Daystar

by Darcy Town

  Michael would not budge. “No. I have a purpose, I will see it through.”

  Lucifel laughed. “Oh this is rich, Michael. How are you going to kill him if you remain as a boy?”

  Michael twisted his face. “My purpose was not to kill him!” He took Lucifer’s hand. “I was made to weaken him! To take his flame, to make him less!” Michael looked to Lucifer. “He ordered you to make me in order to bring you down and I have done that for eternity. Whether I stood with you then or now, I would be taking your power, making you vulnerable to him.”

  “This does not matter now.” Lucifer frowned. “Go and stay out of this. You do not need to be drawn in.”

  Michael gnashed his teeth. “I have been drawn in since my creation! All I am is your leech, a drain!” He pointed to Lucifel. “And you! You would never have given me the power of Primangel.”

  Lucifel folded his arms. “Of course not. I would not seek to have two rivals. If he had lost his powers entirely, if he had died, you would have gone along with him. Then I would have been truly whole.” He turned a greedy eye to Michael. “You are my drain as well as his, Michael. You are right. All you are is a leech.”

  Michael wrapped his arms around Lucifer’s leg, startling Lucifer. He pressed his face into his thigh. “I give up my purpose.”

  Lucifel laughed. “You cannot! Not while you live.” He looked at Lucifer. “You must kill him, Lucifer. Can you? Can you kill him as he is now? Even a child, a look designed to evoke the most compassion, you cannot harm is as such.”

  Lucifer set his jaw and patted Michael’s head. “I do not need his power to defeat you, Lucifel.”

  Michael shook his head. “Yes you do.”

  Lucifer looked nauseated. “I will not kill you.”

  Michael wiped his eyes. “I know. It is a difference between you.” He stepped away from Lucifer.

  Lucifel grinned. “You see which of us is stronger, Michael. Who has the will to survive, it is me. Come on then, join with me and we will make a quick end of him.” He held his hand out.

  Michael looked at Lucifer. “I am sorry for all that I have done to pain you when you sought only to love me. I cast you aside first, a mistake I regret, though perhaps it was part of my making to betray you. Perhaps it was all I was ever meant for…to wound you when you needed me most. I am the constant flaw in your design.”

  Lucifer looked confused. “Michael?”

  Michael stood up straight. “I just want you to know that, that I am sorry.” He looked to Whitney. “Thank you.” He ran at Lucifer, jumped, and burst into light. The light swirled around Lucifer. Lucifel screamed in rage, but Lucifer could not hear anything besides the song of his brother. The light surged into him and he was pressed back. He lost his blue glow. Fire erupted at his feet and shot into the air.

  Lucifer threw his head back and screamed. His blue hair rippled to blonde, his blue eyes turned yellow, and his fire golden. His mind was filled with new pathways, new thoughts, connections to power he could not have measured before. His body flooded with it; his skin illuminated. Lucifer touched his chest. He clenched and unclenched his fists, feeling a sense of power he only remembered distantly having. He turned his eyes to Lucifel. They were identical.

  Lucifel took a step back.

  Lucifer took a step forward. “Lucifel.”

  Lucifel held his hands up. “Do not. Get back.”

  “You sought to join before, now you do not want to?”

  “Lucifer, do not come near me!”

  Lucifer swallowed pain at Michael’s loss. “You never loved him.”

  “Of course I—”

  “But I loved him.” Lucifer took another step forward. “I loved Dahlia. I loved all of my angels! You have not loved a single thing since you were first created.”

  “I—I loved Ladriam!” Lucifel struggled for calm. “I loved her!”

  Lucifer smiled showing fangs. “You loved that she had made herself weak, unknowing. You loved the opportunity she represented to you. You wanted her power and her gifts under your control, without the fear that she would destroy you. You took advantage of her!”

  Lucifel wreathed himself in flame. “And she chose you, another lesser being.”

  Lucifer nodded. “She chose me, the one that did not fear her. I still do not despite what you say.” He spared a glance for the black flame that watched without comment. “And if she decides that our grand experiment is over, that it is time for all to become one. Then I will go to her, because I do not fear. I do not see a loss there.”

  “It is death, Lucifer!”

