In a certain residence on the outskirts of the city of Nahar, the capital of Hell’s first kingdom — Nar, a child protested before their bedtime. “WHYYY?! Why can’t I come?! She’s my sister!”

“Petulant children are not allowed in the Stoned Hall.” The old woman snapped with edged movements as she fitted the wincing child in her nightgown. “Even if they were, you would be the last child allowed in there! To think of the kinds of shame you would bring upon your sister this day!”

“Ow!! I’m no ordinary child; Auntie Ammit always says!” The child crossed her arms, her defiant blue eyes glared at her grandmother. “Jahi, tell her!”

Jahi, the older sister, stood in front of the mirror while her attendants readied her. The young woman offered the mildest shrug. Any abrupt movements would see the collapse of the intricate jewels and adornments the servants had been working at for at least an hour. Despite barely entering her womanhood, Jahi already displayed deep rooted maturity that went beyond her young age. Even their Grandmother Sioh could dispute it; Jahi was reason itself. Aside from her powers, it was what had earned her her reputation early on. Now, the Seer ceremony loomed that very evening and Jahi would officially be granted the honour to serve and protect Nar, right beside High Seer Ammit.

“Not Auntie Ammit, watch your tongue. It’s the High Seer.” The old woman corrected sternly. “And don’t go thinking you’re special. You are not. The High Seer says that to all the blue-eyed children; her favourite colour happens to be blue, that’s all.”

“But—”

“ODIVA, leave it!”

Odiva flinched. The moment of pause did not hide Sioh’s satisfaction behind the authoritative gaze before she continued. “Get in bed. I’m going to accompany your sister. If I so much as catch a whiff of you, *Apep’s bones help me—”

“How are you going to do that? You can’t even see!” Odiva stomped her foot before she jumped into her bed, the fear she held but moments ago a distant memory.

Sioh’s leathery face drew closer to the child’s, until this one cringed from the foul breath she already expected (and unfortunately knew too well). The old woman held her chin up to face her. Her glassy white eyes saw nothing, yet missed nothing all at once. “And who told you a Seer needs pretty eyes like yours to see? If you’re really aiming to be the best Seer we’ve ever had, you need to stop flicking your pretty little eyes at anything that moves and see beyond.”

Odiva recoiled in apparent disgust, sticking her tongue out.

“Keep going, one of these mornings you’ll wake without it.” The old woman said, perhaps too plainly for the child’s comfort. Slowly, Odiva retrieved her tongue inside her mouth where it might be safer.

Sioh sighed and shook her head. “You’re too old to keep that nasty habit. And you expect to find a prince.”

“A prince? Pfft,” Odiva chuckled, and the old woman paused. “I’m marrying a king. A one-horned king!”

“You…” the old Seer let her words die in her mouth. Whatever went through the grandmother’s mind then, the child could not read; not yet. But Sioh’s hesitation was not like her. Jahi on the other hand could not hold her laughter. “One horned, Diva? So specifically low. As if that was even possible.”

“He’ll grow more! He’ll have sev—”

“Sleep, child.” Grandmother Sioh had had enough. “You’re too young to dream about kings. First, you must dream of great lessons. And don’t be fooled by demons. When they come knocking, it’s often ruin disguised with flattery.”

The child giggled. “What are you talking about? We’re Seers? All we do is see what demons can’t. No husband of mine will trick me!”

“We are not anything. And you should have more respect for your powers, if you ever get them; they are not to be trifled with. Honour the ancients, and they will guide your way! If you mother had done the same—”

Jahi shot the old woman an alarmed glance, but this one was already biting her lower lip. Jahi’s attendants fussed at the unexpected movement, and the loss of some of the pearls that adorned her long braids but that now scattered on the floor.

“Diva, it’s really late. Go to sleep. I’ll tell you about the ceremony tomorrow, I promise.” Jahi’s smooth tone invited more silence, but Odiva did not care for her grandmother’s frown, or Jahi’s nervousness.

“Oh, come on! It’s no secret how mother died.” Odiva said, as clueless and eager as only a child could be. “Everybody at school already says, and I think that they think they are teasing me with it. Mother loved our father and ignored the sight! Why is that still supposed to be a secret—”

A slap from Sioh’s trembling hand finally silenced the child. Odiva’s large blue eyes finally caught her grandmother’s and Jahi’s horrified expressions, while the servants did their best to keep their eyes on their delicate task.

“You don’t know what you speak of, child!” Grandmother Sioh hissed.

Odiva clutched her reddening cheek, and while she made no sound, tears welled up. Sioh strained to get up from the bed, unaware that the child’s eyes were dead set on her.

Sioh managed two steps when Odiva spoke again. The child’s voice was not her own. “You’ve tortured me for years. Grooming me, with the promise that I was the chosen one to be the next High Seer, when you already knew that seat was predestined to another.”

Sioh froze, unable to face her grandchild.

“You intend to do the same to my child? This is how you raise her? By lying to her?! To MY CHILD?”

This voice, Sioh knew it. All too well. Jahi, too, still remembered the voice of their mother. This time, Jahi’s frightened jerk saw the attendants pull away from her while more beads scattered on the floor.

