When I was a kid, my parents used to fight a lot.But there was one night—one I can't forget, no matter how much I try.
I was six.
I heard my father dragging my mother to the bedroom. Then the sounds started—ugly, violent sounds—and her voice breaking under them. I thought it was just another fight, so I hid in my room and cried silently until morning.
I still remember walking around the house at sunrise. She was in the bathroom… naked, bruised, covered in bite marks.She tried to hide it, but I was a kid. I wasn't stupid.I hated myself for doing nothing.
If only I had killed him sooner.Why did she stay? Why did she tolerate him?
Jester's voice cut through my thoughts.
"Your mother's sin isn't the reason you became genderless," he said, lighting a cigarette. Smoke curled around his face. "When a human accepts Lucifer's deal, their human form dies. What remains is the shape of the soul itself. Your current appearance—your 'genderlessness'—isn't a defect. It's the reflection of your wounds."
He touched my shoulder gently and smiled.
"Once you move on, it will change. But for now? You're basically a doll."
Lust started laughing. Jester joined her.I just grinned bitterly.
"Yeah, yeah. Hilarious."
Once they calmed down, Lust asked,"So… are we really heading to the Middle East?"
I asked, "Any of you ever been there?"
Jester answered casually, "All of us. We're the reason that region is falling apart. Wars, sects, religious conflicts—we stirred most of it."
Lust shrugged. "We could start with corrupting the remaining Christian cults instead. But I don't mind either way."
Jester nodded. "Either path works. But I think Sammail should decide."
I had zoned out. Half of what they were saying meant nothing to me. I was an atheist when I was alive—this whole supernatural political mess was beyond me.
So I asked, "I have a question. If my mother was the strongest of the fallen, and I'm her heir… how did you beat my ass that easily? And what exactly were her abilities?"
Jester laughed."Sammail, I beat you because you're a newborn. Corruption isn't a combat-type sin."
Lust glared at him. "You hit him?"
"It's fine," I muttered. "Go on."
Jester smirked."Your mother was the oldest of us. She could overpower any fallen beneath her. But her true strength wasn't combat—it was influence. She could corrupt humans, forge contracts nearly equal to Lucifer's, even bend angels to her will."
I sighed. "Meaning I'm useless if an angel decides to kill me?"
Lust shook her head."Half true. You can read desires, confront them, and twist them. Even the strongest hearts can fall. And no angel will touch you—immortals like us corrupt any heavenly being that comes too close."
She glanced at Jester."Right?"
"Correct," he said. "Now let's change the subject. Something… fun."
"Agreed," I said instantly.
We talked for a while, mostly jokes about my "doll" issue—annoying, but harmless. Eventually Lust left, leaving me alone with Jester.
He suddenly asked, "Sammail, do you hate me?"
I froze.
I picked up a small rock beside me, staring at it."…I can't hate you. Or anyone. After everything I've done, the only one I can hate is myself. My emotions are fading… but self-hatred stays."
He burst into laughter.
"You really are a piece of shit, Sammail."
"You too, my friend," I said. "Now my turn to ask something."
His smile sharpened. "Shoot."
"What did you do to my stepmother? To Adam? After you knocked me out?"
His smile twisted—something darker.The air shifted. My body trembled.
"Don't worry about that, my dear," he said softly. "You won't be seeing him again."
And then he vanished.
I stared into the empty air.
"Something's not right with him… but fine. I was going to kill Adam anyway."