  “It is joy.” Lucifer got closer. “It is rapture, love, and communion.” His golden eyes flicked to Lucifel. “Let me show it to you.”

  “No!” Lucifel lost his body and dove into the flames at his feet, reverting to a column of fire.

  Lucifer flexed and his form was lost to an inferno. He threw himself at Lucifel and the two swirled and meshed. The golden flame became white and roared. Helion and Whitney were thrown aside and blinded by the light.

  Dahlia watched.

  ***

  Furcas touched down on the grass. He had seen the opalescent feathers and the strands of purple hair from afar. He stared at the mess around him. Dried blood and unexploded quills stood stuck out of the ground. Feathers sparkled despite the darkness of pre-dawn. He picked one up, knowing it instantly as his daughters.

  Furcas searched.

  He found Ariel’s body, burnt and twisted. He smiled and threw it over his shoulder. A ruby angel landed beside him. “Reports are that Bean is outside Eden now. They have raised the city and she is on the plain.”

  Furcas nodded. “My thanks. Please inform Paimon of this.”

  The ruby angel nodded and kicked into the air. Furcas took off in a flying leap. He passed over groups of Lilliam. They had erupted out of the city and celebrated at the sight of their sun restored. Furcas frowned; he thought this behavior a tad premature. He did not know of the battle in Heaven, but he could feel Dahlia’s unease through his link to her.

  Furcas spotted Gaea; she glowed like a mini star herself. He dropped down and set Ariel’s body down. He padded over. “Bean, where is she?”

  Gaea looked up at him. “I—oh, uh…” She frowned. “Sorry, Furcas.”

  Furcas set his jaw. “What?”

  Selaphiel wrapped his arms around Furcas and lifted him off his feet. “I am escorting you to her.”

  Furcas snapped his teeth at Selaphiel. “So he is with her.”

  Selaphiel said nothing. He carried Furcas past the healing tents. Furcas did not fight; he wanted to know where Jegudiel was and now he was being taken directly to him. He smiled.

  Selaphiel set Furcas down at a tent apart from the others, but did not release him. “Furcas has arrived, no Paimon in sight.”

  The tent flap opened slightly. A hand was thrust out, Ariel’s head hung from the fingers by her hair. Furcas withheld a smile. “A present to relieve my anger?”

  The hand made the head nod. Furcas looked to Selaphiel. “I will give them their chance to speak for this deed. Let me go.”

  Selaphiel let him go and looked to the skies, searching for Paimon.

  “Paimon’s coming along later anyways.” Furcas took the head and dove into the tent. Jegudiel backed up as far as he could go. Furcas noticed his age and growled. “Killing get you your years or was it the abuse of my daughter that aged you?”

  Jegudiel shook his head, his eyes like saucers. “I aged between the two.”

  Furcas hissed. “Why?”

  Jegudiel went pale. “Helion was supposed to be here.”

  Furcas took a step closer. “Why? What did you do that would need him to step in and intervene?” His eyes flicked over Jegudiel’s body. “You’ve done something else; I can see it in how you shake.”

  Bean sat up in bed. “Stop it, Daddy! Leave him alone!” She had dark circles under her eyes. She was covered in bandages.

  Furcas dropped Ariel’s head and knelt by
her side. “Why do you have need of bandages?! What has he done to you?”

  “He didn’t do this! That bitch did. They did not have a healer for me at the time I was injured; I had to be healed normally. Gaea saw to me later though, I think I can take them off.” She pulled one bloody bandage off and the skin underneath was healed. She smiled. “All better.”

  Furcas wrapped her in a hug. “Why were you not in the city? How did Ariel get to you?”

  “I had to find, Jegudiel!”

  “It is his fault!” Furcas snarled at Jegudiel over her shoulder. “We said no.”

  Bean pushed him back. “I can make my own decisions, Dad. Besides if I had not gone out, Gabriel and Gaea would have been overtaken!”

  Furcas frowned. “That is where Gabriel was?”

  “He saved her life! He sacrificed himself for Gaea!”

  “He is dead?” Furcas paled. “Paimon will—I don’t know what he’ll do.”

  Jegudiel spoke softly, “Not dead, but he is healing slowly.”

