Page 31 of The Human Element (The Human Element Collection #1)

Daemon

After making their way further out into the field, Daemon watched protectively as Lorelei walked behind them and took out her notebook from that ridiculously old, leather bag.

She smiled and waved at him while taking a seat in the grass to watch them.

Before starting with Samuel, Daemon wrote down the “Alphabet” as it were, for the Celestial language and some of the more basic spells typically used when first learning.

He figured letting her have some time to already look them over and practice saying them, it might spark something inside her. Anything.

There was no way to know if what Daemon was attempting to do would work, or if it made any sense at all to try and teach a human how to speak the Holy language of the angels.

But Daemon was running out of ideas, and her keen ability to pick things up quickly on top of the fact she did have some of Daemon’s essence inside her… it was worth a shot.

Stretching, Daemon lifted his arms over his head, shoulders rolling in circles as he released the tension that had been building up for days.

And with his enchantments up to make them and their actions invisible to any prying eyes, Daemon zipped off his leather jacket, the short sleeve blue t-shirt that costed more than what it looked it was worth, stayed behind, and he let his wings unfurl behind him after a painstaking amount of time tucked away.

He turned his focus on the lanky, red-headed teenager across from him, who looked absolutely terrified.

Daemon’s angel perceptiveness thought he could see the boy’s knees shaking.

How this kid could be the Prince of Darkness, son of Lucifer, the most powerful once-angel, and now ruler of Hell—it seemed like a cruel prank.

Samuel was so unlike his father that it was a wonder he’d survived this long.

But, Lucifer wasn’t always so bad...maybe Samuel embodies what Lucifer was supposed to be like: innocent, kind to all, curious, but not defiant or in need of power.

Daemon cocked his head and as he felt the tension recede in his body, he smiled broadly.

This was his element. This was where he belonged: on a battlefield, using his powers and strength in fighting.

Here was the arena he hadn’t had in so long to use these skills he spent his existence curating, nurturing, and implementing.

Until your services were no longer needed…

He chided himself in his mind; there was too much at stake to let another of his debilitating emotional potholes steer him anywhere but straight. It was time to focus. That pain and self-loathing would always be there for him later.

Turning his attention back to the shaking boy, Daemon cleared his throat and stood in a battle-ready stance.

“Alright, mate. Let’s do this. Now, I know you said before you have no abilities, but no child of Lucifer would be so unlucky to receive none of his accosted skills.

Have you ever been able to dream-walk? That has always been a particular favorite of your father’s.

Or perhaps shadow magic? No? Okay, how about emotional manipulation, sword work?

Your father was pretty wicked with a blade if I recall. No?”

Samuel shook from head to toe, shame washed over his features as with every question Daemon posed, he reluctantly shook his head “no” and stared at his feet. Poor kid. To have such a powerful, renowned, and substantial father and to come out with nothing.

No. There can’t be nothing. There just has to be something in there…some spark….

Opening his eyes wider, Daemon snapped his hand. He remembered one skill Lucifer used a lot back at the beginning when humanity had barely gotten its feet off the ground.

Elemental magic. Weather manipulation. It is never written about in texts, but Daemon saw Lucifer do it once. That flood was a right, nasty piece of work.

“Have you ever noticed the weather changes with your emotions?”

Samuel’s head peaked up and with a look of confusion that turned into what looked like a lightbulb going off in his head, he nodded vigorously.

“Actually, if I think hard about it…it could be stupid, but once I was getting beat up by some of the kids at school..”

Daemon’s heart clenched at the confession. This kid was pulling on his heart-strings, and Daemon had even started to grow fond of him. He was sad to realize what a lonely and difficult life Samuel has known. Daemon crossed his arms, listening to Samuel as he began walking closer while he finished.

“And I remember feeling so alone, and so angry at the world. But just as I was about to get hit by the final blow from the biggest guy, a giant storm began and they all ran for cover. I guess they figured I was already down in the dirt, it didn’t matter if I drowned, too.”

Samuel sighed and pulled on the sleeves of his green and brown striped sweater that Daemon grabbed for him when he got his own clothes; something told Daemon green was Samuel’s color.

