Brothers in Hate
Chapter Four

I awoke to the sound of a blaring alarm clock. In a groggy daze, I tapped the snooze button and pushed myself upright. For a brief moment, it seemed like yesterday was a bad dream, a distant memory to be forgotten. I quickly composed myself, remembering my poor hygiene and desperate need for a shower.

As I rubbed the sleep from one of my eyes, something tickled the back of my neck. I flinched and swatted at it, an automatic response that sent flickers of annoyance through my hazy mind. There was another tickle against my arm and, soon after, against my cheek.

The sensations were caused by coal tar, little, black nuisances that had invaded my room because...I wasn't exactly clean. I waved a hand to scatter them.

It was then that my light flicked on, revealing a very furious Astaroth and a small fog of coal tar. His pupils were small slits and his knifelike claws dug into the fabric of his shirt as he tried to keep his composure. He snarled at me, lips pulled over his jagged, unclean teeth to flash them like that would scare me.

...It did.

I nervously fisted the sheet that covered me as I struggled to find my voice. "...Uh, good-"

"This is my room. You don't belong in this palace and especially not in this wing, servant. Get out." He spoke in a tight, strained voice that managed to sound angry and condescending at the same time.

I shut off the alarm as it sounded again and stood. "Calm down. I was escorted here last night. I didn't know-"

The demon cut me off. "I don't care if you knew or not." He was a head taller and glared down at me with an exasperated growl. "You know now. Get out."

"Astaroth," Amaimon called to him from the door, voice soft and uncertain.

"Oh, Amaimon was the one who requested I stay here," I explained quickly, remembering my conversation with Vlad.

He whirled around to face his brother. "Why should I believe anything you say?"

I expected Amaimon to say something insulting with that unemotional voice of his; but instead, he stood there, staring into the distance. I felt my blood run hot as he remained quiet. "What's wrong with you? Tell him!"

"What's wrong is you're lying!" Astaroth grabbed my neck and lifted me off the floor, blocking my airways. "It's unfortunate, but now I'll have to kill you."

"Put him down!" A familiar voice made the demon king immediately drop me. I fell to my knees and coughed harshly, lungs desperately screaming for air. "I was the one who said he could have this room," he continued, crossing his arms. "He's Amaimon's personal servant so I wanted them to be next to each other. Stop being such an ass."

"So?" he spat. "Where the hell am I supposed to sleep?"

"Your things were moved down the hall." He pointed over his shoulder. "Go," he commanded sternly. Astaroth, grumbling obscenities to himself, hurried out of the room like a dog with its tail between its legs. The fog of coal tar followed him.

"Thanks," I muttered, finally able to catch my breath.

"Sorry about that!" Rin helped me stand. "We're a bit disorganized when it comes to-"

Amaimon suddenly smacked Rin's hand off my shoulder. They glared at each other, a tense, hateful, unblinking stare. I didn't want to interrupt, but I had this overwhelming itch in my nose as a result of the disturbed dust and...well, I sneezed. It startled the two and pulled them out of whatever rivalry they had.

"Eww," Amaimon narrowed his eyes at me. "You haven't bathed yet?"

"I was exhausted! You try walking thirteen and a half miles without a break!"

"Suguro," Rin cleared his throat to get my attention, an innocent, affable smile brightening his features. "I'm sorry about Astaroth. I didn't mean to ruin your first day here," he spoke as if Amaimon were invisible. "Hey, how about you come find me in the kitchen when you have time and I'll fix you something nice to make up for it?" He gave me a playful wink before leaving.

I locked eyes with Amaimon, disappointed and frustrated. "Why didn't you say anything to defend me?" I asked, sounding more resentful than I intended.

He removed the lollipop from his mouth, a barely visible fang poking out under his lip. "You have a meeting with Vlad in twenty minutes. Make sure you bathe," he paused to make a disgusted face. "Please."

Oh shit.


"Suguro!" At least Vlad seemed happy to see me despite my damp hair and disheveled appearance. "Y'know...I said five not five fifteen."

I stood in front of the available mirror and slipped a black headband over my hair. I didn't have time to style it and needed something to keep my bangs out of my face, so this would have to do for today. "You wouldn't believe the amount of shit I had to wash off."

