Among the Fallen - Chapter 2

"There is great symbolism in your name, Lilith, and great power. If you are raised well, you have the capability to become a savior of man."1

"Will you raise me that way?"2

"Of course," the man said with a devilish smirk. But Lilith was too young and excited to notice this.3

"What's your name?"4

"Promise you won't tell anyone?"5

"I promise."6

"My name is Lucifer."7

The name was vaguely familiar to Lilith, and she got a feeling like deja vu, like she knew the name, but not in this lifetime. But Lilith thought nothing of it, for this was before his Fall.8

Lucifer's house was a mansion. Lilith was amazed by its size. She had lived in a small cottage behind the church with other children that the church cared for.9

"You will have your own room, like all of the other children. As the youngest, you will have the room closest to mine. Damien is moving his belongings to another room as we speak," Lucifer said as they entered the house.10

"Why must I have the room closest to you?"11

"I have to keep an eye on you so that I can take care of you when your wings grow in," he stated.12

Just then, a girl a little taller than Lilith came down the stairs. 13

"Hello, Acacia. Will you get the others and tell them to meet us in the dining room?"14

"Of course, sir." She ran up the stairs to find the other children. Lilith caught a glimpse of misshapen gray wings on the girl's shoulders.15

"Come, Lilith, and I will show you your room. Then you can meet the other children and eat."16

They headed up the stairs and took a right, going all the way down to the end and entering the room on the left. The room was small and plain, but it was amazing to Lilith. It was hers, and she would not have to share it with anyone. Lucifer took her bag of belongings from his shoulder and placed it on the bed.17

"This room is yours. You can organize your things after dinner."18

They left the room and went back downstairs, taking an immediate left and going into a casual dining room. Five children sat at the rectangular dining table. Two chairs were empty; the chair at the head of the table, and the chair to its right. Lilith tried to hide behind Lucifer, but he pushed her forward slightly.19

"Everyone, this is Lilith. You have already seen Acacia. The girl next to her is Keira. The boys are Damien, Liam, and Donovan." He pointed to each child as he named them.20

Lilith noticed that all of the mixed-blooded children shared some traits: copper eyes, copper hairs, and gray wings. But those wings looked horrible. They were misshapen, with obviously broken bones and some of the children had bones poking out of the skin, others the skin was strained, about to be ripped through.21

Lucifer started towards his chair at the head of the table, and Lilith followed him to what she assumed to be her chair. Lilith tried not to look at the girls' wings as she passed them, but she couldn't help it. She noticed that the bigger girl, Keira, had bigger,more broken wings than Acacia. She wondered if that meant that the wings got worse with age.22

Dinner was served by two servants as soon as Lucifer clapped his hands. Lilith looked into the eyes of one of them and felt an instant fear, and a tinge of hatred. But when she looked at Lucifer again, she was instantly calmed, and felt full of love and peace. She thought of this only for a short time, and then the thought plagued her mind no longer.