Infernal God

18

Famine's essence moved closer as she considered me. The entire glade around the temple fell silent as everyone watched our exchange. No one fought anymore—they were too weak thanks to Famine anyway.

"I was a mother once too," she said in a quieter voice. "Perhaps you know my son, Baal."

"I do, yes. He is an ally of mine." I vaguely remembered Baal saying that Famine was his parent, but I'd stupidly assumed he meant his father.

"There were other children too," Famine continued. "War murdered some of them. The others...perhaps they are still alive. Perhaps I will be able to find them."

"Then you understand that I would do anything to protect my child."

"Yes. I will not hurt this child. I swear it."

Relief loosened my chest around the breath I’d been holding. As an Elder God, she couldn't lie. "Then what sacrifice would you ask of me?"

“The sacrifice of your fertility. Your baby will remain safe and whole. She will be powerful and strong. I will ensure it. But this child will be your last. After she is born, your body will bring forth life no more.”

I wrapped my arms around myself as her words sank in. The last. It was difficult to contemplate. I hadn’t given thought to having more babies after this one, but the idea that it would be impossible made me feel hollow inside. I smoothed my hand over my bump, feeling the baby move inside, knowing once she was born I'd never experience this miracle again.

I swallowed hard as tears pricked my eyes, but then I turned and looked at my three smart, brave, handsome sons. Lucifer and I had been blessed with them and with this daughter growing inside me now. As long as this unborn child would be safe, I could accept never having another one after her.

"I accept this sacrifice."

"Very good." Famine moved toward me in a way that reminded me of a swarm of bees. “I’m looking forward to being a mother again."

Something in the way she spoke the words iced my blood. There was a finality in her tone, as though the child would be hers, and not mine. She thought she would take control of me, but I was going to fight. I remembered Oberon's words about how one could defeat and then become an Elder God, just as Famine's ghostly form surrounded me. Her power enveloped me and seeped into my skin, oozing into my pores, sliding into every hole until she'd slithered deep into my soul. Overwhelming hunger and desperate need made me nearly tear out my eyes, along with a melancholy so strong I could barely breathe. I was fueled by deep, intense longing, not just for food, but for power. For life.

Fighting against Famine's immense power was impossible. How had I ever thought I'd be able to defeat her? She stretched through my body, taking it over, claiming me as her host, and I couldn't stop her. No wonder Lucifer hadn’t found his way without his memories. He'd never had a chance.

I gazed across the battlefield, at the dead grass and the weakened beings all kneeling before me. I could see their auras, their power, their essence, and I breathed it in, drawing upon their strength, claiming it as mine. It was my nature to feed, and none could stop me from draining every last living thing around me. Only then would I be strong enough to stop War.

My eyes fell upon the three men before me, the ones who called my name over and over. Damien sagged, his beautiful skin dimming as I sucked away his life force. Kassiel was on his hands and knees, his face pale. Belial, the oldest and strongest, fought back the hardest, but even he eventually fell under my might.

As he hit the ground, my senses came back to me and I recoiled. What was I doing? I couldn’t allow Famine to leech power from those I loved. Those were my children she was draining, and behind them, my friends and my allies. I had to stop her from killing them all. I had to gain control somehow.

I forced myself to release the energy I'd stolen, allowing it to return to the people around me. Famine tried to exert control over me again, but this time, I knew what she was doing and I fought back. I could feel it now, a duality where I needed to hold on to myself, to make myself strong so that I didn’t fade behind Famine. She would be the driving force if I let her, until we merged into one terrible, awful being that would drain the life out of every living thing in every realm, until there was nothing left.

Famine struggled harder, pouring more of her power over me, while attempting to reach out and steal life from everything around us. I countered her by sending out living energy into the surroundings with my Persephone powers, bringing the plants back to life around us, fighting her blight with my power of growth. That only made her more angry, but it also made me realize something—I was the direct counter of Famine. She made crops wither and die, and I made them grow and flourish.

I was Persephone, the goddess of spring and death. I was Eve, who had trapped the Four Horsemen originally. And I was Hannah, an angel of truth, and the motherfucking Demon Queen. Famine thought she could take over my body and raise my child as her own, but she had no idea how powerful I was. Especially because it wasn't just me. I had my daughter too, a little piece of Lucifer nestled in my body. My baby was strong, and together I knew we could subdue Famine and contain her.

My daughter kicked like she understood my need for us to fight together, and I drew on my love for Lucifer to center myself. I gazed upon my sons, all of them standing again and looking at me with such love it overwhelmed me. My family was my strength. Love gave me power.

This is my body , I told Famine. And you will submit to me.

Never , she cried, as she raged inside me. The overwhelming feeling of desperation, need, and hunger that could never be sated filled me, but I stared at my sons and pushed it down. I focused on life and love, using my memories of all my past lives to fuel me.