Chapter 22: A Past Rekindled
Kiki stood frozen, his eyes locked on Li and Lie as if time itself had stilled around him. "Li... Lie," he murmured, his voice trembling with a mixture of disbelief and joy. "You're alive..."
In the distance, Demon Girl flew toward him, her energy radiating like a blazing star. Scarlett glanced between Kiki and the approaching figure, her frustration bubbling over. "Dad! Answer me! Do you know them or not?"
Kiki didn't respond, his gaze unwavering. Li's eyes welled up with tears as she took a tentative step forward. "Dad... I missed you."
Scarlett's hands clenched into fists. "I'm your youngest child! Don't just ignore me because of your—your previous family!"
Demon Girl landed with a resounding thud, her wings folding behind her. Her piercing gaze swept over the group. "They're not demons. Why are they in hell?"
Scarlett turned sharply to face her. "Sis, look, we share a father with non-demons. Deal with it."
Demon Girl's eyes narrowed. "You need to explain that. Now."
Lyvessa stepped forward, her voice calm and steady. "I can explain. Li is Kiki's first child, and Lie is his first wife. They were trapped in a time lock by the God of Time. We freed them, and that's why they're here."
Demon Girl scoffed, crossing her arms. "The God of Time? I know him. He's insufferable."
Lyvessa nodded. "Exactly. It took everything we had to break them free."
Demon Girl's lips curled into a sly grin as she glanced at Kiki. "Kiki, you're dead if Mom finds out about this. She'll kill you herself."
Kiki remained silent, his focus still on Li and Lie. Scarlett threw up her hands in exasperation. "He's locked on them like they're the only ones here!"
Demon Girl's grin widened as she turned to Scarlett. "Hey, sis, you know what I learned? There's one surefire way to get his attention." She raised her hand, conjuring a small blue flame.
Scarlett's eyes widened. "Wait, what are you—"
Before she could finish, Demon Girl hurled the flame at Kiki. His body reacted instantly, dodging the attack with practiced ease. The flame sizzled harmlessly into the ground. Kiki's head snapped toward Demon Girl, his expression a mix of annoyance and disbelief. "What's wrong with you?"
Demon Girl smirked, folding her arms. "There. Now you're paying attention. You're welcome."
Kiki sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair. "This isn't a game, Demon Girl."
"Oh, but it is," she teased, her tone light but her eyes sharp. "And right now, you're losing."