Kali’s choice

Kali stares at you, and you hear her whisper. “I’m sorry it took so long, mother...”

Her eyes close, and you hear her take a deep breath. The hand on your chest shakes slightly, as blood slowly drops onto it from your lips. You stand before her on shaky legs, your eyes locked onto her as your vision blurs.

Kali’s eyes open again, and she nods at you. “I’m sorry...and thank you, Josh...I want to become what I should be.”

With those words, a shudder runs through her body. Her eyes go wide, and she gasps, as a glow shines behind the black and red. The color of her eyes seems to crack as a golden glow seeps through. Her tears, which haven’t stopped, change to black and red as the color from her eyes bleeds out. In its place is brilliant gold with blue streaks, glowing brightly. The glow spreads over her body, and as it spreads, she CHANGES!

Her hair lightens from purple to red, and her horns seem to recede and vanish. Her bat wings grow and change, becoming angelic and feathered. Her skin fades to a pale human skin tone, and as the glow spreads, even her clothing changes, the gauntlets becoming black and gold gloves, a dress of golden cloth covering her, and her boots changing to black stockings.

As the glow reaches the hand on your chest, you gasp as energy flows into you. You wince as you feel your body mending itself, a wave of warmth washing over you. You drop to your knees, and Kali slowly kneels beside you, a look of awe on her face as she looks at the changes to herself.

“I...I’m different...I feel...I feel like a different person...thank you...” Falling forward against you, she hugs you, sobbing now.

Maya comes running over, her claws and scales receding. “My Josh! Are you ok?”

You nod to her. “Kali healed me...it worked, Maya. She...she has forsaken her father, and become what she was born to be.”

Kali is sobbing into your chest, just repeating “I’m sorry....I’m so sorry...”

Carefully, you gather her into your arms, and she wraps her angelic wings around you as you stand. You turn to Maya. “Let’s get her inside. There’s so much to explain. And she needs to apologize to everyone.”

Kali nods against your chest, repeating ‘I’m sorry’ over and over like a mantra. Maya nods.

“I can’t believe you planned this, my Josh...how did you know she wouldn’t kill you?”

You sheepishly grin. “I...didn’t. I played a hunch. If I’m honest, I didn’t even have a shield available. If she wanted, she could have destroyed me in a fight. But this was the only way to get through to her. I was worried though, coughing up blood is generally bad...”

Maya gives you a look that could melt steel, but you reach the door before she can say anything. The door is thrown open by Anna.

“M-master! We watched the whole thing! Are you ok?!”

“I’m fine. Kali healed me. We need to get her somewhere to rest, I imagine breaking the bond with the demon lord and transforming is hard on her, not to mention healing me. She’s barely conscious.”

Anna leads you to an empty bedroom and you lay the fading Lilim on the bed. She continues to mutter ‘I’m sorry’ even as she curls up in sleep. As you walk out of the room and close the door, a wave of lethargy washes over you.

“Anna, I need to rest. Can we save explanations until after I nap? Just wake me if Kali wakes, ok?”

“Of course, master. I will tell the others that you’re ok but need rest. We will wait for you to recover.”

“Thank you, Anna. I don’t need long, just time to breathe.”

With that you kiss her gently, and stagger into your room, collapsing onto your bed. You’re asleep before you can even lay down fully.