Scouring the history section, she searched for anything she had not already looked through. The options were becoming slim. "What's this? 'Hyde the True Face of Jekyll: How I Erased My Humanity.' I don't think this belongs here." She looked at the filing number and shrugged. "Self-help section. Lovely. How am I going to find anything in this disheveled mess?"

  "Hey now, just because you can't find anything, doesn't mean it's disheveled. I happen to know where everything is."

  "Phorest?" Keshiema turned around to see the ruggedly handsome man leaning against a nearby shelf.

  "I said you can call me Dásos." He feigned hurt.

  "I don't think we're going to become that friendly." She rolled her eyes.

  "Hm, I guess if you don't want me around, I'll take my knowledge elsewhere." He turned to leave.

  "what knowledge?"

  He turned back to her with a cocky smirk. "You're still trying to learn about the Royal Families, right?"

  "I am." Her stomach churned.'I shouldn't have told him.'

  "Well, I was looking through my personal collection of books, and I think I came across something that might help." Her eyes lit up, flickering a brilliant gold for a brief moment. "Your hair didn't change, that's odd."

  "You don't know enough about me to say what's odd and what isn't." She shot back. He chuckled lightly at her attitude. "So...what is it that you found?"

  He held out his hand, and an old leather bound book appeared. The cover was intricately engraved with five symbols on each side. The front cover showed a snake, a fly, a bat, and a raven on the corners with Adramelech's Sigil in the middle. On the corners of the back cover were a vulture, a horned demon skull, a ram, and a winged dragon with Balam's Sigil adorning the center.

  Hesitantly, she reached out for the book. Before she could touch it, Dásos closed his hand, and it vanished. "Not so fast. There's a condition."

  "Of course there is."

  "You cannot tell anyone about this book. If anyone finds out, you'll owe me an unconditional favor."

  "Deal. Is that it?"

  "Yeah, that's it. Here you go." He made a throwing motion, and the book appeared. She caught it against her chest with a grunt.

  "Thank you, Phorest. I appreciate the help." The bells rang loudly, sending five chimes echoing through the academy.

  "I should get going. I'll be back tomorrow if I have time."

  "Please let me know what you think." Dásos smiled widely.

  ***

  Keshiema unlocked her old dorm, thanking her stars the locks remained unchanged. Her study desk still sat untouched next to the bed. Slipping the book inside with her dream journals, she locked the drawer and hurried out. On her way back to the Great Temple, she bumped into Cresil. "Kesh! Hey, I was actually on my way to have a message sent to you. Do you have a minute?"

  Peering at the clock tower, Keshiema nodded. "Sure. What's up?"

  "well, I know it's a bad time, but I just got my orders. And it looks like I'll be shipping out in three days."

  Keshiema's voice caught in her throat. She wanted to say something, but her mind went numb. Her legs felt like jelly. She knew it was coming; he told only a few hours ago that he was getting his order, but now it was real. He was leaving her. A heavy knot formed in her stomach, and her heart pounded in her ears. Her colors darkened rapidly, and her eyes burned with unfallen tears.

  This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  "Hey now, it'll be okay. I probably won't be gone that long. My orders come from pretty high up, so I should be back to visit fairly often." She bit her lip, trying desperately not to cry. she choked, trying to say something, anything. "Look, Send-Off is at 06:30. I'll be at the train station early. I hope you're there."

  "I have to go, I'm expected back soon." She ran towards the Great Temple. Holding back her tears took every ounce of effort she could muster.

  ***

  Behind the Great Temple stood a wonderfully peaceful garden. She roamed through the exotic trees and let the soft scent of flowers soothe her aching heart. She stumbled across a small wooden arch bridge. The gentle babbling of the stream below calmed her racing mind. She sat, letting her legs dangle over the edge of the bridge. Resting her head against the railing, she let her tears run free.

  "Keshiema?" She jumped, startled by Beelzebub's sudden presence. He gestured to the empty space next to her. "Do you mind if I have a seat?"

