Chapter 15

J

"I just don't understand why the queen would give away her crown to someone who wasn't planning to keep the kingdom together; I mean if you are going to pass the torch you need to make sure that person was capable for the job."

"The point wasn't to see if Mira could run a nation, but to do so with a kind heart. She showed more compassion and humility towards the citizens of north Sheol than her other daughter in south Sheol. The daughters were supposed to rule the nation together but the Maura was cruel and heartless, so they split the nation into two."

"But that is what I'm saying, the nation should have stayed as one, if the queen knew her eldest wasn't up for the job then her second child should have been made the singular queen or she shouldn't have stepped down in the first place!" Satan pinched the bridge of his nose frustrated, usually our little debates on literature were fun but today was getting too heated and I stopped talking immediately.

"You are thinking too cut and dry about it; in those times it was the eldest right to have the throne but the queen knew that her daughter was too cruel and greedy. So she appointed her second child as well against the rules. It was so that the eldest could be influenced by the youngest and they rule the kingdom together in harmony the second child was too kind and she would have been overtaken while the oldest was too hateful and would have destroyed her country."

"But the sisters split the nation and eventually went to war, in the end no one got the kingdom because the youngest was murdered and the eldest executed! Meanwhile the whole country was destitute and the mother committed suicide! What was the point of it all?!"

"That is why it is called "The Tragedy of Two Kingdoms" the tragic part being that the country would have thrived if the sisters worked together instead of against one another. It a life lesson if you will to learn compromise." He smoothed his hand over the cover before placing it back into its place. His emerald eyes flashed at me and he gave me a big smile.

"You don't have to pretend with me Satan, I know a fake smile when I see one; I made you angry just say it so I know where I've erred." He leaned forward in his chair and studied me.

"There you go again, you always speak in that manner when something is troubling you."

"I don't know what you're referring to Satan; I have nothing to be troubled about. He took my chin in his fingers and snapped my face back to his.

"What did I say about lying?"

"Take your hand off of me now." I said it low, but I had felt my own rage bubble up so quickly that I couldn't keep it out of my voice and he let go quickly.

"Fine; I don't like when people refuse to open their minds to new concepts. It makes me angry when I have to explain the figurative language over and over again. And I don't like people who come into my room and lie to my face!" now he was very mad, it was written all over his face. I was so good at making them mad lately; I felt like I was close to losing my friends left and right.

"Thank you, I can't change my behavior when I don't know what I've done wrong." His eyes softened and he looked at me puzzled.

"Why do you think you need to change?"

"Because people don't like me this way, I'm always doing something wrong to make them angry or humiliate me and I'm never told why."

"What's happened now?"

"Levi won't speak to me; he…told me that he liked me, but I didn't see him that way…I feel embarrassed because I wasn't sure if I had done something to make him think I had." Truth was Belphie, Beel and now Levi had all confessed to being interested in me and now I felt particularly awkward around them; but Levi was worse because he was awkward and insecure to begin with and he berated himself for even trying to ask me out.

"Hmm, well is there something about them that you don't like or do you have a specific type?" oh no…

"I love all of them, but as friends…as brothers even. I am not perusing a romantic relationship; hell you guys are my first friends, I wouldn't know what to do with a boyfriend!"

"I see." I heard mild disappointment in his voice and my heart hurt again.

"And now I feel so awkward because…I don't know how to approach them now; I'm afraid to say or do the wrong thing. I don't want to hurt them or give false hope either." I looked up and he was studying me again.

"I think it will be fine eventually; but you cannot blame them, you are smart, witty and very beauty-"

"Yes I'm beautiful! So people say! 'she's so pretty but her mouth is unattractive, oh wow she's hot but she has the personality of a wet towel, she could get a husband if she weren't so cold, I hear it all the time! I don't care about what I look like! From the time I stared primary school I was made fun of because of my hair, they would run from me and say I was covered in blood or that I was on fire or something! And having this skin that's just a bit browner than most of them made it worse, they called me names like mutt and half-breed. But soon they saw how smart I was and it only made things worse! So don't tell me I'm pretty, don't tell me I should be grateful for it because I will never believe it! none of you like me, but the idea of the version you want to see of me! It will only be a matter of time before I ruin any relationship I chose and then I've made an enemy of my friend because I didn't meet expectations! Why can't you all just let me have you guys the way you are!?" damn I truly wasn't on my best behavior, why did I fall apart so easily today? Satan took a gentle hand and wiped my cheek.

"That is the first time I have seen you cry…" He looked at me with urgency and I just begged for this moment to be over.

"don't worry, I am not going to try to court you or anything; if the opportunity arose however I wouldn't mind it, someone who understands me on an intellectual level is hard to come by even if they are human. You don't have to fear me." I leaned over and hugged him close and quickly pulled away, making him laugh.

"Be honest, you wanted to tell me that you were interested in me weren't you?"

"I did, but that would obviously make you unhappy; and besides unlike the others I can take rejection. I would rather you liked none of us than another brother."

"What is it about me?"

