Daystar (29 page)

Lucifer smiled and jumped into the air.
 
He spread his four blue wings and sucked in air.
 
The sensation was just short of bliss.
 
His halos burned bright.
 
His wings caught the morning sunlight and fire churned within them.
 
His skin lit on fire.
 
He stared at the sky and rocketed upwards trailed by flames.

Lucifer rushed into the midst of battle.
 
He grabbed the nearest angel and engulfed him in heat.
 
Electricity shot from his fingertips.
 
Lucifer clapped his hands and the force of the sound sent angels careening into the shield, vaporizing them instantly.

Andy gaped.
 
“Lucifer!
 
You have your wings!”

Berith punched Uriel and saw him.
 
“Good!
 
Where is Dahlia?”

Apple sailed backwards.
 
Lucifer caught her as she went by.
 
Apple gaped.
 
“You’re back!”
 
She turned and called to Whitney, “Be aware I lost Samuel!”

“You are Archangel.”
 
He smiled and set her right.

A whip cracked her across the cheek, sending her reeling.
 
Lucifer grabbed the end of the whip and pulled.
 
Samuel careened over; Lucifer punched him across the face.
 
“You!”
 
He tore his whip in two.

Samuel quailed.
 
“Uriel!
 
It is prudent to leave now!”
 
He ducked and disappeared.

At the name, Lucifer turned.
 
He saw Uriel and snarled.
 
“Grab him
now!
”

Andy, Berith, and Whitney dove for him.
 
Uriel grimaced and disappeared as Whitney launched a boulder at his head.

Lucifer growled and turned his gaze to the remaining angels.
 
He summoned fire and let loose a torrent, roasting any that were not Archangel.
 
Embers colored the air in orange and red before fading to ash.
 
The skies cleared.
 

Lucifer folded his arms.
 
“Someone bring me up to speed and explain,
in great detail
, as to why Dahlia was allowed to go alone to Heaven to turn herself over in trade for me.”

Andy, Berith, Apple, and Whitney shivered.
 
Whitney brought up a shield of stone.
 
“Uhm.”

***

Dahlia stepped into Hell with a smile on her face.
 
“Raphael!”

Raphael flashed to her side with Selaphiel in tow.
 
“Yeah yeah!”

Dahlia placed her hands on Raphael’s shoulders.
 
“Must you be absolutely hyper?”

Raphael pouted her lips.
 
“I have been forced in a male body for absolutely
ever
, pretending that I was a dull healer with no thoughts in my head.”
 
She looked over at Selaphiel and nudged Dahlia.
 
“I kind of want to make up for lost time, know what I mean?”

Dahlia smiled at the pair.
 
“Yes, I know what you mean.
 
Did you see Lucifer out?”

“Yeah and Furcas too, he had some kind of growth with him.”

“A baby, Raphael, not a growth.”
 
Dahlia looked around.
 
“Get this place ready.”

Raphael nodded.
 
“Anything in particular?”

Dahlia shrugged.
 
“As long as it does not look insane when I come back I will be fine.
 
You know what I like.”

“Pssh, of course!
 
We’re like totally sisters.”

“We
are
sisters, Raphael.
 
There is nothing ‘like’ about it.”
 
Dahlia hugged her.
 
“Okay, I have to go.”

Selaphiel touched her hand.
 
“Will my brother be fine?”

Both girls nodded.
 
Already having shared memories Dahlia was up to speed.
 
She patted his hand.
 
“I will check up on him first thing.”

“Thank you.”

Dahlia ducked her head.
 
“Now you two have fun.”
 
She closed her eyes and left the dark space of Hell.

Raphael leapt on Selaphiel.
 
“Time for
sex!
”

***

Furcas held Bean in one arm and opened the front door to his house.
 
He peered inside not knowing what to expect; he had heard from passersby about the situation within.
 
The house was dark.
 
Repetitive music came from the living room.
 
He walked in silently, the baby asleep in his arms.

Furcas stepped into the living room.
 
Jegudiel stared intently at the TV, his hands moved furiously on a controller.
 
Furcas walked around the couch and stared down at the boy.
 

Jegudiel muttered to himself, “Lizard man, go!
 
Why must you confound me?
 
You are fearsome at heart!
 
Be
a fearsome go-kart warrior!”

Furcas smirked and sat down on the couch.

Jegudiel leapt into the air.
 
Furcas pulled him back to the couch and held a finger to his lips.
 
“Where is Paimon?”

“Drunk and unconscious in his bedroom.”
 
Jegudiel paled.
 
“I thought you were dead?”

“Shh.”
 
Furcas pushed Jegudiel back and looked at his chest; it was covered in black ink.
 
He read aloud, “
My name is Yoshi, I am Paimon’s bitch
.”
 
He smiled.
 
“You made a bet with Paimon.
 
What a terrible idea.”

“Yes and I lost.”
 
Jegudiel sulked.
 
“He said I could win my name back if I beat him next time we play.”

“Uh-huh, I’m sure.”
 
Furcas patted him on the head and stood up.
 
He looked around the room and stared at the bottles on the floor, the cracked wall.
 
“This place is a mess.”

Jegudiel blushed.
 
“It
was
clean.
 
This is my fault.”

Furcas shook his head.
 
“I doubt that.”

“You are not angry, are you?”

