His Secret Guardian; Chapter 2: His Home is Hell
In a place separate from most others, everything was not peaceful. The dark and gloomy world seemed was rocked by a large roar that shook the land down to the core. The source of the tremors and outraged seemed to be coming from a large tower like castle that sat upon a mass of black rocks and built with wicked metal and stones. The ground itself seemed barren save for the dark grass the color of rust and the tree's void of leaves and trunks a withering brown color. Even the waters were murky like thick ink.
Another roar shook the walls as creatures of various shapes and sizes and species...scattered through the halls both panicked and terrified. Demons bumped and nearly trampled over each other trying to get to any place out of the sources reach.
In one such room a figure was pacing up and down on the red and black embroidered carpeting, black heels clicking with each stride. The owner was a being with long, jet black hair like ink with horns that stuck out on each side and curved upwards like rams horns. Dark ocean blue eyes murky like polluted ocean and lips shimmering with red. Dressed in her black dress that hugged her ample chest and curves of her body, she was for the most part very beautiful.
"Lady Ester..." one of the servants said timidly, but was instantly silenced by a glare from her dark eyes. Ever since she had returned from her outing she had been in a bad mood, worse than usual from the demoness and lady of the castle as the masters current lover. Her temper was legendary as she would strike any servant for the smallest of things. She seemed even more pensive having just returned from an outing and with what appeared to be a nasty wound on her arm which had been bandaged by the healers.
"Silence, I need to think" she gritted causing the other servants to sink back, but her moment seemed to be cut short as the door opened and all eyes turned to see someone enter.
"Evening everyone!" a voice spoke almost joyfully as they strode into the room, wearing a lavender suit that clashed with the dark background of his surroundings. The demoness Ester gave a silent his seeing the violet haired male enter her room, "And greetings to you, mutti" he grinned giving a bow to the woman who only scowled at her lover's second eldest son and her one of her step children.
"What is the meaning of this Mephisto, no one gave you permission to enter my dwellings" she spoke crossing her arms as she glared fire at the male in the takey colors who continued to smile.
"What's wrong mother dearest, had a bad day" he said with a hum, "Word around the castle is your in a bad mood" he saw a twitch, a break in her mask at his statement. He had just returned from business in another part of Gehenna and was surprised to find the castle of his father in such a state of panic and frenzy. He almost wished he arrived sooner to see what was all the fuss was about. Thankfully news traveled like wildfire sparked on gasoline.
"And, what of it? I act as I please" she stated with that same haughty attitude
"Oh sweet, sweet Ester" he smirked with a dark amusement, "I'm almost going to miss that 'cheery' personality of yours"
"What are you blathering on about?" she demanded
"What I'm talking about, Ester, is how 'you' seemed to have 'misplaced' something very important I must say" he spoke causing the woman to hiss this time enough to hear, "It's impolite my dear to hiss" he tsked
"Though you probably won't be around long enough to make the same mistake" he grinned a devilish smile as all eyes turned to the door to see a heat resonating off the dark wood.
Mephisto smirked stepping aside as Ester and many of the other servants stepped back as the blue flames came under the door before it burst into a wall of flames, furious and ominous of what was to come.
"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!" came a furious howl that shook the room as well as the castle to it's core.
"It's for you, mutti" Mephisto said, but the others were too terrified to move. Out from the flames stepped into the room, stepping over the ashes of what used to be the door and a few unfortunate items that were caught in it's path. The figure was a foreboding figure, a tall male with pale white skin, wearing a long dusky black robe that was shredded at the ends and no shoes. His face was hidden with a shadow of his hood as piercing yellow eyes flashed through the shadow that covered his face.
"S-S-Satan?!" Ester spoke as the servants bowed to the demonic ruler, "I...I..."
"SILENCE!" he bellowed silencing her, Mephisto took a seat on a long couch, crossing his legs as he leaned back and watched the show.
"Woman have you any idea what you have done!?" he spoke still looking down at the demoness, "WELL!" again Ester was quiet, frozen in fear, but only fueling the demons anger.
"I...don't understand my love" she finally spoke, "What have I done to inquire such anger?" not a smart move, playing dumb never worked.
