Daystar

by Darcy Town

  “Okay. I will, Apple! I promise.”

  Apple took Belial’s hand and continued their flight around the sun. She looked over at Belial. “Look I didn’t want to upset you, but you have to know this is serious.”

  Belial nodded. “I know,” she spoke softly. “I will do what I have to.”

  ***

  Helion and Whitney spiraled in the frigid air over the southern ocean. Free of responsibilities for the moment, they found they had a lot of free time. Whitney closed her wings. Helion caught and carried her. He gave her stomach a raspberry.

  Whitney shrieked and pulled on his hair. “Don’t!”

  Helion grinned and dove for the water. “How about I dump you in there?”

  Whitney looked down. “No! Helion, you drop me and I will hit you right in the nose!” They soared past icebergs as they made their way south. Helion flew meters above the water. Whitney eyed him. “Do not dump me in. That’s ice water down there!”

  Helion waggled his eyebrows at her. “True, but I think you’ll find it warm.” He dropped her.

  Whitney did not have time to open her wings. She hit the water, gasped, and splashed. She looked at the icebergs to her right and left, but around her, the water steamed as warm as a hot tub. She looked up at Helion. He appeared rather smug. Whitney pointed. “You are a show-off.”

  Helion swooped down to grab her hand. Whitney pulled him into the water. Helion swam for her and wrapped his arms around her. “I am not showing off, I am testing my limits.”

  She pushed him away and leapt into the air. “Test them with your body, not mine.” She turned away and smiled, landing on the closest block of ice.

  Helion leapt on it and reached for her. Whitney turned it to stone and jumped away as the iceberg flipped, sending Helion plunging into ice-cold water. She stuck her tongue out. “How does that feel? I’m testing my abilities too!”

  Helion shot out of the water, his teeth chattered. “I did not dump you in ice water.”

  “You could have.” Whitney spiraled straight up into the clouds. “I am mad at you.”

  Helion bit his lip and followed. “Sorry!” He searched for her in the clouds. “Whitney? I am sorry!”

  Whitney jumped on his back. “Apology accepted I guess.”

  He held her legs and tilted his head back. “I find my desire to make mischief has increased. I will attempt to tone it down.”

  Whitney grabbed his hair. “Just know that I hate practical jokes and I am merciless in my revenge.”

  “Duly noted.” He soared higher with her on his shoulders. He grinned as sunlight hit them. “Where do you want to go now?”

  She shrugged. “I kind of like flying aimlessly.”

  Helion nodded. “All right, aimless it is.” He sang as they soared. Whitney smiled and tapped out a beat on his skull. Helion eyed her. “What are you doing?”

  “Your songs never have a bass line, no drums. Are all the songs in Heaven like that?”

  “Yes.”

  “How does anyone dance?”

  “No one dances.” Helion swooped. “We sang, we flew, and then started again with the singing.”

  “Boring!” She laughed as he flew in loops. “I think I would pass out from boredom there.”

  He shook his head. “No, I am positive you would liven it up.”

  Whitney shrugged. “Yeah sure.” The clouds above them parted and they stared up into space. Whitney squinted at the light in the sky. “Is that Dahlia and Lucifer?”

  Helion swung Whitney around until she was in his arms. “No.”

  “Who else would be up there with wings?”

  Helion frowned. “None from this place.”

  Whitney shielded her eyes from the sun. “They are small.”

  “Children. The new Archangels.” He let her go and flew above her. “They are the ones that Paimon and Furcas mentioned I bet.”

  Whitney shuddered. “They sounded creepy.” She looked away from them. “They look like they enjoy causing pain.”

  Helion dipped down and held her hand. “They cannot hurt you, Whitney. None of the hosts in Heaven can hurt you.”

  She smirked. “I am not that badass.”

  He shrugged. “I will not let anyone hurt you.”

  Whitney pulled back on his hand. “I do not want to go near them, Helion.”

  Helion searched the skies. “Dahlia and Lucifer should be made aware of their presence.”

  “Shit.” Whitney gasped. “What if they are here to attack them? We need to warn them!”

