“At the beginning, there was only darkness. The darkness embodied the nothing, and it was atemporal and immutable. From that darkness, a light of hope was born. That hope was The Creator, and The Creator then gave birth to the universe. The creator was a being of light but born from darkness. Therefore, it was both. The Creator was shapeless and comprehensive, material as much as conceptual.”

“The Creator used the power of light to create the universe and called it Eden. At the center of this universe, a planet was created. Since the universe was created with the purpose to support that little planet, it was also called Eden. The Creator wished it to be the home of his most magnificent creations. But the creator was exhausted. Creating the universe was a severe task. Using the last of its power before falling into an eternal slumber, The Creator gave birth to two children.”

“The first child was a young man. Angel was his name. He was the child of light, bright and courageous. His confident smile and golden hair enchanted The Creator at the instant he was born. So Angel received the power of light The Creator’s most valuable gift, and, with it, the power of creation.”

“The second child was a young woman. Demon was her name. She was the child of darkness, gloomy and treacherous. Her dark countenance and disheveled dark hair frightened The Creator the instant she came to life. So Demon was cursed with the power of darkness, The Creator’s most hated burden, and, with it, the power of ruin.”

“Angel’s children were called angels. Majestic and immortal creatures in human shape and long white wings. Angel gave them the job of taking care of Eden’s circle of life. They painted the world blue by creating the great ocean, followed by various others colors by creating plants and flowers. They created animals that would support the life of their most valuable creation. And, at last, they create humankind. The angels thought that humankind needed to develop by themselves to achieve the true beauty of the species. So they made a kingdom on the sky to watch over them, without ever intervening.”

“Demon’s children, called demons, were the opposite. Also immortal and in human shape, they had dark red eyes. While angels had the power to create, demons could only destroy. To that end, each had a different idiocracy. As the angels ascended to their thrones in the sky, demons started to corrupt and destroy humankind, the creations of their most hated enemies.”

As she closed the book, Annabelle looked at the children listening in silence. They were in a room on the village’s church. The priests asked her to teach children their stories from time to time since she was respected by them. Most of the church’s stories were about how humankind overcame the trial or the seduction of a demon, in some rare cases with the help of angels. She always started with the basic tales, in a rather simplified language, about the origin of that world.

She dismissed her class and the kids walked away. Some laughing and jumping, some with a better behavior. Just one image stood there in the church. Someone who listened to Annabelle’s stories, but wasn’t a kid. A tall young woman with her dark hair at the height of her shoulder. For the last two weeks, she was living in Annabelle’s home. Annabelle told her parents she was a traveler with no money to spend on the inn. The two was sharing the same room. In fact, the girl insisted on sleeping in the same bed as Annabelle.

“We’re the bad ones?” She asked after all the kids disappeared.

Kiril was a demon, Annabelle knew. Lyneth had made that clear to her, and Kiril confirmed when she showed why it was forbidden to cut her hair. She picked out a single strand that vibrated in the air and became rigid and sharp as a needle. From there, Annabelle had only the option of believing Lyneth’s words.

“That’s the story we are told since we’re children,” Annabelle said. “I never doubted it, but… I really don’t know anymore. You are a good girl, Kiril.”

“Humans who invaded home and killed mommy…”

Annabelle walked to Kiril, stopping in front of her. She thought about grabbing the girl’s hand but decided not to.

“You hate humans that much?”

Kiril nodded. Annabelle learned through her stories that demons had red eyes, so at first, she found it weird how Kiril’s eyes were light brown. But she realized sometimes it would change a color and she would see a glimpse of the hot color. That’s how it was then. Probably because of the anger her memories brought.

“You hate me, then?” Annabelle asked, in a weak voice.

Kiril shook her head.

“Not mommy. Mommy’s different.”

Annabelle wasn’t used to be called like that even then. But she was happy with Kiril’s affection, so she hugged the girl. Being shorter, it was a hard effort. But Kiril made it better by hugging her back.

“I’m sorry for that”, Annabelle said. “That’s the story we were told since young, and I’m supposed to pass it to the children. I’ve been so confused lately. You’re a demon, but you’re not a monster like we were taught…”

Annabelle released from Kiril’s grip and walked three steps away, deep in thought. Then she turned to the demon girl and asked:

“Say, what kind of stories you heard when you were a child?”

It was weird to Annabelle to say that. She learned by Lyneth that Kiril was more than fifty years old. Even so, her behavior was that of a child. Demons were immortal, after all, so it made sense that she still looked young. On the other side, Lilith had said that maturity came to them at the same rate as humans. Maybe life in reclusion and the trauma suffered had a toll on her.

“None,” Kiril said. “Mommy never told me anything like that…”

“Hmm…” Annabelle started to reflect again, until she found the answer: “Of course, Lilith! If she’s really the demon queen, she should know about something like that. Let’s go ask her. I’ve been listening to our side of the story all this time. I wanted to hear yours now.”

Without waiting for Kiril’s answer, Annabelle grabbed her hand and dragged her outside the church.

***

“It’s like your story”, Lilith said. She was sitting on the couch in Lyneth’s living room, with the stance of a queen. Lyneth standing on her side, twirling her hair and glaring at Annabelle, who had a soft blush on her face while talking to Lilith.

“You mean, even your kind sees your own existence as bringers of ruin?”

“Not quite. The last part is a little different. It says nothing about us bringing destruction to humankind. It actually says something about balance.”

“Balance?” Annabelle asked.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

“Equilibrium. I don’t know. Something like your kind needing someone to oppose so you won’t destroy the world, maybe? I never cared for those stories.”

