Chapter 54: Enemy Theology

Chapter 54: Enemy Theology

“So that's it? That's all you want?” Zephyr looked at Bael with distrust. “You threatened me over adoption papers?”

“Yes.” The Baron examined the contracts. “You can understand my caution. The first time I asked for your help, you tried to trap Maharet and prevent Six from being adopted.”

“Yeah, that was not my best moment.” The angel couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. Why was Bael doing this? Why did he care for this child so much? “I don't get it. Why are you helping her?”

Bael shrugged. “Who knows? I am going with my gut and doing the best I can. But I'm a demon, so none of this comes naturally to me. I have an inkling that your boss may have brought Six and I together for a reason.”

“Wait... really?” Zephyr frowned. “You think God is guiding you? But you're a demon.”

“I don't understand it either. But there's the kind of fate you fight, and the kind of fate you make. I won't know how I feel about it until I see the end result. In the meantime, I will continue to love and care for her, as best I can. Because, what is the alternative? Be angry and fight it? Be terrible to her?” He shook his head. “No, she doesn't deserve to suffer. She has been through enough.”

“But don't you hate God?”

Bael placed the adoption papers in his bag. He could guess what Zephyr was thinking. Similar thoughts had crossed his mind more than once. Demons were created beings too. But at least he didn't have to pretend to like it.

As Bael spoke he realized he was talking to himself as much as Zephyr. “The game is rigged. All we can do is play the hands he deals us. I'm realizing as I get older that the only freedom I have, is how I feel about it.”

He shrugged. “Maybe I'm just a demon dancing on a string towards my inevitable destruction. A puppet in a play that will disappear when my stage time is up. Either way, what option do I have but to lean into it?”

“Shit. You’re right.” Zephyr admitted. He hadn't expected to get a real answer. Much less one that he agreed with.

Bael got up and headed for the door. But he stopped as a thought struck him. “Look, you were a piece of shit. But maybe you don't have to be one forever. If damned souls can change and escape hell, maybe we can too, at least for a little while.”

He paused. “But I can't forgive you because I'm not the person you wronged. So maybe apologizing to Maharet might be a good first step to figuring your situation out.”

“Are you trying to corrupt or save me?” Zephyr asked. “Because I honestly can't tell.”

Bael smiled, but didn't answer. He would let the angel come to his own conclusions.