It was just after 3 a.m. in New Orleans when a soft hum rose within the thunderous downpour of a violent thunderstorm drenching the city's French Quarter. Rain hammered roofs, streets, and straggling partygoers stumbling home drunk, but none noticed the sound growing louder on Cassie's apartment rooftop. It preceded an emerging sphere of light that unfolded into wings—Charlie Morningstar's wings—impossible things of luminescence and protection that cradled Kevin and Cassie against the tempest's fury.
With a flick, her wings released the siblings onto slick asphalt, then feathers and bone collapsed inward with a whisper, leaving only Charlie standing in the downpour, human-shaped and drenched, the magic dissolving into memory and water.
Immediately, they realized the torrential rain was soaking them through. With cold rain biting into their skin, a stark contrast after the desert's dry heat, all three shrieked in surprise. Dashing for the door, they crammed inside the alcove, dripping water across the concrete floor.
Running his hands through soaked hair, water cascading between his fingers, Kevin laughed. "The roof?"
Brushing tangled, wet strands from her face, Charlie's expression scrunched up apologetically. "Um, I wasn't sure how accurate I'd be if I tried for the apartment through walls at this distance. I figured the roof would be safer."
"Wise move," Kevin agreed, smirking through droplets still falling from his hair. "The shower feels good after the desert, anyway."
Removing her cap to undo her bun, Cassie agreed with a wide grin. "Amen to that!"
"It's strange, though. Now that I remember everything, I know I never had the ability to teleport before." Confusion lacing her voice, Charlie went on, "I never had my wings, either. Or my healing gift."
Slapping her cap against her thigh, Cassie pondered, "It's possible some of your talents are latent abilities spawned by necessity."
The princess shrugged. "Maybe. As a child, my parents would often drive me in our limousine to events or arrange for friends to visit the mansion. Once I came of age, if I wanted to visit other rings, I used the transport system in the city center." A soft chuckle escaped her lips. "And Mom and Dad were a bit overprotective and made sure my personal imp butler, Alton, was always nearby. He was quick to attend to me if I got so much as a skinned knee."
Having started down the steps, Kevin stopped and turned around to gaze up at his girlfriend with a stare showing a mix of wonder and tenderness. "This will take some getting used to. It was one thing to understand your lineage, but it's quite another to hear you speak of it so naturally."
With a grin that was half-humored, half-sultry, Charlie strode down the stairs that separated them until she was just one step above him. She leaned down and pulled his chin up. "Now that I know all that I am, I know I'm going to be quite voracious." Giving him a conspiratorial wink, she whispered, "Do you think you're up to the challenge, my knight?"
"I intend to do my best." Placing his foot on her step to raise himself up, he pressed his lips to hers. Their kiss tasted of rain and promise, filled with unspoken needs, all of which could finally be sated with no limitations or restraints. All but one, that is.
"Get a room, you two!" Cassie's voice, rich with humor, broke the spell over the lovers.
Blushing like teenagers caught making out behind a tree, they parted. Charlie tucked her chin, though her eyes kept sparkling at him, teasing pleasures still to come.
Peering past her to tease his sister in return, Kevin eyed her playfully. "Trevor?"
It was Cassie's turn to redden. Her blush was thicker and richer than theirs, as she had been hoarding her feelings for Snapshot for nearly a decade, never sharing her sentiments with anyone. Not even herself. Uncharacteristically, she fidgeted. "What can I say except he's always had good taste."
"He's a good man." Kevin agreed, adding, "And it's about time you found someone. It's good to see you happy, sis."
"Same with you." She smiled. "Both of you."
"Kevin?" Charlie interrupted, her voice thick as her fingers traced down his arm. He saw the burning desire in her eyes. "Take me home?"
"Yes, my princess." Taking her hand, he led her down the stairs.
Tailing behind them, her joy overflowing, Cassie followed up with another tease. "I'm going to need to wear earplugs to bed tonight, aren't I?"
Both glanced over their shoulders and, in a serious tone, together declared, "Yes!"
Bursting out in laughter, Cassie quickly cleared the steps till she could put her hands on their backs, giving them a gentle push, urging them to hurry up. She, too, wanted to get home.
When they reached the apartment, Cassie handed Kevin the key. "Will you do the honors?"
