Authors note:
Alright. I'm committing to this, chapters are gonna be published faster than before now that I have a solid plot and structure planned out.
Chapter IV: Broodmother
"How much longer is this going to take Lucy?" the impatient demon asked, pacing back and forth on the cold stone floor, her thigh high black boots making a loud thudding, echoing throughout the empty room. If Beelzebub stomped any harder the floor would begin to crumble, dust and ash were already falling from the roof as the two demons continued their waiting.
"As long as it needs to B. This is our first attempt, it might not be perfect first time. The poor thing will most likely die as soon as its out of there", the devil glared back at her partner. "Patience my dear...we have no idea how this works yet" the woman repeated again, Lucifer had her back to the demon, carefully watching the other side of the room, opposite to the side Beelzbub was pacing along.
"If this is how long it takes to make one? How are we supposed to raise an army? Especially if we need new soldiers in a rush" her partner asked, continuing to furiously pace up and down the room, kicking her feet against the stone walls whenever she reached them. The two of them were currently situated within a house on the right side of the Citadel, the first building specifically built for creating demons...
It was an average sized structure, the place being completely empty save for a pool of liquid Hell Energy taking up half of the ground floor, the grey coloured basin was a few metres deep, enough for someone to lie down within and fully submerge themselves. It even had three small steps leading out of the vat, the building was airtight, needing as much heat locked into the room as possible. Underneath the pool there had been special sulfur fires lit on the hellstone in order to continue contributing to the heat, they suspected was, required.
The chamber the two sweaty demons were stood within, as well as the neighbouring room, had taken many months of delicate construction to be completed, the personal touches, the Queens unaware initially of what conditions were needed to produce a demon. Even before this, they had struggled longer trying to understand how to conceive a template demon with the tools they had.
Turns out, they didn't need to conceive anything, Lucifer was able to create an imprint from herself and Beelzebub, by cloning their own DNA, the devil could wield Hell Energy and form it into flesh, creating a template off of herself or the other woman. This first demon would be modelled off of Beelzebub specifically, while Lucifer would be excluded from this initial creation, her own DNA would also be combined with Beelzebub's later on to make the different generations of demons. Over time, different demon's DNA would be extracted and selectively chosen in order to breed the perfect demons, designed and characterised for each task; High Prosecutors, The Gate Guardian, The Serpent, even fucking Dagon, you name it. Each demon would eventually be selectively bred to fulfill their roles to the fullest.
However, the two demons were now dozens of hundreds of years into their stay within Hell, they had enslaved plenty of more Hell Titans, more workers for the factory. Once they had practised the domination technique, it had become easy to master, done with a click of their fingers. They had a total of fifty two Titans now, some roaming the perimeter, others constructing defences, more gathering whatever resources they could find.
The demons and Hell Titans had been constructing a vibrant city, implementing metal and more refined architecture into their once primitive settlement. However, what was the point of creating such a masterpiece when there were no people to inhabit it? No peasants for the Queens to rule over. Beelzebub had been content with their giant pets for a time, but yet again, the woman wished for more, more dominance, these savage beasts while obedient, lacked any emotion...any fear. The Great Fly would vent her anger on them on rare occasions, lacerating them, breaking their bones, ripping the flesh from the ones that would not obey, but she grew tired of this...she always longed for something...more.
Both the devil and Lucifer wished for people other than themselves to interact with, the longer they stayed with each other, the more tense moments of disagreement there were. On rare occasions they didn't see the other for an entire day, but thankfully they would usually kiss and make-up by the end of it. At the moment, and as much as this is corny to say, love was the glue holding them together, but how long would this last? Beyond their immortal lives together, something evil was starting to brew on the horizon, something insidious that would put their entire empire to the test, put their relationship to the test...
"How many times do I have to tell you? We aren't raising an army damn it! We're making civilisation here, other people who will look up to us, they will work for us, they will thrive...with us!", Lucifer now turned away from the glowing orange pool and glared. "Would you stop pacing? You're making me nervous!", Lucifer crossed her arms, the two demons hadn't aged a day since their exile, two beautiful angels that were not weathered by time or injury. The devil's face was still notably pale, the stunning face of the woman lacked any wrinkles, nor blemishes other than her one mole.
Deathly beautiful...
An eternal goddess...another part of the reason why he fell in love; the woman always looked magnificent...no matter the day, or time, or weather. Perfection. Well, this was slightly unfair, all his demons looked beautiful in different ways, but there was something...a feeling he couldn't quite define whenever she would look at him, did she feel love too? Probably not...he thought. The Helltaker's mind also pondered if Beelzebub had felt like he did now during those early days in Hell, what changed for her to betray her partner? Her life-long companion...
Maybe they were meant for each other...a sinful pair, both in the same way that Beelzebub and chaos were meant for each other.
Anyway, he wasn't listening to their story now, he had zoned out, day dreaming. The man focused one again, slightly adjusting how he was sat now that a sleeping Pandemonica had her head on his lap, claiming it as her own.
Beelzebub on the other hand had begun to embrace her grandiose side, carrying herself with greater importance, changing how she walked, they way she projected her voice, gesturing with her hands more than she used to. Lucifer had noticed this change...another telltale sign of getting comfy with power. The devil had watched as her partner walked with her hands behind her back, surveying the Hell Titan's work as if she were a prison warden...and they were her prisoners. If one fell out of line, she would make sure they knew they had.
"So you're playing god then?" Beelzebub now spat back, her patience was wearing thin, turning into anger and hate. It seemed that the demon more easily snapped now, lashing out every so often, thankfully when this behaviour was brought up she would still apologise, but it was still a worrying sign.
