Epilogue

Kane was pacing in his room and Disaster was wreaking havoc as usual. The floor of his room was covered with pieces of plaster, the ceiling fan was hanging by a thread and one of the legs of his bed had broken. Kane didn't know what to do how could he possibly take care of a flower. Was this some sort of joke to Venus? It was getting close to 5PM and the goddess had told him that the flower would arrive in the early evening. That was another thing that he worried about, the delivery method. Was she planning on sending it FEDEX? The Lords would surely kill anyone attempting to deliver something unscheduled. Gods what am I going to do?

Right on schedule there was a knock at Kane's door and instantly the bedside lamp exploded.

"Kane, it's Sabin. You need to come outside. I believe your flower has arrived." Sabin informed him.

"Can't you just get it and put it somewhere that I can't get to it? The goddess doesn't have to know that I'm not the one taking care of it." Kane pleaded.

"I would but it doesn't want any of us getting near it. Every time we do it well disappears." Sabin replied.

What? It disappears, what on earth and heaven is he talking about?

"Fine, but if I kill it, I'm blaming you." Kane said as he opened the door to watch it fall off the hinges. Great now Aeron will have to fix my door, again.

When Kane reached the front entrance to the fortress everyone was standing there staring and smiling at him. "What? You don't know how to bring a delivery inside the fortress?" He asked. As he walked out the door he suddenly realized why they couldn't bring it in. The flower was actually hundreds of white lilies that instantly sprouted the moment he stepped into the grass. An ethereal voice came from all around carried on the wind that was now caressing his skin. "Kane, keeper of Disaster, my name is Lily. I am Persephone's favorite nymph and I believe you and your demon are in need of my assistance."

Instantly the ground started to quake and Kane was feeling a similar queasiness in his stomach. "Where are you? Please don't come to close to me. I'm not sure what will happen if you do." Kane said.

When he spoke in the center of the field of lilies a petite woman wearing nothing more than a sheer piece of linen that bared one shoulder appeared. Her hair was chestnut brown and flowed down to her waist. She had eyes the color of jade in the sunlight and skin the color of cream. Her gown was cinched at the waist and the flowing skirt reached only to her knees. She was barefoot and as she moved toward Kane it looked as if she were floating rather than walking.

Again the ground started to rumble and a section of the field of lilies was swallowed by a crack the earthquake produced. But as soon as the crack appeared it was instantly filled back in with dirt and grass and more lilies. "You have nothing to fear from me, I will not hurt you. I merely wanted to introduce myself properly." Lily said.

"H- how did you do that?" Kane questioned.

"I'm a nymph and have been with Persephone for eons. I can bring many things back to life. Plants, trees, the earth itself. May I shake your hand or are you going to back away again?" She giggled.

"Okay, I guess but I need to warn you that lightning might strike." Kane replied.

"I'm sure it probably will but I believe I can handle that." She said.

Kane was right. The moment she was within touching distance of him the ground started to quake again and clouds were rolling in. Lightning was striking all around them and the wind caused her hair to blow about. Lily had such a beautiful smile and even though her eyes were darting from strike to strike she still grabbed hold of his hand to properly introduce herself. "I know I said it already but hello my name is Lily first and favorite nymph of Persephone. I was born of the Lily hence my name and I do believe that I have excited Disaster. I would recommend going inside to help calm your nerves but Disaster needs to blow off some steam first. Care to let him loose?" Lily said.

"But you could get injured. Venus asked me to take good care of you and I only create destruction. I uh, I –" Kane stuttered.

"I see I'm going to have to push you first. Okay, I can handle that." She said as she jumped into his arms and hugged him tightly.

Disaster was screaming in delicious pleasure from the storm that was brewing and the intoxicating scent of this nymph. The lightning storm had progressed into a full rainstorm with heavy winds and even some hail. The earth around them cracked again and Lily quickly made it seal. The winds had picked up and now several wind tunnels were forming around them. Kane was beside himself. He didn't know what to do and he knew that Disaster was uncontrollable right now. And this creature in his arms, dear gods she smelled like lilies as well. This must be heaven, Disaster pushed me over the edge and I have died and gone to heaven.

Lily of course was giggling at the spectacle around her and wanted only to see more. Maybe I should kiss him? Lightning could strike us both and it would surely drain Disaster. But first I want to show him that I can counteract the mess he is creating right now. Lily stepped out of his embrace and gave him a quick wink before stepping back and dancing and twirling around him with her arms outstretched. The clouds receded and surprisingly the hail melted. The winds stopped and quakes ended. Before Kane could question how she did that she jumped back into his arms and kissed him passionately. Instantly the clouds were back, the wind roared and lightning struck them both were they stood knocking them back 30 feet where they lay unconscious still in each other's arms.

Sabin was amazed at the scene that played out in front of him. She could counteract every bit of destruction he caused. But that kiss, he noticed a sideways glance she gave Kane before jumping into his arms. It was as if she meant to be struck by the lightning as if she were inciting Disaster. Maybe she was, maybe she knew it was the only way to satisfy the demon's need for destruction.

