"By the depths..." she whispered. "Lilith, this isn't-"

"This isn't what?" Mother's voice carried an edge of steel.

Aunt Naamah shook her head, the ethereal third eye still glowing. "This isn't just a case of a curse wearing off over time."

"What do you mean?" Mother leaned forward, her perfect composure cracking.

"I'm not entirely sure," Naamah leaned closer, her third eye's glow intensifying. "But I can see traces of another powerful spell layered over Lily. Someone must have attempted to cast magic on her while she was in the curse induced coma." She paused, frowning. "Whoever did it clearly didn't understand the curse's nature - or perhaps didn't know about it at all."

I held my breath, trying to keep my face neutral as Naamah continued her examination.

"The spells clashed," she explained, "most likely causing the curse to rebound onto the caster. the curse transferring itself onto the caster instead."

Mother's eyes blazed with fury. "Someone dared to harm my daughter?" Her voice dripped with venom. "They better pray I never find them."

"If it was a demon, they've likely fallen into a similar coma," Naamah offered.

"That's too small a price to pay," mother snarled.

I exhaled slowly, relief washing over me. They hadn't discovered I was really Liam. But this revelation troubled me deeply. Someone had targeted the real Lily. And now I faced an even more disturbing question - who exactly was in my original body? Was it the real Lily, or the mysterious spellcaster who'd interfered with her curse? And if it was the latter, what had happened to the real Lily?

The questions swirled in my mind like smoke, impossible to grasp yet impossible to ignore. I'd been so focused on returning to my own body, I hadn't considered these implications before. Now I wondered if going back was even the right course of action.

The glow from Naamah's third eye dimmed as she pulled back, her brow furrowed.

"There's something else," she said. "A fragment of the curse still clings to her."

Mother's posture stiffened. "What?"

"It's small, but persistent." Naamah rubbed her temple where the ethereal eye had been. "I believe that's why she lost her memories."

My heart skipped a beat. What was the true nature of this curse? The implications sent my mind racing. If someone had tried to cast magic on Lily during her coma, and the curse rebounded... could that remaining fragment be the reason I woke up in her body? The pieces didn't quite fit together, but something about this revelation made my skin prickle with unease.

"Can you do anything about it?" Mother's voice carried an edge of desperation I'd never heard before.

Naamah shook her head. "As I told you before, sister, tampering with such curses is dangerous. At this stage, even the one who cast it would risk a catastrophe trying to undo it." She reached for her wine glass. "She's fortunate to have come out of the rebound relatively unscathed."

"I know, I know." Mother's fingers drummed against her thigh. "It's just... hard to accept."

"It's not such a terrible trade," Naamah said softly. "She regained consciousness. What's eighteen years of memories to an immortal?"

Despite reassurance mother's face contorted with rage. "Michael." She spat the name like poison. "If I ever find that self-righteous bastard, I'll make him wish he was never created."

I swallowed hard, remembering the drunk man's screams, the methodical way mother had torn him apart while keeping him conscious. The memory of his punishment for merely grabbing me made me shudder. What would she do if she discovered I stole her daughter's body?

The conversation drifted into lighter territory as night crept on. Mother settled back in her chair, wine glass in hand, while Naamah shared tales of her early days as a succubus.

"You should have seen your mother trying to figure out how to fly," Naamah laughed. "She kept crashing into trees."

Mother rolled her eyes. "At least I didn't land in a pig pen."

"That happened once," Naamah protested. "And I didn't have wings like you."

The sisters traded stories back and forth, their earlier tension melting away. I found myself relaxing despite my lingering concerns about the curse revelation.

Naamah suddenly turned to me. "So, tell me about this academy of yours. We didn't have anything like that in our day."

"Well," I shifted in my seat, "I share a room with my friend Aria. She's wonderful, if a bit... enthusiastic about everything. And there's Isabella, she's from House Lilitu."

"Pyrrha's youngest?" Naamah asked.

I nodded. "We've become quite close."

"And your classes?" Naamah leaned forward. "What are they teaching young succubi these days?"

"Professor Scarlet teaches history. She's strict but fair, though her punishments can be... creative." I cleared my throat. "Professor Auriel handles alchemy. She's actually a fallen angel."

This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

"Interesting choice," Naamah mused.

"Our mathematics professor changed recently. Professor Vox left suddenly, and now we have Professor Malphas. He has an... unique teaching style involving rather explicit explanations."

As I described more about academy life, Naamah's gaze grew intense. She glanced between mother and me several times before speaking.

"It's remarkable," she said. "If your mother's hair was still white, you two could be twins separated by time. The resemblance is uncanny."

"When you're lost in thought though," Naamah tilted her head, studying my face, "you're all Lucifer. That little furrow between your brows, the way your eyes go distant - pure father."

Mother nodded in agreement. "She does that thing with her hands too, when she's working something out. Fingers moving like she's writing in the air."

I glanced down at my hands, which had indeed been tracing invisible patterns. I forced them still in my lap.

"The way she holds herself when reading as well," Mother continued. "Back straight, head tilted just so. Exactly like him in his study."

Each observation felt like a stone dropping into my stomach. These weren't learned behaviours - I'd been doing them since waking in this body. Little movements and gestures I'd never noticed, operating on some deeper level beyond conscious thought.

"And that look right there," Naamah pointed at my face. "That's his 'I'm processing something troubling' expression. Down to the slight downturn of the lips."

I tried to recall if anyone had ever commented on my mannerisms as Liam. Nothing came to mind - no mentions of particular gestures or expressions. Even Faith, who'd been closest to me, never pointed out any specific habits.

