Son of the Devil - Book I of The Higher Order

Chapter Eight: First Son Gets First Dance

Wait, what? Sam wasn't the first son of the devil, so how was he the heir to Hell? The eldest son is given everything, they are the heir to the family fortune, that's just how it is. Sam's family just happened to include Hell's royalty. His father was king, which immediately made Samael and all his other sons princes and all his daughters princesses. But if he wasn't first born then he wouldn't have ever had the chance to become heir unless something happened to the first son. But I knew for a fact that Sam's eldest brother was alive and well, and probably in Hell learning to become heir. So then, how the hell is Sam an heir?

"Talk!" I demanded once he and I were alone in the bedroom of the cabin that had shifted into a castle based on the whims of its occupants. Goddess! Purgatory and everyone in it are so confusing!

"What do you mean?" He asked, totally lost.

I pursed my lips and said, "You're not the first son of the devil and yet you're the heir of Hell. Explain to me how that is possible." I demanded, and felt bad right after seeing his face scrunch up in hurt, probably thinking that I assumed him to be purposefully hiding something from me.

"My brother, Cain, is the first born, but I am the rightful heir—" he started but I interrupted.

"Bullshit! Cain is the son of Eve, not Lilith. And you already said that Cain is older."

Sam blushed a deep crimson color. "My mother and Eve conceived both of us at the same time, I'm sure you can understand the implications of that. Cain and I were both born the same day, he just a little sooner than I so he was eldest." He explained, "we're half-brothers, but I am supposedly more worthy to take the throne due to my being a legitimate child, does that make sense?"

I sighed, "Yes, I'm sorry for cursing at you."

"No problem." He said, wrapping me in a warm hug. I melted into his embrace almost immediately, he smelled faintly of cinnamon, yum!

"Can I meet your brother?" I asked.

Sam tensed under me, "you want to meet my brother with the title of The First Murderer? Cain and his brother, Abel—of which I have no relation—tried to kill each other and Cain succeeded. Both of them are asshats. I've had to deal with Abel for the past seventeen centuries and honestly I can see the appeal of wanting to kill him. And that's just one of my brothers, so, I would prefer if you never met any of my siblings."

"I think you might have a point about Cain. It's probably best if I stayed away from him. And my siblings are no different. They'd tear you to shreds the moment they sensed you at the Gate." I sighed, "what messed up families we have."

Sam chuckled and I felt the vibrations of his melodic voice through his thin shirt, "Yeah, you and me both. It's too bad we have to skip the meet the parents part of the relationship."

"What?" I jerked up to look him in the face, surprised at his words.

"Did I say that out loud?" He asked nervously, upon my nod of ascension, he muttered, "great, now you probably think I'm crazy for . . . never mind, just forget what I said." Sam released his hold on me and scurried out of the room with surprising speed.

I called after him, "Sam, wait . . . you don't have to go." But he was already gone. "Damn you, Goddess. How could you be so cruel? Making me fall for him." I took deep meditative breaths, using Rochelle's technique for anger management. I felt the negative emotions drain out of me through the souls of my feet and I slumped from the weight being lifted from my shoulders. If only you knew what I did, I thought sadly, then maybe . . . maybe we stood a chance.

I sighed in defeat. There was no way I could tell him but he would find out one day and make his choice then. I had a feeling that I knew what it was, based on the prophesy that Lilith had given him, despite the fact that it sounded incomplete. I just hope he chose correctly or . . . I don't even know what would happen if he didn't.