Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck—

Meir poofed himself home. "This is all your fault—"

He turned around, pointing at her. Lily cooed.

"Yes! Your fault! She thinks I care about her now, I don't! Not about her and definitely not about you, poopy baby, who doesn't sleep and keep biting at me with no teeth."

Lily gummed her hand quietly. He frequently ranted and she'd learned to ignore him. Meir heated her bottle in his hand.

"I'll have you know—both of you—that I fully intend to eat her soul! I do! I just...not yet. I'm full. I'm currently—just not hungry. Probably not gonna be for like a hundred years and if she's dead by then...that's just a coincidence." He scoffed, testing the bottle on his arm, and putting it her mouth.

"I would consume your soul, but you're half mine now. You won't taste good. So...that's really just palate. Not pity or sympathy. And sure no affection. I don't care about you, tiny baby child."

Lily closed her eyes, eating silently.

Meir nodded, content she'd got the message. "I wonder if you enjoy the dreams too. Of your mother holding you? She's very happy to get them. I don't care about you, but she does."

Meir found himself smiling. He shook his head. "No matter. I am tired of you. You must grow up quickly. I am sick your smell, and feeding you, and you're stopping me from living my best, newly free life, Hm? Get old soon! Like...tomorrow. How old do you have to be for me to abandon you?"

Lily opened her eyes, the skull barrette on her soft little hair turning a bit. He fixed it. He softly rubbed her cheek before smiling.

"I am your father now. Half your DNA is mine it's why you're alive. I went in, and basically changed all of your molecules by hand. So...whoever I dump you with is going to have a hell of time raising you. Don't worry. I'll brainwash them to think you're normal. To love you. And to kill themselves for you if you ever ask."

Lily yawned, her bottle dropping out of her mouth.

She was tired, her little eyes drooping.

"You have my eyes," Meir whispered. "I can't even see them in the mirror anymore. I almost forgot what they looked like." He smiled softly.

Meir picked her up, rocking her softly. "You've inherited my beauty, Lily. Ah...be careful. It started wars. Mix your mother and me...don't make the mistake I did. Beauty can be taken."

• • •

Lana yawned, waking once more after a dream of her daughter. She got up, getting ready for the day. Meir had not been back, she assumed he was looking for his magical pen.

Or whatever he was actually doing. She went to work as normal. Something felt better.

The air cooled. She grinned, turning around. Meir smirked. "Did you bring gifts?"

He nodded. She closed her eyes. He chuckled, kissing her shoulder, putting his hands around her waist, and opening his hands.

"Okay. Open."

Lana looked down finding a bottle. She gasped, lifting her to her eyes. She looked back at him with a smile.

"Is this?"

He nodded. "She eats well."

Lana sighed softly, her eyes welling up with tears. "Meir...thank you."

He kissed her neck, his hands drifting down her torso resting on her hips.

"She has all her shots. She eats well. Poops well. And only sleeps to a Lullaby I made out of desperation."

"What is it?" She grinned.

"You won't like it."

"Try me."

He cleared his throat singing in a language she didn't understand. "Roughly it translates to...suffer suffer scram in pain blood is spilling from your brain."

Lana frowned before laughing. "That's terrible!"

"I know I said you won't like it!"

Lana turned around in his arms. "Okay. So...you found your pen?"

He frowned. "Pen? What pen?"

"For the contract?"

"That pen! Well...no. No, I...I don't have it. I'll have to forge a new one."

Lana cocked her head. "How will that take?"

He shrugged. "I don't know. I have to get a quote from my...guy."

"You were imprisoned for eons...who could you possible know?"

"Exactly! I have to find a whole new guy. It could take awhile, I really wouldn't mind it. Lily isn't a problem, and I'm...full. I don't need your soul just yet."

"Oh don't be silly. I have to do something. I want to show you my appreciation."

"You don't have to—"

"Nonsense. You revived my precious child without even taking anything from me. And you're taking care of her. And those dreams," she cupped his face. "Come here. Next Friday. I'll have a surprise for you." She kissed his cheek.

Meir licked his lips. "Okay. I'll be back then, Lana."