Aria's eyebrows shot up. "Wait, what? You were Liam?" Her confusion was evident as she splashed forward in the bath. "What do you mean by that? Like you possessed that mortal or something?"

  "No," I shook my head, water droplets scattering from my white hair. "I mean I literally was Liam. I lived his life—or I should say, my life—as him."

  Isabella's eyes narrowed, her analytical mind clearly working through the implications. "Explain."

  I took a deep breath, the jasmine-scented steam filling my lungs. "I grew up in an orphanage on Earth. No parents, no family that I knew of. After graduating, I went to university for engineering. Got a job as engineer at a firm in London. Had a small apartment, a few friends if I can call them that." I paused, memories of that other life washing over me. "And I was dating Faith."

  "Faith?" Aria's eyes widened. "The VCD agent? That Faith?"

  "Yes," I nodded. "Though back then, I had no idea what she really did for a living. She told me she was a digital artist."

  Isabella leaned forward, her silver hair floating on the water's surface. "Continue."

  "Four months ago, I went to sleep as Liam and woke up in this body." I gestured down at myself. "I was terrified. I had no idea what was happening, where I was, or why I suddenly had... different parts." I gave a wry smile. "When Anastasia, an imp servant came in calling me 'Princess Lily' and mentioned I'd been in a coma for five hundred years, I just played along. I was afraid of what might happen if anyone found out the truth."

  "A prudent approach," Isabella nodded approvingly.

  "Since the real Lily had been in a coma, it was easy to explain away any strange behaviour. I even pretended to have memory loss." I sank deeper into the water. "At first, I was desperate to find my old body—to find Liam. I thought if I could just get back there, everything would make sense again."

  I traced patterns in the water's surface with my fingertip. "But then something strange happened. I started getting used to being Lily. I started... enjoying it." My voice dropped lower. "There was a point where I caught myself thinking about what would happen if I just... disposed of my old body so I could stay as Lily permanently."

  "And this was before you knew Cain was possessing it?" Isabella asked.

  "Yes," I admitted. "By the time we confronted Cain, I'd already made up my mind that I didn't want to go back. The day he killed us, I'd decided to cut all loose ends."

  Aria nodded vigorously. "Smart move. Why go back to being some boring mortal when you could be a succubus princess?"

  I smiled faintly. "During that final battle with Cain, I realized something else. I still had feelings for Faith. The real reason I came back to Earth wasn't for revenge against Cain—it was to save her."

  I sighed, leaning my head back against the marble. "And now I've left Faith to protect her, which is ironic since that's the exact same reason she broke up with me when I was still Liam. She thought her dangerous job would put me at risk."

  The bath water rippled around us as I fell silent for a moment.

  "But here's the strangest part," I continued finally. "I'm not even sure anymore if I really am just Liam. With each passing day, I doubt it more and more. At first, I refused to entertain any other possibility, but now... I've started getting flashbacks of Lily's memories."

  I looked between my two friends, their faces attentive in the steam. "I'm not sure who I really am anymore. Was I Liam who somehow ended up in Lily's body? Or was I always Lily who somehow ended up in Liam's body at some point?"

  Aria's lips curved into a warm smile. "You know what? It doesn't matter." She waved her hand dismissively, sending ripples across the bath water. "To me, you've always been Lily."

  "But I wasn't even a proper succubus at first," I protested. "I was terrified of feeding, of my own body—"

  "And now?" Aria raised an eyebrow. "You were maybe a bit awkward at the beginning, but I can say with utmost certainty that you're a succubus through and through." Her violet eyes sparkled mischievously as she leaned closer. "Something I learned during our nights together." She winked suggestively, her tail flicking droplets of water into the air.

  Isabella nodded, her silver hair gleaming in the soft light. "I can attest to that."

  Any other time, I would have groaned at Aria's innuendo, rolled my eyes, or splashed water at her. But tonight, her words felt like a lifeline thrown to someone drowning in uncertainty. "Thank you," I said softly.

  Isabella's ice-blue eyes studied me with that penetrating gaze of hers. "Whoever you were before, you're now where you belong. And even if you were Liam before..." she shrugged elegantly, "it doesn't matter anymore. You're now Lily."

  Relief washed over me, more soothing than the warm bath water surrounding us. But a nagging doubt remained. "You're not mad that I lied to you both? All this time?"

