It Stays in the Family

This story comes courtesy of Dan O'Shea's challenge to write a story about a dysfunctional family dealing with the loss of a member and the consequent tussle over the fortune. Also, for every story he receives, he will donate $5 to Heartsprings, which is a center for children with autism. It's a great opportunity, folks, and if you want to help out with the cause, you can read more about it here. Oh, and Happy Birthday, Dan!

Of course my twisted little mind began turning it's rusty old gears and came up with this, um, interesting, tale.

I hope you enjoy!

IT STAYS IN THE FAMILY

When mama died, all hell broke loose. And I mean literally. A brimstone demon isn't supposed to go in their sleep like some coward, they're supposed to go down, if indeed they ever do, in battle, in a blaze of triumphant sulphur-laced glory. But she didn't, and now here I sit in this stinking, molded, 

mildew-encrusted attic holding my weapons pointed at the door, waiting for the legions of the others to come. 

They were unleashed for me - I should be flattered, really, because they don't just come out for anybody. But mama was important. She was the last breeding one of our kind here, and the most powerful. I'm the only child who decided to stay on earth. The rest went back to hell where they truly belonged. My soft heart and sensitive nature were considered a defect, an unnatural oddity, and they think I talked mama into dying like this. Now they want me dead, but they don't realize it's too late. I have it. 

That's right. 

When mama died, I stayed through until the end, and that's no easy feat, not even for another demon. The body decays fast, but every soul she has eaten will try to escape, impossibly, in a bright, implosion, and let me tell you, they will try every way they can to take you with them. Sound easy? It's not. I was holding onto the ceiling with my toes and claws dug in, tucked up tight, and I still barely escaped. Don't get me wrong, the only thing that would have happened is I would have gone back to hell, but that's not such a great option for me. One of the first stops is to be judged, and the last time I was down there, I kind of pissed Minos off. He told me he would get me the next time, and after he was done with me he would take me to dad, and I don't want dad to get a hold of me, that's for sure. Dad's already mad because I chose to stay here. 

No one understands me.

But back to the point. They think they can come up here, seek revenge on mama's death by killing me, and take the legacy. There's one big thing wrong with their plan.

I took the legacy myself. 

They will never expect this one. I almost want to let them live long enough to see their faces. I guess I have more brimstone in me than I thought.

I put the legacy in a box right after it was expelled from her, and don't make me say where it came from. Ugh. The legacy wasn't as big as I thought it would be, and I was so confused I didn't know what to do, so I just grabbed it. It's still in the box, and here it sits under me. I never let it out of my sight. 

I can feel them getting near. My skin has started burning, and my head is beginning to feel the pressure. Their anger and hatred radiates from them in a massive, pulsing cloud. They'll be here any minute. 

There's only one thing left to do.

I will have all of her power. Everything. They will have to kill me to take it, and not even their numbers will be enough.

They're scratching at the door. 

Mama, this is for you. 

Gulp.