Twice, he parted his lips, but fell back on obedience—which brought a whole new wave of frustration.No recognition other than a command for quiet.After all he’d done, all he’d sacrificed, the time he’d lost, the loyalty he’d shown, these damned humanemotionspummeling inside his ribs, threatening to shatter them from within…
Was he being ignored as punishment for his prior failures?When he’d been given no guidance?Who else could have done better?No one.No onecould have, nor would have persisted as he did!
All the muscles in Saer’s shanks, torso, and neck tightened as he swallowed the lack of acknowledgment, a scream bubbling up to take its place.
Before it could erupt, the scraping of hooves abraded his ears, followed by quiet voices—one male, one female.Saer jerked his attention to the corridor they floated from.
Neyu’s alluring form slid into view first.She carried an armful of smooth, onyx rock, her lips split in a beautiful, serene smile while she conversed with…
Errshek, Envy himself, also bore a bundle of the same stones, his face turned away from Saer and focused on Neyu.The two of them, side-by-side.
It scraped at Saer’s insides like a million thorns.
Whether he made some motion or she sensed his presence, Neyu’s focus darted to his—and her smile doubled instantly, eyes glinting with unrestrained relief and happiness.
The one look doused his sudden temper, replaced with the urgent need to close the distance between them.He redoubled his hold on Asheda and rooted his hooves in place to halt the impulse.
A sudden rasping of Lucifer’s inhale pulled all their attention.The fallen angel’s shoulders lifted as though It meant to speak, hung in suspension, and then It slid to a knee with a harsh exhale, unable to keep upright.“Neyuukhan, Errsheken,” their maker muttered, “help me bring my last creation to life.”
Lucifer didn’t pick him to help.Another slight.
You’re his favorite.Alus’s old words tasted bitter and fractured in the back of his throat.
Neyu and Errshek didn’t hesitate.Dropping the boulders they carried, they rushed forward and slid their arms behind Lucifer’s shoulders.With their aid, their maker leaned forward and placed trembling hands on either side of the Seventh’s face.
The form of the Seventh showed Lucifer’s fatigue.She’d been crafted with the sin of sloth, her figure rounder, smaller, and less defined than the rest of her kin.Too tired to bathe her in fire, the fallen angel had used ash instead, painting her a dull gray from head to hoof.Her horns peeked from the top of her head, easy-to-miss tiny nubs.They reflected the color of ivory, the same as her claws, hooves, and talons.
Lucifer kissed her eyelids.
The youngest demoness blinked with the slowness of someone waking from a millennia-long sleep.
Lucifer sighed and pressed Its forehead to hers.“Kaliaspherikkana.My Kaliaspher.Welcome.”
Kalia yawned and huffed, reluctant to be brought to full attention.
The fallen angel drew in a breath, presumably to take the Seventh through her vow of obedience, but shuddered and wilted instead.Silence hung, until at last, “My Saerkhanum, help me.”
He froze.
Favored, or slighted?Which was true?
Still clutching the silent spirit of Asheda, Saer stood and moved to stand next to his frail maker.Errshek’s jaw dropped when Saer pulled him aside to do so, earning him a withering glare.Closing his mouth, the Sixth’s face pulled into a frown, and he stepped back.
Saer caught Neyu’s chastising glance, but she remained silent.
Lucifer’s head hung, perhaps oblivious to all of it.
Holding the spirit of Asheda still in one grip, Saer curled his free claws under Sloth’s chin.
“Kaliaspher, look at me.”Saer put iron into the command.
She yawned again.
“Kaliaspher.”
The demoness growled but lifted her eyes.
The eldest and the youngest.
