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Unintended Series: Part 14 Family Ties
Luke came around the desk in the Celestial Library and Archives. Matthial was sleeping again. Luke grabbed a blanket he’d brought to work with him specifically for the older angel. Angels generally didn’t age much once they’d reached their maturity, but the events of the past ten years had taken a toll on Matthial. Luke tucked the blanket around his boss’ shoulders and picked up the keys to the Rolls Room.
Luke was no longer forbidden from the room. He hadn’t been since that day. Ten years prior, Michael had gone to the Devildom with the intention of killing Lucifer and his brothers. He’d only been partly successful. He had not just destroyed Lucifer’s physical form, Lucifer’s soul had been rent in twain. No angel, human nor demon could survive something like that. Luke knew better than to express any sympathy. Even if Lucifer had called him a chihuahua when he was younger, Luke was old enough now to know it was meant affectionately. He often wondered if Lucifer knew he was his nephew.
Luke also knew better than to show his happiness Michael had failed to kill Mammon or the rest of Lucifer’s brothers along with him. On that day so long ago, Luke had learned his true heritage, and he’d also learned of Michael’s flawed nature. Before leaving for the Devildom, Michael had basically threatened Luke’s life. It had terrified him. He knew Michael had been doing things not in alignment with their Father’s Will. Luke didn’t know how to go up against someone as powerful as Michael. He especially couldn’t do it on his own.
And then Michael had returned on the verge of death. Lucifer had gotten in a parting shot as he perished. The Spell of Erasure had only partially taken. Michael was still recovering all these years later. He never regained his limbs. He now wore prosthetics to help him function without the limbs he’d lost, but his strength was more than cut in half. No one knew whether he would ever recover. Luke had somehow been forgotten in the aftermath. He’d only seen glimpses of Michael since that day. No more often than any average angel saw him.
Luke was fine with that. He’d taken his new job in the CLA very seriously. That same day, when Lucifer had died, Luke had returned to the CLA to find Matthial howling in misery. He was standing in the Rolls Room looking frantically all around him. As Luke had run to his side the cause of his distress became evident. All the ledgers in the Rolls Room had started bleeding ink. It gushed from all the tomes in a thick stream to pool on the floor.
Matthial hadn’t been the same since then. The Rolls had been self-generating for as long as any of them remembered. No one knew whose magic powered them. After they had been consumed in their own ink, there had been rumors that either Lucifer or Michael had been powering them. Luke had felt the chaotic magic coming off the books as they died. It hadn’t felt like any magic he recognized. He’d wondered if it might be Solomon’s work, but it didn’t quite feel the same. Matthial had completely broken down afterward. He had taken particular pride in being the caretaker of the Rolls. After the dust had settled it was decided the Rolls must be recreated. Matthial didn’t have much heart for it, but Luke had taken the task upon himself.
He had been at the work for a decade now. He was at a point where he’d done all he could without powerful magic. He needed help, and he wasn’t about to ask Michael. His only idea was to go to the Human World and seek out Solomon. He needed Matthial’s permission, but he’d yet to ask it. He didn’t know why he was stalling. Possibly he feared catching Michael’s attention. Maybe he was just not sure of traversing the Human World without Simeon by his side.
As he was unlocking the door to the Rolls Room, Matthial startled awake. “Luke?”
“It’s me. I was just going to go over the books one more time.” He said. Matthial stepped down from the desk and joined him.
“Luke, you’ve done incredible work trying to recreate the rolls. Look at you! You’ve grown into a fine young man in these past years.” Matthial looked up at Luke. Luke blushed. He still wasn’t used to being taller than his boss. A few years prior he’d had a growth spurt. He was almost a half foot taller than he had been. In appearance he looked like a sixteen year old human. He was still gawky, but he was finally starting to get closer to full angelic maturity. He wasn’t sure it would ever come to pass. “I know what you’re thinking.” Matthial said.
“What’s that?” Luke asked.
“We need a powerful magic user to breathe life back into the books.”
“Neither of us is strong enough. Michael may have been before…well, before that day. I don’t know anyone else other than our Father, and I don’t even know how we speak to Him.” Luke said.
“But you have someone in mind?”
“The human sorcerer Solomon. I was in the exchange program in the Devildom with him. I know he’s strong enough for it. I just don’t know if he is still restraining himself from interacting with the Devildom and the Celestial Realm. The war has been on hold this long, so I think it is at least worth a shot to ask him for help.” Luke explained.
“And you want permission to travel to the Human World to find him?” Matthial asked.
“I do.” Luke nodded.
“Permission granted. Go as soon as you are ready. Be vigilant. Be persuasive. Don’t dawdle.” Matthial agreed.