"Don't look at me like that! WE'RE playing god. Why would you want an army anyway?" the devil watched as her partner approached her now, getting uncomfortably close to her face. Normally this would be an intimate gesture, but right now it was far from intimate.
"To enact vengeance on those who have wronged us!" the woman glared back harder, "Don't you want that too?" the Great Fly snarled.
"Who? Who would we possibly 'enact vengeance' on? B...What the hell has gotten into you recently?! First I don't see you for days on end, then I hear you're purposefully torturing our Titans, now you say you want to raise an army? You're starting to worry me". A calm silence cast itself over the room now, the only sound they heard was the occasional movements, twitches and spasms beneath the surface of the orange liquid. The distant rumble of the footsteps of a patrolling alpha Titan could be heard, doing a routine perimeter check.
After this long pause, the Great Fly realised what she had confessed, feeling incredibly embarrassed, breaking eye contact. "I'm sorry" she whispered, "I don't know what has come over me. It's just- I just-". Suddenly, the figure within the pool splashed sporadically, as if it was drowning, struggling to surface.
"Save it for later. We'll sort it out...together. Looks like our newest member of the family is finally awake", Lucifer was cautious to approach this new demon, it had been centuries since they had interacted with another person. Beelzebub simply sighed, closing her eyes, holding her right elbow with her left hand. The Fly suppressed her anxieties and followed her partner. This would be the first creature to become apart of the demonic brood and it was a male demon, a giant, muscular behemoth of a man.
Initially, the Queens bred their demons and 'birthed' them at an adult age...however...you'll come to understand why this was a bad idea...eventually. This man was younger, both in mind and body, yet while all demons looked incredibly young, they were in-fact millions if not billions of years old.
As the thrashing within the orange energy subsided, the two women were cautious to approach, unaware of what the creatures first instinct would be. Would it fight? Would it be scared? Would it flee? Be dazed and confused? "Want me to talk to him first?", the devil broke the silence, watching as his soaked head revealed itself from within the orange pool, spitting the mouthful of liquid out and replacing it with oxygen. The demon was currently within an orange casing, a thin, veiny, fleshy, egg shell-like casing.
"N-No, let me talk to him. He is my child after all", Beelzebub putting her hand on Lucifer's shoulder, leaving the devil stood behind her, taking slow steps towards their creation.
"Don't provoke him. Remember what we rehearsed, give him his name. You did decide on a name...right?" Lucifer asked tentatively, placing her hands on her own hips.
"Course, your motherly persona rubbed off on me" the other demon teased, winking, before turning back around to face the male demon, her black blazer flowing with her graceful movements. Since the Hell Titans had acquired more resources, they had much more creativity at their disposal, the creation of bedrooms, bathrooms, a reliable source of food, drinkable liquids was still an issue, but they got by...
Over time, the Titans that were punished, attacked, or tortured by Beelzebub became resources themselves. Lucifer hated doing it...but putting them out of their misery was the lesser evil. In turn, they were able to manufacture a leather like material from the deceased Hell Titan's skin and organs, the hide of the creatures could be combined with Hell Energy. When one concentrated enough, one with enough fashion knowledge to know what they are doing, the combination gave form to whatever clothes they wished to create.
Thus, Beelzebub and Lucifer finally created as many new clothes as they could wish for, but not truly deviating from their previous style. Beelzebub had made herself a black blazer with a long back reaching down to her thighs, underneath this was a more softer, black formal shirt, on either hand were silk-like leather black gloves, comprised of the Titan's softer organ tissue.
On her legs were tight leather pants, exaggerating her curvy frame, again black, interrupted by a grey woven belt, all the way down to her thigh high boots, laced to the very top. Newly polished golden cross earrings, the ones that she had kept all this time, hung from her ears. While Beelzebub hated any association with Heaven, she still adored the golden jewellery.
Lucifer also had made a long black coat, basing the design off of her white one from Heaven. Underneath this, there was a grey waistcoat and a mahogany coloured shirt with collar. It wasn't the best look, quite sloppy in fact, not fashionable in the slightest, but they were just happy to get a change of clothes for once. On her bottom half was also a pair of leather pants. In time, their demons would produce their clothes for them, smarter, more fashion conscious apparel, made of different materials they had yet to acquire.
Beelzebub's hair had begun to grey, the traditionally black, lushious, hair had only recently shown signs of changing, but she wasn't alone. Lucifer's hair colour had also begun to transform, not as fast as Beelzebub's, but it still showed signs of progressing towards the typical demon look.
You should have seen Lucifer's face when she found the first grey hair while she was combing...
"My child?" Beelzebub asked first, glancing at the back of this muscular naked male demon, it now stood upright in the pool of Hell Energy, the liquid reaching up to his thighs. It did not reply, raising his hands and examining them with great interest.
"My child. Can you hear me?" the demon asked again, both her's and Lucifer's eyes had become a bright purple now, beginning to darken ever so slightly as their irises were halfway through the transformation of becoming a demonic red. Their purple eyes now reflecting the orange light emanating from the basin, it becoming increasingly brighter and then fading at random intervals.
"I...hear...you", his deep growl reverberated throughout the chamber, yet he didn't turn around, still examining his hands and forearms, removing the soft casing around his upper body after.
"I see it recognises how to speak" Beelzebub again turned around and smirked at her partner.
"He, B. He. Keep going..." the devil ushered the Fly. When the Queen had turned back around, the male demon had finally turned to look at her, his steel gaze landed on his master.