  Isabella actually laughed, the sound echoing off the marble walls. "Please. We're demons. Lying is practically second nature to us."

  "Besides," she added, her expression turning thoughtful, "the answer might be more straightforward than you think."

  "What do you mean?" I asked, Aria echoing my question almost simultaneously.

  Isabella leaned back against the edge of the bath, her posture relaxed but her eyes sharp. "Do you really believe Lucifer and Lilith would fail to notice someone else was controlling their daughter's body?"

  The question hit me like a bucket of ice water. I sat up straight, sending waves across the bath. "What are you saying?"

  "Think about it," Isabella continued. "Your parents are two of the most powerful beings in Hell. Lilith is the first succubus, with powers beyond what most can comprehend. And Lucifer? He's a fallen angel with abilities that rival lesser gods."

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  I remembered my father's lessons, his patient guidance as he taught me Divine Magic. The way he looked at me with such pride when I created even the smallest spark of light.

  "They've been watching you closely since you woke up," Isabella pointed out. "Your mother visited the Academy multiple times. They invited you home for your break. If you weren't truly their daughter—if some random mortal soul had somehow hijacked their precious child's body—don't you think they would have noticed?"

  Aria's eyes widened. "That... actually makes sense."

  My mind raced through every interaction with my parents since waking up. The way my mother held me that first day, her relief palpable. My father's quiet joy at having me back. The family dinners, the private lessons, the little gestures of affection.

  "But I don't understand," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "If I am truly Lily, then why did I spent 26 years as Liam? Why don't I remember anything?"

  Isabella shrugged. "That, I don't know. But perhaps there's more to your coma than just sleeping for five hundred years."

  I remembered what Naamah had discovered during her examination—the remnant of a curse, the spell that had rebounded on its caster. The name my mother had spat with such venom: Michael.

  I stood up from the bath, water cascading down my body as I reached for a plush towel. My mind still churned with questions, but something had shifted inside me. The crushing weight of uncertainty—of not knowing who I truly was—had lifted, if not completely then at least enough for me to breathe easier.

  "Thank you," I said again, wrapping the towel around myself. "Both of you."

  Aria grinned as she rose from the water, completely unconcerned with her nakedness. "For what? Being the most amazing friends a girl could ask for?"

  I laughed, the sound surprising me with its lightness. "Yes, actually."

  Isabella stepped out with her characteristic grace, reaching for her own towel. "We've fought together, hunted together, and nearly died together," she said matter-of-factly. "I think we're well past the point of simple friendship."

  "We're practically sisters at this point," Aria declared, vigorously drying her hair. "Sexy, incestuous sisters who—"

  "Aria!" I cut her off, but couldn't help laughing.

  Isabella rolled her eyes, though a smile played at the corners of her mouth. "Must you make everything inappropriate?"

  "It's a gift," Aria replied with a theatrical bow.

  As we dried off and began dressing, I found myself studying my reflection in one of Isabella's ornate mirrors. Red eyes stared back at me, framed by white hair that cascaded down my back. I traced the curve of my horns with my fingers, feeling their smooth texture.

  This was me. Lily Morningstar. Daughter of Lilith and Lucifer. Princess of Hell.

  Perhaps I had once been someone else—a human engineer named Liam who lived a quiet life on Earth. Whether it was a curse, a spell gone wrong, or something else entirely that had caused me to end up here, I couldn't say. Not yet.

  But I knew who I was now.

  "You look deep in thought," Isabella observed, fastening the clasps on her dress.

  I turned away from the mirror. "Just... accepting things, I think."

  "Good," she nodded approvingly. "Acceptance is the first step toward mastery."

  Aria snorted as she pulled on her boots. "Always so formal, Bella. What she means, Lily, is that it's about damn time you stopped moping."

  "I wasn't moping," I protested.

  "You were definitely moping," Aria countered. "All 'oh no, who am I really?' and 'what if I'm not who I think I am?'" She mimicked a dramatic pose, hand pressed to her forehead.

  I threw my damp towel at her, which she caught with a laugh.

  "I was having an existential crisis, thank you very much," I said with mock indignation.

  "Same thing," Aria shrugged.

  Isabella finished dressing and began combing her silver hair. "What will you do now?" she asked, her tone more serious. "About your parents, I mean. Will you tell them what you've learned?"