"What have you done? What have you done!?" he growled, "Do not play ignorant with me woman, you as well know not to test my patience" he hissed black ice, even Mephisto couldn't help twitch at his father's tone.
"Why is my son's room empty!?" he demanded as the servants gave weary looks at each other and to Ester as well.
"Which one...my love?" like she didn't know
"AMAIMON'S YOU INSOLENT WINCH!" he hissed more fire growing and spreading out threatening to burn her and everyone in the room.
"My youngest son is missing from the castle and you dare to say you did not know!"
"I...I..." Mephisto leaned in wondering how his dear mother was going to get herself out of this. When word had spread of his baby brother's disappearance, Mephisto knew all hell was about to break loose and Ester was the obvious target. He knew one day her attitude and her ways were going to get her killed. Her main job was to take care of Satan's youngest son, the titled King of Earth, whose crying alone could cause an earthquake or uproot the very earth itself. So when the day went by with nary an earthquake or wailing, save for the usual cries from torture. The inhabitants became suspicious, at first relieved the child was quiet for once. And after a short investigation it was discovered the young prince was no where to be found. Not in his room, nor in or on the castle grounds. Being only a babe in a since, a toddler he couldn't have wandered off on his own.
When word began to get around the castle, many servants were livid, frantic even at the child's whereabouts. Gehenna was a dangerous place for anyone, even the demons that lived there. One misstep and you might become dinner for some bigger beast, which only added more fuel to the fire as the staff and such hurried to find the little demon before higher powers that be got wind and brought down punishment. One of the major rules of Gehenna is that no lower demon, servant, slave, soldier...what have you. No demon or creature other than the royal family was allowed to harm the recognized children of their ruler, Satan. To them it was a challenge on the very family themselves and anyone fool enough to even think, let alone try such a thing should go dunk themselves in a pool of holy water. That wouldn't even compare to the kind of punishment that would be dealt to those who broke such a rule.
So when word of the child's disappearance reached the ears of the princes and the masters, well...
"EVERYONE LEAVE NOW!" Satan commanded with another burst of blue flames, the servants scattered not wanting to be killed by such wrath, "That includes you Mephisto! I will speak to her alone, without an audience!" although upset he wouldn't get to see her roasted, Mephisto only smiled and complied with his fathers wishes.
"As you wish, Father" he gave a small bow, "Farewell Ester" and with that he left sparring one last glance at the demoness before walking back out through what used to be the door, leaving the two demons to their talk.
'This would be good'
Back in the room the air was thick, fire burned across the wall as ice rained down towards Ester from the piercing gaze of the demon before her, also known as her husband.
"Satan I..." she didn't have time to finish as a hard strike connected with her face sending her to the ground in a heap.
"You useless woman!" he gritted, "I take you, make you my bride, and you only have one simple job!" he hissed watching the woman on the floor as she trembled.
"So tell me my dear, how you...A HIGH RANKING DEMONESS HAD THE INCOMPETENCE TO LOSE MY YOUNGEST SON!" he yelled creating a icy wind that shook and child the room and everything in it.
"I...didn't..." she trembled on the floor, her form now covered with icicles, "lose...him..."she shivered looking back at him, her cheek still aflame and bruising.
Sharp teeth clicked at the women's gull, "Do think me blind woman. The servants who tended to my newborn had gone to his nursery and found his cradle empty" he hissed the last words drawing close to the woman. Although the prince was well a toddler, his true age was that of a newborn.
"So tell me, beloved, how anyone managed to come and take the son of the ruler of Gehenna from under his own mother's nose is beyond me!" he yelled at the woman's incapability of keeping an eye on one child.
"You..." she cringed eyes ablaze, "I...I don't know. It must have been one of the servants! He probably just wandered off like he always does!" she said rather quickly offering the child simplifying walking off or one of the servants, who had been brazen enough to snatch the son of Satan from his crib was beyond sanity even in Gehenna. One might accept the first excuse, but it still didn't excuse the fact his own mother had no idea where her child had 'wandered' off too.
Though she didn't understand why her lover was being like he was for one damned brat, if anything they could have another child.