The man grunted, beginning to move towards the edge of the pool, tearing at the last pieces of casing, the shell that had kept him prisoner, moving it off of the rest of his lower body. The new demon began climbing up the stairs, exiting his birth place, the energy seeping off of him as he revealed himself, stark naked in front of the two women. It was either being absorbed into his body or dripping onto the floor, the demonic matter seeping in through the cracks between the stones and disappearing from sight. The demon was massive, a whole foot taller than Beelzebub being the taller of the two women.
He had a large, well built frame, rippling muscles being developed mostly due to the influence of Hell Energy, it would take a strong soul to survive the process...being forged in fire. He had pitch black hair, a furrowed brow, deep red eyes, he looked almost...almost like a demon version of the Helltaker...not quite.
His facial features were pristine, another blemish free face, and yet...the anger on his face presented a feeling of constant bitterness. The man's black horns had yet to be grown, the stubs simply hidden under his thick black locks, the front of his short, wet hair coming down to his eyebrows. This war machine before them would become a prestigious warrior, the first of Hell's hardened fighters, he was Leviathan, he would be their Chief Lieutenant, he was Wrath embodied!
"Woahhh! What a specimen! You've certainly got one hell of an imagination Lucy!", Beelzebub's eyes scanning all over his body, those purple orbs having never cast eyes on such a stunning muscular person, especially not a naked man before...
"Shut up. I made him from you, didn't need to imagine...probably a mistake making another one of you around" the devil approached, but allowed Beelzebub to have her special moment.
"Hey! What're you trying to say?" Beelzebub teased Lucifer, but now her gaze remained unmoving off of their newest creation.
"Stop staring! Go on, present him with his name", Lucifer standing side by side with the other Queen, black leather gloves inside her coat's pockets. She had learned to embrace the heat, simply to allow herself to sweat...she couldn't avoid it anyway...burnt more calories that way too...
"My child-" Beelzebub said again, Leviathan's deep red eyes moved back to the other Queen after having examining Lucifer in detail. "Do you know whomst you serve?, the Fly asking this question in her grandiose, posh voice, deciding to reinforce who the masters were before presenting him with an identity.
"I-I-" the man fumbling for the words, the new language was hard to piece together after just being born. "I...serve...Queen...Beelzebub...and Lucifer" he said slowly, drawling on every word, the brute had been avoiding eye contact and now continued the stare once more, hoping that he had given the right answer.
"Well done-" Beelzebub grabbed him by the cheek aggressively, slapping his face sightly, "I like this one already, he's a good boy. Not too many words unlike every other man we've met". An annoyed glare from Lucy indicated what she should say next. "Ah- Yes...Leviathan, that is your name. You are Leviathan, our protector, it is your job to ensure our safety, the safety of this city, the safety of- the people?". The Great Fly looked to her side, "That better. More to your tastes?".
"Mmm, Leviathan?" the devil now asked, the man turning his head to look at the other woman with those devilish eyes of hate. "Kneel.." she said coldly, a tone of superiority creeping into her voice. The monster did as he was told, it took him a few minutes to register the command, but eventually, he knelt, the nude man coming to rest on his right knee, his right arm coming up across his chest, his fist over his heart.
"Do you pledge yourself?" Lucifer continued, her unnaturally purple eyes burning through the top of his head.
"Yes. To the two Queens, I pledge my life, for my life is your's" he didn't hesitate, beginning to understand how to speak more fluently now, the oath he spoke of seemingly ingrained into him, hard-wired, automatic to the mind. "I...Leviathan...am your's".
"Good little slave. You may kiss my hand", the man obeying, holding the Fly's right hand gently, placing a quick kiss on top of it. "Now...rise" Beelzebub was the one to issue the orders now, the devil looking very puzzled at her partner, interrupting their little moment.
"Go into the other room, there are some clothes for you to dress yourself with. Go explore your surroundings and familiarise yourself with the place. We will find you shortly" Lucifer smirked at the creature. After a few short seconds of staring it nodded and Lucifer stood to the side, allowing him to pass. Those large bare feet slapped against the stone and grew faint as he went through the archway to the adjoining room, fumbling about inside quietly.
When he was out of earshot, the once manipulative angel now manipulative demon spoke, her eyes had been lingering on the backside of the man, "Well? Now we know it works, shall we make ourselves some more slaves?" Beelzebub grinned eagerly. The path had been lit, the potential to raise more servants was real, they required only the will to follow it.
"Lets not push it B. I say we make four more, another two men and two women. Make sure they don't outnumber us" Lucifer grinned back. "I'd like to experiment more with our own characteristics, lets see what we can create".
"What are you thinking? What other types of demons could we add to our ranks?" the Great Fly asked, her eyes going back to the pool to her right, Lucifer's left.
"I was thinking a wide range of characteristics to start. Keep things lively. We're still experimenting after all", the devil closing her eyes, beginning the process again. "If you feel strange, don't worry. I'm just extracting characteristics from you again, might cause a worse headache than before if we're making multiple at once".
"Alright. Well...I'll leave you to it. I think I'll give our newest addition to the family a tour of the place" the demon cheerily headed for the door, her boots beginning to grow distant.
"Don't get attached" Lucifer repeated the words Beelzebub had once said to her. She received no reply...
Over the course of the next few hours, Lucifer slaved away at creating another batch of four demons this time, realising she could fill the entire pool with bodies rather than one by one. The newest demons were crammed in, slotted together in fetal positions, cocooned in the orange embryonic sacks.