********
Solomon entered a world of chaos when he stepped through the threshold of the cozy home nestled in the mountains. In the center of it all there was a man holding a ten year old girl in his arms. The girl was unresponsive to his pleas. Her head was thrown back and her eyes were fully crimson. She was in a trance, and it wasn’t the first time this had happened.
Standing on the stairs leading from the loft of the cabin was a Graceless angel holding a crying four year old girl on his hip while clutching the hand of an eight year old boy. A pregnant woman stood behind the man holding the little girl. “Solomon! Please, you have to help her.” MC rushed to meet him, tears in her eyes. He took the time to put a hand on MC’s stomach to feel the energy of the child she carried. The unborn child was picking up its mother’s agitation, but otherwise healthy.
“MC, please, stand back. I will bring her back again. All will be well. I swear it.” He brushed a hand over her head to soothe her, and then went directly to where Lucifer held his daughter in an embrace. As Solomon got closer he could hear Lucifer chanting in his daughter’s ear.
“Rebekah, listen to me. It’s Dad. I’m here, darling. Just follow my voice. I know you can hear me. Perk up those ears, young lady. Follow Daddy’s voice back home, please… come home, baby. Come home. Come home.” Solomon knelt down beside them. He laid a hand on the girl’s head. She had her father’s raven black hair, but there were streaks of her mother’s scarlet hair threaded through the thick braid hanging down her back.
“Rebekah, Uncle Solly’s here. Won’t you come back to visit with me?” He implored. She didn’t respond. He looked at Lucifer who had finally acknowledged his presence.
“I can’t get her to come back this time. I don’t know what else to do. I’ve tried being strict and threatening punishment if she didn’t return immediately. I tried offering rewards if she came back. I’m begging her now. I don’t know what to do. I can’t get to where she’s at. I’ve not had magic since I came here.” It was still odd to Solomon to see Lucifer as a magicless human being.
“I’ll find her. Don’t worry.” He assured the frantic father. Solomon easily slipped into the spaces only reached through meditation. The little girl had an uncanny knack to travel through the multiple planes of existence. Solomon had tried to teach her how to anchor herself in her own place. She was a diligent pupil and a quick study. She could enter any existence as easily as most people walked through a doorway. What Rebekah couldn’t do was learn to shut the doors. When she was conscious she knew enough to stay away from the open paths. The trouble came mostly when she slept. The fact she was wearing a unicorn print nightgown attested to what had happened.
Solomon had traveled through the usual routes Rebekah went to, but he’d not found her after a few minutes. He had to make an effort to shut out the anxiety roiling off her family. It was distracting him. He walked through odd shaped doorways, past groves of birch trees, past a lone abandoned house, over to an inky black creek that mimicked the one at the back of the cabin. “Rebekah? Are you playing hide and seek? It’s not the time to play now. It’s time to wake up and return to your Mama and Daddy. They miss you terribly.” Solomon called out, hoping she would hear him. He heard a giggle, and relief washed over him. He quieted down to follow the sound of the little girl’s voice. She wasn’t too far away, but there was a peculiar echo to her voice.
The closer Solomon got to Rebekah, the more he was sure he heard a second voice. The path he had followed past the winding creek took him to an area he’d never seen before. There was a stone bridge, and when he passed beneath it the air changed. He recognized the scent immediately. He hadn’t been to the Devildom since the exchange program, but the air was unmistakable. He was hearing two voices now in addition to Rebekah’s. Knowing where they were, he began rushing. “Rebekah!” He called to her urgently, and he saw a flash of her hair between the leaves of a copse of trees. Her head whipped around at the sound of his voice, and they made eye contact.
“Uncle Solly!” She beamed at him and waved enthusiastically. It reminded him of Asmodeus. He charged through the underbrush to get to her side, getting his cape caught in the process. As he tugged it loose another voice made him snap his head up.
“Solomon?” Sitting on the ground with Rebekah was Lord Diavolo. Standing behind him, Mammon had his hands on his hips. “How did you get here?” Diavolo asked him. He didn’t know how to answer. He wasn’t sure who to trust when it came to Rebekah.
“Dia, do you know Uncle Solly?” Rebekah asked excitedly.
“I do. We’ve been friends for a very long time. I didn’t know he knew the way here, though.” Solomon couldn’t tell from Diavolo’s expression whether he was genuinely curious or if he felt like Solomon had snuck into the Devildom.
“Well, Rebekah is extraordinarily talented at finding open doors to anywhere. I’m trying to teach her to close the doors for her own protection, but she likes to sneak through sometimes while she’s sleeping.” Solomon tried to explain without giving away too much information.
“This one likes slipping away from the Castle when he shouldn’t, too. He’s got mounds of paperwork to do, and every time he runs Barbatos sends me after him.” Mammon griped.
“Mammon, you know I work better once I’ve had my morning walk.” Diavolo replied. Rebekah’s head turned to look up at Mammon.
