Amon waited in the recesses of the king's chamber. He could hear just outside the cheer of the crowd and the blaring voice of Zennon. He heard from behind the curtain the king had announced the new name of the angel, a better more fitting title for a demonic ally. The common demons ripped with applause, he could hear them chant and curse God's name, knowing even one of his own wished for his demise.
The beastia could hear all of this, and knew his announcement would be next. There was a shiver coursing his spine, causing his tail to flinch and the fur on his neck and arms to brisk. He heard the cue and stepped out from behind the tattered curtain, to be met by the light of fire and the darkened glow of the night sky.
The noise was incomprehensible and so loud it was nearly deafening. He stood before his kind with his arms open and raised, catching all of their praise. His existence was no longer a secret. Everyone knew, and yet it still didn't feel real.
When the sounds of the demons at last lowered, one of the first he could distinguish was that of Sirene's. She was practically blubbering over herself in elation.
"He's mine! He's all mine!" she boasted to all the demonesses around her. Amon felt the wings on his head draw back slightly as he nervously held the back of his neck.
Finally, the uproar had simmered and Zennon's voice carried out over the others.
"Our hopes and our trust goes out to these two. With their powers and my guidance as your king, the time of demons shall come, and we will conquer over all others!"
It was the final beat of the speech and with it the climax of the remaining demon's joyous howls. Amon felt both the pride and the apprehension knot up in his stomach. The inner conflict he was having didn't dare bare however, he waved and kept a high head until at last the crowd was starting to move out. The beastia could see the rest of his clan, his direct brothers in arms. He grinned at their sight and the delight on their features was priceless. Only now he could see a new large figure leading them. He was a blurry creature and appeared much like a large saber toothed cat with a thousand tails. Amon wasn't sure who this was, but he could assume this was his replacement as the beastia commander. The knowledge of this left a bit of a prick in his chest but glancing to his men once again disputed those other concerns. The great demon began to walk their way and slowly his wings started to unfold to fly down and greet them.
He was nearly off the ground when he felt a beefy hand clasp down on his shoulder. He hadn't even turned to witness who it was before the view of Satan floated before him. He was somewhat shocked to see him move so swiftly and turning to view his side, just as he had guessed, Zennon was holding his shoulder. They both had eerie smiles on their faces, but Amon rolled with it and chuckled.
"What's going on?" he questioned merely, but there was an underlying skepticism.
"Where do you think you're going?" Zennon proclaimed in an upbeat manner.
Amon's brow quirked, finding the situation unusual, "Umm, to talk to my men?"
Much to Amon's expectations, Zennon cracked up with a chortle, "Oh, Amon, that's wonderful but unfortunately unnecessary. We have far more important things for you to be concerning yourself with."
"That's right," Satan added on. "You'll do your men much better by making their needs a priority. Their needs, like all demons at this time, is for you to be preparing our defenses."
For some noticeable seconds, the hulking red devil did not budge. It took a lot of reconsidering for him to relax his figure and give in to their persistence. His body had visibly deflated watching his men leave and become nothing more than some specs on the horizon.
"Alright, I suppose you're right…" he murmured.
The two of them appeared satisfied and returned to their warm manners, escorting him away from where the other demons were heading. They hadn't gotten him too far when he felt something quick and small take him around the shoulders from behind. He became alert again, but was in no way concerned, knowing exactly who this was.
"Oh, I knew it, I knew it!" Sirene nearly squealed like a little girl.
Amon and his escorts flipped around to see her. Whereas Zennon and Satan came off as somewhat annoyed by her interruption, a part of Amon had to admit he was glad for it.
"Well, I guess that's a good thing then. You won't see me any differently, huh?" the beastia bucked up in response to her.
The harpy had a sly smirk as she began to cackle, "Well of course I always knew you were something special, but not this special. This changes everything, I am to be mated to the most powerful being known to demonkind! Oh, Amon, this will be wonderful for us! I can picture it now; I'll be living in a palace by your side with anything I could ever desire! All the other demonesses will stare up at me with envy in their eyes and I will soak up every bit of it!"
Visibly the upbeat expression Amon had worn fell away. It wasn't even anger he felt anymore, just the prospect Sirene had described, while lavish felt completely desolate. The great devil, against all rational reason, felt a twinge of distraught.
"Alright, alright there Sirene, you'll get your way I promise," Zennon started.
