Daughter to Demons

by Jeffrey M. Mahr and Levanah

Chapter Fifteen:
An Unconventional Convention

Two’s company, three’s a crowd, and four make a vice ring.
― Thorne Smith, Turnabout (1930)

If you have never been to a convention, you should go, at least once, for the experience. Each one is different, yet each is the same. Always a different theme, sometimes different attendees, but never a dull moment. There is something about a convention that brings out the worst in some people. Usually, it is funny hats and alcoholic beverages with strange names. Sometimes there is a notable prank or two. Jackie was impressed to discover that supernatural conventions were no different.

You would think that folks who lived and breathed magic would actually try for something different — say, normalcy — at their convention, but no such luck. The self-imposed restraint required by the Compact required most of the participants to hide their magical abilities in order to live safely among the humans. The remaining creatures were able to use their magical abilities, but because they were not able to appear human, they had to stay hidden, so they were even more eager than the others to show off their skills. Of course, it didn’t help that the grand prize at the end of the conference was awarded to the creature that had demonstrated the most unique use of magic over the five days of the conference.

As far as the mortal world was concerned, Calaca E. was closed for remodeling. Instructions were that all convention-goers entering via the streets were to appear as construction workers. All others were given either a rooftop landing site or an underground entry. Jackie, of course, just flitted in in her incorporeal state, since parking was a bit of a problem on convention days, or so the invitation said when it arrived, exactly one day ahead of time.

She was just as glad, since being incorporeal meant that she got to choose her outfit after seeing how everyone else was dressed.

The interior of Calaca E. looked exactly the same, down to the faint aroma of vomit emanating from the men’s bathroom door in the hall behind the stage. If there were renovations, Jackie couldn’t see them. It wasn’t until you entered the door that said “Staff Only” on the other side of the bathroom that there was anything unusual. The door opened into a small storage room, cluttered with boxes, but when you turned to leave, there was a row of three buttons on the wall instead of a light switch.

There was a piece of paper covering the lowest of three buttons with a handwritten note saying “Convention, Middle Button.” Shuddering as she imagined what a demon like Lilith might have on the lowest level, Jackie pushed the middle button and felt a slight jerk and the pull of gravity was diminished for a moment. The storage room was evidently an elevator.

In a few seconds, there was a quiet “ding” and the back wall, boxes and all, disappeared, leaving a wide opening into a cavernous room. Cavernous was the right word, Jackie thought, as she examined the scene before her. The room was oval-shaped and easily large enough and high enough for a major league football game with plenty of room for the stands. Flames flickered from torches, set on sconces about ten feet up on the stone walls and circling the room like a series of wavering dots every three or four feet. Additional lighting came from the reflections of the torches off thousands, possibly millions, of jewels embedded in the arched, stalactite-filled ceiling, bringing the overall lighting to only slightly dimmer than one might expect at a hotel’s convention room, so the jewels must have been amplifying the light through magical means. The floors were stone, worn almost perfectly flat, as far as she could see, not quite like a dance floor, but nothing like the average concrete patio either. She could almost see her reflection in the polished stone. Not seeing a water source to explain the floors, Jackie could imagine Lilith sending slaves to march about for century after century until their continued tramping had created the smooth surface.

Chiding herself for thinking so poorly of her mother, Jackie moved on to the mingled humans and creatures wandering in small groups through a maze of tables laden with brochures and small items for sale, separated by cloth-covered dividers that could have been at any convention. With a sigh, Jackie stepped out of the elevator and started searching for Sarah, Lilith, or anyone else she knew.

“Jackie. Jackie!” Before she could completely turn, Jackie felt feet running up the side of her body and then a light tittering laugh at her right ear.

“Hello, Colleen,” Jackie replied with a smile. Something about the ebullient little leprechaun made it hard not to feel happy when she was around, and she really was “as light as a feather.” Jackie could barely feel the leprechaun on her shoulder. “How’s the Convention going?”

“There be several new Gods ye might be after wishing ta meet. The ogres be a bit crude. Avoid them I’d recommend, unless ye likes being propositioned in the most direct manner. Lilith be holdin’ court in the chapel at the far side o’ the hall and all be expected ta stop by and pay homage to her Majesty. Oh, and watch what ya eat and drink lest ye be feelin’ amorous. The witches ‘ve brewed an especially strong batch o’ love potion. Works on those like you an’ me too, it does.”

“Have you seen Sarah?”

