The Destiny of the Half-Bloods

Chapter 9

DAMEON:

“Hello, Father.” 

“Dameon, my son. I trust you’ve had a pleasurable year of acclimation?” The bone-chilling voice turns my stomach in knots.

“Yes, sir,” I respond as respectfully as I can, knowing better than to look him in the eye.

I keep my head to the ground as I turn to catch a glimpse of the human he’s decided to possess for this visit to Earth. I catch my breath when I see the familiar shoes. 

He’s wearing Professor Frost.

The man who was so meek and awkward just two days ago is standing before me with a suave confidence that would catch any woman’s attention. 

“You like it?” He asks me with hands outstretched as if he is showing off a newly tailored suit. “His last memory of you gave me quite a laugh, Dameon.” 

“I’m glad it pleased you, Father,” I say with a slight bow.

“As much as it amused me, your days of mischievous diversions have come to an end. Now the true evil work begins. You’ve learned to live unnoticed among the humans, so the time has come for you to complete your first assignment. I trust Lamia has prepared you sufficiently?” He raises an eyebrow at me inquisitively.

Two girls pause to gawk at Professor Frost. He gives them a little wink and they immediately scurry away in a fit of delighted giggles.

I can’t help but shudder in disgust, but have no way out of this situation. “Yes, Father,” I say after a breath, “I’m ready.”

A broad, alluring smile creeps across Professor Frost’s typically shy face, and suddenly the air fills with smoke, swirling like a tornado around us. Tongues of fire lick our heels. He snaps his fingers, and the fire and smoke vanish to reveal his throne room. 

“Welcome home, son,” he coos in my ear while his skeletal hands entrap my shoulders. Now that we are back in hell, he can return to his true form. His burned and shriveled appearance makes me want to vomit.

What is happening to me? These feelings of guilt, disgust, and even remorse… they’re taking over me. It’s almost as if my human side is becoming stronger than the demon. 

What perfect timing for this to happen.

“Dameon,” my father begins as he gracefully takes his seat on a fire-scorched throne, “We have decided to entrust you with one of the most crucial missions Hell has ever devised. If successful, you will be responsible for the damnation of infinite human souls!”

My stomach lurches. This? This is my first assignment? I was expecting something more along the lines of… I don’t know… maybe political assassination? You know, something small.

“What would you have me do, Father?” I ask, trying to mask the revulsion I feel.

“You’ve heard of Sandalphon, yes?” He asks.

“The archangel of music, of course,” I nod.

“Well, my dear Dameon… He has a daughter!” He snickers in evil delight. “The forces of Heaven have managed to keep her hidden for many years, but we have located her at last!”

“Why would we want his daughter?” I can’t help my curiosity.

“Power, my dear Dameon,” he responds. “She was granted voice so alluring that it can call to a man’s very soul. No human can resist it. When she calls, they will follow to righteousness… or damnation.”

“And you want this power for yourself?” I ask, already knowing the answer.

“Of course! And you will harness it for us, my son. It’s very simple, really. All nephilim, the children of angels, are born with a divine sigil. It is a mark for protection that gives them the ability to wield heavenly power. All you need to thieve and pervert that power is…”

Asmodeus grabs my forearm with his skeleton-like fingers, and I immediately feel a searing pain in my veins. I feel like a calf being branded by a hot iron when he removes his hand. 

“Your own demonic sigil,” he finishes, revealing an inverted version of the angelic mark emblazoned on my skin like a tattoo. It looks like a diamond with two curled feet. My skin is still sizzling from the burn.

“To begin the transfer of power, you only need to seduce the girl. The magic lies within her angelic… purity” he spits with hatred. To retain her divine abilities, she must remain untainted. Take her innocence while wearing this sigil and she will wither and die, transferring her power to you. The song will be ours to wield, and mankind will be powerless to resist the temptations of Hell!” He releases a cackle that would make a grown man cry in fear.

"What will the power do to me?" I ask, trying to mask my fear.

"Oh, probably nothing," Asmodeus responds with a wave of his hand. "Don't you worry about that part, my son. Just get the magic, and we will take care of the rest."

I’m standing dumbfounded, trying to figure out an escape from this hopeless situation, when Asmodeus puts a long fingernail under my chin. “And Lamia has told me that you've already met the girl. Her name is Seraphina.”