"Do not test me Ester, I've got a perfect place for you as Cerberus's new chew toy so I would watch that tone of yours!" he grinned maliciously as he picked the woman up by her slender neck, his claws digging into her neck drawing blood as he struggled against his grip.
"W-Wait...my love..." she seemed to beg trying in vain to get free, "I...I promise you I...I'm just as upset about this as you!" she lied, a choking cough emitted the grip tighten and she struggled for air.
"I will ask you this only once and if I sense even the smallest of lies...I will rip out your tongue and throw your miserable body to the darkest pits!" he warned with death in his eyes as he glared at the woman in his grip.
"Where is my...son!?" he demanded
Downstairs another tremor could be felt, obviously the reaction from Satan's outburst.
"Hm" gave a small groan
"Something wrong, Lucifer" Mephisto inquired from his seat on one of the arm chairs in the large guest room, taking a sip of the warm tea. The male in question, a male with long blond hair and green eyes. He was the first born son of Satan, the King of Light as his title. In total there were seven of them, possibly six if no one found the youngest prince.
"I wish father would hurry and do away or whatever he's going to do with that woman" the blond demon said with little emotion in his voice.
"Well it was bound to happen sooner or later, I'm still surprised Father put up with her for this long" Mephisto stated, he never really liked his step-mother, nor did he care for her comings or goings. But never in the history of Gehenna has a bride of the ruler manage to lose a child of Satan's.
"As he should, losing a child, a prince of Satan's is beyond forgiveness" Lucifer stated with a firm look on his face, "She's probably trying to blame one of the servants again" Mephisto gave a loud laugh at that.
"Could you even imagine one of the servants even attempting such a thing, I would pay to see that!" he gave another laugh, "Though the little demon would cry his lungs out if anyone tried to touch him" it was true, Amaimon hated when anyone he didn't like tried to touch him and would scream causing fissures and earthquakes in his dismay.
"Be serious brother, this is not the time for jokes" Mephisto only smirked at the others stiffness.
"Oh now calm down Lucifer I was only trying to lighten the mood" he offered, "Like everyone, I'm just as worried for our dear little brother, alone out there" he stated with a smile on his lips.
"Hm, I never said I was worried" Lucifer said almost coldly, "That is yet to become the issue" he replied, "What is the issue is Ester's complete disregard for her duties as Fathers wife" of course he was worried about the rules and guidelines and fathers will. Such as the personalities of Satan's first born.
Another tremble shook the house, rattling the glass and inside. Once it stopped, the doors suddenly opened revealing a new individual.
"Man all this racket, how's a guy supposed to get any sleep around here" came an agitated voice, it belonged to a male who looked ruffly in his mid teens. With short gray hair with large ram like horns on his head and equally gray eyes.
"Ah King of Rot, how are you this fine evening Astaroth!" Mephisto said earning a lazy leer from the other demon, who yawned showing his sharp teeth, before seating himself on the long sofa and lounged back.
"What is with all the noise any way, I was in the middle of my evening nap?" he questioned with half interest, if it was one thing that could be said about the later is that he was lazy. He was Gehenna's second youngest before Amaimon by a few thousand years. Titled the King of Rot, the demon prince mostly ruled over things like fungus and other creatures that rotted and decayed anything they touched.
"Of course you would sleep through such a major situation, your laziness is beyond even my understanding" Lucifer sighed, "If you haven't heard our little brother, Amaimon, is missing" this caught the King of Rots attention.
"You don't say? Thought it was finally silent for once without that little brat screaming his lungs out and shaking the entire castle" he gave a snicker
"Be serious Astaroth this is a crucial situation" Lucifer seemed to scold the younger who only glared back still giving half snickers, "Father is quite enraged"
"Yes Father is releasing quite a lot of hell fire and ice. I dare say he might take half of Gehenna" Mephisto added
"Oh come on, all this for some missing kid" even if it was his brother, "He probably just wandered off into the forest or got stuck in a pit again" he groaned annoyed by all the fuss.
"You seem so sure of your self Astaroth" Mephisto seemed to point out, "Never the less this little development has caused quite a stir in Gehenna. Just when I was starting to get bored" he hummed.