While Beelzebub began teaching, guiding and explaining what Leviathan's role would be, Lucifer knelt on both knees, feet behind her back, soles facing upwards, meditating. Over the past year she had learnt that she needed to do this often, Beelzebub's rage combined with her own was beginning to unlock a deep chaos within her.
A chaos that this place fed off...
So the devil spent the entire night in that disgustingly hot chamber, waiting for the incubation process to be completed. Trickles of sweat ran down her forehead, the woman's clothes already stinking of body odor and sweaty dew, yet she remained unfazed, eyes closed, controlling her breathing, ignoring discomfort, knelt in meditation. The devil's mind cleared once again, wishing for the demonic powers to grant her sight, the path forward...but it did not come.
However, there was a strange image that continually inserted itself into her mind, an omen of fire...death...from the birth of these creatures, these unnatural abominations, the things that shouldn't even be...alive...a death was due, a death had been denied and now the reaper followed them everywhere they went.
Speaking of...
"Hey Lucy!" Beelzebub had come crashing through the sealed door to the breeding chamber early the next 'morning', the panic in her voice signified that this was not a matter to be taken lightly.
"What is it?" Lucifer opened her eyes and began to stand, her legs and knees numb from how long she had been in this position, the hard stone floor not doing her any favours.
"T-There's s-something- someone h-here to see us" the Fly stuttered, the beads of sweat visible, dripping down the side of her forehead, she hadn't been in the chamber longer than five seconds.
"Who is it?" Lucifer approached, noticing Beelzebub's panic, "Where's Leviathan?".
"Waiting with her" the demon replied swiftly, coughing slightly due to the intense atmosphere of the building that had hit her, but now she was already exiting the chamber, hurrying away.
"Wait- her?!", Lucifer gave one last glance to the pool of orange, noticing the liquid writhing slightly. "Fuck it-".
"-Oh for fuck sake- what are you doing here?!" the devil had ran after Beelzebub, being too tired to teleport, chasing her partner through the empty streets of Hell, heading through the main gate of the Citadel to find their unexpected visitor. It hadn't been who she had expected...
"Ah, Lucifer- you haven't changed one bit...have you?" the enchanting angel fluttered her black feathery wings, extending them, stretching and yawning slightly before closing them behind her back. The woman was sat on a large erratic, a flat boulder just outside of the primitive metal gate was her perch. The angel was a few metres away from the gate, it was quite possible that this holy intruder didn't wish to intrude in their territory, in the bounds of their designated realm...and home. There was a trench built at the base of the stone gate, when the ground returned to a normal level, the boulder was there, remaining unmoved, a part of the wall that had fallen away, it had created a slight indent in the ground around it.
Leviathan was there too, glaring menacingly at the invader, but he had been ordered to stand down, simply there as a deterrent. The man was wearing a black metal chainmail under his thick brown and reddish leather jerkin, the demon had not been allowed to carry weapons nor be taught anything about Hell Energy, not yet, not until he had received the proper training and wasn't going to murder the Queens in an instance, learning to control the demon within first...
"Oh go fuck yourself Azrael" the devil had spat back, "State your business here". The devil had finally caught her breath, stood side by side with her partner now, fists clenched intensely.
"Ey! Leviathan, a little distance please!" Beelzebub barked, the newest demon reluctantly obeying, moving out of the way and assuming a defensive position a few more metres back on the flat open ground, grunting and mumbling to himself.
"My business is to inform you of what lays ahead" the Archangel of Death spat back, her face elegant, yet intimidating, it carried a look of total control. The holy reaper was one of the first of their generation to ascend to the status of archangel. The woman had a beautiful, long, silky black ponytail, it was braided, platted all the way down to above her shapely bottom. Her younger hair style was much more different than the one the Helltaker had seen.
A small braid of black hair with a tiny golden band attached fell from the right side of her forehead. The woman did not wear the black cloak and hood that the Helltaker had seen, humans found it more comforting compared to the holy armour she now wore. Jehovah had expected her to encounter resistance, providing her with a suit of armor if she needed to defend herself...just in case...
The metal made of white and gold was bulky, a pair of chunky greaves that made a loud clang as metal moved with one another whenever she adjusted position, a thick breastplate with a cross emblem on the centre too, there was also two spaces on the back of the armour with which her wings could materialise from, finally there were two silver gauntlets with spotted golden knuckles attached to either forearm.
Surprisingly, the halo that usually orbited her head was no longer there, possibly preventing any direct association of her true nature, preventing and discouraging any confrontation...Back then, the woman had a much slimmer, thinned face, delicate one might describe her as, the woman was like a newborn babe, no scars as of yet, countless years of conflict were yet to ensue...and not just with demons...The reaper was beautiful, but she was death embodied, a fearless enchantress whom with which humans did not fear...the guide between life and death. Lucifer had only known the other angel a short part of her life, the two never interacting frequently, more distant acquaintances rather than friends.
Azrael had always viewed Lucifer as a pest, Lucifer had always defined Azrael as beneath her. They may be considered as rivals, but they were civil with one another, civil until now..."Then what- my dear lady- lies ahead. I pray it is not another minute of your presence. You pollute our kingdom with you merely being here!", Beelzebub was the one to speak, the demon fired up, ready to fight a real opponent, one that would not back down from killing her.
"Keep your plaything on a leash, Lucifer. I wish to talk to you and only you" Azrael glared at Beelzebub, neither woman was backing down, the manipulative demon had gotten uncomfortably close now and had arched her head down slightly to look at the sitting angel, maintaining a lethal stare, breathing in slow, long, menacing breaths...poised to attack...to pounce.