"For me? It's your intelligence; and your love for books, your physical beauty is literally the cover of a very interesting novel. But you won't hear me speak on the matter further." I looked into his green eyes and a feeling of warmth came over me.

"Your eyes remind me of my fathers'…." He flushed then and I kicked myself.

"Is…that considered a good thing?"

"Oh….wow, I'm sorry I said that. Yes my father and I are very close I trust him unquestionably and I can see that when I look at you. He also values knowledge and discipline."

"He is a very wise man, and a lucky one to have raised such a daughter." He looked at me with a genuine smile and I felt my stomach twist in knots.

"My apologies, I mean that in the most platonic way."

"Ha….thank you." I couldn't keep on tiptoeing around these guys, what was it that made them like me this way? Did I do something? I left Satan's room and in a flash a pair of arms were around my waist, the only one who has been transparent from day one.

"Good afternoon Asmo."

"Hello Rose! I missed you all day and I come to find that Satan's had you all to himself, it isn't fair."

"So you were in Satan's room? That figures…" Levi grumbled as he walked by.

"I can spend time with who I want to Levi, I don't belong to anyone!"

"Yet ya got Asmo stuck to ya like a tick!" Mammon popped over to see what was going on in the hallway.

"Oi, Asmo, get off of her; you gotta ask my permission first!"

"Please like she would want a scummy idiot like you!"

"Levi go back to makin' out wit ya pillows will ya?" Levi punched Mammon in the face they all seemed to erupt. Satan came out of his room confused.

"What in the world?!"

"He started it he hit me!"

"The piece of shit wouldn't shut up!"

"They are acting like ruffians, come on 'Tèa, we'll go to my room, I need a mannequin for an outfit I bought and I think our hips are about the same size don't you?" Asmo's hands floated to my hips and I gasped.

"Asmo get your damn hands off of her!" Satan pushed him away from me angrily.

"Don't put your hands on me like that Satan!"

"What the hell are you guys fighting about?!" Belphie ran over trying to break up Mammon and levi.

"That jackass started it all!"

"Shut up you worthless scummy idiot!"

"Satan you are always so mean, you had no right to shove me that way! Apologize to me, you could have bruised my beautiful skin!"

"You're lucky I don't bloody it!"

"Why do you get to have Jetèa in your room all day? What do you have that I don't?!"

"Dignity, self-control, a fucking clue, I could go on!" Asmo threw a punch and them he and Satan went at it.

"Wait you were in Satan's room?" Belphie looked up with suspicious eyes.

"Why do I need to explain myself to you or anyone?!" the scuffle between Mammon and Levi knocked him off his feet and Satan tackled Asmo and nearly took me out with him if Beel hadn't blocked it with his body. He moved me out of the way of the commotion, looking at me with concern.

"Are you ok 'Tèa? Are you hurt?" I hugged Beel, he was the only one who wasn't acting like a barbarian. But I quickly pulled away more than angry at the whole situation.

"No Beel, I'm not ok….i'm done."

L

I was pulled out of my papers by the sound of screaming and thudding; at first I assumed they were fighting like usual so I tried to at least get a few more things done before I punished them but then I heard Jetèa scream. This wasn't a usual argument. I rushed own the halls to the source of the hall, Mammon was fighting Levi and Satan has Asmo on the ground. Belphie was screaming at them and poor Beel was trying to break it all up. their blatant act of indecency was all it took for me to change.

"THAT IS ENOUGH! YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ELITE DEMONS OF DEVILDOM AND HERE YOU ARE ACTING LIKE GUTTER TRASH!" they stopped momentarily, and I separated them all.

"What is going on?!" none of them said a word.

"Nothing to say, then maybe I will start your punishments now."

"It's all Mammon's fault as always! He's always got something to say!"

"Levi hit me!"

"Satan was being a big brute."

"Asmo was being lewd and disrespectful to Jetèa."

"Speaking of which why was she in your room anyway?" Belphie interjected.

"WE were discussing a novel; not that it has anything to do with any of you?! But if you must know she was upset at the way all of you were acting around her!"

"I just wanted her to model some clothes, I needed to take in a pair of silk pants and she's my size!"

"In what dog years?"

"How dare you!"

"ENOUGH! All of you! This is shameful, you're acting like animals! You should be ashamed!" They looked to the floor.

"Go to your rooms and stay there!" They began to move and Beel stood looking visibly upset.

"Beel you had no part in it, it's ok. But can you tell me what happened?"

"I don't know…but it upset Jetèa; I think they were all fighting over her." I should have known this would happen eventually, just not with all of them!

"Well where did she go to, I need to get her side." Beel looked down.

"Beel? Where is Jetèa? Is she hiding behind you?"

"She's gone."

"She went to her room?" He shook his head furiously and looked down.

"Are you keeping secrets from me?"

"She left….she said she was done with us and that she was leaving and to not stop her." I stared at him for a moment wondering if what he said was right, but he was never one to lie.

"Beel…what is behind your back?" he struggled a little but pulled out a little seed from behind his back. This afternoon was bizarre and Beels behavior wasn't making It any easier. Why hide a seed? I tried to take it from him and he pulled it back.

