Chapter 12: Awakening Destiny
Peter stared out over the waters of Fire Lake. The afternoon sun sparkled on the blue waters. Across the lake, a dark forest rose off to distant hills. He should have felt at peace here in this idyllic haven, with the tranquil waters of Fire Lake reflecting the beauty around him. Yet his mind was a torrent, thoughts and memories crashing together in a cacophony of confusion.
New York, spiders, great power, great responsibility. The familiar yet disjointed images came flooding back to him, memories of a past life he had long forgotten. He desperately tried to piece them together even as they began to evaporate, like sand through his fingers. He remembered everything now but felt overwhelmed by the sudden wave of memories.
A pair of slender arms encircled him from behind, soft lips grazing the nape of his neck. Satana. Her touch ignited an exhilarating rush of passion within him, even as it tethered him to the present.
"What troubles you, my love?" she purred, her dark eyes glinting with concern.
Peter tensed, warring with himself. How could he voice this turmoil within him, this feeling of being two people at once?
"It's nothing," he muttered unconvincingly.
Satana turned him gently to face her, one hand caressing his cheek. "You cannot hide your thoughts from me, Peter. I know your mind, just as I know your heart."
Peter met her piercing gaze, seeing the intensity of emotion burning within. In her eyes, he found an anchor keeping him from being swept away.
"Everything is so confusing," he whispered, shaking his head in bewilderment. "I'm trying to piece together everything I remember... but I'm not sure what's true anymore."
Satana squeezed him tight. "This is real, Peter. We are real. No matter what happens, no matter how much our world changes, that will never change."
Peter nodded slowly, the confusion still lingering in his mind as he took solace in the only certainty he had left: Satana and their bond together.
"You remember everything; that's what's important," Satana said. "Emma said it would take time for everything to heal." Satana stepped in front of Peter and put her hand on his chest. "She actually recommended rest and relaxation."
"I don't remember everything," Peter said. "There's something about Mephisto and our wedding I'd like to remember. Also, there was this girl, Mary Jane. I spent a lot of time with her, and I don't know why. She was kind of a spacey party girl."
"You were young," Satana said. "We'll see Emma again soon and see if we can't fill in these few missing pieces. But you have a lifetime of memories to process, so rest and relaxation."
"I suppose you're right," Peter said. "My headaches are gone."
Satana took Peter's hand, leading him toward the stables. "Come, my love. I know what you need."
Moments later, they were galloping along the lakeshore, the wind whipping through their hair. Satana rode with preternatural grace, as though one with her steed. Peter clung tightly, thrilling at the speed even as he fought to keep his balance.
In time, Satana reined to a stop by a grassy meadow. Fire Lake's surface was smooth as glass. "Look, a sunset," she said. "Isn't it glorious?"
Peter gazed at the pristine waters and the golden sunset. It was an especially fiery sunset, with rays of red and orange interlacing the golden glow. He nodded and then turned to look at his bride. Satana's red hair always hinted at fire, with the way it flowed and caught the light. Silhouetted against the sunset and stirred by the evening breeze, it glowed like living flame, surrounding the almost inhuman beauty of her features with a halo of fire.
"She's a goddess," he thought, "a princess, and a goddess." His mind was a jumble of images: her on her throne, dancing with her, watching her lead hell armies, fighting by her side, her naked in bed—an endless series of those images. He tried to clear his head; he had a sense of being lost.
"Glorious," Peter sighed. "Beautiful and glorious." Satana glanced over at him and then smiled a little smugly. She can read me like a book, he thought.
Satana dismounted and pulled a thick blanket from her saddle. She reached for Peter and smiled up at him. "Come, husband," she said.
He joined her and then on the blanket in the grass. They kissed for a time, and then she pushed him down on the blanket and leaned over him, studying his face. From her expression, this seemed more like a talking moment than a sex moment so Peter took a deep breath and tried to focus on listening to her.
Satana ran her fingers over his face and smiled down at him. Then she looked over the lake. She seemed to be looking far away, and an expression of sadness came over her features. He was curious but decided to wait.
"This was my favorite place," she said. "When I was growing up. Before I... had to leave. My mom would take me here. We would bring a picnic and spend the day. We'd read books and draw and walk..."
"That sounds nice," Peter said. "Maybe, you know, when we have kids..." She had a pained look on her face, so he shut up.
"She would have liked you," Satana said. "She would have approved of you. She'd be pleased with... almost everything I'm doing now."
"Well, she loved you and I love you, so we have that in common," Peter said.
She looked at him for a moment. "My father will not like you," she said. "He will try to kill you and probably kill me for loving you."
"You hate him, so I don't care," Peter said. "Besides, he's dead."
She was staring off at the sunset again. "No," she said softly. "I'd know if he were dead. He's pretending to be dead. He's out there somewhere, scheming and watching. I can feel it." She looked down at Peter. "And he's at his worst when you can't see him." She sighed and rolled over, putting her head under Peter's arm and snuggling against him.
"One of his titles is the father of lies," she told him.
"Father-in-law of lies," Peter mused. He felt her giggle against his side.
"I should send you away," she said. "Far away. Where you'd be safe. I should... send you back."
"I won't go," he told her. "I can't live without you. Whatever comes, we'll face it together. Besides, are you going to return me like an unwanted gift?" He squeezed her and kissed the top of her head.
"You're joking," she said softly, "but it's what I should do. You are a gift. Literally. And this marriage, it's so strong, so human. I could never have made anything like this on my own, even with you."
She was crying, so he pulled her up to face him and began kissing her tears. "Hells," she gasped. "I'm surrounded by love. I'm basking in the glow of another woman's marriage."
"I'm your husband," Peter told her. "I love you, and we'll get through this. We're together forever."
She looked up at him with a stricken face. "You must have been soulmates. It's the only explanation." She closed her eyes. "This love is like a flood; it sweeps me along. It's overwhelming."
"It's supposed to be," Peter smiled down at her. "That's how you know it's real. Just let it take you." He took off his jacket and shirt and folded them into a pillow that he slipped under her head. Then he began kissing her face and neck.
"Peter, I'm sorry," Satana said. "I'm a demon. We don't ...give. When we get precious things, we keep them. I can't let you go. I know I should, but I just can't."
"You're human too," he murmured, He was kissing along her neck and began unbuttoning her blouse.
"So human," she gasped. "I feel it. My human side is so..." She looked at him. "Sex?" she asked.
Peter nodded. "You need it. We both do." He had her shirt open and slipped off her bra. He was kissing about her breasts. She sighed and looked up at the night sky.
"I'm good at sex," she said. Peter murmured in agreement, kissing and nuzzling her breasts.
"I'm a good fighter too," she said. "You have enemies. I will shred them!" Peter looked up at her fierceness and smiled at her, and then went back to kissing her. She sighed and slipped her arms around him.
He was kissing down her belly and unbuttoning her pants. She caught his hair and tugged his face back to her breasts.
"A little slower," she murmured. He nodded and said something she couldn't hear. He went back to kissing her breasts. She sighed when he hit a good spot.
"Oh," she said, looking up. "It's a shooting star."
Peter looked up. "There's supposed to be a meteor shower tonight," he said. "This should be a good spot. It'll start soon."
"No," Satana growled. "No science. Not now." She took his head firmly and pulled him back to her breasts. He made a happy noise and went back to kissing.
