house in a matter of seconds.

  Paimon and Furcas slumped down to the floor. They stared into space.

  Paimon rubbed his chin. “We’re fucking idiots.”

  Furcas nodded. “Complete and total.”

  Jegudiel pulled himself to his feet. “What the hell are you two still doing here?”

  Paimon looked up dazed. “What?”

  Jegudiel pointed. “Your daughter just ran outside naked and crying!”

  Paimon frowned. “If she’s us, she’ll know how to handle herself.”

  Jegudiel kicked Paimon in the face, sending him a foot into the wall. His skin glowed gold; he floated above the floor. “She is less than a week old! She has your knowledge, but she does not have any experience or maturity. Add to that the fact that she has the emotional capabilities of a goldfish! She is a baby in an adult’s body and you two bastards just made her assume that she is not your child anymore and she damn well is your child and yours to deal with!”

  Furcas bolted upright. “Of course she is our kid! This is just kind of a shocking revelation!”

  “Well while you’re shocked think about how she feels! She loves you and you just cast her off! She thinks she has no one! She probably thinks you do not love her anymore!”

  “Obviously we love her! If she had waited a minute and given us a chance to explain ourselves—”

  Jegudiel picked Furcas up by his throat. “You think a baby is going to wait for a rational and reasonable explanation?” He threw Furcas into Paimon. “You’re both stupid!”

  Paimon looked ill. “Oh holy hell. Oh fucking, fuck everything! We have to get her.” He jumped to his feet. “Where would she have gone?”

  Furcas was near tears. “Where would we have gone, Paimon?”

  “I know, come on!” Paimon grabbed Furcas’ arm and raced out of the door.

  Jegudiel slumped against the counter; he heard the front door open and slam shut. He looked down; he was covered in blood again. He rested his head on the tile and closed his eyes. “This family is going to kill me.”

  He wiped blood off his lips and hobbled towards the door. “Going to use their fucking shower. That’ll show them, I’ll leave it messy…” His voice trailed off as he limped out of his room.

  ***

  Belial chased Andy around the sun, the pair buzzed by Berith and Apple at a blur. With each rotation Berith and Apple caught a snatch of their conversation, but usually it was Belial yelling, “Andrealphus!”

  They passed by again and Berith and Apple smiled. Apple nestled in the crook of his arm and rested her hands on his armored chest. She touched his bare neck and made his heart skip a beat.

  Berith looked down. “Having fun?”

  Apple grinned and slipped out of his arms. “I feel a bit like a scientist, I am power mad!” She laughed. Her body twitched. Apple touched her abdomen and lost her smile.

  Berith frowned. “What is it?”

  “Nothing.” She looked away.

  Belial skidded to a stop, hard to do in the air but she did it. She panted with her tongue hanging out of her mouth. “Does anyone ever catch him?”

  Andy plowed into the back of her. “Crap! Sorry! I thought you were behind me!” The pair careened towards the sun.

  Belial covered her bottom. “Ow! It is hot on my butt!”

  Andy grabbed her hand and pulled her away. “How is it any more hot there than it is here?”

  Belial frowned and poked him. “I do not know. It just is I guess.”

  Andy mussed her hair. “Come on.” He picked her up and flew to Berith’s side. Berith pulled out two swords and cleaved the air with them.

  Apple watched him practice. “Why do you still use those?”

  “Instead of lightning?”

  “Yeah.”

  Berith hefted the blades. “I like them. I am used to them. I never was one for throwing lightning.”

  Apple looked at Belial. “Give her one.”

  Andy frowned. “Why?”

  Apple smiled. “Belial, you used to rock with blades.”

  Belial grinned. “Really?” She looked at Berith’s swords. “Can I have one?”

  Berith shrugged. “Sure.” He gave her the smallest thing he had, a short sword
.

  Belial grinned, swung it, and tumbled head over heels into Andy. Andy caught and righted her. Belial stuck her tongue out and lunged into the void. She lost the sword and windmilled her arms.

  Apple retrieved the blade. “So not so much anymore.”

  Andy wrapped his arms around Belial from behind. “I still think we should get your talons back, you always fought with those the most anyways. It’ll be like second nature once we get them.” He kissed her shoulder and put his hands over hers. “If we could just figure them out.” He flicked his wrist with hers, but nothing happened.

  Belial grinned. “Rowr!” She flicked both hands, but her hands remained the same. “Rowr!”

