After three days I knew that I had to hide this child and say she had died. I didn't know what to do with her. I thought about my options a million times over.
I couldn't hide her in Hell. He would find her and who knows what he would do with her.
I couldn't bring her to the mother of souls, I knew that she would turn her nose up at any child born by me, and that she would know that this child never crossed into the mortal realm.
I had no choice but to take her there, to the mortals.
There was only one human who I would trust with such a task, aided by a group of women I knew would take care of her.
When the next bonfire came around, I watched the women from the trees for a while, cradling the child in my arms.
She seemed to be growing rapidly, already able to hold her head up and smile and babble.
I gave her one last kiss on the forehead before stepping into the clearing where the women were whooping and dancing.
They all stopped when they realized I was there and immediately kneeled.
Anias stepped forward and looked at me with some hesitation.
"My children. I ask of you a favor. It is a large favor, and I understand if you cannot grant it," I start, swallowing and holding back tears.
"Anything you ask, we will grant," Anias says.
I looked at the child and then back to Anias.
"This is my child. Born in hell by me and the devil himself. She is not safe in Hell. Her father would hurt her if I kept her. I am only permitted to birth demons. I do not know why this child came out human, but I know that I must protect her. She grows at a rapid pace; she is only three days old. I cannot trust any soul or spirit with my child, but you, Anias, I can trust," I explained.
I searched her face, desperate for some kind of reaction.
Finally, Anias smiled at me and opened her arms to the child.
I handed the baby over, and she stared at me as Anias held her.
"What is her name Lady Astra?"
"Amalthea. Daughter of Astra," I replied.
"A beautiful name. I shall make sure she knows it, and who her mother is," Anias says to me before reaching out to grab my hand.
"Thank you, Anias," I say to her, painfully taking her hand.
"Anias, you are my most loyal follower, my priestess, and my voice on earth, I hope you know that your dedication to me has not gone unnoticed," I said to her.
She smiles as a singular tear rolls down her cheek.
"Thank you. I feel your love and appreciation Lady Astra," She replied.
I place a hand on her cheek and lean forward and kiss her mouth.
"With this kiss, you are protected not only in life, but in death. You belong to me. You are godspoused," She whispered to her.
Suddenly I remembered that we were not alone.
The other women stared at us in awe.
Some had looks of jealousy, some pure joy.
"Remember to aid Anias in her journey and struggle to raise this child. The child is a child of hell. Fathered by the Archangel Michael himself. She will not be easy to raise," I told them.
They all got on one knee and bowed.
A collective of "yes, Lady Astra"s rang among the crowd.
"Thank you," I say to them before tar rose up from the ground and swallowed me into the earth, leaving them where they stand around the bonfire.
***
When I reached my room, there was someone standing in front of my new mirror.
I immediately recognized them.
"Lilemor," I say as she turns around.
Her completely white eyes stared straight through me.
She smiled at me, a smile that was far too wide to be considered normal, at least for a human, which she wasn't.
She stood tall in my small room, head almost touching the ceiling.
She was actually taller than Michael, she stood at at least 9 ft tall, with paper white skin and black freckles all over her body but faded before reaching her face.
Her black hair waving naturally as if there was wind in my confined quarters.
She walked passed me and sat on my bed.
Her back was so straight that it looked like if would snap if she tried to sit up more.
Her lacy white dress fanned out so there was no room for me to sit with her.
"Hello, Astra," She said to me.
Her voice was silky smooth, like honey.
"How can I help you Lilemor?" I asked.
"Oh Astra, you can call me Mother like the other spirits, I was once your spirit mother you know," She says to me.
"Mother... How may I help you?" I asked her.
"You know, I still remember when you were born. You never stopped moving in my belly," she said, placing her hand on her forever-swollen belly. I knew that you were destined for greatness. Your soul would have a spark to it, and you would do great things in the Land of the Living, as well as in the Afterlife. So it pains me to see that you've been stolen," she said to me with some sadness in her eyes.
I opened my mouth, but then closed it again.
"Do you know why I refuse to see you in my domain?" She asked me when I said nothing.
"No Li- Mother. I assumed that you hated me because I am Hell's Mistress," I replied.
"No...dear child no...I refuse to see you because it pains me. Even now. It brings me so much pain to see what happened to you. However I have been seeing what you've done in the mortal world. How you have given the women hope for something better, and I am proud of you. I have been given my hope back, that you will excel in the afterlife. Which is why I gave you Amalthea. You are coming back to your true purpose, to bring happiness, not death. It is unfair what happened to you. I just want you to know that Lord had nothing to do with Michael stealing you. Azrael fought so hard to pull you back to Heavan. After you were pulled to Hell I begged Lord to bring you back, but because of ancient laws, once you fell...it was out of his control, but I can see that you are taking fate into your own hands. Please child...keep fighting to grow stronger," She held out her hands and gestured for me to get closer.
"I give you the gift of life. Bring more life into this world. Save children when you can, bring them back from Limbo, bring more life into this world, so that you may rise from the depths of Hell," She says to me before kissing my hands.
"Thank you, Mother," I say, still uneasy of the title.
"You are the Mother of demons, yes, but now, when you wish, you can be the mother of spirits that can live in human bodies. You can save the mortals when you wish. Please, Astra, do not give up," she says to me before fading away.
"He is coming," the whispers say in my ear.
I turn around, and my door flies open.
"Where is it?" Michael asks me.
YOU ARE READING
Astra
FantasíaAstra died over a thousand years ago and was yanked down into the depths of hell. Since then, she has been the bride of the devil, birthing demons and condemning people to punishment. She spent her afterlife in numbness as she delivered the souls o...