Nodding, he took the key and slipped it into the lock. Twisting it, he pushed open the door with a flourish. "Welcome home, ladi—"
The word died unfinished, murdered by a white-gloved hand that emerged from darkness with claws extended, seizing his throat with the casual violence of one well aware of its power.
Gasping as his throat constricted under a firm, unyielding grip, Kevin was thrust against the wall inside. The impact shattered the mirror with a sharp crack and knocked over the side table, sending Cassie's key bowl and photos of him and Charlie clattering across the floor.
A thick demonic voice—ancient, terrible—blasted in his face: "WHERE IS SHE!? WHERE IS MY DAU—?"
Now, daughter shared a grave with ladies, as Charlie slammed into the intruder with the force of six months' rage condensed into a single moment of protective fury.
A shocked shout of surprise erupted from the intruder as she violently flung him across the apartment. Before he'd even landed, she pounced like a cheetah, grabbing him again and sending him crashing into Cassie's liquor cabinet, shattering it and sending half a dozen liquor bottles smashing on the tiled kitchen floor.
"Cha—?" The intruder's once-demonic voice now carried a more human tone as she grabbed him yet again, hoisted him over her shoulder, and hurled him onto the kitchen table. It broke in half with a loud crack, the debris piling over the intruder's body as he hit the floor.
"DON'T YOU FUCKING TOUCH HIM!" Letting out a fierce roar that echoed through the apartment, her demon form radiated fury as she rained down claws of death on the intruder's face while tears streaked her demon-darkened skin. Even in her fury, she wept. The torment of the past six months—lost memories, falling in love only to almost lose her lover to a monster, failing Chloe, and now another demon had dared to threaten all she had gained—shattered her control.
"I'M FUCKING DONE WITH YOUR SHIT, DEMON! I'M FUCKING DONE WITH ALL OF THIS! LEAVE BEFORE I RIP YOUR FUCKING HEAD OFF!"
Yelping as he attempted to speak, the intruder found himself pummeled relentlessly. Charlie's eyes burned crimson, with wisps of demon fire flaring around her eyelids as tears streaked down her cheeks. Though she could usually see perfectly in the dark, rage had clouded her vision. All she wanted was for this demon to be dead.
Running to the wall, Cassie flipped the light switch, illuminating the apartment with harsh fluorescent brightness. Concerned about her brother, she crouched down to see if Kevin was okay. He responded with a thumbs-up. They both then focused on Charlie's struggle with the intruder.
Blinking rapidly when the lights flared to life, Charlie quickly adjusted to the change. Lips curled up and fangs extended to their fullest, she glared at the intruder. When she'd pinned him, she had drawn energy to her arm, forming it into the long, red-golden claws of death, ready to deliver the killing blow.
But just before she struck, she recognized his face and gasped. "Dad?"
"Hey, Char-char." The voice emerged pained but tender, carrying love even through blood and bruises. "You got quite a punch there, princess."
Her demon form dissolved like mist under the morning sun as Charlie staggered back. She rose to her feet in a daze while the stranger stood up with theatrical flair that seemed obscene given the violence that had preceded it.
Kevin immediately recognized the similarities between Charlie and the stranger: same hair, eye color, and skin tone, with rosy cheeks; though he was on the shorter side, perhaps five-feet-five or six at the most.
With a showman's grace, the man adjusted the lapel of his tailored white suit, straightened his red tie, and flicked his fingers to produce a white top hat with red trim, which he then placed atop his head. With an additional flourish, a black stem cane, adorned with an apple-shaped handle, shimmered into the palm of his hand.
"Dad?" Charlie's voice quavered in disbelief.
Lucifer smiled with warm affection, tilting his head in affirmation.
It was him. "Dad!" Running into his arms, she embraced him.
Kevin and Cassie regarded each other as understanding slowly dawned on them. Father? Lucifer!?
Despite wincing from the beating he'd endured, Lucifer enveloped her in a tight embrace. "Charlotte! I finally found you!"
"Dad!" Charlie cried against his shoulder. "I'm so sorry! I lost my memories. I didn't remember myself for the longest time!" She pulled back to see his face, "How did you find me?"