“Is that your name? Mammon?” She asked him. Oh no.
“Yeah, what’s it to ya, Pipsqueak?” Mammon smirked at her.
“Rebekah, we have to go now. Your parents are terribly worried. They’ve been trying to wake you all morning.” He took her hand in his, but she pulled away.
“You don’t have to hold my hand anymore. I know the way back.” She was growing quite the defiant streak of independence, and that worried him. She wasn’t strong enough to protect herself yet.
“If you are not lost and are willfully here we need to have a long talk. Were you not forbidden from purposely going through the doors?” Solomon asked her. She rolled her eyes at him.
“I’m fine. Dia is my friend. He isn’t a bad guy. He even told me I was welcome here in his kingdom any time.” Rebekah told him.
“Diavolo, why are you extending an invitation like that to a ten year old human girl? Do you think that’s appropriate?” Solomon challenged the Demon Prince. Diavolo stood up to his full height, dusted off the seat of his pants, crossed his arms across his chest and looked down at Solomon.
“There is nothing nefarious about my invitation. Rebekah is my friend, simple as that. She reminds me of MC.” Diavolo explained. Solomon felt the blood drain from his face.
“MC? That’s my mama’s name! And my daddy’s got a brother named Mammon, too. I never met him, though. Dad says all his brothers live really far away.” Rebekah spilled the beans. Solomon saw realization dawn in Diavolo’s eyes, and Mammon was just staring down at her, frozen in place as his brain worked it out.
“Solomon? Is…” Diavolo darted his eyes toward Rebekah “... Lucifer’s?”
“My dad’s name is Lucian Morgenstern, not Lucifer. Isn’t that the devil’s name? That’s what Uncle Simmie told me one time.” Solomon let out a sigh. There would be no getting this cat back into the bag now.
“Listen, Michael wasn’t fully defeated. He yet lives, although he is badly maimed. Their location must not be leaked to the Celestial Realm. The best way to keep them safe is for all of us to avoid them. The angels can’t learn of her existence.”
“Don’t fret, Solomon. This is a safe pocket within the Devildom. I created it myself.” Barbatos had somehow slipped in unnoticed.
“Uncle Barbie! I found you!” Rebekah shot over to the demon butler, who bent at the waist to bow to her.
“Miss Rebekah…” Just as she neared, he raised up enough to pinch the tip of her nose with his gloved hand. “...it was I who found you this time. I see you met Prince Diavolo and Mammon, his right hand man.” The two of them seemed to be in their own world. Rebekah pulled a pouch from around her neck.
“I bought you a gift for your birthday. It’s green tea leaves. Mama helped me pick them out.” She handed the pouch over to Barbatos. His cheeks flushed pink, and he grinned.
“Thank you, my dear. I will relish them. What have I told you about coming here?” He put a stern face on. Rebekah’s face crumpled into a guilty frown.
“I’m not supposed to come on my own. But it’s your birthday!” She pouted.
“And I appreciate the thoughtful gift, my dear, but you must go home now. Your parents are very worried.”
“Fine.” She was clearly not happy.
“Wait… are you saying she’s…” Mammon finally caught on.
“I’ll explain later, Mammon. For now Miss Rebekah must go with Solomon to return to her own home with her parents and siblings.” Barbatos answered.
********
Lucifer watched as Solomon slipped into a trance alongside Rebekah. It didn’t make him any less worried. He found it physically painful to not be able to use magic to protect his child. Every time Solomon had to be called in, his pride took another hit. MC stood behind him and threaded her fingers through his hair to calm him. He tilted his head back into her hand. She moved closer to him, and his head rested against the bump of their fourth child in her womb.
Despite frantic moments such as the one they were currently enduring, Lucifer had taken very well to fatherhood. He’d had millennia of practice on his brothers. Human children were infinitely easier to raise. “He’ll find her. He always has.” MC said out loud. Lucifer didn’t know if she was soothing him or herself with the words. He reached up to hold the hand that wasn’t busy stroking his hair. He brought it to his mouth and kissed her palm.
“I know. I can’t stand not knowing where she is. Not being able to go after her myself is infuriating.” He sighed. Suddenly Rebekah gasped and jolted awake. Her tiny hands grabbed hold of the lapels of his robe to steady herself.
“Daddy?” She had a sleep hazed voice that might’ve been the most precious thing he’d ever heard.
“Rebekah! My darling girl, just where did you wander to this time? We’ve spoken about this before. You CANNOT do this. It’s dangerous!”
“I went to see Uncle Barbie. It’s his birthday. I met his friends, Prince Dia and Mammon. Ain’t that weird that he has the same name as your brother?”
“Isn’t, not ain’t.” Lucifer automatically corrected her, and then paused.