  Furcas growled. “Did I ask you to speak?”

  Bean grabbed Furcas’ jaw and forced him to look at her. “Let me show you what I did, I was a badass.”

  Furcas smiled warmly at her. “All right, darling, show away.”

  Bean did not show him her battle near Gabriel’s side. She showed him Ariel hurting her, attacking her, ripping her wings. Furcas flinched, but could not pull away. Bean forced him to see Jegudiel saving her, killing Ariel, rescuing her, staying by her side while she healed. Bean let him go. “There.”

  Furcas grimaced. His eyes flicked up to Jegudiel’s. “You killed the bitch.”

  “Yes.”

  “You saved Bean.” Furcas sat down on her cot and held her hand. He sighed at his daughter. “Do you still have those idiotic notions of love for him?”

  “Yes!” Bean nodded frantically. “You cannot let Dad kill him! Please, Daddy! Please!”

  Furcas looked at Jegudiel. “Why do you not run now while I am occupied?”

  Bean looked hysterical, but was too weak to get up. “Daddy, no!”

  Jegudiel set his jaw. “I will not run. I was terrible and what I did unforgivable. If you both still seek my death then it is yours to give, but know that I will never do that to her again. I was ill.”

  Furcas curled his lip. “I don’t give a fuck what you were, Jegudiel.”

  “I—”

  “I only care about what you are going to be.” Furcas rubbed Bean’s hand. He sighed. “If you had done to Bean what Paimon had done to me, I would not hesitate in killing you myself. Yet here I am in love with him, stupidly as Bean does for you. I would be a hypocrite if I did not allow her to be with you if that is what she wishes. I know I would have fought for Paimon if anyone had tried to split us, even then when he had hurt me dearly. I loved him regardless, as I know Bean loves you. I cannot stand between you.”

  Bean gaped. “You mean this?”

  “I do yes.” Furcas held up a finger. “Paimon is not going to see it that way.” He looked to Jegudiel. “Paimon sees parts of himself in you, the bad parts, the abusive parts, the parts he wishes he could take back. He does not want Bean subjected to what I have gone through. Do you understand? He wants to spare her that pain.”

  Jegudiel nodded. “Of course! I would not.”

  “Be silent.” Furcas snapped his teeth. “I can still be angry at you even if I no longer am able to kill you.” He gazed at Bean. “I will attempt to keep Paimon from killing him.”

  Bean wrapped her arms around him. “Thank you, Daddy!”

  “Everyone is allowed one mistake.” Furcas glared at Jegudiel. “If you fuck up again I will come for your head.”

  Jegudiel got to his knees. “I would deserve it. Thank you.”

  “Don’t thank me yet.” Furcas patted Bean’s knee. “This is going to land me in so much trouble.”

  “I will make it up to you!” Bean grabbed his hand and saw the ring. “He asked you to marry him again! You said yes! Yay!”

  Furcas smiled then narrowed his eyes at her. “You knew he had that ring.”

  She nodded. “Yeah.”

  Furcas sighed. “Thanks for not spoiling it.” He stood up and stretched. “I am going to take watch with your brother, Jegudiel.” He frowned. “I am going to get beaten for this. I had better get some best dad of the year mug or something. You owe me.” He glared at Jegudiel as he lifted the tent flap. “You are infinitely lucky.” He stepped outside.

  Jegudiel collapsed. Bean pulled him into bed and hugged him. “See!”

  He hugged her. “I think I am going to pass out.”

  “Not yet! That was the easy half.” Bean smiled. “Okay, get these bandages off. Dad has to see me totally healed and safe.” She looked towards her clothes. “And dressed.”

  ***

  Lucifel and Lucifer melded in the flames. Distinctions gone, they were one force. Only their personalities were separate, maintaining an artificial division between them. Lucifel struggled to become wholly separate again, but Lucifer would not let him go. The flame surged and roiled, moving in uneven bursts.

  Lucifel strained. “All right! You have proven we are equals. Let me go! I cannot harm you any longer.”

  Lucifer laughed. “You think that is what this is about? Me harming you.”

  “You want revenge; you want to make me suffer. I understand, you may cast me out. Take my throne. Take your woman! Do not consume me!”