Before Daemon could respond to Samuel’s remark, Lorelei spoke up.

“There are storms in Hell?”

Daemon turned back to her and held back a smile.

That curiosity never seemed to leave Lorelei’s eyes.

Her blonde hair fell in waves over her shoulders, although a little frizzed out from the humidity in the air, she was so beautiful.

Her mind never stopped, and he thought it was adorable she could fully focus on the alphabet Daemon gave her and was still somehow able to keep up with their conversation as well.

He wished he could go to her, lift her up, and kiss her again.

Breathe in her scent again and be there with her as she studied; but that would have to be later.

Samuel answered Lorelei eagerly. He always seemed to perk up when she was talking with him.

“Yes! Well…no? My dad said there didn’t used to be.

It started only..I don’t know…a decade ago or more?

I’m not really sure. But there used to be no storms, and one day there was.

The demons were shocked when they started.

Hell isn’t all what the books say it is.

It is actually sort of like an oasis. Yes there are cities sort of like your New York, but it's also filled to the brim with wildlife and flowers. They are not like Earth’s though, because they glow and apparently are not real or living—but the growth has never needed rain.

They grow all year and never need to be taken care of.

It’s rather fascinating and no matter how many times I have bugged the librarian at my school, there isn’t a lot of information on these plants.

My dad does have some environmental control and told me it was his gift to us who followed him to never need to live in a place that wasn’t beautiful.

He believed we deserved that. He’s very loyal to his people if nothing else.

Anyways, yeah, the storms started not long ago but no one can figure out why.

Not even my dad. It’s been a source of constant frustration for him. ”

Daemon spun on his heels and looked at Samuel.

“Did this start before or after you were born?”

Samuel paused to think, “I guess it was after. Why?”

Daemon’s brain clicked and he knew what he needed to do. He winked at Lorelei, and she blushed.

If only I could make her blush for other reasons…

Soon, Daemon thought. And he took that as motivation as he paced around Samuel in circles.

He didn’t speak, didn’t say a word to the kid; he just kept pacing.

Soon, Samuel’s reaction became more and more nervous.

He began shifting on his feet, playing with the sleeves of his sweater so much he could've put a hole in them from the constant tugging.

All the while, Daemon could feel the fizzling of his emotions begin to boil inside him.

Angels could perceive emotions, and although most demons were excellent at concealing them, Samuel put up no shields to cover it: and honestly, it was written all over his face.

When Daemon thought he might have to come up with something else, the drip, drip, drip of a soft rain began; and he knew he figured it out.

Daemon needed to push him harder. He just hoped Lorelei would forgive him for what he was about to do.

“You know, I knew your dad…in the old days. He was admired by many and he was powerful. Nearly untouchable in strength and ability…”

Daemon drawled on as he kept circling Samuel like a vulture about to pick up its prey. Out of the corner of his eye, he tried to give Lorelei a look to let her in on his plan, hoping she would understand, but she was now too fully engrossed in her studies to look up.

Please…let this work….and for fuck’s sake, don’t let Lorelei hate me afterwards..

Fear was obviously the catalyst to pulling out Samuel’s abilities, but anger, that’s where one’s true self could be revealed. All was told in the heat of anger. That’s where Daemon needed to push Samuel. He needed to be angry; that’s how his powers would be forced out.

Daemon continued on.

“Yeah….your dad was one of a kind…it’s too bad, really.” Daemon paused before his first strike, “Considering you’re nothing like him.”

Daemon paused again, waiting for that first cut to meet its mark.

Samuel’s eyes shot open in shock and Daemon was sure Lorelei gasped behind him, but there was no way he could look her way after what he would need to do.

When Samuel didn’t say anything, he kept going—driving the knife of shame deeper, for he knew it all too well.

“Pity for ol’ Luci. Having a son like you as the ruler of all Hell; it’s got to be such a blow. I mean, look at you, you’re pathetic. Weak. You got nothing to show for all your dad’s efforts.”

“What the hell are you doing, Daemon?!”