E P I L O G U E

ADDISON SMOOTHED DOWN the lace of her ivory wedding dress, checking every detail to perfection before smiling brightly in the mirror. Dimitri had been kind enough to offer the wedding to take place in the mortal realm where Addison's parents and friends could attend without the need to actually die. It was a rather simple act of kindness, but this alone made Addison confirm that the one she was marrying was indeed the right man for her. Besides, Dimitri had also made Addison promise that they would have a second wedding ceremony so that the citizens in their realm, Hell, could attend as well and catch a glimpse of their new queen.

"You look enchanting, darling," her mother said, finishing up the last few curls of Addison's golden blonde hair as she wiped a stray tear away. Mrs. Pilediah was understandably emotional. After all, it was her little girl's wedding day and that was supposed to be a once in a lifetime experience.

"I can't believe that I missed so much of your life after you left for Minnie. It's so surprising that Death was able to alter parts of your parents' memory so that you never left Earth in their eyes." Bella mused in a small whisper, leaning in but her smile held an underlying tone of sadness at the mention of her late best friend. "You're finally home, even if it's only for a short period of time."

"His name is Dimitri, Bella." Chuckling, Addison shook her head lightly, the blonde ringlets of her hair slightly moving as Bella immediately rushed to gently hold them in place to ensure the sustainability of the curls. "Who knew that Death could have such a beautiful name, am I right?"

"We're all so proud of you, Addy. Me, your parents, and I am sure Minnie is too." Bella clutched onto Addison's hand tightly. "Please promise that you'll come back and visit us after you become queen. I will miss you, you know? Even when I am old and gray and sitting in a rocking chair with a pained back."

At that moment, Addison could not find the power to answer no matter how much she tried to fight for words. Bittersweet ideologies immediately began to stream through her mind, especially of how she, as an immortal being now and the queen of Hell, could never age with her friends ever again and her family would only know her as a girl that never grew past her twenties. Earlier this month, Addison had come to a hard decision in terms of her beloved parents and had requested Dimitri to help with something she could never bear to do by herself.

She wanted him to erase their memories of ever having a daughter.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" He had asked, eyebrows crumpled as he sneaked a look at Addison's parents. The afternoon sun was bright against the world and the couple was down by Addison's house when this happened, having late brunch with her parents just a week after Dimitri had asked her father for his permission to have her hand in marriage. "They are your parents after all."

"No, I am sure." Biting her lip, Addison released a long sigh before nodding her head assuredly. "Think about it this way, Dee, I can never grow old. I am immortal and while I should be in my forties, fifties, and sixties one day, they will still see me young and youthful. Won't they start to question? It is safer for them to not know about my planned destiny."

Dimitri had, of course, seemed hesitant. It was physically and emotionally painful for Addison to request that of him, but she knew that he would respect her decisions. "I will provide them with all the luxuries in the world. Ensure them a comfortable life even when they're long past their youth."

"Oh, there's no need for that." Addison had tried her best to laugh in a grim situation like this, but it came off more as a weak chuckle. "My family had always been on the wealthier side. They can provide themselves and sustain a wonderful future. I just need to make sure they are safe. Can you do that for me?"

"The only time I will see them after the wedding is when they are ready to be at peace, don't you worry about that." The smile on Dimitri's face was reassuring, and Addison soon found herself at great comfort in knowing that her parents could still live well without their only daughter in their life.

The past was a bittersweet feeling, something like freshly brewed coffee. Energizing, forcing adrenaline into one's body but never enough sugar to satisfy their taste buds. Instead, it's the rush that replaces it. But now, to Addison, it was all about her present and future with Dimitri. After all, they only have the rest of eternity to live in a land where reality was non-existent. But even eternity was not long enough of a time to be with someone she loves with all her heart.

A knock sounded at the door, causing her to turn over with a curious look. When Fabian's head had poked in, Bella immediately walked towards the door, holding it wide open so that Fabian could enter. Jane Pilediah followed after Bella's footsteps, heading right out of the door after offering Addison an encouraging pat on her shoulders.

The spirit of famine was dressed to the nines, wearing a clean-cut black blazer with a white button-down shirt underneath, completed with a silver tie. There was a small chrysanthemum flower tucked into the breast pocket of his suit, one that was a bright yellow in color-so very contrasting to Fabian's usual gloomy mood.

"I will be right outside if you need me," Bella reassured Addison before walking out, clicking the door shut behind her.

With that, it was just Fabian and Addison left in the room, heavy silence enveloping the both of them like fog or mist after a heavy shower. The two stood there just like that for a while, Fabian's eyes never leaving the white ball gown in which Addison had on, jaw hung slightly agape as if he was in the middle of a sentence. Seeing that he wasn't going to speak anytime soon, she took action by speaking first.

"Is there something wrong?" Addison asked, raising a single eyebrow before Fabian snapped back into reality and away from his daydream, shaking his head lightly. His raven black hair moved with every one of his movements, displaying his disagreement.

"No, it's just... I felt as if I had to come and talk to you. Not to convince you to ditch my brother, of course. No offense but I border hating you."

Addison's laughter at that statement was inevitable, her light giggles echoing through the otherwise silent room as what Fabian had said was both a little of truth and a little mocking. At the sound of her laughter, Fabian significantly relaxed, posture slackened.

"I don't think you hate me, Fabian, but whatever helps you sleep at night." Bright eyes twinkling with laughter, Addison couldn't help but smile. After all, that was all she had been doing after Lucius and Lucifer's defeat.

"I guess I am just here to congratulate you. For helping my brother find happiness while you found yours, both conveniently in each other."

