Since he was going to meet with a new client, he didn’t go with his usual attire of jeans and a long-sleeve shirt, but opted for black slacks, a fitted, black-striped shirt, and a blue blazer. When he walked back into the bedroom, Kristoph was still sitting on the bed holding the pillow tight to his chest, and Uriel could tell that something was bothering him.
Throwing the clothes on the bed, he walked over to his son. “What’s wrong, my little cherub? Did you change your mind about starting high school so young?”
Kristoph shook his head. "No, I'm settled on that plan. I've already connected with a couple of the freshmen class members and spoke with the captain of the team."
"Then what's the problem?" Uriel asked.
Kristoph had been labeled a genius at a young age. However, that was due to a few factors. One, he wasn't human, and he had also received special training and classes with Uriel and Orion since Kristoph was able to understand words. At the time he was labeled a prodigy, he was attending school with human children, who were more focused on having fun than learning. Uriel wouldn't let Kristoph take advantage of his special talents, allotting him time to grow up slowly. Since they moved to Valleywood, where the majority of the students were supernaturals, he gave Kristoph the permission to take the placement test for high school.
“I saw him today,” Kristoph said softly.
Uriel didn’t need to ask who his son was talking about.Azazel.Not long after they moved the protection company’s operation from California to Valleywood, Uriel felt a strange but familiar magic permeating the air. He had planned on checking it out but gave up on the idea when he recognized Azazel King's magical signature. In the following days, Loki Boroson, the former god of tricks, ran for mayor, with Azazel as his running mate.
It wasn’t a secret among the gods and heavens that Loki had lost his godly powers, but Uriel wasn’t sure how or why they decided to set roots in Valleywood. What was a secret was the brotherly friendship between Loki and Azazel. Only those both men were privileged to that information.
Uriel hated Loki with a burning passion. When he and Azazel had been together, the god tried to tear them apart because he thought Uriel wasn’t the person for Azazel. Some of Uriel's and Azazel’s arguments started because of his ex-lover's loyalty to Loki.
Uriel had wondered how their friendship weathered the storm after Loki's wife, Angrboda, tried to kill Uriel and Azazel’s pregnant son, Donald. She wanted to please her husband but hurting Fenrir who was Angrboda and Loki's son had been her ultimate goal. Since they were now the mayor and deputy mayor, it seemed Azazel hadn't severed ties with the former trickster god.
Uriel wouldn't admit that he often got jealous of their closeness and still got angry every time he thought about it. It had crossed Uriel’s mind over the years that Loki had perhaps used some trick to break them apart. The times Uriel and Loki got into a fight, Azazel took his friend’s side but would soothe Uriel in private.
Fuck, I was an idiot. All Azazel had to do was say something sweet to soothe my anger and I’d forgive him every time.
It surprised him when he heard a few people talking about the two men as if they’d been living in Valleywood since birth, and Uriel figured one of them had used manipulation magic and scrambled the residents’ memories. Uriel was certain it was Azazel, since he didn’t think Odin had given Loki his powers back.
Manipulation magic was powerful, however, it did not affect him or Kristoph. Uriel had to explain things to his friends when he noticed they were praising Loki and Azazel for just waking up. Uriel couldn’t fathom how or why Azazel and Loki would agree to work openly together when they'd been hiding their close friendship for so long. Everyone thought they were considered enemies. Or rather, their fathers were the real enemies.
Uriel was certain that taking Loki’s powers from him was a teachable moment that Loki might not take to heart. As for Azazel, he wasn’t sure. Although Uriel’s interest was piqued, he decided it was best not to think about it. After all, Loki and Azazel had not caused any catastrophes yet. Uriel knew that being the mayor and deputy mayor of a magical town like Valleywood came with some difficulties.
The city had been established a few hundred years ago as a magical version of Hollywood. Their goal was to allow supernaturals who lived mostly among humans and not hide their true nature in movies and television. However, as years went by supernaturals had to slink back into hiding because people stopped believing that there was more to the world than what was in front of their eyes.
Over time, Valleywood's magic grew weak, as more corruption, black magic, and disbelief in the supernatural world seeped into the town. The magic in Valleywood was changing. It was nowhere as strong as Vale Valley, that seemed to have a mind of its own, but Uriel could feel something happening. The jury was still out on whether it was good or bad.
“Where did you see him? Did he see you?” Uriel asked his son.
Uriel wasn’t against Kristoph meeting Azazel, but he would prefer to be there when that moment happened. Not only did Azazel not know Kristoph existed, he thought that Donald was their only child. It was a wonder they hadn’t bumped into Azazel in the time they’d been living in Valleywood. Azazel would easily recognize Kristoph as his, since their looks and magic were similar.
Kristoph shook his head. “He was sitting outside of the coffee shop talking with someone. Me and Uncle were on the other side of the street.”
Uriel sat on the bed beside Kristoph. “Did you want to talk to him?” His son shook his head. “Then what’s with that long face?” His little cherub shrugged his shoulders, leaving Uriel feeling a bit lost on what to do. “I told you, whenever you’re ready to meet him, I’ll take you.”
“I know.” Kristoph sighed. “It’s just, other than seeing him on the billboards or on television, looking at him in person kind of threw me.”
“That’s understandable. Admittedly, I’ve been trying not to see him.”
When Uriel had moved to Valleywood years prior, he did not know Azazel would as well.
“Do you hate him?” Kristoph asked.
Yes, was on the tip of Uriel’s tongue, but instead, he smiled and tapped his cherub cutely on his nose.
“How can I hate your father when he gave you and your brother to me?” Uriel shrugged his shoulders. “Things between us didn’t work out that’s all.”
Uriel had never spoken ill of Azazel or Dio. When he explained the situation to Kristoph on why their family was broken, he took the blame on himself for being young and foolish and painted them in a good light.
“You’re right.” Kristoph giggled. “You always say that it’s not good to hold on to hate. It will make my heart distressed.”
Uriel didn’t know if he should laugh or cry at how hypocritical his own words sounded to him. He told his son one thing while doing another. He wanted to take revenge on those who'd hurt him, especially Dio, but couldn't. As for the others, he needed more good karma points before he made his move.
