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Walking through a town in Hell, the cloak obscuring my identity clung to my bump. Lucifer walked next to me, determination burning in his eyes. Missing Boomer, my father told me to leave him at home to hide my identity. Smoothing out his scarlet suit, his gaze kept falling on me.
“Why do I have to hide?” I snapped hotly. “I already had to spend the day explaining to his parents about our condition!" Stopping in his tracks, he spun to face me. Throwing me behind him, a demon began to question who I was.
“New lady friend? No, she smells like you.” He thought out loud, his clawed fingers resting on his chin.” One glare sent him away, his elbow hooking around mine.
“I don’t want you to get hurt.” He reasoned with a huff, annoyed by the stranger approaching him. "We do have another generation coming after all. I am sorry about this being an all nighter.” Silent tears stained my cheeks, the hot air of Hell causing my hair to tickle my cheeks. Fighting the emotions unsettling me, a hand ripped me back. Ripping my scythe from its case, the sharp edge of my scythe pinned the demon to the wall.
“I am not one to be toyed with.” I growled through gritted teeth, my father lowering my scythe. Apologizing , they broke into a conversation. Shifting uncomfortably, the moment didn’t get any less tense in my mind. A fireball whizzed by my head. Curling his arm around my waist, his fingers snapped. Smoke swirled around us, the town faded to a forest of dead trees. Ruby painted the sky, the moon burning bright. Ordering me to run towards an church in the distance, he kicked up a cloud of dirt. The months of bonding with him wouldn’t allow me to abandon him, a pair of claws heading towards his neck. Skidding in front of him, bubbles mixed with sparks the moment his claws clashed with the handle of my scythe. Pushing it back, the cloud of dirt spoke of this creature flying away. Dragging him towards the church, we had to get back before Matty called a search party. Inches from the door, a spider blocked the door. Raising my scythe in the air, a pain caused me to drop my scythe. Clammy sweat drenched my skin, my mind falling on the month on the calendar. It said March. Warm water soaked my leg, my father’s arms scooping me up along with my scythe. Skidding underneath the monster, we rolled into the church. Laying me down on a bench with my weapon, his hands searched for a trap door. Finding what he wanted, he smashed the wood with his heel.
“I can’t transport from here but I can once we get to the castle.” He huffed with a fresh alarm. Pushing through another contraction, it felt like Hell to move my body. Helping me climb down, he placed me on his back. Running through the tunnels, tears stained my cheeks. Promising to get me to the hospital, I had all faith in him. Coming to a ladder in record time, the rungs clanged with each step. Fiddling with a lock, the door creaked open. Standing in his study, he lowered his fingers to the side of his face. Snapping his fingers, we were standing in front of my hospital. Carrying me in, he paused at the front desk. Unable to speak , it was my turn. Sliding off of my back, the expression on his face was priceless.
“My water broke.” I choked out through gritted teeth, the receptionist calling for one of the nurses as I tossed my old man my phone. “Do me a favor and call Matty.” Hanging onto the desk, I lowered my body. Resting in this position, another contraction had me cursing under my breath. Curse my trauma for making this easier to handle! Helping me into a wheelchair, embarrassment colored my cheeks for a moment. Wheeling me into a birthing suite, my finger pointed to the bathroom. Focusing on her scrubs as she helped me into the bathroom, the momentary peace was a gift. Calling for her after a few minutes had passed. Getting me set up on the bed, another contraction had me cussing like a sailor. Her words faded in and out, the nurse leaving eventually. The beeping around me annoyed the crap out of me, my anxiety building. The machines were seconds from alerting the nurses, a hand holding mine calming me down. Taking a seat next to me, we both listened to the heartbeat in silence. Waiting for Matty to show up, a nervous grin twitched on his lips as he burst in. Kissing me on the lips sweetly, he took the other side of my bed. Ripping my hands from them, my heart was too kind for me to crush them. A strong contraction had me screaming out in pain. The hours passed tediously, the agony getting worse. Unable to control myself, the constant sobs made me feel like a loser. The doctor rushed in with gloves on, my bump heaving up and down. Pushing when they told me, a shrill wail soon echoed in the air. Collapsing into a sweaty mess, tears flowed freely from all of our eyes. His mother rushed in, her uniform reminding me that she worked here. Waiting in the corner with her finger to her lips, she couldn’t stop sobbing either. The room blurred around me. A baby girl was laid onto my chest, her ruby eyes meeting mine. Unable to control my emotions, this little girl was ours. Silent tears stained my cheeks, my lips brushing the top of her head.
“We did it.” Matty wept , playing with her fluffy white hair. “She is so beautiful.” Words faded in and out, a rough darkness stealing me away.
