Definitions

*Petherós = Greek for father-in-law

*Gamprós = Greek for son-in-law

*Pappous, or Pappouli (more sweet way) = Greek for grandpa

*Anipsiós = Greek for nephew

*Anipsiá = Greek for niece

*Megáli anipsiá = Greek for great niece

*Engoni = Greek for grand daughter

*Kouniáda = Greek for sister-in-law *Kouniádos = Greek for brother-in-law *Theíos = Greek for uncle *Theia = Greek for aunt *Xáderfos = Greek for cousin *Pateroúli̱s= Greek for daddy *Pateras = Greek for father *Mana= Greek for mother *Khu man = Laotian for betrothed

APPROX AGES IN CHAP TWENTY SIX

DROMEN: 21

SOLARIA: 16

LUNA: 37

NATHANIEL: 36

PHANTASIA: 35

CHRIS: 63

RAE: 61

Disclaimer: I don't own Demon Diary, or information from wwwDOTsheknowsDOTcom/baby-names/name/eda, but do own the idea for all OC characters in this fic.

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Chap 26: "Ambitious embarkation"

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Five months later...

"In many ways, your lives will change forever."

"Aunty Meru it is me, could you please tell me more than that?"

"Luna, a princess doesn't beg."

"With the war, everything changed" she sighed, leaning into the cushioned chair. "Although I hate to admit it, I am entirely human. As are Nathaniel, and Solaria... I asked you to come here because I'm filled with such trepidation." She put a hand over her heart.

"War does have that effect... You're safe with your fathers, never forget."

"What of Solaria's children?"

"Do you think your parents would ever allow something to happen to them? Raenef wanted to join Eclipse and Dromen in battle, to lead his army, but he stayed here with you, and your daughter. Do you understand what dedication that is? Demon lords hardly show such 'weakness', but he took that risk, because you are his family."

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In the following days Luna came to find why the seer refused to divulge more, when Phantasia came down with a human illness.

"Luna you should help your husband at The Shoppe", suggested the thirty four year old. Her short tresses lost their golden luster in the past few moons.

Dromen didn't recognize her appearance, but his older relatives did. She resembled Erutis in her days of illness, but none would say so aloud.

"I'll let him know you think he cannot handle stitching some gowns" Luna replied with a wink. She wasn't cheerful, but needed to maintain the appearance of high spirits for the sake of her dear cousin.

Chuckling, Phantasia languidly tossed a feather pillow at her.

"You should lay down" Luna instructed, setting it onto the bed.

"I know. I don't want to thou-" she coughed continuously for half a minute.

All playful chides dissipated from Luna's face. She quickly helped her cousin to the bed, and sat her old favorite human doll beside her.

Stroking blonde hair from her sweat-laden forehead, "Now you stay here while big sister cooks your soup."

Despite Phantasia's strong half demon heritage, the wear from years taking care of her mother, and brother, and traumas of her past proved stronger.

Many nights she woke in a sweat from memories of the goblin prince Klenzar's claws, fists, and erect phallus set upon her, his juices like acid upon her bare skin. Since her mother's passing, she spoke to no one of the nightmares. Panicking in private when the memory came to her, she wouldn't worry her cherished family.

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Two weeks into the illness, Phantasia felt her final day approaching.

Following three minutes of uncontrollable coughing, she peered into her brother's eyes. "Apple-head, may I ask a favor of you?"

Her skin lost its rosy hue during these days of harsh sickness. Dabbing her forehead with a damp cloth he responded, "Anything sister."

"Please name one of your children after our mother."

"If this child is a girl, indeed I shall. If not, my future child will be honored by our mother's name."

Smiling, she knew, as when their mother carried he, "One of the two."

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"I should never have allowed myself to feel affection toward humans."

"Phantasia is our niece Eclipse, you had no choice."

"I should have."

Over the next century, we'll lose them all...

"Demons shouldn't" he smashed his hand on the desk, splitting it down the middle.

"She is loved by all. Just as her mother's, her memory will live on." Raenef said, sadness flowing through him just as poignantly.

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Phantasia spoke softly, "Dromen I wish I could meet your children... Make sure they know I love them."

"You'll tell them yourself sister" he kissed her forehead. "I'll see if aunt Luna has finished preparing your meal... Go."

He soon returned with a steaming bowl of tiny cut vegetables and fish boiled to softness for digestive ease. Placing it on the table at her bedside, he helped her rise.

