Chapter 15

When Charlie arrived at the Daivie study room, he found his mom and dad seated in the master's section.

"We were waiting for you. What took you so long to come?" Lillian asked him.

I'm sorry, I mistook what Devine said. I went to your bedroom to look for you first," and then he nearly drowned himself with the the thoughts of Stacy on the way here.

His mom nodded, "it's okay. So long as you are here now. I've spoken to your father, Charlie, and I think he has a thing or two to say to you, but I also want to tell you that whatever happens tonight, make sure that it ends in peace.

"You're a fully matured demon now. You've gone out to see the other world, and then you came back with a bride. It would not be good if you let her experience the endless quarrels between you and your father. Don't let this dispute get in the way of your happiness, Charlie. I know you're a demon, but you have some humanity in you too, that's why you have to forgive, no matter what. Okay, darling?"

"Yes mom," Charlie replied.

"Okay, hon I'll take my leave now," she stood up and walked to the connecting balcony through a door at the edge.

Charlie smiled, remembering how much Lillian preferred flying her way around the clan house rather than taking the stairs. He watched her as she released her wings and launched herself into the path that led to their chambers, leaving both father and son alone. Charlie realized that there was so much he missed since he left here.

Luther was the first one to break the silence with his statement after Charlie sat down.

"You have a beautiful bride there," he remarked.

"Thank you," Charlie responded, a bit surprised that something good regarding his choice could come out of Luther's mouth like that. Maybe mom might have been right about settling their dispute once and for all.

"I apologize for what I said earlier, but you know how it is when a demon and human fall in love; things can get very complicated and dangerous, just like it did between me and your mother."

"I know, dad. I understand the customs of the demon verse, and despite what it said, you and mom still chose to follow your hearts. It might have been difficult, but then look at how everything turned out fine in the end. I'm sure Stacy and I will_"

"It's not just about the customs, Charlie. And everything didn't just turn out fine. Your mother was killed by the Vanard's," Luther spilled out suddenly, making Charlie's surprise double.

He creased his brow, "I thought you said she was transformed into a demon right on the verge of death? Didn't you say that our enemies almost succeeded in taking her life?"

"Not almost. They did succeed."

"If they did, how come she is now here??? How come her soul isn't with Lucifer?"

Luther sighed, knowing it was long overdue to let Charlie in on the rest of what really happened in his marriage, especially now that his son has chosen to follow along the same line.

"When your mother was killed by our enemies, she was still human at the time."

"Yes, I know that, you said that you were luckily able to transform her before she passed. You told me she was reborn right on the verge of death. Or is there something else?"

"I only told you that so you could be weary of the Vanard's, I never bothered you with the remaining part of the truth because I never realized you would be taking a human bride."

"So, what's the real story, then?"

"I had failed to protect her in my case, and your mother did die. She was already dead before I could even transform her."

"This makes no sense at all."

"Please, be patient. I am coming to that, Charlie. It will make sense after I finish telling you everything."

After receiving no response from him, Luther continued.

"I have told you before that as a demon king, your enemies don't go after you, they go after the lesser opponents; the ones you love.

"I never saw it coming; it was the worst day of my demon life when I met your mother lying a pool of her own blood in her house that day. She had been stabbed, and unlike what I said before, she was already dead, and not even the transformation could bring her back. I had failed her."

"Why are you just telling me this now?

I'm telling you because what you are about to enter isn't a child's play. Marrying your mother for me, took a lot of sacrifice, more than we ever expected.

What kind of sacrifice?

"In order to bring her back, your grandfather, Lord Gustan gave himself in exchange for your mother's soul to be released from the hands of Lucifer, and to be reborn as a demon.

Charlie became more and more perplexed as Luther revealed the truth. "My demon grandfather did that? For a human?"

"Yes. I was also as shocked as you when he told me of his intentions before he died. He made the sacrifice that in exchange for Lillian's soul back from Lucifer, I would agree to his condition that I would agree to take the Daivie throne."

"I still don't understand. Why would your father go through all those lengths just to get his heir to agree to something he was already born to do?"

Luther gave him a stern look. "I should be asking you the same thing. Why would I go through all those trouble just to make YOU accept YOUR inheritance? Something YOU were born to do."

Charlie bent his head, he should have thought well before asking that question, as he didn't expect that Luther would throw it back at him like that.

"I'm not saying all this to shame you for your choices, son. I'm only letting you know what happened. I was just as stubborn as you are during my youthful years. I wanted nothing to do with the Daivie throne, and the worst thing for Lord Gustan was that I was the only child."

"So he gave himself up just so you would agree to take the Daivie throne?"

"He did it because he wanted his son's happiness, and also to uphold the Daivie legacy, which meant more to him than anything."

"Is that why you kept on troubling me all those times? Because of Lord Gustan's legacy."

Luther nodded, "I apologize for my actions. It also gave me so much frustration seeing as you were acting the same way I did to my father in the past. I wish that things didn't have to happen the way they did, you would have met Lord Gustan, he was such a great demon leader."

Seeing as Charlie was short of words to say, Luther thought that he needed some time alone to ponder on everything.

"Charlie, I know that this is a lot for you to take in just one night, but I am hoping that hearing about your grandfather's sacrifice will make you reconsider your decision about not taking the Daivie throne.

"I am also hoping that hearing the real story behind your mother's transformation will make you think again about this human you want to marry. Except you are willing to protect her with more than your life.. If you really love her, you'll let her go.

"I'll be leaving you alone, now. I'll be in my chambers, should you need me."