The heavy iron doors of the infernal castle creaked open as Kikidori, Kael, and Yumi stepped inside. The flickering torches lining the walls did little to illuminate the darkness that now felt heavier than usual.
"Well," Kikidori said, ruffling Kael's jet-black hair. "Welcome to the team, kid. You're gonna love it here as a demon. Trust me."
Kael looked up at his father, unsure how to respond. His small hands clutched at the hem of his shirt as he fidgeted nervously. He wasn't sure he'd made the right choice—he didn't feel powerful or free. Instead, he felt an ache in his chest every time he thought of his mother's tear-streaked face as she fled the ceremony.
Yumi stretched, letting out an exaggerated yawn. "Well, that was fun. I'm starving. Are we eating, or what?"
Kikidori chuckled. "Yeah, yeah, I'll whip something up. Don't let your mother's mood ruin the vibe."
As they walked deeper into the castle, Kael's sharp ears picked up a faint sound. At first, he thought it was the wind whistling through the cracks in the stone walls, but then he realized—it was crying.
Ere'ana.
The sound made him stop in his tracks. His small wings twitched as he turned toward the grand staircase that led to his parents' chambers.
"Where are you going?" Yumi asked, raising an eyebrow.
Kael didn't answer. He just started climbing the stairs, each step feeling heavier than the last.
Kikidori sighed, crossing his arms. "Let him go. He's gotta face her eventually."
"But she's pissed," Yumi said, leaning against the wall. "You saw her face. She's not gonna let this go."
"She'll get over it," Kikidori replied, though his tone lacked conviction.
Upstairs, Kael hesitated outside his parents' bedroom door. The crying was louder now, raw and heart-wrenching. He swallowed hard and pushed the door open.
Ere'ana sat on the edge of the bed, her face buried in her hands. Her golden halo dimmed, barely glowing, and her once-radiant white wings drooped like wilting flowers. She didn't notice Kael at first, too consumed by her sorrow.
"Mom?" Kael's voice was barely a whisper.
Ere'ana's head shot up, her tear-filled eyes locking onto her son. For a moment, she just stared at him, her expression unreadable. Then, she wiped her eyes hastily and stood.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"I... I wanted to check on you," Kael said, his hands fidgeting nervously. "I—I didn't mean to make you sad, Mom. I just..."
Ere'ana let out a bitter laugh, cutting him off. "Didn't mean to make me sad? Kael, do you have any idea what you've done? You chose to be a demon! Do you even understand what that means?"
Kael flinched at her harsh tone, his wings drooping. "I didn't want to hurt you," he said softly.
Ere'ana shook her head, pacing back and forth. "It's not just about me, Kael. It's about your soul, your future. Demons... demons destroy everything good in them. They corrupt. They take and take until there's nothing left. I don't want that for you!"
Kael's eyes filled with tears, but he refused to let them fall. "But Dad's a demon," he said quietly. "And he's not bad."
Ere'ana froze, her shoulders tensing. "Your father is... complicated," she said carefully. "But he wasn't always a demon. He was an angel once, Kael. He knows what it means to lose that light."
Downstairs, Kikidori leaned against the kitchen counter, staring at the ceiling. He could hear every word of the conversation, and it annoyed the hell out of him.
"She's laying it on thick, huh?" Yumi said, leaning on the counter next to him.
"Yeah, well," Kikidori muttered, lighting a cigarette. "She's always been dramatic. She'll get over it."
"Are you sure about that?" Yumi asked, smirking.
Kikidori exhaled a puff of smoke, his crimson eyes narrowing. "She doesn't have a choice."
Back in the bedroom, Ere'ana knelt in front of Kael, placing her hands on his small shoulders.
"I love you, Kael," she said, her voice softening. "But this choice... it's not what I wanted for you. I just want you to be safe, to be happy."
Kael looked down at his hands, his little fingers curling into fists. "I don't feel happy," he admitted. "I don't know if I made the right choice."
Ere'ana's heart ached at his words. She pulled him into a tight hug, her wings wrapping around him like a protective cocoon. "It's not too late, Kael," she whispered. "You can change your mind."
Kael pulled back, shaking his head. "No. Dad said... he said demons are strong. I wanna be strong, Mom. Like him."
Ere'ana closed her eyes, fighting back another wave of tears. "Strength isn't everything," she said quietly.
Kael didn't respond. He just stood there, staring at the floor.
A knock at the door interrupted them.
"You two done with the waterworks?" Kikidori's voice called out. "Dinner's ready."
Ere'ana's jaw tightened, but she said nothing. She stood, smoothing her dress, and took Kael's hand.
"Come on," she said softly.
As they walked downstairs, Kikidori smirked at them from the dining table. "Told you he'd be fine," he said, ruffling Kael's hair.
Ere'ana glared at him. "Not now, Kikidori."
Kikidori raised his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. No need to bite my head off."
Yumi snickered from her seat. "You guys are so dramatic. Can we just eat already?"
Kael sat down quietly, his thoughts swirling. He wasn't sure if he'd made the right choice, but one thing was clear—his family would never be the same.
The end of Chapter 2