"Man your such a freakin creep I swear" he groaned peering over at the second oldest, "It doesn't matter. Brats probably off crying or something" he scoffed, he didn't know why their father was making such a fuss. The child was the weakest in the family and not just because was the youngest. The child was timid and couldn't walk a step two steps without tripping over his own tail.
"That twerp will come running through that door crying and blubbering his eyes out" then he would beat the brat for causing all this ruckus and disturbing his sleep.
"By the way, where are our other siblings?" Mephisto inquired, though just wanting to irritate the other King.
"How the hell should I know" he bite, "I not their babysitter"
"Now no need to be rude brother I was only asking of our siblings whereabouts" Mephisto brushed the other off, "But let me remind you who is the eldest, Astaroth" his eyes narrowed and his eyes flashed a harsh gold that stilled the younger on the couch, "Or do I need to remind you, again about that tone of yours"
"I...no" he exhaled, "My apologies" he said in a more respectful tone, Mephisto's eyes calming to return to green.
"Better" he said simply sitting back, suddenly another quake shook the castle, though the three seemed unaffected or they didn't simply care.
"It's going to be a long night" Lucifer said before pouring himself another cup of tea.
Back in the forest, the duo had returned to walk the path. Gently holding the boy in his arms still. Unlike before the two seemed to start a conversation, mostly of the child talking about how he enjoyed the flowers. He found it cute how he tried to speak with his little mispronunciations and baby talk.
"I didn't quite introduce myself" the green haired male said, "My name is Mori" he introduced himself gently as they walked along the grassy floor.
"Can you say Mori?" he asked pronouncing his name simply
"Mor...i?" he said the name earning a nod from the other, "That's right, what's your name? I would really like to know" he asked
"I'm..." he began pausing for a second, "My name is... Amai...mo..Amaimon!" he said with more exclamation in his voice.
"That's an interesting name" he said with a chuckle
"Don't laugh at me!" he pouted, "I don't like those who laugh at me!"
"I'm sorry, I wasn't making fun of you or anything" he said with an apologetic tone, "I think you have a unique name. Treasure it" Amaimon blinked still curious and unsure of the gentleness of the others voice.
"So where exactly are we going?" Mori asked as he stopped along the path, they had been walking all this time and he didn't even know where he was going. Amaimon was silent, those blue eyes blinking now and again with the look of bewilderment on his face. Could it be?
"Amaimon, do you know where your home is?" he asked receiving a shake of the head.
"What?" he said with a surprised look on his face, "How did you end up in the forest?" he was wondering the question before but figured it was rude given the circumstances and he didn't want to be rude, especially to a child.
"I don't know" he replied, it was true though he really didn't know how he had gotten in the strange place. After being beaten up, he remembered running. Once he passed the large iron gates he just keep moving with no clear direction, "I just keep running and...you found me"
"Hm, strange" Mori didn't know what to think of the situation and then began to ponder, 'This isn't good. A child shouldn't be wandering alone in the forest. Even if it was usually peaceful there are still some unruly creatures' he thought worriedly,
"Maybe if we retrace our steps..." he thought with a whispered tone
"Huh?" Amaimon asked
"Oh! Sorry!" he apologized, "I was just thinking, if we retrace your steps maybe we can find where you live" he explained and was given a look of 'really?'.
"Let's give it try shall we?" first they returned to the place where Mori had found the child Amaimon. It was simple enough following the grass trail Mori had left the earlier.
"Okay your were hiding here" Mori said
"I wasn't hiding!" Amaimon disagreed, "I was, recovering" he corrected firmly not liking the other saying he was hiding like some frightened child.
"Right, um...okay" not wishing or wanting to argue, blue eyes scanned the ground, craning down his nose sniffed the floor trying to locate a specific scent, Amaimon's or rather his own scent. Following a distinct smell, like clay, dirt, and iron? Different, but it was the smell closest to the his and it the was the best chance of finding his home. Following the scent they were taken deeper into the forest, with each trek the grass seemed to disappear, the tree's become dincer and began losing more foliage, and there was a darkness as the suns rays seemed to miss the area.
Mori suddenly came to a stop right in the middle where the last of the suns rays seemed to touch.
"Why are we stopping?" Amaimon asked looking up at the older male.