“Aye, she be with Lilith.”

“Oh sh… shoot! I’d better get over there fast. She’s an innocent and there’s no telling what schemes Lilith might try out on her. Where did you say Lilith was holding court?”

Colleen pointed and Jackie headed off at as rapid a pace as she could manage through the crowds. About half way to the other side, Colleen saw someone she knew and jumped off Jackie’s shoulder with a wave and a giggle.

Lilith was in a smaller cavern, but only in the sense that the Pentagon is smaller than the Grand Canyon. The room was about the size of a basketball court. It looked the same as the main cavern, yet somehow felt more ominous. The far half of the room was taken up by a row of thirteen broad, flat steps leading up to a huge bejeweled throne upon which Lilith sat, looking down upon her court with regal hauteur. Heads bowed in homage, a pair of succubi stood, one on each side of each step, but they were in demonic form rather than that of human women. Standing about five feet from Lilith, chatting away as if it were the most natural thing imaginable, stood Sarah.

“Sarah! Are you okay? What lies has she been telling you?” Jackie called out as she ran toward the throne.

Sarah looked up and waved merrily, but Lilith snarled and waved a hand. Immediately, the two succubi on the lowest step jumped between Jackie and the throne. Also snarling, they crouched, claws extended, clearly blocking the way.

Surprised, Jackie skidded to a stop.

“What’s going on here?” she called out to Lilith.

An eyebrow raised just enough to be seen and then Lilith returned to her more familiar, cynical and contemptuous gaze. Finally, just before Jackie was about to ask again, Lilith waved a finger indolently and then said, “You enter my domain, publicly insult me with your vile slurs, and then expect to be treated as an equal? Play with your sisters. Best them and you might hold some interest for me. If not, perhaps I’ll destroy you.” With that she settled herself into a more comfortable position on the throne and waited.

“I didn’t come here to fight with anyone,” Jackie called out, primarily to Lilith, but also to the two succubi beginning to circle her cautiously.

Lilith sniffed in her general direction. “If so, you chose inappropriately hostile opening remarks, now didn’t you?”

To Jackie’s chagrin, Sarah nodded in seeming agreement, and then she had to look out for her two sisters, who were near to closing with her.

When the one on the left was nearly behind her, she lunged and Jackie jumped aside, which put her within reach of the second succubus, who almost playfully clawed at her arm before pushing her away with a hard shove.

The first turned to Lilith and with a curt but respectful bow asked, “Is this one truly worth our effort, Majesty?”

“Do you question me, Mary?”

“Of course not, Majesty. I merely sought enlightenment.” With that, the one called Mary turned and began a sinuous series of rapid jabs and feints, each designed to push Jackie further from the throne without seriously hurting her. Against her will, Jackie had to admire her skill, which looked like some sort of Chinese martial art, as stylized and graceful as the two women warriors in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. When Jackie was at least thirty feet further away from her goal, Mary stopped and looked back to Lilith for further direction.

“What do you hope to accomplish by this, Lilith?” Jackie called out.

“Why to teach you respect, my daughter.”

“For whom, Lilith? You, or for two lovely broads with the tiniest of chips on their shoulders? What’s the point?” Jackie asked and gestured toward vaguely toward Mary, since she didn’t know the other.

With a shriek, Mary lunged, only to fall through Jackie, who had become insubstantial and flowed… right through her, winding up on the other side of both of them, and far closer to the throne.

“My dear sisters, I’m becoming bored with this, and I’m a little irritable, having recently wrestled with Semangelaf over the meaning of life and duty.”

At the sound of his name, both of her sisters stopped short and looked around fearfully. “You lie!” said the one who wasn’t Mary.

“Nope. We had a nice chat down at the bus station when I was trying to leave town, and he convinced me that my proper place was right here. I have family obligations, it seems, so … Hi! My name is Jackie, and I’m very pleased to meet you.” She held out her hand.

Not-Mary narrowed her brows in suspicion and said, “Why?”

“Because however much our mother may delight in continuing squabbles to alleviate the tedium of a long life, I figure we owe each other some small courtesies. I apologize for any offense I’ve given, whether consciously or through inadvertent error. I’m an orphan, actually, and never had that much of a family life, although to be fair, my boyfriend’s uncle has been very nice to me recently, and his wife has been perfectly charming as well. But you’re my sisters, and likely, if you survive the attentions of the three angels, to outlive all my mortal relations, so we might be able to help one another along life’s highway. I might well be of some assistance to you along the way, since I managed to wrest from Semangelaf the secret of survival and long life, which I thought you might like to know. Believe it or not, I think that I might quite like you both, once we all got to know one another better. I’ve met Mary, so what’s your name, Sister?” Again she held out her hand.

