4 Chapter 4: Lose

"Brother look…I drew a portrait of you." The little boy eagerly showed his brother the picture he had drawn of him, proudly holding up his masterpiece. It was a poorly drawn portrait, with squiggly lines and a smatter of colors, but Sirzech's eyes lit up when he saw it. He smiled widely, his love and affection for his little brother shining in her eyes.

"Bro, it's wonderful!" He exclaimed, taking the picture from him and looking at it closely. He could see the love and effort that he had poured into it, and it made him feel proud. "I didn't know you were an artist."

Sirzechs ruffled his baby brother's hair who merely nodded in response "Ye! I've been trying I'm just the best aren't I?" He said smugly.

Sirzechs just merely smiled a bit "Yes you're the best little brother, Now get along Mom will yell at you if you're late for dinner again." Aureolus merely rolled his eyes in response not wanting to be separated from his big brother.

"Why can't you come along? It's not like ya can't just…you know Appear in the dining room… please big brother?" Aureolus pleaded he didn't want to attend dinner alone, He knew he'd just get another lecture from his father.

"I can't sorry little brother I have a a lot of things to conduct today, being Lucifer isn't just about wearing the crown." Sirzechs sighed a bit he didn't want to separate himself from Aureolus, but being Lucifer was much more significant even if it hurt his conscience to do so.

Aureolus sighed whining as Sirzechs vanished in front of him, instantly traversing hundreds of miles.

He dragged himself across the Gremory mansion it was enormous and took him tens of minutes to even arrive in the dining room.

Sirzechs sighed rubbing his temples, Aureolus was currently five years old and still had no sign of demonic energy.

It was becoming more and more stressful day by day rather Aureolus only had two more years to awaken or…Sirzechs didn't even wish to think of that.

Aureolus grumbled pushing open the large doors of the dining hall, The luxurious room was a sight to behold, with its pristine white walls, gleaming marble floor, and golden trim.

The room was adorned with antique furniture, crystal chandeliers, and a fireplace that added to the warm atmosphere, The smell of a five-star meal awaited guests sitting at the table, with fine china and crystal stemware at the ready.

The room was the epitome of fine dining, It was a place of sophistication and elegance, and the love of luxury of devils which Aureolus hated.

He never liked indulgence or too many things it seemed tacky to him, if the food was good and he was having a nice time why care so much?

Aureolus much rather have a smaller dining room and a smaller house he didn't want to walk half a mile every day to even get to this room.

"Oh, Aureolus you're finally here you're late..." A soft but stern male voice awoke the vermillion midget from his musings, He blinked before his eyes focused on his father who sat at the very head of the table.

The dining table was long and made up of dark oak polished so much that it reflected the lights above it, The table was adorned with place settings made of delicate china and gold-rimmed silverware, and at each place setting was a fresh flower to add warmth and color, it was so large that it could accommodate dozens of guests, but even when empty it was a sight to behold, a work of art all its own.

It looked ridiculous if you asked Aureolus but maybe he was just being cynical, Sirzechs did tell him he was a smartass sometimes.

"Sorry father…i-i Sirzechs held me up." Aureolus just decided to pile the blame on his big bro, surely his big brother wouldnt be mad at his cute baby brother right?

"Of course, have a seat you'll mother will be here shortly." Zeoticus nodded a bit gesturing to his son to take a seat to the right of him.

Aureolus did as he was told biting his cheek a bit in apprehension, He was always nervous around his father, even though he was a smartass he craved his father's approval.

Doing many things so just that his father would smile at him once, He knew his father loved him but it would be nice if he was told that once or twice.

As soon as the door opened again he sighed in relief 'By Lucifer that was…awkward.' He thought to himself his palms were a bit sweaty, His dad had a certain aura around him that made Aureolus timid, not to mention it was hard to be around someone you admired from the bottom of your heart and craved their validation not to mention that person was someone like Zeoticus.

"Sorry, you two I got caught up with something!" his mother's cheerful and harmonious voice broke him out of his stupor, before he could even react his mother had appeared beside him Taking Aureolus into a tight hug.

"How's my baby doing?" she asked ruffling his hair "M-mom you're choking me…" Aureolus choked out as Venelana giggled "Opps." she let go kissing him on the forehead before planting a quick kiss on her husband's lips.

Venelana sat to the right of Zeoticus nodding gently with a happy smile playing upon her lips.

Zeoticus just smiled becoming more gentle and relaxed by having his wife by his side, Gradually the tension and awkwardness between father and son melted away as the family in Union dug into their food happily chatting.

Venelana dug into her food relishing it while chatting with her lovely family, the most precious things to her currently, Venelana nor Zeoticus had been told by sirzechs yet that Aureolus showed no signs of awakening still.

Thus they were far less tense than they should been, In fact, Venelana was sure that Aureolus had awakened it already she felt how strong her child was physically anyway, which was an indication of strong demonic powers.

"How has your training with Sirzechs gone Aureolus?" Zeoticus said breaking the comfortable silence and stopping Aureolus who was in the middle of chewing.

"What? What did you say, Dad?" He said with his mouth full of food to which Venelana just flicked his forehead gently "Manners, young man!"

Aureolus pouted eating his food first before his father repeated "I asked how your training has gone?"

"Training? What training?" Aureolus asked quizzically raising his eyebrows to which Zeoticus blinked in surprise.

"To train your demonic power…? Has that not what Sirzechs and you have been doing for the past few years?" Venelana also started to pay attention to the father and son, Sirzechs and Aureolus were nearly inseparable, If one were to be seen the other was but a couple of feet away.

Venelana and Zeoticus just presumed that Sirzechs was teaching Aureolus how to manipulate and use his demonic energy, that's why his physical body was stronger than devils his age.

"No…? Me and big bro were just hanging out training?… What demonic power?…" Aureolus was so confused.

Zeoticus didn't reply merely putting a hand on Aureolus's head it glowed a violet light as his demonic power entered Aureoles's body, His brows squeezed in concentration before retracting his hand.

Other than Aureolus having a stronger body than others his age…There was nothing else, not even a drop of demonic energy just like all those years ago.

"What?…what is it dear?" Venelana questioned concern filling her eyes which just made Aureolus even more confused, What is demonic energy? Sirzechs never spoke of that.

The atmosphere grew a bit tense as Zeoticus's eyes grew colder, which Aureolus noticed instantly anxiety following him, did he do something wrong?

"Aureolus go to bed it's past your bedtime," Zeoticus said sternly leaving no room for argument Aureolus wanted to argue but decided not to seeing his father's heavy face as he quickly walked out of the room.

"Dear, what is it?" Venelana said softly after Aureolus closed the door, she knew Zeoticus had something important to say or else he wouldn't have just kicked Aureolus out in the middle of eating.

"He hasn't awakened demonic power yet…" Venelana's eyes widened her heart skipping a beat in astonishment and fear.

The room grew thick with tension.