Final Decision

Lilith looked out over the cliff. The sun had already set, and the stars were beginning to peak through the twilight sky. "That was the most difficult thing I ever had to do."

"It will only get worse," Sparda said beside her. "If you are not ready, then you will not survive."

Lilith glanced his way. "I am ready. I know that now." Sparda nodded once in response. "What about Dad?"

"What do you mean?"

"He cried blood while we were in Hell. How did he do that?"

"Why wouldn't he have? It is a grave responsibility you two face. It is just my way of saying I face it with you." Lilith contorted her face as if she were preparing to retch. "Don't even think it," Sparda threatened her. "I'm serious."

Lilith straightened her face. "I know. I was only making fun."

Sparda folded his arms. "You did very well down there when it mattered. You have learned everything your father and I have taught you, even if you don't realize it. You harnessed a power I wasn't sure you could handle. That's why I took over, but you did it yourself."

When he stopped speaking, Lilith raised an eyebrow. "What? You're not going to say how proud you are?"

"Why should I? You'll only act like it's making you sick."

"Right," she said sarcastically.

"It's time for you to go home now. Give your mother my regards."

"What?"

*
Lilith awoke suddenly as if she'd been startled in a dream. The instant she regained consciousness, she found a hand on her shoulder. She looked over at Dante. "What happened?"

Dante removed his hand and reached for the car radio. "You fell asleep. I had to carry you all the way back to Earth."

"Sorry." Lilith stared through the car window. The city was obscured by rain. "It's not easy doing something like that. It's more difficult being possessed by a powerful demon."

There was a moment of silence before Dante asked, "Is he still here?"

"It depends on what you mean." Dante didn't elaborate. "Physically, he's long gone. Spiritually, he's clingy. If you're wondering, he has nothing to tell you that you don't already know."

"Well, that's good to know."

"Don't sound so disappointed." Lilith leaned her head against the window and closed her eyes. "What time is it?"

"It's a little after two in the morning."

Lilith opened her eyes. "Hey! It's my birthday."

"What do you know?" Dante said. "You're turning twenty. I'll buy you a pair of shot glasses."

"Why? I can't use them for another year."

Dante smirked. "I know. You do too, if you know what's good for you."

*
Dante carried Lilith into the house when he realized she'd fallen asleep again. The faint smell of ozone, carbon, and ice followed them as he carried her upstairs. He held her over her bed, and then dropped her onto her back.

"Hey!" Lilith sat up and protested. "Dad, that was not cool!"

Dante pointed a finger at her. "Go to sleep."

"Okay." Lilith rolled over and complied.

"Wow," Dante whispered to himself. "That must have been some workout." He walked out backwards and quietly closed the door. The puppy ran up the stairs to greet him and sat at his feet. "What do you want?" he asked the dog. It merely responded by staring at him. Dante turned to go to his room. The puppy stood and whined. "I'm not in the mood to play Lassie."

The puppy followed Dante to his room and watched him toss his gloves and coat across the bed. It barked when he motioned to take off his shirt. Dante glared at it. "What do you want?"

As if on cue, the puppy ran from the room. Dante leaned through the door to watch what it would do. It stood at the top of the staircase and looked back at him. "I get it," Dante mumbled. "You want to go play in the rain, don't you?" The dog tilted its head as if confused by the question. "Never mind." Dante chased the puppy downstairs with the intention of putting it outside. The puppy's path took them both past the coffee table in the living room. Dante stopped in his tracks when he noticed the paper on the table. He picked it up for a closer look. "Oh my god."

*
Lilith awoke to someone shaking her violently. "What!" She pushed Dante away and sat up. "What do I have to do to get a good night's sleep around here!"

"Lilith, get up! It's urgent!"

"What!"

Dante handed Lilith the paper he found. She glanced over it before actually reading it. It was a letter from Deanna addressed to her and Dante. She read it three times before she realized what it was saying. The message was simple. When she was done, she let it drop to the floor.

"She's doing it again," Lilith said in a shaky voice.

"This may be for the best."

"How can you say that? She left us again, and this time it really was her fault."

"You didn't really give her much of a choice. She left because she didn't feel her presence here was natural."

Lilith opened her mouth as if to argue, but then she closed her mouth and shrugged. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize."

"I know. She just needs to get herself sorted out. If she's ready, she'll be back."

The two of them remained still for several seconds before Lilith stood. "For some reason, I'm not sleepy anymore. I think I'll finish The Divine Comedy. I never made it to Paradise."

"You can do that later. Right now, let's eat."

Lilith saw the puppy as it slowly walked into her room. She picked it up. "You can eat, too."

"If you intend on keeping him, he'll need a name."

"How about Guess?"

"Works for me."