  “That has already occurred, we are one.”

  “No! I remain Lucifel! I am separate!”

  “But I am Lucifer, I am not separate.”

  “How then can you remain?” The fire stabbed at everything around it, sending Helion and Whitney towards the black flame.

  Lucifer spoke with confidence, “My distinctions, myself, these are not just internal validations. I am not me solely by the force of my will alone. I am in the very fiber of this place, this Heaven that I made, the universe that I made, the children that I have, the angels that are mine. They speak my name, but no one knows yours! They have only ever seen my light!”

  “No! I, I have—”

  “You have no one! You have never loved, never truly known another and so no one knows you!”

  Lucifel struggled. “I am my own by my will, my thoughts!”

  “You are nothing by my will, my thoughts!”

  “I validate myself, I am Lucifel! I exist!”

  “I do not see you; I do not hear your voice in anything but this.”

  “My angels—they validate me!”

  “They sing my songs.”

  “My Archangels—”

  “Are dead or have turned to me.”

  “Heaven is—”

  “Mine, my creation!” Lucifer smiled. “Everything made here is mine, and nothing is yours. You have nothing, you are nothing.” The fire pressed towards the black throne. Helion and Whitney dove out of the way. Lucifer willed them to near it as Lucifel struggled to get away.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Joining us with her.”

  “Why?! You will kill us both!”

  Lucifer smiled. “Only you see that as a bad thing.”

  “No!” Lucifel gazed out at what was around them. “No, they see us as separate!” He stared at Helion. “They know us as two, and so we remain two!”

  Whitney shook her head. “I see one only. I see Lucifer.”

  Lucifer grinned. “Shall we ask them all?”

  ***

  Paimon flew around the new sun, torn between going back to Earth or staying in space. He wanted to see Bean. He had heard she lived, but Gabriel would be there. He did not know how he felt about his brother. He scratched his head, wondering what Furcas was doing.

  A melody reached his ears. He stopped in his flight and cocked his head to listen. He heard an argument, but the voices were the same, indistinguishable. Paimon frowned. “Lucifer?”

  ***

  Andy and Belial flew hand in hand through empty space. S
he had managed to strip herself of spikes and thorns to be soft once more. Andy pulled her into a kiss. “You were marvelous today.”

  Belial hugged him. “You too!”

  Andy drew her in. “Let’s go back to our stream.” She purred. He ran his hands through her feathers. Belial gasped. Andy flinched. “Ow.”

  Belial blushed. “Sorry!” She retracted the blade that had grown out from her wrist. “I just got all happy—”

  Andy kissed her cheek. “It was an accident, see all healed!” His chest showed no mark besides dried blood.

  Belial looked past his shoulder. “Andes, something follows us!”

  Andy whipped his head around. A distant star tracked them through the sky. Andy grinned. “Lucifer’s back!”

  Belial waved. “Lucifer, come fly with us!”

  Andy rolled his eyes. “He wants Dahlia no doubt.” The star flickered out and they were left alone in space.

  ***

  Berith held Apple against him and looked into the darkness of pre-dawn. His chest rumbled with laughter as Apple spoke softly into his ear.

  Azrael dropped down on both of them. He shouted, “Whatareyoutalkingaboutnow!”

  Berith looked at Azrael. “Adult things.”

  Azrael gaped. “Is it about her tummy?”

  Apple rubbed her increasing abdomen. “Maybe.”

  Chirps and whistles filled the forest clearing they were secluded in. Apple made a face. Varen leapt out of the bushes. “You’re knocked up!”

  Idris landed on the ground in a flurry of color. “Appleadris is pregnant!”

  Regis dashed by. “I am telling mom and dad!”

  Apple grabbed for him. “No! I won’t get any free time if you do!”

  Nodin and Tracy were next. Tracy looked over Apple. “Don’t worry, if you’re anything like me the kid will be out of you shortly. Look at my figure; you’ll keep yours no doubt.”

  Nodin punched Berith in the arm. “And if she doesn’t you can help her work it off.”

  The other princes laughed at Apple from the trees. Apple scowled. “You all suck!”

  Tokala barked and laughed. Celeste jumped off his back. “Does this mean we get to have another wedding soon?”