  Helion’s grip on her hand was like steel. “They are two Primangels at full power. They cannot be damaged by those two children.” They watched as the children blurred and left their line of sight. Helion frowned. “Let us find them and see what they are up to.”

  ***

  Ariel grinned. “That is them!”

  Metatron frowned. “I am not impressed. I still have yet to see a reason for this.”

  Ariel slashed at him. “It is not for you to decide.” She twisted fire between her hands, adding colors and lights, it started to take shape.

  Metatron soared. “We do not have much time for this.”

  Ariel hissed. “Just keep watch for the Primangels.”

  She wrenched on the fire. She created a doll, purple and wide-eyed. She looked over her work appreciatively. Ariel breathed on it and the doll twitched and wailed. She dove towards the shield. “Keep alert.”

  ***

  Helion and Whitney caught sight of Ariel as she returned. They spotted the child in her hands. Whitney pointed. “They have Bean!”

  Helion squinted. “How would that be possible?”

  “Who cares, they have her!” Whitney blasted into the sky. “Come on!”

  “Whitney, wait!”

  Whitney ignored him. “We don’t have time. They’ll take her back to Heaven!” She covered herself in exoskeleton.

  Helion bolted through the air after her. “Whitney, don’t!”

  Whitney tore through the shield and threw a spear of stone at Ariel’s head. Ariel wove around it and laughed. The baby wailed. Whitney snarled and leapt for Ariel.

  Helion raced after her. He threw out his hands. Arrows of dark matter and antimatter flew towards Ariel, colliding and combining to explode around her face. Ariel hissed. “Metatron!”

  Metatron unhinged his jaw and bellowed. The sound hit Helion and Whitney and sent them reeling in a whirl of deafness. Ariel tossed the fire baby and grabbed Whitney’s hair, twisting it in her grip. She smiled at Helion and disappeared with Whitney in tow.

  Helion flipped in the air. Metatron opened his mouth to bellow. Helion shouted, “You cannot do that again!”

  Metatron gagged. Helion rushed him and wrapped his arms around the boy’s neck. “You will tell me where Whitney is right now!”

  Metatron shook under Helion’s touch. He whispered, “Heaven. You must come for her, Helion. He wants you. You do not belong here.”

  Helion snarled. “No, you do not belong here!”

  Metatron burst into light and was unmade. Helion was left with nothing but space between his hands. He screamed in rage.

  Dahlia and Lucifer appeared at his side. Dahlia clutched at her chest. “Whitney, where is she?”

  “Heaven.” Helion stared at his hands. “They kidnapped her! They took her!”

  Lucifer stared at the skies. “Why?”

  Helion shuddered. “They want me to come for her.”

  Dahlia looked into his eyes. “Why you?”

  “I don’t know!”

  Lucifer grabbed his arm. “Then you are going below now! What did we say about going above the shield?”

  Helion burst into tears. “We thought they had Bean, but it was a ruse to get us to cross.”

  Dahlia frowned and followed them down. “They did this on purpose. Whitney cannot help herself when she sees something helpless and in pain. She helps wounded animals even if they try and hurt her.”

  Helion’s eyes turned red. �
�I will—”

  Lucifer slapped his hand over Helion’s mouth. “You need to watch what you say, that is all you will do. Your words have power, Helion. Keep them to yourself.”

  Dahlia nodded at Helion. “If they want you in Heaven that is the last place you are going.”

  Lucifer snarled. “I will go get her back.”

  “You will drop that thought right now!” Dahlia pointed at him. “She is not helpless.”

  Helion bit Lucifer’s hand to get free. His eyes returned to normal. “Do you think they want to hurt her?”

  Dahlia shook her head. “I doubt it, sounds like she is a hostage. Do not worry; we will work to get her back. As your Primangel I must order you not to go.”

  Helion reached for her. “Dahlia, no—”

  “Helion, you may not leave to get Whitney.”

  Lucifer let Helion go. “Will you return to Eden now?”

  Helion nodded, dejected. “What else can I do?”

  Dahlia took Lucifer’s hand. “We are going back up. We will think on this, Helion. Do not doubt that. She is my friend; I will not leave her there.”

  Helion nodded. His wings drooped and he dropped towards the earth, utterly despondent.