"I had been searching for you for a long time!" Holding her tightly while sniffling alongside her, he explained, "I thought you were lost to me. But then, I got word that you were here, on Earth, and when I used my magic to find you, I felt a burst of your unique power radiating from one of Earth's deserts. I quickly teleported to my good friend Stolas's mansion, borrowed his Grimoire, and traveled to find you. Apparently, I just missed you. I focused on your essence again, sensed it reappear here, and followed. I assumed you'd be in this room when I arrived."
"I—I thought about teleporting here." She admitted. "But I chose the roof for safety."
Smiling warmly as he held his daughter, Lucifer affectionately mussed her hair. "I understand. Nonetheless, I found you." Narrowing his eyes, which took on a familiar crimson blaze, he glared at the siblings. In a menacing tone that made the air seem to thicken, he growled, "Now release my daughter, or else!"
"Dad!" Unwrapping her arms, Charlie backed away and protested, "I'm not bound. I broke the spell. I'm okay."
"No." Shaking his head, he revealed, "You're still tied to your master."
Spreading his hands wide to indicate he meant no harm—not that he could harm the devil himself—Kevin spoke with firm declaration. "Sir. I never bound her! I swear. I found her injured in the woods months ago. I tended to her wounds, helped her recover, and she's been assisting me ever since. It was Samedi who bound her, but we broke that binding spell."
"Not you." Lucifer's voice softened as he directed his gaze to Cassie. "Her."
"What!?" Shocked at the accusation, Cassie declared, "I never summoned her. She's my friend!"
"Sister!" Charlie corrected.
"Sister!" Speaking boldly, Cassie stepped forward to match her brother's position. Charlie joined them and took Cassie's hand to show support and solidarity with her family.
Lucifer cocked his head in confusion, "You didn't make a summoning circle?"
"No." Taking another step forward, she explained, "There was a boy who foolishly played with magic he didn't understand. He was trying to summon you."
"Me?" Scratching his chin in thought, Lucifer mused, "Bold little one."
"Yes, but he called you Satan, not Lucifer Morningstar."
"Ahh." Lucifer leaned on his cane, musing, "The child made the circle; he used the blood; hopefully, he had a talisman on him. He attempted to summon me by an incorrect name." He thoughtfully rubbed his beard. "But because of the mess up, the magic found my daughter instead."
"That's what we surmised, sir."
"You found her injured?"
"Yes, sir."
"I see. An incomplete or misused spell could potentially toss a demon anywhere on Earth. It's happened before. It would also explain why her memories were trapped, as such a traumatic rip from Hell could cause mental fractures."
"And my brother found her." Swearing earnestly, Cassie continued, "All I did was give her some stones, an amulet, and try to help her regain her memories. It wasn't until we broke Samedi's bind on her that she remembered everything. That's it, I swear to you!"
Seeing the fear in her eyes, he offered her a kind, fatherly face to ease her worries. With a gentle smile, he inquired, "You found out her name?"
"Yes." Agreeing firmly, she added, "And that's it. I failed her, otherwise."
Shaking her head while squeezing her hand, Charlie replied, "You never failed me, Cassie. Never!"
She returned the hand squeeze, grateful that the devil's daughter was by her side when the devil himself stood before her, accusing her of kidnapping.
Humming while his eyes took on an air of amusement, Lucifer declared, "I have a secret to share with you. No one on Earth knows what I'm about to tell you, so I ask that you never share this with anyone. Promise me?"
"We promise." Cassie's tone emphasized the 'we'.
Accepting this while seeming eager to reveal his secret, he declared with a showman's presentation, "This may surprise you, but all spells, incantations, prophecies, et cetera, are bound by a certain set of rules. As long as those rules are adhered to, the magic works. But here's the fun part: how those rules are followed is … ironically … open to a few loopholes and caveats."
The three exchanged confused glances.
With concern, Charlie pressed, "Dad, what are you trying to say?"
"Well, as long as all the spell pieces are completed, it does its thing. But there's no 'rule' stating that the same person who starts the spell has to finish it. So, dear lady?" Directing his gaze to Cassie, he smiled. "I'd love to ask you a question."
"Sir?"
"Did you happen to call my daughter by name?" His eyes danced, and he seemed bursting with eagerness to share the greatest secret ever. "Did you call her Charlotte Morningstar?"
