Lilith frowned, “Breathe,” she repeated and watched the teen’s chest rise and fall, becoming steadier as she went. “Are you okay?” Lilith asked. She pet the locks of red hair.
Atropa nodded and wiped her eyes. “I…what do we do now?” she asked. “I-I don’t know what I’m supposed to do next.”
“Atropa,” Lilith said, getting the girl’s attention. “I’m here. I’m going to be with you through all of this, remember? You’ll never be alone.” Lilith took the teen’s trembling hands in hers. A bitter taste filled her mouth but she swallowed it.
Atropa smiled through her tears, “Promise?”
Lilith nearly choked, “Promise.”
Atropa sighed in relief, “Thank you, for everything.” Happiness washed over her as a sweet kiss was placed on her cheek.
“Don’t thank me yet. Come on,” Lilith helped her up, “We have to get you dressed.”
Atropa quirked an eyebrow, “For what?” she asked.
The demon pulled out a long black dress from her wardrobe. Lilith’s reply was simply, “We’re going to your coronation, so put this on.”
Chapter XXII: The Second Horn
Atropa looked at herself in the mirror. Her red hair was in a clip, with bangs framing her face. Atropa ran her hands along the front of the silky dress. The teen turned to see Lilith dressed in a sharp suit and tie.
“You ready?” the demon asked. She stood in front of the other and helped smooth out some of the dress’s wrinkles. Lilith smiled at the sight. “You look beautiful,” she whispered. The demon placed a kiss on the tanned forehead.
Atropa felt her nerves calm at the contact. She beamed, “Thank you.” The teen turned toward the mirror once again. “I…I’m just nervous is all.” She rubbed her arms to stop the chills going through her body. “What is this all for anyway?” Atropa asked.
Lilith wrapped her arms around the smaller female’s shoulders. “You have to look your best or the kings won’t take you seriously,” the demon said. She pulled back, taking Atropa’s hand. “Come on,” she urged, “They’ll be eager to meet you.”
Atropa furrowed her brow. “Do I have to do anything special?” she inquired.
Lilith nodded, “You’ll have to prove to them that you’re worthy of Earth. That you’re worthy to rule. Otherwise, they might try to overthrow you.” She saw the teen’s distressed look. “Don’t worry, love, just show them what you can do. Be confident, be yourself. They’re sure to love you.”
Atropa frowned. She didn’t really believe the pep talk the demon was giving her. However, she didn’t have a lot of choices. If she had to impress the kings of hell, then she would.
* * *
Standing in a field, far from mortal eyes, was a dilapidated building. It used to house church services, but had caught fire during the burning of a witch. Too bad that witch dragged the entire town into the fire with her.
Truly, it was the perfect place for a demonic meeting.
Lucifer sat at the head of the table. The hot glares he was getting almost made him regret his decision, but he was the almighty king here. Fuck everyone else. The sub rulers of Hell stared at him with distaste.
Beelzebub, the ruler of envy. Sathanus, the lord of wrath. Abaddon, the ruler of sloth. Mammon, the ruler of greed. Belphegor, the lord of gluttony. Finally, there was Asmodeus, the lord of lust. “Well?” Lucifer said and gave a lopsided grin.
Beelzebub glowered but kept silent. He would voice his discontent if the girl was not as promised. Although, he was jealous of the power this child would be receiving. The demon respected his elder. Lucifer knew how Heaven worked, and they did not. He gave a curt nod as an answer.
“I think it’s fucking stupid,” Sathanus growled. He looked at Lucifer’s stern face. It didn’t intimidate him, it never did. The ruler, known for his sharp wit and sharper tongue, shrugged at the proposition. “Though, I don’t see who else should be able to lead. As long as I keep my position, I don’t give a rat’s ass who’s supervising,” he sunk into his chair, glaring at Mammon. He knew the bastard was going to start some shit and he didn’t have to wait long.
“How could you give this to a child?! She knows nothing of our world or our kind, but you’d give her this domain?!” The demon slammed his fist on the mahogany table.
