by Dahlia Lu
He picked her up in his arms and stood straight.
The doctors and nurses ran into the room.
"Put her down,” the doctor said. "Please tell me your name. Are you a patient of this hospital?"
He lowered his eyes, deeming him unworthy of his reply.
"Please put her down, she is in very bad condition!" the doctor said.
"No. I will take her with me.”
"You can't.”
His beautiful blue eyes glowed. The glass on the windows behind him shattered and flew toward them. The glass penetrated their flesh and blood began to pour from their wounds.
Chevalier and Adria ran into the room. Adria protected Chevalier and herself with a force field.
"Lucifer?" Chevalier was mistaken at first, "No, you are not Lucifer!"
"Correct,” Trent replied. "I am not my Father.”
"Father?" Adria take a closer look at him. "Trent? Is that you?"
Chevalier looked shocked. "How can that be? Trent is five years old. This person is an adult, that’s not possible!"
"It's not Trent,” Adria concluded. "It's his instinct.”
"His instinct took over?" Chevalier turned toward Trent. "Put her down!"
"I do not want to hurt you, my other Father,” the instinct said to Chevalier. "You were kind to me before I was born. Please stay out of my way.”
"Where are you taking her?"
"I do not know,” Trent replied. "Where Father cannot find her.”
"Trent, no, whatever you are, put her down!" Chevalier said. "Don’t you understand that she will die if Lucifer cannot find her?"
"I do not want to return her,” Trent said. He looked down at her face. "Father doesn't love me. He hated me. Only Mother loves me. I cannot lose her.”
"What is he saying?" Chevalier asked Adria.
Adria frowned. "I don’t know. Instincts are supposed to have two purposes and two purposes alone; survival and sort to gain complete control. This instinct is acting according to his own reasons.”
"Huh?"
"Remember your instinct, Chevalier? See how different it sounded from this one?"
Chevalier nodded. The two were worlds apart.
"Father only has to be on Earth for her to live. He will return, but I do not want to give her back to him.”
"Why?" Adria asked. "Why are you doing this? What do you have against Lucifer?"
"I truly despise him,” Trent said. A set of black wings sprung from his back. The feathers were neither black nor white, but glistening silver. "We are both his sons, yet he only loves the other me.”
Finishing his sentence, he flew out of the window, carrying Kali in his arms.
Chapter 28: His Other Son
Above the Heaven's clouds at the mountain’s peak, Lucifer was held captive on the Cross. His arms were spread to the shape of the cross as thorn vines wrapped around his body. His blood flowed from the wounds that wouldn’t heal. For the last several hours, he had been trying to break free from the spell that bound him to the cross. Lucifer cursed under his breath at the humiliation! Who would have thought that there will be a day like this for Lucifer?
Michael appeared out of the clear blue sky. His wings folded behind him as he landed onto the clouds.
“Let me go, Michael!” Lucifer demanded.
“Unlike you, I am not my own king. I cannot do so until the trial is over. "
“This is dirty, Michael! You can’t come up with a spell strong enough by yourself, so you assembled a bunch of your companions to come up with one!”
“That is true,” Michael admitted. “I could have not captured you if it weren’t for the help of others. Not in such a short time period, anyway. I’ve said it before; you’d left me no choice.”
“Kali needs me!” Lucifer shouted. “If anything happen to her, I will overthrow Heaven to avenge her!”
“I am curious, Lucifer,” Michael said in a calm voice. “You have always been proud. Even when you were an archangel, you looked down upon everyone, especially the ones you called ‘weak humans’. Why did you fell in love with one, Lucifer?”
“I have no obligation to tell you,” Lucifer said.
“I am only curious, that is all,” Michael sat down, leaning against the cross. “Even a demon like you can fall in love…”
“Even if I wanted to explain it, I can’t.”
Michael smiled. “I supposed not. Kali is a very sweet child. If you hadn’t fed her your blood, I’m very sure she would find Heaven a comfortable home.”