'This can't be right' Mori thought as they stood in the small clearing, 'This path leads to that place. I know for sure nothing 'safe' lives in the part' he thought
"We have to turn back" Mori said hurriedly turning around with Amaimon in tow.
"Why? What can't we go any further?" Amaimon asked looking back from where they would have gone.
"Sorry but, there's no way we can go any further" not there, not now or hopefully not ever. He tried to hide his urgency, "That path, it's definitely not somewhere you want to be, at night" he added the last part.
"Why?", Amaimon asked as Mori began walking back the other way,
"Because...it's getting dark" it wasn't a lie, "That area can't be entered when it get's dark, sunlight can't reach it" he explained carefully as the walk continued, the scenery slowly returning to normal.
"Why can't sunlight reach it?" Amaimon thought aloud
"Well it's complicated..." he shouldn't say anymore, "Let's just focus on getting you home" he reminded as they continued onwards. After a moment of traveling the two came to another clearing with multiple roads and pathways which forced them to choice what was best to follow.
"Let's see, which way...?" even after walking and journeying the forest for so long it was still confusing and trailing getting around because of all the different paths. As Mori debated which path to take there was suddenly a stirring in the bushes.
'?' blue eyes eyes looked over as the bushes, the leaves rustle ever so often. Did Mori not notice, he looked in deep thought as he stared at the paths.
"Mori?" came a shake and pull on his sleeves, looking down it was Amaimon.
"Yes, do you need something?" he asked to help the child
"There's something over there" he pointed those large forearms, "In the bushes"
'Bushes?' Mori looked where the child was pointing, the leaves shaking quickly and blinked, "What is that?" he would soon get his answer as something burst forward and landed right in Mori's face. In a state of shock Mori panicked and began flailing wildly trying to get whatever was on his face off.
In the heat of situation Amaimon lost his grip and was thrown. He gave a startled gasp expecting to hit the ground, but was surprised when he landed on something else.
"You?" looking down he noticed he had landed on a bunch of round creatures and his eyes blinked with surprise.
"Let go! Let go!" Mori shook his head as whatever had jumped out of the bushes latched onto his face and hair. With one good pulled on the round object it seemed to release itself, to his relief.
"It's off" he exhaled in relief, as he looked up he came face to face with what had attacked him.
"What is that?" it was a small creature the shape of a ball, with large forearms and stubby back legs. It's large eyes stared at Mori with drool dripping from it's mouth.
"That was very rude, you shouldn't attacking someone like that!" he scolded the little creatures who made a series of noises as it bounced it's ball body.
"Huh?"
"Mori" a voice called
"Amaimon?" he looked back and noticed the boy wasn't next to him and soon panic returned, "Where? How?" it was then he saw Amaimon being held up, literally by a horde of those little demons.
"Amaimon!?" in a split second he watched as Amaimon gave a wave as he was carried off by those creatures into the forest.
"Wait stop!" he called back, suddenly there was a pressure on his head, "What in the world?" one of the creatures had jumped over his head, giving a chuckle, before racing off into the head. Mori stared for a moment before shaking his head,
"They took Amaimon!" he said with urgency, "I have to go after them" and make sure no one got hurt. No sooner did he dash off into the forest after the creatures.
Amaimon had been carried off by the small demons who worked as a team to maneuver through the forest with the child. Passing by the tree's, blue eyes watch the scenery pass by,
"Where did you come from?" he asked the little goblins, hobgoblins to be exact. He had seen many of them back home and often played with them. As they were the few creatures, if not the only, who actually listened and played with him.
Soon he found himself in from of a large tree, it looked rather old though. One of the goblins, a larger one with a crown was waiting with a few others as the group stopped letting Amaimon down. After being set on the ground Amaimon looked down at the gaggle of goblins.
"You all should be back in Gehenna" he said, the goblins let out a overlaying mass of noises as they looked up the young demon.
"Looking for me?" that's what he heard, while most would say it was gibberish, Amaimon could clearly understand the creatures, "Why?" he asked and again the creatures let out a series of noises. But were silenced as the bigger goblin wearing the crown stepped forward.
