Chapter 21: The Wrath of Samael

Beholding his father’s wrathful eyes, Incubus shuddered and sweated:

“I… I didn’t mean…”

“Didn’t mean what, disobeying me?! I ordered you to stay put in hell and not interfere in this affair. Who do you think you are, disobeying the Lord of the Underworld?!”

Lily, who was angry a moment ago, now grew frightened, watching this crazy demon yell at the poor little guy, whom she had begun to pity.

Good thing these walls don’t emit sounds, or else everyone would have run up here already…

“I… I am sorry! I just wanted to see mom…”

Tears gushed from the dreaded Incubus’ eyes. He didn’t even know what awaited him now, after enraging his demonic father so much.

“No more excuses, I’m sick of it!” Samael swung his scythe.

“Ah!” Incubus shrieked in pain and fell to his knees – his shoulder had begun to bleed.

“Oh, my!”

Lily covered her mouth with her hands – Samael had cut his own son! He sensed her fear and glanced back at her:

“Why have you called me? Let me guess – this brat told you something stupid?”

“He’s your son! How can you hurt him?”

“He’ll take it…” Samael rolled his eyes. He glanced down at the whimpering Incubus: “Quit shedding your crocodile tears, I’m not buying it! Get back to hell, right now! You’re grounded!”

Incubus sniffed, wiped his tears off, and got up. His bleeding shoulder still hurt.

“What’s wrong with my missing my mother?!”

Lily’s heart grew heavy with pity towards the little boy. She pressed her hands to her chest:

He’s so cute…

She could no more perceive him as a demonic monster of people’s worst nightmares, but instead a lovely little child who needed protection from his abusive father.

“You dare question my decisions, you worthless demon?! I see you’ve loosened your tongue too much. I guess you haven’t received my punishment for long enough!”

Samael swung his scythe again. Incubus closed his eyes in fright, but the blow never came. Instead, he felt something had shaded him. He reopened his eyes in surprise, to see Lily stand in between him and his wrathful father with her fists clenched. Samael glared down at her, with his scythe halted in mid-air:

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“Don’t you dare touch him?!”

“You dare interfere with my judgment?!”

“This boy is not only your child. He is mine too. He told me Lilith was his mother. Since Lilith is my soul, I am Lilith, thus, I perceive this boy as my kin. I won’t let you hurt him, Angel of the Abyss!”

Incubus gasped – so, she had really accepted him as her kin?! Just a few moments ago she considered this whole idea crazy, but now, seeing him in danger, she stood up against his father to protect him! Standing up against Samael was the same as standing up against death! His remembrances came back, bringing him tears:

She truly is mom’s reincarnation…

“You still don’t get it, do you?” Samael regained his cold and collected tone, “We angels never make mistakes. Our word is always truthful and always absolute. You want him to turn into a wretch? Every time he defies my orders, he makes a mistake. Making a mistake affects demons even worse than humans – they get blighted by black energy in an instant. If I don’t hurt him with my scythe and don’t punish him, thus don’t purify him, he’ll give in to the Black Energy completely and turn into a pure demon, without any high sense left within him. He shall fall below the bestial level. You want your ‘son’ to suffer eternal damnation?”

Lily widened her eyes in dread – did this fate really threaten Incubus, or was it that Samael wanted to have everything under his control? But no, angels could never lie. All he said should be pure truth.

“I’m sorry... I didn’t know that”.

“I am sorry, Lily. Lord Samael’s right – I’ve only caused you pain with my arrival…”

Incubus made black smoke spawn around him. He was ready to travel back to the underworld.

“No, wait!” Lily cried, “I have something to ask you both!”

“Huh?” the young men looked back.

“I… I want to know the full story of Lilith… the whole truth. I need to know my story!”

Samael and Incubus exchanged surprised glances. After some moments of silence, Samael heaved a sigh and turned back to her:

“Alright, I will tell you”.

Lily brightened. Incubus made the black smoke disappear and glanced at his father with timidity and fear:

“M-May I stay too?”

“Yes. There are some things you should tell her too if she wants the complete story, because you too, were in it”.

Incubus flew into the seventh heaven with happiness. Lily chuckled at such sparkling eyes of his. They all took seats on Lily’s bed, and Samael began narrating…