Reaching for some dumplings with my chopsticks, I ask, “So, what brings you here?”
Levi chuckles, “No hello? It’s good to see you dad. Just, so what brings you here?”
Smiling at his banter, I impart, “It’s good to see you all. How long has it been?”
“It feels like an eternity since I last saw you, Dax. You know how time runs in The Underworld. It was way past time for a visit.” My mother says as she allows my fathers to cater to her every desire. It’s always been like this. The three of them can make even a simple meal about foreplay. For the longest time, it made me uncomfortable as I got older watching my fathers fawn over her. Its as if the three have to be in a constant dance anticipating the next touch, the next caress. They feed her and she allows them to do so because it pleases them, not because she is precocious. For a moment I feel as if they have forgotten that I’m even in the room, so I finish my dumplings and reach for the Chow Mein noodles with beef, and then the beef and broccoli. All my favorites.
“Your mother was a little homesick and wanted to see you, but we also wanted to stop in and see what Mammon has been up to. Since the rift between the realms has allowed us access to The Mortal Realm, he has not been spending much time in The Underworld. The City of Depravity is not as depraved as it once was, and the citizens there are growing restless. If you had not shown up tonight we were going to go check in on our brethren.”
“Father, have you checked in with The Horde King? Tarron tends to keep a good eye on things in both The Mortal Realm and The Otherworld.”
“Aye, we spoke to him about an hour ago. Evidently, we just missed your leaving there. So you have met the Keeper of Souls and her Guardian? Tarron had us on speaker when he took the call. How did that go?” Both my fathers and my mother are looking at me curiously.
Around a mouthful of food, I say, “It went fine, why do you ask?”
“Because,” he pauses, “The tiny goddess insinuated that there could be something between you and her daughter, Lillie Joanna.” My father, Dez states, rather matter of factly. “Is that true?”
I still, not knowing how to continue, obviously there’s a story here, something that I don’t know about, something that involved them and LJ’s mother, so I ask, “How do you know the Keeper of Souls?”
“That’s a long story and one that we don’t want to get into right now. How do you know Ashlinn’s daughter? Do tell.” Levi asks, a twinkle in his jewel green eyes.
“I noticed her the moment she walked into Tarron’s Tavern last night. There was just something about her that draws me in. I don’t know what it is, but for her sake, I need to stay far away from her. She doesn’t need to get mixed up with the likes of me.” I state adamantly, before focusing on my meal.
“It sounds like the two of you are already mixed up in something. Why not see where it goes?” Mother’s voice is soft and prodding.
“You know why, mother. She deserves better than me.” I state coldly. “It’s the cold hard facts, nothing to get worked up over.”
Dez stands abruptly and demands, “Why? Because you are our son? Let me tell you something, Daxell Grayson. You could have done a lot worse than have the two of us for your fathers. It’s time to get over your self-loathing and get on with your life. Embrace who you are. Until you can do that, your right, you need to stay far away from the little goddess, because she deserves better than who you are at this very moment. She deserves someone to stand by her side in the trials to come, someone that will have her back and not be afraid to embrace his demon. Just because you are a son of two of the original Fallen does not mean that you have to walk the path that we chose, Daxell. You can choose your own path.”
Levi stands and says, “You’re just too damned stubborn and thick-skulled to get it. What if you are her kindred, her soulmate? Will you walk away from her because you have a problem with your demon half? Would you make her suffer an eternity for your shortcomings? She’s immortal, she deals in the business of souls every damn day. Don’t you think she deserves a chance at being with her soulmate?”
Huffing, I turn on my family, “Everyone needs to just back the hell off. I’m drawn to her, I didn’t say that we were soulmates. Why would she be paired with someone like me?” I demand. Pushing my plate away and sitting back in my chair, no longer hungry.
“Why indeed?” My mother asks, teaming up on me with my fathers. “Have you ever felt a pull to another female like you feel drawn to Lillie?”
“No. Never.”
“Then, just maybe you should do yourself and her a favor and figure out what you two are to one another, but you are going to have to unleash your demon. He deserves to be a part of this just as much as you. It’s not fair to keep him locked away.” She pauses and reaches up to me, “We didn’t come here to badger you, we came to check in on you and to have a little bit of time to catch up, but I’m curious about one thing. What did Lillie say when she found out about you? Was she revolted? Did she run the other way?”
“Mother, I know what you’re doing, but to answer your question, she was fine with it. She said she didn’t care about what I am, rather, who I am.”
“Then