The large purple and dark blue demon began speaking with a slew of noises and murmurs as Amaimon listened. From what the leader said, his Father, Satan, was upset that he was missing and taking his rage out of Gehenna, but mostly his mother.
"So you guys came to to look for me?" the creatures gave nods and jumps as if to confirm the boys words. He knew he wasn't in Gehenna, this place was just too...nice. The tree's were plentiful and full, there was grass and the pretty flowers, the sky was so blue; so much different from back home.
"I guess I should get back" but then how could he when he didn't even know how he got there in the first place, "But how...?" the little creatures began making noise and soon were pulling Amaimon toward the large tree.
"What are you doing?" as he got close to the tree, curious and confused, he seem to get his answer when the goblins kept pulling him and pulling home until...they were gone.
When he opened his eyes again gone were the large tree's, blue sky, and pretty flowers of color.
'Gehenna' he sighed seeing the dark landscape and and dark sky. Looking off from where he was standing he blinked noticing the all too familiar place. It was the garden that sat in the far back of the large castle. It was basically abandoned as no one ever came around. All the flowers that were there, if ever, were beyond withered and black, the ground was a dusty red and cracked from dryness. In all it was a barren wasteland. Amaimon frowned missing the soft tickling of the green grass, now feeling the chalky and dry dirt under his feet.
Looking up his eyes met his 'home', the castle of Gehenna we're the powerfullest demon and his father dwelled and ruled over the entire landscape and all those who resided.
With a sigh he picked up one of the little goblins, stroking his hand over their head. Instead of going inside where he knew punishment awaited him, he wanted to just sit and think.
Back in the castle the air was still tense as the search for the missing youngest child was still going. All day servants had been shuffling about looking over every part of the large dwelling trying to find where the young prince could have gone off too.
"Ah such a chaotic scene" Mephisto said inhaling the scent of panic and fear, an aphrodisiac to most demons, even a gentleman like him, "It's nice to have a bit of change in such a drab place like this" walking down the halls he passed servant after servant, and demon after demon who continued the search for his young brother.
'Oh little one if only you could see the trouble you've caused' he smirked at the thought, though he wondered where his little brother had gone off too. As his he continued down the hall something caught his eye as he passed by one of the windows. It showed out into what was called a garden, though nothing in it would be considered naming it a garden. Gardens had beautiful flowers, vibrant and colorful. Like everything else in Gehenna, the vegetation was all but dead and wilted and the soil barren save for thorny vines and dark shaded grass.
But that wasn't what caught his attention, no it was something else.
With a snap of his finger the second born teleported himself from the castle hall and into the garden. Just as he mentioned everything was still gloomy and a dreadful dull,
"Such a waste" he sighed walking across the landscape, but again his feet came to a halt when something caught his eyes.
"What's this?" before his eyes was a child, laying in a mass of various hobgoblins, big and small, all snoring away. Mephisto observed his little brothers sleeping form, "So this is where you were" walking up to the other, he continued to sleep unaware of the other.
Some of the hobgoblins however seemed to catch his presence, waking up to stare at the other. Each one taking a protective and observant stance against the other to protect the young King of Earth, their master and kin.
Mephisto only smirked, before holding his finger up in a shushing gesture to quite the little demons. Walking up closer, he stopped to stare over his little brother.
'Sleeping so peaceful, unaware of the chaos you've created' he chuckled before carefully scooping the other in his arms, cradling his small frame in his arms.
"It would be a shame if all this fun were to stop, hardly anything happens in this world" he smirked listening to the soft snores of his tiny sibling. His brother gave a mumble and small murmurs, giving a slight yawn before drifting off again.
"Come little one, let's get you to a more 'comfortable' setting" he seemed to coo with a smirk of his thin lips, with a snap of fingers the two disappeared in cloud of pink and confetti stars, the scene shocking the hobgoblins at the sight.
Mephisto had teleported him and his still sleeping sibling back into the castle or to be more precise, his room. Mephisto's room was a lavish bedroom to say the least. Dressed in colors of royal purple, pink, and dark blues.
Carefully he placed his small sibling into his large king sized bed, slipping the satin sheets over his small frame.