"You will treat my 'play...thing' with the same respect I demand you treat me with!" Lucifer snapped back just as angry, her right fist still clenched furiously, engulfed in an orange fire now.
"Lay down whatever weapons you are thinking of summoning please, cast your hostility to the side. I do not intend to fight...nor defend myself. But you must realise that killing me will only trigger a monumental war...one that which-", Azrael now gesturing to Leviathan and then to the Titan with the Ram's skull that was slowly passing them by, patrolling eternally, "-you clearly aren't prepared for".
"Alright-" Lucifer had to restrain herself, the weight of this confrontation becoming clear to her now, the demonic fire from the source of her palm being slowly extinguished, "-speak angel. Do not waste m- our time".
"Then listen. There will come a time, Lucifer, that you will have to prepare for. A time where your new realm will serve a greater purpose than it does currently, other than being a hot-bed of mutants and abominations" her ocean blue eyes quickly turning to Leviathan and Beelzebub now. The angel received nothing but a growl from the man, her eyes slowly returning to the devil.
"Watch your tongue...or else you'll lose it", Beelzebub hated feeling like a passenger in this conversation, her purple eyes as sharp as daggers whenever Azrael looked up.
"Regardless of what you say, you must acknowledge this truth:-" the angel noticed that the devil was listening rather than flinging insults, directing the conversation to her and her alone. "the creations of Jehovah we have studied, if you can remember that is, humans, require to be-" the angel hesitated, "processed, when they die, we must guide them to their next life within the Heavens...or down in this retched place".
"What do you mean processed?" Lucifer begrudgingly listened, despite wishing to kill this angel for even daring to step foot in her kingdom, for insulting her and Beelzebub, however, it seemed the fate of said kingdom depended on this. So, she tried soaking in every little detail she could.
"Death is foreign to us, yet it will be common to the human-folk that we must guide. Those that live a life of goodness will be rewarded with an eternal paradise to rest their mortal soul-".
"Not much of a reward-", Beelzebub again cut-in, receiving a disapproving look from her partner, the tensions were at an all time high between them all. Regardless, Azrael continued speaking, learning to ignore their hostility with ease.
"However, when a human lives a sinful and deceitful life full of ruin, dishonesty, adultery, debauchery-" but again the angel was interrupted.
"Get to the point Azrael" Lucifer not wishing her to list every single bad trait of a person.
"When a person offends Jehovah and our mission...they will end up here. They will be judged, they will need to be guided through to their rightful places. To repent and be tortured for eternity in these savage lands if needs be, that will be your's and your demon brood's task Lucifer". The penny finally dropped, with a horrible thud, the realisation of the task ahead.
"W-Why...Why ask us of such a thing? Why has Jehovah commanded you to deliver this message?, Lucifer demanded answers, deciding to speak only after the long, uncomfortable pause.
"Because you are the only one capable of such a function. Your banishment served as an act of equilibrium? Don't you see?", Azrael looked at the devil as if confused, as if Lucifer couldn't see it from her perspective. Lucifer's ire now intensifying...
"No- No I don't! Understand how it is hard to see that from my perspective? Do you understand how impossible it is to consider this a positive THING!" the devil's tone fresh with a new barrage of anger, venom coating each individual word, shouting at the end of the sentence.
"Your anger is pointless, it will brin-", it seemed that the angel had a habit of being interrupted by the demons.
"Why didn't Jehovah come down here himself to deliver this message? Why you of all people?" the devil spoke quickly, her patience wearing thin, it seemed Beelzebub too felt exactly the same, only the anger within her was triple than what Lucifer was feeling.
"It is my job to deliver you the humans which you must process. Failure to do so means utter and uncontrollable calamity, chaos that we cannot fight, neither us in the clouds, nor you down here in the dirt", the weight of the angel's words began crushing the devil's shoulders, Lucifer's silence spoke louder than any words could have.
But the devil took another step closer to the angel, kneeling now so that she was eye level with the winged bitch, she wasn't done, the woman whispering her command. "I want to hear Jehovah say this. I know you can hear me prick" the devil speaking through his servant.
"As you wish", the angel projected his deep voice, it was not Azrael's, it was deafeningly loud, causing Lucifer to back-step in fear. Reeling at the sudden change of volume, the once soft voice of an angel replaced by the booming male deity.
In a flash of blinding white light, the demon's vision was consumed, but just as quickly as it had started, the holy light vanished in a second, in Azrael's place, Jehovah himself was sat on the rock in her place. The man even brushed dust off his shoulder, wiping it with the back of his hand, as if coming here was as easy as blinking, it was a gesture...there was no dust on his shoulder.
To his right, Azrael was now stood, her hands behind her back, awaiting orders, speaking briefly before remaining silent; "I tried, Your Holiness".
"It's alright Azrael...Stand down, if you would be so kind" Jehovah gestured, his eyes lingering on the two Queens. "Lucifer, Beelzebub...its good to see you", he even dared to smile. In a flash, Lucifer's hand reached out and slapped the man across the face...hard, he was lucky that she didn't punch...or worse. "I'll admit...I...deserve that", the male god adjusting his hair after this attack, the devil hated the fact that he didn't react, allowing her to strike him.
"YOU FUCKING ASSHOLE!" the devil screamed in his face, Beelzebub feeling as if she should hold back her partner, but deciding against it, she didn't want to receive her wrath. As the scream echoed throughout the hellscape, the Fly noticed Azrael wincing immensely, moving to clutch her head slightly. The devil's power was obvious, the invisible Hell Energy she was emanating rippling through the air.
"I don't even know how long we've fucking been down here...and now you have the gall to show your face!", Lucifer hissed, using all her willpower to not to kill, her innocence abandoned...all she felt was pure, writhing...hate.
