The Devil’s Daughter

The world you live in is a lie. You believe that the worst things out there are mankind. This notion is a laughable one. How can you really believe that the worse thing someone can due is hurt some else? That everything is in control of a species that is, in fact, at the bottom of the food chain. A species that has brought the world, they know and supposedly care about, to the brink of destruction more times than they would ever admit. The history books you know are filled with lies. Lies that you all blindly believe. Right about now you’re thinking this chick is crazy. We are the top of the food chain. We have reign over all other species. It so funny to me that you honestly believe that. You believe that the stories you’ve passed on through generations are all fabricated. That there is no basis for them. How is that possible? Sure, people can be creative; but you really believe they came up with a dozen or more species on their own. Starting to realize how funny that sounds. Let’s see if I can follow your thoughts now. There is no possible way that the stories, of vampires, witches, werewolves, fairies, demons, gods, ghosts, and more, we told as children and read in books are real, right? Allow me to set the record straight. All the stories are true. Every myth, fable, and legend. They are not one hundred percent accurate, of course, but the basis behind them came from facts. The legends were real once. Its funny just how many stories a whole race has deemed make believe. How do I know? Let’s dive in, shall we? You are surrounded by the creatures you deemed nonexistent every day. The cold hard truth, that you should accept by the time my story ends, is that monsters are real. Something you should know, these monsters that surround you, they are your worst nightmare come to life. They blend into the world seeming like any other human. They are your friends, coworkers, and some may even be your family. Don’t believe me? Take a closer look at the world around you. What comes to mind? That guy at work that you always see drink his lunch, has unbelievably pale skin, and incredible eyes that draw you in. Vampire. What about that cousin that always has her life under control, so much so, that a hair is never out of place and her kids are always perfect? Witch. How about those times you’ve been walking, at home alone, or sleeping, and thought you saw a figure or felt like someone was watching you? Ghost. Now there are some of you that are starting to realize how much it makes since, some of you are panicking, and a few still think I’m making it up. I can’t blame you. Those are all very mundane reactions. Many of you don’t believe in anything unless you have seen it with your own eyes. A species that is as much scientific as it is spiritual. I can’t really put into terms just how crazy that sounds. I spent seventeen years in your world. I missed all the signs as well. Nothing ever crossed my path that made me think there was something else out there. So, if that’s the case then how can I possibly convince you? I’ll tell you my story and, in the end, you can decide what you believe. I am a demon. A fire demon to be exact. I spent years learning to control it. No way that’s true right? The fires that you are think are manmade aren’t. It’s simple and true. Sure, men may start some of them but then my kind step in and really let it rip. The worst part is I enjoy it; at least I do now. I love watching the world burn. Not because of the devastation though. Figure it out yet, it’s because if I have no place why should anyone else? I have a few names: Hedera, Devil, Devils Child, Fire Starter, and Death Bringer. The name that most beings call me is Hedera, meaning Ivy. It’s a fine name I suppose; though it would be more fitting for a member of the fae. Some fairy that was sweet and chipper. Someone like the girl I once was. Let’s give you a little background info; maybe then you can all keep up. Don’t worry I’ll explain most things as we go. I wasn’t born on this planet that you call Earth. I was born on the planet called, by all who know of it, Netherland. It’s basically hell if you go by the biblical since. The big difference is it’s not some spirit realm. It’s a planet a few hundred lightyears away. Its where demon kind thrive. My mother died bringing me into the world. My father disowned me at birth. He sent me to what you know as Earth. I was left at an orphanage. Were skipping some very important parts so let me rewind. Let me guess where your heads are at now. How did no one know that I wasn’t human? Easy, fire demons don’t obtain their powers until they are seventeen. Until I turned seventeen my life was easy. I was called then Sam. A nice boring name. I had amazing parents, Alan and Sharon, and an awesome little brother, Kyle, that loved me. We lived in a modest home on a quiet street in Orange County. We were all happy. I spent most of my days doing the same few things. I went to school, hung out with Anna, my best friend, and ate dinner with my family. I had skipped a grade due to high testing and was a senior. My life was everyone’s dream. It was easy and I couldn’t want for anything. Well, with one very large exception. I was madly in love, or so I thought, with this boy at my school. We were kind of friends; when me and Anna spent