by Jana LaPelle
I feel our connection permanently take hold as the two of us ascend together. Completing our complicated bond to one another. Keeper and Guardian. Goddess and God of Retribution. The air around us seems to crackle and our hair stands on end as electricity dances around us. In one blinding moment, everything slams into me all at once. Memories of a distant past, a promise of my destiny, eons in the making. Every choice I made. All the wrongs that I was responsible for. Every single thing that put me on this path. The mate in front of me, the yin to my yang that was sworn to me so long ago. Then, something foreign begins to move just beneath the surface of the skin on my back, pressing outward, demanding to be released, and in a blinding moment of excruciating pain, wings rip out of my back. A scream tears from deep within me as a bright light pulses out of us both. All the while Daxell’s demon holds me close as our ascension clicks into place for all of The Underworld to bear witness to. We are like a floating jewel as the pulsating blue-white light that surrounds us begins to diminish. Memories continue their assault on me. I now know why I chose this path initially. I sob into my demons neck as understanding drapes over me like a heavy cloak. I sag into his hold as my useless wings droop limply from my back.
33
Legacy
(Lillie Joanna)
All I can hear are the beating of wings against the air around us. My delirium is unprecedented as memory after memory assaults my very soul. I needed to make amends. I needed to fulfill my destiny, one of my own choosing. I chose to become the deliverer of retribution to those that do not deserve clemency. Because I once held the balance of all the worlds in my hands. The future of mankind and fae-kind alike. I was the reason that the worlds collided. I was the reason that mankind fell into their sinful ways. I was Eve. And Lachlan was Adam. We were kindred souls! Until I ripped the very fabric of our existence to pieces when I ate the forbidden fruit from the Tree of Life. That is my legacy for all of mankind.
Oh, my gods.
What did I do?
Everything slams into me all at once and then it stops as quickly as it began. That’s when I sense a change in the arms around me. I gasp as I realize that my kindred soul mate has shifted back to Daxell’s form and we begin our descent from our dizzying height. Only one of us has wings now. The sensory download must have been too much for him through our bond. Hell, it was overwhelming for me and I lived through it and was designed to withstand it. Panic all but swallows me up as we continue to fall out of the blood-red sky, the wind buffeting us. Suddenly I remember the wings that exploded out of my back as I clutch onto Daxell. I have no idea as to how to work the useless appendages on my back.
What the hell?
This should be easy, right?
On second thought, I begin to pray to my creator. I don’t think that we can die. Not easily, but plummeting to the ground below us will hurt like a mother fucker. Closing my eyes, I concentrate on my wings and they slowly spread out slowing our descent. I’m clueless as to how to operate these new appendages and damnation if they are slow to cooperate.
“Seriously?!” I scream as we continue to plummet from the sky like broken dolls.
Suddenly, I feel claw-like hands from behind and our descent slows. It’s then that I see both Leviathan and Asmodeus. Their demons obviously in control as they slow our descent. Their bat-like wings are such a stark contrast to Daxell’s. I’m all but spent and surrender to the two Fallen. Knowing that they would never allow anything bad to happen to Daxell or his demon.
Slowly, I wake from the most disturbing dream. I was Eve, as in Adam and fucking Eve. What the hell was that all about? Why, oh why does that feel so right to me? Then it hits me. It wasn’t a dream at all! Holy freaking demon babies everywhere. This can’t be happening.
I was the original Eve. I was the reason that mankind went down the ultimate path of destruction. Not to mention that I doomed my family. The family that I had with Adam. Adam who is now my twin brother. How the hell do I even process any of this?
“LJ?” Daxell is by my side, “It’s okay, I know you’re freaking the hell out, but don’t freak out.”
“I’m freaking out, Daxell! And you know why.” I all but shout.
“It’s okay. Everything is going to be all right.” He soothes.
“How can you say that?” I demand and scramble back away from his touch, scrubbing my hands over my face. Then I remember the wings that exploded out of my back and launch myself onto my knees, frantically looking over my shoulder, desperate to get a good look at them, but don’t feel them weighing my back down. Where did they go?
“Lillie Joanna!” Poppy pops up in front of me snapping those tiny fingers in my face and flitting here in there, “Girlfriend … get a hold of yourself! You don’t get to freak out right now. So, get your shit together!”
“But I …” I stammer, not sure what she will think of me when she hears the truth. “Poppy, I was Eve. As in Adam and Eve, as in the stupid bitch who listened to a serpent and ate the forbidden fruit. That freakin’ Eve.”
She considers my words carefully, cocking her head to the side. Her dark hair spills over her delicate face. She reaches up to flip it back over her shoulder before asking, “Does it matter? Who you used to be? I mean, does any of that matter today? You of all people should know that we learn from our history. Isn’t that why you’re here? You may have been Eve all those years ago, but today? Today you are my Lillie JoBug, you are your Da’s little flower, Lillie Joanna. You are who you are today, who now happens to have a wealth of life-time experiences and knowledge to fall back on. And yeah … you just so happen to be the badass goddess of retribution.”