“Hold your tongue, you blinded fool,” Abaddon said, slowly. His voice was low and full of warning. He wasn’t one to attack without a lot of motivation, but he’d do it in this case. Asmodeus joined in, “You should show more respect.”
“Oh do forgive me for my impudence,” Mammon sneered. “I only thought the ruler of Earth shouldn’t be a half breed rat from a mutt mother.”
“THAT’S ENOUGH!” Lucifer shouted. His voice made the building’s foundation rattle and the air quake. He watched Mammon slink back into his seat before addressing the group. “Am I not the one that made you? Protected you? Gave you damned realms and sins to claim, do you think I have not thought this through?!”
The other six heads at the table lowered in shame.
Lucifer fixed his collar before taking his seat once more. He looked at everyone before stating, “She will be here soon, and you all can judge for yourselves.”
Right on time, the charred door opened. “We’re here!” Lilith called. Her voice echoed throughout the building and made all eyes turn to the entrance.
Each ruler watched with interest as a young creature traveled behind the knight of Hell.
Mammon chuckled, “Is that all? Is this the great one who’ve made?” He let his eyes roamed the teen.
Atropa fidgeted with her sleeves. She sucked in a slow breath before stepping forward. “My name is Atropa, I’m seventeen years old. I-I know that must seem like nothing to you all but, it’s a big step in Earth years.” She gave a weak smile and found none were given back. Well, fuck.
Panicking amethyst eyes stared at Lucifer. He waved his hand and mouthed, ‘Show them’.
Atropa sucked in a cold breath and let the air flow out her body. She turned her head up and looked at the large scorched cross above them. She knew that famous leaders didn’t win over people with shy smiles and flighty words. They won them with confidence, with strength, with determination. She smiled. Leaders played on their follower’s insecurities, played on their wishes.
She could do that.
Sathanus almost felt bad for the poor thing. She was fidgeting and shaking. He also felt bad for agreeing with Lucifer. The child began to speak, which he hadn’t expected. When her little ice breaker failed, her eyes grew terrified. Then, she stood there, deathly still. A rattling made him look up at the old wooden beams. Timber and ash were falling from them. The large cross arose for its precariously placed perch. It was glowing red and throbbing. Flames erupted from the structure as it moved, flipping upside down.
The huge mass hovered for a moment before exploding into embers that swirled and shimmered. They then rained down, circling the table and created a ring of fire that was then snuffed out. Sathanus smiled, the girl’s triumphant face was just like her father’s.
Atropa felt like the wind had been knocked out of her, but she soldiered on. “I know I am young, and still have a lot to learn. But, If you let me rule, the Earth will not just be mine, but ours. You may keep your kingdoms below, but let me have mine above.” Atropa’s confidence grew at the sight of the shocked faces staring at her. She hopped onto the table.
“If you let me lead,” the teen began, “The world will rain with our enemies’ blood. The seas will cry for them, the skies will darken in mourning, but there will be no stopping us. No angels to hold us back. No God to get in our way. I am the second coming. I am your queen,” she gave them a devious smile, “and I will prove it to you. I will rise from the flames and give new life to this world.” Shocked faces became mixed, but the smile was stuck on Atropa’s face. She stepped off the table and finished, “So either follow me, or get left in the ashes. The choice is yours.”
There was a beat of silence. A
tropa thought she had fucked up.
A slow clap rang throughout the small building. Beelzebub stood and walked over to the teen. The old demon smiled. The child had the power. She had her father’s determination and her mother’s defiance. He took her hand in his. “I know you are but a fledgling, but I believe in you, my princess,” he bowed with genuine respect. Beelzebub placed a chaste kiss on the smooth hand. The demon looked at her, with hard eyes. “I envy your power young one,” he whispered, “but I do not envy the battle you are about to face.” Without another word, he left.
The next to rise was Sathanus. He bowed and kissed the teen’s hand as well. “If you ever need a good torturer, you know who to call.” Sathanus began to walk away, he waved behind him, still speaking. “I enjoy my realm, full of brimstone and the screams of sinners. I bid you ado, my faire princess. I must say, you truly live up to Lucifer’s rumor of being the most beautiful among angels. To the rest, fuck you!”
