After Lucifer left, Zamiel went upstairs to his room. Heaven had just woken up and sat on the edge of the bed. She looked at with a slight panic in her eyes.
"Grandpa?" She said.
"He left." He said simply, going to sit next to her on the bed.
"Just like that?" She asked.
"Well, he has nothing to take with him."
She sat up, looking worried. "He won't give up easily." She told him.
Zamiel turned his whole body to look at her. "Heaven. There is nothing your grandfather can do. All of it was a manipulation. He was trying to evoke fear in you. He never intended to kill me, and if he wanted to kill you or your parents, he would have done it a long time ago. He can't lock you in his kingdom, either. Every time he takes away someone's free will, he will face consequences. If he doesn't give up now, he will destroy himself."
Lucifer's face had exposed him today. Zamiel had seen the fear in his eyes. His kingdom was very important to him. Because of the story he learned under the ocean, Zamiel had found out the devil's real weakness. The thing he cared for the most, and it wasn't Irene. It was his mission. Irene only came second.
His mission was his identity, the sole purpose of his existence. His deeply rooted hatred for humans couldn't even be erased by the love of his mate. Or even the pure love of his children.
If love couldn't save him, then what could?
Heaven looked at him for a long moment, then sighed. "I am afraid of letting my guard down." She said.
Zamiel stroked her cheek. "Do you remember telling me once that you wanted to live and not only exist?"
She nodded.
"So do I, and without you, I feel like I only exist. I don't want us to only exist. Let's live our lives. Even if they are short and full of troubles."
Heaven smiled and nodded.
"No more worries." He told her.
"No more worries." She repeated after him.
"Good."
"I should go home now." She said.
He gave her a nod.
She stood up, this time less shy, she dressed in front of him. Zamiel watched her in silence while trying to ignore the whispers of his demon. This time it was his gums that itched. It was like his demon needed to secure this woman as his, despite the mark still being there.
Once she put on her shoes, she turned to him.
"What happens to grandma? Will she have to stay there forever?"
"Your grandma will find a way to come back." He told her.
He didn't know exactly what she would do, but now that he had provided her with a few options, he would wait and see if she would take them or make other choices.
"You are talking in riddles." She told him.
"She will be back." He assured her.
Her eyes narrowed, but asked no more questions. Instead, she came to him, leaned down, and kissed him.
"Good bye, dear husband." She smiled, then vanished.
Zamiel pressed his lips into a thin line. The thing's words alone could do to him. He liked to be called husband a bit too much.
*****
Heaven felt bad for teasing Zamiel, but from the way he looked at her when she was getting dressed even after taking her to bed twice made her wonder if he would ever get enough.
She thought that she would have enough and wake up feeling dead, but she woke up with a newfound energy. As if the love making brought life back into her body. Or maybe she had just eaten and rested enough.
Once she was back in her room, she just took a moment to look around. Oh, how she had missed everything. Her bed, her windows, her walls. She went to her garden and just stared at the beauty of it. It was, of course, nothing like the one in her grandfather's kingdom, but this one was hers. She grew up in this place and created so many memories. With her parents, her maids, Zarin and Gina.
Zarin? Was he still in the hidden kingdom?
And Gina. Heaven had to go see her friend. She knew she would receive a beating, but she would take. Everything else could wait. She had already seen her parents, now she would go see her friend, Klara and Roshan.
Heaven went to their home and just when she was about to knock on the front door, it flew open and Gina stood there with a big smile.
"Heaven!"
"Gina."
Gina didn't waste a minute and hurried to hug her. "You are back!"
"Yes."
She pulled back and looked at her from top to toe. "Oh, you are alright." She said, hugging her again. "I was wondering when I would see you again."
"I am sorry I just left." Heaven said, hugging her back.
"You should be. How could you just leave?" She stepped away from her and put her hands on her hips.
Heaven gave her an innocent look.
"Don't!" Gina warned. "And what happened to you?"
"I know. I look awful. Now that I am home, I will return to my normal shape in no time." Heaven assured her with a smile.
"I wish I could beat your grandpa." She said.
Oh, Heaven wished too. She lost hope that he could redeem himself. Now she hoped for him to face the consequences of his actions. He had caused too much suffering. Especially to someone he claimed to love.
"Come in." Gina grabbed her arm and pulled her inside. "I don't know what day it is. Everyone is coming back." She said.
Heaven halted. "Zarin came back?"
"Yes."
"Oh." Heaven let out a breath of relief. "Is everything alright with him?"
"He is fine. He will be better when I torture him for days. See how badly he wants to be here."
Heaven had no doubt that Gina would give Zarin a hard time, but he earned it.
"Torture him for me as well." She said.
Gine smirked and put her hand around her shoulder. "Don't worry, my friend. I will make him pay for all of us."
Heaven chuckled. "I miss you." She said.
"Of course. Everyone does." She shrugged.
Heaven shook her head at her friend. "So where is he?"
"He went out with father. They are having some father and son time alone."
Heaven nodded. They both needed it.
Where was Klara?
"Heaven." Just when she thought of her, Heaven heard her voice.
Klara's face radiated happiness as she came to the hall. "Oh lord. It must be a good day." She said, coming to hug her.
And then, just like her mother, she asked a thousand questions and nagged her about her appearance and her health. "Well, you came just at the right time. We were going to eat dinner." She said.
Right. Now everyone was going to feed her.
"Since the men are gone, we should have a night alone. Just us women." She said. "Gina, why don't you bring Hazel and Irene."
"Alright, mother." Gina said and disappeared before Heaven could tell her she wouldn't be able to bring her grandmother.
"Grandma is not here." Heaven told Klara.
"Why? What happened?"
Heaven told her the rest of the story, and Klara listened carefully. Meanwhile, Gina was back with her mother.
Klara was concerned. "I don't feel good about this." She said.
"Don't worry. Zamiel has everything under control." Heaven couldn't believe that she was saying that, but she would let Zamiel handle it this time.
He wouldn't bring her home if he wasn't sure about his plan.
"Well, as long as he can keep you safe." She said.
Heaven wasn't worried about herself or Zamiel anymore. It seemed like her grandfather wouldn't repeat the same mistake of possessing her. Now, she only worried for her parents.
"Alright. Let's not ruin the mood. We should celebrate tonight." Gina said.
"Yes. I don't want to think of grandfather. Let's talk about other things." Heaven suggests.
"Of course. Let's have dinner while talking about pleasant things."
Klara, a princess who had never cooked a meal in her life before, had become the best cook after her marriage. She said it brought her joy to make something with her own hands for her family. Her food always tasted good because it was made with love.
Heaven had missed the taste of it, and eating with three women she loved made the meal even more enjoyable. If only her grandmother was here. It would be like old times.