My tiniest best friend in all the worlds strikes a chord within me, knocking some overdue sense into my slightly addled brain. “You’re right, Poppy. Thank you for reminding me of why I’m here.” Looking up into Daxell’s face, I ask, “Are you okay? I mean, that was a lot, and it happened all at once. You didn’t even get a chance to say yes to any of that. You didn’t get the chance to even think about it.”
He smirks, “Well? One thing is for sure, life will never be boring with you by my side. Retribution, huh? I didn’t believe Lachlan when he told me what he thought, but now it all kind of makes sense. Being bound to you just gave me an upgrade, honey cheeks. I may not be a prince of The Underworld, but I would say that Mammon and I are on pretty even footing at this point.” He leans over and kisses my forehead and I lean into him for just a moment.
“Speaking of princes of Hell … Luc, that low life snake in the grass. I’m going to have a few words with him the next time I see him. Do you think he knew all along?”
Poppy shakes her head as the three of us consider that thought, she speaks up, “I don’t think so, Lillie JoBug. Even your parents didn’t seem to know, although, I believe that they do now, seeing how your memory has been restored. This little nugget of information will have been restored to your mother as well. The agreement that you struck all those eons ago is coming to fruition. Our creator is conniving in his master plan, allowing things and events to unfold in due course. You know you will not be able to keep any of this from Lachlan, so what do you plan on telling him?” She asks, before continuing, “Besides, we still need to find Vengeance and get that binding cuff off of you. I’m surprised you were even able to ascend.”
Not sure what I’m going to tell my brother about any of this, I latch on to her statement about the seamless bracelet that is continuing to hamper my abilities. “She’s right, Dax. I have no idea how any of that even took place with this binding bracelet on my wrist.” At that moment, the pendant around my neck warms at the words and I realize that it has been warming and cooling, and then repeating the cycle since I woke. My hand reaches for the bloodstone and I look up at Dax. “Do you think it could be that simple?”
Dax nods, “It could be. If that’s the case then I don’t want you to ever be without this stone. Not ever, it is your protective hedge. That and there may have been a bit of divine intervention
to make sure that you ascended at the right moment.”
Poppy takes flight again and buzzes about the room in agitation, “I know that we need to head out sooner rather than later on our quest, but there is so much to discuss. Like … I don’t know! Like you have freakin’ wings, Lillie. You should have seen them before they disappeared. They were so beautiful, all black as midnight fading to a dark purple, then to a lighter shade of orchid at the tips of your feathers. I’m so jealous. Mine look like insect wings.” She wrinkles her nose at the thought, “All fragile and transparent, but yours … Wow, just, wow! Then they just kind of folded up into your back and disappeared from sight. Of course, you were kind of unconscious for all of that when Levi and Dez’s demon’s arrived with both of you in tow. Thank the gods for that or both of you would have gone splat on the ground below. You two were pretty high up in the sky when the light show began.”
“Did you see them?” I ask Dax quietly as Poppy continues to ramble on.
“They were magnificent, honey cheeks.” His look is intense, his eyes smoldering. The temperature in the room just went up several notches.
“I don’t know the first thing about flying or even how to use them. They were like dead weight on my back dragging me down. I don’t even have the faintest clue as to how to call them out.” I say dejectedly.
“You will,” Poppy preens, “You have demon boy over here and me to teach you. You will be flying in no time.” She lands on the bed and marches back toward us. Every other step is taken in the air as her gossamer wings carry her upward before she gently floats back down.
“Poppy’s right,” Daxell moves off of the bed and heads toward the table in the room, “We can teach you. I know that you want to learn and are even antsy to get on with it, but LJ, we have more pressing matters to attend to. The Underworld just witnessed the actual birth or ascension of a pair of gods. Luc will not be able to ignore that fact. I’m surprised that he is not here beating down the door to this place in order to take you in to answer for the crime that you are accused of.”
Dax’s parents walk into the room, their faces serious and I mutter, “Well, this can’t be good.”
Levi meets my gaze, “No, my dear young goddess, it’s not good. I know that your ascension was more than likely out of your control but there are those on this side of the Divide and the other that witnessed your little light display. Don’t get me wrong, it was quite a sight to behold, but in this realm? The sky rarely changes, so everyone took notice. At least all that were within viewing range, that is.”
Seraphina smiles and opens her arms and pulls Daxell into a hug full of motherly affection, and says proudly, “I knew you were meant for greatness.” She looks over to me and motions for me to join them. Smiling she pulls me in and says, “Thank you, Lillie.”
“For what?”
“For loving my son, for being exactly what he needed. For snapping him out of his internal revelry that has been going on for way too long. I would love for you two to have time to acclimate, but Levi is right. You will have to leave here as soon as possible.”
Asmodeus steps forward. “We have packed several bags to take with you. Supplies that we think you will need. Food, water, changes of clothing, and shelter. I’m not sure where you will head first but you need to steer clear of the Lava Fields. The fire demons that reside there are particularly restless from what we have been told from several of our scouts.”