  The question gave me pause. I hadn't thought that far ahead yet. "I... don't know," I admitted. "Part of me wants to ask them directly about what happened. About the curse, about Michael, about why I spent centuries in a coma only to wake up with no memories of being Lily."

  "But?" Isabella prompted.

  "But another part of me wonders if it's better to wait," I said slowly. "To see if more memories return on their own. To understand more before I confront them."

  Aria, now fully dressed, flopped onto one of Isabella's plush chairs. "If it were me, I'd want answers right away. But then again, my mother isn't the Queen of Hell."

  I smiled wryly. "Exactly."

  "Whatever you decide," Isabella said, setting down her comb, "we'll support you."

  Aria nodded emphatically. "Damn right we will."

  Warmth bloomed in my chest that had nothing to do with the hot bath we'd just left. I'd never had friends like this before—at least, not that I could remember. As Liam, I'd had colleagues, acquaintances, Faith... but nothing like this bond forged in both pleasure and danger.

  "So, what now?" Aria asked, stretching like a cat in her chair. "Holiday ends and we go back to classes? Pretend we didn't just kill an ancient vampire and save some mortal city from becoming a giant sacrifice?"

  I laughed. "Before that, I think we've earned a reward, don't you think?"

  Isabella raised an elegant eyebrow. "What did you have in mind?"

  A sudden idea struck me. "You know, I seem to recall making a promise to someone about a shopping spree."

  Aria sat bolt upright, her eyes widening. "Are you serious?"

  "Absolutely," I nodded. "I did promise, didn't I?"

  Aria squealed with delight, launching herself from the chair to tackle me in a hug that nearly knocked me off my feet. "You're the best! Oh my infernal darkness, we're going to buy so many things!"

  Isabella watched us with amusement. "I assume this shopping expedition includes me as well?"

  "Of course," I said, extricating myself from Aria's enthusiastic embrace. "Unless you have more important things to do?"

  A small smile curved Isabella's lip. "I suppose I could spare some time to ensure you two don't make completely atrocious fashion choices."

  Aria clapped her hands together. "This is going to be amazing! We should hit the Crystal District first—they have those new hellfire silk scarves I've been dying to try. And then maybe the Shadow Bazaar for accessories?"

  As Aria rattled off potential shopping destinations, I gazed one more time in the direction of transport gate. One chapter of my life had been closed forever. Faith would remain on Earth, and with her, the last tangible connection to my life as Liam. I would never again be that human engineer, living in blissful ignorance of the supernatural world.

  But a new chapter had opened before me—one filled with possibilities I was only beginning to understand. There was so much more to learn about myself, about Hell, about the countless worlds that existed beyond the barriers. And I wouldn't be facing it alone.

  "Earth to Lily!" Aria waved her hand in front of my face. "Are you listening? I was asking if we should take Brutus with us to carry the bags."

  I blinked, pulled from my thoughts. "Sorry, what? Oh, no, I don't think we need to torture poor Brutus with a shopping trip. Besides, we have our rings." I wiggled my fingers, showing the spatial ring my mother had given me.

  "Fine," Aria sighed dramatically. "But if we buy too much for even our rings to hold, I'm blaming you."

  Isabella finished gathering her things. "Shall we go, then? Before Aria explodes from anticipation?"

  "Yes!" Aria bounced on her toes. "Let's go right now!"

  I laughed, feeling lighter than I had in months. "Alright, alright. Let's go shopping."

  As we left Isabella's quarters and stepped into the warm air of Ardorkeep, I took a deep breath. The familiar scent of brimstone filled my lungs, no longer foreign or frightening, but comforting in its familiarity. This was my world now. My home.

  Aria linked her arm through mine, practically vibrating with excitement. "This is going to be the best shopping trip ever!"

  Isabella fell into step on my other side, her posture perfect as always, but her eyes held a warmth that few ever got to see. "I suppose I could use a new dress or two," she admitted.

  I smiled, looking between my two friends. "Lead the way, Aria. My soul coins are yours for the spending."

  Aria let out another squeal of delight, tugging us forward into the glittering streets of Ardorkeep. "To the Crystal District!"

  As we walked, arm in arm, through the bustling night markets of Hell, I felt a profound sense of relief wash over me. Whatever mysteries still remained about my past, whatever challenges awaited in my future, I knew one thing with absolute certainty: I was exactly where I belonged.