Slowly, almost imperceptibly, realization of what had happened began to set in. Glancing at Charlie, who met her eyes with a sense of awe, Cassie felt the weight of the moment settle between them. Swallowing, she confirmed the King's suspicions, "I did."
"And there it is." Clapping his hands together, the King of Hell beamed, "While the boy's attempt to summon me found my daughter instead, it was you, Cassie Collins, who successfully completed the binding spell when you spoke her full name."
Cassie blinked rapidly. "Wha—?"
Approaching her, Lucifer caught a slight tensing of her shoulders, but she made no move to back away. Offering her a gentle, reassuring smile, he placed his hand softly on her shoulder and declared, "You, my dear, are Charlie's master."
Cassie wobbled as if reality had just shifted beneath her feet. She stumbled into Charlie's arms, and the princess quickly wrapped her sister in a protective embrace.
Kevin was as stunned as his sister. "Are you saying that Charlie has been bound to Cassie since that morning in the kitchen?"
"Yes." His simple one-word answer spoke volumes. Lucifer turned toward his daughter and asked, "May I see?"
Understanding her father's request, she kissed Cassie on the forehead, separated from her, and approached him. "You may."
"See?" Kevin questioned.
"I will see all that has happened since my daughter arrived here through her eyes and emotions so that I can understand everything. It's one talent some demons have, either by touch or smell."
"That's how Rygen was able to imitate Amanda and me and know our minds?"
Shrugging, Lucifer replied, "Rygen the Devourer? He is one such demon, yes. I can answer more in a moment." Scrutinizing his daughter, he inquired, "Are you ready?"
Biting her lip, Charlie dipped her chin, allowing Lucifer to gently rest a hand on her forehead. They closed their eyes together—father and daughter, fallen angel and hybrid impossible—while yellow light enveloped them like amniotic fluid, like the past made tangible and transferable through touch that illuminated truth.
He saw everything. Her amnesia's fog. Her slow awakening alongside Kevin. Their love developing like photographs in chemicals—inevitable, irreversible, beautiful. Her growing power, too dangerous for Hell to allow, too magnificent to contain. When they opened their eyes, shared tears glistened like diamonds mined from suffering.
"Oh, my precious child." His thumb traced beneath her eye, drying what magic and memory had made wet. "I am so proud of you, my strong and resilient daughter."
Sniffling, she gripped his hand and breathed a shudder filled with relief, "Thank you, Dad."
They shared a moment of deep understanding, and then he addressed Kevin, "To answer your question. Yes. As a hellhound, Rygen could use his enhanced sense of smell to understand you and duplicate your form and character. I am so sorry for Amanda, as well."
"Thank you, sir." Kevin's throat felt tight at the reminder.
Acknowledging him with a tilt of his head, Lucifer's voice grew solemn, "I owe both of you a great debt that I fear I may never be able to repay. You saved my daughter's life, protected her, nurtured her strengths, and helped her to discover all she could be. You helped her become even more powerful than she should be at this stage in her development."
"Dad?"
"You are destined for so much, Char-Char, but some of what you've learned to do now can't be discovered by anyone else in Hell. There are forces that would pursue you because of them. I'll have to work some magic to set things straight once we're back home."
"What do you mean?" Her eyes widened, though a part of her knew this was inevitable. "I am home! Now that I remember my life in Hell, I know there's nothing there for me, nothing I want from it. This is my home now, Father!"
"That isn't possible. Once I break the binding spell, Hell will call you back." Pain filled his voice with the explanation.
"Please, Dad!" She begged, "Don't do this, please! I welcome Cassie as my master, and I love Kevin! I want to marry him and have his children! I want to live my life with him!"
"It's not about Kevin." Sighing, he explained, "You're not safe here, Charlie, and if you stay, you might spark an uprising in Hell. If it's discovered that the Princess of Hell can live on Earth freely, others will want to rise up, such as sinners who'd love to return as if they'd never died, or some of the more greedy overlords, such as the Vees, will want to expand their territory and collect living souls. Then there's the fear that others, the same type of magic users as Samedi, will discover who you are and try to take you for themselves."
"I don't care!" she fumed.
He gave her a knowing look. "Yes, you do, Char."