"Such innocence, something so rare in this world" he mused looking down as his little brother continued to sleeping away. With observant green eyes the older demon stared at his little brother wondering where the younger had gone off too. Surely the servants would have checked the garden, even if rarely used.
"Em' a mumble escaped from the child's lips, his body seeming to stir in his slumber.
'Dreaming are we? What dreams would the future King of Earth have' it was almost too amusing watching him mumble and murmur in his sleep.
"What was that? I couldn't quite catch that" he whispered
"F...Fl..."
"Fl...?" he unconsciously stroked his goatee, 'Now what could that be?'
"Fl...Fl...Flowers" came the unconscious voice of the small demon. Mephisto blinked not expecting to hear that from the small child.
"Flowers? What could that mean?" as he pondered the thought there was a knock on the door.
"Who is it?" Mephisto called, the door opened revealing non-other than his older brother, "Ah Lucifer, to what do I owe the pleasure?" he asked with a smirk on his face. Though he looked calm, inside he was rather peeved having been disturbed in his own room.
Before the blond demon could answer there was a series of murmurs that caught the others attention. Peering behind the other he spotted the lump of green that was his little brother underneath Mephisto's silk sheets.
"I see, so you've recovered our little brother" he stated obviously again locking eyes with the second eldest.
"Hm, oh yes I found him napping in the garden with the hobgoblins" he stated, "It was such an adorable sight" he added watching the other.
"And just when were you going to reveal this?"
"Oh he was sleeping so peacefully, I didn't want to wake him" he stated
"Be that as it may, the castle is in complete disarray" his voice seemed rather serious
"Now, now mind your tone you wouldn't want to wake our little brother up" he seemed to warn the eldest playfully, "You know of his temper, especially if he's woken up" it was known greatly that it was not a good idea to wake the young prince from his slumber, lest he began to cry and start an earthquake.
Although he didn't seem phased, Lucifer had no intention or want to create more damage to the house then there already was.
"Do not try and change the subject Mephisto" he said in calmer voice, "You should have brought this to Fathers attention as soon as you found him" he stated , "Especially with the castle as it is" he added with a short sigh.
"Yes, yes I know" he said motion of his hand as if to brush the others comment off, "I was only thinking of our little brother. Had I not spotted him some brazen demon could have come and caused harm to him in such a defenseless state. Then what might become of Father's rage?" he seemed to challenge, but kept his smirk on his lips.
"You still should have reported this to father once Amaimon was secured. Father is already upset as it is" again he stated
"Oh that I know dear brother, though this display of chaos is the fault of 'mother', not me" he said with a grin on his lips, "Let the woman stew in her own juices for a while. I believe you put it as she needs to learn her duties" he pointed out to the eldest,
"While that may be, I still would prefer things in a more calmer setting" he stated with a monotone voice, "I will inform Father that Amaimon had been located safely, that will hopefully calm Fathers rage" at least to some degree.
"As you should" he hummed, 'Oh brother always the fun killer, the one interesting that happens in Gehenna is such a long time, if only it could have lasted until Ester was all but gone', "Though you might want to hustle, can't have Father burning down the castle can we" he chuckled a bit earning a look from the eldest.
"Very well, I trust you will keep an eye on him"
"Oh brother you wound me" he said in a mock sad tone, but earning an unamused look from the eldest, "Now don't worry Lucifer, I won't let the little cherub out of my sight"
"Be sure that you don't" he said with a flickering green gaze on the violet haired demon, before leaving out and shutting the door. As Mephisto watched the door not even a moment later a whining sound caught his ear. Mephisto didn't even need to look back to know what the sound was.
Slowly the small mass in the bed began to stir, eyes fluttering open to reveal large orbs of blue.
"?" the small demon gave a grown obviously still half asleep as his eyes dropped now and then.
"Time to wake up, little brother" came a playfully deep voice that made the demons ears twitched. Blue eyes blinked a couple of times before looking over to meet a pair of green orbs.
"B-Big Brother?" came the small voice of the earth demon
"Of course, did you enjoy your little nap? You looked so adorable" he chuckled
"Where am I?" he asked looking around, the last thing he remembered was falling asleep in the garden with the hobgoblins, "This...is brothers room" he recognized the color and the items that decorated the room.
