Leviathan stood at the edge of Court’s highest tower, his Red stare narrowed at the enormity of the kingdom his father had built many centuries ago. Even from up here, the fear from his demons and souls who hid away in their homes was palpable. For the first time, Court's denizens were respecting the imposed curfew. Fear was winning, withholding any signs from that abhorrent creature that had escaped the arena. It would take Leviathan a number centuries to regain his people’s trust at this rate. If there will even be anyone left to regain trust from. He was off to a terrible start. Leviathan clenched his teeth, summoning some of his Black and Yellow. Nothing was suppressing this anger.

Thinking about a time when Court had been under attack proved challenging. He’d been a child then, and Lucious was still in his mother's belly when his father silenced the last challenger, right on the steps of Court. The wolf-demon’s fangs still decorated the Grand Hall’s entrance, collecting dust. Leviathan’s eyes scanned the smallest houses, the empty and narrow alleys. Somewhere below, in some filthy corner lying in wait was the one responsible for spectacularly tainting his plans, tarnishing his rule in the process.

Bringing Mara here had only been effective in pissing off Lucious, the creature hadn't so much as thrown a hissy-fit. Leviathan had agreed with protecting Mara, but for Lucious, the four *goggled wolves stationed outside Mara’s room, the ten more at Nebula’s arc, and the other six who accompanied her everywhere hadn't been enough. He had to triple the shields around the palace, which did nothing but defeat the purpose of luring the beast out. His brother’s fretting and fuming usually pleased Leviathan immensely, but this was getting out of hand. Something dared to challenge Leviathan. Something emboldened itself to undermine his rule. And here he was, stuck without next moves, while his people hid or fled in fear. 

“It’s rare to see you so focused; you didn’t even feel my presence.”

Leviathan turned to his mother’s voice, finding her standing in front of the gateway he knew she hadn’t used. He hadn’t seen his mother since she followed his father into exile. It felt like years had gone by, when it had only been months. There was not a hair out of place; she looked the same. Her deceptive smile still smeared her expression and intentions. Except that in place of her ostentatious wears, she now covered herself with a dark cloak. It diminished her, somehow, like one deserving of the penance they served. “I wish you had focused that hard in school,” she said with a sly chuckle.

“You try being locked in the same room as the elders for an entire morning.”

She smiled. “You make a fair point. They are hard to survive.”

Leviathan almost smiled with her; almost. Then her black eyes lingered as they did when she spotted Kiruna hovering behind him. And that look, he knew well. The look that harboured her nervousness. For being near his curse. For being near him.

Not so long ago, for some time, Leviathan had been reminded how it had been between them once; how his mother had loved him as a child. When he had failed his Test, lost Kiruna and his left foot, his mother welcomed him back and embraced him. Beelzebub’s angel had cleansed him of his curse, and his mother had been relieved for him. Without saying the words, she sang to him, nursed him to health, willing her love back for him. Then, before Leviathan could trust himself to accept her love, Odiva pulled away once more. The reason once again clear in her petrified glance at his curse reborn. 

Now, facing him, the way her smile broke proved she understood where they stood. Leviathan crossed his arms. She wasn’t a hypocrite. 

“I’m not. And I’ll not pretend to not know how you feel about me,” she started walking toward him. By the way she moved, Leviathan knew this wasn’t an apparition. She was truly there.

“I’m glad you realise I’m not here on a whim,” She added, and Leviathan understood Mara’s annoyance around mind-reading demons.

Odiva chuckled as though he had shared an old joke with her. “That’s fair. It’s an old habit, but I’ll respect your privacy, my king.” She lowered her eyes at the last.

Leviathan sighed. “Come to gloat? Or bring tips from Satan?”

She walked until she stood in front of him, her expression as unreadable as Leviathan had ever seen. Odiva glanced at Kiruna who hovered close to the ground, unbothered. Then she fixed her black eyes on him, studying his features with an unfitting longing in her eyes. She reached with two fingers and twirled a lock of his hair as she used to when he was a child. Leviathan froze as though he'd been trapped by the touch. Even knowing Kiruna had changed, Odiva had never been this close with his tail awake.

“There’s more red now. Long hair suits you," she smiled. "Your captain has good taste."

Of course she’d know about Miina. Knowing his mother, and what she did to Mara’s dreams, she was probably the culprit behind Miina’s nightmares, leading her to his bed. Not that he’d complain about that part, but something about his mother spying on his secret time with Miina didn’t sit right with him. He didn’t know why, but he was certain it’d bother Miina more.

Leviathan moved his head back, avoiding further touch. She didn’t chase, though something weighed her smile down. 

“The angel you met at the Conclave is a problem,” she said, in a matter of fact tone, it broke any kind of distraction. "No, he is the problem."

“…You were there?!”

“Calm down, no one saw us.”

“Us?!”

“Your father. In his way… he worries, you know,” she waved.