  "I'm sorry," she stifled back her tears. "I was just leaving." She started to stand.

  "No, please stay. This place always feels more peaceful with a little bit of company." Seeing her puffy eyes and red cheeks, he gave her a kind, reassuring smile. Returning his gaze to the creek, he spoke softly. "It's always difficult to say goodbye to the ones we love. My daughter cries so much every time I have to leave."

  "Your daughter, but I thought..."

  "Oh, yes. You're not mistaken. I cannot sire any offspring but she is my child in all ways that actually matter. "

  "So you adopted her?"

  "In a way, yes. It's a long story, but in short, I married her mother just before Sasha was born."

  "if it's not asking too much, I'd love to hear it."

  "I suppose we have time." Beelzebub paused to get his thoughts in order. "I met Adrianna twenty years ago; she was a fiery twenty-three-year-old at the time. I wanted to start a new settlement and was looking for someone to train as a surgeon. While she was determined to follow in her father's footsteps and become a seamstress, her little brother showed great promise. In training her brother, I saw Adrianna almost every day. We became great friends, and when she met a rogue demon and fell in love, I was the first to find out. And while I understood, I could not allow a demon into my settlement. Too many citizens with traumatic memories. As far as they knew, even I was human.

  "So I helped her get into another settlement I had started decades ago. This one was a bit more accepting of demons and Halflings. They also knew I was a demon, though I never revealed my true identity. Eventually, Adrianna married the demon, and things seemed to be going well for them. A few years later, he fell in a skirmish during a routine scouting mission. When I returned to the village to find my friend grieving and newly pregnant, I did not have the heart to leave her side. I sent word to the other Elders and remained in the settlement to help my friend through. Over the next several months, our feelings evolved into something greater. Just days before Sasha was born, Adrianna and I were wed. It's an odd human custom, to be sure, but it does hold a certain romantic quality. That was eight years ago, and every goodbye is still more difficult than the last. Their tears pain me, but I would never give up the chance to say a few more words."

  Keshiema let his story stew in her thoughts. So much heartache mixed within a love story. It was much too bittersweet for her taste. 'Because life isn't a fairytale.' She reminded herself.

  "I need to get going, Keshiema. There is much that needs my attention before I leave to see them within the coming weeks."

  "Thank you for sharing your story with me, Prince Beelzebub."

  "Please, call me Beelzy, as the others do. There is no need for such formality among equals."

  "I'll try to remember that." She tried to smile, but her heart still refused.

  "I'll have your dinner sent to your suite. And I'll see you at sunrise under that black hawthorn for training."

  ***

  She waited in the pouring rain for Damien to appear. She wished he would appear. She cried until the tears would no longer flow, and then she just sat there, staring at herself in a puddle of fresh water. The rain lasted until her tears stopped. "Why do I feel so alone?" She asked the trees. This clearing was a safe haven. Only when he was around, pain was almost a certainty. She still wanted him there, though. No matter how much pain he caused her, she felt safe around him.

  When she was ready to give up, she heard the familiar sound of wings beating the air. "I'm sorry I'm late." He whispered for forgiveness.

  "I don't know if I can accept that. You only came in time to make sure I'll forget."

  "Do you believe that?" he asked with a pained look in his eyes. He held out his hand, and she took it.

  "A small part of me hopes that it isn't true."

  "Kesh, I don't want to hurt you. I want us to speak outside this realm. But I don't think I can even see you here anymore. I'm going to bury your memories of these dreams. Next time you sleep you won't remember my visits." Silent tears fell from his eyes. This was the third time he had to make her forget him entirely.

  "Damien, I don't trust you. You've hurt me so much."

  "You need to wake up soon, but I don't want you to be in pain. I've only ever wanted to protect you. Please, don't resist the spell and I promise you it will be painless." She closed her eyes and tried to relax. She let the scent of moss and pine trees fill her mind. He told her the truth; without her resistance, the pain was absent.