“It’s true. She knows a way to a pocket within the Devildom that Barbatos created. He claims it is safe. They figured out who she is. Barbatos said he would deal with it.” Solomon explained. Lucifer felt that sense of helplessness again. It was the worst part of being human. He frowned realizing he was being forced to rely on others to keep his family safe yet again. Rebekah reached to touch his face. Her fingers traced his frown.
“Don’t be sad, Daddy. I’m sorry. I just wanted to give Uncle Barbie the tea leaves Mama and I bought for him.”
“Bekah, Uncle Barbie was already planning to visit us this weekend. You knew that. You know you aren’t supposed to go seeking out the doorways. It’s not safe, and you aren’t capable of protecting yourself against all that’s out there.” MC scolded their eldest child. When Rebekah pouted it was almost a perfect copy of MC’s pout. Despite the situation, Lucifer found his frown turning into a smile.
“I said sorry, geez.” Rebekah said quietly. Solomon interrupted.
“Rebekah, how did you find your way to that particular doorway? Have you been there before?” She grinned and nodded enthusiastically at Solomon.
“I just found it during a dream one time. I could see a weird blue light, so I followed it. There are these glowing blue flowers that grow there. The first time I found it was when I met Dia. He’s the Prince of that place, and he told me it was okay for me to come see him. I’m only allowed to stay there where the flowers grow, though. He said it’s dangerous everywhere but there.” Rebekah explained. Lucifer felt a pang of anxiety knowing Diavolo knew of Rebekah.
“Did Dia tell you to come back?” Solomon asked. Simeon had joined them downstairs, moving to the kitchen to start breakfast.
“He told me I was welcome to visit whenever I wanted as long as I just stay where the flowers grow. The next time I went there Uncle Barbie was there cutting some of the flowers. He was the one who told me Dia is a prince.” She explained. Solomon frowned.
“I don’t think you should go back there for awhile, Bekah. I need to find out some things before you travel back there. Can you promise me you will not go through that doorway for the time being?” Solomon requested.
“But Dia’s my friend! He’ll miss me if I don’t go see him!” She protested.
“Rebekah… I understand Dia is your friend, but as a prince he has many powerful enemies. Someone may hurt you if you are close to him.” Lucifer tried to get her to understand the situation.
“He would protect me!” She cried out. He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.
“Just… refrain from visiting him for now, as Solomon has requested. Can’t you at least do that for me?” If all else failed, guilt trips seemed to work on her. She huffed and crossed her arms. “We need to know it’s safe for you to be there. I don’t think my heart would survive if anything happened to my darling girl.” Lucifer layered the guilt and stroked her hair. She rolled her eyes.
“Fine.” She finally agreed.
“Thank you. Now, why don’t you go check in on your brother and sister? They were very worried for you earlier.” He informed her, hoping to remind her of the consequences of her actions.
“Johnny is upstairs playing puppets with Lillian. Why don’t you show your sister the puppet you made of your father?” Simeon suggested to Rebekah.
“She’ll just tear it up, but fine.” Rebekah huffed and took off upstairs.
As soon as she was out of the room Lucifer spoke. “We need to summon Barbatos now.”
********
Luke arrived in the Human World in the late morning. He’d used a spell to hone in on Solomon, so he wasn’t sure where the portal would take him. Even as the portal closed behind him he couldn’t discern his location. It was isolated, there were trees and he could hear water running. There was a house before him, and no other dwellings nearby. He was anxious to just go knock on the door, but he didn’t know what else to do. He didn’t have the time to be nervous. He ran a hand over his hair, squared his shoulders and climbed the stairs to the front door. He rapped three times on the door and held his breath. He could hear footsteps nearing the door. He hoped it would be Solomon. He had no idea how to explain his presence to anyone else.
The door opened. “Can I help you? Luke!” Standing in the doorway was someone Luke didn’t think he’d ever see again.
“S-Simeon?” He whispered, unable to put any volume to his voice. The angel beamed back at him and dragged him into a tight embrace. Luke could barely breathe as Simeon squeezed him. “I can’t breathe!” He cried out.
“Chihuahua?” Another familiar voice spoke. Simeon finally released him, and Lucifer came over to join them.
“The both of you are supposed to be dead!” Luke exclaimed.
“Luke? How did you find this place?” There was a look of sheer terror on Solomon’s face as he moved to join them in the doorway.
“I used a honing spell. Should I not have?” Luke’s eyes moved around the room taking in everything around him. Not only were Lucifer, Simeon and Solomon present, but MC was standing a few feet away. She was very obviously carrying a child.
“Damn it. I was in such a hurry to get here I didn’t cloak myself.”
“But the cabin is shielded, yes?” Lucifer paled at the sorcerer’s words. Solomon chanted some quick words, and Luke felt the spell he’d used to find him lose its focus.