  Apple smiled. “Yes, our fearsome tigress will be an awesome sight. She just needs those talons. With them I’m sure her thirst for blood with return.”

  Andy smirked. “I detect sarcasm.”

  Apple jumped on Berith. “Really?”

  Belial chopped the air with her hands. “Rowr!” She grinned and tilted her head back to look at Andy. “It is okay, Andrealphus. I will be fine.”

  He hugged her. “Of course you will.” Andy nibbled on Belial’s ear and smiled. “You have nothing to worry about.” He nuzzled her neck.

  Berith chucked a sword at the pair.

  Belial threw her hand up and flinched. The blade melted and stopped. Everyone stared. Belial dropped her hands, the blobs of metal dropped as well.

  Apple grinned. “Good thing you didn’t throw one of your favorites.”

  Berith sighed. “They are all my favorites.”

  Belial raised her hand, bringing the metal spheres up to eye height. She waggled her fingers and the metal vibrated. Belial shook her hands and the metal formed smaller and smaller droplets.

  Andy watched her. “Since they shot us, shoot them.”

  Belial pointed with one finger and a droplet shot through Berith’s leg. Berith looked down and frowned. “That was not necessary, but good job, Belial!”

  Belial grinned. “Yay!”

  Apple floated over upside down. She examined the droplets. “You know these are an awful lot like bullets. May I drive?” Andy let go of Belial and backed away. Apple wrapped her arms around Belial from behind. “Now form your hands like this.” She made a gun with them. “Imagine shooting one of those droplets.”

  Belial stared at her hands and concentrated. A bullet shot off into space. She grinned and shot another, then another. She laughed. “Look at them go!”

  Apple looked over at Berith and Andy and smiled. She turned Belial towards them. “Shoot ‘em up.”

  Belial frowned. “But I do not want to hurt them.”

  “They’re big boys, shoot.”

  Belial shook her head. “I do not want to.”

  Andy frowned. “Apple, don’t force her. She’ll fire at things if and when she wants to.” He brushed past the metal droplets. “There’s no need for her to be violent. We don’t even know if she would have been that way normally.”

  “Fine.”

  Belial swirled her hands in the air and the metal formed a shield the length of her body. Belial turned it horizontal and jumped on it. She teetered and fell off. “Damn.”

  Andy set her back on the silver platform. “What are you trying to do now?”

  Belial adjusted her feet and bent her knees. She kicked at the shield. “I am not sure. I just want something that makes me not clumsy.” She kicked and the board lit on fire. She shot off towards space screaming.

  Andy gaped. “Be right back.” He caught up with her as she careened towards deep space.

  A huge smile lit up her face. “I am going fast, Andrealphus!”

  “Yes, you are! How about we slow you down?”

  They passed a meteoroid and the iron followed Belial. She saw it and gaped. “Andrealphus, what is that? Why is it chasing me?”

  He grinned. “Space rock, it likes you.”

  Belial waved her hand at it and the metal refined and floated in the air. Belial kicked her board and she stopped. The metal caught up with her and splashed across her body. The metal pooled on the surface of her skin and spread out over her limbs. Belial laughed and covered her body in iron.

  Andy put a finger to his lips and backed up. He shook his head. “Well you are not silver, but an iron surfer is still pretty damn cool. We can upgrade you later.”

  Belial gave him a metal grin. “What?”

  “Silver.”

  “You want silver?” Belial concentrated and the metal changed to silver. She twirled.

  Andy beamed. “Rad!”

  Belial jumped and fell off the surfboard. Andy caught her and put her back on. He held her hand and turned her around. “Let’s practice with this thing. Make it go again.”

  Belial focused on the sun. She shot off at a blur, dragging Andy along for the ride. Belial picked up speed. She grabbed the edge of the board and they moved in loopty-loops. She came to a halt in front of Berith and Apple. Andy hung by her side and blinked away dizziness.

  Berith frowned. “It looks neat, but what is the point?”

  Andy pointed. “Dude, she’s like the Silver Surfer!”

  Berith shook his head. “Okay?”

  Andy brushed him off. “Belial, this is the coolest thing ever.”

  Belial hopped. “I did something!”

  Andy flicked his wrists. “Now try the talons.”

  Belial focused. “Rowr!” She splashed Andy’s face with liquid metal. “Sorry!”