“What fairy tale is this?” Lucifer asked.
“If I had met her first, I would have arranged a place for her,” Michael said. “She has a very pure heart. Is that the reason you fell in love with her?”
“Purity?” Lucifer gently laughed. “I did not fell in love with her because she was pure. I fell in love with her because she was the first person who shed her tears for my sake.”
“Tears?”
“It tasted very sweet.”
“You were always the strange one, Lucifer.”
“I cannot stay here, Michael, not when I do not know her condition,” Lucifer said.
“That much, I can help you with,” Michael responded. He closed his eyes and placed his hands vertically in front of him. A ball of light the size of a rice grain grew bigger as Michael concentrated his power. When it was large enough, Michael pushed it into the air like a bubble. It floated in mid–air, facing Lucifer. Through it, Lucifer could see Kali.
Trent landed in a field of flowers. The silver wind of the night brushed by, blowing a gentle breeze through his platinum hair. His beautiful blue eyes stared into the night sky and searched the stars. He looked down to Kali, who had been sleeping neatly in his arms to make sure his flight had not caused her any physical discomfort. He gently placed her atop of the flowers and lay down next to her on his stomach. He brushed her coral cheeks with the back of his fingers. He picked up a pretty flower and placed it in her hair. Satisfied with how it looked on her, he smiled innocently.
He remembered her gentle voice singing him a lullaby.
“Only you love me,” he whispered. He bent down and placed a light kiss on her lips.
Lucifer caught his breath. Kali was lying unconscious on a flower field. There was a young man with a face and body almost identical to his own. “Who is that?” he asked Michael.
“That is your son.”
“Trent?”
“No, it’s his instinct,” Michael clarified. “Trent released his instinct thinking that his instinct could save his mother.”
“Why is he–?”
"Do not be so surprised,” Michael said. "He's only imitating you. What do you expect from a five-year-old?"
“When I find it, I’ll destroy it!” Lucifer growled. “How dare it trick my son?"
"He bears deep hatred toward you, Lucifer. You chose to love Trent and banish his instinct. A demon and his instinct are one and the same. Whether you like it or not, that instinct is also your son.”
Lucifer clenched his fists as he watched Trent through the looking glass. He was humming the lullaby that Kali had sung so often. He selected the most beautiful flowers and placed them into her golden brown hair, one at a time.
†††††
“This is Heaven’s boundary,” Acelin said to Chevalier as they flew past a force field. They have decided to rescue Lucifer first. They knew for a fact that Trent would never harm Kali. Adria trailed behind them. She carefully observed her surroundings to gain some sort of awareness. Heaven had been demon kind’s forbidden territory for a good reason.
“Where should we go now?” Chevalier asked, unfamiliar with the territory.
“Where the trial is being held,” Acelin said.
“And where is that?”
“The Holy Cross,” Acelin replied.
“Oh, that’s ironic. The Holy Cross, I would have never guessed.” Chevalier said.
The three demons flew across the sky until they saw a giant cr
oss on the horizon. Acelin stopped when he saw the angels gathered around the cross.
“It seems we are late for the trial.”
“Yeah, and I don’t think we have time to stay for the final verdict,” Chevalier said. "What's the plan?"
"Plan?" Acelin smirked. A sword appeared in his right hand. "You take as many out as possible and free Lord Lucifer from the Cross.”
Chevalier and Adria also summoned their swords.
"Good plan,”
At the Cross, the Angels whispered to each other to decide upon the final verdict. Lucifer sighed impatiently. This was taking way too long. If he did not return to earth soon, Kali wouldn’t make it. He eyed Michael, who looked as anxious as he was. Michael also knew time was running out.
†††††
Trent stared at Kali.
Her breathing was so fragile. He looked at her through teary eyes and placed a hand on her chest to feel her heartbeat. It had become faint. He gathered her in his arms as his tears fell onto her cheeks.