“Her name is Jane,” said Mary, “and don’t turn to her for mercy. I’m merely waiting for her to tire herself out and admit that I am her better.”

“Never!” Jane screamed and lunged at Mary.

As the two struggled, Jackie watched for a moment before quietly walking up to them and gathering them both into her arms, which they seemed somehow unable to resist, and she kissed them both, one after another, with as much love as she could muster. Startled, they stopped fighting and stared at her in horror.

“All you need is love, Mary and Jane, dearest of sisters, my only sisters, actually, at least that I know of right now. All you need is love, and I love you both with all my heart, so I’ll tell you how to live forever, perfectly safe from the unpleasant attentions of Semangelaf and his pals. Every day, do something nice for someone, and try not to play anyone any nasty tricks; that’s the entire secret. Let this become your habit and the three angels will let you go your way in peace, and you’ll live a long and happy life.” Then she gave them both a friendly hug, kissed them both again, and then walked past them while they stood dumbfounded.

Then she strolled up to Lilith’s throne. She was actually surprised to make it without being attacked by someone else, but wasn’t going to complain. Stopping just one step below the throne, she asked with as much dignity as she could muster, “Are we done playing games, Mother? I apologize for my insensitive remarks. I was being belligerent and stupid, and my cutting remark sprang from my own insecurity.”

Lilith seemed to be ticked off, for some strange reason. “Of course not, youngster, as long as you continue your infantile rebellion, but having succeeded in today’s task I will offer a brief reprieve. Ask your question.”

“You mean questions,” she said. “I might have several….”

“We’ll see, won’t we?” Lilith interrupted with an deprecatory wave.

“Or do I have to go all sweetness and light in the middle of your throne room?”

“Very good, Daughter,” Lilith smiled evilly, “a nasty threat following public insults. How many other large and small acts of mischief and discord can you initiate and still remain that which you think you are.”

The last was muttered sotto voce, but Jackie still heard it and finally understood. Lilith wanted a daughter like herself, not a cupid, and she was mad at her. Well, two could play that game. “And how many acts of good before you join me, dear mother? Should we all join hands in singing Campfire Girl songs together?” she asked sweetly. “Oh, Wo-he-lo, Oh, Wo-he-lo We raise our song to you, For we’ll ever be true in whatever we do, Oh, Wo-he-lo, we sing to you.” She had a lovely soprano voice, but it seemed to irritate her mother for some reason.

“Right, only one question it is, whelp. I suggest you make it a good one.” She sneered at her.

“Certainly, Mommy,” Jackie offered in her best little girl voice. It was one thing to be a representative of good, but there was nothing that said she couldn’t have some fun doing it. Besides, she really only had one question anyway. The rest would have been just efforts to get to know her mother a little better. The thought surprised her at first, but she quickly realized that it was true. As an orphan, she really didn’t care who her mother was, as long as she had one. It gave her a warm feeling of belonging that she had rarely felt before and it felt great.

“Stop that!” Lilith screamed in pain. Even Mary and Jane looked up at that, looking first to Lilith to see what they belatedly needed to do to protect their queen and then sheepishly at each other.

“Sorry, Mother,” Jackie replied, although nowhere as chagrined as would have been needed to satisfy Lilith. Moving on quickly, because Sarah looked as if she was getting ticked off at her antics as well, Jackie asked her question, “Who robbed Perlmutter’s Jewelry Store?”

“Not me,” she said airily, as insouciant as if she’d been asked to name Santa’s backup reindeer, “and I could hardly care less.”

“Look, Lilith, you’re one of the most powerful woman on Earth. You’re either involved in, or aware of, just about everything of significance that happens in this city. You must know.”

“I take no interest in gossip,” she said loftily, “unlike that money-grubbing little leprechaun whose company you’ve been seen in lately.” You couldn’t miss the disgust in her voice as she mentioned Colleen. “That’s why I told you to come to this convention. Even I am not omnipotent, but I strongly suspect that someone here does know. You just need to stop wasting my valuable time with blather and start interviewing conventioneers.”

Copyright © 1998, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2009 by Jeffrey M. Mahr

Copyright © 2011 by Levanah