time with groups he was always there. His name was Damen. He was a year older than me. He was tall just not as tall as me. He had short hair, which he always had died a different color. The last time I saw him it was a very bright dark blue. He was pretty ordinary other than the hair. His eyes were a soft blue and his skin was always tanned. To me he was perfect. Everything he did made me smile or laugh. Looking back its funny how much in “love” I was with him. He barley knew me; hell I barley knew me. I didn’t have a clue that I was anything but human and I sure as hell had no clue about being adopted. Looking back, I can see that I should have thought that at least my father wasn’t my father. His eyes were blue mine green. He was short and I’m tall. His hair was blonde mine red. He had a large frame and I have always been thin. On the opposite side I looked like the mirror image of my mother. We both had red curly hair, fair skin, tall and thin, and quiet voices. Her eyes were also blue like my fathers. I never thought much of it. Kyle looked so much like them. He was the perfect mix of the two. He had blue eyes, tall, large framed, fair skin, and blonde hair. Back then it was so easy for me to have no doubts that I belonged somewhere else. That I wasn’t born into the perfect family. Then on my seventeenth birthday my world changed rapidly. I was sitting in my room reading; I still remember what book, The Madge’s Loss. I was on the last chapter when I suddenly I felt hot. This wasn’t just warm like I needed some cool air. It was like I was burning from the inside out. I did the only thing I could think to do. I started stripping out of my clothes, they felt so constricting, as fast as I could. I ran across the hall to the bathroom and got in the shower, turning the water as cold as it would go, and I still felt so hot. The water was hitting my skin and giving no relief. Then like a flash my body was ingulfed in flames. I was trying not to panic. If I’m being completely honest half of me was panicking and the other half of me felt relief. I wasn’t burning on the inside anymore. I stood there in the shower watching the water land on the flame. The flame never once faltered. It was like I was in trance. I couldn’t do anything but watch the flames dance on my skin. I could see that water would not douse the flame, so I stepped out of the water. I had regrets about that decision for many years. The moment my feet were out of the water I realized that I had no control of the fire it controlled me. The flame spread rapidly setting the room around me on fire before it left my body. I had to get my family out. I could hear their screams; I still hear them to this day. I found my brother in his room. I got him outside and ran back in the. The fire was taking over the house. It had no effect on me. When I reached my parents room the door was covered in flames. I went through and opened it. There I found my father. I got him out and turned to run back in. I never made it. There was an explosion and the force knocked me out. When I came to the house was ash and so was my family. I had killed my mother. My father was trying to comfort my brother and me. I was filled with guilt and shame. How was I supposed to live with this? I may have never moved from that spot but when I heard the sirens something had me up and moving. I don’t remember anyone trying to stop me from leaving. Maybe they did; I’ll never know. I had no idea what was happening. It was like I was in a trance again. Only difference was this time my body wasn’t on fire. I just kept walking and walking. I somehow ended up on the edge of a cliff. Looking down to the rock below brought me back to my senses. I knew where I was. These woods were not far from town. I went camping here with my family all of the time. I remembered how my mom hated it when Kyle and I were little always telling us to stay away from the cliff’s edge. As I stood there looking out at the woods and hills before me, I laughed. No clue why but somehow this was all funny to me. The same two thoughts were running through mine mind over and over; like a record I would never be able to stop. ‘I killed them. I don’t deserve to live.’ I don’t know how long I stood there. I could have stood there forever. Stuck in limbo not having to accept my reality. I caused the fire. My mother died. I’m not human. What am I? Where did I come from? What do I do now? Turn myself in? They would test me like a rat or lock me away for being crazy. Now, you’re all thinking well you’re telling us your story, so you decided against it or something stopped you. Well, you would be wrong on both counts. I jumped. I couldn’t handle what was happening to me. It made the most sense to end it all. I would never hurt anyone else and I would not have to deal the fact I killed her. My mother. As I fell, I felt at peace. I kept my eye wide open watching the end get closer. To this day I believe I was being watched when I jumped. Yet, no one stopped me. How am I alive then? I never hit the ground. Just as the rocks below came into clear view a black hole appeared. It’s not like I could change my mind about jumping now. I was sucked through the hole. Everything was dark I couldn’t even see my hand in front of my face. Maybe this is death I thought. I really hoped not since all