Furcas eyed him.
 
“Angry?”

“I mean we’re not—he and I, that didn’t happen.
 
Nothing happened!”
 
He blushed at Furcas’ smirk.
 
“I like
girls!
”

Furcas smiled at Jegudiel.
 
“Boy, please.
 
They day I am threatened by anyone is the day I stop being me.”

The baby squirmed in his arms.
 
“Ba, ba.”

Furcas kissed her cheek.
 
“Ba, ba.”

Jegudiel was transfixed.
 
“What is that?”

Furcas smiled.
 
“Our child.”
 
He kissed her forehead.
 
He touched the couch and shifted half of it to a crib.
 
He set Bean inside and rubbed her tummy.
 
“Sleepy sleep time.”
 
Bean closed her eyes and purred.

Furcas looked to Jegudiel.
 
“Do not come into the bedroom unless she needs something, got it?”

“Of course!”

“Keep an eye on her.”

Jegudiel nodded and kneeled by the side of the crib.
 
He peeked over the side.
 
Bean opened her eyes and stared up at him.
 
She smiled and reached for his finger.
 
Jegudiel looked up at Furcas.

Furcas nodded.
 
“Go ahead.”

Jegudiel gave her his finger.
 
Bean pulled it to her mouth and chomped on it.
 
Jegudiel bit the edge the crib.
 
“Oh that is pain incarnate!”
 
Bean giggled.

Furcas smirked.
 
“Keep it down,
Yoshi
.”
 
He stepped to the closed door to the master bedroom and took a deep breath.
 
He pushed open the door and walked into the dimly lit room.
 
He closed the door quietly behind him and looked to the bed.

Paimon had wrapped himself around three pillows and the majority of Furcas’ clothes.
 
He had a vial of Furcas’ cologne broken open; bottles of alcohol littered the floor.
 
Furcas smiled slightly.
 
He walked to his side of the bed and slipped under the covers.

Paimon did not hear anyone enter, but he responded to the warmth in the bed.
 
He licked his lips, rising out of unconsciousness.
 
A body pressed up against his back, a chin rested on his shoulder.
 
An arm slipped around his waist, legs intertwined with his.
 
Lips kissed his neck.
 

Paimon woke up, instantly alert.
 
“Uh, excuse me?”

Kisses started at his earlobe and trailed down to his collarbone.
 
The hand around his waist made whirls and swirls against his bare stomach with a lazy set of fingers.
 
Paimon’s heart pounded.
 
He sniffed the air, but all he could smell was Furcas.

The lips against his neck smiled.
 
Teeth nipped at his skin.

Paimon rolled to his back and the cuddler moved to the side.
 
Paimon did not know if he was awake or dreaming.
 
He opened his mouth to speak and lips found his, warm, welcoming, familiar.
 
He inhaled, he smelled Furcas.
 
The hand on his stomach moved up and cupped his face.
 
Fingernails massaged his scalp.

Paimon reached out.
 
He touched the bare shoulder of his bedmate.
 
He traced his fingers upwards to a familiar collarbone.
 
Paimon’s chin quivered.
 
He touched the stranger’s jaw, tracing up to lips, which kissed his fingertips one by one.

Paimon turned to face him.
 
Furcas wrapped a leg around Paimon’s waist and pulled him close, skin to skin.
 

Paimon placed his palm on Furcas’ cheek.
 
He rubbed his thumb across the bridge of his nose, his eyebrows.
 
Paimon pushed his hand into his hair, every sensation familiar.

Furcas pulled him in and kissed him deeply, not letting go.
 
He put his entire being into this kiss as if it were the first and the last they would share.

Paimon trembled.
 
Tears escaped closed eyelids and slid down his cheeks.

Furcas broke their kiss and looked down at his beloved.
 
He wiped away his tears with his thumbs and pushed Paimon back into the pillows.
 
He supported himself with one hand.
 
He brushed back Paimon’s silver hair and kissed his forehead, his nose, his chin.
 
He leaned over and kissed Paimon’s ear, giving it a quick bite.
 
“Hello.”

Paimon sobbed and wrapped his arms around Furcas, pulling him down.
 
He dug his fingers into Furcas’ skin, needing him.
 
Paimon kissed his chest.
 
“What wonderful dream is this?”

Furcas smiled and rubbed his thumb across Paimon’s cheek.
 
“A dream?
 
A dream perhaps it could be, but I think not.”
 
He nuzzled Paimon’s neck.
 
“I am no figment.”

Paimon shuddered and kissed Furcas’ hair.
 
“You must be.”

Furcas smiled.
 
“I did say I would haunt you if I died, but I am not a ghost.”

Paimon’s lips trembled, his words choppy.
 
“Fu—Furcas.”

“Mmm?”
 
Furcas kissed his silver hair.
 
“What happened to my ginger?
 
Your eyes are silver, your hair the same.
 
I heard you tried to kill yourself.”

Paimon squeezed his eyes shut, unable to keep from crying.
 
“I did not want to live.
 
I still do not.
 
I will wake from this and despair again for not having you!”

Furcas nipped his nose.
 
“Despair not for I am here and you are awake.”

Paimon shook his head.
 
“Please do not turn this into a nightmare.
 
Please do not give me hope when none should exist.
 
This is not possible.”