Queen

"Jackson is my brother. He's Abel."

I froze in my seat and my heart dropped to the pit of my stomach. Mia had been dating Jackson for three years and Cain was just NOW telling me?! As if sensing my anger, Syn pulled off to the side of the empty road and turned the car off.

He gave me a quick kiss on the cheek before leaving the car and leaning against it. I knew he could hear whatever we talked about if he wanted to, but I appreciated the privacy even though it wasn't necessary. He was family and this was a family discussion.

"Syn, you can come back in," I said.

He turned to me from outside and shook his head before turning back away. I sighed and waited for Cain to say something, but he seemed like he was expecting me to.

"So you've known all this time?" I asked as I sat back in my seat and looked forward.

"No, I found out a week ago," he said.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Ew," he said. "This is going to be gross."

I played with the hem of my shorts and I heard him sigh from behind me. "My brother and I haven't always had the best relationship. I believed that it used to be his goal to steal everything that made me happy. He took my offering, my mother's love in a way, and he took Mia. I didn't want him taking you so I told him to stay away from you and I kept it a secret."

"Seriously, Cain?"

"I'm sorry," he said.

"You could never lose me, and you were stupid to think that you could."

"I know it was wrong, but it felt right at the time. It honestly still would have if dad didn't tell me the truth about things."

"What truth?" I turned around to face him and he ran a hand down his face in distress.

"Every bad thing that Abel has done to me has been an order from God," he said lowly.

"What?" I questioned. "So we don't hate him?"

"I don't know how I feel," he said. "There's a lot of history, but if he's not an asshole like I thought, then my little brother has been alone for thousands of years."

"Shit," I cursed. "Does Mia know? Does he know about me?"

"No, she doesn't know. As for him knowing about you, he found out, but I told him I'd stop going for Mia if he stayed away from you."

"And he agreed?"

"Well, he didn't know you and he's been with Mia for years. I guess he didn't feel like he was giving up anything."

"Oh," I said. "Then what do we do?"

"Well, I can't visit him without God knowing that I know. And dad can't go because God will know where he is. So there's not much we can do besides pretend we're clueless."

"Well," I started slowly. "What would happen if I went to see him?"

Cain furrowed his brows deep in thought, and a few moments later, he shrugged. "Nothing, I guess. You couldn't tell him that you know what I just told you though."

"Okay," I said with slow nods. "I want to go see him."

"Alright," he said. "Maybe-"

"Right now," I said.

"Queen, it's six in the morning."

"You think he's sleeping?" I asked.

"I don't know," he said with a shrug. "All I know is he's at his job by ten."

"Okay fuck it," I said. "Take me to him."

Syn then opened the door and got back in. I looked at him and he shook his head in disapproval. "You want to go visit a man you've never met before who has mental ties with God?"

"Sounds about right, yes."

"That's not happening."

"Wha-"

"You're not going, Queen," he said sternly.

"Yes, I am," I argued.

"Then I'm coming with you."

"No, you're not. I don't want to intimidate him, Syn."

"How would you be intimidating him if I come with you?" He asked seriously.

"Because you're scary as shit," Cain said. Syn rolled his eyes at him and shook his head. "Listen, my brother may be a lot of things, but I've never seen him hurt someone."

"But if God told him to he would, right?" Syn asked.

"I don't know," Cain said. "But my sister can take care of herself."

"What he said," I replied.

Syn eyed me for a long moment before letting out a breath and starting the car. "Fine." I smiled and ran my hand through his hair. I laughed softly when I noticed him holding back a smile and I dropped my hand.

"Where does he live?" I asked.

"I don't know," Cain shrugged. "Mia knows, but she won't tell me."

"I'll ask," I said as I pulled my phone out. I quickly dialed Mia's number and held the phone up to my ear as it rang.

After multiple rings, her groggy voice echoed through the phone. "Queen, you better be dying to call me this early."

"Sorry," I said with a nervous laugh. "I need to ask for a favor though."

"What?"

"I need Jackson's address," I admitted. I heard her groan into the phone and I frowned.

"Is this for Cain? He already asked me earlier."

"No, it's for me."

"Why do you want his address?" She asked curiously. "Do you know him?"

"Not exactly," I said.

"Then why?"

"Mia, I don't have time to explain—"

"Queen, I love you, but I hope you understand my hesitation when it comes to this."

"What are you talking about?" I asked. "I just need to speak to him."

"I'm sorry, but no. If I wanted to introduce you guys, I would have already. I'm not ready for that step yet."

I ran a hand through my hair in irritation and Syn held out his hand. I was confused as to why until he pointed at my phone and I hesitantly passed it to him.

"Everyone is going to be nice because they like you, but I truly despise you," Syn said calmly. "If the address is not sent to Queen's number within the next minute, not only will I kill you, but I'll kill Jackson too. We're only asking you for convenience. Not because we can't get it without you."

Syn then hung up the phone before she could speak and I looked at him stunned. "You probably scared her, now she won't-"

"She will," he said as he glanced at me. "You have to remember that there was a point in time where Mia and I were close. No matter how much therapy she's been in, deep down she's the same girl."

"I don't think that's accu—"

My phone dinged in Syn's hand and he gave me an 'I told you so' look before unlocking my phone and reading the address. I was a bit unsettled that he knew her better than I did, but I let it go. Now wasn't the time for jealousy.