"No! It's hers…if she comes back, I want it to be here for her." I left him to his seed and went straight to Jetèa's room, she wasn't to be found and her things were untouched. My guess was if she did leave she never even came back to her room. I walked outside and looked around but she was nowhere nearby. This was serious; with no escort a human would be hunted and killed by a lower demon in a matter of an hour.

"Beel, come with me; we have to get her back or she'll be killed!"

"Y-yes Lucifer."

"Where would she go?"

"Ummm….maybe the library?"

"Good let's start there." I had no idea what was going on but I had to get her back, I couldn't let her get hurt.

"Beel how could you let her go?!"

"I tried to stop her but….she was so mad."

"She's just a human Beel you could have easily overpowered her."

"But I didn't want to do that."

"If it meant she stays safe then it would be necessary! She could be killed and then what would not hurting her feelings have accomplished?! I never thought you could be so careless!" Beel looked crestfallen and I reeled back my anger, I had never raised my voice to him before, he never gave me trouble like the others do.

"I'm sorry Lucifer…."

"Let's just find her before it's too late." Please….let her be okay.

J

The absolute nerve of them! I was so angry I wasn't even paying attention to where I was going, I soon found myself traveling through a junkyard type place I had never seen I opened my senses and scanned for any nearby thoughts.

I smell a human

Looks like dinner came delivery.

I'm going to fondle her breasts before I rib them from her body

Hmmm, looks like fun.

I stopped dead in my tracks, there were four, and they had me at all sides. My training kicked in and I took a long thick wooden rod to use as a staff and took my stance as the debris began to clatter around me. They stepped out looking like they were boys about my age; but their eyes were blood red and their claws jagged like their teeth. Not the lowest level but they were still savages. One who I took to be the leader was blonde and had a pockmarked face that would otherwise be handsome. He smiled shark like teeth at me and let out a low….sadistic laugh.

"Well look at what we have here, a little human girl has come to our stomping grounds and thinks she can fight us."

"She looks tasty, oh Damien let me have her thighs…." The shorter blue haired demon drooled.

"She's pretty too, Let's keep her head as a trophy, I have plans for her mouth." The green haired one motioned closer.

"Foras, Ifirit….mind your manners; that is no way to talk to a lady, I believe we should show her the upmost hospitality."

"Do not step near me, I am warning you; let me pass and no harm will come to you." They laughed at me their stares becoming more sinister as they approached me. Damien was the only one who stood his ground, he was calm but I knew better; the calm ones were always the more dangerous, his thoughts were full of torture and lewd actions. He saw something about me he liked and so he wanted to take his time; he was going to make my death slow and very painful. I couldn't hold back on this one, I had to show them their place. I may be half human but both of my parents had the bloodline of high class Yokai, and my human grandfather was a voodoo high priest, I was not going to succumb to a bunch of junk yard dogs. I changed my stance; I stood relaxed and crossed my arms looking Damien in the eyes.

"Damien…I must tell you that this is your final warning. I am not going to let you touch me; if you try I will be forced to injure you greatly." He seemed to no longer be amused.

"You don't make demands of me-"

"YOU WILL BE SILENT WHEN I SPEAK TO YOU!" I let my energy flow, my body ebbing and flowing with my pale green aura that made the others step back. I pulled my rose from my hair and unleashed my rose whip a cold and arrogant smile on my face.

"You will learn your place demon."

"Hey, I thought she was just a human….she seems like one of us!"

"Do you not feel that power, she feels like an elite demon…. I think we should just-"

"SHUT UP! This little bitch is not going to make a fool of me! Stand your ground, you will beg for death before I am through with you!" The one named Ifirit attacked first and I stood aside as he stumbled by. He turned and before he could turn again his limbs fell off.

"What the hell?!"

"When did she move?!"

"My rose whip can cut through nearly any object including stone, final warning Damien….back off." He looked irritated at first but cocked his head and smiled sinisterly.

"You cut him three times and you call that a warning? You are a little bit of a sadist aren't you? I like that in a woman….."

"Three? Where?" Ifirit stepped forward and bent forward in pain just before his entrails spilled onto the ground. The remaining two stepped backwards in fear.

"One rule I was always taught was to never underestimate your opponent." A pair of arms wrapped around me from behind and suplexed me. I felt massive pain in my neck and back and everything went blurry for a moment.

"Ironic…I would have said the same about you. Meet Xaphan, he will be disarming you and making you easier to handle." The dark haired demon was as big and muscular as Beel but with white eyes and pale blue skin. I laid on the ground dazed, thinking quickly I remembered my training and rolled out from him and quickly got cover. They laughed maniacally and I tried to get my vision straight why didn't I hear the last demons thoughts?

"She acted so tough but she's on the run now Damien."

"And I have her flower, she's unarmed!"

"Boss. We kill now?" The last demon doesn't think much, figures.

"Go get her, but bring her alive and mostly in one piece, I want to have fun as well." So here I was unarmed, in a remote area with four dangerous demons hunting me down like an animal. The guys were nowhere around and I lost my rose. It was time to put my training to the test, Mother, Daddy…I hope I do you proud.