“The cabin is completely shielded. Luke, does anyone in the Celestial Realm know you were coming here to seek me out?” Solomon asked, putting his hands on Luke’s upper arms. Luke suddenly realized he was only a few inches shorter than him now.
“Just my boss at the CLA, Matthial. Did I do something wrong? What’s going on here? Simeon, I’m so confused.” Something about being back in the presence of the angel who’d raised him made him feel like the young boy he’d been. Simeon seemed to feel it, too. He reached a hand up to pet Luke’s head.
“You’ve done nothing wrong. Matthial has always been rather absentminded. He won’t take notice of what you’re doing while you are here.” Simeon said. A flash of greenish blue light popped up beside MC, and from within it Barbatos arrived.
“Ah, Luke. I’m glad you’re here, too. You’ve saved me the trouble of trying to summon you while staying beneath the Celestial Realm’s radar.” The demon butler’s smile was just as serene as Luke remembered it. He moved away from the dissipating light to offer Luke a bow. When he raised to his full height, Luke realized they were just the same size now.
“Will you tell me what’s going on here?”
“I think I’ll tend to breakfast.” MC said, moving toward the scent of food cooking.
********
Once I’d finished preparing the breakfast Simeon had started, I moved to join the men in my dining room. When I’d awoken that morning and checked on my children I’d found my eldest daughter in a trance like state. From there the morning had just kept taking twists and turns. It was going to be one of those days. The kind where everything got shifted around and life changed afterward. I frowned. I didn’t want it to change. After my parents had died in a car accident when I was barely eighteen I’d thought life would just be about survival. I’d never foreseen what my life would become. Becoming the wife of Lucifer was not something every little girl dreams of, but as I looked at him sipping his coffee I smiled. He brought me happiness I never imagined possible.
Bearing his children was a mixture of that same happiness threaded through with a streak of chaos, but I wouldn’t change that either. Well, as my gaze moved longingly to his mug of coffee I wished for just a moment to not be pregnant so I could enjoy the hot, fully caffeinated beverage. I could use it on a day like today. Lucifer noticed where my attention was drawn, and without a word he went to the kitchen. He came back moments later with a cup of the half-caf coffee Simeon had bought specifically for me. His hand brushed over my shoulders as he sat back down. “Just one cup.”
“If everyone is settled we should make this quick. The cabin is shielded, and I am cloaked. That doesn’t mean we will go unnoticed with this much power concentrated in one spot.” Solomon suggested.
“We are safe. I have ensured it. We have a number of things to discuss. First and foremost, Rebekah’s safety.” Barbatos began. Luke piped up.
“Who’s Rebekah?” I couldn’t help but smile when I looked at Luke. He looked to be maybe sixteen or seventeen now.
“She’s my daughter. She was conceived while Lucifer was still a demon.” I explained. Luke did a double take.
“WHAT?! Wait… what do you mean, STILL a demon?” He looked confused, and I realized he had no idea of what all had happened.
“When Michael killed me Barbatos channeled Diavolo’s Inherent Magic to resurrect me here in the Human World as a human. I am no longer an angel, fallen or otherwise, and I am no longer a demon. I have no magic. MC and I are married now. We have three children and one on the way. Our eldest…” I was surprised at how candid Lucifer was being. We’d been so careful of talking about any of it in order to protect our family.
“Rebekah will be the binding cord that will join all three realms into a peaceful existence. Which is why she needs protection. She must grow up and master her magic to make it so.” Barbatos explained. I could see understanding come over Luke’s expression.
“Simeon! That’s why you’re here!” Simeon nodded.
“It is. I gave up my Grace to keep us hidden from the Celestial Realm. I never wanted to hide from you, Luke, but…” Simeon frowned, but Barbatos picked up the narrative.
“At the time, you were too close to Michael. We needed you ignorant of the situation for your own safety. Even so, Michael has threatened you, has he not?” Barbatos asked. Luke frowned and nodded.
“Michael is… he’s… I started working in the Celestial Library and Archives mostly because I wanted to find out the truth about my birth. Without Simeon there to protect me even the instructors at Bible College were bullying me about being the son of a demon. I found out things about Michael, and he threatened to kill me. I’ve been staying away since then. He’s weaker than he was before, but he could still easily kill me. I don’t know what to do, but I think Michael is not who we always thought he was.” Luke explained.
“I could’ve told you he was a prick millennia ago.” Lucifer shrugged.
“Don’t be petty.” I chided him. He hmphed and smirked.
“He’s been doing his own will under the guise of doing our Father’s bidding all these years. Our Father went missing even before my brothers and I were felled.” Lucifer revealed.
“Luke, you learned your heritage, didn’t you?” Simeon asked him quietly and with a smile blooming on his face. Luke’s expression suddenly brightened.
