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“No… I’m fine.” Glossy amber eyes meet mine as he gives me a flatlined smile. “I will be.”
I feel him tug on my power, siphoning enough from me to open a portal. He has yet to completely replenish and likely won’t until he’s healed. My uncle staggers back as if it’ll bite him.
“What the fuck–” he cuts off, balling his hands into fists. “You’re like her,” he finally says, standing back up and nodding to my aunt.
“Sort of, yes,” I answer as we all step through and it spins shut.
“Another time spinner… It’s a rare gift,” Elise says the moment it closes. I don’t bother trying to explain that his power is different from our families. That’s a topic for another day. For now, I’ll let her wonder and awe.
The both of them dart their eyes around the reception area of Limbo, gawking at the vegetable scale as souls are weighed.
“This way,” Kai says, drawing their attention back to the reason we’re here, but I set my hand on his chest, telling him to wait as I jog toward the scale, dragging a blonde man back with me.
“There’s someone I want you to meet,” I say, placing Belphegor in front of my aunt. “Let me introduce you to Belphegor, your grandfather.”
Elise’s smile falls as her eyes round. “What?” she asks, her voice slightly higher than usual. “The founder of the faction and the Belphegor Academy… That grandfather?”
“Yes,” I assure her, nudging him forward. We’ve yet to develop a true familial relationship beyond the occasional conversation, but now that he doesn’t have to hide, along with the other fallen, I’m sure that’ll change.
“It’s such a pleasure to meet you,” Elise says, sticking out her hand. Belphegor grins, his eyes crinkled with a wisdom only time can provide.
“We hug here,” he says, taking her hand and yanking her forward, then giving Noah a quick hug as well. “I’ll let you resume your tour, but you know where to find me.” He smiles and treks back to the scales.
Kai leads us through the building, toward the door I’ve yet to open. Inside, the warehouse disappears, replaced by a cabin–the one from my dreams, where I met Lucifer growing up. The woods are thick and the birds sing as the rustling trees sway. It’s sunny, but not too hot or too cold. The door closes behind us as we tread closer, stepping over the lush green grass in the clearing.
“They’re not aware that we’re coming. That’s a failure on my part.” Kai’s hand slides up my back.
“You’ve also been laid up for the last few days. I’m surprised you were able to arrange all of this to begin with. I’m sure it’ll be fine.”
My aunt looks him over, likely looking for the injury I spoke of earlier without prying by asking questions. Kai’s arm loops over my shoulder, leaning his weight on me as he climbs the small stretch of steps to the porch and my uncle presses the doorbell.
I’m not sure why they’d need one of those here.
A woman’s voice sounds through the door–almost exactly like my aunts–and as the door opens up, I come face to face with the woman I’ve been told I resemble. I can see it. We have the same hair, same cheekbones, and as my eyes slip to her feet, I cross my own, seeing we have the same boots. Her mouth is open as her eyes flick from me to her sister.
Elise’s crying before a word has been spoken, as the woman who brought me into this world steps forward and wraps her arms around my uncle and aunt. Instantly, this encounter has become awkward. I start to leave, but Kai’s arm steadies me, holding me in place.
“Be patient,” he whispers, letting it slip down my back so his fingers can grip the small of my waist. “This is new to them, too.” He brushes his lips against my temple as I glue my gaze on the withered floorboards of the porch.
Someone walks through the cabin with heavy footfalls, likely drawn by the noise of my mother and aunt squealing like it’s been centuries… Though, I suppose, to them it’s felt that way.
I see the point of shoes cross the threshold as the man steps onto the porch. “Alice?”
His voice is unfamiliar to me, yet it sends goosebumps rising in droves across my flesh. Even the cells that make up my being knows it’s him. Swallowing the knot in my throat, I drag my gaze up to meet eyes exactly like mine. His dark hair is slightly gray around his ears. His jaw is strong and prominent.
“Is that you?” he asks, and Kai nudges me forward, making me misstep. My eyes dart to his amber ones, narrowing into slits that could kill a man. The man in front of me chuckles. “I see you have your mother’s attitude. I’m told it runs in the Whittaker bloodline, but I’m not sure I believed it until now.”
Kai’s lips curl into a grin as he urges me forward. “That she does.” My father holds out a hand, shaking Kai’s. “It’s good to see you again.”
“I could say the same…”
Slowly, I bring my gaze back to him, finding Celeste–my mother–curled against his side, her eyes pinned to me. She pinches her lips between her teeth as she steps forward, holding out her arms.
“You don’t know me,” she says, pausing to still her trembling lips, “but I’d really like to get the chance to know you.”
A tear drips down my face as I dare myself to take a step forward. “I’d like that too.” Celeste yanks me forward, burying her face into my shoulder as my father watches, patiently waiting his turn. The moment she lets go, he does the same. There’s something soothing about the way his heart beats in his chest, so close to my ear. As if this was where I was meant to be.
We spend the rest of the evening at my parents’ cabin, exchanging stories and memories. Talking about their past lives and the things I don’t remember. We eat and laugh, as if we’ve known each other our entire lives. And as I stare at the table surrounded by my family, sitting next to the man I love, I can’t help but feel whole.
