Chapter 33

It was a long standing war among bloodlines, and such a battle was not one easy won by either side...in fact, some would argue that such a fear rested beyond the boundary of impossible. It was such lingering whispers that continued to force the hand of creation, even if the two who were to gather its peoples were deeply in love...many doubted, in fact, that such a love could overcome every difficulty it came across.

At first, the family separated by duty ignored the claims, or disproved them entirely. However, as time went on, so did their willingness to overlook the slander.

It dove down so deeply among them, that Urd doubted that anything could be solved without time, and plenty of it. Even with a new creation, ideals and tradition didn't simply change overnight. She had to agree that some of the past's protected rituals were important. They were the lifeblood of the people, the hopes and dreams manifested in tangible form.

So, as she walked into the main city streets the devils bowed to her, praised her, and chanted her name in great joy.

Creation help her, she allowed it. She was almost immune to those who told her she was just as beautiful as her mother, and just as fitting for the throne. They begged her to consider taking her mother's place, standing beside Keiichi, and some of them even commented on how wonderful a couple they would be.

The problem was, even if she denied it, Urd agreed.

She always had, because Keiichi was a special kind of guy. A little slow on the uptake, perhaps, but his devotion was strong. His love was deep, and, Keiichi was a good man. As a mortal, and as a demon. Urd was sure that if she had the chance, she could make Keiichi a very happy man.

She was also sure, that such a chance would never come.

It was a lonely fact of life, and bad habits die hard when they were so much a part of one's being. So, even while it wasn't exactly something Urd wanted to talk about, she was all too happy to brush truths away into the shadows. She was even willing to take solace in another, if it meant keeping her mind well away from Keiichi. It was the devilish side within her calling out, she knew that, but even so, it had been a long time.

The fact that it just so happened to be a mutual friend made for a good excuse, if nothing else. "Don't you dare use your fangs, or I'll set your hair up on end." Urd warned as she rested upon the bed that belonged to a demon woman.

"That's not an unpleasant threat." The grumbled reply came. Once again, sharp and deadly fangs toyed gently with the sensitive nape of Urd's neck.

"Mara." Urd warned her again, lifting herself to hover over the blond. Her long silver hair cascaded over their bodies cloaked in shadow. "You had better not leave a mark."

Another low rumble in Mara's throat sent a warning to Urd, who shivered in reply. Pleasant thrills skittered down her spine, as Mara's soft order wasn't spoken in words, but low rumbles of pure dominance.

"Easy there tiger." Urd taunted gently. Knowing fingertips expertly roamed over womanly attributes that many didn't realize Mara could possess. They expected her to be as harsh as her voice, but Mara was much more than that. She was perhaps not as breathtakingly beautiful as most female demons, but there was something alluring about watching a demon like her shattering at the touch of another…because what most often forgot, was that Mara was indeed a woman, with all of the desires and secrets one might hold.

Mara would never make an obedient wife, but, Urd wasn't snooping around for something so concrete and exact.

In fact, if she were honest with herself, she didn't want this aired at all, least the demons of the realm assume the worst of the situation. There were many unfavorable conclusions they could come to, and, be that as it may, Urd didn't want any part of it. "It would be best if we kept this between us." She sighed breathlessly as she felt an unfamiliar power flow into her being, setting her body alight with pleasant flame that trickled through her. "I would never be able to explain this to the girls."

"Do you have to explain it?" Mara asked with an upturned eyebrow. "I was under the assumption their nature won out over them. To covet is our most basic nature, and you've simply answered to that simple demand."

"Even if they chose to be demons they also have a goddess side, someplace. Megumi is very much a half goddess, she's got those fears that just make sense." Urd said as she let her violet eyes take a glance in the direction of the flow of power. Elegance was thoroughly enjoying whatever it was that a female devil seemed to be doing to her. Bathed in dark light, Urd couldn't see the feather soft kisses that her shoulders were being peppered with, nor could she contain the soft hitch in her breath when she felt those selfsame gentle ghostlike nips trail down her angel's body…and so too, her own. "You're devious, Mara."

"So are you." The demon growled in reply as her hands tangled themselves in Urd's long tresses. "Bend to my will." Mara pleaded. "I won't let you down if you just bend to it."