Growling, she spun around and pleaded to Kevin, "Say something, please? Tell him you love me! Tell him you'll protect me. We have so much to do here; so many lives to save. Don't let him take me! I love you!"
Brushing her fallen hair out of her face, Kevin whispered, "I love you, too, Charlotte Morningstar." But his face revealed his thoughts before his mouth shaped them.
"No." Her eyes pulsed red. "After all I've done for you? After all we've been through? After falling in love with you, you won't fight for me? Why?"
"I would die for you, Charlie. I would fight Rygen again and again and face all the monsters in the world to keep you. If that's all it was, if I could, I would." His voice trembled, thick and sad. "But your father is right."
Lips curling up, she tried to pull away.
But he held her firm in his grip, needing her to understand, "If Hell would rebel because of us, if others found out about you, we'd be putting innocent lives at stake, and two worlds would be at risk going to war."
She heard his acquiescence, heard strategy override emotion, listened as he chose reason over romance.
"Is this your fucking 4D Chess shit again?" This time, she used her demon strength and ripped out of his grasp. Backing away, she glared at him. "Can't fucking feel with your heart? Have to make everything about strategy!?"
"Charlie!" Shaking with sadness, he protested, "That's not fair! You know my heart! You know I love you!"
Grunting in disbelief at his words, she turned to her father and hissed with demonic venom that tasted of betrayal, "NO! I am not going back to Hell! Not after I found my Heaven! Go back, father, and leave us be!"
And then—sulfur lingering like regret, like the smell of a home she would never return to—Charlie vanished.
"Charlie!" Kevin and Lucifer called into emptiness that didn't answer, into space that held only the faintest trace of where she had used to be.
The room grew silent. Lucifer scanned the apartment, noticing the damage from the battle, and sighed. Then his eyes fell on the kitchen counter. Running his tongue along the inside of his cheek, he wondered, "So. Got any pancakes?"
The absurdity of the question—the King of Hell asking about breakfast while hearts broke around him—seemed fitting somehow. Kevin stood stunned.
Cassie leaned on her brother, whispering, "I don't want to lose her."
Lucifer waved the moment away. Instead, he pivoted to face the siblings, placing his cane before him. "I know. I saw everything. What you both did, what you all have been through. Please believe me, I would do anything for my baby girl, even let her live on Earth. But it's impossible, and it's necessary that she won't remember any of this when she returns home."
"What do you mean?" Kevin pressed.
"It's part of the magic of summoning. Many times, a summoning is for a singular purpose. Some people summon demons for sexual purposes, others to amass wealth or exact revenge. But when the demon returns to Hell, it forgets it was ever summoned. It prevents them from attempting to go back and relive the joy of being liberated from Hell."
Kevin's voice choked, "She'll forget us. Me?"
"Yes." Lucifer's expression grew grave, "And it's imperative that she does, as well as forget how to call up her ability to heal and her wings. If Heaven ever finds out she has angelic capabilities…" He stopped.
"Charlie's an angel?" Cassie gasped.
"Did you forget what I am?" Lucifer's voice turned wistful, "Then there's the fact that her mother was human before we fell to Hell, and she became the first demon. Charlie is unique in every way imaginable, more than a demon, an angel, or a human, and her destiny is too great to be lived out on Earth. I'm sorry."
"She said she's a Nephilim," Cassie recalled.
"Exactly," Lucifer confirmed. "And for that alone, she has to come home."
Swallowing hard, Kevin asked, "How long?"
"I will need to gather some items from Cassie's shop downstairs and prepare a breaking spell. That will take me about twenty minutes. So, I'll give you thirty. Go. Find my daughter and say goodbye."
"But she teleported," he croaked, spreading his hands out, looking lost. "I don't know where she is."
"I do. Remember, I can focus on her essence, and right now, I sense she's down by the river. From her memories, I'm guessing it's where you two talked a few days ago."
Kevin pivoted on his heels. Facing Cassie, he exclaimed, "Woldenberg Park!"
"Go!" she commanded.
He didn't need to be told twice. Bolting for the door, he paused at the broken table, bent down, and grabbed one of the picture frames, removing the photo of him and Charlie. Giving his sister a quick glance, he disappeared into the hallway.