"Lucifer, you know I can never be forgiven for banishing you" the man sighed, adjusting his pristine white shirt, the deity wanting to look formal every so often. He was also wearing a pair of black slim suit pants moving down to a pair of black brogue shoes, looking formal and sharp before it was the fashion...This was a rare appearance Jehovah took on, he would return to his more comfortable toga when returning to the heavens His eyes however, were a giveaway from his current appearance, he was stressed, he was tired, the creation of a new solar system and every aspect of the human race was a hard job.
"I was your scapegoat and how has that benefited you...old man? How has the expulsion of one of your pupils, someone that looked up to you, how has that benefited you?!" the woman glaring with all the malice and anger she could muster. Another Titan, one with a Hippopotamus' skull, waddled past, giving a quick glance to the group of five people, deciding not to stop.
"You are the key to helping humanity, what you will do here is vital, ten times more important as to what you would have achieved in Heaven" the man simply said, not addressing her question, adjusting his right leg to rest horizontally ontop of his left knee.
"So I would have never achieved greatness anyway? That's comforting to know, that this was my destiny all along" the devil's anger turned to sadness, hidden, but present, the woman gesturing to their surroundings, "You would sacrifice my life's work...f-for this- this is destiny?".
"This...IS your life's work. The beginning of it, you are to be Queen here, ruler of the underworld. A woman with power beyond her wildest dreams, the true icon of sin. The icon of evil, the devil!", Jehovah trying to spin this in a positive way.
"I'm sorry, but I think you mean- 'We are to be Queens'. Correct?" Beelzebub now asked from the devil's side, Lucifer had turned away for a moment to curse under her breath and grab the bridge of her nose, trying her best to remain calm, centered. Strangely though, Beelzebub did not receive a reply, a simple sombre look from God was all she received, a sorrowful look in his eyes. This moment, lasting a lifetime for Beelzebub, was over in a matter of seconds, the devil turning back around and continuing her fight.
"I thought you never reveal one's future, never dabble in changing fate. What changed?" the devil curious as to why the deity was telling her this now.
"I- we-" the God looked at his angel, "Things have taken a turn, our mission has...escalated...the speed at which events have transpired has increased. We have had to change plans", the man pathetically fumbling with his words.
"Look at him-" the devil gestured to Beelzebub, "Can't even give us a solid answer and expects us to take this bullshit and thank him for it".
"It's genuinely sad, so you're saying you have to tell us the future simply because its coming faster than you expected?" Beelzebub, asking, her arms crossed, her right forearm pointed upwards, gesturing with her hand as the question was fired.
"In simple terms, yes, that is correct my dear" the man sighing, knowing the next outburst and question to hit him would be the hardest one he would have to answer. Lucifer's ultimate question...
"I don't want to be the icon of evil! I don't want to be the devil! I want to live comfortably, I want to live with my partner in peace, just the two of us and our demon spawn. Why can't I have that? Who are you to say that I am not allowed such a thing!?" Lucy shouted towards the end of the sentence, wishing to win this argument.
"Not yet...my child. In time your wish will be granted...just not yet" the deity sighed again, looking down at his hands, the weathered skin sweating intensely due to the climate of the realm, after a brief silence he turned to look up at the two Queens again, opening his mouth, but they would no longer listen.
"Hang on, did you think he meant...like right now? 'To live with your partner in peace, just the two of us and our demon spawn'.
"Hey I ain't demon spawn!".
"Of course you aren't, you're just a bitc- hey it was a joke! I was joking!".
"Quite potentially dear, technically that is the scenario we find ourselves in right now".
"Wooaaaahhh, almost as if he some kind of 'God' that can predict the future".
"Shut up Judgement and you, do not interrupt me again".
"Yes Your Highness, continue your tragic tale".
"Only tragic tale is your pull-out game".
"Okaaaayy! Where were we Lucy?".
"I can't believe this. I can't believe that yet again, we're helpless to control our destiny, we must follow the plan he has laid out...FOR...US! He better stay gone this time, him and the rest of those angel FREAKS!", the devil shouted into the red sky, howling wildly. After the dust had settled, the tensions finally released, Beelzebub felt that she could speak freely once more.
"Come on Lucy, like we said before. Got to deal with the cards we've been dealt. Besides, like Azrael said, this 'higher purpose' nonsense is still thousands of years away. We have plenty of time to do as we please right now". Beelzebub had been surprisingly quiet during and after the confrontation, she was even more quiet now as the demons within themselves had to be locked away, Lucifer's rage more powerful than ever, it was thankfully not directed at her partner...not yet anyway.
"I know! I know...I know. I just feel like I've been living in his shadow ever since I was born. Never been in charge of my own destiny, always subject to the will of others". Lucifer tried her best to stub out of the fires of hate within her, Beelzebub's presence was helping, the two of them were currently stood outside of the breeding chamber, holding each other's hands.
"You once told me...that we had to think for ourselves, we can't just follow blindly like sheep in a flock" the demon paused, looking into the devil's purple eyes, "I think this is one of those moments, just ignore what he has to say for now, let us continue our domination of this realm together". The women shared a brief intimate moment, a few minutes of hugging and kissing, it was short, but boy was it needed. "Hey, we have always been in charge of our fate, ever since we left that stupid place...fuck him. Besides, I doesn't seem like you to turn your nose up at a little more work", Beelzebub spoke again, letting go of the devil's hips.