"Oh, I know I will," Sirene shot back cheekily. The others all seemed amused by the banter, but Amon wasn't indulging in it the same way they were. He felt as though he was being talked over, and it didn't seem to stop there.
"Ah, you both will make such a strong and honorable couple, but first things first, we have duties to attend to!" the king said. Sirene pouted and swung her head to the side, but not in any serious means. She placed herself up against the legend of a devil clasping him in her arms with the giddiness of a little girl.
"I understand your duty, but don't keep me waiting too long now," she teased.
Amon seemed distant, as if in a trance of thought. His surrounding companions, at last, took notice of his unusual behavior.
Sirene's wings perked curiously, "Amon? Is there something disturbing you?"
Like a jolt, he was awakened by the question. He could feel the side-eyes directed his way. He took a breath, reassessing his environment.
"Oh, no I'm fine. It's just all so sudden," he shrugged, faking a chuckle.
The demoness's face softened once more but didn't lose her kittenish smile, "Hmm, I understand. You'll get used to it. When the commoners cheer your name, and we shall lounge in luxury it won't seem so sudden."
"Yes, but first I'm afraid I must steal him away," Satan's voice was straightforward and consistent. Sirene didn't need any more convincing from him, she tipped her head respectfully to her higher-ups and began to depart.
"You make me proud, okay?" she said, leaving a light kiss on his cheek.
Amon didn't have anything he could say in response. His lips twitched into something similar to a smile as he gazed into her eyes, nodding his head. She caught his off nature, but didn't question it as she was aware of the circumstances. From that she bowed to her masters, spread her wings, and in no time was well out of sight.
"Very well, seems like you got yourself a keeper there, Amon. She would make a wonderful mate to compliment your leadership. She has the makings of a queen," Zennon praised. Amon only stood there, as if he were in some kind of trance. He heard that he was being discussed, yet he felt completely disassociated from it. "But first there's work to be done. Satan, do with him what you must. I wish you luck, your greatness," Zennon finished.
Hearing that come from the king's mouth struck the beastia. Never had he ever referred to him in a manner of superiority, and somehow, something about it felt backhanded.
"Come this way, Amon. We have much to do," the devil's attention was whisked away by the angel's soothing voice. He soon followed him into the sky as if on autopilot, he had too much to ponder, and yet his head felt like it was stuffed with cotton. Everything was fuzzy and unclear; he was too busy to think and before he knew it, he landed with Satan in a vast clearing. Amon's winged ears twitched for signs of danger; he didn't recognize this place, but he somewhat expected that.
"What is this place?" he questioned.
Satan placed himself a good couple yards away from the beastia and held his hands behind his back. His stance was rigged and militant, he didn't even breathe he was so still.
"This will serve as your training ground. Now, first things first, show me the power you possess, and we'll work from there."
Amon's brow knit and his eyes frisked from side to side.
"Uhh, you want me just to fight you?"
"Precisely, we will evaluate your abilities and how much control you have over them," Satan confirmed.
Understandably the beastly demon seemed a little uncomfortable at first, thinking of how he intended to come at the angel. Eventually however, he disposed of these concerns and allowed his instincts to take over, fully indulging in the battle. He felt the thrill course his blood as he moved offensively. He moved in to slash him head on with his claws, but Satan proved to be a slippery opponent. In a flash of light, he had teleported completely behind Amon and kicked him from the back.
Amon found himself face-planted right into the dirt. Irritated but never one to quit, his eyes shifted to peek behind him. For a moment he could see exactly where Satan was. Without getting up, the devil's body flipped around and in one swift move grasped the angel in his talons.
Satan seemed genuinely caught off guard feeling the demon's harsh talons dig into his body. It didn't take long for him to impulsively teleport away again, repositioning himself squarely ahead of Amon and blasting a ray of light his way. Amon reacted but was nicked right on the shoulder in his escape, now missing a chunk of flesh.
He held his wound and narrowed his gaze, baring his fangs. He retook his stance and went at the bright creature again. He rapidly kicked, spinning himself backwards and forwards consistently, round housing his legs in the air. He hit Satan eventually, and then like a snake struck again with his first punching his fighting partner across the field.
