Princess of Hell

"…so we think House Viridia is trying to escalate tensions between Igneus and Glacius into a full-scale war," I concluded, watching my mother's expression carefully.

Lilith's crimson eyes narrowed slightly as she processed our explanation. Her fingers tapped rhythmically against her forearm, each tap accompanied by a small pulse of dark energy that dissipated into the frigid air.

"Interesting," she finally said. "Viridia has always been ambitious, but this level of manipulation is… impressive, if foolish." She smiled, the expression both beautiful and terrifying. "I'll need to have a word with Mephistopheles about keeping his houses in order."

The casual way she mentioned confronting the ruler of the Third Circle sent a shiver down my spine that had nothing to do with Glacius's temperature.

"What I don't understand," Lilith continued, her gaze fixing on me, "is why you didn't come to me with this information first?"

I paused, the question catching me off-guard. Why hadn't I thought to involve my mother? The answer wasn't immediately clear even to myself.

"It… didn't cross my mind," I admitted. "Headmistress Valencia told us to stay out of it, so we were investigating unofficially." I hesitated before adding, "Maybe I subconsciously feared you might stop us too."

Lilith's laughter rang out across the snowy landscape, startling a flock of ice ravens from a nearby ridge.

"Oh, my darling girl." She reached out to stroke my cheek. "I understand completely. I was exactly like you in my younger days—curious, determined, convinced I could handle anything the universe threw at me." Her smile faded slightly. "But remember this warning: don't grow overconfident. I won't always be there to save you when things go wrong."

I nodded, feeling strangely chastened yet supported simultaneously. "I understand."

And I did. For the first time, I felt the complex dynamic of a parent who wanted to protect their child while allowing them room to grow. It was something I'd never experienced as Liam—that orphan boy had navigated life without the safety net of parental support.

"Still," I found myself saying, "it feels nice… being able to do things on my own while knowing you and Father support me."

The realisation hit me with unexpected force. In the five months since awakening in this body, I had truly become their daughter. Not just in name or form, but in my heart.

Lilith's expression softened with genuine affection. "Speaking of family," she said, glancing at Aria and Isabella who were still standing awkwardly nearby, "when were you planning to bring your friends home for a proper visit? Now that the cat's out of the bag, as mortals say."

I blinked in surprise. "To the Palace?"

Lilith chuckled, the sound like velvet over steel. "Yes, to the Palace. Where else? Your father would certainly love to meet your friends in person." She turned her gaze toward Aria and Isabella. "He's been quite curious about the companions our daughter has chosen."

Aria's eyes widened to comical proportions, while Isabella maintained her composure despite the slight trembling in her hands.

"Now then," Lilith continued, "would you three prefer a lift back to Igneus, or would you rather continue your adventure on foot?"

Her question reminded me of the elven village we'd discovered. I hesitated, uncertain whether to mention it. Would Lilith see the elves as a threat? A curiosity to be examined? Subjects to be ruled?

My curiosity won out.

"Mother, we found something strange in the Transition Zone," I said. "There's an elven village there—actual living mortals, not escapees from circles. Their elder claims it's a fragment of Arborea that got trapped between circles."

Lilith raised an elegant eyebrow. "Is that so? How… peculiar."

"What do you think about it?" I asked cautiously.

She waved a dismissive hand. "Honestly, I don't have time to concern myself with random mortals who will be gone in a few centuries. The politics of three circles demands my attention at present." She shrugged elegantly. "But I won't oppose your interest in them, if that's what you're asking."

I felt relief wash over me, though I couldn't quite identify why I cared about the elves' fate.

"Now," Lilith said, extending her hand, "shall we return to more civilised surroundings?"

* * *

The world twisted around us, reality folding like origami paper in the hands of a master. My stomach lurched as Glacius's frozen landscape dissolved, replaced by the familiar heat of Igneus. We materialised on a secluded obsidian cliff overlooking the crimson plains, far from prying eyes.

Aria stumbled slightly before finding her footing. "That was… intense."

Isabella remained composed, though her eyes betrayed her awe at witnessing Lilith's power firsthand.

My mother straightened her midnight gown, not a hair out of place despite having just transported four beings across dimensional boundaries without effort.

"Well, this is where I leave you," Lilith said, her crimson eyes scanning the horizon. "I have quite a lot to discuss with your sisters about this Viridia situation."