Daxell becomes all business as he pulls both his fathers aside and they discuss the business of this realm. One that I’m now tied to irrevocably, and I realize that deep down, I’m okay with that. Something that I’m not sure that I would have been able to accept two months ago.
Seraphina smiles at both Poppy and me as we gather a few additional items for our journey. Her quicksilver eyes studying me closely before she asks, “That was a lot to process from afar. How are you doing, Lillie? I do wish we had more time. It’s not fair this bounty that Mammon has put on your head. You both need time to settle into this new binding relationship as well as your ascension. I’ve never seen anyone ascend. It was … well, it was rather beautiful. I don’t have to worry about your connection to one another now. It’s just … I will worry none the less. Be careful out there. There is so much that you have to learn about this world and you don’t have time to do so. Listen to Daxell. He’s grown up here. Don’t argue with him, even if he appears to be overbearing. This is his stomping ground as much as he would love to deny that fact. If you listen to him and do as you are told the three of you will make it back to us unscathed.”
Nodding, I pull her to me and hold her close, needing a mother figure all of the sudden. Missing my Mum. “I trust your son to get us through this. We will see you soon. Hopefully, none the worse for wear.”
“See to it.” She sniffles pulling away from me, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
“Yes, ma’am.” I smile and reach up to cup her cheek, “Thank you, Sera. Thank you for welcoming me to your family with open arms, even though I have brought discord upon your House.”
“Mammon is responsible for your predicament. I hold him and his little hussy to blame. Now go! I expect all of you back safely very soon.”
Daxell motions for us to meet him on the balcony. I guess we are taking to the skies. I holster several more blades as Poppy flitters about my head mumbling about how she can’t shift to her faerie size, and how she wants a crossbow and a staff. I grab an item off the table that is calling to me for some reason and pocket the metallic item that can’t be more than five inches in length, no more than the size of a pen or pencil. I have no idea what it is or what it does. With one last look at Daxell’s parents, I wave and exit the room to meet Dax’s demon on the balcony. This is it. We’re going into the wilds of The Underworld. I swallow thickly as I step into my demon’s embrace. Poppy lands nimbly on his shoulder and then slides under the wings on his back to a nifty little hiding place. Without a backward glance, he wraps his arms around me. His soot-black wings spread out and then he launches us into the foreboding crimson sky.
34
The Underworld and All It’s Pitfalls
(Daxell)
Itake a backseat to my demon as we prepare to leave the sanctuary of my home. It’s funny. Until recently, I’ve never regarded this place as home, but then, in walked LJ and somehow or another she shed a new light on this place. It seems brighter, and somehow different than before. Like there was something missing all along and that’s why I never connected to this realm. Just like how I felt drawn to The Mortal Realm because there was a chance that I would run into her. The ties that bind us are remarkable and I’m thankful for whatever deal that was struck so long ago so that we can be together now.
My demon holds LJ protectively as he soars higher into the sky. Poppy is tucked safely beneath our right-wing. As soon as we spot a shadow in the crimson sky, we quickly slip into the darkness. The world around us takes on the quality of a photo negative as we blend into the penumbra.
“So, this is shadow-walking? Demon … this is a little creeptastic for me. It’s weird and feels as if we could get lost in here.” LJ clutches us tightly in a fierce determination not to get left behind in the darkness.
My demon chuckles, “Like I would let that happen. Where to, little one?”
“Take us back to where you found me in the Fields of Punishment. I need to try to retrace my steps. I know that there was a backpack with me when Nyx pushed me into her swirling vortex of wonders.” Sarcasm drips from her lips. We both chuckle at her humor and hold her tighter as we navigate the shadow world.
Then growling at the thought, we say, “I will destroy any foul creature that tries to tie you to the Fields of Punishment again.”
LJ laughs, “Calm down there, demon boy. I think that this time, I can take care of myself. Especially since I have a better understanding of the little troll turds. I really don’t like them, but I understand that they serve a purpose. You doing okay back there, Poppy?”
<
br /> Poppy’s muffled voice responds, “Yep. Just ready to be there already. This wing pit smells like belly button fuzz.”
LJ laughs, “How do you even know what that smells like? Wait. I don’t want to know. Why didn’t you latch on to me? I would have seen you safely there.”
“Hmph … I didn’t think of that.” And she continues to grumble, muttering things we can’t make out.
My demon chuckles, “We’re almost there. Be ready. We’ll exit the shadows in just a moment.” We slip from the grasp of the darkness with ease, leaving all those that have become lost in the shadows over time to wander absently until they are nothing more than ghosts of the past. We soar above the spot that LJ was found only a few days ago before gently landing. My demon sits LJ on the ground and waits for Poppy to slide out from under his extended wing before allowing the shift to take over.
LJ turns and looks at me, “Daxell, are you sure this is where you found me? I don’t recognize any of this. It looks so different from my memories. I don’t see a stream or any water. I could have sworn that there was water.”
I sigh, “LJ, the Fields of Punishment is ever-changing, but this is the spot.”
“Then how the hell am I suppose to retrace my steps?” She demands as Poppy lands on her shoulder looking concerned.
“We’ll do the best we can.” What do you remember?” I ask.