She laughs as I flip her on her back and pepper kisses along her face and neck. I realize that at this moment, I’ve never truly felt happiness. And while my heart is fuller than it’s ever been, my peace of mind is forever shattered because of the precious people I now need to protect with every ounce of magic I have in me.
I sit at the black lake with Mara, not sure why I picked this place on the manor grounds. Perhaps it’s because it’s where I was most vulnerable with Lilith when she would astral project to me.
“How are you feeling with your new body?”
She turns to me and smiles. “It’s amazing, thank you.”
“I can’t apologize enough for everything that’s happened, Mara. I didn’t know, if I had known about you, I would have taken care of you.”
She nods and swallows. “Beelzebub told me a lot of things about you that I now know are lies. I don’t know Blair yet, but I’m hoping she forgives me for the whole possession thing and joking about sleeping with her boyfriend.” I grimace, and Mara shrugs her shoulders. “But it’s clear she thinks you’re a good Dad, even if you lied.”
“I’ve gotten caught up in a few lies over time. Ones that I regret deeply, I want to be better.”
“That’s all I can ask for. Honestly, this is the first time I’ve been able to think clearly in years.”
I try to swallow down my guilt like Lilith told me to. Mara doesn’t care about that, she wants the future. “You like it here?” I ask her.
“Oh yes, it’s very cozy and creepy, but in an expensive way.”
I laugh and shake my head. Taking a sip out of the thermos that Lilith packed each of us. “I think you should start training then.”
“Training?”
“Learning all the facets of your power, what you’re capable of, and how to handle your corporeal body.”
“I handled myself perfectly fine on Earth.”
“I don’t doubt that,” I tell her. “But I would feel better if you were properly trained in defending yourself and learned more about the history and inner workings of Hell.”
“Like a protege?”
“Exactly like that.”
She sits up straighter, looking at me. “You’re not fucking with me, are you, Satan?”
I raise my hands up in mock surrender. “Definitely not fucking with you.”
“But you don’t even know me.”
“I want to,” I respond genuinely, which makes her smile back at me.
“You’re definitely not what I imagined.”
“Oh?”
“I thought you were going to be this big hulking asshole who eats souls, rips people’s hearts out with your bare hands, and crushes people’s hopes and dreams.”
I clear my throat. “I may do some of those things, but not for the people I care about.”
She smirks, and it’s like looking in a reflection. “And how long is that list?”
“A list of three,” I tell her, and she nods.
“I can definitely live with that. And actually, I think ripping people’s hearts out is pretty cool.”
“Maybe I can show you sometime?” That’s clearly an appropriate daddy-daughter bonding activity, right?
“I’d love to! I also want to explore Hell more, get a feel for the place.”