Groaning awake, Matty’s mother was holding our baby girl in the chair next to me. Rocking her back and forth, Matty came out of the bathroom in one of his t-shirts and jeans. Pressing his lips against mine passionately, my whole body felt like it had been hit by a train. Massaging my forehead, more bags had been attached to me via a tube on the top of my hand. Attempting to roll over, my body refused to listen to me.
“What happened?” I wheezed, my throat screaming for water. Laying down next to me, the morning sun caused a migraine to throb to life. Playing with my hair, his words were still a little groggy but laced with fear.
“You almost bled out.” He admitted with a broken smile, his hands cupping my face. "I decided to name her if that is okay. I remember a couple of nights you wanted to name her Selene.” Donning my brightest smile, his mother set her granddaughter into my arms. Kissing my forehead feverishly, she congratulated us as she rushed back to work. Leaving me with Matty, Lucifer appeared out of nowhere. Kissing the top of her head, pride glittered in his eyes. Moving my arms slowly, Selene latched on to drink her fill. Letting her do her own thing, something told me that my father had saved me.
“Did you yank me from the brink of death?” I asked cautiously, his sad smile saying it all. Pacing back and forth, a hiss poured from his lips. His lips parted to speak, Death and Life interrupting his chance to speak. Shoving Matty out of the way, Death smothered me in desperate kisses. Life hung back, a sigh of relief escaping his lips. Waving at me, one nod from me was enough. Selene finished up, her tiny yawn made Death gush even harder. Pushing her back for a minute, I needed to sit up. Complaints echoed in the hall, the sound of our friends from town begged to see me. When did I become so popular? A worn nurse popped her head in as I struggled to sit up, my thumbs up allowing them to let me in. Filing in with grins, all of them fell in love with her instantly. Smacking the side of my face to gather my wits, Mary shoved her way through. Organizing them in seconds, she ordered them to wait in the back. Every single one then held gifts, a heating pad resting in her palm. Happy to see her, her hand rested on my flat stomach. The constant morning sickness kept my weight down. Plugging it in, she placed the hot pad on my stomach. A sigh of relief escaped my lips at the instant relief, her hands cupping my face.
“We all want to take care of you. When you get back to the store, we want you to take it easy.” She babbled in a sisterly tone. “If you need anything let us know. Susie over there made your favorite carrot soup.” Playing with her hair, the others approached cautiously, laying the gifts at the end of the bed. Chatting with them pleasantly, the afternoon sun was going down by the time they left. Everyone but Death and Life were gone, Matty taking the gifts home. My old man had something to do but he did his job, my mind wondering if Death could hold my baby girl. Clammy sweat drenched my skin as I placed her in Death’s trembling arms, all of us waiting with bated breath. Nothing happened, salty tears splashed onto Selene. Clutching her close to her chest, the pink rays of twilight painted her white button up shirt. Kissing the top of her head feverishly, the DNA in my child must have allowed her to hold her granddaughter. Sinking to her knees, a grateful expression met mine.
“I never thought I would be able to hold a child.” She wept openly, her brother shifting uncomfortably. Humming a lullaby to her, one wave of my hand had him coming over. Leaning close to me, one question rested on my tongue.
“When you blessed my child, did you make it so she could hold her?” I queried with a quiet smile, his sly grin answering my question. “You are an odd fellow, aren’t you?” Hanging by my shoulder, a golden key was pressed into my palm. Stunned by his kind act, he was inviting me to visit him anytime.
“You are very astute. I happen to like you so come by anytime and have some tea.” He joked with an honest smile, my heart fluttering at his improved mood. Not knowing what to say, he motioned to Death that it was time to go. Placing Selene back into my arms, another flurry of kisses dotted the top of my head. Leaving with her brother, my dome outside the hospital room glitched. Clutching my daughter close to my chest, something felt off. Laying her on the bed, we needed to get out of here. Tugging on my loose sweatshirt, my feet slid into my sneakers. Clutching her close to my chest, my heart sank at the lack of my scythe. Running into the bathroom, glass shattered as a shadowy figure skidded across the floor. Locking the door behind me, the handle began to rot. Shit, I cursed to myself. My legs were still a little shaky, inky bubbles floating around my palm. The Dark One had found me, my mind racing through the options. Warm blood dripped down my legs, the room spinning slightly. Waiting in the shadows the door burst open, my inky bubbles meeting his face. Howling in raw anguish, he flew back. Skidding down the hall, the nurses yelled at me as my sneakers slipped in my trail of blood down the hall. Bursting out of the hospital, Victoria appeared by my side with Boomer. The lights in the hospital flickered, a storm rumbling to life. Heavy raindrops soaked me, the golden key seeming like a godsend at this moment. Wincing in response to my body’s protest, horror rounded my eyes at the Dark One approaching me. Running towards the woods, people yelled for me to stop. Mouthing a forgetting spell, they wandered back in like nothing had happened. The dirt crunched with each step, the golden key glowing brightly. Life must have known that he was coming, hence the key. A golden door appeared in the distance, a clawed hand gripping my ankle. Ripping me to the ground, roots sliced up my back as I was being dragged across the forest floor. Boomer was seconds from leaping towards him, my sharp no stopping him. The color drained from my face, the terror registering at the worst time. Victoria tossed me her rope, my quaking fingers tying it round my waist. Tugging with all she had, a gruff groan escaped my lips at the increased pressure around my sore stomach. Yanking me back and forth, I needed to come up with something. Placing my palm on the forest floor, an inky stream of energy raced towards the hand holding me. Shrill shrieks echoed in the air, his hand retracting into the shadows. Flying into the door, Selene’s wails told me that she was okay. Snarls echoed in the distance, stringy strands now sticking to my cheeks. Shoving the key in, his garden waited for me.
