Infernal Passions

Chapter 13 - DON'T

Terzo paced his office, thinking. It had been over a week since Lili's demonic metamorphosis and he was no closer to figuring out who she was than the night it happened. He needed to talk to someone about this before he did anything else. He knew that he should ask her if he could look up her parents. With the information he had on her, it shouldn't be difficult. He ran his hands through his hair and groaned. Why did everything have to be so damned complicated?

"Are you OK Papa?" Kali stood at the door, looking concerned. "Do you need help with anything? I'm free for the rest of the day."

"Actually, I do need you. Come in. Close the door behind you, please." he said.

She sat down as he continued. "I haven't told anyone this, but Lili showed her true self last week."

"Oh?" Kali said sitting upright. "What happened?"

"I was having a...moment. She said she wanted to show me why she loved me." he paused, closing his eyes. "The room turned red and her horns appeared like they did when we were down here. But then...she got her wings. And she was glorious. I've never seen anything as beautiful." he said in a choked whisper.

"Wait, aren't wings reserved for only the most powerful demons?" she gasped.

"Yes! I think she is even more powerful than I am Kali! The problem is, I need to know more about her past. Who are her parents? And why is she so powerful? Where did that come from?"

"So ask her Papa. Tell her what you saw, tell her what you need to know. Maybe she's been wondering too and has no way to find them. You might be doing her a favor. You won't know until you ask."

He sighed, sitting back down at his desk. "True. I'll see her tomorrow. I can ask her then. Can I ask a favor of you in the meantime?"

"Of course. What do you need?"

"You know the library like the back of your hand. Can you find the book of recorded births from 1998 and bring it to me?" he asked.

"I will, but you have to promise me you won't do any looking until she gives you permission. Not everyone wants to know who their birth parents are. And if she's more powerful than you and you anger her?" she chuckled. "You my friend are in a world of trouble."

"She loves me, she wouldn't do that." he said, with more conviction than he felt. He had seen a glimpse of it when he had first met her. He rubbed his eyes. "Why must love be so complicated? Is this why I've been single my whole life?"

"No, you've been single your whole life because you've been waiting for her. And now you have her so don't..."

"...fuck this up. I know, Loki told me the same thing. I swear you two share a brain sometimes." he grumbled, knowing full well she was right as always.

"We do, but I have the majority of it! Let me go dig around the library. I'll bring it up to you once I find it." she said. As she was leaving, she turned around. "Times like this I wish we had the internet like mortals do. It would make my life so much easier."

He laughed in spite of himself. "It's better we don't. We'd spend the whole day watching cat videos!" he heard Kali laugh all the way down the hall.

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The next day Lili arrived right after work at six. Their usual routine was to spend all weekend together. They would stop at her apartment to feed Void on Saturday, but otherwise were with each other. Lili let herself in and was greeted with the smell of tomato sauce and garlic. Her stomach grumbled reminding her she had only eaten a bagel for breakfast. She put her things down and stepped into the kitchen. Terzo was in his element, whipping up something delicious at the stove. He didn't hear her come in.

She knocked gently on the door jamb. "Heeey, I'm here!" she said smiling.

"Oh! Hi! I was preoccupied! I didn't hear you come in!" he wiped his hands on a towel and made quick work getting over to her. He scooped her up in a hug, giving her a deep kiss. He smelled faintly of garlic and she loved it. He put her down and looked at her smiling.

"I've missed you. I can't wait until you come home to me every night."

"I know! A few more months! Are you getting excited yet?"

"I am honestly. You will be mine eternally. I can't wait to say I do. By the way, please tell me you're hungry. I was in the mood to cook today."

"I had a bagel at 7:30. I'm starving. What are we having? It smells yummy!"

"Well, I went outside and picked some veggies for a salad. I used all my extra tomatoes and made a sauce, which I used to make the chicken parm that's in the oven. And also made your favorite, cheesy garlic bread."

"Terzo! Have you forgotten I need to fit into my wedding gown?" she laughed.

"Yes, but you cannot sustain yourself on coffee and diet coke either. Sit, dinner is almost ready. Glass of wine, I assume?" he asked.

"You have to ask?" she sat down at the table. He had set the table beautifully. He was the only man she had ever met that had any sense of style. All of her exes would simply order take out and serve it on paper plates.

They chatted over dinner, polishing off the bottle of wine between them. The food was amazing as always. They cleaned up together then went into the living room to cuddle and watch a movie.

"Rom-com or scary?" Terzo asked.

"Rom-com. I'm tired. I want to sleep tonight." she laughed.

They got comfortable, Lili's head on Terzo's lap. He mindlessly played with her hair. He was barely paying attention to the movie.

"Can I ask you something Lili?" he said softly.

She rolled over and looked up at him. "Sure, what's up?"

"Have you ever looked for your birth parents? To see what your lineage is?" he held his breath when he saw her eyes darken.

"No. My parents were Bob and Joann Sanders. My birth parents were cowards that let someone else raise me." she said with a hint of irritation in her voice. "Why do you ask?"

"I...after what happened last week, I was just wondering if you were curious, that's all."

She sat up. "What? That whole demon thing? Obviously one of my parents was, but I don't want to SEE them! No. I can't." She got up and walked across the room.

"What are you afraid of Lili? They're your parents! They should know your alive and happy!" he said, a touch too loudly.

"I've been on this fucking earth for almost thirty years and they have never even looked for me! Not once! Why in the world do you think I care if they see me happy?" she was fired up.

"I don't know Lili, maybe you should at least know their names?" he asked hesitantly.

"I said no Terzo! I'm going to bed. Good night!" she stomped out of the room. He heard the bedroom door slam. He ran his hands through his hair, frustrated. He left the room and went down to his chambers to think.

He unlocked the door to his office, turning on a lamp. Kali had done was he had asked and brought the registry to him. He looked at the unopened tome. He could look at it and not tell her who her parents were, right?

He opened up the book to her birthdate, looking for a "Lilith Rose" in the thousands of names. He found one and looked closer. Adopted by Robert and Joann Sanders. He looked further at who her birth parents were and gasped.