After he was gone, Cassie bowed her head and closed her eyes. She prayed to the Goddesses for him to find her in time. Then, she felt Lucifer lift her chin, drawing her eyes to meet his.
He whispered, "Be strong, little lady. Now, please show me your shop."
Wiping her eyes, she replied, "There's nothing left. Rygen destroyed everything."
Smiling while taking her hand, he led her to the door. "Oh? Is that so? Come, let's go have a looksee."
Leading her down the stairs and through the broken door, Lucifer stepped over broken glass and charred books, surveying the damage.
Cassie, however, halted just before crossing the threshold, her eyes locked on the spot where Davis had been killed.
Peering over his shoulder, Lucifer understood her hesitation. "He's in Heaven, Cassie, and he's at peace."
Hope filled her voice. "You promise?"
"You have my word."
"And Amanda?" She had to know.
Her question gave him pause, and an odd look crossed his face before he could stop it.
Quickly surmising the answer, she whispered, "No."
"You should know that Hell isn't exactly what any of your human religions believe. Not all sinners suffer, or are tormented in the ways you might think. Heck, some even thrive. I can't tell you any more than that."
"Please, sir." Pleading, she pressed, "Is she alright?"
Sighing, he gave in. "You do not have to worry about her."
Accepting that he would not say anything more about Amanda, Cassie sighed as she looked around her devastated store. "As you can see. There's nothing left to salvage."
"Hmmm, let's see what we can do about that." Winking at her, he raised his cane and pointed toward the middle of the room. "Check out this little magic number!"
Atop his slender black cane, the red apple handle, seemingly crafted from precious metal, began to glow, bathing the room in soft white light. Then a vibrant rainbow of colors erupted from the orb, sending waves cascading through the entire shop, carrying sounds reminiscent of wind chimes tinkling in a gentle breeze.
The air crackled with supernatural energy as the magic worked its restoration. Previously charred and burned books, now seemingly unharmed, floated back onto the shelves. Crystals and amulets pieced themselves together from broken fragments, their surfaces shining as if freshly polished. Incenses reformed and gathered into the various jars and displays they had occupied, filling the air with their familiar scents.
In the corner of the shop, ticks matched the swinging pendulum of the old grandfather clock, now restored and working as perfectly as the day it was crafted over a century ago.
The melted paint on the wall returned to its original state, and Cassie watched in utter amazement as the shop returned to what it had been before Rygen's arson attack.
"I—" Stuttering in shock, she managed, "I don't believe it."
"Believe it, kiddo." Walking into the center of the shop while surveying his surroundings, he remarked, "Your place is beautiful." Picking up an amulet from the display and admiring it, he added, "And powerful."
"Thank you." She whispered numbly, then suddenly had a thought: "The police will be back for an investigation." She spread her arms wide, "I can't explain this."
"I'm the King of Hell, dear." He gloated without a hint of humility, "As far as anyone knows, your shop was never damaged." His tone shifted to one of sympathy. "I'm sorry, that's all I can do."
"Thank you." The silent reminder of Davis flooded her with a new wave of sadness.
Smiling kindly, the king went about collecting all the items he would need.
While Lucifer moved about like a tourist casually browsing the shop, Cassie sat numbly at the main counter, watching him in awe. He would pick up a powder or two, then a trinket from a rack. She heard him giggle—actually giggle—when he picked up a small duck-shaped Vodou doll, admiring it as if he'd found real treasure.
Despite everything he had shared about her connection with Charlie and what he had done to repair her place, she still found it hard to believe that the King of Hell himself was shopping in her store.
In a few minutes, he returned, placed everything on the counter, and sat on the stool opposite her. As he arranged everything in order of use, she shook her head.
"I'm still confused."
Raising his gaze while continuing to prepare things, he inquired. "About?"
"Everything?" Shaking her head in disbelief, she implored, "If I'm Charlie's master, why didn't we know? It's not as if I gave orders and she obeyed me, as a bound demon would. I'd have noticed something!"
"But you did." Shaking his head while explaining, "Having peeked into my daughter's mind, I witnessed the past six months instantly, and I believe I can explain things fairly easily."
"Okay?" Biting her lip, she felt both curious and trepidatious.