I could was think about was my mother. After some unknown length of time I landed in an ocean. No normal ocean. This was an ocean of fire. I was only drifting for moment, trying to process any part of what was happening, and then I was being lifted and carried towards shore by and invisible force. I felt like I was being carried like a child. It was oddly comforting. What or whoever was carrying me placed me on the ground as soon as we touched the shore. I began calling out. I didn’t know where I was, but it felt like coming home. There was no answer; no matter how loud I called out. There were only three things I knew for certain. One I was not on Earth, two I was not human, and three my mother was dead; and it was my fault. I knew I should be panicking for whatever reason I wasn’t. I felt almost at peace. Almost, something was nagging me at the back of my mind, but I couldn’t figure out what it was. I needed some answers and maybe being here was a start in the right direction. I wanted someone here to give me all the answers I needed. What did I have to lose? I couldn’t see anyone in any direction. I started taking in my surroundings. To the north was the fire ocean, to the east was just water, to the south was a mountain, and to the west was maybe a town in the distance. There was light but it was hard to tell for sure. I figured ground was the answer and headed South to the mountain. It was at least ten miles away. The longer I walked the angrier I became. I couldn’t pinpoint one thing that was making me so angry. It was all just too much. The rage continued to build inside of me and before I was halfway to the mountain it came out. Flames flowed out of me. They were coming from every part of my body. I didn’t think that it would ever end. It was such an exhilarating feeling and I never wanted it to end. It did end though. I didn’t know how long it had been. It was long enough to bring me to my knees exhausted. When I finally opened my eyes, to see the damage I caused, there was a woman standing in front of me. She wasn’t quite beautiful; her features were too unsettling for her to be considered beautiful. She had long blonde hair, severely sharp features, and was more bone than anything else. How could someone be so skinny? Not an ounce of fat on her. Looking at her was uncomfortable. It looked like her bones would poke right out of her skin if she moved to quickly. She began speaking before I had a chance to process anything other than her appearance. Her voice was creepier than anything. It was like nails on a chalkboard. “You need to calm down, Hedera. I know that this confusing. I will explain everything I can.” I stared at her. Hedera isn’t my name. Maybe she has me confused with someone else. Almost more concerning how did I know Latin? “My name is not Ivy. It’s Sam.” She began, “Your true name is Hedera Suspendisse Filia Diaoli. You were born to Antonius Factorem De Diis and Helena Ruptor Animarum. Helena died in childbirth. Antonius was unable to accept the loss. He was changed and, in that moment, he needed to blame someone, he cast you out of our world. Which brings me to my first question. How are you here now?” I had no idea where I was let alone how I got here. “Um, I really don’t know. I don’t even know where here is. Your saying my parents that raised me aren’t my parents! I don’t understand. What is happening?” “What were you doing prior to coming here? Teleporting?” She was ignoring my questions. This was information overload and yet I needed to know more. “Look, I don’t have a freaking clue. I was upset. I had just caught on fire for hells sake. I was walking and then I just jumped off a cliff. Now please explain this to me. This is too much.” “WHY? What would possess you to try and kill yourself? Not that it would have worked.” “I would rather not talk about it.” Thinking of my family was too much for me. “Wait! What do you mean it would not have worked?” “Fine, you can keep your reasons. It doesn’t matter anyway. We will come back to it not working later. So, you jumped off of a cliff and then what? I need to understand how you jumping from a cliff lead you here.” This was so irritating. “I was waiting to hit the ground, instead a black hole appeared before me and then I landed in the water behind me. Something I couldn’t see carried me to the shore. How did you know I was here, anyway? Did you carry me from the water? What is here, anyway?” I was having a hard time believing that this was happening. “A venefica sent you then. That makes since. They are the only being that could cast you from Terra.” “Say that again. A witch?” As much as I was thinking this lady was crazy. What she was telling me was making perfect since. If witches existed, then what was I? As if she could read my mind she responded. “You’re a daemonium, Hedera. An ignis daemonium to be exact.” I just started laughing. Not because I didn’t believe her but because I did. I had proved that to myself already. “So, what now? I’m supposed to stay here cause fires all day? Where is here anyway?” She looked at me like I was crazy, “You cannot stay here. If your father found out. It would mean your death and mine. I understand you want answers. You do deserve them but there isn’t enough time.” “Where am I supposed to go? What am I supposed to do? I can’t go back to