I blinked, the word catching me off guard. "Sisters?"

Lilith paused, her perfect features shifting into a look of mild surprise before understanding dawned. "Oh, that's right. You don't remember." She waved her hand dismissively. "You have thirteen half-sisters, darling. You're my youngest child—the only one with Lucifer as the father."

The information hit me like a physical blow. Thirteen sisters? I'd been an only child as Liam, and somehow the possibility of siblings had never occurred to me since awakening as Lily.

"Thirteen?" I repeated stupidly, trying to process this revelation.

Isabella's soft chuckle drew my attention. "You didn't know?" She raised an elegant eyebrow. "I thought you were just being discreet about your family connections."

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"I… I had no idea," I admitted, still reeling.

"Surely you know that all pureblood succubi are Lilith's descendants," Isabella continued, amusement dancing in her ice-blue eyes. "The Lilim—your sisters—are the first generation. My family line descends from your sister Lilitu."

My mind raced to catch up. "Wait, that means…"

"Yes," Isabella nodded, "technically, Lilith is my great-grandmother. And you, Princess, are my cousin—several times removed, of course."

I stood there, mouth slightly open, unable to form a coherent response. Family had always been an abstract concept to me. As Liam, I'd grown up in an orphanage, surrounded by other children but never truly connected to anyone by blood. Now I suddenly had an extended family tree spanning thousands of years.

Lilith laughed, the sound like crystal bells. "Don't worry yourself about it, Lily. Most of my daughters are thousands of years older than you. They've created their own households, and some have daughters who established separate houses of their own." She shrugged elegantly. "It's not as though we're some close-knit family you need to keep track of."

I noticed something then—the warmth that usually suffused Lilith's voice when she spoke to me was absent when she mentioned my sisters. Her tone carried the same detached interest she might use when discussing weather patterns or fashion trends.

Would that be my fate too? Would I eventually become just another name on Lilith's list of offspring, the maternal warmth cooling as centuries passed? The thought created an unexpected hollow feeling in my chest.

"I see," I said quietly.

"Well, I must be going," Lilith said, stepping back. "Mephistopheles will need to be informed about House Viridia's little scheme before things escalate further." She smiled at Aria and Isabella. "It was a pleasure meeting my daughter's friends. I do hope you'll visit the Palace soon."

With that, she vanished in a ripple of darkness, leaving no trace behind.

"Your mother certainly knows how to leave an impression," Aria said, breaking the silence.

Isabella nodded. "Indeed. Few beings command such power so effortlessly."

I stared at the empty space where Lilith had stood, still processing everything. "Thirteen sisters," I murmured, more to myself than to them.

"Don't dwell on it too much," Isabella said, placing a hand on my shoulder. "Most of the Lilim keep to themselves. They're practically legends even among succubi."

"You'll be one of those legends someday too," Aria chimed in, bumping her hip against mine. "And we'll be your legendary friends—the ones who helped Princess Lily Morningstar on her journey to greatness!"

I couldn't help but laugh at her enthusiastic declaration. Despite the weight of discovering I had thirteen sisters I'd never known about, Aria's infectious optimism was impossible to resist. "You're absolutely impossible, you know that?"

"Someone has to be," she replied with a wink, flicking her tail playfully. "So what now? Should we go talk to Isabella's parents about all this, or just leave it to your mom?"

Isabella considered this, brushing a strand of silver hair from her face. "It wouldn't hurt to inform my mother directly. While I'm certain the Queen will address the broader political implications, House Lilitu should be prepared for any potential fallout." She glanced at me. "Though I suspect Lady Lilith has already sent word to my mother."

"And speaking of mothers," Isabella continued, turning to Aria, "wasn't yours wanting to meet next week?"

"Oh, right!" Aria's eyes widened as if she'd completely forgotten. "The letter."

I studied my roommate's suddenly tense expression. Despite her carefree demeanour, Aria rarely spoke about her family. "Do you know what she wants?" I asked gently.

Aria shrugged, her usual confidence momentarily dimmed. "No idea, but I guess we'll learn soon enough." She forced a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Maybe she just misses my charming personality."

I decided not to press further. Whatever complicated relationship Aria had with her mother, she'd share when ready.