"Alright. To recap, the boy in West Virginia attempted to summon me, but he got my first name wrong. Still, the magic sought out the Morningstar name, reaching my daughter first. That's something I'll have to look into, since it doesn't make sense to me." Appearing unfazed, he carried on, "Now, since the summoning was skewed, the trip was devastating to her body and mind. Her capabilities remained unaffected, but her understanding of them was lost to her. So, it took time for her to evolve, in a sense. Over the months, as she and Kevin saved all those children, they bonded. She found confidence in herself, and her abilities grew exponentially."
As he spoke, Lucifer began opening the vials of powder, sprinkling each one into intricate designs on the counter. The scent of sulfur and ancient herbs filled the air between them.
"Then, on the night they almost fucked…"
"Sir!" Cassie scolded.
"Well, they almost did." He chuckled. "I'm from Hell, kiddo; we aren't very subtle."
"Sir." Her voice firm, she declared, "Show your daughter respect."
His smile faded, but his tone remained calm: "I respect my daughter and her choices more than anyone ever could. Do you want me to explain, or not?"
"I do." Choosing not to apologize, she waited instead.
With a small tilt of his chin, he resumed his exposition of events, "After Kevin's rejection, she resolved to discover her true self and sought your guidance. You attempted to assist her with crystals and the amulet, which ultimately protected her from Samedi's spell." Smiling at her, he added, "Clever girl, by the way. Then you discovered who she truly was."
"Charlotte Morningstar."
"Correct. When you called her by her full name, you completed the ritual, and she became your demon."
Trying to remember the details of that morning, she frowned. "I never felt anything."
"Sure, you did. When you spoke her name, the air crackled with energy, and her body shifted ever so slightly. Kevin even remarked that her eyes had changed. You had summoned my Charlie, as she was always supposed to be. The only problem left was her memories. Something you could easily have fixed."
"How?"
Smirking, he explained, "You were her master; you had control over all that she was. All you needed to say was, 'Charlie, I want you to remember everything.' It's really quite amusing to me that there were a couple of moments where you very nearly said the right phrase to unlock her memories, but she interrupted you both times."
It was starting to sink in. "And when I ordered her from the apartment while I was attending to Kevin?"
"She left without a word."
"The training to fight Rygen…"
"She was enraged with you, but you ordered her to defend against your attacks. Once she saw what you were trying to do, she naturally followed."
Lost in memory, she glanced around the shop and continued to think aloud. "When she tried to run off to find Kevin after Samedi kidnapped him?"
"You shouted for her to stop, and she did, just as she did when she wanted to confront Bible and you told her to stand down. She obeyed without complaint because you held dominion over her. I believe it's because of the trust and love you shared that it never felt as if it were a dominant or submissive role to either of you."
"Holy shit." She dropped her eyes to the counter as the impact of understanding rocked her soul.
Lucifer went on. "And when you commanded her to remember who she was, as you used your magic to activate the powders and break Samedi's spell, she regained all her memories."
Her expression amused him, but he could see the revelations were overwhelming her. With a fatherly pat on her hand, he shared with her the same affectionate smile he reserved for his daughter. "She was bound to you, Cassie; Charlie was your demon to command, almost from the day you met her. That magic was greater than Samedi's binding, as it was the first to take her. Additionally, her willingness to accept your commands, even if she didn't realize it, ultimately saved her. There's strength in love, you know?"
Nodding without a word, she remembered she'd given her brother the exact same advice.
Working to inscribe the spell, his tender voice took on an edge: "But when Samedi attempted to bind her, the two spells mixed, and it released something locked away inside of her. Something I'd never felt before until I peeked into her mind. Understand this: she's Lilith's daughter and mine. A Heaven-born angel and a human turned demon—that hybrid form brings a few complications. She is capable of becoming something far more dangerous than Heaven, Hell, or Earth could ever contend with."
"That thing. What was it?"
"I don't exactly know," Lucifer admitted. "However, I plan to discuss this with Lilith upon our return." Shaking his head with concern, he let it go for now. "I do know that I won't let her remember that part about her. She is not ready for it. It's another reason she can't stay here."
"But, sir! Kevin and Charlie belong together. I believe destiny brought them together for a reason!" Leaning forward, she pressed, "She's your daughter, part angel, and Kevin's human. Why can't they be together?"