“You should’ve told me you are my uncle! I understand why you kept Mammon being my father a secret from me, but knowing you are my uncle would’ve been okay.”
“So you know my idiot brother is your father? My condolences, but welcome to the family at any rate.” Lucifer gave Luke a smile. Luke looked like he suddenly realized something.
“Wait… if Lucifer is my uncle, too, MC… that makes you my aunt!” I gave him a bright smile, too, and nodded.
“It does.”
“Wow, so Rebekah’s already drawing us all together into one big family. That’s amazing, MC!” Luke said. Barbatos nodded.
“It is the essence of her being to draw people together. Now you understand why we must protect her. I know you are here about the Rolls, Luke, but they cannot be recreated at this time.” Barbatos said.
“Rolls?” I asked.
“Angelic vital records. They generate on their own through some powerful magic. Every angelic event is listed from births and deaths to falls. Are you saying something happened to them?” Lucifer asked Luke.
“When Michael killed you, the Rolls started bleeding ink and died. I’ve spent the past ten years recreating them, but I came here hoping Solomon would use his magic to breathe life into them again.” Luke revealed. Solomon shook his head.
“I’m afraid my magic isn’t orderly enough for such a task, even if it were safe to restore them at this point.”
“Your Father’s magic powered the Rolls. If they were to resume the Celestial Realm would know Simeon and Lucifer both live. They would also see Rebekah’s birth. As she is one third angel and daughter of a fallen angel, her name would appear on the Rolls.” Barbatos explained.
“How do you know whose magic powered them? None of us angels knew!” Luke was flabbergasted. Barbatos sighed.
“Many, many years ago I was there when Lord Diavolo’s father, the Demon King, made a pact with Your Father. Neither of them were happy to keep warring. They agreed upon bringing the three realms together peacefully. In order for that to happen the Demon King had to step away from raising his son. I was tasked with building an Optimal Timeline to bring this all about. Your Father is not gone, and the Demon King is but sleeping. When the time comes all will be revealed. For now, Luke, we need you to keep an eye on things in the Celestial Realm. If it seems as if Rebekah’s presence is discovered, can we rely on you to alert us?”
“How am I supposed to do that? I need permission to even come to the Human World.” Luke said.
“Matthial will be compliant with your wishes if you tell him the truth. You seek to meet your father and build a relationship with him. Mammon will be your handler, so to speak. Any changes in Michael’s behavior or indications Rebekah’s existence has been discovered can be reported to him.” Barbatos suggested.
“I haven’t seen Michael face to face since he threatened me ten years ago. He’s badly maimed and rarely shows his face in public.” Luke revealed. I watched Lucifer’s lips quirk into a pleased grin.
“So my erasure spell took a little out of the bastard, did it?” This time I let him gloat.
“It will be evident if Michael has discovered Rebekah or if his actions have changed. Even if his public interactions become lesser or greater, that information could be useful to us. You will meet with Mammon regularly to share information. He will be able to help you protect yourself if suspicion falls on you.” Barbatos explained.
“Yes, even if you were questioned about your visits to the Human World, you will be able to maintain honesty in saying you are seeking a relationship with your biological father. That relationship alone will provide you a modicum of protection.” Simeon nodded in agreement with Barbatos. My motherly instincts kicked in. Well, auntly instincts.
“Luke, are you comfortable with this idea?” I reached for his hand to give it a squeeze. His face lit up at my touch, and I could feel that familiar bloom of happiness humans felt when making physical contact with an angel. I’d almost forgotten about that side effect. Simeon had lost that ability when he’d surrendered his Grace.
“MC, if this is what needs to be done to protect your daughter, then I am happy to do it. Besides, it isn’t a lie. I truly DO wish to know Mammon better. I’ll do whatever needs to be done, Barbatos.” Luke nodded. He had grown into a young man, but he still had a sweet, boyish face and an adorable grin.
“Does Mammon even know Luke is his son?” Lucifer thought to ask. We all wore looks of surprise except for Barbatos.
“It is time he finds out. As to protecting Rebekah, I will close off the pathway to the Devildom for now. I cannot guarantee she will not find her way back to it as she ages and her strength increases, but for now she should be safe. I will go see the children now before I return to the Devildom.” Barbatos stood up and gave us all a bow. I watched as he headed upstairs, and I chuckled at the squeals of excitement coming from my children at the sight of their beloved Uncle Barbie.
“Lucifer… do you, u-um… do you think Mammon is going to be angry about me?” Luke seemed so vulnerable in that moment I wanted to pull him into a hug. Simeon beat me to it.