"But of course" Mephisto chimed giving his brother his signature smile, "You know you've caused quite a lot of trouble" he added earning a confused look from the other.
"I did?"
"The whole house is in a frenzy looking for you"
"Everyone...was looking for me?" he blinked
"Now then brother I know you are young, but not naive" he hummed, "All the servants have been searching all of Gehenna for you. Not to mention Father is in a rage with your absence" a frightened look came on the younger's features.
"Now then don't be like that" Mephisto voiced calmly in a moment he picked the other up to sit on his lap. Blue eyes looked up into those green orbs of his older brothers, "So where exactly did you wander off too?" he inquired carefully stroking the side of the child's head while wiping small tears beginning to build up. Amaimon eyes seemed to downcast at the question, a look of thinking and doubt.
'So he has a secret, I do love a challenge" he thought with an amused smirk on his face as he watched boy on his lap.
"Well I...was in the garden" he began
"Before that brother" he corrected knowing he was trying to avoid the question, "You can tell me brother" he said in a reassuring tone.
"Em" he fidgeted a bit in his lap still rather nervous and scared, Mephisto observed this and decided to go a different route.
"Amaimon, did someone hurt you?" the question brought the others eyes up to his, "Were you getting bullied again?" it was known that because of Amaimon;s rank and age he was often bullied by their other siblings.
"I...yes" he admitted rather sadly, "They attacked me when I was playing and I ran into the forest" he said with a look of shame in front of his brother.
'So that's it' he guessed it was bound to happen given his absence, any demon knew not to touch one of Satan's sons, unless they wanted to loss their life. But disputes between siblings of the royal family were generally handled by the sibling themselves. Their Father wasn't exactly the loving type, by no means. He believed in survival of the fittest and that scuffles and fights made each demon stronger. And weeded out the weak from the strong.
Unfortunately in Amaimon's case he was a constant target for their other siblings because he was small and vulnerable. Easy prey from weaker demons who hadn't the back bones to challenge the higher ranking Kings. Often or not if Amaimon was being bullied he would find Mephisto and cling to him. For some reason or another he seemed founder of the second eldest than any other of the Demon Kings.
"So you were hiding in the forest all day"
"Well...I think so" he said with uncertainty
"What do you mean you 'think' so?"
"Well, I remember running and running, then I tripped and fell down a cliff..." he remembered tumbling down one of the peaks in the forest and rolling until he stopped. He also remembered crying, feeling sore all over and then...green. He remembered the creature who saved him and protected him and healed him. Though he wondered if he should tell his older brother. He never wanted to keep anything from Mephisto, but if he told he might not be able to see the flowers again.
"And...when I thought it was safe, I came back and fell asleep in the garden" he told feeling rather low for not telling his brother the truth.
"I see" although he seemed sated with the answer, Mephisto had a talent for knowing when someone wasn't telling the entire truth. Though he was a little surprised Amaimon, his little brother, was trying to hide something from his own big brother, "But now your safe little one" again he brushed his hand over the green strands of hair, running the tip along the spike of his green horn that rested in the center of his head.
"But you're safe. Now all that's left to do is calm Father down and tell the rest of the house" he said casually still petting the others head.
'Hm, so Amaimon was getting beat up, but there's not even a scratch or wound on him' he noticed observing the others features or rather the absennce of any bruise or mark to show he had been attacked. 'Then there's the smell' ever since he found his younger brother he had noticed a sweet smell wafting from his presence, not like how he usually smelled of earth and clay. Amaimon wasn't in the forest or at least the forest of Gehenna which were a mix of brimstone and ash. Wherever Amaimon was it was definitely not Gehenna.
Looking back down at the small demon child he had noticed a more calmer presence and could hear small snores.
'He's asleep' again the little child had gone to sleep. The demon part of him wanted to shake him awake and get more answer out of him. But his gentlemen part of him seemed to force the feelings aside, for now, and allow the child to sleep. He would get his answers sooner or later.
And as Amaimon continued to drift off into slumber his mind was filled with the sights of color and the sweet scent of the world he had briefly scene. Soon the world outside drifted away and he was surrounded by the sea of colorful flowers.
To Be Continued...