“Thanks for this,” Svadilfari looking at Maisy; “I know it’s an imposition, yet I’m not sure I can be alone right now. At least until I know that Loki is safe and sound.” Svadifari biting into the dinner that Maisy’s cook Gunter just prepared; “but what is this again?”
“Sloppy Joes,” Rachael smiling as she watches Fenrir and Hel make a gleeful mess with themselves; “Its cooked ground beef with a savory sauce. Lots of it, “as Rachael’s burger drips down on her plate; “served on a bun. Messy food that no child can resist.”
Svadifari looking at the twins, he smiles as both six year olds are enjoying what could be their first earthly delight. “They are going to need a bath after dinner.”
“And then,” Maisy grinning; “we can paint each other’s hooves.”
“Are you suggesting a girls night in,” Lamashtu opting to use a fork to pick up the fallen bits of meat; “just like all those centuries ago?”
“Only this time,” Maisy looking at Hel; “we won’t be using those sticky paints auntie Lamashtu has. We got the good stuff from Earth,” grinning even further; “nail polish; as the humans refer to.”
*****************************************************
“Are you not joining,” Enoch padding towards the kitchen counter for a coffee.
“I got my make over yesterday,” pointing to her gorgon tattoo as well as ear and nose studs; and observing Maisy, Hel and Lamashtu as all experiment with various shades of nail polish; “plus I can’t stand the smell of the acetone in the nail polish remover.”
“Well you look like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders then,” Enoch seeing Lamashtu genuinely smile for the first time in a long while.
“I keep forgetting,” Rachael holding up her smart phone; “no service in hell.”
“Social media,” Enoch asking as Rachael nods; “are you curious how your deaths were faked?”
“Now that you think about it,” Rachael putting down her useless phone; “how did Maisy and I die on Earth?”
“Give me a moment,” as Enoch puts down his coffee and opens a small portal. Instead of walking through or sticking his head in; Enoch reaches in and pulls out a newspaper and hands it to Rachael.
“The campus newsletter,” Rachael looking up at Enoch; “How?"
“Just read it,” Enoch smiling; “you’ll find it amusing.”
Rachael’s eyes go wide as she reads
‘Police are asking for help in apprehending Reverend Joseph Church. He is wanted for the assault and abduction of his son Josh, his girlfriend Penny and wife Rebecca Church. Police worry foul play may have fallen to the three listed as missing. Reverend Church is also wanted for the firebombing of his daughter Rachael Church’s apartment; which resulted in the death of Rachael Church and her roommate Maisy Morgenstern. It is suspected that this act of rage stemmed from Rachael coming out of the closet and declaring herself committed in a lesbian relationship with her roommate.’
“Police ask the public not to approach Reverend Church as he is presumed armed and dangerous,” Rachael reading the article out loud so all can here; “the police ask that the public to call 911 if they see the suspect.”
Rachael puts down the paper in stunned disbelief.
“Wow Rachael,” Maisy chortling; “dad really wanted your prick of a father to burn.”
“Lucifer had nothing to do with that,” Enoch chuckles; “that was all Jehovah’s doing. Angel’s faked your deaths and made sure that if your father is hiding out on Earth; “he won’t be safe anywhere.”
“Serves him right,” Rachael getting up to grab some beers from the fridge; “anyone want a cold one?”
“I’ll have one,” Svadifari states as he exits the guestroom he and his son and daughter are going to be spending the night in.
“Fenrir all washed up from diner,” Enoch looking at the miniature version of him; only he is Loki and Svadifari’s child. “Your fur still looks wet.”
“I could dry it off real quick with a brisk trot outside,” Fenrir looking proud.
“Brimstone storm is still raging,” Enoch responding; “Why don’t you join your sister and aunts. Get your nails painted,” the older wolf-taur grinning.
“Okay,” Fenrir making a quick gallop over to see what the fuss is about.
“You do realize,” Rachael sipping her beer; “you have the makings of a classic girl’s slumber party there.”
“At least Lamashtu has her mind off of Pallaca,” Svadifiri sighs as he accepts the beer and sips it; “I just wish I knew were Loki is.”
*****************************************************************
Trapped in his own body, not in control; Loki could only stare at the horror before him. His own sister, Jahi Morningstar being dragged to and alter; watching as Qesem violently ripped the fetus from Jahi’s womb. He railed as he watched the baby takes its first breath before it was savagely hacked over and alter with foul and profane runes.
The screams Jahi made as Heka started her chants; Loki wanted to act. He needed to act. He struggled with all his might but he could not make his body move. But he sees Jahi fighting back; this causes the shade controlling him to give chase a Jahi flees.
‘Run Jahi,’ Loki screaming but no words escape his lips; ‘get help. Tell father that Beelzebub is behind this.’
Yet it was futile, he could not do anything; the shade possessing him was in full control. Turning around, he heads back into the cave; with tears streaming from his black soulless eyes, the imprisoned Loki makes an impassionate and silent plea for help.
“Leave her,” Qesem ordering Loki as he cleans up the interrupted ritual; “it’s the broken angel known as Tarfiel’s turn.”
“A gift from Ssssssssssemyaza,” Heka hissing; as the possessed Iron knights drag the green angle out of her cell. Already broken from Kusheil’s torture; her wings severed and cut all over; the angel barely moved as she was quickly staked to the ground.
Heka begins to perform the same ritual she started on Jahi; only this time there was no resistance from the angel like there was from the fleeing Morningstar. Loki watches the angel rise from the ritual circle; her eyes black and lifeless like his and the wounds on her body heal. Her broken wings replaced with new wings; wings made of smoke.
****************************************************************************
Hel runs up to her uncle as he leaves the kitchen island; eager to head to bed; graciously accepting the offer to take a room to sleep in. He scoops up his young niece to see her black hooves have a fresh coat of polish with glitter. Her finger nails coated in a bright cherry red polish.
“Good night uncle,” as she kisses Enoch before looking at Rachael; “will you be my new aunt?”
“In a few days,” Rachael answering; “and my mother is going to marry Astaroth.”
“Aunt Granny,” Fenrir bounding towards Enoch and his sister. The nails on his paws looking like they were trimmed and manicured; “will you be joining us uncle?”
“No,” Enoch putting down Hel; “but I will be in the next room, so I won’t be far.”
“Are you going to find daddy-mom,” Hel looking sad; “we already miss hir.”
“First thing,” Enoch nodding; “Chances are I’ll be gone before you wake up.”
“Come on you two,” Svadifiri calling for Hel and Fenrir; “time for bed.”
Rachael watches as Svadifiri, a centaur demon lead his son and daughter to a nearby by guestroom. Seeing Enoch follow after; Rachael was surprised to see Lamashtu lingering in the kitchen, clearly waiting for the new demon.
“Is something wrong,” Rachael asking as she tidies up some dirty dishes.
“Be good to Miasma,” Lamashtu speaking; “I wasn’t always there to protect her like I should have.”
Before Rachael could respond, Lamashtu heads to her bedroom.
“Well that was odd,” Rachael looking confused as she too heads to bed.