“Just don’t forget Mammon is an idiot. He may panic and say some hurtful things, but he often says the exact opposite of what he truly feels. Right toward the end of my days in the Devildom I recall him speaking fondly of your mother. His relationship with her was something he’d kept hidden from myself and his brothers. I can only take that to mean she was special enough to him he wanted to keep her all to himself. Give him time to adjust, and I think he will become a good father and role model for you.” Lucifer eased Luke’s fears.
“Role model?!” Luke was shocked.
“Yes. If you do the opposite of what he does, you’ll do just fine in life.” Lucifer smirked.
********
“Heya, Goldie. Whaddya want?” Mammon asked, not looking directly at the pint-sized angel who’d just come up to him. Lucifer had sent him out to find Belphegor, but he’d not had any success. Currently, he was in a patch of forest the youngest of his brothers frequented. Belphie enjoyed taking naps curled up in the limbs of trees. He claimed it made it harder for anyone to find him, and he wasn’t kidding. Mammon had been searching for over an hour when Charmeine found him.
“I told you my name is Charmeine.” She pouted. She was kinda cute for being so short.
“What else am I s’posed to call ya? Ya got those golden pipes, yer golden harp an’ all that golden hair.” He chuckled. It was true. Charmeine had the most beautiful voice he had ever heard. Even when she was just talking regularly her words sounded musical. She didn’t go anywhere without that golden harp of hers either. The tinkling sound of it when added to her voice was pure ambrosia. He kept trying to convince her to go down to the Human World with him to record a song or two. They could make boku bucks! She’d just wave him off, though. She had zero interest in money or humans. She just wanted to write and sing her songs. Well, and follow him around like a little puppy dog.
He honestly didn’t mind. He even kinda liked it. It felt weird though, because she was his friend Simeon’s twin sister. They didn’t look anything alike. They were twins like Beelzebub and Belphegor were. Spawned together. They were actually kinda opposites. Simeon had a dusky skin tone, and Charmeine’s was pearlescent. Simeon’s hair was dark, but hers was the color of a wheat field in the Human World. She and Simeon both had blue eyes, but whereas Simeon’s melted down into a greenish shade, hers faded into a golden yellow. They looked closer to his own eyes than her brother’s, but there was a subtle difference in the shades of yellow. All in all, she was a real beauty, but he knew Lucifer would kick his ass if he slacked off.
“Are you looking for Belphie again?” She moved closer to his side and started peering upward into the tree branches alongside him. Her arm slipped around the crook of his elbow to hold onto him. Without much thought he put his hand overtop hers to keep it there.
“Watch where yer stepping. Some of the roots stick up. I don’t want ya to fall.” He warned her. She stopped walking with him, pulling him to a halt as well. She didn’t speak until he looked down into her face.
“What if I already fell?” She asked. He scrunched his face in confusion.
“What the heck are ya talkin’ about, Goldie? Yer standin’ right here.” She stretched up on her tiptoes and shocked him by planting her lips right on his. She held tightly to his bare upper arms, and instinctively he slid his arms around her waist and down to cup her ass. It had the effect of pulling her curvy body right into his muscular torso. “Charmeine!” He gasped when she broke the kiss. She didn’t let go of him, though. He didn’t let go of her either.
“I fell for you, silly.” She looked up into his eyes with such adoration it made his heart flutter and his stomach lurch with a pang of desire.
“Look, Goldie… ya don’t want a messed up angel like me. I’m always gettin’ in trouble. Lucifer says I spent so much time goofin’ off in the Human World my Grace is tarnished. I gotta really behave for awhile. If ya keep sayin’ such sweet things an’ kissin’ me like that I ain’t gonna be able to be so nice, ya know.” He rubbed the back of his neck nervously. He was all bark. He was internally begging her to kiss him again.
“I love you just the way you are, Mammon. Tarnished halo and all.” She giggled and pressed her lips into the column of his throat. His entire body shivered. She let go of his left arm and slid her hand down his side, into the fold of his robes to rest on his bare hip.
“Charmeine…” He whispered her name. It was a dare. One more kiss. Just one more kiss and he wouldn’t be able to hold himself back. He even lowered his face closer to hers to entice her. She took the bait. This time when her lips met his, she glided her tongue over his lower lip. He darted his own tongue out to meet hers, and she let out a muffled moan. For being such a pipsqueak she was strong. She did some kinda move on him that shoved his back right into the trunk of a tree. She had him trapped, but damned if he didn’t like it. His robes didn’t do much to hide the fact he had a raging hard-on, and Charmeine didn’t act the least bit shy when she dipped her hands through the folds of his clothing to grasp it with her bare hand.
“I want you, Mammon. I want you inside me. I want to know what it feels like.” She spoke with that lyrical lilt to her breathy voice, and he’d have cut his own heart out and given it to her in that moment.
