Blinded by Eternity

Chapter Twenty-Two - A Rushed Celebration

Chapter Twenty-Two

"Gnorízei o skýlos ti glóssa mas?" Sae shook his head.
"No, Father. He speaks the tongue of the Westwards. We are looking for his girlfriend. Tania. She's a Vampire." Satan looked down at us. He appeared nothing like the depictions I had seen in any church. He was handsome, with a chiseled jaw that could cut diamond. He was a figure of pure perfection, not unlikely as he was the embodiment of vanity.
"I see. Jesse Stevens. 100 years old. Born in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Tania Bismarck-Pyne. 25 years old. Born in Boston, Massachusetts. I have seen the woman. A beauty. You truly love this woman?" I nodded.
"More than anything. She's my life." Satan contemplated. He was sat high on a throne, and let himself fall off it, landing on his feet, standing ten feet tall.
"I see. Tania. Come to me." I saw my Tania's spirit appear next to Satan. "You know the living never come to the land of the dead. If they do, they only come once, but with a deal to be made. Come. All of you." We followed Satan into a courtyard. It was adorned beautifully with shrubbery, roses and butterflies of all colours. "The last time this courtyard was used, was when my bride, Lagneía and I were wed. Satan snapped his fingers and Tania regained her solid form. She let out a deep exhale, feeling up and down her arms. I felt the colour return to my face, any aches or pains vanishing from my body.
"Tania! Darlin'!" I rushed and hugged her, picking her up, her arms wrapping around me in a bout of pure joy and passion.
"Oh God... Thank God you're here." Both Sae and Satan glanced at each other, Satan growling. "I never thought I'd say this, but thank you, Satan." Satan did gracious bow.
"Please. Only few get this honour, but my name is Lucifer. Please call me this." Satan smiled, which was down right the most terrifying thing I had seen in a while.
"Thank you, Lucifer. Are we free to leave?" Satan shook his head.
"I'm afraid not, Miss Tania. The only ways would be a trade, your life for his, or an act of true love, as fantastical as that seems." Tania and I exchanged glances.
"What exactly would that option be?" Satan pursed his lips.
"Well, you'd have to kill him, of course-"
"No! The other option! Not the murder one!" Satan sighed a breath of realization.
"Oh! Well, you'd have to be betrothed and wed. But the unity of two different species would have you chased and hunted for the rest of your lives. Guardians in Heaven don't need anymore Demons and monsters roaming around then they do already. So really take your pick." I looked at Tania, then Saerath.
"Saerath, walk with me. Tania, hang out with Satan." Tania childishly rolled her eyes.
"I have been." We laughed and I walked with Sae. I put my hands in my pockets.
"You want a ring. I have one, walk faster." Sae picked up the pace and ran through the halls of Satan's castle. We made twists and turns and arrived at some quarters. "My room. Here. She deserves it." Sae gave me a box. Inside was a silver ring with Amethyst gemstones.
"Sae, it's perfect." I smiled and we rushed back to the courtyard. Satan and Tania were talking, Satan holding a pink teacup. Rather unconventional I must say. "Tania." I took her hand. "I wish this wasn't so rushed, but I want to live our life. I want to be with you forever, and I don't care if we have to run for the rest of our lives. Tania." I still held her hand as I bent to one knee. "Will you marry- mmph!" Tania jumped on top of me, smashing her lips to mine.
"I'll take that as a 'yes'" Satan said as I wrapped my arm around Tania's waist. "Now come on you two! Let's get you married. I can't believe I'm doing this." Satan said, knowing full well that marriages are a holy thing. "Look, you'll have a real wedding back home, but for now," Satan snapped his fingers, Tania's body wrapped with black, creating a beautiful dress. My figure was encased in a tuxedo. Forget God. Satan is pretty cool. Silver entwined our ring fingers as wedding bands. Satan cleared his throat. "I'm making this quick. Go now in peace and live in love, sharing the most precious gifts you have, the gifts of your lives united. And may your days be long on this earth. I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride." Tania and I smiled, shrugged and kissed.
"My bride. Tania Stevens." We kissed again as I hugged her tight. She smiled bright.
"I'm so glad I don't have a third last name. That'd be awkward. Presenting, Mrs. Tania Bismarck-Pyne-Stevens. That's a mouthful." We shared a laugh. Satan once again cleared his throat.
"The path home is clear. I wish you the best of luck. And... try not to get yourselves killed out there. You two are... ahem. 'Cool' in my book." A portal opened up, swirling, just like the portal we had entered Hell with. Saerath nodded, saluting slightly.
"We shall meet again. I'll find you, don't worry. This portal should bring you to land. Boats are impossible to land on." I saluted back, and took Tania in my arms. "Godspeed." Sae coughed out the word, trying to prevent any pain. I looked at Tania and jumped. It was again free falling. Tania held on tight as we kept falling, the woods visible below us. We landed with a thud, Tania still in my arms. I knew these woods. They were the trees that Tania and I had hiked in Longmeadow. But it was different. The trail was worn, trees were cut down.
"Jesse? How long were we in Hell?" I checked my phone. "It's August 30th... Oh God." Tania looked at me, worry in her eyes. "It's 2040... We've been gone five years..." I looked at Tania, and behind her, I saw wings. "Tania! Watch your six! Tania spun around, clocking the Angel in the face.
"Not today." Six more angels fell around us, hands alight with golden flames. Tania and I looked at each other, and we ran.