Holding the bowl and wooden spoon, he fed his beloved sister.

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A few hours later, with her kin at her bedside, Phantasia's soul departed the world of the living.

Nathaniel caught his trembling wife as she sobbed, "My sisterrr... I need totell Chris... he needs to be here... she wouldwant him to be here..."

"Luna, stay with Phantasia." Her parents stood at the bedroom door.

"Go", Eclipse went to the temple of Rased.

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"Back demon!" shouted a young cleric.

Ignoring the powerless child, "Where is the high priest?"

"Go from here!"

At sixty three years, Chris appeared warn down when he stepped in. "Zachary please leave us to speak."

The confused cleric looked from the high priest to the demon, then reentered the temple.

"Phantasia is departed" the black-cloaked demon said. Clasping Chris's arm, "Go".

They appeared in the tombs at castle Krayon where the rest of their family waited.

Revealing Lord Krayon's death for the first time to the rest of the family, Raenef had his shrouded niece buried in the tomb beside her mother's wherein they found a sarcophagus with Phantasia's face sculpted upon it.

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When Krayon returned from madness, he found the former home of his family void of life. In the years he resided there alone as punishment, he created sarcophagi for his daughter, son, and though certain he wouldn't find such peaceful burial, one for himself.

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Stable in the pain of demonic magics, Chris prayed for Phantasia. "Rased please bring this soul to rest. May she find peace and warmth in your embrace..."

Dromen didn't know what to do. Standing before his mother and sister's final resting places, he felt fear for the first time in many years. Such emotions weren't for the heart of a warrior.

Beside him sat the one destined to be his wife, holding her belly. Crashing to his knees beside her chair he whispered desperately, "Pray with me Solaria".

Clutching his hands, she kissed tears which spilled from his only eye.

"Blessed god Rased, protect our treasured Phantasia as she passes from the world of the living. Guide her..."

Comforting his weeping wife, Nathaniel observed their daughter comfort her betrothed.

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Four months later...

Dromen held his howling khu-man's body in place to cease her thrashing. Meanwhile, he withstood her typically gentle hands which now bruised his shoulders.

"Now you see why Luna opted for your presence" Meruhesae mentioned with a smirk.

Through gritted teeth, "You're hilarious theia."

"Quiet!" shouted Solaria.

"Breathe princess, deep breaths" the seer instructed.

Sweat pouring over her entire form, "Why is this taking so long?!"

"It is a process dear child."

"Child? I'm giving birth to elephants!"

"Calm down Solaria, aunty Meru knows what she's doing" said her mother, wiping her forehead each moment.

"Here's a head" Meruhesae mentioned, "Gently now, gently."

With tears and screaming, her first child was born.

Cutting and tying the rope-like link, Meruhesae magically passed the screaming infant to Nathaniel (who stood enough distance away for his daughter's privacy in her nudity).

Nervously the high-priest-in-training looked upon the babe in his arms, "My granddaughter."

"Grandson" the seer corrected. He looked downward, "Ah."

"Shut uuup!" howled his daughter while she pushed and pushed.

"Here's the other head, you're almost done Solaria."

"Almooost!"

Dromen lost sensation in both arms.

"Three... two... one... big push now."

"Ahhh!"

The second infant was born, and Meruhesae passed her to Raenef.

Holding the fragile tiny life to his chest for warmth he sputtered "I don't... I... what...?" His niece and nephew were always in the arms of their parents, so he never held them until two weeks after birth, or more.

Well-practiced in comparison, Eclipse adjusted the baby in his partner's arms.

"I thought there were only two!" Solaria cried as she pushed more, expelling the inner portion of what was the home of her children for nine moons.

When his betrothed's hands loosed from his shoulders, feeling returned to his arms, and Dromen reached for his children. "One boy, and one girl Solaria." He kissed their heads.

"If you cry, the rocking will comfort them" she joked groggily.

"Khu man, how could I cry when I have all my happiness right here?" He placed the twins into her arms.

"They have red eyes like their daddy" she spoke through tears.

"And I hair like their mommy." He blinked away dampness.

With each moon leading to this point, they discussed names. A boy would be named after Nathaniel's father, and as promised, a girl would be Erutis.

"Baby Eda, and baby Erutis."

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End of chap 26

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Hope you liked it, reviews are most appreciated :)

Eda- Czechoslovakian Meaning: Wealthy guardian