“I need you to tell Matty that I am with Life.” I wheezed, coughing up blood. “Take Boomer with you to keep you safe.” Stepping through with Selene, the door slammed shut behind me. Sitting against the nearest bed, the ivory bone sticking out of my ankle had me throwing up a bit in my mouth. A pile of blankets waited in the corner, my hands grabbing them. Wrapping my daughter up, I chose to feed her as I noted the claw marks across my cheeks. Ruby soaked the blankets, my whole body screaming in protest. Sobbing in pain, my fingers traced each mark. Cleansing them of any curse, the thought of my daughter being okay made it all worth it. Finishing up her meal, a sweet slumber stole her away. Crawling over to the healing section of his garden, my little girl stirred. Begging for her not to wake up, my mind flashed through all of those damn note cards I made for Matty. Plucking the right ones, my bloody hand ripped the mortar and pestle waiting for me. Crushing the herbs and flowers into a paste, my vision blurred. Dripping the water from my hair into the white marble mortar. Mixing it until a murky liquid swirled around the bottom, hesitation rested in my eyes as I lifted it to my mouth. Gulping it down, it took everything to force it down my throat. Fighting the nausea, a light blinded me. Feeling my bone click back into place, everything else became as good as new. No longer was I bleeding, the postpartum healing had taken care of itself. Touching my cheeks, three angry scars greeted the tips of my finger. Leaning back, Life looked so happy to see me, his eyes falling on the mess I made.
“Sorry.” I apologized sincerely, his hands cupping my face. Examining me to see if I was all healed, his eyes fell on my slumbering daughter. Sitting down next to me, his arms scooped her up. Tears shimmered in the perfect sunlight as they hit her blanket, his bright smile never leaving his face. Happy to see him smiling, my nightmare didn’t matter at the moment.
“I knew you would be smart enough to figure it all out. I knew I couldn’t stop him and I didn’t want my sister to try. I am glad you two made it to safety. Do you like my new healing plant garden? The seeds were a bitch to get but I thought I should be more prepared.” He laughed , snapping his fingers. A warm white robe replaced my soaking wet sweatshirt, the fine material feeling like a hug. Wishing that I got to eat that carrot soup, dismay dimmed my eyes.
“I love it.” I returned simply, drops of water slid off of the tips of my hair. Watching them hit the floor, the sound seemed to echo as it floated into the sky and into the plants. Childlike wonder brightened my life, my eyes falling back on Life adoring Selene. An idea came to mind, this next question was sure to make his day.
“Do you want to be her godfather?” I hinted kindly, his eyes lighting up. His bright smile said it all, this kid was going to have one heck of a family. Chatting with him until I could move again, a door waited for me. Holding my daughter, it was time to go home. Stepping through the door, Matty yanked us into a bear hug. Cupping my face, his lip pressed against mine passionately. Fussing over me, Death came into the living room. Hugging me from behind, their words blended together. Letting them have their way, a certain smell caught my nose. A pot of carrot soup was boiling on the stove top, my free arm pushing them both off. A loud rumble had us all laughing, scarlet painting my cheeks. Guiding me to my seat at the head of the table, Matty set a bowl down while scooping his daughter up.
“I want answers when you are done.” He chirped cheerfully, his intense glare saying something else. “Death would like some too.” Digging in, the flavors had my nerves melting into a puddle. Gulping it down, my head rested on the table. Watching Matty father her had my heart fluttering, Lucifer popping up next to me. Saying nothing, Matty leapt into the air at the sight of him. Cursing under his breath, Lucifer apologized anxiously. Basking in the moment, everything was going to be okay.
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