Leviathan looked up to the red skies, as though it could ease his frustration. “He worries.”

“His name is Samael,” she said, dismissing any deviation from the real issue at hand. “You must take him seriously. He has his sight set on Court; on our family.”

“The attack at the arena, was that him? Did he make those things?”

Her silence confirmed the answer he sought.

“Why now? Does he think we’re vulnerable now that father’s gone?”

Odiva’s stare weakened and her brow knitted with regret. Now wasn't the time to hold back. “You know more. Tell me.”

His mother’s black eyes lowered, as though the answer to his question was much larger than she could undertake. When she was uncomfortable around him, she’d absently rub the scar on her neck; the one he gave her when he was a child. The scar that never healed. This time, she didn’t reach for it. Instead, her lips curled into a doleful smile. Then her eyes spared another long glance at Kiruna. “Did you know Levi, that you have an aunt?” 

Leviathan raised an eyebrow.

“From my side, of course. Your father’s side of the family is… complicated.” She chuckled, perhaps clinging to casualness, and while it was mismatched with how Leviathan had always known his mother, the undertone of nervousness was unmistakable. “She’s my older sister.”

“You had a sister?”

“Have a sister. Jahi is alive. Though she is not exactly living.”

“Is this why you came? To share our family history? Debate relatives' existential crisis?”

Again, that mournful smile of hers shook him. It was as if she was going to break in tears at any moment. It made him want to wipe it off, switch it off to anything else but that. Then he remembered he shouldn’t feel this way; not for the demon Seer who had rebuffed him for most of his life for a curse he had never asked for. And he’d hate giving in even more.

“I promise you; I will introduce you to her when the time comes.” She cocked his head at him, putting more effort into a lighter smile, he wasn’t sure. “Or maybe she will introduce herself…”

Leviathan’s frown deepened.

“There’s much of your aunt in you. You look so much alike.”

“Just one more thing you’ve kept from us. We’re your sons, and what do we even know about you?”

“Everything that I… that we have done until now, has a purpose. One of which is to follow the thread that will lead us to our survival. But also free Jahi.”

Leviathan narrowed his gaze. “Free Jahi? You’re saying she’s being held captive?”

“…It is my fault. Instead of protecting her, I…” Odiva paused.

Uncertainty, vulnerability and fear weren’t feelings Leviathan had ever imagined could overrun his mother, yet here they were. What was more terrifying was knowing she was being truthful. “I failed her,” she said. “I was young, arrogant… easily swayed by promises of power.”

“So you turned on your own sister?” 

Her silence held on to an unusual resignation. Leviathan shook his head while one hand reached his forehead. Why was he even shocked? This was the same woman who had shunned him for the misfortune that was his curse. She’d boast how family was her everything one minute, when the next, she’d be the first one to turn her back on them. He couldn’t look at her.

“You’re right. I have no right to claim love for my family,” she said, openly reading his mind. “You won’t believe me, but even if I couldn’t trust myself with you during those years, I would’ve given my life for you. Levi, you’re my darling cursed boy. My beautiful boy.”

Leviathan finally looked at her, incredulous. How could she so blatantly make a mockery out of everything?!

“You’re not ready. It’s not time for that yet. But right now, I need you to listen to me, carefully. Samael is not to be underestimated. I’ve known him for a long time; your father has known him for even longer. My past, it's shaped my purpose; you must know, Samael is not innocent.”

“You're going around in circles. First your sister, then Samael. You want me to clean up your mess, is that it? Where’s father in all of this? 'This one of his Tests? You two won’t rest until you really get rid of all your sons.”

 Odiva shook her head, as though she expected his reaction. “No, no. Don’t you think if I could've, I would've rid us of him years ago?!” Even her impatience looked different. It looked desperate. This wasn't like those times when he ruined one of her precious banquets and she drew on the melodrama. There was fear here. “He can evade Seers. He has done this for many years. Samael is not like other angels and he has an agenda for Hell; for our family. It started with me, and it will only end when he takes everything you’re trying to protect.”

Leviathan paused, the image of Miina flashing before his mind. Then he caught himself. This was laughable. Was he supposed to take his mother’s word for it? His father’s favourite lackey?

Odiva rushed to him and held his wrist. He shook her off, but she wouldn’t let go. “Levi, listen to me!”

Something in her black eyes stopped him. “Samael will come for everything. Don’t let your resentment for me blind your decisions. If you’re truly intent on freeing Hell, this is the way. Your father has been preparing you three for this day—”

Leviathan wrenched his wrist away. It brought her irritating pleas to an end. He started toward the gate. “If I catch you breaking your exile again, I’ll have you locked up in the dungeons.”

“It’s the only way to free Jahi! Samael has to die.”

“Right. I’ll get right on that, mother.” He saluted. “Not like I have seven other kingdoms to run. Didn't you pick the wrong son for this chat?”

He slammed the gate behind him.