“Love you too, Sath!” Lilith called back, smiling. She knew he would love Atropa, it was hard not to. The knight watched one by one as each king of sin kissed Atropa’s hand and left. The only ones that did not were Mammon and Belphegor. Of course greed and gluttony would have a giant stick up their asses. Lilith growled lowly in her chest at the subtle disrespect.
Atropa watched the final two men. The one in gold stood abruptly and left. He said nothing to her nor looked her way, the one with the large stomach followed after him. If she counted Lucifer, she got five out of seven. That wasn’t too bad.
Atropa looked up at Lilith. The demon was glaring after the two shuffling beings. “Hey,” she said, getting the other’s attention. Her hand wrapped around her love’s, “Don’t worry. All I need is a majority, the rest can burn.”
Lilith smiled. Her devious little one was too cute for her own good, “I love you.”
Atropa blushed. “I love you too.”
Lucifer rolled his eyes. The two love birds were adorable, but the affection made him nauseous. “Don’t make me get the hose on you two,” he said, walking to steal his daughter into a hug. He’d never been prouder. “You did wonderfully!”
Atropa was shocked but a smile slowly stretched across her face. She gripped at the warm body, “Thank you, dad.”
A deafening noise rang above them.
Plaster and chips of wood fell on the threes heads as the blaring sound rocked the world. Atropa cringed and gripped at her father.
Lucifer looked up, “Damn, their doing this faster than I thought.” He pulled back from the teen and looked at Lilith. “We need to get her to the gate,” he said firmly. Lucifer hoped his knight wouldn’t fail.
Atropa watched Lilith’s eyes widen in shock. She was confused about what was being exchanged but didn’t pry.
The demon gave a nod, “I got it.” She took Atropa’s hand. “Come on buttercup, we need to go,” Lilith began to lead her out the building.
Atropa looked back at her father. “Are you coming?” she asked.
Lucifer shook his head, “No, I have business to attend to. Go with Lilith.”
The teen nodded and let her lover pull her outside. Erin and Darren were both standing by the car.
Erin’s blue eyes shined when he saw them. “Hey!” he cheered, “How’d it go?” He opened the door for Atropa. She got into the front seat.
“It went better than expected,” the teen said with a happy smile. She tucked the rest of her dress into the vehicle and let Erin shut the door. Atropa heard both the twins clamber into the back.
Lilith started the engine, causing rocks to fly as she spun the car around to barrel down the road. “Darren did you get the tickets?” she asked, looking into the rearview mirror at the imp.
“I got ‘em. I got ‘em,” he said, showing the pieces of paper to his mentor.
Atropa saw the transaction and became confused. “What’s going on? Where are we going?” more questions began to pile up in her mind.
“We’re going to Iraq,” Lilith said tensely.
Atropa’s eyes widened, “What, why?”
Lilith sighed. She explained, “We need to get you there before the fifth horn.” The demon felt her throat clog and gripped the steering wheel tighter.
“Wait, we have to go back and get the book!” Atropa insisted, “I haven’t finished it yet.”
Lilith swallowed, “It’s fine. I know what to do.”
Atropa raised an eyebrow and looked at the twins. They were both silent and solemn. She saw the pain on Lilith’s face. A beat of fear pulsed through her, but she quenched it. She trusted Lilith. “Okay,” she said and sat back. A shaking hand wrapped with hers. Atropa squeezed it in reassurance.
* * *
Castella sat before the bowl of water and oil. Her mother’s scared text lay between them. There was no time left. She couldn’t wait for Barrattiel to gather them from across the world. They needed to be here now! She reread the spell once more before beginning. “I call upon my brothers and sisters, I call upon my friends. The time has come to meet our future, I call you once again!” the water began to boil and the oil began to shake.
“I call upon my brothers! Eae! Arariel! Barachiel! Come to me!” Castella screamed. Thunder rumbled above her. The oil began to twist and splash around the bowl, it left it, but never touched the ground. Castella sucked in another breath before shouting, “I call upon my sisters! Tennin! Kiraman! Barrattiel! Come to me!” The water shot up and tangled with the oil.
