Satan's Christmas

Lily hopped out of bed and rushed to her door, she hesitated briefly. It was christmas, one of her favourite holidays. Ever! But her parents weren't going to be there, they had some kind of work related ball. Gerald was going to be there though, he was more of a father to her than her own had ever been. The cook, Sindiri, might as well have been her mother, making the two gardeners, José and Filipo, her elder brothers. They had all decided to spend the first day of christmas with her. Lily frowned, her hand showing a slight tremble as she gripped the doorknob. She felt guilty asking them to be here with her for christmas, they had their own families.

Her hesitation was quickly smothered by the realisation that there were presents downstairs! Most importantly Sindiri was going to make a true christmas breakfast, there were bound to be lots of yummy snacks! She ripped the door open and bounded down the hallway, leaped on the railway of the long staircase and slid down before hopping off and rushing to the living room. She froze as she gazed upon the scene before her, Gerald, her butler. Was standing in front of Sindiri with raised fists. José and Filipo stood to either side with garden tools in hand, their eyes sharp as they gazed at the individual before them.

She didn't recognise the man in front of her, she flinched when she stared at his eyes. The complete black scaring her a little, Lily's breathing became heavy as she tried to calm herself. Mustering all the courage her little body could gather she walked towards Gerald, the moment the butler saw her he rushed to place himself between the unknown man and the girl he was sworn to serve.

The butler kept his eyes on the strange man, Sindiri, José and Filipo moved with him to place themselves around Lily. "M'lady, stay behind me. This man told us he was here at your request but I sincerely doubt his words."

Lily peeked around Gerald, glancing at the black eyed man and examining him closely. He was wearing, she would have called it a suit... Except that it wasn't one. She frowned, the suit somehow managed to be both cloak and suit in one. She hadn't seen clothes like that before, not even on the foreign people who came to meet her parents. His hair was as black as his eyes, they were swept back and had the telltale glisten of some kind of oil. His skin was pale and his fingernails were immaculately maintained.

He was… clean. That was the best way she could describe him. Lily took a deep breath, "M-may I know your name sir?"

The man turned his cavernous eyes towards her, she almost failed to notice the man was responding. She shook herself and managed to pay attention to what he said, "I have been known under a great many names, most here know me as… Satan." He spread his arms and smiled gently at her.

The people around her froze, Gerald tensed and became a little less tall as he lowered himself. She knew what it meant when he did that, it meant he was expecting to fight. He had done it before when kidnappers came to take her.

Lily subconsciously took a step forward, her eyebrows arched as she stared at him. "S-satan like the one from h-hell and stuff?"

"The very same."

Lily blinked, then frowned, "But you don't look evil!"

Satan's eyes widened ever so slightly, "I do not?"

Lily stepped a little closer, Gerald held out a hand to stop her so she stopped. "You just look very very VERY! Clean!" She nodded wisely, her father had told her that it was important to stay clean, a clean man was a good one she would always tell her.

Satan's lips twitched, the edges curling into a slight smile, "I do tend to keep myself… clean. Especially when meeting potential… clients."

Lily tilted her head, "I'm a client?"

"Well you have reached out to me, I received a quite charming letter requesting my presence." With a flourish of his hands a letter appeared, the pink paper and the scribbles on them familiar to her. She stepped forward, "May I take a look?"

Another slight smile, "But of course, the letter is your own." He stepped forward and handed her letter, the proximity causing the people around Lily to tense. Lily grabbed the letter and took a peek at its contents.

' Dear Satan,

My parents won't be here for christmas… But that's okay! I have Gerald and Sindiri and José and Filipo and they are all very nice to me, they are my family. I think so... but my dad got angry when I called them that… But they are right? They are nice to me and Sindiri secretly feeds me snacks and candy! José and Filipo sneaked their dog into the garden a few times! Dad doesn't like doggies, I do! He was big and fuzzy and his tongue tickled! But he was sweet and soft and ticklish! Gerald is always with me, one time bad guys came to take me away but Gerald fought them off… It was really scary, but I tried to be brave! Gerald is very strong and I can't be afraid when he is there, he will protect me no matter what!

I know that I should ask for presents on christmas, but this year… I had an idea, do you ever get any presents for christmas? Does another Santa climb down your chimney to give you presents? Because if you only gave presents but never got any that would be sad… So I thought maybe you could come here! I will give you a present! Make sure that you also have a nice christmas like I will have with my family!

Bestest regards, Lily.

Lily read over her letter seriously, she noticed the small mistake she made at the top. She frowned for a few seconds before showing Satan a dazzling smile. "Do you celebrate christmas mister Satan? Did anyone give you presents?"

The corner of the man's eye twitched, "I am not known to celebrate christmas no, nor have I ever received a present on this day or any other for that matter."

