Wrathhog came back with four incubi and they were gutted when they realized Abaddon was dead. They didn’t make a scene. Probably because they were surrounded by the rest of the Fallen, but I could tell they were upset. Nero immediately went over to help them.
More people started showing up and I realized these were my other cousins. All of them, even Asmodeus’s kids, were more broken up about Abaddon than they were about Asmodeus. Yeah, he was a complete nard.
I also needed to go introduce myself to my cousins. There weren’t a ton of them considering how old my family was. Satan had the most kids out of all of them and I ended up liking those cousins the best. Wrathhog’s oldest brother Ilran just grinned at me.
“I hear you’re trouble.”
“Only in the most awesome way possible.”
“I look forwards to it. My dad and my sister speak fondly of you.”
“Same.”
“Heard you beat the shit out of Asmodeus.”
I looked over at his kids because they were in earshot. I was tactless, but only when someone deserved it. His kids didn’t. Asmodeus’s daughter looked me right in the eye.
“Answer,” she said.
“Um.”
Because I didn’t regret hitting him. He had a knife to my throat and was going to take me who knows where. I knew it took a lot to kill an angel, and I didn’t know if a steak knife to my jugular would do it.
“I hope you made it hurt. He beat us all the time. My mother isn’t here because she’s recovering. He cheats on her all the time, but he beat her for doing the same thing he did.”
What did I even say to that? Sorry, your dad was a total shit? Was it even appropriate to say that at his funeral?
“She did,” Wrathhog said. “I saw the whole thing, and she made it hurt. I don’t think anyone would blame you if you went over and lifted the sheet.”
Damn. They all walked over, lifted the sheet, and spat on him. Abaddon was the one who killed Kir and took my father. No one was disputing he’d done wrong, but they seemed to be mourning him a lot more than they were Asmodeus.
They were starting. My father and Satan eulogized Abaddon. Despite everything, my father didn’t trash him. They called him complicated and flawed, admitted he hurt alotof people, and could have destroyed two realms by kidnapping Lucifer and killing Kir. They were honest about everything he did. Lucifer looked conflicted as he talked about all the good Abaddon had done because it was a lot.
Then, it came time for Asmodeus. I didn’t know what anyone would say. He didn’t force Abaddon to kidnap my father, and he didn’t make him kill my brother. Everything Abaddon did after he murdered Kir was his choice. But I think we all acknowledged putting him in that situation was the cause of everything. Abaddon never would have laid a finger on Kir otherwise.
So, the Fallen said nothing. They asked his kids if they wanted to say something and they didn’t either. I was pretty sure his kids were relieved he was dead and just wanted closure.
Lucifer flicked his wrists, and the pyres erupted into green flames. I guess that was Hellfire and I’d be able to do that one day.
It was almost over.
Ididn’t think I’d live to see this day. Lucifer coming home was always a possibility, but him addressing all of Hell that he was throwing a realm wide party to celebrate that they were turning the ruling of Hell over to demons wasn’t on my bingo card.
I also didn’t have Lucifer coming to the bad parts of Hell to party withmymom and Celix’s mom because he said meeting the in-laws was important. It was hard to bullshit a succubus, but Mom was eating this up and he was doing it in a way that didn’t offend Dad.
And all our parents adored Sydney. We filled our parents in on everything before we went out to the street party and now they were fussing over Kujo. He pretended to hate every minuteof it, but he couldn’t fool an incubus. Kujo’s heart was growing three sizes.
“You should visit more. Your sisters miss you.”
Kujo cleared his throat. Celix’sveryyoung sister decided they were soulmates a few years ago. She was only sixteen and pushing her limits. She’d put Kujo in some uncomfortable situations and while he was mean to literally everyone, he wasn’t going to destroy a child having their first crush. He adored our families.
“Oh, I’m sorry, Kujo. She met a boy her age and has moved on. He’s her new soulmate. It’s why she’s not here. She wanted to go to the celebration with him and asked me to let you down easy.”
Kujo could have been an absolute ass about it. If Celix’s sister had been an adult and not related to him, he already would have. He just placed his hand over his heart.
“Tell her I’m devastated, but I’ll manage to move on. I’m not one to stand in the way of one’s soulmate.”
“Especially since the three of you managed to find your own.”
