DEVIL'S HIGH

CHAPTER 4

KIARA’S POINT OF VIEW

“When did you come?”

Ethan, my second brother, flinched a little on seeing me and the others too looked awkward as well. However, father was still sitting in his previous position as if he already knew that I was here all this while. Of course, he knows. All his senses are a hundred times better than ours and he must have wanted me to see how much my brothers care for me.

“Is that any proper way to welcome your sister who is going to another realm for studies?”

No one seemed to get that I was just joking around as they simultaneously started apologizing to me. God, they must have been really hurt yesterday.

I pushed Ezra a little and sat next to my father, who still hadn’t moved. Even though I cannot see his eyes, I could feel the conflict his inner mind was going through. He is torn between the love for his child and the duties he is obliged to do.

“Father, I apologize for behaving irrationality yesterday. The news came out of nowhere and my selfish mind only thought about my dreams. I should have realized the burden you all felt. I am really sorry, father. Please forgive me.”

He slowly lifted his head and looked at me with guilty eyes. There was nothing more he needed to say, and I hugged him, hoping he would understand how honest I was. I also wanted my brothers to stop pushing father to make use of his power for personal benefits.

“You know I won’t do anything to harm our reputation. No matter what happens, I will always control my emotions and move on. After all, it’s just for one year.”

I saw a flicker of pain passing through his eyes, but I brushed it off, thinking that it was only because he was going to miss me.

Father squeezed my arms and smiled at me through tear-filled eyes.

............

Me and Rachel were able to scratch almost everything on the bucket list by the end of Friday and I have never been so happy in my entire life. The time we spent together flew like it had a train to catch, but I enjoyed every moment of it to its maximum. The memories alone would help me survive hell and my will to come back has also increased ten fold. I will make it back and who knows, I may even excel in my studies there.

At present, I was busy packing my necessities, which included all my white clothes, toothpaste, brush, soap, towels and lots and lots of books. The syllabus I am going to learn at Devil’s High will definitely be straight opposite to the one I am used to. So I packed as many of the books and articles as I could, which will help me be in touch with my ideologies and basics. And I can even try to shed some light on the dark world, if an opportunity arises.

“Did you get everything?”

Adam entered my room after knocking once and sat on the chair that was pulled towards my bed. He usually barged in without asking if the door wasn’t locked, and I was surprised to see him using manners around me. Did I suddenly become a grown-up girl to him?

“Yes, almost. It’s not like I have much.”

I said, rummaging through my shelves to see if I had forgotten anything. The only beauty product I used was my hair brush, and it was already wrapped under one of my frocks. We could wear other colours too, but I was comfortable in white and it made me blend into the crowd well.

“Are you planning to start a library there?”

He joked after seeing the three suitcases filled with books, and started to take them all out, one by one.

“What are you doing? I need them, brother.”

I can live without any food for months, but not without books. What should I do when I get bored? I will definitely not have any friends in the underworld and I cannot keep studying all the time. So reading was my only entertainment.

“Relax Kiara. There is a library in Devil’s High where you will get all the books, just like here, or maybe even more. We have demonology records for reference, right? Similarly, they have all the duplicate copies of our books as well. And father has requested the council to get you a membership in the sacred section.”

Wow, my family has really planned it out well. I smiled at him, happy that I did not have to carry around so much weight. Besides, the library sounded more pleasing than my probably shabby room.

“Adam, what is hell like?”

I was curious about it for the past whole week, but didn’t have the guts to ask any of them and spoil the mood. Father was already trying not to express his sadness and me inquiring about hell would be like rubbing salt in the wound.

“Well, the only person who has actually been to the underworld is Ezra. Maybe you should ask him.”

I thought as much. Ezra was a messenger between the realms and he has visited hell several times with his superiors. If there is a person in my family who can give me first-hand information about that place, it would be him.

Adam left after helping me keep the books back and told me that he would send Ezra to me once he is back from his work. He also gave me a pair of ‘sandals’, something you wear to protect your legs. I have seen a few angels wearing similar looking objects, but I liked the feel of my feet on the soft ground and never understood the joy of restricting it. When I politely refused the gift, Adam insisted that it would come in handy, especially since the underworld had a different climate from us and forced me to pack it as well.

I spent the rest of the evening tidying up my room and covering everything in plastic wraps so that it would be free from dust accumulation. I can’t believe I am finally leaving this house, but not for the reason I planned to. Even then, I could feel the slightest excitement bubbling inside me. What is the outside world like? Will I be able to adjust?

“You wanted to see me?”

Ezra peeked his head inside my room and I nodded at him enthusiastically. I was sitting on the floor and arranging my extra clothes, so I asked him to take the bed.

“I want you to tell me about hell. Like what I should expect, so and so.”

He sighed, looking at my secured bags, and bit his lips before gazing at me apologetically.

“It’s worse than you can imagine, Ara. It is no place for an angel like you. Temptations and sins roam around freely and everything we oppose is praised there. And that high school is where they create these demons. But that is not what I am concerned about, sister.”

He paused for a second, as if contemplating whether or not he should tell me. And that just made me more curious. What is he afraid of so much?

“Lucifer’s son is around your age. And my informants told me that he is currently studying at Devil’s High.”

My orbs almost popped out on hearing that.

“Samael is in my school?”

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SAMAEL’S POINT OF VIEW

“Dude, he may not die but he will definitely feel all that pain.”

Asmodeus laughed as I hammered another nail on the politician’s thigh. He was a gift from my father and he gave me permission to do anything with him.

“I am not doing this to tickle him, A.”

“Yeah, as if he is actually inflicting some pain.”

Damien is the most sadist type among us, and he feeds on the fear of dead souls. We all had our own tastes and preferences, and for me, it was ruling the world. I want to make my father the most powerful, and I will do anything to make it happen. I shall prove to the world that God was wrong in casting my father out.

“Samael, don’t you think these sudden holidays are suspicious? I mean, we rarely get any free periods and now they have given us an entire week to ourselves.”

Leviathan was painting random symbols on the wall with the blood that was flowing from my pet’s not so precious body and ended his artistic skill with a question mark before turning back to me.

I shrugged my shoulders, just happy to get some free time. School was boring on another level and I just can’t wait to get out of it. I don’t believe in bookish knowledge, but practicals like this one.

“I asked my mom about it, but she wasn’t giving me a proper reply. I am certain they are hiding something.”

Damien was a mamma’s boy, and that woman would burn down the entire world for her son. If she was unwilling to disclose the reason, then s**t must be serious.

We continued with our own leisure activities with the background music of my dead soul’s scream until Asmodeus abruptly jumped up from his chair, causing the furniture to fall back and hit the floor with a loud thud. Him and his useless strength!

“What? Did Keres cheat on you again?”

I asked, smirking. Keres was his long-term girlfriend, but somehow she ended up in a different man’s bed every time. I wonder what he sees in that b***h.

“You won’t believe the latest trending news.”

His fingers were clutching the cellular device, and his eyes were dancing with amusement.

“Tell us already, idiot.”

Damien growled, not able to contain his curiosity and Asmodeus was making it worse by being a dramatic a**.

“It seems like Archangel Michael’s daughter is getting transferred to our school.”

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