Soul Guardian

Chapter 14: Afterglow

Curls of smoke rose from the bed where the two demons lay wrapped around each other. For a brief moment Bael felt like everything was right in the world. He had a beautiful fire demon resting her head on his chest and for once since he had come to the mortal realm he wasn’t cold.

“Do you always… you know… smoke afterwards?” Bael asked. It didn’t bother him, it was just strange to see his lover breathing out fumes.

With a look like the cat that had gotten the cream Maharet let out a soft sigh. “Only when it’s good.” She exhaled sending a torrent of smoke tumbling over her perfect ruby lips. “Really good.”

To say it had been eons since he had made love would be an understatement. The last time Bael had experienced intimate contact with another demon the pyramids had still been under construction.

At first there had been an overwhelming fear in the back of his mind that he wouldn’t be any good, that he had forgotten how to please a partner or that he wouldn’t be able to function like he used to. Then gradually he had regained his confidence, found his stride, and with gentle encouragement from Maharet all those fears and doubts had melted away.

Absentmindedly he ran his fingertips up her back and over her shoulder blades. He felt a line of raised scar tissue and leaned in for a closer look. “How did you get those?” He asked.

“I got those in the battle for heaven.” Maharet said with a shiver. “I was providing air support when a seraphim came up behind me and clipped my wings. When I fell I hit the ground so hard that I didn’t wake up again until the war was almost over.”

“I never knew you served. I was in the Infernal Infantry.” Bael said with a touch of pride. “We were the ones that almost brought down the gates.”

“I was in the first airborne.” Maharet threw up a callsign with her fingers. It was a V for Victory. “We teleported into heaven and overwhelmed their defenses. Of course once Gabriel and Azrael joined the fighting we were finished, but for a while there it almost felt like we could win.”

The first airborne had been a unit made up of the most powerful and fearless demons hell had to offer. They had gone deep behind enemy lines and destroyed everything in their path. If God had played fair they would have easily turned the tide of the war. Of course, the creator never played fair and their sacrifices had all been for nothing. The war had been lost and the survivors had been left to carve out a life for themselves in hell.

He kissed her scars and worked his way down to the small of her back. Bael didn’t know what he had done to deserve this brief moment of happiness in his otherwise dull and boring life but he knew that he was going to try and hold onto it for as long as he could.

---

After they had taken their family photo Six and Maharet went home leaving Zephyr and Bael to sort out the last few details. Zephyr looked worse of wear to say the least. His skin was blistered and he kept flinching at random moments and looking over his shoulder like he was afraid Maharet might return to finish the job. The angel slowly lowered himself into a chair with a wince.

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“Did Icarus fly a little too close to the sun?” Bael quipped.

Maharet had filled him in that morning but he couldn’t resist getting a few jabs in. After all, Zephyr had tried to screw over both of them and derail Six’s adoption. In Bael’s mind, the angel had gotten off lightly.

“Don’t be cute.” Zephyr snapped. “You know good and well that Maharet par-boiled me until I agreed to co-operate. So let’s skip the banter and get right to business.” He handed Bael a folder. “Six is now officially the foster daughter of Bill and Margaret Sharoth and has been listed as eligible for adoption. I’ll have my secretary call when we locate a suitable family.”

Bael inspected the paperwork before stowing it in his satchel bag. He got up to leave then paused. “One last thing...” He sat down on the edge of the angel’s desk, effectively cutting off his only escape route. “Trying to mess with me or Maharet is understandable, it’s part of the territory. We’re used to it.”

“But if you ever even think about doing something to hurt Six or stop her from finding a good family you will look fondly on the pain you’re in now, because once I’m done with you being boiled alive will seem like a mercy.” He laughed and clapped a hand on Zephyr’s shoulder. “Just kidding. But really… hurt her and I’ll break out the black book.”

“But that, that’s banned!” The angel looked up at Bael with a mix of fear and hate in his eyes. Even the heavenly host had heard of Bael’s black book. As the baron of hell in charge of tormenting the damned Bael had collected the worst tortures known to angel or demon and put them together in a black book bound with human skin. They said that it had only been used once and the poor unfortunate soul on the receiving end had been rendered permanently insane the second his eyes met the first page.

“Yes, Lucifer herself told me that if I ever used it again without her permission she would exile me to earth for a thousand years.” Bael leaned in close until he was nose to nose with the angel. “But I’m already here on earth and the boss owes me a favor or two. Remember that.”

“Good talk.” Bael said as he got up to leave, for real this time.

***

On his way home Bael stopped by the toy store. They were supposed to check out a house later in the day and if things went well they would probably move in. That meant Six was going to have to return to school. Returning to school meant Bael wouldn’t be able to keep an eye on her and make sure she was safe. Bael didn’t like that, so he had decided to take out a little insurance in case the worst were to happen.

He walked down the aisles of the toy store unsure what he was looking for but knowing that he’d know it once he saw it. Eventually he found it, a fluffy white teddy bear backpack with black buttons for eyes. He picked up the bear and whispered a few words into its ear before he headed to the checkout line.

“Cute bear.” The cashier said. “That must be for your daughter.”

“Oh he may be cute, but don’t be fooled. He’s a real demon sometimes.” Bael replied with a chuckle.

“Is that so?” The cashier looked the backpack over. “He seems well behaved enough to me. What’s his name going to be?”

“He’s called Yalbadoth.” Bael replied.

“How… unique.” The cashier said with a shudder. He didn’t know why but when Bael had said that name his skin had started to crawl. He looked at the teddy bear backpack again for any signs that it might be something more than cloth and thread. Nothing seemed off about it besides the name. In fact it was downright cuddly.

“You know, he really looks more like a Sam to me.” The cashier said as he handed Bael his receipt.

Out in the parking lot Bael looked at Yalbadoth the Destroyer and furrowed his eyebrows. He didn't want to admit it, but the name fit. He tossed the bear in the passenger seat of the SUV and went off to meet the girls. Apparently the house Maharet had found for them was haunted so he knew they would get it for a good price. All it would take was one DIY exorcism and they were in the clear. He just hoped it had a good heating system. Maharet made her own warmth so she never wanted to run the furnace and there were only so many wool sweaters a demon could wear before he risked becoming vaguely spherical.

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