The devil jumped in achievement, grinning from ear to ear. He figured that would hold him for a while. Amon's wings spread as he was preparing to fly after and meet him at whatever spot would work as his crash zone. Only that soon proved unnecessary, he noticed directly above him Satan flew, and before he could make sense of it he was blasted to the ground by a ray of light. It burned his flesh and hitting the ground right after was not a soothing fate.
He could hear Satan's light footsteps as he landed in front of him. He didn't want to look up immediately but with a sigh, he slowly glanced up to him.
"Amon, your physical attacks are impressive by demon standards, but that type of fighting will get you nowhere against God. If I had wanted to, that final blast could have burned you to death or sliced you in half if I so choose," the angel explained factly.
Amon breathed heavily again, feeling his singed fur and the aching of the skin on his back as he rose. He was a bit peeved by his failure this round, but he didn't express such discontent verbally.
"Alright, well what do you want me to do? A song and dance? This is what I got. Maybe you just got the wrong guy," he puffed.
"That isn't true, and you know it too," the lord corrected flatly.
The demon could have rolled his eyes. It didn't seem his obvious frustration would stop the angel there though.
"You have greater abilities, and you have used them before."
It took a moment but at last, Amon released some and flipped around to see his opponent once more.
"Look, I might have them, but that doesn't mean I know how to use them. They usually just happen and then I can't figure out how to do it again."
"Hmm, well what types of situations are you in when they do come up?" Satan asked quizzically.
Amon shrugged, "I don't know, when I really need it. I'm never really thinking too hard when it happens."
The blonde humanoid stalled in deep musing. The devil wasn't sure what it was but something behind those blue eyes looked almost sinister.
"Just as I theorized," he finally spoke again.
"Theorized what?"
"Your power is something deep and instinctual to you. When you were first conceived in your rawest form, you were nothing but an amalgamation of God's power. His shadow. Everything past that has been slowly burying this true form. Starting with being fractured and trapped within the moon."
Amon's face had begun to sour, "Hold on. Who says that's the true me? How is it any truer than who I am now? Maybe I was like that once, but I can hardly even recall it!"
Satan shook his head softly with a smirk, "That isn't the point. Who you are doesn't really matter, it's about what you are. Knowing what you are, tells me just how we can tap into your power source."
The crimson creature understood what he meant, but the coldness, the bluntness, of his tone combated his words. What he described was something glorious and remarkable and yet Amon ended up feeling like nothing.
"We will tap into this impulsive response, and use it to our advantage," the angel concluded.
Amon' curtly rolled his eyes, "Sure, how are you going to do-"
He was suddenly cut off as a blade of searing light crossed him and lightly slit his chest. He was disturbed at first until that swiftly turned into a boiling anger.
"Hey!" he scolded. As if he had said nothing at all the angel continued to come at him, attempting to dice him up with some kind of sharpened beam. The demon's face harshened, he knew he wasn't going to talk this out with him, and frankly he was never much of a talker. Amon pushed back, and even though his physical attacks were at a disadvantage, he still did remarkably at holding his own. This luck unfortunately would run out though, as inevitably Satan began to get the upper hand on him.
Finally, at the peak of their battle, the alien being was able to disrupt the beastia's footing, knocking him to the ground. Now on the ground, and more vulnerable than ever, Satan's blows became far more hostile. Amon took the beatings as he tried to put up his defenses, but more and more he felt like he was being plunged further and further into the ground. Every hit shook his body and his mind, these actions forcing him to submission. Amon, however, Amon was never one to back down, or submit. Something then overcame the demon, and for a fraction of a second, his body felt as though it had become like that of a shadow. Flexible and malleable, he squirmed his way out of the attack. Satan couldn't even touch him any longer. Though at that moment, he was so ecstatic it didn't matter.
"Yes, yes I've done it!" he shouted triumphantly. However, that joy was muted as he felt an unnaturally strong ray of heat blare directly at him. It was enough to even burn his skin, it was so intense. It hurt him immensely, but the joy in awakening such a power overrode that response.
Satan had managed to pull out of the attack and had rolled to a crash on the ground. Staring up, he could see the move had in fact come from Amon. It was like he was breathing fire with the same heat of the sun. Amon himself looked somewhat different, like a darkened shadow and much larger and somehow even more demonic. His eyes appeared glazed over and one-tracked. Slowly, however, as the blazing beam began to diminish so did Amon's trance. He began to take his familiar solid form once more and was taking hefty breaths.