He laughed. "Dirt from the wasteland? I thought you were naturally orange."

I turned to him with a sly smirk. "Very funny."

"Eh, I try." He shrugged a shoulder lazily. "Here," he turned me and fidgeted with my bow tie. "Aren't you old enough to know how to use one of these?"

"I'm only seventeen."

"Geez, kids these days," he shook his head. "When I was your age I already knew how to operate a fighter jet, much less dress myself."

"Good for you, grandpa."

"Heeeey," he playfully flicked my forehead with his middle finger. "No sass allowed." We shared a laugh before he nudged me out the door.

Vlad reminded me a lot of Shima, except without the constant perversion, and his presence made me feel more comfortable. I honestly expected to be treated like shit considering I was a servant, but the demons here were kinder than I could have ever imagined. It didn't even feel like a palace for malicious beasts. If it weren't for the fact that most servants didn't appear human, it would be like my summer job last year working at a high-end hotel.

But eventually I got over the initial excitement of their greetings and reminded myself why I was there. Of course they were nice to me, but only because they thought I was a demon like them, supporting their desire to obtain Assiah. This, coupled with Rin's surprisingly benign personality, made everything harder to bare. It all felt overwhelming and I had to ask Vlad for a break after our tour of the servant's wing.

"Feeling exhausted?" He gave me a warm, comforting smile.

"A little."

"Why don't you head to the kitchen and get something to eat." He motioned down the hall with his head. "I know humans have to eat multiple times a day, so help yourself anytime. I have a few errands to run and then I'll meet you at the atrium in a couple hours."

"Atrium?" I let out a heavy sigh. "Doesn't this place have a map?"

Vlad chuckled. "I can get you a copy of our floor plans if you think that will help." I waved a hand to brush off his suggestion. "Don't worry, Suguro. Ask anyone you see! All of our servants were picked by Demetri and he has a good eye for respectable personalities. Like myself, obviously." He winked. "Everyone here will treat you like family. Which means," he paused and tightly gripped my shoulders, "you need to do the same."

I didn't understand, but nodded regardless. It was clear we knew absolutely nothing about demon culture. The more I learn from being here the more I realize our textbooks are wrong. Exactly how much have we misunderstood about them?

His smile brightened. "Try to relax. We can skip your chores for today if it'll help." I nodded again and he ruffled my hair, misplacing my headband much to my displeasure. "See you later, Skunk Head."

"Tsk," I cursed under my breath and removed the band from my tangled hair.

A wonderfully tantalizing scent pervaded the air as I neared the servant's dining area. It wasn't as exquisite as the main dining hall and looked more like a high school cafeteria, but as I'm told, the food is delicious and prepared by the demon prince. I found it odd why someone with such high stature would bother with his servants. Vlad said it was because Rin enjoyed the simple act of cooking; he didn't care who it was for.

It was just after breakfast so the cafeteria wasn't very crowded. I spotted Rin cleaning up alone at the buffet and decided to offer some assistance. It would be easier to kill him if he trusted me. "That looks heavy." I took a pile of dirtied dishes out of his arms without waiting for him to respond.

"Suguro! Thanks." He grinned and ran his fingers through his short hair, brushing his fringe out of his eyes. "It's hard to carry stuff when I can't see."

"Do you always work alone?"

He shrugged and picked up a second pile of dishes. "It's my way of thanking everyone for their hard work." I followed him to the back kitchen. "It's a pain to care for demon kings and everyone here does it without complaining."

"Except for me," I scoffed, placing the dishes down. "Amaimon is such a coward."

He cocked a brow knowingly at me. "Still bothered by what happened this morning?"

"No," I said quickly, trying to hide my irritation for the Earth King.

"You'll get used to him eventually."

I wanted to ask him what he thought of Amaimon since their relationship seemed mostly negative from what I've seen, but I bit my tongue and changed the subject. I needed him to like me, trust me enough to be comfortable alone together, and I doubt delving into his personal relationships so soon would help.

We spoke casually about daily life in the palace as I helped him wash the dishes. Despite being the son of Satan, Rin was a very lively, pleasant person. He was courteous and kind, friendly and forthcoming, and not nearly as annoying as any of his older brothers. I actually felt disappointed when we finished, wanting to spend more time with him. He had practice scheduled, though, and left me alone in the cafeteria with a hot breakfast.