Terra. I don’t have a way to leave here.” I had nothing to go back to. Before she could respond. There was a loud resounding boom. The ground shook beneath us. She looked to the sky and I followed her gaze. I knew she knew what was coming but I had no clue. The sky had been pitch black before began to glow. There was a streak of fire headed right for us. Before I knew it, she was gone and before me stood a monster. I knew the monster before me. I didn’t know how but I knew him. The longer I looked at him the more I knew he was my ‘father’ as a looked at him. He was at least seven feet tall, had two large horns coming out of his head, they reminded me of rams horns, his hair was long, jet black and pulled back into a ponytail, his frame was massive, his skin was light, like mine and it was perfect not one defect, and his green eyes mirrored my own. While mine showed confusion and pain his only showed hatred. I didn’t know what to do or to say. I just stood there as he looked me up and down. Then his deep voice came out deafening me. “Why are you here? Who are you? How did you find this place?” I took a deep breath and responded. “You must be Antonius.” I was dreading this. I knew he hated me. Not ten minutes ago. I found out I was the devil’s daughter and that my mother was dead. I had lost all of the people in the world who would or could ever give a damn about me. “I am. Now answer my questions.” “I am Hedera Suspendisse Filia Diaoli. I was sent back here by a venefica, I think.” He stared at me. I think trying to gauge if I was being honest. “You’re not welcome here, interfectorem matrem suam. However, I will not cast you out again.” Hearing him call me a mother killer shattered what little hope I had of finding a place to belong. “If you don’t want me here then just send me back you culus. Where the hell is here anyway?” The look that crossed his face looked like death. Good I thought. I wanted answer but I wouldn’t care if I had them or note if I was dead. Instead he continued to look at me. Trying to decide my fate. I knew death would be to easy. “No, I think I have a better idea on how to deal with you. In answer to your question you are on the planet know as Netherland.” Shit, I thought. Knowing where I was didn’t do anything for me. I didn’t respond. My fate was about to be thrust upon me. “You are hereby sentenced to spend the rest of your life doing the one thing you never deserved and I’m certain you never wanted. You shall be a ligulae ignis.” “No way in hell! I’ll pass. I didn’t want this power and I won’t use it to destroy anything.” No matter how much he wanted me to. There was nothing he could do to me that would make me change my mind. He roared in response, “This is your home and you will do what you are told! You don’t have a choice! I make the rules and you will follow them. Not because you are my daughter but because you are my subordinate.” I laughed. “This is not my home. You made sure of that when you cast me out. You got your wish I will never clam this place or you. Either kill me or send me back. I will never help you.” “I won’t grant your wish for death. I won’t kill my only child. The guilt you feel, for the death of that woman, is a hominum emotion. You are better than that. The pain you create you must thrive off of. You can’t feel for the creatures you destroy. If you want power, which as my daughter I know you do, you must strive for it. The only way for you to have control of anything is power.” I stared at him like he was crazy. Why would I want this power? All it did was destroy my life. No matter what he did to me nothing would be okay again. I didn’t respond. I wouldn’t. His face contorted into rage. “Fine! Have it your way. Et iudicabo te vita nihil. Tantum tenebris. Usque ad te convertere tu sapiunt. A fate worse than death.” Now, what the hell is happening? Let me sum it up for you. I was sent to the planet Hell by a witch. I learned that I was born Ivy Elizabeth, The Devil’s Daughter, a fire demon. My mother, Helena, The Breaker of Souls, died bringing me into the world. My father, Antony, The Maker of Gods, is for all intents and purposes the devil. While my father was unwilling to kill me, he was not above doing anything else he could think of to me. As long as the end result were exactly what he wanted. You’re all caught up, So, with that, let’s continue. The next breath I took I was in the dark. I couldn’t hear or see anything. I tried everything to get out of wherever I was. I tried to fight the nothingness, to scream, and to create flame. Nothing I did worked. I was not ever going get out. I knew that deep down when I took my first breath. I drifted in and out of consciousness. It could have been a day, a month, a year for all I knew. At first, all I could do was try and process everything. It was a lot. For whatever reason the reality of me being a fire-starting demon was the easiest thing for me to accept. As time passed, I accepted everything I was told. I was getting angrier and angrier with every acceptance. Then I started to replay the conversation with Antonius. He wanted me to agree to do his bidding. I couldn’t do it. I can handle the dark. I told myself that the dark was me getting of easy for what I had done. That didn’t make me feel better. At this point I could tell the rage was coming to a head.