Leaves began to shift and dance around her. The trees groaned and moaned as they were whipped by an unforgiving wind. Castella looked to the sky, “COME TO ME!” she shrieked. Thunder roared as the clouds began to swirl. “Come to me,” she whispered. A fire rose inside her as she roared, “By the powers of the almighty father, I command you! COME TO ME!”
Lighting struck the text and shot into the sky. Castella fell back and looked upwards. Stars began to fall, growing larger as they got closer, before crashing. The earth rattled under the impact and the ground broke from the force. Six shapes of blazing blue fire were before her. Slowly, images began to form. First was Tennin, her short hair was singed and seemed to be alive. Next was Barrattiel, her long blond hair whipped around in a fury. The rest soon followed, one by one they emerged from the azure heat and morphed into reality.
Castella smiled, “Brothers! Sisters!” she ran to them. Barrattiel smiled as her vision cleared. She saw the figure and ran to meet Castella’s hug.
“I was just telling them about our targets when you called,” the blonde said. She popped her spine, the angel hadn’t been summoned in decades. “What’s happened that made you call so early?” Barrattiel asked, a bit concerned.
Castella looked at her in confusion, “You haven’t heard them? They’ve started the horns.” She took in the shocked looks of her siblings.
“Impossible,” Barachiel growled, “I am the head of angels. There is no way he would start without telling me.”
“There he goes again,” Tennin mumbled. She shook out her black hair and stared at the male. “You do not control all. You know this. If they wish to, they will begin. With or without, you.”
Barachiel snarled at the Asian angel. He stepped before her, “Silence you-”
“Enough!” Eae shouted. He stood up fully, towering over all of them. Eae walked toward Castella. “Where are they?” he asked.
To say that the cherub was intimidated would be an understatement. Eae was one of the strongest angels. His skin was bronze, hair black. He had fiery eyes with bloodlust swirling in them. His glare alone could make some surrender. “I-I don’t know. The place they were staying in is now abandoned,” she stuttered out.
“Dammit!” the demon hunter screamed, “Why did you not call us sooner?!”
“Forgive me brother, but I only found out a fe-” Castella was interrupted by Kiraman. Thank God.
“Do not shout at her, she is still young.” Kiraman was like Eae, bronze and dark but her eyes were much softer. She was still a formi
dable opponent, but unlike Eae, she had no bloodlust. Kiraman turned to Castella and smiled as she spoke, “Do not fret, my dear. Where is your mother? She should be informed of our arrival.”
Castella pointed at the large house behind her. “She’s in there,” the cherub answered. Her fear began to retreat from the sweet smile her elder gave.
Eae couldn’t believe his sister’s coddling. The angel pushed her aside to get to the younger. He grabbed the cherub’s face and examined her. With a snarl he said, “Take those lenses out of your eyes and wiped that horrid paint off your face. They are unbecoming of our kind. We are not the lowly mortals, so do not act like one!” Eae pushed the marred face away, causing Castella to fall harshly on the ground. He walked past the stunned girl and up to the house, Kiraman followed him. The rest stayed behind to speak with the cherub.
“Those two, I swear,” Barrattiel shook her head. The blonde was thankful Kiraman was there, she was the only angel that could calm Eae down.
Castella shivered, “What’s wrong with him? I know he’s normally a hard ass but…” She stared wearily at the angels that disappeared into her house. Her jaw burned from the firm grip. She rubbed the irritated skin and gulped.
Tennin sighed, “He knows he will lose his power. Kami is going to give this kingdom to the girl.”
“What?!” Castella was shocked. “Has he lost his mind?! I knew he planned this but I didn’t think he’d leave her with-”
“Jehovah would never!” Barachiel defied. “And stop calling him that name and ‘they’.”
“I am not here to argue, Bara, I am here to aid my sister. Do not start your mess once more!” Tennin said. It was hard to make her lose her temper but the uppity angel got to her.
Child of the Morning Star Page 12
