Chapter 3

"HE WHAT?!" bellowed St. Michael the Archangel. Christine had managed to make it back to Heaven and she had just informed St. Michael of what could be a huge issue. St. Michael paced the floor of his dwelling nervously, and spoke quickly, "This is an outrage! This goes beyond the laws that govern us immortals, this is blasphemy! This is an act of war!"

Christine humbly lowered her head, "My apologies St. Michael. The fault is mine. I should not have let my guard down."

"Guard down or not, this is a serious offense! To do such a thing to an angel! Its- Its unthinkable!" St. Michael was fuming at what had transpired and he intended to do something about it. "Come Christine, I must make an important annocement."

The two went to the main plaza after St. Michael sent another angel to ring the summoning bell. When they reached the raised platform, everyone was already gathered. Taking in the crowd and silencing their curious murmurs with his gaze, St. Michael said, "Angels of Heaven, servants of God, the sun may be shining, but it is a dark day nonetheless. All of you know of the demon known as Umbra Diaboli correct?" Mutters and nods of agreement came from the crowd. "Well this monster has gone far beyond the evils of normal demons. Instead, he has committed an atrocity of a blasphemous level. He has violated Christine and impregnated her with his demon seed!" A gasp spread through the assembled angels. One woman screamed and another fainted into the arms of a young man. "I refuse to let this horrid crime go unpunished! Therefore, from now on, if an angel has the power to do so, Umbra Diaboli will be slain on sight!" A roar of cheering arose from the crowd.

One elderly angel, a time-worn old mongoose, stepped forward and asked, "But what shall be done with the evil spawn? Surely it cannot stay here!" Chattering began as the other angels mulled over the idea.

Christine looked over her fellow angels, hearing parts of conversations, "We can't let that thing stay here!" "It must be sent where it belongs." "Or perhaps we had best kill it. Who knows what it would be capable of?" Upon hearing these things, Christine wrapped her arms protectively around her belly, which she noticed in her mind, seemed to pudge out a tad wider than before.

I believe this child could be good. Just because the father is a demon, that doesn't mean the offspring will be evil. Only time will tell.

St. Michael raised arms, signaling for quiet. "The offspring's condition will be assessed after birth and a decision will be made accordingly. But until it is born, we shall not know whether it has been tainted. Go forth, angels, and return to your duties and remember the decree I made." The summoning bell rang once more and everyone departed.

Christine sat in her home, gently rubbing her belly and lost in thought. There came a knock at the door and Margret's voice called, "Christy? Are you home?"

"Come in!" she replied.

Margret opened the door and stepped inside, "I'm so sorry Christy. You must be devastated!"

Christine mentioned for Margret to sit as she said, "If the child is evil, then I shall be devastated. But for now, I maintain hope that the child will be good."

"Lord knows, you'll be in my prayers." Said Margret as she put a hand on Christine's shoulder.

"Pray not for me, but for the child inside me. I'm sorry but night is falling and I must go to Miles."

Margret nodded, "Give that brave little boy a kiss for me."

"I will. Farewell." Christine went to a portal and teleported to the orphanage she left Miles at. She found his room and entered. Miles was lying awake in his crib staring at the ceiling. Christine approached the crib and Miles' face lit up with a smile. Christine returned his smile and stroked one of his ears. She looked around the room. A crucifix hung on one of the walls, much to Christine's approval. She put a hand to her belly and gazed up at Heaven, "Lord give me strength."

Many months went by as Miles continued to grow up. He learned to crawl with ease and was now attempting to walk. He babbled constantly and sometimes you could catch a coherent word thrown into the gibberish. Christine continued to guard him and protect him from the occasional demon that dared to enter his room. It was mostly underlings with a few middle-class demons; however, Umbra had not shown his face since the incident in Miles' old home. But as time passed, her belly became swollen with the growing child inside. 3 months after Miles turned one year old, Christine was ready to give birth.

Christine was lying in bed, her face twisted in pain. It was time for the long awaited offspring, conceived in a spiteful act of revenge, to enter the world. Accompanying Christine was Margret, who had been a doctor in life, and St. Michael. After a long and painful labor, the child was born. When the child was free, Margret gasped. The wailing child was a blue hedgehog just like his mother. But his quills were laced with crimson demon stripes that twirled about his head and encircled his eyes. The nails on his hands and feet were long, horrible, black claws and he had a long thick blue tail just like his father. Margret let out another horrified gasp. The baby had blood red eyes like Umbra and worst of all, every feather on his pure white wings, the symbol of the messengers of god, was stained with a bright red demon stripe. St. Michael was fuming, "This is the ultimate insult to angels and everything we stand for!"

Christine held out her arms and whispered weakly, "Margret, let me see him."

Margret hesitated, "I don't know Christy, he's-"

With a burst of strength, Christine cried, "Give him to me!" Margret looked at St. Michael who gave a curt nod. Handling the child gently and at arm's length, Margret gave the child to Christine. She held him close and looked him over. St. Michael opened his mouth to say something when Christine cut him off, "He's not a demon. I know it. Umbra's evil may have tainted his appearance, but he is good inside. He is not a demon's spawn, he is my child and I shall raise him."

Margret appeared shocked, "But Christy! Look at him! He will never be accepted here! He will forever be frowned upon and isolated. Do you want that kind of life for him? I say we give him to Umbra and let him live in Hell."

"NO! He won't be isolated Margret because he will have me! Besides, his 'father' is the most powerful demon in Hell short of the Devil himself. If you combine that with my powers, this child is bound to have unimaginable power."

St. Michael sighed and nodded, "Christine is right. The child must stay. What shall you name him?" Christine looked at the hybrid child in her arms. He snuggled close to her chest and sucked his thumb.

"His name is Daniel."

Author's Note: Here's chapter 3 everyone. Sorry it took so long. I've had a massive case of writer's block but its gone now! I think Daniel is a good name for our little blue hedgehog *cough cough SONIC! cough*. The name Daniel is a Christian name meaning 'God is my judge.' Thanks for reading and please review.