The angel dusted himself off and acknowledged his wounds. Never before had something other than a cosmic being been able to harm him in such a way. With some pain, but plenty more joy, he flew to be by the beastia's side.
The demon was looking at the ground and was caught in deep contemplation. The tension was noticeable; he was purposely trying to avoid eye contact but still, Satan spoke.
"We did it. The king will be much pleased with this accomplishment," he praised in the most energetic tone he could muster, but that still proving quite mild.
"I'm sure he would…"
"Right then, we'll continue to practice with this till you can better control it. For now, we will update his highness Zennon."
The transition between the battlegrounds and the king's castle came and went with the sun, as evening time, at last, fell once more. Standing in the king's private war room, Amon heard Zennon and Satan go back and forth on their progress and plans feeling it all go over his head. He honestly, he only picked up on a few words, but otherwise, he felt the conversation was overall pointless. He could hear how the two of them gushed and celebrated as they moved in on their plans. Plans that both relied on Amon, as well as somehow exclude him entirely.
"…Very well, phase two shall begin promptly, aren't you excited Amon?" Zennon asked.
Amon didn't respond, seeming too far out of it. Satan nudged him, reigniting his attention. His head wings flew up, and his eyes brightened as he searched around somewhat confused. It was the first time he felt acknowledged the whole time and it took him a moment to realize they were addressing him.
His body relaxed and drooped slightly, "Oh, excuse me, yes, yes I'm very excited."
There seemed to be a disconnection between him and the others. They noticed his dull delivery and overall posture.
"Well, you should be, I will be most curious to see the fine soldiers you pick," Zennon said. His manner of speech came off as though he knew there was something Amon wasn't grasping.
"Soldiers?" his head tilted to the side. This reaction immediately resulted in the laughter of the king.
"Oh, Amon old boy, we really must be running you ragged!" Zennon slapped at his own leg.
"The topic was allowing you to pick from our best and most acclaimed soldiers for your own personal army Amon. I was willing to escort you down to the lineup myself," Satan clarified.
The beastia's brow floated up as the situation sunk into him. He shook his body slightly, as if to reactivate a portion of his motor functions and thinking.
"Right, right of course. Forgive me, I just have felt somewhat tired as of recently…" he admitted. Amon didn't think much about the comment he made but the other seemed to view him skeptically.
The tension was broken by Zennon's chuckle, "Well that certainly won't do. You gotta make sure you keep yourself on the up and up Amon, your health is our health, and by extension, wealth."
Zennon said that as if trying to be light-hearted, even going as far as to punch the red devil on the shoulder. Satan seemed just as amused by the king's response, while all Amon could do was sit there silenced by his own shock.
"Anyway, you two carry on. And Amon, you keep on your practice. We need you after all," Zennon spoke with half interest. He gave more thought to an itch on his back and didn't even make eye contact with the proclaimed devil. Amon slowly rose to his feet with unbelieving features as he could only stare at the king. He felt some nasty words form on the tip of his tongue, but before he had the chance to spit them out, Satan moved in between them.
"Let us go, Amon, I'm sure you'll be much pleased by the soldiers we have rallied for you."
The great demon could feel himself being shooed away. It happened so quickly, he didn't even comment on it. But once the door to the king slammed shut, he knew he was stuck.
"Don't let him get to you, you know how valuable you are to all of us," Satan remarked bluntly.
Amon was startled at the angel's words, never expecting him to care enough to notice his plights. Either way, the wings on Amon's head pulled back as he wandered behind Satan as he guided him along.
"What gives here? I feel like I'm just being pushed around more than ever!" he complained.
The being of light didn't emote hardly nor did his voice waiver much, he sighed before replying.
"Given the circumstances, it's understandable. You've suddenly been thrust into a position you're unfamiliar with, and one that is rather stressful as it is."
"Yeah, exactly," Amon said with a hint of relief knowing his concerns were at the very least recognized.
"Yes, and these next coming weeks will remain the same. But know that despite it, and once this is all over, you will be one of the most renowned beings there ever was. Just keep up with us a little longer. It'll be worth it, for your sake, and theirs…" Satan trailed off. His ending words struck Amon right in the place he felt most apprehension.
The beastia's gaze eventually drew down to his feet, and his walk became stilted. However, he carried on, knowing his circumstance, knowing those who relied on him, and knowing the relentless woe that roped his heart.
