Note: So, this is another oneshot of mine. However, this one specifically focuses on Asamad Van Ghoul / Asmodeus and the moment he started to regret what he had done and started to seek redemption. I wrote this to show what he was feeling & thinking when he had a change of heart. I did also include how he realized that he messed up and how much damage he caused to everyone around him. Also, the story title is based on the song "Man Or A Monster'' by Sam Tinnesz. I thought it'd be the perfect title to use for this story, since I feel that it fits the theme of the whole redemption plot for Asamad that I'm going with, and since that song reminds me of him. This fanfic takes place way before the events of the 13 Ghosts series, my rewrite of the ending of Curse of the 13th Ghost titled "A New Ghost In Town" and my Vincent Van Ghoul oneshot titled "Forever Waiting, It Seemed." The fanfic I am writing after this one will be episode 1 of my 13 Ghosts reboot. (Which also takes place after the 13 Ghosts series and my rewrite of the COT13G ending) As I said before, it will include Asamad, my OC's Cheryl and Jayden, and Velma. I have a lot of ideas for my reboot and I'm very excited to start writing it soon.
Asmodeus, the 13th ghost and King Of Demons, who was once called Asamad Van Ghoul, was trapped in the Chest of Demons yet again. Back in the same magic realm with the other 12 ghosts. Usually, he'd be talking with them, coming up with evil plans for what they'd do once they were freed again. But this time, things were different, he was silent. Why? He was deep in thought. Not about how to take over the world or his evil plans, but about something more important.
He was thinking about his family, including his current descendant, Vincent Van Ghoul.
Vincent Van Ghoul was currently the last person to free him from the chest and to put him back in. Asmodeus had heard that Vincent is the most powerful warlock on Earth, as every male family member of the Van Ghouls had been since Asmodeus was forced to revoke that title from himself.
When he saw Vincent for the first time, he noticed an uneasy look on Vincent's face. That look meant that even he was terrified, that he was ashamed of his ancestor and all of his wicked deeds. At first, the demon king ignored this. He didn't care. However now, for once in his afterlife, he realized how much he hurt Vincent, how he hurt his family, and everyone around him. He finally saw the damage he had done.
No, he tried to push the thought aside, this is foolish. I'm not supposed to care about that. I'm the King Of Demons for evil's sake, I should only care about myself.
And yet, the thought came back moments later, he couldn't push it aside now. He didn't know why he couldn't get rid of the thought.
What does this mean, he said quietly to himself, I'm not supposed to be feeling like this. I've been in the chest too long already haven't I?
He just sat there, trapped in the dreadful chest, for what seemed like forever. After all, he would be doomed to be here forever, unless another living person let him out. He had hoped that would happen, as he hated being in this realm. Everyone hated being trapped here too. But he only wanted himself to be freed, not the others. For he knew the terror and chaos the other 12 ghosts would cause if they ever got freed again.
He wondered, Am I a man who wants to make things right, or a monster who's eternally vile and there's no way to reverse that?
A couple of years, probably even centuries passed, and Asamad began to have a change of heart. Reflecting on the way he was acting and realizing how seeing Vincent the night he was pulled back into the chest made him see the error of his ways. He remembered how his wife, son, and former friends shook with fear when he started using his powers for his warped ways and desires. They begged him to stop, but he just kept going. Which is how he ended up here. In this horrendous chest. Those memories made him see the damage he caused, and how he had hurt everyone around him, including those he once cared about. He swore to himself that he'd one day achieve redemption. He'd find a way to make amends with his descendant and formally apologize for all he had done, in the hopes that he'd be forgiven.
But how? he mused, how could I achieve redemption and be able to move on?
Then he suddenly recalled a book he read sometime in his life. He couldn't hark back to the title, but it was a book about how ghosts could redeem themselves and enter the afterlife, where all spirits should be. The book said that a ghost could do this by watching over and protecting a living family member or someone they considered to be family from danger.
This was perfect news, since Vincent is the last of the Van Ghoul bloodline, Asamad could watch over and protect him, then find a way to express regret to him, then he'd be able to go to the other side, at long last being able to rest in peace. But there was only one flaw with that…
When might he be able to exit the chest? He hoped it'd be at some point when Vincent is still living, since he didn't know how long Vincent may choose to live, since warlocks can choose how long they want to live based on how long their power would keep them alive. Warlocks are immortal, but for how many centuries they live is totally up to them.
That was a thought for another time, he decided. He eventually vowed to himself that when he'd get out of here, whenever that may be, he will find Vincent, and he shall watch over and protect him, and he will truly apologize for what he had done. After all, he owed a lot to him, a lot to his family, and everyone in fact.
He also promised to refer to himself and have everyone call him Asamad Van Ghoul again, since he no longer wanted to be known as Asmodeus, the king of demons anymore. He officially declared silently that he doesn't want to be associated with the other 12 ghosts or to be known as being corrupt. The ghost engaged that he'd start on a new, clean slate, becoming good again. Knowing that one day, he'd go back to his original form, a human warlock, just as he was in that painting in what was once that castle he owned.
But who exactly would free him? What mortals, besides foolish ones, or ones that want to join the 13 Ghosts in ruling the world, would ever free the 13th ghost?
Well whoever that might be, he decided, he'd patiently wait for them to free him. Even if he has to wait for all time.
Of course, while in his monstrous form, he still was a monster. Nevertheless, he was becoming a man once again, a better man now...