"You can’t leave me,” he whispered to her, "if you leave me, Mother, who will love me? Who will care for me? If Father makes it back, he won’t let me be with you. He’ll make me return Trent's body, and that is where I will have to spend the rest of eternity. I'll lose you forever. I'll lose you either way. Why it is me, Mother? Why am I the instinct? Why am I Trent’s shadow and not Trent? It is not fair that I have to spend a life in darkness, to always hear your voice so close to me, but never be able to feel your warmth. I hate Trent. I hate Father. And I hate you. Why did you and father created me, only to abandon me inside of Trent? I never asked to be created. I didn't become what I am because I chose to. You and Father made me what I am. I hate myself for hating you, Mother. There are so many emotions I cannot control, but I know that if Father forces me to leave you, I would rather I did not exist. I would rather that you did not exist. I won’t let Trent have what I cannot. Mother, if you die, do you think that Father would kill me, too? I hope he would. If I die, Trent will also die. Father will be alone. He deserves to be alone. Then, he will feel what I have felt.”
He snuggled his cheek against her. “We’ll all die together so I won’t be alone anymore.”
†††††
"Lucifer, what is wrong?" Michael asked when he saw Lucifer's pained expression.
Lucifer was breathing rapidly. "Kali…”
His heart felt like it was going to explode. Each heartbeat echoed in his head. His chest felt like he couldn't breathe. "Kali!" he screamed out her name.
"Lucifer?"
Lucifer turned to Michael. He knew the strange pain he was feeling had to do with Kali. "Show her to me! Show her to me!" he shouted angrily. His pale blue eyes glowed fiercely.
Three powerful energy balls were directed toward the angels as Acelin, Chevalier, and Adria launched a surprised attack. Michael calmly watched. He created a looking glass for Lucifer to see Kali. She was lying in Trent's arms as little dim lights slowly left her body.
Lucifer clenched his fists as he watched. There was a sudden power surge through his body. Lucifer's nails grew razor sharp and fangs sprouted from his mouth. Michael knew Lucifer was about to break free from the spell. His anger and concern for the woman he loved forced him to use every ounce of the energy in his demonic being to break the spell that bound him. Michael could have cast a spell to stop Lucifer; however, he turned away and headed toward the fight between the three demons and the angels.
A bright light shone suddenly across the sky. When it faded away, the Cross began to crumble. Lucifer spread his wings and flew toward the boundary to Earth.
Chevalier, Acelin, and Adria retreated from the fight and followed Lucifer.
Chapter 29: Drifting Sorrow
Lucifer closed his eyes to concentrate on Kali’s presence.
Trent felt Kali’s breathing returning to normal and realized that his father had broken free from Heaven. He held her in his arms protectively and formed a force field around them to escape Lucifer’s detection. It was too late. Lucifer had already landed in the field of flowers. He saw Trent holding Kali and glaring at him. Trent’s blue eyes glowed, showing discontent.
“Give her back to me,” Lucifer held out his hand.
“I will not,” Trent said.
“Give her back to me, Trent,” Lucifer said in a cold voice.
“I will not!” Trent directed an energy ball toward his father. “Leave us alone!” he hissed.
“She is mine, Trent,” Lucifer dodged Trent’s attack easily. “Give her back to me at once.”
Trent shook his head. “Mother is mine!”
“Trent!” Lucifer said in a warning tone.
Trent put Kali down on the ground and stood up. His wings spread out as he summoned his sword.
“I will only say it one more time; hand Kali over to me, and return Trent’s body at once.”
“I would rather die!” Trent said. “If I die, Trent will die with me!” he charged at Lucifer with his sword.
Adria, Chevalier, and Acelin landed and watched the battle between Trent and Lucifer. Lucifer mostly dodged and was hesitant to attack, knowing it would hurt Trent’s body.
“Fight me, father!” Trent provoked. “Kill me! You have that power!”
Chevalier ran to Kali’s side. Her body was still cold, although her heartbeat and breathing had returned to normal.
Trent slashed his sword at Lucifer but continuously missed. He shoved his shoulder at Lucifer and used the sword to -
Lucifer was too fast.