"We should head back to the Academy," I suggested, surveying our surroundings. The crimson plains stretched endlessly before us, with Ardorkeep barely visible as a dark smudge on the distant horizon.

Aria groaned dramatically, spreading her arms wide. "Couldn't your mother have teleported us closer to Ardorkeep? My feet are going to be absolutely destroyed by the time we get back."

"And what, announce that Lilith herself is transporting three Academy students across circles?" Isabella arched an elegant eyebrow. "That would certainly raise questions about why the Queen of Hell personally intervened in what should have been a simple research trip."

I bit my tongue, knowing full well my mother could have easily deposited us directly inside the Academy grounds without anyone noticing. But I understood her caution. The fewer beings who knew of her direct involvement with Academy students, the better.

"We should probably change before heading back," I said, eyeing our Glacius-appropriate attire. "If we show up dressed like this, everyone will know exactly where we've been."

Isabella nodded. "Quite right. The last thing we need is to advertise our little expedition to the Second Circle."

Aria sighed dramatically, digging through her spatial ring for our regular clothes. "Still, it would've been nice not to walk for hours."

I glanced at the distant silhouette of Ardorkeep, then back at my friends. A smile tugged at my lips as I extended my wings to their full span, feeling the familiar weight settle comfortably against my back.

"Who said anything about walking?"

Isabella smiled, unfurling her own bat-like wings. "An excellent point."

Aria brightened immediately. "Now you're talking! Who's carrying me first?"

I exchanged a look with Isabella before sighing dramatically. "I suppose I will."

"Great!" Aria exclaimed, leaping into my arms with enthusiasm that nearly knocked us both over. I staggered back, adjusting my grip on her thighs and waist as she wrapped her arms around my neck.

"You could give me some warning," I muttered, though I couldn't help smiling at her boundless energy.

"Where's the fun in that?" she replied, nuzzling her face against my neck in a way that sent pleasant shivers down my spine.

I spread my wings wide, feeling the warm currents of Igneus lift beneath them. With a powerful downstroke, we were airborne, Isabella rising gracefully beside us. The crimson landscape unfurled below, rivers of magma cutting through obsidian plains like veins of fire.

"So," Aria began, her lips close to my ear as we soared higher, "I was thinking we could make a little detour before heading back to the Academy."

I already knew where this was going. "Let me guess—another visit to the Pleasure Dome?"

She pulled back just enough to meet my eyes, her expression bright with excitement. "See? We're already developing a psychic bond!"

"It's not psychic abilities when you're completely predictable," I replied dryly. "Ever since that time you convinced me to go, you talk about it constantly."

"I admit it," she said, not looking remotely ashamed. "But can you blame me? It's because I want you to experience everything there is! There's still so many chambers we haven't explored, and they have this new attraction called—"

"Aria," I cut her off with a sigh, adjusting my grip as we banked around a thermal pocket. "We have years for that. Decades. Centuries, even." The thought still occasionally startled me—the near-immortality that came with my succubus nature. "Right now, we'll have much more on our plate."

"Like what?" she pouted, her tail curling around my leg in what I recognised as her subtle form of persuasion.

"First, we need to go with Isabella to inform her mother about everything we've learned," I began listing, keeping my eyes fixed on the horizon where Ardorkeep was slowly growing larger. "Then I need to visit Earth to find out what was happening to Faith. Then you have your mother's meeting to prepare for, and we still have classes, and—"

"Fine, fine, I get it!" Aria interrupted, pressing a finger to my lips. "You've made your point, Princess Responsible." Despite her words, her expression softened. "I just… I want to make sure you're enjoying yourself, not just solving everyone else's problems."

The sincerity in her voice caught me off guard. I sometimes forgot how perceptive Aria could be beneath her playful exterior.

"I am enjoying myself," I assured her quietly. "Even when we're running for our lives or uncovering plots to start wars between circles."

Isabella glided closer, her silver hair streaming behind her like moonlight. "I hate to interrupt whatever moment you two are having, but remember to land outside Ardorkeep's main gates. We don't want to reveal our princess's identity to everyone by having Lilith's daughter fly in with her wings on full display."

"I know, don't worry," I called back to her.

As we soared toward the dark spires of Ardorkeep, I found myself oddly content despite everything. Whatever challenges awaited us at least I wouldn't face them alone.