Lily's bottom lip stuck out as she stared at the man and walked forward. She patted his arm gently, "Well today will be the first day then!" She straightened up and stared at him with a grin, she grabbed his hand and dragged the man towards the kitchen. Satan stared down at the small child doing her best to pull him along, he allowed himself a small amused smile. Of all things he had expected to happen today, this was certainly not one of them.

Lily grinned when she saw the fully decked table and all the yummy stuff Sindiri had prepared. She scrambled up on a chair, before realising there weren't enough plates. She rushed back into the kitchen under the amused gaze of Satan and the shellshocked gazes of her unofficial family. She came back holding a plate in both her hands, she saw Satan still standing and put the plate down on the table and rushed back over and pushed him into one of the chairs. She then rushed back into the kitchen and grabbed a fork and knife and put them next to his plate. She blanched, "Wrong way around." She muttered and switched the knife and fork. She nodded to herself before climbing back onto her chair.

"Come on sit, sit! Let's eat!" She turned to Satan, "Sindiri makes really yummy food, I bet you'll love it!"

The man chuckled as he gazed at the still terrified chef, "Perhaps I will have to employ her services then." Sindiri turned pale at his words. She shakily put herself in one of the chairs and studiously ignored the demon in the room.

Lily pouted, "You can't have Sindiri! I want her to make my food! You can come here if you want to eat! Then we can share and you won't be so lonely!"

Satan gazed at her, his face blank. "Why do you think I am lonely?"

Lily stared at him, "Well you said you never got any presents, family and stuff gives you presents. Friends too! If you have never had any… But you will now! I'll be your friend!"

A small smile appeared on his lips, "Then I shall call myself lucky to have met you, my… friend." He struggled a bit over the word, tasting it. He turned to the food before him, he took a bite and his brows rose ever so slightly.

"This is good."

"Isn't it! I told you Sindiri is super awesome!"

"Indeed she is." Sindiri shivered and kept her eyes on her food.

The rest of the breakfast was uneventful, Lily chatted happily with her newly discovered friend and the rest of the tables occupants did their best to get used to the new addition. The only one who seemed untroubled by the abyss-eyed guest was Gerald. He remained stoic and emotionless, he knew his duty and it was a simple one, protect Lily.

Once breakfast ended and everyone had eaten their fill, they discussed what they should do next. Discussion might have been the wrong word to use as Lily kept shouting out ideas and the others would tell her it was not possible. In the end they decided to go to the christmas market in the nearby town. Gerald led the way out of the house and opened the door to their limousine, Satan, the cook and the gardeners joined Lily in the back while Gerald got behind the wheel.

The drive to the market was a short one, one where Lily spent most of her time talking endlessly to her new friend and where said friend smiled slightly and replied politely as he was wont to do.

Once at the market they perused the many stalls, Satan, although interested in many of the mundane human crafted items, did not buy nor would he accept any of them as a gift. He told Lily that he was here to fulfill her wish, not to have his own out on display. Lily pouted slightly at his words but quickly recovered and continued to excitedly show him the rest of the market.

Eventually they came across a stall where the owners, a middle aged couple, had a large amount of dogs accompanying the stall. The dogs played with each other behind the stall and when they caught Lily's eye she rushed over with a squeak. "Fluffies!"

The dogs froze for the barest of moments as they saw the little girl rush over, soon enough a wave of fur collapsed onto the little girl. Both the devil and butler tensed, until they heard the delighted giggling from beneath the pile of fur. Tails wagged, girls giggled and after a near half hour of excited playing they calmed down. Both the dogs and the girl were left panting, even children and canines, both beings with an immense reservoir of energy, found their reserves depleted after a half hour of love fueled playing.

Lily walked back towards the group, her cheeks red. She shuffled her feet as she stood before them and coughed, "Sorry… I got a little excited! Fluffies are so sweet and fluffy and sweet! But I forgot it was supposed to be Satan's christmas day… Sorry."

Satan chuckled at her heartfelt apology, "It is quite alright, the experience has been… relaxing. It is unlike the job I fulfill back home."

Lily cocked her head, "What is your job?"

Satan tapped a finger on his chin, "I suppose I would describe myself as the warden of a prison, where the worst of people end up."

"So you're like a policeman! That doesn't sound evil!"

"Indeed it does not." Satan smiled down at her, "I see you are a lover of dogs, yes?"

"Yup!" Lily showed him a dazzling smile, "I love how fuzzy they are, and how sweet they are, and they play! Always!"

"Do you have a dog of your own?"

Lily's bottom lip quivered, she shook her head. "No, dad doesn't want a dog in his house." She brightened up, " But José and Filipo sometimes bring over Little Putti! He's a good dog."

Satan stepped forward, spreading his arms. "What if I told you that my dog has had a litter recently, she is a special breed. She resides inside the soul of her owner and will only come out when she is asked for. You could keep it a secret from your dad and only let the dog out when he isn't at home."