Syn passed my phone back to me after he memorized it and I sat back. I don't know why I didn't think about waiting to go see Abel. I wasn't even dressed properly. I was wearing shorts and one of Syn's grey long sleeve shirts. My hair wasn't even done.

My first impression would be this and I wasn't sure I was okay with that. With my newfound nervousness, I looked between Syn and Cain and shook my head. "Maybe I should wait until another day. It may be too early."

"Nope," Syn said. "Since you insisted, you'll go now."

"Ugh," I groaned as I crossed my arms. I was convinced at this point that Syn got off on making me upset. "Fine I guess, I don't know how long I'll be gone but I need the both of you to do something for me."

"What?" They said together.

"I think Cleo is going to see Dimitri today, but I need one of you to get information from Lilith about how to take Sebastian out of him-..." I was cut off by another thought crossing my mind and I shook my head. "Also, check if it's possible to remove a soul from their own body and move it to another. I want Dimitri to have the choice because I know he hates his body after everything."

"So torture Lilith?" Cain asked.

"If you have to," I said. "I'd do it but...I don't think I can."

"Well," Cain said. "I'd love to help, but I don't abuse women."

"Says the man that spanks women for a living," Syn muttered.

"That's different. It's consensual," he corrected.

"Hmm, I'm pretty sure I've also seen you choke your mother," Syn said.

"Hey, hey... this isn't about me," Cain said defensively. "We're talking about Queen's mother.

"I'll take care of it," Syn assured me.

"Thank you."

"Is there anything else I can do?" Cain asked.

"Yes actually," I said.

"What?"

"Tell Mia who Jackson is."

"Yeah no, are you crazy?" He exclaimed.

"We shouldn't be lying to her like this. She should know. Especially if they do get back together at some point."

"Wouldn't that hurt Abel?" He asked. "He's not telling her for a reason. He should be the one to reveal it."

"Hmm," I hummed. "You got out of that one."

"Of course," he laughed.

As we neared the border realms in Juva, Syn whispered a chant and a red light glowed around us. When it disappeared we were back in the underworld and I frowned. "Abel lives in the Underworld?"

"Yes, he does," Cain said.

Strange.

"Okay, anyway," I segued. "Let's talk about something else until we get there. I'm so nervous."

"Why are you nervous?" Cain asked. "He's a fucking dork."

"Change the subject, Cain," I whined.

"Okay, I have a question."

"What?" Syn asked.

"How soon is too soon to text a girl after hanging out?" He questioned.

"You should wait a couple of days," I said.

"Why?" Syn and Cain asked in unison.

"I mean, that's what I would do if I were a guy," I said with a shrug. "Let them miss me a little bit, you know?"

"You'd definitely be a player if you were a man," Syn muttered. "If you like her then just text her when it feels right. Don't play games."

Syn continued giving him advice and as they got lost in their conversation, I got lost in my head. His previous statement ran through my mind. Questions stemmed from it and I tried to find an answer myself, but nothing was coming up. I truly didn't know what he would say.

"Sorry to interrupt," I started apologetically. "But I have a question, Syn."

"Mhmm?"

"Okay so," I said as I took a deep breath. "Hypothetically..."

"Fuck, here we go," Syn mumbled.

"Would you still love me if I were a man?"

Cain burst out into laughter and Syn shook his head, but this was a serious question to me. I knew he got tired of my hypothetical questions, but it didn't stop me from asking. If I didn't let it be known, I'd be thinking about it all day.

"Queen, are you serious?" He asked.

"Yes."

"I'm not gay," he said sincerely as he looked at me.

"But what if I had the same personality and everything? Just a different body," I offered.

"Syn, the only right answer is yes," Cain laughed.

"Would you still love me if I were a woman?" Syn countered.

"Of course," I replied honestly. "You'd be a pretty sexy woman."

"Oh, my fucking..."

Cain's laugh only increased at Syn's new stressed demeanor and I smiled in his direction. I turned back to Syn when he still didn't answer and I raised my brow.

"Queen," he whispered as he shook his head. "I don't know about that."

"Wow, so you only love me for my body?" I joked.

"No, that's not true at all," he said. "You know it isn't."

"You love my mind?"

"Yes," he said slowly.

"My heart?"

"Definitely."

"Okay, those will be the same. I'll just be in a new body. What's the issue?" I questioned.

"You know what?" Syn asked. "I would love you regardless. You can now add that to the list of things that I'd still love you being."

"There are more?" Cain asked as he wiped his teary eyes.

"Yup," Syn answered. "So far a fly, if she had no body, if she had no legs, a fish...your sister is a fucking mess, Cain."

"Hey, be nice," I frowned as I shoved his arm.

He laughed softly and the car came to a slow. I looked outside the window to see a small neighborhood with mansion-styled houses. "This is where he lives?"

"Yes," Syn said slowly as he neared the driveway of one house. "This is it." He turned off the car and turned to me and I nodded. "Be safe, please."

"I will."

꧁꧂

Author's Note
Me in Abel's house when I saw them pull up in the driveway😭

The author notes will be short in the next few chapters so y'all just...
Lmk your thoughts ✨