"If it were as simple as that, my dear Cassie, I'd welcome Kevin as a son-in-law. But it's not." He let out a sigh that had been welling within him, "All I can do is let you both remember her and cherish the time you had with her, and while Heaven is fucking strict about erasing earthly ties, I might have a little say in that, if necessary."
"We would protect her." She promised, "I would protect her!"
"With your new abilities?" Raising an eyebrow, he questioned, "The power she gave you?"
"What?"
"You've been growing your talents for a long time, Cassie. However, your magic was still muted by earthly limitations. Crystals, powders, and spells bound to objects. Nothing like what you did in Libya." Stopping work on the spell while putting his elbow on the counter, he scratched his chin. "See, almost all summonings are for one purpose: to use a demon for the benefit of the master. In all those cases, the demon fights the control, and occasionally they do break free. However, the key point is that there is no consensus, or 'union,' between the two entities."
Examining the spell laid out on the counter, he added a touch of powder to thicken a section to match the rest. "But you and my daughter? You bonded and became 'family'. Therefore, she shared her essence with you, even though she was unaware of it. You may have noticed that, coincidentally, you both adopted some similar mannerisms."
Biting her lip while trying to think of an example, she heard him chuckle. Her eyebrows creased. "What?"
"Just like that," he pointed at her lip, "The fact is, you absorbed a little bit of demon magic, and it unlocked the true nature of your abilities within."
With her fingers on her lips, she blinked, his words sinking deep, "Am I a demon, now?"
Laughing with genuine glee and kindness, he reassured her, "Oh, no, not at all. But, my dear, you have achieved a level of power that very few ever will. You are, in all the best ways, a real witch now. But there is still so much within you to be discovered."
She had no words for him. For all of her experiences, her stubbornness, her beliefs, she had no response to the King's revelation.
He studied her expression and heard every word she didn't speak. He cautioned her, "Know this, though, that when she goes home, that bond ends, and your link to the magics will weaken. You will have to train hard to strengthen them back to where they are now."
That she comprehended, and she said just as much, "I understand, sir."
With a single nod in reply, Lucifer looked down at the countertop and checked his work; the powders were drawn to the exact specifications his spell required, the trinkets placed in the right arrangement, and the time he'd spared Kevin and his daughter was drawing to a close. He picked up a black candle and presented it to Cassie. "We're ready."
Shaking her head profusely, she protested. "I'm not."
"Yes." He took her hand, kissed her knuckles like a courtier from an age when such gestures had meant something. "You are. It has been a wonderful pleasure to meet you, Cassandra Elizabeth Collins. To meet Kevin. Charlie may not remember you, but I will, and I plan to keep an eye on both of you. If I ever feel you need divine help, I will repay my debt to you."
Backing away from the counter, he bowed his head slightly. "Now, speak the spell."
She knew she couldn't stall any longer. Wiping her eyes, Cassie lit the candle and spoke softly, reciting the spell with a trembling voice. "Dimitto te, Charlotte Morningstar. Revertere ad dominium tuum in pace."
Stealing one last second, she locked eyes with Lucifer. His wan smile understood her pain as he gestured for her to finish the incantation.
With sorrow piercing her heart like sharpened steel, Cassie shielded her eyes with the back of her free arm as she set the fiery wick against the powders. Magical fire roared to life with a whoosh that stole the breath from her lungs, with the flames licking the air like tongues tasting endings, and the flash of heat caressing her skin like a fevered lover's touch.
Then, as quickly as the powders had ignited, the brilliance faded, leaving nothing but shadow and memory behind. In the spell's wake, silence fell like a pall over the room—save for the grandfather clock's pendulum swinging lazily, each tick announcing another second lost.
The hands read 3:53 a.m., marking the moment that Charlie Morningstar vanished from their lives, pulled back to Hell, and stripped of every memory the princess had built on Earth: Kevin's love, their fierce battles against evil, new friends, and the family she had found and embraced as her own.
Slowly lifting her eyes over her arm, Cassie found only empty space where Lucifer had stood moments before—glass countertop clean and bare, no trace of any powder or trinkets left behind, no evidence except for the ache settling in her chest.
"Goodbye, Charlie."
Her whisper barely broke the silence.
But the universe heard every syllable.