“Then take me, darlin.’ I ain’t stoppin’ ya.” His own voice was low and husky with desire. He’d not thought about sex much before, but maybe Lucifer was right. Maybe his Grace was lacking a bit for all those trips to the Human World he’d been taking looking for Lilith. At that moment he wanted to be inside of Charmeine more than he’d ever wanted anything.
He grabbed at the voluminous swaths of cloth wrapped around the diminutive angel and kept pawing until he found bare skin. He was touching her thigh, and that alone made his heart race. She stopped touching him long enough to untangle the belt holding her own robes together. She gave it a tug, and both sides fell open, baring the front of her body to him. All he could do was ogle her perfect body with his jaw hung open. She giggled at his response, and took the opportunity to loosen his sashes and belts. When she slid the material back it slithered to the ground, and his rigid cock sprang loose. This time, Charmeine’s mouth fell open with a gasp. “It’s so big.” He couldn’t tell if she was happy about it or nervous.
“Just ‘cause yer so tiny.” He chuckled. She bit her lip and gave a determined nod.
“I’ll make it fit.” He didn’t know if she was telling that to him or to herself, but he believed it. “You’ve done this before, right?” She asked. He froze up.
“I mean, yeah. Sure. It ain’t that complicated. Humans do it all the time.” He shrugged. She grinned up at him.
“Lift me up.” He wasn’t about to admit he was clueless, and she seemed to know exactly what she wanted. He obeyed. He took her around the waist and lifted her into the air, and she wrapped her legs around his waist. He automatically slid his hands down to hold onto her ass, because it gave him a better grip. “Am I too heavy?” It was the first time he’d ever seen a vulnerable look on her face. He smirked.
“Not for THE Great Mammon, yer not. I got ya, Goldie.” He liked seeing that vulnerability fade into a happy smile. He took the initiative this time, dipping his head down to capture that smile in a kiss. She leaned into his chest, and he slid down the tree trunk just a bit to change the angle of things. His dick was throbbing now, and every time it brushed against her downy mound his entire body got a jolt.
Charmeine wrapped her arms around his neck, cradling his head in her forearms as she returned his kiss enthusiastically. She slowly humped her body against his, creating a maddening friction between that secret spot between her thighs and his cock. His breathing was getting more erratic with every up and down motion she made. He felt just the shaft of his penis glide along her, and she pushed downward. It spread the fullness of her pussy lips just enough for him to feel how wet she was inside. The need to bury himself into that wetness was driving him mad. “Goldie… please!” He literally begged her. She giggled again, and it was the most seductive sound he’d ever heard. She positioned herself over the head of his dick, and after dipping her hips a couple times to get it right, she slammed herself flush to his hip bones. Both of them let out a cry at the rush of sensations, and Mammon lost it.
He clutched her so tightly to himself she could barely move. He didn’t think he could handle it if she moved, too. He hammered himself into her body with no thought about anything else but getting himself as deeply inside her as possible. She gasped and moaned and pulled his face into the valley of her round tits. He licked, sucked and bit at the tender flesh as he bucked his body into hers. In what felt like seconds, he felt himself erupt heat into her body. His legs gave out with the strength of his release. She wasn’t done, though. As sensitive as he was still, she pushed him flat onto his back and kept riding him. His dick started getting hard again, much to his surprise. Charmeine kept her balance by holding onto his bare chest, flicking her thumb over the small peaks of his nipples, until she finally seized up and threw her head back in a silent cry. He felt the muscles inside her body spasm and grip his dick as she hit her own release, and it brought forth a second flood of his hot seed.
********
Mammon woke up in mid-fall. He must’ve dozed off on the sofa at the Castle. He’d been having a dream about Simeon’s sister and his first sexual experience, so maybe he’d been moving around in his sleep. Either way, he came fully awake with a thud to the floor and a groan. Why had he dreamt of Charmeine? The last time he’d really even thought of her had been when Simeon and Luke had arrived to the Devildom for the exchange program at RAD, and that was ten years ago.
Maybe it was finding out Lucifer and MC were together and had a kid. He’d never get to have anything like that with Charmeine, but he was glad for his brother. Lucifer always had been like a father figure to all of them. The pipsqueak, Rebekah, she was a cute kid, too. Mammon hoped she took more after MC than Lucifer. Shit. He whipped his head around to find Lord Diavolo not at the desk. Again. Damn it. He pulled himself up off the floor just as Valefor stepped into the room. “Hey, Boss. Barbatos needs to talk to ya.” Mammon adjusted the crotch of his pants and suddenly realized he’d had a wet dream.
“I gotta go find His Royal Pain in the Ass first. Ya think ya can conjure me up a clean pair of pants?”
“Lord D is in the kitchen preparing a special treat for Barbatos’ birthday dinner. Barbatos is in his room waiting for you. He said it is urgent.” Little V handed over a folded stack of fresh clothing.
“Thanks. Tell him I’m on my way.”