  Dahlia gazed at Lucifer. He hugged her. “I am sorry about Whitney.”

  Dahlia shook her head. “She is strong.” She allowed herself a small smile. “Heaven has no idea what they just brought into their home.”

  ***

  Paimon and Furcas dove towards a remote atoll. No longer as remote as it once was, it was within sight of Hawaii and Japan. Furcas hopped a few feet in the sand as he came to a stop. Paimon grabbed his arm and pointed. Bean sat under a tree, still wrapped up in their shower curtain. Her eyes were closed; her face was pointed towards the ocean. Salt and sand had dried in the streaks her tears had left down her cheeks. Her eyelashes were almost white.

  The two picked their way over carefully and quietly, not wanting to startle her. Paimon nudged Furcas and went around the other side of the tree. They dropped down on either side of her simultaneously.

  Bean’s eyes shot open and she jumped, but moved not an inch. Paimon and Furcas enveloped her in a hug. Bean elbowed them, but they refused to let go. She squirmed and tucked her head into the shower curtain, so that all they held was plastic.

  Paimon peeled back the top layer. “Bean.”

  “Leave me alone!” She tucked the plastic around her face and stared at her feet inside the cocoon.

  Paimon rubbed her back through the material. “Bean, we’re sorry.”

  Furcas kissed her plastic covered cheek. “We are two huge fuck-ups, as you very well know, and we’re idiots. What happened back there is a reflection on us, not on you.”

  Paimon scooted up hip to hip with her. “Let’s face it; we’re probably the two worst parents in the universe, the last two people that should have been allowed to have a kid.”

  Furcas smiled. “The fact that you didn’t run away screaming when you were born is really quite amazing.”

  Paimon nodded. “I’m amazed.”

  Furcas looked thoughtful. “I’m baffled now that I look back on it, the first thing I do is get us both killed. I’m the best dad ever.”

  Paimon snorted. “If that had been me I would have said, No, death was really nicer. I’d like to go back to Hell and remain a formless blob rather than live with those two douche bags. Fuck that life with those guys. Know what I mean, Bean?”

  Bean snorted.

  Furcas leaned his head against hers. “But we’re glad you didn’t do that because we love you very much and we’d be quite lost without you.”

  Paimon poked her uncovered ankle. “We’ve done a lot of bad—”

  “Stupid.” Furcas threw in.

  “Degenerate things in our long life together, but you are not one of them. You are the best thing we’ve ever done, Bean.” Paimon pulled back the plastic a little to uncover an eye. “No lies, you’d know.”

  Bean looked away from him. Her eyes filled up with tears. “You don’t mean that.”

  Furcas pulled back the plastic from her other eye. “Of course we do! You’re our baby!”

  Bean sniffled. “No, I’m not. I’m your science experiment. I’m some kind of soulless, mutant, freak creation.”

  Paimon rested his head on her shoulder. “No you’re not and I’d know. I made some before.”

  Furcas smiled. “You’re a combination of the two most awesome people ever, us. How could you wish to be anything else? And isn’t that what a kid is anyways, a combination of their parents?”

  Bean stuck out her tongue. “Yeah, but most kids can’t remember their conception, or the first time their parents killed someone, or got drunk, or threw orgies because they thought they were funny.” She dropped her head back in the plastic. “Leave me alone.”

  Furcas looked her over. “Bean, this plastic whatever it is that you have going cannot be comfortable. I have to imagine you’re chaffing. Come out.”

  “No.” She pulled the plastic down tighter.

  Furcas slipped off his t-shirt. He sliced down the back of the plastic and pulled it apart. Paimon grabbed her by her waist and pulled her backwards. Furcas tugged his shirt down over her head.

  Bean’s head popped out the top. “Dad, stop! Let go of me!”

  Paimon kicked off his khaki pants, leaving him in boxers. He tossed his pants to Furcas who slipped them over her legs while she struggled. Furcas took off his belt and cinched it around her waist. They grinned. Furcas sat at her feet. “Much better right?”

  Bean pulled her purple hair in front of her eyes. “Yeah I guess.”

  Paimon tucked her hair behind her ears and pulled her into his embrace. “Pouter, you’re just like Furcas.”