Trent turned around and saw Lucifer looking at him through cold eyes. There were nights when Trent has been asleep, but he suddenly woke. His father would look at him with those same cold eyes and warn him, the instinct, never to come out again. But when he looked at the other him, it was through the eyes of a Father. Trent felt a sharp pain in his chest. It was so painful that it made him cry.
Lucifer caught his breath. The instinct was crying. Michael’s words rang in his head.
“Whether you like it or not, he is still your son.”
This boy, who had been blindly attacking him out of rage, only had a mentality of a five year old. He was deeply hurt by his cold gaze. This boy…is Trent…the other Trent. Through his eyes, Lucifer could see his thoughts. Why do you hate me, Father? What have I done wrong? Why do you love Trent but not me? Why do you tuck him in at night while you banish me with harsh words? Why did you create me? Why?
Lucifer stood still and let Trent penetrate him with his sword. Trent gasped, surprised. He inched back to face his Father. “Why did you -?”
Lucifer embraced him. “I am sorry,” he said.
Trent opened his mouth, shocked. The tears streamed from his eyes.
“I am sorry,” Lucifer held Trent tight.
“Why are you saying sorry?” Trent asked. “Why are you saying this now?”
“I never knew an instinct has a will,” Lucifer said in a soft voice. “I always thought that you were just like other instincts, who only sort for control. I was afraid that you would take over Trent’s body and turn him into a monster.”
“You treated me like a monster.”
“I am sorry, Trent.”
“I never wanted to hurt Trent,” he said. “He is my brother. But you treated us so differently that I can’t help but hate him. I hate you so much, Father. Did you know that is that first time you embraced me? This is the first time in my life you’ve ever shown me kindness. Did you know that?”
“I am truly sorry.”
Arvin cast a binding circle to freeze Chevalier from behind. He snatched Kali from his arms and grinned. “What a touching reunion,” he said to Lucifer and Trent.
Lucifer turned toward Arvin and glared at him. “Put her down, Arvin!”
“Mother!” Trent pulled his sword from Lucifer. The wound instantly healed.
“What a pretty girl,” Arvin mused. “No wonder both you and Acelin are so in love with her.”
“Arvin!” Ac
elin warned. “What are you going to do to her?”
“I want her to meet the other demons in Hell,” Arvin grinned. “After all, they are anxious to meet their queen.”
“She cannot go to Hell!” Lucifer shouted.
“Don’t you think I know that?” Arvin asked insolently. “Dear Lucifer, knowing that, I want to take her back home even more. I wonder what would happen if a sinner like her enters forbidden territory.”
“Sinner?” Chevalier was surprised that Arvin referred to Kali as a sinner.
“Consuming demon blood is a serious sin,” Adria said. “Neither Heaven nor Hell can forgive her. If she enters either of the territory, she will…”
“Precisely,” Arvin laughed. He opened a portal to Hell.
Lucifer directed an energy ball at him. Acelin and Trent joined in. Arvin protected himself with a force field and smirked. “I’ll see you at home, Lord Lucifer.”
He ran into the portal with Kali in his arms.
Lucifer and his companions entered the portal. After they stepped through, the gate behind them closed, leaving behind a large metal frame. Trent scanned his surroundings. The land was covered in black soil while the trees and flowers that grew from it were blood red. At first glance, they almost look like blazing fire.
“This is your home, my prince,” Adria said to Trent.
The demons spread their wings and flew south. There was a castle in the distance, one that floated atop of a forest of black thorns. Lucifer landed in front of the castle and commanded the gate to open. It obeyed. Lucifer stormed through a long hallway of broken fragments of statues. Lucifer went past a domed room and stood in front of a massive double-door. He placed both hands on the doors and pushed it open. The light peaked through the opening into the throne room. The demons inside stared at the door, anticipating. Lucifer stood at the end of the altar. Behind him were Lord Acelin and Prince Trent, along with Chevalier. Adria joined them shortly after.