"Well who's going to help me pick them up and bring them inside? The storm is gone so it should be safe." Sabin asked.

"I'll help." Reyes said.

"I'll get the girl." Paris said.

"Behave yourself Paris, Kane may be unconscious now but we don't need the entire fortress falling apart around us now do we?" Sabin informed.

"Please, she may be beautiful but she doesn't interest ME in the slightest." Paris replied.

Kane woke up to a severe ache throughout his entire body and a distinct smell of burnt flesh. Disaster was whimpering and calling for his flower, then it hit him Lily. She had kissed him and lightning struck them both knocking them unconscious. Franticly he jumped up and surveyed his surroundings, he was in his room but where was Lily. "Calm down please. She's still unconscious and sleeping next to you." Sabin said standing far away from the bed and leaning against the far wall.

"How did we get here?" Kane asked.

"Reyes and Paris helped me." Sabin replied.

"Did Paris - ?" Kane started to question.

"Surprisingly he is too distracted by his need for Sienna to care much for the girl. On the other hand though, Promiscuity wants her badly." Sabin answered. "Again, please calm yourself we already turned off the power to your room because Disaster has been twitching for the past few hours."

"How long have we been out?" Kane asked.

"Twelve hours. The girl knew exactly how to drain Disaster. Quite remarkable." Sabin informed him.

"Has she woken up yet?" Kane said as he stared at her sleeping frame.

"No. Since you're up and in somewhat good shape I'll leave you alone now. Call us if you need anything." Sabin said as he walked out the door.

As soon as the door closed Kane felt movement on the bed and Disaster was chanting yes, yes, yes in his head. Be good, you nearly killed her minutes after meeting her. My flower, mine Disaster growled. Shut up.

"Kane, where are we?" Lily asked.

"Inside the fortress, in my bedroom. Are you alright?" Kane said.

"Alright? I'm fantastic, do you know how long it's been since I let lightning strike me? That was exhilarating. Can we do it again soon?" Lily asked as she quickly sat up and faced Kane.

"Why in the world would you willing let lightning hit you?" Kane questioned, Disaster still silently enjoying Lily's presence.

"Oh come on Kane, you can't fool me as the keeper of Disaster you feel the pleasure Disaster gets from the destruction he causes. You know it was awesome!" Lily replied.

"Why did you kiss me?" Kane questioned trying to avoid her knowing stare.

"Why? Didn't you like it? I know Disaster liked it otherwise we wouldn't have been knocked unconscious." Lily countered with a giggle.

Yes, yes, yes. Want more, kiss more. My flower, mine. Shut up, stay out of this you'll kill her if she tries that again. "Of course I liked it, I'd be a moron if I said I didn't like being kissed by a beautiful woman but you could have been hurt." Kane said.

"It was worth it, besides I heal just as fast as you do. And it was necessary to drain Disaster for the time being. You can control him you know you just need to let him have some fun from time to time. Besides you have me to counteract his destruction. Of course I can't fix broken furniture or blown electricity though. Is that why we're sitting in a candlelit room?" Lily asked.

"I uh, I –" Kane started to say as more plaster fell from the ceiling hitting the foot of the bed.

Lily let out a soft giggle and sigh. "Whoa Disaster take a moment will ya. I need some food before we go blow off more steam." Lily said. "So point me in the direction of the kitchen and Disaster hold your emotions until we get back outside."

"Wait, we can't leave this room." Kane said looking down at the sheets.

"Why is that?" Lily questioned.

"Because your gown has been nearly burned from your body." Kane replied with a blush.

"Oh well that won't do." Lily said as she snapped her fingers and a new barely there gown appeared in its place. "Okay, come on let's get some food, Disaster will only wait for so long."

"Mind if I change my clothes?" Kane asked not wanting to get up knowing that he was nude as well.

"Do I need to avert my eyes or will it bother you if I watch?" Lily said as the dresser toppled over and the closet door fell off its hinges. Again Lily laughed and her laugh made Kane instantly hard. He grabbed hold of the sheet and wrapped it around him before walking into the closet.

"Tick tock Kane. Disaster can only hold out for so long and I'm not going to go easy on you. I'll have you both drained of energy in no time." Lily said as Kane emerged wearing a new t-shirt, jeans and boots.

"Hey I like your clothes better, should I change into something more of this era? That way I'll fit in here?" Lily asked.

"You look lovely in what you're wearing." Kane replied.

"Still I want to fit in so…" Lily said while snapping her fingers and trading her gown for a pair of skin tight bleached out jeans and a cut-off strapless white suede bustier with red ribbon laces across the non-existent back.

There was a low rumbling that felt like another earthquake and Lily quickly took the lead and addressed Disaster personally knowing but demon and man would be affected. "Disaster, I'm asking for 30 minutes of silence from you until I've eaten. If you don't behave yourself I won't kiss Kane EVER AGAIN!" Lily commanded.

Inside Kane's head was a whimpering demon now growling and counting trying his best to hold out for 30 minutes.