  Furcas smirked. “She’s pretty just like me too.” He licked his thumb and tackled her, wiping the sand and tears off her face.

  Bean kneed him in the stomach. “Eww! Don’t!”

  “It’s just parent spit.” Furcas grinned and looked down at her. “You’re the one who went and got herself dirty, it’s not my fault.”

  Paimon leaned over her and looked at Furcas. “That was a mom thing to do. I want to switch titles.”

  “I’m only doing it because you’re not stepping up, Mommy.”

  Paimon ignored him and helped Bean sit up. He put his arm around her shoulders. “Bean, we adore you and you’re not going anywhere. We want you with us.”

  Bean tried to glare at the ocean, but her eyes went back to his. “You mean it?”

  Furcas dropped to her other side. “Of course we mean it! You’re our Bean.”

  Paimon nodded. “Totally, one hundred percent.” He gave her a squeeze. “Really do you want to be a normal kid? Bleh, going to school.”

  Furcas smiled. “Having to hang out with those boring children.”

  Paimon pulled her close. “You’re way out of their league.”

  Furcas leaned against the tree. “You’re way too cool to be a normal kid. We love you just the way you are and you should too.”

  Bean rubbed her eyes and tucked her knees into her chest. “Does this mean I can stay this age?”

  Paimon and Furcas shared a look. Furcas nodded behind her back. Paimon smiled. “Of course! You get to skip the awkward pimply phase of life, who wouldn’t want that. You should have seen Furcas when—”

  “I did.” Bean smirked and looked at Furcas. “You were never awkward or pimply. You were always perfect.”

  “No, but I was dumb!” He grinned. “I fell for Paimon, yikes.”

  Bean smiled. “You two are the best ever.”

  Paimon bumped her. “Now you’re just being nice. We’re assholes. Everyone hates us but us and maybe Dahlia, but we raised her too, so you’re both biased on our side.”

  Furcas nodded. “Though she turned out okay, I guess we didn’t fail completely.” He grinned at Bean. “You have hope!”

  Bean laughed. “Shut up, you guys. I know you’re just trying to make me feel
better.”

  Paimon nodded. “Of course. How’re we doing so far?”

  Bean used Furcas’ shirt to wipe the rest of the salt off her face. “Pretty decent, but that doesn’t mean I’m still not a freak.”

  “We’re all freaks, Bean.” Furcas leaned back to let the sun hit his chest. “Especially us. If you were a normal child we’d have issues.”

  Paimon squeezed her hand. “Embrace your freakiness!” He pulled her to her feet and dipped her, brought her up and began to waltz across the sand. Furcas watched them as he tanned. Paimon twirled her into the sunlight. “You’re one of a kind, my dear.”

  In the sunlight, her purple hair took on shades of pink and blue. Her wings sparkled. Bean laughed as he bowed. “What are you doing?”

  “A young lady should know how to dance.”

  “I do, remember.”

  Paimon frowned. “Damn it. Half the fun of being a parent is teaching their kids stuff.”

  Bean smiled. “I’ll pretend.”

  “Good enough, it’s all your father ever does.”

  Furcas flipped them off from the sand. “You’re just insulting yourself when you say that you know.”

  Paimon grinned. “Why? I don’t care if you get off or not.”

  “Fuck you.”

  “Later.” Paimon blew him a kiss.

  Bean snorted.

  They looked at Bean, but she just laughed. Paimon waltzed her over to Furcas. “That doesn’t bother you?”

  Bean frowned. “What?”

  “Us talking about sex.”

  “Why would it?” She shrugged. “There’s nothing you can say that I can’t just close my eyes and remember.” She closed her eyes.

  Paimon opened them. “Don’t go there, that’s private.”

  Bean smiled and batted his hands away. “Does that make you uncomfortable?”

  Paimon blushed. “Ehh.”

  Furcas jumped to his feet. “If you had those memories why did you hound us when we wanted alone time? You knew what we were trying to do.”

  “Because it’s funny.” Bean grinned.

  Furcas glared at Paimon. “That is all you right there.”

  Bean smiled and then it went away. She grabbed on to the both of them. “Did you kill Yoshi?”