Sweetest Sinner (Fallen Kingdoms II.)

The ghost of past Christmases

Valerie strolled the city in the snow storm after she saved the witch's baby. There wasn't a single soul on the streets and the lights flickered briefly. Every house Valerie passed by had their lights on and smell of delicious food lingered with the scent of the fresh snow. The chimneys happily puffed their grey smoke and the windows were filled woth freshly baked cookies, milk and a few carrots. She took her steps carefully in the huge snow and couldn't hold herself back. She pulled her hood back and looked up at the sky. Valerie watched as the thick snowflakes fall and she stick her tongue out to catch a few. Her mind wondered far away to that little town, to the little house which always smelled like flowers and which always felt like love. She remembered when they prepared the cookies for Santa Claus with their mother and how she always tried to stay awake with Eunice to catch a glimpse of him. However, they never seen him, only the half eaten cookies and the disappeared carrots. She heard soft singing from the houses and touched gently the two bars of chocolates and little bag of gingerbread cookies she brought earlier that day. Since she ended up in Hell, Belyar was her new family, they celebrated Christmas every year. Her heart clenched and the smile disappeared from her face. Belyar truly loved her as a family, but he couldn't replace what she lost... Better said what was taken away from her. That house, those scents and feeling were long gone, and only in her memories kept intact. Around this time of the year, she always had to fight the loneliness what her family left in her soul. She pulled the hood of her long black coat back on her hair, which by now was totally wet from the heavy snowing. Valerie walked towards her goal, which was the nearby church and specifically the monastery where the nuns lived. Valerie saw a figure standing in the back door, with a candle in her hand and trying to protect the light with the other. When their eyes met the figure pulled herself straight and waited for Valerie. She arrived to the door and the old nun bowed her head.

- We didn't know who to call. - she said and Valerie pat her shoulder.

- Go in Mother, its cold outside. - the nun understood what she meant and bowed her head pointing on a door.

- There she is. - Valerie headed towards the room. The old nun disappeared to her own and when Valerie touched the doorknob a shiver ran down her spine. She hated this. Inside there was a little girl. She rocked back and forth on her bed and smiled like a maniac. When their eyes met the girl's eyes turned red and in a bizarre, deep voice she laughed.

- They sent you? I've never seen a priestess this weak! You'll be a perfect second plate for tonight's feast! - Valerie pulled the hood back and her sky blue eyes turned to gold and shined in the dark. The demon stopped grinning when he realized what he got himself into.

- Hey, I didn't really mean what I said. Let's make a deal, like demons between each other! - he said and Valerie rolled her eyes taking a step closer. The demon shouted at her.

- If you come any closer I'll kill the girl! - Valerie stopped and looked at the little girl's body. This f*****g demon already starved her to the edge of death.

- This is not your lucky day fellow. - Valerie said. - she extended her hand and started absorbing the demon's strength out. The demon screamed, his voice shook the walls of the monastery.

- WHAT ARE YOU?! - he screamed in pain and and Valerie smiled cruelly.

- Your nightmare. You have one minute left, will you leave her and might stay alive, or are you dying with your vessel. - the demon jumped out of the girl and said.

- You'll pay for this! - he lifted his fits towards Valerie and she smiled at him.

- I don't think so, Merry Christmas motherfucker! - she said and with the snap of her fingers the demon turned into golden dust. The little girl opened her eyes and Valerie turned back into Dianne.

- Thank you. - she mumbled and Dianne walked to her bed putting her hand on her little forehead. She healed the girl and said.

- You must eat well and rest to get your strength back. - before she left the room the girl sat up on her bed and asked.

- Are you a demon too? - Dianne turned back and shook her head.

- I'm above Saints and Demons sweety. Call my name if you need help, I'll be there. - her almost black eyes widened at Valerie and she said.

- Merry Christmas my Lady!

- Merry Christmas, Anastasia. - the nun waited at the door and handed a bag of silver coins to Valerie but she said.