"I suppose...I should listen to you more often, you do occasionally have something worthwhile to say" the Queen smiled at the other one, looking off at the top of the Ram's skull as it passed by the top of the far stone wall to the East, the demons looking down the street.
"You should", the Great Fly gave off one of her mischievous smirks, now beginning to follow the devil inside the breeding chamber.
"Let's check on the whelps, they should be about done. W-Where is Leviathan by the way?", the woman looking around the street before fully entering the building, holding the thin black door ajar.
"I have no clue. We did tell him to explore, only natural that he do as we tell him".
"I suppose you're right".
"What are you thinking?" Beelzebub sat on the edge of the pool, watching as the bodies grew incredibly fast within their casings, some of them squirming and some still, breathing slowly.
"Names, where did you come up with Leviathan by the way?" the devil asked, currently sat cross legged on the other side of the rim of the pool, peering into the orange mass, glancing occasionally at her partner, the woman had thankfully calmed down now, putting the confrontation with Jehovah behind her.
"Well, it apart of the fabricated religion humans will come to learn about. Supposed to be a 'sea serpent', I don't what that is, some mythical shit or something, anyway, I picked it cause it sounded cool", Beelzebub felt like dipping her toes into the orange liquid in order to cool down...but something told her that would be a bad idea...The door opened, the demons forgetting they had a new member in their family and turning to see who it was, startled by the presence they hadn't grown used to yet, preparing to attack but realising there was no danger. "Oh fucking-, give us warning next time you big pile of muscle!" Beelzebub had shouted, jumping out of her skin.
"Forgive me, my Queens. I have completed the tasks you have given me" the man shut the door, sealing in the warm air, he bowed his head before taking another step forward into the room.
"Why are you here then?" Lucifer asked, curiosity always getting the better of her, also wishing to test his intentions and responses, keeping the man on his toes from the very beginning.
"I wish to see..." he hesitated, "I want to see my sisters and brothers. I want to help", his heart was surely in the right place, but there something off about him, since the moment Lucifer had created him not mere hours ago, their general of Hell would need tempering in the fires of conflict.
"Awwh, isn't he cute?" Beelzebub smirked, watching the man slowly approach, peering into the orange waters when he was close enough, looking at his siblings with wonderment, his natural curiosity had been urging him to ask them about the swarm questions that plagued his mind ever since he had been born, but he remained silent for now. All would be revealed in time...
"Quite..." the devil's eyes lingering on their new devil before going back to Beelzebub, "What other names do you remember from studying? Are you sure you aren't making this up, what module was this?" the devil asked, continuing their conversation where they had left off.
"It was an optional one, one for extra credit", the demon smirked back, "But names? Well...Leviathan was a common one, Abaddon was another- uhhh- fuck what were the other ones. Baphomet, Belphegor too I think?", Beelzebub thinking out-loud.
"I mean...they sound good. Like our's in a way", the devil glancing from her partner to Leviathan again, he offered her a very goofy, very stupid, toothy smile, Lucifer looked away in disgust.
"I wonder if that was intent-", but Beelzebub was cut off, the orange water's began thrashing, the new demons awakening together, kicking and writhing as they all regained consciousness. "Alright, about to be a party in here!" Beelzebub swiveled her legs and took off her thigh high boots, rolling her trouser legs up too.
"They should be alright to come out on their own, but go on, help them if you like. I'm not getting my feet wet" the devil smirked at her partner, "Leviathan you can help if you like, there are clothes and blankets in the other room, retrieve them for us please".
"Right away, Your Highness" the man stomping off, his leather shoes clomping against the stone, ducking under the small door frame again, moving to collect the required items.
"The waters' lovely and warm, why don't you come join me?" Beelzebub teased again, wading in, the orange energy up to her thighs, her fingers gently touching the surface.
"Careful, there are four confused and potentially angry demons lurking in the depths" the devil liking this playful atmosphere.
"Who do they take after this time?", Beelzebub crouching down and helping a struggling demon to surface.
"Both of us".
One by one the demons rose out of their artificial orange womb, dazed, confused, some babbling incoherently, others remaining silent, simply letting themselves be helped up and out of the pool. Lucifer simply watched and smiled as her newest servants rose, watching as they gazed at herself and Beelzebub, the image imprinting into their demonic minds who their new masters, their new mothers, would be.
First, the newest female demon rose from the pool, Baphomet, almost identical in appearance to Lucifer, but with a cheeky look hidden behind those red eyes. The woman was at the moment, another cog in the machine, but in time she would come to be Lucifer and Beelzebub's advisor, stylist and friend. Whilst the woman looked more like Lucifer, she had more characteristics from Beelzebub...more notably...Greed. Abaddon, another well built male demon was next, lazily standing, Beelzebub almost falling into the pool when the man let her pick up his entire bodyweight. Abaddon when seeing the two demon Queens simply nodded, smiling with his eyes half-open. If he had the choice he would had preferred to stay asleep in that pool.
The third male, Belphegor, his name was decided upon at the very last moment, a less muscular demon compared to the rest of them, a thinned structure overall, but with a body of an average male in their thirties. His characteristics were again of strong resemblance to the two Queens, a glutton for all things, not knowing when to stop.
The last female of this cohort, was an extremely attractive, curvaceous woman, ravishing in every detail, the curve of her hips, the size of both her backside and breasts were unrealistically large to say the least, her flowing white demon hair was magnificently soft. On some occasions, one may see heart's in the woman's eyes depending on how she felt. She would be known as Asmodeus, Modeus for short-
"WHAT?! What do you mean I was there?! I don't remember this!".
