The Devil as a Father – Chapter 46
Life was very interesting in the family of Lucifer Morningstar who lived in a large structure known as the Lux. It was different than any household or pack of the days when Mars held life.
Ares gazed about him in wonder from time to time. This house was filled with love, learning and fun.
Food was nothing like the sustenance of Mars. He really liked it and started following Harry, who seemed to really like preparation of food, around (Especially in the area known to all as the kitchen) and tasting anything. He also helped Harry cut vegetables and fruits and helped to clean up.
Ron said he could sleep with him. Ares realized it was the resting thing that this body had to do. He could do that. And Ron welcomed him. It was a great honor. These things he understood. It was just that he didn't understand much else.
Ares, who was Mars, really was both confused and delighted by earth. The wind sang to him as he stood on the balcony and did not strip his flesh from his bones. It was glorious. The sun was closer and Lucifer had warned him not to stare at it directly with human eyes. The view of the sun was more beautiful on earth. The air had water in it. He could smell it everyplace. Water was so rare at home. Lucifer had a pool for the children, like the pool Mars had created from Ron's memory. He loved playing and swimming. This was, as he understood, happiness.
He turned back from his ruminations and went to breakfast with his new family. Ares watched Lucifer, his Queen Chloe, and the children eat so he would consume nutrients properly. He expected that the nutrients would be different than at home, but it was more than different. It had incredible tastes, all sorts. If he hadn't had some of Ron Weasley's memories, he would have fainted at the sensory overload; so much variety. There were sweet tastes, salty and smoky tastes, hot pleasant oily tastes mixed with salt. Textures ranged from very soft to crunchy. Never had he ingested so many different tastes and textures.
He wanted to give thankfulness for all this so he got up and ran to where Lucifer was eating and said, "May I hug you?"
Lucifer laughed and hugged him. "Thank you," he whispered. "Life was so bland and boring for so long, I could live on the memory of this one day for thousands of years with joy."
Then the building shook. Ares wondered what it was. The building seemed very secure. It was inundated with magical protection.
Lucifer looked up.
"Earthquake?" asked Chloe, the lady who was Ares' new foster mother was a warrior with a shining heart.
"No," said Lucifer, frowning.
"Your relatives?" asked Harry, his new foster brother who was filled with magic and all the fierceness of a much older warrier.
"No," said Lucifer softly.
He stood, and tossed his napkin on the table. The children all got up too, and Ares followed them. They went into the living room, where the building was still shaking.
"My Lady," said Lucifer, giving a bow outwards, "forgive me. I should have asked your permission. I had no idea this might be construed as an insult. Please accept my apology."
A woman appeared. She was beautiful and very tall. She was also all green and seemed to have grass and leaves in her hair. He blue eyes seemed to have the ocean's waves dancing in them, and they turned gray, like a day of storms. Ares suddenly realized she was Gaia, the principality that ruled and nurtured earth. His sister principality! He felt on his knees and bowed his head all the way to the floor.
"Please, my sister," he whispered, "I didn't mean to do anything to anger or hurt you. I just wanted to know what it felt like to be in a family and be loved."
She who held and protected earth looked surprised. "Forgive me elder brother, I thought you wanted to try to usurp me. It has been done before." Her voice sounded like music.
She looked at all of the Morningstars and then held out a hand to Ares. He took her hand and she drew him into her arms and cuddled him. He closed his eyes and relaxed. He could feel her blessing him.
He felt the touch of her great consciousness and knew that her planet was also in danger. People were treating her gifts without respect and sullying the air, the water and the ground. He gasped in horror and determined to help. His planet was long dead, but her domain was so beautiful and good.
Lucifer looked sorrowful. "I understand your plight and train the children in caring for all the goodness of earth, to keep it clean and protect it from evil."
Her eyes glittered and tears of precious water fell on flawless cheeks. She smiled at Ares.
She who held and protected earth no longer looked angry. "Forgive me Elder Brother. I thought you wanted to try to usurp me. It has been done before." Her voice sounded like music.
She looked at all of the Morningstars and then held out a beckoning but kind hand to Ares.
He took her hand in his small one and to his surprise, was lifted and sat on the lap of Gaia. She looked down at him with love. "Poor little one," she murmured, "So alone."
Then she hugged him and Ares was filled with brightness and love. Pain he never knew was part of his being disappeared. He held out his arms and put them around the Principality of Earth and wept.
He never knew how long that time lasted. It could have been a hundred years or only a few seconds. It impressed itself on his being, and that was the main thing. He would keep this in his heart forever.