Chapter 2

She was a demon of immense power, so strong, she didn't need to think twice if she wanted to make a gaping hole in the earth. The same could be said for subtle appearances, she could do it without gale force winds, and storm clouds. In fact, she'd done strictly that, and had appeared without all of that bluster…the only indication that she had arrived at all, was the small dust cloud at her feet. That which was harmless, unless you happened to be an unsuspecting bug.

She took a moment to look around, and she found her pray, eying her with mild interest. As expected, the goddess in her sights didn't move, she was not inviting, nor menacing…merely watching onward, whilst snacking on what looked to be some sort of finger food. She ignored it, and the goddess, instead, meandering about the property. She slowly took in the sights, and like a viper awaiting a mouse, she cunningly took her time.

"Urd isn't here." Belldandy said, when the visitor finally reached the house.

"No, I don't suspect that she is." Hild said, taking hold of Belldandy's chin. She examined the goddess carefully. "You are just like him." She murmured, releasing Belldandy from her grip. "Too much like him for your own good, child." She crossed her arms, and looked around a bit more. "I don't suppose you have any indication of why that is…but, that really isn't anything I need to concern myself with." Hild smirked. "He won't favor you, or your wish, you know."

Belldandy looked frightened, but it was only for a moment before a mild shock fell over her features. " Oh, my...I didn't think my wish was quite so powerful. That it could reach your realm is a bit troubling." She closed her eyes, trying to glean insight on just how far her wish had traveled, but, she had no idea. "Forgive me, if it was any inconvenience."

"It isn't any trouble at all." Hild said, raising one hand, as if to push away the apology. "Tell me, Belldandy, what do you understand of your father?"

"I understand a vast many things about him." She said with an easy going smile. "And yet, like everyone else, I also know almost nothing about him. He is not a god with whom we should question, as he always chooses to govern with strictness, and fairness."

"Is that what you believe?" Hild watched as Belldandy nodded.

"There is no need to believe otherwise." Belldandy said, as was expected for a holy being from, heaven's own gates of gold. "To believe in him resolutely, is the best course of action. Even if we stray from his path, we goddesses take comfort in knowing he will find us. That he will guide us in leading a better future for creation."

"I pity you." Taking the time to sit down and regard the young goddess, Hild found herself a bit befuddled by her current pray. "He is a powerful man, capable of awesome things. As a god, he is astounding." Even one as powerful as herself, could agree with that much. "However, he is not any different from a demon, spiteful, and able to thwart that which he chooses to ignore." She shrugged. "In doing so, child, I fear he may also be ignorant to your needs." She looked Belldandy squarely in the eye. "I don't condone that."

"I'm afraid, I don't understand." Belldandy frowned deeply. "He is always fair, and his rules are justified. It isn't anyone's place to question his word. No matter how questionable it is. He never takes without offering something in return."

"Oh, but I would question that, if I were you, child." Hild warned her. "He takes, and offers equal returns you say? Is that not unlike how we demons run things?" Hild asked with a smirk, but, she quickly disregarded her own humor. "It matters to question things of that nature, because even though I am who I am, I'm not quite as devilish as he himself." She grew pensive at Belldandy's worried gaze. "Light can't exist without darkness, and that rule applies to all things, including your father."

"Even if he doesn't bless my wish, how is that any concern of yours?" Belldandy asked. "I am a goddess, and you are a demon."

"As I've told you, I don't approve." Hild replied pointedly. "He is your father and that alone is enough."

"It isn't so simple, even I know that." Belldandy said, defending the man. "I may not know his reasons, but I know he has them. As his child, I should accept it as simply that. Having faith in another, means to trust what they do…to continue to do so, even when it is unbearably hard to do."

Hild remained quiet as she let that sink in, and then, she sighed at great length. "We are rulers, Belldandy. We should not bend, nor should we break, because he and I have very important jobs. We must maintain balance, we must upkeep order. Failing to do so would mean our greatest demise." Sometimes, Hild hated even herself, due to that simple truth. "However, there is always a clause to every rule…and for me, Urd is that clause. I will bend for her, break for her, because I am her mother."

Belldandy nodded, thinking back to the accident that had happened not too long ago. "You never forced her to complete the contract."

"She said it…" Hild said then distantly. "In her heart, I know that she did someplace." It was a far away smile, but it made even the most fearsome demon seem almost friendly. "It's in her nature, even if she denies it…that's a luxury she has, being a goddess, second class." Even so, that wasn't Hild's concern.

"I still do not understand why you've come to greet me." Belldandy told her.

"I could do for you what your father won't. I could turn Keiichi into a demon, without a second thought." Hild looked over, wondering what sort of face she would see in response to this. What she saw, gave her hope that her words were taking refuge in Belldandy's heart.

"H-he would not make a fitting demon." Belldandy hesitated. "He is not that type of man."

"Oh, he would be just fine." Hild replied then. "Like Urd in many ways. He would lack the need for cruelty, but, he is a mortal man capable of devilish things. I could give him all of the power in the world."

"Why?" Belldandy murmured. "Why even go through something like that…why would you even want to?!"