Urd shook her head, and leaned down to lead a trail of kisses down Mara's toned belly. "I'm not a demon in my heart, Mara." She said after each and every kiss until her journey had brought her to the eager womanhood that awaited a kiss of a different sort. "I'm not." She said again. "I can't."

Mara knew something like this could never last between them, because like it or not, Urd just wasn't the devilish sort. She had thrown that away a long time ago, and, despite her markings, she would never claim it back. "You could be. You just won't." It was the last thing she managed to get out as Urd's insistence won out, as all she could do was cling onto the bed sheets as the daughter of the late queen ravished her in such sweet torture, befitting the unholy name.

…

All was well up in the heavens, in spite of the loneliness that came from time to time. There was so much to do, and so few immortals to help. It was strange to see a visitor, especially one that was required nearly everywhere else in creation except Belldandy's side. However, when the goddess had arrive, Belldandy prepared herself for the worst, standing at near attention, fear flooding through her.

"You've come with urgency, Lind." Belldandy greeted the combat goddess, offering the woman tea and the best hospitality that she could bring herself to give. In these trying times, it wasn't as much as she would like. "Is everything alright?"

"That depends on what you feel about the news." Lind said, taking a careful sip of tea, and averting her eyes to the floor. It was shameful that she hadn't seen it before…felt it deep within Hikari's being. "Forgive me, given my nature, I should have noticed it sooner."

"What troubles you so terribly?" Belldandy said plainly, feeling the unease within the very air.

"Hikari's egg is not an egg to be taken lightly." Lind said slowly, unsure of the implications. There could be a great many of them, and, she had mentally thought of the worst, while praying for the best. "The dual nature within her soul is very unlike the rest of her siblings, and very unlike Urd's." There was something about it that drew Lind in. Something very familiar, and tangible to her.

That made Belldandy smile. "You feel it too." It was a great weight off of her shoulders. "Her dual nature is not one with itself, and it likely never will be. Still the duality must be embodied within her." The truth of that could only mean one thing, and it was a conclusion Belldandy had come to long ago. "I have no doubt that she will harbor twins. One angel, and one devil…"

"I feared for that." Lind said with a nod. "I think it best not to tell her."

"I doubt we have to." Belldandy said, wondering if her child already knew, and, she nodded to herself. "I'm sure, that the reason Hikari will not swallow her egg, is because she can feel the devil from within." Belldandy slowly brought her teacup to her lips with a sigh. Taking in the warm, soothing liquid. "I don't know if she can feel the angel within, or not. However, I do know that when she was born, Hild was the first to hold her. I'm sure Hild's unholy power made an influence that Hikari herself doesn't yet understand."

That caused Lind to shake her head. "It's the power directly, Belldandy."

"I'm sorry?" The first class goddess had never heard anything of the sort.

"The ritual bespeaks that only one goddess may help with the birth. The reason is because when the spiritual tether between mother and child is broken, that tether becomes the catalyst for a new angel." Lind put her hand over her heart. "In essence, it becomes the eggshell that encases the mother's spiritual power. Without that, the spiritual power can never mold and take shape."

Belldandy began to understand. "In other words, the only reason a baby can be parted from its mother, is because the infant has something else to latch onto."

"Indeed." Lind nodded. "The reason that goddesses bless the mother and her egg, is because without the blessings of several goddesses a truly strong angel can't be born." Her report came easily then. "A goddess who has more than one influence helping her safely deliver poses a risk. She unquestionably chances having those influences gifting an impact upon the angel that eventually emerges."

Belldandy smiled sadly at that. "Hikari never had the chance to simply have an angel." She knew that now, as Lind had confirmed her suspicions. "Hild was too strong, her power had to have touched Hikari's soul. I know that, because as a baby, Hikari loved Hild. I'm sure the devil is a reflection of that unconditional love of darker natures."

Lind nodded. "Keiichi will take pride in that, I'm sure."

"He will not be bothered by it, if that's what you mean." Belldandy said with a shrug. "Although, the point is moot if she doesn't take the egg into her body."

"I believe she will." A quiet fierceness slipped through the otherwise uplifting words as Lind spoke them. "It isn't something I can explain well, but goddesses with more than one deity in their heart have twice the growing to do. Twice the acceptance to discover within themselves. For even a goddess such as myself, the battle was hard." Still, she believed it was possible. "However, it is not a question of being willing, or able…rather, it's a discovery made only after faith in oneself has been found."