"Modeus, you know this already. You were originally one of the first demons, but you had to undergo a consciousness transfer during the battle for the Citadel. Unfortunately you had suffered the loss of some memories, that's why you don't remember".
"Huh, who woulda thunk? Modeus is older than all you lot".
"You haven't told me this before?!".
"I FUCKING HAVE! We do this everytime, you acting like I've never told you such information before!".
"Damn Mo, you're badass if you survived the- wait Lucy which battle for the Citadel, if I remember correctly there were several?".
"Third? Yes, third. Are you thinking of the battle for Gren Theif?"
"That fucking elvish?"
"Elves don't exist Taker! One of my first studies concluded that they are fictional race".
"So were demons once upon a time Az".
"Sadly she didn't survive the battle Justice. I was there with Lucy, we lost alot of demons that day. The first generation sent to the slaughterhouse, our first major loss".
"Didn't transfer the minds of the other demons?".
"We did but-".
"I know, I know. I twisted them, reprogramming so that when the time came, they would obey me only".
"Not Modeus though, amazingly she was the only one who resisted. You're looking at the newest model of our demon of lust!".
"Why you looking at me like that Mo? Doesn't change anything between us silly".
"Get back to the FUCKING STORY ALREADY!".
"Alright! Alright!".
It was true, Asmodeus was not the Modeus we knew today, she was the first model of the Lustful Demon, warrior more than temptress back then. Her purpose was not clear to her at the moment, none of the young demons' knew where their destiny lay, but they all pledged themselves to the two queens, in the same fashion as Leviathan did. They thanked the devil for giving them life, all of them giving thanks to their privilege of servitude. Where would this life take them? They did not know...It was a life to be filled with fire and bloodshed, a violent, nauseating commitment to serve the underworld.
While the cosmic dance began above them, planetary bodies had begun forming out of stardust, the Earth already being formed in a baptism of fire and gravity, regardless, Lucifer and Beelzebub continued their rule, preparing for every eventuality, continuing to build the population of the Citadel. Eventually, the two allowed Belphegor to mass produce the demons of Hell, he was a greedy bastard but he had a knack with making high quality demons, loyal servants of varying kind, all white demons so far. Leviathan would become a ruthless general, everything he knew being taught to him directly by the Queens, knowledge that he would pass on to the warriors, soldiers and workers he himself would train. Abaddon oversaw the simple task of the production of food and nourishment for the demon population, at first he was a productive worker, but grew lazy and arrogant in his later life, the difficulty of the task not changing in the slightest, yet he allowed himself to grow despondent, growing to care less and less as the years past him by.
Baphomet, while mentally unstable at first, began to grow more confident, with the right encouragement, taking longer than most demons to adapt to her responsibilities. Her role was simply in assisting the Queens in their image, whether that be tailoring entire wardrobes full of clothes for each demon, or issuing advice on what power move they should do next. Her passions included goats, goatmen, clothes and shapeshifting, however, she kept to herself mostly, never really wanting to get involved in drama nor conflict...she would visit the mortal realm plenty of times in the modern day...Asmodeus simply kept her head down, avoiding the perverted gaze of Beelzebub, the women learning alongside Leviathan when it came to combat and Hell Energy training. While unbelievably attractive, infatuating any demon that lay eyes on her, the woman did not abuse nor succumb to any desires...not yet...
As the centuries began to drag by, slaves turned into friends, friends into allies, they were all happy...for a time. In the first few hundred years they would go about their daily duties in the day, feast in the evening and be merry well into the night. Lucifer and Beelzebub's love life recovered, they no longer had to spend every waking moment with the other, making the time they spent together all the more special. As the demon population increased, Beelzebub and Lucifer finally became more like royalty, their subjects coming to them whenever they had problems that needed addressing. But, for the moment, they mingled with the common demons, not wishing to ascend to such a status when they did not interact with their people regularly. It would have all be for nought if that was the case...
They were almost like...like a family...but what was to come was creeping ever closer...their ignorance would be their undoing...
Together they would be the first of many, the original seven deadly demons, the seven deadly sins...
Lucifer, The Mother of all Demons...Pride.
Leviathan, The Monster...Wrath.
Abaddon, The Lazy Demon...Sloth.
Baphomet, The Goat Demon...Greed.
Belphegor, The Ravenous...Glutton.
Asmodeus, The Lustful Demon...Of course was Lust-
"Yes- that's right. Can you guess who the last one is Jesus? Who are we missing?".
"Well...logically there are seven demons and seven sins, the only one left is Beelzebub".
"Can you remember which sin though? We haven't been over them since modern sin was purged from our judgement system".
"Of course...Envy".
"But do you know why Beelzebub is the embodiment of envy specifically?".
"Envy for all the things Lucifer had and would come to have, envy for what she did not have herself".
"Maybe you're correct...but keep listening and you'll find out the truth".
"But mother, why did you have to banish Lucifer of all people? You clearly wished to antagonise her too".
"Why banish Lucifer? I have thought about this alot throughout my life, but the answer I always find myself returning to has never changed. She was the only one capable, the only one with the will-power to see this through. Anger and antagonising only made her more determined".
"You didn't answer my question. Why Lucifer, out of all of the other thousand of angels from the first generation? It wasn't just because of her capability...was it? Answer honestly please".
"Because...I simply had to dear...I needed a scapegoat as Lucifer had said all those years ago and that is the truth. I had to sacrifice my best pupil, I had to sacrifice a free thinker in order to save the rest of my angels, save you, from what awaited us if we did not act".
"What awaited us?".
"Listen and you might find out my dear...".
Despite what I said at the start, this was infact difficult and took very long to write. I apologise.