Chapter 38

I walked through bristly hedges and barbed bushes until I came to the edge of the clearing. I halted. The back of a bolding man was stood in the middle. Slowly he turned. His white face and blank eyes stared into mine. The start of stubble was prominent on his thin face. Robert looked like he was at deaths door.
“Something happened to me here. I just can’t remember what.” The sheriff’s voice was small. All his confidence had gone.
“Eliyah. You were there, right?” he asked, and I couldn’t stop the smirk that rose on my face. This man deserved to die. This man was a monster. Pure rage invaded my every being. Hot burning anger seared through my veins seeking to harm, to kill. The rage built like deep water currents. All rational thoughts had left me.
I circled him like a lion would circle its prey. Robert stood there wide eyed with fear glistening in his eyes. Good. He should be afraid. I let out a cackling laugh at the look on the shadow of a mans face. Reduced to nothing but a weak and coward man.
In one fluid motion I leapt, wrapping my hands around his calmy neck. Squeezing hard I enjoyed the struggle he was giving me. His legs flapped inches from the ground. No this was wrong, I thought. I had to spill his blood on the mouth of hell.
Digging in my pocket I retrieved my clip knife. Looking him in the eyes I plunged it into the side of his neck. Blood spurted out, covering my face and clothes. Dropping Robert, he fell like a crumbled mess onto the dead earth. Blood pooled around him. I watched the life drain out of his eyes. His mouth opens in a slight O.
***
I gasped at what I heard as my focus returned to myself inside the room, where Irene quickly held me from falling to my knees while Yoongi remained by my side, listening. Taehyung was on my other side listening as well, a serious look on his face.
Now I realized how much energy I needed to be able to focus like that, and now I was a gasping mess while blinking away the dark spots that blurred my vision. I felt like passing out.
“You’re okay, Lilly. You’ll get used to it soon.” Irene comforted me as she guided me back on the bed and I let my shaking body fall to the bed with a soft thud. I pulled myself upwards until my back hit the headboard, closing my eyes, and regaining my breaths as my head continued to spin dizzily.
“What did I just hear down there??” I asked. Irene was sitting by the edge of the bed, knowing full well what I was talking about.
“Lucifer just being Lucifer.” Taehyung replied with a snort. “Why else did he have children from four different women?”
“But honestly, I would have imagined him having more than four children.” I commented.
“That’s another weird yet interesting thing about our father,” Taehyung replied as he pushed himself off the wall and sat at the edge of the bed, opposite from Irene. “He doesn’t just give himself to any random women. He chooses them well. If a woman catches his attention, and by attention, his full and utter interest, that’s when he starts playing games with them until the woman gives in.”
“How do you know so well about that?” Irene asked him curiously. He shrugged.
“I kind of just pieced it all together, after hearing each of our backstories.” He then nodded to me. “Except for yours, of course. I’ve never seen your mother.”
I sighed. “Do you think he was entranced by my mother because she was attractive?”
“We can’t tell, babe. We haven’t seen what your mother looks like.” Irene replied. “But isn’t Lilith like a demon that lives in hell?” I asked
“No, Lilith was granted here freedom a long time ago. But I’m sure she’s just as beautiful as you,” Irene added, and I couldn’t help but smile despite my dizzy state.
“Guys,” Yoongi cut in as he neared us. “He made another deal with the mafia boss. He said he’s having his wife if the man ever ruins their agreement.”
“Another woman?” Irene sighed. “I hope he doesn’t fuck that woman and plant his seed on her.”
“Why not?” Taehyung smirked. “That means we’ll be having another sibling. A baby.”
“You are not corrupting that baby with your creepy and weird personality Taehyung.” Irene shot back with a warning look.
“Guys,” I groaned out. “Why does this sound so normal to all of you? Our dad literally just made an agreement with a mortal telling him to sell his wife to him!”
“Lilly, I know you’re still getting used to this second life of yours, but we’re literally evil, biologically speaking.” Irene pointed out softly, sympathy lacing her tone. “We’re children of the devil, we live in hell, and we’re immortal. We’re not like other humans.”
I sighed. She was right about that. “I’m not sure if I ever want to get used to this kind of life.”
“And you won’t.” Yoongi reassured. “Once we find out the truth about your parents, you can choose to continue living your mortal life. You can forget about us, about everything else, and just continue the mere agreement between you and dad about your visiting him twice every month. But you won’t be involved in this kind of immortal life with us.”
“You don’t get to decide that for her,” Taehyung cut in. “It’s her choice. She’s just overwhelmed, is all. She’ll get used to this soon.”