“I think I like your version better,” Annabelle said, after a reflexive pause.  “It gives meaning to both existences.”

Lilith smiled impishly and raised from the couch, approaching Annabelle. Lyneth, at her place, gave one more piercing glare.

“Aren’t you misunderstanding something, little girl?” Lilith asked. “We’re still demons. Still enemies of humankind. My general got fond of you, so you have a place in my world, but don’t expect me to show mercy to your kind.” She turned her head, looking at the floor, avoiding Annabelle. “Our version of the legend was actually used by grandpa in the last war. He said it was our mission to save the world that your kind would end up destroying. Of course, that wasn’t the real reason, and I never bought it, either. He was just tired of hiding even though we were stronger.”

Annabelle’s eyes turned, finding Kiril’s. Lilith noticed the gesture.

“You’re confused, little girl. After years believing something, anything to shake that belief will do that. You are fond of my general now and don’t want to see her as evil. Just think of her as an exception. You don’t need to change your views.”

“How is that even possible?”

“Your kind has a history of believing just in what is convenient, even if it makes no sense. You’ll do fine.”

Lyneth, who watched everything annoyed in silence, stopped twirling her hair and looked right into Annabelle’s eyes, her face dead serious.

“You know, I always thought that story was bullshit.”

Annabelle looked at her terrorized. She could understand if a demon would scorn on their legend. But Lyneth, a human girl, was saying that about the story they heard from the church since they were kids. The story that should be the entire support of their human existence.

“I mean, if we start to think about it, and I really believe most of you never actually tried to, being Angel and Demon the only beings in the universe, how did they ever reproduce?”

Annabelle stared at Lyneth. Yes, she never thought about that. It just seemed obvious. But now she had a hard time trying to figure it out. Lilith also stared at Lyneth, with a curious interest.

“We need a male and a female to create life. Even if, somehow, they had the power to reproduce without that, it would only make sense for Demon to have children. If Angel had a body that could bear a child, he would be a female.”

Lyneth paused. She was getting to the point she wanted. It was something she wanted to say to those villagers for a long time, but it would mean to stain her image. Now, at least to Annabelle, she could just do it, destroying the story those peoples believed blindly.

“You know, there’s only a way for them to have children. Since they are, actually, male and female.”

“Wait. You don’t…”

“Incest,” Lyneth said, watching the horrified expression Annabelle made. “That’s the only explanation.”

“Are you saying the divine act that was the birth of angels was actually an immoral act of incest?”

“Yes. But it’s not only that. Think about it. With this new truth, it doesn’t make sense anymore that angels are Angel’s children only and demons are Demon’s children only. They both should have the same parent. That’s why I call it bullshit. Sorry, Belle. You’ll realize I never actually prayed in the church.”

A silence fell the room, while Annabelle tried to avoid Lyneth’s stare and searched for comfort in Kiril. The demon girl seemed to understand the situation, as she grabbed Annabelle’s hand, squeezing it, showing support. Lilith was silent the entire time. But then she raised from her couch.

“Incest wasn’t wrong at the time, I’m sure.” She said. “In fact, your kind is the only one to condemn it.”

As both Lyneth and Annabelle looked at her, Lilith walked to Kiril and gently held a strand of her hair in hand. Lyneth looked annoyed, while Annabelle looked uncomfortable.

“Look at this girl, for example. This peculiar ability, it’s hers, and hers only.” She pulled one strand of hair, making Kiril wince. The strand boiled in the air and exploded, becoming a long needle. “There are several clans of demons”, Lilith explained. “This ability belongs to the clan Kiril belongs to. We call it a clan, but we don’t actually give it a name. It’s just, this ability belongs to Kiril’s family line. In my travels, I learned that having children inside the same family for humans weaken that blood. It makes sense you would be against it, then. But it’s different with us. Breeding inside the clan just strengthen the clan’s ability. In fact, mixing blood dilute it, weakening it.” She turned to Lyneth. “That’s why incest is not a taboo with my kind. In fact, we encourage it. Well, it was a common practice once, at least.”

“Hmm” Lyneth made, twirling her hair. “Say, madam, do you have a brother or some male in your family?”

Lilith laughed. But then her face darkened.

“Didn’t you hear the old man in the forest? I’m the last one alive in my clan. Everyone else is dead. That’s probably also true for Kiril.” Lyneth’s face softened and her hand stopped playing with her hair. “And it was never a rule. I said it, we don’t have a lot of rules, contrary to your kind. It was just practical if you wanted a strong child. But some of us didn’t want it. To begin with, the birth rate in our kind was always extremely low. And as I said, there were those who chose to have same-sex relationships, where breeding isn’t possible...save for some rare cases.”

Hearing it, Annabelle blushed and held Kiril’s hand by instinct.

“So you see, little girl,” Lilith said, looking at her. “We are immoral creatures. And we don’t play by your rules. Even though those rules make no sense to me, if you stop following it, you’ll end up rejected by your own kind. So stop thinking so hard about it.”

Annabelle nodded. Saying goodbye and pulling Kiril by the hand, she started to walk to the exit. She was shaken by that entire conversation. Not just because it was blasphemy against the church’s teachings, but because it made sense. If what Lyneth and Lilith talked about was true, the entire base she put her existence on was just a lie.

Lilith realized the girl’s wavering heart. She smiled, and before Annabelle was out of their reach, said, her eyes turning red:

“Don’t worry about any of that, child. Soon this won’t be your world anymore.”