My Angel Girl

### Chapter 18: The First Day of Hell Preschool

Kael zipped through the halls of the castle like a blur, his small feet barely making a sound as they pounded against the cold stone floors. His wings flapped behind him, the excitement of his freedom nearly overflowing. At three years old, he had already mastered walking, running, and everything in between, with an energy that seemed endless. He was free to roam, free to explore.

But little did he know, this freedom was about to come to a screeching halt.

The day had finally arrived.

Today was Kael's first day of Hell Preschool. Ere'ana had been talking about it for weeks—how it would be good for him to socialize with other demons, learn about his heritage, and understand the world he was growing up in. Kael, naive and blissfully ignorant, had imagined it would be like the schools on Earth, full of fun and games, maybe with some weird-looking teachers who were way too strict about homework. He didn't think much of it, just another adventure to tick off the list.

But, as he would soon learn, Hell was far from the land of rainbows and butterflies.

Ere'ana had dressed him in an outfit suitable for Hell—a mix of angelic white and demon-red, symbolizing his dual heritage, though his demon side had already been chosen. As he looked at himself in the mirror, he felt proud. This was going to be fun, he thought.

"Kael, sweetie, are you ready?" Ere'ana called, her voice tinged with nerves as she stood in the doorway.

Kael nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! I can't wait to meet other kids like me!"

Ere'ana tried to hide the worry in her eyes. She knew this wasn't going to be a typical school experience for her son, and the thought of him being exposed to all the violence, evil, and chaos that came with Hell's curriculum made her stomach churn. But she smiled, brushing her son's hair back gently.

"Alright, let's go then."

When they arrived at the school, Kael's excitement only grew. The building was enormous—larger than any Earth school, with tall, black towers that seemed to pierce the sky. As they walked in, Kael's eyes widened as he looked around at the strange children playing in the courtyard. Some had horns, others had wings, and a few were already demonstrating their powers by causing small bursts of fire or electricity. It was chaotic, loud, and vibrant. But Kael liked it. He thought he'd fit right in.

His excitement was met with the stern eyes of the headmistress, a demoness with a sharp, angular face and long, black hair that seemed to flow like smoke.

"Kael Kidora," she said in a voice that was both stern and warm. "Welcome. We've been expecting you."

Kael looked up at her, eyes wide. "Hi! I'm Kael!"

The headmistress smiled, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "We have a lot to teach you, Kael. And I expect you to learn quickly. It's important for your future."

Her words were cryptic, but Kael didn't care. He was just happy to be there.

The day went by in a blur. He learned about Lucifer, about Lilith, about Hell's history. He learned that Kikidori, his father, was the Prince of Hell and that he had done unspeakable things—things Kael couldn't even begin to understand. He learned that Hell was not a place for kindness or mercy. It was a place for survival, for power.

By the time the bell rang and the kids were dismissed, Kael's enthusiasm had waned. His thoughts were muddled, and something gnawed at him. Something was wrong. His classmates, with their twisted smiles and casual cruelty, didn't seem to mind learning about the horrors of Hell. They reveled in it. But Kael, at his young age, had already felt the weight of the darkness around him.

He couldn't shake the thought of his father—the mighty Kikidori, the ruthless Prince of Hell.

As Kael walked back to the castle, he could barely speak.

When he arrived at the castle, Ere'ana smiled warmly at him. "How was school, Kael?" she asked gently, her eyes full of hope.

Kael didn't respond right away. He looked down at the floor, his wings drooping. He thought about his father. The mighty demon who had killed millions of angels. The one who had caused so much pain. The one who, despite all of that, had always treated him with love.

But today... today he felt afraid.

He couldn't explain why, but something deep inside him told him that he was meant to fear Kikidori.

Kael slowly walked past Ere'ana, not even bothering to greet Kikidori when he saw him lounging on the couch. Normally, Kael would rush over to his father, excited to spend time with him, but today was different.

He couldn't shake the images of the classroom, of the demons talking about Hell's brutal history, about the atrocities Kikidori had committed.

He was scared of his own father.

Kikidori looked up, confused by Kael's silence. "What's with him?" he asked, his voice rough, though there was a hint of concern in his eyes.

Ere'ana sighed, her gaze following Kael's retreating form. "He's scared, Kikidori. He learned some things today... things that changed how he sees you."

Kikidori's face hardened, the familiar cocky smirk replaced by an unreadable expression. "I never wanted that for him," he muttered.

Ere'ana sighed, sitting down beside him. "I know. But Kael is learning who you are. And that might be harder for him to accept than you think."

Kikidori ran a hand through his hair, staring off into the distance. "I never asked to be the fucking Prince of Hell. But I am... and so is he."

Ere'ana glanced over at him. "You're more than that to him, Kikidori. You've always been a good father to him."

Kikidori didn't respond. He knew Ere'ana was right, but the doubt still gnawed at him. His son... scared of him? It was a reality he wasn't sure he was ready to face.

As the day wore on, Kael remained distant, retreating to his room without a word to anyone. Ere'ana sat in silence, her heart aching for the rift that had begun to grow between father and son.

Kael had just taken his first step toward understanding Hell... but in doing so, he had begun to fear the very people who had always been there for him.

End of Chapter 18