  Andrealphus shrugged and wiped his cheeks. “No worries.”

  Apple sidled up to Belial. “Come with me.” She grabbed her hand and flew through a solar flare, leaving Andy and Berith behind.

  Belial let the metal slip from her skin. She smiled. “Did you want to talk about something?”

  Apple bit her lip. “I just have to tell someone, but you can’t say anything. Promise?”

  Belial nodded. “Yeah!”

  Apple got to the other side of the sun. She touched her abdomen. “I’m pregnant.”

  “You are what?”

  Apple frowned. “Pregnant.”

  Belial stared wide-eyed. “What is that?”

  “With child? Uhm…” Apple thought about it. “Bean.”

  “Yeah!”

  “I am going to have one of those.”

  “A Bean!”

  “Yes.” Apple’s eyes narrowed. “Wait. Not a bean, Bean…I mean a kid.”

  “Oh.” Belial nodded. “Right.”

  “Like Gaea, you know Lucifer and Dahlia’s child.”

  “Yeah, yeah.” Belial nodded. “Whose is it?”

  “Berith’s of course!” Apple grinned. “I got pregnant before the conversion. I didn’t notice until I really started to concentrate on my blood stuff, I have two heartbeats now.”

  “Let us go tell him!”

  Apple grabbed her wrist. “No!” She shook her head. “He will not let me fight.”

  “Oh.” Belial nodded. “Okay.”

  Apple eyed her. “You do know we are going into a big fight, right?”

  “Yeah.” Belial grinned. “Andrealphus told me.”

  Apple looked her over. “Belial, have you seen anyone die before?”

  “No.” Belial scratched her head. “But I can handle it!” She jutted her chin out. “I am tough.”

  “Right.” Apple sighed. “Sorry, Belial.”

  “For what?”

  Apple punched her in the nose. Belial touched her face; blood seeped out between her fingers. She looked at Apple confused. “Why did you do that?”

  “Did that hurt?”

  Belial’s eyes filled with tears. “Yes.”

  “You are going to feel a lot of that. You are going to have to cause pain, Belial. Killing is a lot of pain. Can you handle it?”

  Belial wiped her mouth. “I—”

  “I didn’t think so.” Apple grabbed her wrist. “Come on, I’m taking you back to Andrealphus and he is taking you home. You shouldn’t be here if you can’t fig
ht.”

  “No!” Belial pulled back on her. “I do not want to leave, Andrealphus! Lucifer and Dahlia said I could go with him.”

  Apple pulled on her again. “Come on, Belial!”

  Belial yanked her hand back. “If you tell Andrealphus to take me back, I will tell Berith about your bean!”

  Apple froze. “Fuck.”

  Belial frowned. “Do not make me leave, Apple.”

  Appleadris sighed. “You used to be the most badass killer I’d ever seen. Berith is a wrecking ball, but you…” She smiled. “You were brilliant, you had no problems dealing with or doling out pain. But you are not that same girl anymore.”

  Belial folded her arms. “I can relearn it.”

  “You shouldn’t have to, Belial. None of us should ever have had to fight. We all did it out of necessity, but you don’t have to now. You can keep yourself free of it.”

  “I will not leave, Andrealphus!”

  “That’s admirable, I’d never leave Berith, but I can fight beside him.” Apple frowned. “Don’t drag Andrealphus down by being a liability. If you can’t fight, be able to defend yourself.” Apple concentrated and sheets of blood and bone formed armor over her skin. “Protect your body so that he does not have to.” She let the armor drop and made a shield. “You will need to defend yourself and possibly defend him too. Make sure you can do that or all you are doing by staying is putting him in danger.”

  Belial nodded. “I will.”

  Apple nodded. “Good, practice, no more of this silver liquid stuff, that won’t stop anything.”

  Belial frowned. “I do not know what to make.”

  “That is part of the problem.” Apple looked her over. “You have an amazing talent, but without knowing what you need you cannot use it to your advantage.” She bit her lip. “When the angels come we need to debilitate them, if they wear or use anything with metal, strip them of it.”

  Belial looked at her hands. “But we did not have metal in Heaven.”

  “No, but when they shift to this place they gain partial flesh and what they carry with them transforms. I have seen their blades, I have been stabbed by them, and they were most definitely metal then.” Apple tapped her forehead. “Think it over, get ideas before they attack.”