“Plus, dad gets to decide what she does.” Irene added, as if I wasn’t in the same room as them. I was still too nauseous and weak to even argue my own opinions.
“You sound like you don’t want Lilly to leave us,” Yoongi teased Taehyung, and the dark-haired man rolled his eyes.
“Shut up.”
“Wait, I hear him coming,” Irene quickly whispered and the three of them looked at each other in panic.
“Just keep an eye on me, alright? Meet me when I’m done with him.” I told them and they nodded. Just as they disappeared out of thin air, the door opened and dad returned with a serious look on his face, suspicious.
“Who were you talking to?” He asked carefully.
“No one, dad. Just weak from that spell you did on me.” I replied with a shrug, hoping he would buy the act. But then again, he was the god of lies. He’d sense it from a distance.
“Don’t play with me, child. Why were your siblings here?” he demanded, not even caring that I was lying on the bed with a weak soul and mind. I sighed. There was no point in lying to the devil himself.
“Dad, the truth is, I wanted to ask you something.” I told him. “It’s about my mother.”
He stared at me, still doubting, before he sighed and closed his eyes.
“Come, let’s talk back at home.”
I watched as he neared me, putting his arms underneath my body, and lifted me up, carrying me bridal style. I held on to his neck and closed my eyes shut, knowing that we were going to teleport back home. The trip was only going to make me even dizzier.
We quickly teleported back, and I expected us to arrive at the feast hall. But instead, I was in a dimly lit room, with a four-poster queen-sized bed blanketed in red velvet sheets, the floor a polished mahogany brown wood, and above us was a medieval-style chandelier with candles instead of electric lights.
He carefully put me on the bed, and the mattress underneath me was surprisingly soft. The foam dipped as my weight fell on the bed, and I carefully made myself comfortable and lied down. Dad stood in front of me, watching as I positioned myself in a much more comfortable position. When he knew I was ready, he spoke.
“What do you want to know about your mother?” He asked as he began pacing back and forth. I fought back my nauseous state which was telling me to sleep and gathered all the courage I could muster to keep myself awake.
“So…” I began, sitting up straighter against the large and soft pillows. “After learning from my siblings that we’re only considered as a pure son or daughter of Lucifer if you…we carry more of your gene.”
He stopped his pacing, surprised at the upfront and open topic. I could feel my cheeks heat up in embarrassment.
“So, I just wanted to clarify if Lilith the mother of all demons was actually my mother.” I shut my eyes closed and shook my head. “I’m just really confused with the real backstory. I’ve been told a different truth but after hearing these stories from my brothers and sister, I started questioning everything.”
He sighed as he closed his eyes, looking like he had now realized that this kind of conversation was just going to happen anytime soon anyway. He sat at the edge of the bed.
“I have to say, child, that you’re much smarter than I expected you’d be.” He complimented and I shrugged, smiling a little. “The truth is, Lilith, is that your mother was the one who came to me. She wanted her freedom. To live out her life in the mortal world. She wanted to grow old and die. Being immortal had taken its toll on her. I must admit, I was attracted to your mother. She was beautiful, truly. And you look so much like her. Every time I look at you, I see her.”
The words made my heart ache in longing, looking down in hopes of hiding my sadness. Despite my confusion about the past. “I told her she could have her freedom and become mortal if she did one thing for me. Well two, carry and give birth to my child.”
My heart pounded at what I was going to ask. “And…did she say yes?”
“She did, Lilith.” Dad replied. My heart dropped. Would I ever get to meet my real mother? She had just left me like that.
I was already crying. My stomach twisted in knots and my heart felt as if it was breaking piece by piece. I felt so many emotions all at once and I wanted to go back home and hide with Kingsley and Taylor.
Dad stared back at me with an apologetic look as I continued to sob and cry my heart out. I was angry, upset, confused, and hurt. I didn’t know what to say or do. Instead, dad stood up and looked like he was about to leave. I didn’t take him as an intimate or touchy kind of father, so I didn’t expect him to comfort me or hold me. But a shoulder to cry on would be great at the moment.
“I will leave you to pour out your emotions.” He said quietly. It was the most vulnerable I’ve seen him the most. “I will return to you once you’re emotionally stable.”
And with one last lingering look at me, he disappeared out of thin air, leaving me with my cries and sobs as my heart continued to break into pieces. My mother had only had me to gain freedom. Then she had left me, in hell, literally.
“I hired a nanny. Well, she was already one of my servants, her husband was one of my trusted friends. So, I thought. Until the day they took you. Well, you know the rest.”