"Fabian," Addison sighed, her smile dissipating. Needless to say, her heart broke a little for him, mind immediately thinking back about what Ida, his past love, had last told him when they were still in the castle of Hell. "Ida would've wanted you to move on. It's not healthy to keep pining for someone that can never return."

He paused, dark eyes meeting the floor as he tucked his hands into his pockets. "I know. In all honesty, it has been eons since Ida's death and I think I'm already over it. It's just that you can never actually forget your first love, you know?"

Oh, Fabian would never know how wrong it was. He would never admit it but he was already beginning to forget Ida. At first, it was just the smallest details like how her hair had felt in his hands or how her eyes would always sparkle under the morning light. But as the days went by and Addison had been more and more incorporated into the lives of the four brothers and into Hell itself as a future queen, he began to forget the more significant details. If it weren't for Addison and the knowledge that they were essentially the same person, he might have even forgotten how Ida looked like.

It was incredulous, but a memory of Lucius entered Addison's mind immediately. She might not have loved him as much as she does Dimitri at the moment, but Lucius, bad or good, had still been someone in which she grew up adoring. He was a best friend and a sweet companion before the world of angels and demons tore them both apart slowly but surely, then all at once; before he succumbed to insanity. Perhaps Addison will never find out what was the factor that had driven him mad, but Lucius will always only ever remain in her past, no longer her future like she would've wished just a mere few years ago.

"I know what you mean," Addison agreed, smiling. "First loves are hard to forget, but they build you to who you are. I know you can find happiness one day, Fabian. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow. But you have the entirety of eternity to find someone that loves you for who you are and you will love despite their flaws."

Such a special day it was. Fabian displayed a rare smile.

-----

Just like every bride before her, the walk down the altar was a terrifying one for Addison. Blissful sweet music played in the background, but all in which she could hear was the wild thumping of her heart against the cage of bones in her chest. Her hand, which were wrapped tightly around the bouquet of roses and chrysanthemums, were clammy and sweaty even after Addison had desperately tried to wipe them dry on the lace of her dress. Her other hand was looped around her father's and when he had passed her to Dimitri with a smile, Addison's heart died a little inside thinking of how this would be her last significant memory of the man that had brought her up and loved her with all his heart along with her mother.

"Take care of my daughter if you wish to live a long life," Mr. Pilediah had threatened mockingly.

A small grin quirked at Dimitri's lips, his clear amusement to his soon father-in-law's statement was passed down to Addison like a secret message. Nevertheless, he nodded. "With my life," he promised.

A short and sweet ceremony passed between them, the crowd only filled with close family members and a few old friends, and when it was time to return back to Hell, Addison could only stand there wordlessly with her heart so heavy that it felt as if it was between her feet. Dimitri had left her side to escort her parents home safely, as well as to wipe their memories clean. Addison thought that it would be best for her to not follow for she probably would go back on her decision if she did tag along.

"I will miss you so much," Bella cried, throwing her arms around her best friend as she wept loudly. "Come and visit anytime you can. And say hi to Minnie for me."

Both Cassiel and Gabriel, such familiar sights, stood a little behind Bella. They each forced a smile of their own but Addison could particularly see the falsity behind Gabriel's bright beams.

As for Minnie, Addison soon found out that things were much better than it seemed. Minnie had been a good and kind enough soul for her to earn a ticket as a resident in Hell's domain. She now resided in the castle, the same old room in which she had stayed in before her death. Though, she was unable to leave the confines of Hell and had to miss out on the first wedding ceremony. Addison had to be the one to break the news to Bella and Gabriel. The crestfallen expression on the latter's face made Addison's heart ache.

"We will take care of your parents, Addison." Cassiel nodded before placing a hand on Bella's shoulder, drawing her close. Addison had soon found out after her return to Earth that Bella and Cassiel had rekindled their flame, one which was almost doused because of Dimitri's little impersonating stun.

Bella nodded in agreement. "Go and be the queen that I already knew you were from the very beginning."

Addison was just about to reply, lips already parted when Dimitri materialized by her side, a hand curved around her waist as Bella pulled back. "Are you ready?" He asked, casting her mortal friends an unsure glance.

"Go," Bella mouthed assuring Addison with a nod. "We'll be fine." She then turned to Dimitri, eyes hardening. "But if you hurt Addison in any way," Bella threatened, a hand already near Dimitri's nose. "I will ensure that you can never do anything ever again. I will accomplish the greatest feat of killing death itself."

It was an empty threat for the poison had long since been destroyed and left no recipe, but Dimitri nodded anyway. "I will never let Addison go. I fought too hard for her to be by my side and there's no way in Hell I will forsake it. Every second with her is a blessing."

To Dimitri's words, Addison couldn't help but break out a little smile. Romantic gestures might be cheesy at times to her, but when it comes to him, no rules in which used to apply in her life long ago actually did in his case. It was as though her entire world was flipped topsy-turvy ever since he had decided to return back to her originally mundane life.

"Let's go home, Dee," she said, hand clasped around her new husband's.

The spirit of death cast her a beautifully handsome smile, pulling her close to him as Addison threw her friend one last smile. Just like all the other times in which she had teleported, the world started to blur away, Bella, Gabriel and Cassiel's figures melting into oblivion. When the world finally shifted back into view, the magnificent grounds of Hell was the first scene that greeted the blue-green eyes that belonged to the new queen.

How strange it was to call Hell as a home. Yet, just like many great people had said before, home was where the heart is, and Addison's had belonged to Dimitri ever since she had received kisses from death itself.