"Spite…" Hild hissed. "it would anger your father, terribly so, and I want him to know how sorely I disapprove." Hild was grinning from ear to ear, just thinking of how much it change, how many things it would alter. "I want him seething at me. I want Heaven in an uproar because of his actions…because he chose to cast a blind eye." She wanted to force his great hand...to make him regret his power as a ruler of heaven.

Belldandy shook her head. "He is not blind. He knows well of my desire."

"He ignorantly dared to avoid his child, his blood…he ignored your plea." Hild murmured, bitterness seeping into the air around her. "I shall not take kindly to that." Hild's voice darkened, just a tiny bit. "Once he does that to you, he will do it to Urd…and no one, not even him, has the right to deny his progeny. I would wage war if he even tried, and I want that message known, clear as day. I will stop at nothing to do so."

"The arguments between my father and yourself do not concern me." Belldandy replied. "I should not involve myself in such a dispute, as it would cause our already fractured family great pains to do so." She gave Hild an earnest, but sad smile. "My mother has tried so hard to keep us happy, to forget troubled times. She has even tried to be there for Urd, when you could not." Being the Goddess that she was, she reached out to the demonic woman, cupping one of Hild's hands into both of her own. "Please, try to understand.

"I do, Belldandy, better than you'd expect." Hild took a breath to calm herself. She didn't intend to set the house into flames, purely because she was mildly annoyed. Still, Hild continued. "I can do what your father can't. I can accept a being who questions me…I can welcome that being as my own kin…dishonesty is part of being a demon, and Keiichi is at least half evil, despite his greatest wish not to be...he doesn't have to worship me, nor be devout…and in that, Belldandy, I would be bound by my contract…I would not go back on my word."

"Yet, I would not cater to a demon." Belldandy murmured. "Not without Keiichi's desire to do so, and I know he would not."

…

I must be a terrible goddess. Belldandy sighed, as she sat near the small pond in the back of the house. She ran her fingertips across the top of the water, marveling at the ripples she made. Holybell was looking over her mistress's shoulder, but she didn't give her master a reply. Instead, the golden haired angel merely continued to float from her place, still perched at Belldandy's back. You'd think I would know better than to be swayed by a demon, especially Hild. She felt Holybell pull away from her, and she looked up at the part of her soul that began to stand on the water in a fully metalized form. What would Urd think, if I were to tell her that her mother actually came because of me?

Belldandy's angel frowned. You can't blame yourself, Hild's powerful. She should be able to hear your wish, just because of who she is. Holybell animatedly replied before walking across the water slowly in circles. If you fear repercussions, I don't think Urd is the one you have to fear them from. Even though her blond hair was perfect, as always, she still twirled her fingers in it, contemplating that which so troubled her master. You are your own worst enemy…I can feel it growing stronger by the day, the melancholy grows in your heart, and it poisons me.

Belldandy nodded. If I don't do something, I know I won't be able to contain my power… With a sigh, she shook her head. I love him, utterly so. You do, too. Belldandy knew that to onlookers, there was a mute woman standing on the water…something impossible by nature. Even so, she also took solace in her angle's impulsiveness, and didn't scold her. However, asking Keiichi to become a demon won't solve anything.

You'll break a rule, if you lie. Holybell told her sternly. Even to me, or rather, especially to me. The angel jumped up into the sky, floating above the clouds, knowing her master could still hear her, if she so wished it. You can't hide from me, so why do you try, now of all times?

What else am I to do? Belldandy shot back, saddened, and angry at herself…embittered for even finding any thread of truth deep within a demon's words. A first class goddess can't possibly take what a demon says to heart…and yet, I've committed that sin…in that way, I've even let Urd down…what can that solve? Belldandy couldn't accept that, and she could feel her chest hurt as Holybell nearly crashed into the ground below. Holybell!

It was already too late to catch her, and with a splash, she hit the shallow pond. Dripping wet, and with unearthly glowing eyes. A depth so dark, it was all consuming like a vortex. Goddesses and demons are not unlike one another, and you used to be okay with that. You could accept that balance, and in turn, all of creation, including the demons. Holybell said, putting her face in her hands. Yet, now you push away the one hope you think you have, denying yourself, and thus denying me. Her angel was frightening in appearance, and Belldandy had only seen such a white light from an angel's eyes once before. Do not emulate Urd, and do not cast me aside. Holybell begged of her master. You are not like her, and you'd never find me again.

I admit, being lost in one's own heart is a frightening thing. Belldandy said, reaching out to touch her angel. But, Holybell, as much as it pains me to desire, to wish to go against my father in such a way…to even question my abilities as a goddess, I would never cast you away. Normally she felt warmth from her angel, but all she could feel was a temperature so cold, it nearly burned…like icy heat. Even if I became so lost, so tainted by darkness, that I myself fell to Hild's reign, I would never take a demon's egg, because you are so much of me.

Holybell softened at her master's touch, one so gentle that it cradled her cheek, forcing her to gaze upon the one she served. The glow began to fade, and the serene blue eyes returned, tears spilling from them. I am sorry, my master.

Belldandy didn't cry, but her soul wept. It is alright, Holybell.