From everything that Thana knew of the Canaanite gods, she should have been terrified at actually meeting one. She wasn't. She supposed it was because she had been raised, for want of a better word, by Amir. It was reasonable to assume that he meant her no harm, and so, she was unafraid.

"I have a present for you, for your coming of age," he said.

A present? Now she did feel apprehensive. As far as she could remember, he had only ever given her a single gift. For her seventeenth birthday, Amir had presented her with a golden torc. He had asked her to wear it always. With her love for real gold jewellery, Thana had not hesitated to comply. She must have had the accident after she had put it on, since the gifting of the torc was her first memory of her life with him.

Today she learnt that he was a demon. Today she learnt she was a cambion - not human. And today, he was presenting her with another gift...

"You are too generous Amir. I hadn't even remembered that it was my birthday."

"Your father wanted you to have it."

"Oh?" Perhaps this will give me an idea of who he might be, she thought.

She supposed she should be cautious, but her curiosity was stronger than her suspicion. She was immediately drawn to the package. It was beautifully presented in gold paper with red ribbon. Anyone would have been tempted to find out what was inside. She slowly removed the wrapping to reveal a carved wooden box, with writing that looked like cuneiform on the lid. She had studied and could read ancient languages. She recognised this one as Sumerian. "The Heart of Gomorrah?" she translated. It was a phrase she recognised.

"You recall from your studies what it is of course," Amir said. It was not a question.

"Of course," Thana replied. "When did you expect me to wear it?

"Immediately!"

"Aren't you afraid I could hurt you?" She asked, genuinely surprised.

"It can't hurt my kind. The ba'als feed on passion."

"Convenient."

"Let me put it on you."

The Heart of Gomorrah was a dark carnelian the size of a walnut and the colour of congealed blood. The Heart was not a Valentine heart, more the anatomical kind. It was encircled by a small gold hand hung from an intricate gold loop, large enough to thread through her torc; heavy but not uncomfortable to wear. The ancient clasp of her torc was difficult to do up so Amir helped her with it, his thick fingers brushing the skin on her neck. He rarely touched her but when he did, she felt oddly cold, as if all the heat had been removed from her body. She suppressed a shiver.

"So, what happens now? What are you going to try and make me do?"

"Make you do?"

"Cambions are created, then programmed to do evil, are they not?"

"That depends on your perspective."

"Sure." Thana laughed, but Amir frowned. She shouldn't be questioning at all at this stage. She had worn the slave's torc since her official awakening in Baalbek. She was programmed to comply with the directive, which would be known to her once she came of age - that is now. Why was she resisting? He hadn't had this problem with any of the others that his succubus servant Boobie Von Trapp had collected for him. This was highly irregular.

"You will know what to do."

"What if I don't want to do it?"

"Of course, you do! It is what you were made for."

"See, that's part of the problem. I want some proof."

"Proof?"

"Yes, proof! How do I know that what you are telling me is true? There is nothing remarkable about me, cut me and I bleed like a human being. Incidentally, why aren't I human? If I have a human biological mother and was born in the usual human manner, explain why am I not human? Assuming I am a cambion of course."

"Hmm, well I -"

"You don't know do you?"

"Well, I've never given your kind much thought. I just train you and you all get on with it. Cambions don't usually ask questions. They just do what they came for."

"So, what is it I'm meant to do?"

"What did you say?" Amir could barely whisper. This was something he had never had to deal with before. He had taken a massive risk with her purchase. Was it all for nothing? "This is a most unusual situation." Apparently agitated, he added "I-I need to go out. I'll be back soon. Then...then you'll have some clear direction on how to proceed."

"No."

"What do you mean, no?"

"I mean, no! I won't do what you want me to do."

"You don't even know what it is yet. How can you refuse?" And how is it that she is even able to be contradictory? Amir was too shocked to be angry.

"Using the same logic, how can I agree? You go, do what you have to do. I have my own business to attend to."

"What do you mean? You have no friends, no current job. What business can you possibly have outside this house?"

"I aim to find out. There are two sides to every story. You would have me believe that my father is an incubus who created me for some sinister purpose. Well, what about my mother? Oh, not the testicle tickle tramp, my biological mother. I am going to find her and hear her story. Then and only then, will I decide what to do." She paused. "If I don't see you again, thank you. You suck as a loving parent but you provided a stable home for me, gave me an amazing education. For that I am grateful."

That frightened Amir. Some cambions could see future events. Was she one of them?

"Why wouldn't you see me again?" Amir asked timidly. Thana laughed, incredulous.

"Seriously? Look, I don't love you. I'm not certain I can love. I understand the theory of course but... I am grateful to you. I might even like you a little...well, I'm not sure about that either... Amir be careful. It would appear that whatever was supposed to manifest in me once I turned eighteen, hasn't. Therefore, whoever you report to is not going to be pleased with you, are they?" She felt sure suddenly that if she did see Amir again, the circumstances would be vastly different. It was with a feeling of foreboding that she turned to go to her room.

Author's Notes
I'm so glad that Thana is questioning Molech. Let's hope she can continue to do so. Please give her your vote ⭐

Photo credit: http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/4b6ca31376f09d6a189dc971cce29cfd

Song credit - "Disenchanted" by The Church from their 1985 album Heyday.