- Keep it, you need it more. - the nun looked confused and said.

- But the priest they usually send always asks for even more. - Valerie's eyebrows ran up and she asked.

- Who they usually send? Did something like this happen before? - the nun nodded.

- Many times unfortunately and we have no idea why. The land in Saint the monastery had been blessed, yet at least once a month someone gets possessed by a demon. Most of our older novices already left us leaving the young, innocent girls here defenseless.

- Who sends you these priests? - Valerie asked and the nun looked worried. Valerie smiled.

- Mother, if your garden ends up being destroyed all the time by a mole, do you plant everything over and over again or you get rid of the mole? - Valerie asked and determination flashed in the nun's eyes.

- The neighborhood church, Bishop Ashish.

- Thank you Mother. - Valerie headed towards the door and Sister Augusta stopped her.

- Where are you going my child?- Valerie in Dianne's disguise smiled at Augusta flashing her golden eyes and said.

- I'll get rid of that mole for you, Mother. She walked back and took only two silver coins from Augusta's bag.- the pouch fell out of Augusta's hand and she draw a cross. Valerie headed to the neighborhood church and appeared right in front of Bishop Ashish looking like Lucifer. The Bishop was counting money at his desk and didn't notice the tall man in his office until he walked out of the shadows.

- Who are you? - Ashish asked and Lucifer leaned on the Bishop's desk.

- Your Christmas gift! Unfortunately this year you have ended up on the Naughty list, so I didn't bring any sweets. But don't worry, I do have something for you! - Lucifer reached into his coat and pulled a golden Apple out of it, putting it on the Bishop's table. He looked confused at Lucifer with his green, greedy eyes and long white hair. He wore his most expensive robes and hat.

- Have you celebrated the Christmas mass in such and expensive clothing? - Lucifer asked and Ashish couldn't take his eyes off of the golden apple. It looked perfect and expensive. If he sold it he could've visited the Casino during the whole year! He cleared his throat and said.

- My herd deserves the best. - Lucifer put his hands behind his back and walked next to the Bishop comfortably.

- You must pay attention to the appearances aren't you? What would happen if they think, their Bishop is a humble man.

-Exactly! - he said without thinking and Lucifer grinned. He grabbed Ashish's head from behind and with his other hand he stuffed the apple into his mouth. Before the roots started to take over his veins he leaned closer and whispered.

- You know it too well why you get this special treatment. Merry Christmas, Mammon! - the bishop tried to scream but he couldn't. Valerie put the two silver coins on his eyes and she heard him scream while he got on Mammon's table. Before his body, transformed into a weird hybrid of a human trash and an apple tree, Valerie looked at him and thought. I should get Cinnamon a gift too.

Before she headed back to Hell, Valerie decided to walk in the town a bit more. As her usual self she walked whistling, with a shinbone over her shoulder. Valerie walked past a shop which was open. The strange little building emitted a greenish light and scent of medical herbs. What could be open at midnight on Christmas Eve? - she wondered and walked into the shop. The tiny bell alarmed the owner and she smiled at Valerie with a huge grin.

- I KNEW IT! - she said and Valerie looked confused at her.

- You knew, what? - the owner came out from behind the counter and handed a book to Valerie.

- You came for this. I knew I had to stay open tonight! - Valerie looked at the book in her hand and noticed that it was an Antique Shakespeare story.

- All's Well That Ends Well. - Valerie read the title and a smile appeared on her face. She didn't think about giving a gift to Lucifer, but this seemed perfect. She looked at the owner, who smiled at her expectantly with her messy hair and yellowish teeth.

- What do I owe you for this? - Valerie asked and the woman handed her a tiny viol.

- Just twelve drops of blood. - she said and Valerie gave it to her. Before she left the shop their eyes met and Valerie thanked the book. As soon as she stepped out of the shop the owner's messy hair turned into a silky, mint green hair, her wrinkles disappeared and her teeth whitened. She looked after Valerie with her violet eyes and murmured.

- Merry Christmas, Abby.