Lily grinned, then frowned, then stared at her feet. Various emotions skittered across her blushed face before she sagged. "I'd be a bad girl if I did that…"

"Well then how about this." He waved his hand and a small puppy appeared, it had fierce red eyes and a fluffy black coat. It gazed around curiously, it sneezed and toppled over. Lily giggled at the sight, she moved closer to the puppy and stretched out her hand. The dog watched her warily but allowed her to touch him. When she ran her fingers gently over the dog it rumbled in pleasure, pushing his head under her hand. "You can have him, you can keep him in your soul until you are old enough to live somewhere yourself. Then you can let him come out, don't worry he will not be lonely, for him it will simply be like taking a nap. He won't age while residing in your soul either."

Lily struggled with herself, she really really REALLY wanted to keep the adorable puppy. She hesitated but eventually caved and nodded, the puppy turned into a cloud of black smoke and vanished. Her eyes widened, "Don't worry." Satan placed a hand on her shoulder, "Just say these words, Avatendi Kereberus ta so mijala." She spoke the words and a cloud of smoke exploded from her body before turning into the same little puppy that stood before her.

She picked up the puppy and held him close to her chest, she gazed at Satan. "What do the words mean."

He smiled, "There is no apt translation in your language, Child of Kereberus I ask that join me, appear companion of my soul. This might be the closest translation."

Lily's eyes widened and she nodded, pretending she understood. They ended their day at the market and returned home. Satan stepped towards the girl, "As enjoyable as this venture has been, I am afraid it is time for me to return."

Lily teared up a bit, gathered her courage and nodded. She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him, burying her head into his coat. "Come back next christmas! I'll show you how Cera has grown! That's what I named him! I'll ask Sindiri to make you more yummy food!"

"That sounds enticing, if I have the time I shall return next year. Goodbye young one." Lily straightened at his words, biting her lip as she stared at him. He disappeared in a cloud of black dust. Lily sniffled as she stared at the dust, she mustered her courage and nodded to herself. Then joined the rest in opening the presents.

Meanwhile back in Hell, Satan appeared in his office. He glanced at the paperwork his secretary had left him, unknown to him he had a frown decorating his face. After spending the day with her, he had not received that present. He supposed it was his own fault for declining everything she wanted to gift him. Yet it irked him, he shook his head and went back to work.

Christmas passed and winter turned to summer, which then turned once again to winter. Lily now at the proud age of nine had written another letter. This one addressing Satan on purpose instead of being aimed at santa. Christmas came and the young girl eagerly awaited the return of her devilish friend. Yet he did not appear, she did her best to hold back her tears as midnight came ever closer, the warm drops rolled down her cheeks despite her best attempts as she curled up under her blankets. The girl grew from child to young-woman. Every year she would write a letter to the man she met as a child, yet every year she waited in vain for he did not appear.

The young woman went to college, she studied and became one of the world's foremost ecologists. She traveled the world, gained wrinkles with age and took care of her dog. The puppy that grew but never seemed to age. She met a man, a colleague. They fell in love, they married some years later. They had two children, a boy and a girl. Twins the two of them, but as different from each other as fire was to water. She aged, the wrinkles became more prominent, her husband and love of her life became sick. They struggled to find a cure, the disease unknown to the experts. The first of its kind... Her husband became less able, eventually confined to a wheelchair.

Lily continued to keep her kind temperament, caring for her husband. Treating him as best she could, her efforts… in vain. Her husband died at the young age of fourty-three, her children were devastated. Lily refused to collapse under the loss, she had children to take care of and she took care of them admirably. More winters passed, she stubbornly continued to write her letters yet the abyss-eyed devil refused to make an appearance. Her hair turned grey. the wrinkles ever more prominent. Her health faded as she sunk into the hospital bed, she watched her many visitors come and go. Her family, friends, people she had helped over the course of her life.

She asked them all to come today, she knew the end was coming, she was prepared. She said goodbye to her children, lovely as they were. She waited for night to fall, one of her oldest friends, José the last of her unofficial family to remain alive, had left her a gift, something she had asked for. She carefully opened the package and examined it, she smiled. She gathered the last of her courage, she picked up the needle and carefully inserted it into her IV. Cera appeared over her bed, the dog a monstrous three meters tall. She smiled up at him. There was one last thing left for her to do.

She waited, she felt the liquid enter her body, felt her muscles stiffen. She felt the darkness encroaching on her heart and accepted it. Her eyelids heavy, she let them slide shut. A last tremble and the machine beeped angrily at her flatline.

She opened her eyes and found herself in an office, staring at a face she was familiar with. One that had remained in her heart and appeared in her dreams. A promise left unfulfilled.

She smiled gently, "I promised you a present for christmas, I believe it is a bit late." She stepped closer to the man, his eyes wide. "But do you still have need of a friend. I believe we still have an eternity ahead of us."

She saw the man swallow and stepped forward, she wrapped her arms around him. She felt his hands clutch at her back, she felt a slight tremble run through his body. She put her lips close to his ear and clutched him tight, she whispered. "Merry christmas."

------ FIN -------