Erin watched , mesmerized, as Shura shot the targets.
"How did you do that?" Erin asked as Shura was handed a stuffed bear.
"Do what?" the Exorcist asked.
"Shoot all of those!"
"That was nothing." Shura said with a shrug. "My aim actually sucks. You should see what I can do with a sword."
"You tried to kill me with on, remember?" Erin said as the two walked along.
Shura smiled sheepishly.
"You're a Demon. Force of habit."
Erin shrugged.
"Hey, could have been worse. An Exorcist that wasn't hot could have tried to kill me."
Shura froze.
"What?" Erin stopped and looked back at her.
"Did you just say that I'm hot?"
Erin looked surprised, then her face paled.
"Ah…crap…"
Ameri sat as still as she could in front of Mephisto while the Demon rebandaged her back.
"Sorry…" he murmured again
"It is alright." She said through gritted teeth.
Apparently his finger wasn't the only thing that had needed healing with her talents.
"Alright." He sighed. "Finished."
Ameri stood up and stretched, testing to see both the tightness of the bandage and if anymore healing wounds would pop open.
"Thank you, Mr. Pheles. That was most gracious of you."
"…You're welcome…"
"Would you like some pie?" the pink-haired Demoness asked as she walked to the cooling rack.
"Yes. I'll make the tea."
"Sir, I-"
"Ameri…"
"Mr. Pheles do try not to injure yourself farther…" Ameri sighed in defeat.
Leviathan laughed as Belphegor told him what Beelzebub was planning.
"Oh, that's rich!" he howled "Our little brother can't wait to be King!"
Belphegor blinked as the Demon of Envy laughed hard enough that no sound was coming out of his mouth.
"This is serious Levi. He's really pissed at Wrath this time."
Levi waved his hand dismissively.
"He's wanted to overthrow out brother for years."
"Yes, but this time I think he actually plans on acting…and it's all because of those three slaves."
"Two." Levi corrected.
"Either way, he's angered towards you as well."
"What did I do today?"
"The deal with that pink girl. He thought she should have been dog chow."
Levi laughed again.
"So, what? If he wants to overthrow Wrath, he needs me."
The Demon form of Sloth rubbed his temples. This was so tiring…
"Yes, but he wants our nephews too and their weak spots are obvious."
Levi played with his tongue ring.
"Candy, Porn, and Japan?"
"No, Envy…those two slaves."
"Really? They finally got themselves a slice of Devil's food cake?"
"I have a feeling you twisted a show reference just now…"
Leviathan just grinned before tossing a severed arm to a Hellhound.
Erin's mind raced, trying to come up with a quick lie. Shura stared at her, waiting. Finally Erin spoke.
"I've got nothing."
Shura laughed loudly and uneasily.
"Of course you don't! Everyone knows I'm hot!"
Erin stared at her for a moment before walking off to another ride. Shura followed more slowly, holding the bear tightly.
Myuki sprang forward, catching the ball between her hands. She batted it back and forth before rolling it towards Behemoth who sent it flying across the room again.
Meanwhile, Amaimon sat with his bleeding thumb in his mouth. He wanted to play a game. His kind of game….but there was no one down here to play with…
He looked over at Myuki. Maybe he could…no…she would break and then he wouldn't have the toy-wife creature that was starting to become more than a possession in his eyes. Suddenly he got the urge to do something strange…He wanted to do something…nice…for his Myuki. What could he do for her though? He needed help…from both his Big Bro and the Demon of Lust.
Erin plunked down on her bed at the Old Woman's house. How could she have been so stupid? She called the enemy hot! The woman that had tried to kill her too!
Erin sighed as she stared up at the ceiling. True, Shura had laughed it off…and they were enemies…weren't they? She wasn't so sure anymore. The way Shura had looked at her after it had come out was like when they had first met…it was like finally being able to see the light at the end of a dark tunnel. And not a train either. More like…love…
"WHOHA!" Erin bolted upright, her eyes wide.
Could it be? Could she be falling for the Exorcist?
Mephisto nodded thoughtfully as Amaimon told him the idea he had gotten.
"That sounds like fun. Has Asmodeus agreed?"
Amaimon nodded.
"Tonight then?"
The two looked over at their girls.
Currently, Myuki was trying to get Ameri to play the Xbox. The pink-haired Demoness was giving the game case a strange look. She had just picked up the controller when Mephisto called for their attention.
"Care to go for a trip?"