Reality dawned on me while I was eating. Rin is my target. I had to push aside my feelings and remind myself that he was a demon, a product of the monster that wanted to tear Assiah apart. Any attachment I had to him would just make things difficult when the time came.

But the thought of murdering someone like Rin made me sick and I couldn't finish my meal.


Lucky for me, Vlad was right. The servant I asked to aid me in finding the atrium dropped whatever she was doing to escort me down the stairs and into the main lobby. Its large, double doors were labeled by a gilded sign that read 'Inner Sanctum'. I thanked her for the help and allowed myself inside.

Life seemed to flow from all corners of the garden, like a spring of serenity and beauty. Flowers, trees, and unfamiliar plants decorated the lush, bright field. Low-level demons played in the shade, hung from the branches, splashed in the pond, napped in the leaves. It was natural, untouched beauty not known to modern man. In the center of this heavenly garden sat an ornate marble statue, home to a marvelously sculpted bust of a woman cradling a globe in her arms. A bright, blue flame flickered inside of it. She was surrounded by offerings of sage, lavender, lilies, and fresh fruit meticulously organized by size and carefully placed in straw baskets.

I felt as if I had stepped through a portal and into another world.

The comforting atmosphere was far too mesmerizing, distracting me from the scene unfolding nearby. That is, until Amaimon was brutally punched in his right eye. Astaroth landed another hard hit on his jaw and I watched in horror as the earth demon refused to fight back.

"I'll kill you if you ever give my room to a servant again!" He kicked the fallen demon before leaving through a side door.

Amaimon lied there motionless and, for a moment, I thought he was unconscious, but he quickly stood as he heard me approach. The demon wiped his face on his gloved arms before facing me. He had a black eye and fresh blood trailed down from the corner of his mouth.

I genuinely felt sorry for him. "Amaimon...are you-"

"You will call me master," he spat. "Vlad is unable to meet you, so I will take his place." He stared at me with that blank expression, completely disregarding the fight he just had with Astaroth. "First, I will explain to you the conditions of our contract." The bruise around his eye was already beginning to disappear. "One, you will-"

Without thinking, I reached out and wiped away the blood on his chin. He stared at me, eyes wide and surprised. "Do all your older brothers treat you like shit?" I was certain Mephisto didn't, but still...

He shoved me away and took a few steps back, disgusted by my behavior. "O-One," he continued, voice trembling. "You will stay within one mile of me. This means you cannot leave the palace grounds. Two," he was calmer now, holding up the corresponding number of fingers. "I die, you die. Simple, right? Stay near me and protect me. That's it."

I didn't give a shit about the contract. I don't like bullies, especially if they're family members. "Amaimon," I tried to sound compassionate, but because of my growing anger, my tone was demanding. "What the fuck is wrong with you? Fight back!" His expression didn't change. "Why are you letting him push you around?"

"I am your master," he said cruelly, "not your friend." He pointed to the other side of the garden. "Go help Shiemi pull weeds from the herb field until Vlad gets here. I'm done with you."

Amaimon turned from me, but I firmly gripped his shoulders and forced him to make eye contact. "Stop being such a coward!" He struggled and kicked while I did my best to hold him in place. "Do you have any idea how it feels to watch that!?"

He responded by digging his claws into my cheek. I recoiled from the pain and watched, enraged, as he escaped through the door Astaroth used earlier.

I couldn't believe what just happened. Was he really that stubborn?

To calm my sudden, blind rage, I wandered around and managed to find my way to a small sectioned off herb garden tucked away in the corner. Crouched on her haunches was a young, beautiful blonde girl. She was around my age, certainly not older, and appeared to be absolutely human. Her hands were filthy and she worked diligently.

"Hey," I tried to get her attention, but I was still angry and naturally sounded agitated.

"Oh! H-Hello! C-Can I-I...um...can I-I help y-you?" She stuttered with a light voice, fidgeting with the dirty sleeves of her traditional kimono and biting her lower lip nervously.

I didn't respond, taking the time to examine her incredulously. It was unlikely that she was a demon given her kindly disposition and that she was trembling in front of me, someone who clearly had a rugged, intimidating appearance.

"...What happened to you?" She stood and gently touched the side of my face.