“You went against fates, mother,” the child continued, her voice still distorted while tears streamed down her cheeks. “Why? Why do you insist on repeating the same mistakes?! My Odiva will be the Seers of all Seers! Greater even than Ammit! Free her from your grasp, and you will see! She will not need the guidance of the ancients, for they already bow to her! She will wed the seven horned demon, reborn from his ashes! Her children will unite and rule ALL of Hell while your bones will rot in purgatory. There will be nothing you can do to stop it, mother! NOTHING! Free my child! FREE HER NOW—”

“DIVA, STOP!!” Jahi cried as she reached, shook and held her young sister. It welcomed silence once again, with little Odiva blinking her teary eyes in confusion, wondering when was it that Jahi had come to embrace her.

Grandmother Sioh, remained very still, only a trembling lower lip and a thin coat of sweat on her brow revealed her distress.

“…Jahi?” Odiva muttered, reciprocating her sister’s hug. “You’re going to ruin your make-up.”

Jahi held her tighter still and Odiva felt her sister’s heart racing. “It’s alright. Never mind that.”

Jahi’s embrace somehow failed to offer the comfort it normally did. They then heard the familiar sound of their grandmother’s cane as she resumed her walk.

“Nana Sioh,” Jahi pleaded. “Won’t you do a cleanse?”

It was a moment before the old woman found her voice, but when she did, she did not face her grandchildren. Fear was something a Seer Sioh could not afford to betray. “We are beyond a cleanse, Jahi. I’m going ahead, as I must speak to the High Seer.”

“Nana Sioh, please.” Jahi tried, though something in her tone betrayed the hopelessness.

“Hurry up and get proclaimed, Jahi. Grow your powers, work hard, get married and leave this place. The ancients will reward you. If you care for your sister and your life, you will leave her behind. I’ll be dead before I manage anything more for her.” Sioh wobbled out of the room, leaving stunned silence behind her.

They remained in each other’s arms, the sisters, with either entertaining the other with useless comforting words. They had each other. Jahi was only a few years older, but to Odiva, Jahi was her hero and best friend. Jahi was all things Odiva aspired to be. It had been that way for as long as Odiva could remember.

Jahi flinched when Odiva burrowed further into her chest. 

“Diva!! Are you serious right now?!”

“They got bigger, Jahi. We’re sisters!! Why are mine taking so long to come?” Odiva sighed, poking one of her sister’s breasts as though they were soft feathery pillows. “Will they be as big as yours?” Odiva purred.

Jahi pulled away, protecting her chest from further assault. “M-mine aren’t that big! They will come when they come. And when they do, you’ll probably wish they weren’t so heavy. Who would want to carry such heavy… bubbles.”

Odiva giggled, astonishing Jahi further. One would think that their grandmother’s parting words were nothing but an old woman’s ramblings. That what had transpired moments before had been just a short nightmare.

One maid approached. It was time for Jahi to go.

“Please, please, please, promise you’ll tell me everything! Every single detail, pleeeaaase!”

Jahi nodded, and she stood carefully, not to damage whatever was left of her decorations. She stopped just before leaving the room and looked at her younger sister cheerfully admiring one of Jahi’s lost pearls that had been lost in her sheets. Odiva seemed like her oblivious self again, to which Jahi was grateful for. Perhaps it was for the best.

“Diva,” Jahi called out, her tone low. “You know Nana and I love you very much. Nana Sioh only wants the best for you. She just… has a hard time and gets confused in her old age. She… she misses our mother very much.”

Odiva lay on her bed and pulled the covers over herself. “No, that’s not it. She doesn’t miss mother, either. She’s just scared all the time. But it’s okay, I don’t care. I have you!”

The sisters exchanged one last smile before Odiva tucked herself under the covers. She stared at the ceiling of her room. She did not recall what had happened, but she must’ve said some hurtful things again for Nana Sioh to react like that. She had blanked out again, this time, right in front of Nana Sioh. Why did Nana Sioh have to get all gloomy about it, anyway?

A bit of fan art, anyone? I have shared these on Social Media, but thought I'd share them here as well, as I simply cannot get enough of them (ꈍᴗꈍ)!

Mammon and Haru, by Jen Leifire. Mammon should be looking at the album Haru is so eager to show him, but I don't think he has eyes or ears for it. He does love to see his Haru ramble on 💕💕. And yes, Jen confirmed Haru is wearing Mammon's shirt ;).

 Jen is the author of thriller BL novel - Escaping the Abyss. Jen has also just recently opened her commissions for chibis! 

Mammon and Haru, by Christy Oshima. I like to think Mammon borrowed Haru's glasses to look at his eyes under the moonlight 💕💕. Christy is the author of the noir novel set in New Orleans - Dance Macabre. Christy also has her chibi commissions open!

Here we have the rest of the gang taking a peek (and maybe some mental notes) at what Mammon and Haru are up to💕💕! MilieNa2022 is the gifted artist behind this illustration, who is also the creator of the comic - Like cat & Dog! Milie is also open for commissions!

Thank you all so much (*ˊᗜˋ*)/💕💕💕💕!!

Please check the links to the works of these creators in the description! Your support is always so much appreciated.