Ameri gave Myuki a frightened look as the Demon grinned.
"We should run…"
"Mew?"
Not very long later, Ameri was certain she should have ran as Mephisto guided her blind-folded self by placing his hand on her lower back and lightly applying pressure. Then again, she was thankful that he didn't do what Amaimon did. After placing the blindfold on Myuki, he had swung the Cat-Demoness over his shoulder and strutted out of the room, leaving Ameri alone with a pink with white polka-dotted scarf.
Mephisto had taken it from her and tied it on, mindful of her wild hair before leading her out.
Ameri carefully walked forward now, wondering where they were going. It wasn't like Hell had much to offer. A fearful thought hit her. Maybe they were going to be fed to the Hellhounds. The thought made her pause in her walking until Mephisto warm breath was tickling her ear.
"Keep walking, liebe. We're almost there."
Ameri suppressed a shiver and continued on.
A few minutes later, she felt his gloved hand on her bare shoulder, stopping her. She heard a door creaking open and then she was being lead into a warm area that smelled like…life. Mephisto slowly removed her blindfold. When Ameri could see, she gasped.
The place they were in was like nothing she had ever seen before. Flowers and plants of all kind filled the grassy area and the air with their fragrance. A small river wound its way through the plants, so clear you could see the bottom and the sky's reflection at the same time. The sky here was a bright blue with fat, happy clouds floating lazily in it.
Ameri's eyes finally settled on a white butterfly as it fluttered by her.
"A-are we in Heaven?"
Mephisto chuckled.
"This is Amahara. Amaimon's territory. Come, we have things to do." He replied as he lightly took her hand.
Ameri, still mesmerized by all the colors, let him lead her on.
Up ahead, she saw her sister and Amaimon sitting at a small white wicker table with matching chairs. Mephisto pulled out a chair for her and she sat, glancing at her sister's happy face as she chatted to Amaimon about all the plants she was seeing. Amaimon popped a sucker into his mouth and stared at the Demoness as she prattled on about everything. It had been so long since he had heard someone talk about plants like this. Sure, there was that girl who attended his brother's school, but this…this was actually someone of his own kind…plus he hadn't been allowed near the blonde girl yet…
Myuki stopped talking when she noticed a familiar red-head walking towards her. She squeaked and jumped to her feet even as her sister rose to hers. The two girls bowed their heads as Asmodeus approached. He laughed.
"No need for that…I am your servant today." He gave a low bow as the two girls slowly sat.
"H-how?" Myuki asked in bewilderment.
"Asmodeus lost a game of cards with me a few decades ago." Amaimon said in his monotone as he placed his sucker stick on the table.
The Demon of Lust scowled.
"You ate all of my best cards."
Amaimon shrugged.
"So, now he does what I ask, as rare as that is."
"Yes, and today, I am your servant. Now, would you like tea or lemonade?"
The hours flew by quickly as the group enjoyed Amahara. Asmodeus served little cucumber sandwiches with the crusts cut off, lemonade, iced and hot tea, and deserts. So many deserts. Currently, Myuki and Amaimon were off exploring the woods leaving Mephisto sipping his tea while Ameri picked at her sandwich.
"It won't bite." Mephisto said at the same time Ameri asked "Why are you doing this?"
The Demon looked startled for a brief second before his usually grin came back.
"It isn't my doing. It was all Amaimon's idea. He seems to want to keep your little sister around." He said, not pretending to misunderstand her question.
"She is not my little sister. She is my eldest sister." Ameri replied
Mephisto took a sip of his tea.
"You act much older than her."
Ameri snorted.
"You, sir, have not seen the real me."
"Oh? And what is the real you like?" The Demon leaned in close to her.
"Ameri! I caught a butterfly!" Myuki pounced on her sister and showed her the delicate creature.
Mephisto sat back, hiding his displeasure.
Amaimon walked up and shoved a piece of cake in his mouth.
"This has been the best day ever!" Myuki squealed as she watched the butterfly fly away with her sister.
Erin left her room later to find the Old Woman gone and the store closed. A note was sitting on the counter.
Help yourself to breakfast.
Don't worry about the Garden today.
Be back soon.
There wasn't even a signature…
Erin sighed and looked out the window. It was dark. She frowned. The note had mentioned breakfast, but Erin had been gone all day. Hadn't the Old Woman known she was going the Mepphyland? She looked out the window again. Shura had some explaining to do…
