Remember What's Important

The wax candles flickered on the dining room table. "How is she taking it?" Lucifer greeted his son. The vampire released a loud sigh and took a sip of the mystery liquid his father had been drinking. "She's taking it worse than I could have imagined. It's debilitating," he answered with a bitter face. Lucifer shook his head then cursed under his breath, "That kitsune!" The name rolled off his tongue with disgust as he continued, "It said everything but what I wanted to hear." Xuario looked up with hooded eyes to have full concentration. "The little beast gave me a warning about the Supreme Deity disposing of his opposers, but then he topped the message with a riddle. I've always hated the fae's puzzles, but I suppose they're why I made a connection. 'The star burned brightest' and 'Morning Star' couldn't have been coincidence," the King of Darkness spoke. Xuario gritted his teeth. "You think this connects with Lilith or the gods? If that's the case, then we should make haste. I forget that winged creatures have the habit of flying off: both angels and fae."

Lucifer sat quietly as his son slammed the table with his eyes the color of blood. "Remember what's important, now. There is nothing that can be accomplished at this hour. Wait for morning so that your sister and the children may sleep," the tall and dark-haired man spoke evenly. Xuario listened and took himself to bed in wait of the sun that came rather quickly. The first light led the vampire to scurry around the fortress impatiently. In all the rooms, he found that only one was empty: Xiana's. The father left all of his current worries and picked up his previous ones. "Xia," he called while walking into Arlot's quarters. The small girl sat on the bed while her hair was being combed by Amiana. Xuario hadn't seen either of the twins since they'd switched consciousness, and in his surprise, he stuttered, "Come down for breakfast, girls."

By the time the girls had made themselves decent, everyone had sat for breakfast. The conversation at the table was limited and stale, but the fact that the food disappeared from the plates was enough to please Vivian. The mother intently watched Amiana satisfy her empty stomach along with Juliet. Xuario wasn't having the same luck as his half-sister and silently willed his daughter to eat a single bite of her food. "Xia, you need to eat at least three bites. It's pertinent that you keep your health in check. How do you intend to assist someone else when you can't look after yourself?" Lucifer reasoned. The young vampire turned to look at her grandfather and took his words into account. The tall man was referencing to watching Arlot while everyone was in Fairy Court. "May I be excused after three?" Xiana asked. Lucifer looked at the child for a moment. "After your three bites, then we may all be excused," he answered.

Amiana was the first to get up from the meal. She placed a kiss on each of her parent's cheek and took her sister upstairs. The younger werewolf poked her ears up when they reached Arlot's room. Amiana smiled somberly while her little sister climbed onto the bed and placed her head on their brother's chest. Suddenly, the child popped her head up to the door creaking open. Xiana walked in with a small smile. "They just left," she said. Amiana nodded and watched Juliet run towards the children's room. With her departure, the older werewolf girl changed her attitude towards Xiana. "I saw the scar on my brother's neck. Would you mind giving me an explanation?" she asked coldly. The vampire girl looked at her and started sputtering, "I- uh... It was an accident." The silver-haired girl hummed and brushed her brother's hair from his face. "A very dangerous accident... I won't have my brother wiped from existence because you don't know how to treat a wound. Watch my siblings, now. I'll be going to get ointment for his... mark," Amiana finished.

The tension wasn't limited to Hell's fortress as the unique little family arrived to the thick airs of Fairy Court. Felfin, the capital city of the fae, harbored a beautiful circle of vine-draped columns, but the real sight to behold, was Lilith. The winged woman may have been lamed, but she had taken over as the fae's leader and most beautiful creature. Lilith's wings were large feathered unlike a fairy's; her wings were as grand as the eagle's. Although Vivian couldn't stand her mother, one glance at her made the werewolf woman awe at the majesty. Lilith knew everyone felt that way for her, and she used its advantages daily. "My dear Vivian!" the winged woman yelled across the circle.

Vivian felt her body begin to lock when her mother came to embrace her. "How is my precious daughter? Have you been eating well?" Lilith asked. The werewolf woman inhaled through her nose and looked towards her father for reassurance. "That's funny. I don't recall you ever worrying about my health. You didn't visit or send a basket when I had my pups, either. Speaking of them, have you recently visited your grandchildren, mother?" the raven-haired woman asked while pushing herself away. Lilith cocked her head to the side and covered her mouth in surprise. "Why, of course I worry about you, my dear. Now, I will not go by 'grandma', but as for my secondary children, I've never even met the darling things. You refused to have me come see the wonderful babies," she pouted.

Lucifer taped his fingers against his arm and glared at his ex-lover. "Children have been attacked and drenched in fairy dust. I know for a fact that fairy dust doesn't leave this realm without your knowledge," the man spat. Lilith scowled at his tone and faced her daughter once more. "Has something tragic happened to the twins?" she asked while Lucifer scoffed. "Oh, what Lucifer? I will not be speaking to someone who is accusing me of harming a child! I have done nothing but save children from those monstrous people they call parents. Is there no trust in your heart towards me? Ask any child here if they'd rather be back in their plague-ridden world," Lilith replied defensively. The King of Darkness growled lowly, "Don't act innocently towards me, woman. Even I can't count the number of your sins." Lilith bit her tongue and turned to the sound of a shell horn, "Court can hold session now. The merfolk are here."