Yet here were Lilith and Naamah, cataloguing movements I made without thinking. Had I always traced patterns in the air while thinking? Did I furrow my brow the same way as Liam? These gestures felt natural, instinctive - but I couldn't tell if they were new or old habits.

"The way you move though," Naamah turned to me, swirling her wine, "that's pure Lilith. That unconscious grace, like you're dancing even when just crossing a room."

I shifted in my chair, suddenly aware of every movement. Was this body's muscle memory guiding me? Or had these mannerisms always been there, unnoticed until now?

"Watch," Naamah gestured as I reached for my glass. "See how her wrist turns just so? That's you, sister. Through and through."

The first rays of dawn filtered through the stained-glass windows, casting kaleidoscope patterns across the marble floor. Mother glanced at the light and set down her wine glass.

"We should head back," she said.

"Already?" Naamah pouted. "Four hundred years without a visit and now you're running off after one evening?"

"We have responsibilities to attend to," Mother replied.

"Oh yes, very important demon queen duties, I'm sure." Naamah crossed her arms. "Promise me you won't wait another four centuries before visiting again. At least come by once a year."

Mother's expression softened. "Very well, sister. I promise."

Naamah rose from her chair and pulled me into a tight embrace. Her perfume enveloped me - lilac and something darker, earthier. "And bring this one with you next time. I want to get to know my niece properly."

Mother stepped forward and raised her hand. Reality itself seemed to bend and tear apart at her gesture, creating a gaping wound in space.

"Mother," I said, before we stepped through. "Why didn't you tell me the real reason for bringing me here?"

She paused, hand dropping to her side. "I didn't want you to worry. If something was truly wrong..." She shook her head. "I couldn't bear the thought of causing you distress over what might have been nothing."

"I'm not a child anymore. I can handle knowing these things."

Mother turned to me, her crimson eyes soft. "No matter how old you grow, no matter how powerful you become, you will always be my child. It's a mother's prerogative to worry."

We stepped through the portal together, emerging in father's study. He stood by his desk, golden hair gleaming in the lamplight. His expression told me he knew exactly why mother had taken me to visit Naamah. Now he waited, watching mother with those piercing blue eyes, for her to explain what she had learned.

I followed Mother and Father into his study, watching their faces as she relayed what Naamah had discovered. With each word, Father's expression darkened until his angelic features twisted with rage.

"Michael!" His roar shook the very foundations of the palace. "That sanctimonious, self-righteous bastard!"

I slipped out of the study, but Father's voice carried through the stone walls with frightening clarity.

"Five hundred years he's hidden in the heavens like a coward! He knows what awaits him if he dares show his face outside their gilded gates. And now this - some unknown entity tampering with his curse on my daughter!"

Mother's voice tried to soothe him. "My love, please-"

"Should I thank this mysterious spellcaster for weakening Michael's curse? Or hunt them down for daring to interfere with our child? Pure luck that Lily wasn't harmed in the magical backlash!"

I hurried down the corridor, Father's thunderous voice fading behind me. The stone walls of my bedroom offered blessed quiet when I pushed through the heavy doors.

"Princess?" Anastasia materialized beside me, a silver tray balanced in her hands. "Would you like some refreshments?"

"No, thank you. I just want to sleep."

"Shall I help you change for bed?" Anastasia's tail swished with eagerness to assist.

I nodded, too drained to argue about it. "Yes, please."

With a crisp snap of her fingers, my current attire vanished. Cool silk settled against my skin as a flowing nightdress took its place.

I collapsed onto the plush mattress, sinking into its softness. Tomorrow I'd finally leave the palace, venture out to search for my original body. The thought should have filled me with determination, but doubt crept in.

What if I was wrong about everything? Naamah's revelation about the spell suggested someone had interfered with Lily's curse. Could that same person now be inhabiting my old body? The implications made my head spin.

I rolled onto my side, watching shadows dance across the ceiling. The mystery of who cast that spell - and why - gnawed at me. Finding my old body might lead to more questions than answers.

I sat at the grand dining table, picking at my breakfast of roasted phoenix eggs and ambrosia nectar. The usual animated breakfast conversation was subdued this morning. Mother's crimson eyes kept darting to me between delicate bites, while Father maintained his dignified posture but hadn't touched his food.

"You'll be careful out there?" Mother's voice carried genuine concern.

"Of course." I set down my fork. "I've learned a lot at the academy."

Father straightened in his chair. "Remember what we practiced with Divine Magic. It could save your life."

"I will." I managed a small smile. "Though I doubt I'll master it anytime soon."

"Just stay alert," Mother added. "Mortal realms may seem safe, but dangers lurk everywhere."

I nodded, throat tight with unexpected emotion. Their worry touched something deep inside me, making my planned investigation feel suddenly risky. What if tracking my old body led to whoever had tampered with Lily's curse?

The Lich's offer floated through my mind - my blood in exchange for help. I pushed the thought away. Too dangerous.

No, I'd start with tracking spells first. Between the academy's teachings and my library research, I had enough magical knowledge to attempt locating my original body. If that proved fruitless, or if I discovered someone else than Lily controlling it...well, the Lich's communication rune was still in my ring.

"I promise I'll be careful," I said firmly, meeting both their gazes. "And I'll contact you if anything seems wrong."

Mother reached across the table and squeezed my hand. The simple gesture carried centuries of protective instinct behind it. Father's blue eyes softened as he watched us, his stern expression warming.

I squeezed Mother's hand back, fighting the urge to abandon my plans and stay with them. But I needed resolution. I just hoped finding it wouldn't lead to more trouble than I could handle.