Chapter 4

Damian watched as Theanna, with her beautiful pink curls and matching pink eyes, played contentedly in his living room with toys Galena had gathered for her. Mordecai had been dealt with by Darius and his mother, how mattered not to him, just that he had been neutralized. He knew it was time for his sweet Zoqa to leave. Ikisat was not a place for a soul as beautiful as hers.

Yet, he couldn’t bear the thought of her being anywhere else. The joy she brought to him and those around her was something that was truly wonderful to behold. One by one every single one of his lieutenants had fallen under her spell. Even his by-the-book, staunchly loyal, and forever serious second in command, Lazerin, found himself smiling and doing everything he could to bring forth a giggle from the beautiful little girl.

“You’ve done well with her,” Helen, Darius’ wife, stated gently as she appeared beside him with only the softest of sounds. “She’s happy in a place not known for that. I wish she could remain here, she seems so at peace,” Helen added as she watched her granddaughter.

She couldn't help but look around at Damian's home. It wasn't often that one was invited here. His home was beautiful in an old authentic way that you just didn't come across often enough. It was made of polished stone, and while it appeared stark and cold initially from the outside, inside, it appeared warm and comfortable with the glow of many fires and lanterns being reflected. Tapestries hung from every wall, depicting Ikisat's long and varied history. Approaching one tapestry in particular, Helen looked at it appreciatively. “This tapestry, it's about Theanna isn’t it?”

Tearing his eyes away from Thea, he smiled as he looked at the one Helen asked about. Amelia, the head-mistress of his home, had the historians make it for him. “It is. She’s my betrothed. Her history is part of the history of Ikisat now. Not many of the Princes still have tapestries made but I like them. They make it home for me.”

Helen reached up and touched the delicate stitches that made up the image of Nira’s daughter. “It's so beautiful, Damian. It catches her essence and beauty perfectly.”

“If you wish, I can have my tapissiers create a smaller tapestry with the image of Theanna for you as a gift. They are very talented.”

“I would very much like that. Thank you, Damian. That’s wonderfully kind of you.” Helen smiled as she looked at him. The Prince of Ikisat was already beginning to change. This kindness in him was new. Oh she knew when he was all business he was still cold and to the point, but this lightness was all Theanna’s doing.

Damian's punishment judgments were not for the faint of heart. All princes were responsible for determining punishments for the souls that came to their realms. His judgments were known to be some of the harshest.

Since so many human souls came to Ikisat and his appearances on Earth in his Daemoni form, especially in times of war, for humans he represented the Dark Lord more so than Lucifer did himself. Right here, right now, though, Helen saw something very different in him. She saw a light in his aura that wasn't there before.

Interrupting her musings, Damian asked as he was once again captivated by Theanna, “You will protect her?”

“With my life. Will you visit her?”

“She may not want me to,” he lamented sadly. He was Daemoni. Besides protection, what could he possibly offer to her? He knew nothing of love, he only knew that around Theanna, he felt a joy in his soul that he'd never known before.

“She will. You’re very special to her and always will be. You’ll see. Come whenever you like. Also, Darius didn’t want to frighten her by coming but he asked me to relay a message. ‘You have our thanks and our pledge as allies.’”

Damian nodded. Deciding he wanted to go to his sweet girl, he stepped away from where he had been quietly watching her. He softly approached her, his feet making almost no sound after so many, many years in this home. “Zoqa.”

Theanna looked up and smiled brightly as she saw Damian. How she loved Damian and Galena. They eased the pain of losing her parents by showing her unconditional love. Jumping up and running to him, her smile widened as he bent down and picked her up. Placing her little hands on his cheeks she looked deep into his Onyx colored eyes and asked, “Where have you been? Galena taught me a new trick. I want to show it to you.”

Sitting down with a smile and holding her on his lap, his arms wrapped around her in a hug that let her know she was safe.“I’m sorry you waited, little one. Show me this special trick.” As he watched her get ready, he briefly closed his eyes as the delicate scent that was all Theanna surrounded him. She smelled of vanilla and sunshine. She smelled of hope and love. It was something he always wanted to remember.

After readying herself, she took a deep breath and held out her hand as a small ball of energy formed. Throwing it up in the air, it exploded into a rain of multicolored flower petals that gently floated down on top of them. Their soft floral scent tickled Damian's nose and caused him to sneeze. Theanna softly giggled.

“Well done, Zoqa,” Damian praised her with a proud smile. “You’re very powerful. Always use that power well, with love and kindness.”

“Because when we use our powers out of anger or pain, we can hurt someone innocent or do something we wish we hadn't,” Theanna added with a proud smile.

Damian nodded, “That's right, my Zoqa. I see Galena has been teaching you well. One day when you grow up you’ll truly amaze and outshine us all!”

Helen watched Damian with Theanna and smiled. How very true his words were and she couldn’t wait to see it. As Damian quietly talked to Theanna she couldn't help but observe the love that existed between them that was already quite obvious. She would insist it be allowed to grow, no matter the challenges ahead because as Gaia had shared with her, the future depended on it.