4 ❗️4

"In the long years of my existence, I have seen all my children die due to Lucifer's spite" Asmodeus began, "it is only natural that I show that I care for my only daughter, mortals often have misconceptions of how we demons act. Though in the early thousand years, perhaps what they had said was indeed true, but just as mortals change, so do we with time, eventually. You mustn't forget that."

"However" Beelzebub added, "that does not mean we are merciful in any way, in the appropriate circumstance we do not show sympathy for our enemies, and we will still punish any of you should you deserve it, as you know we are strict on rules and orders"

"Even a wise creature such as a dragon will wreak havoc if you threaten it" Asmodeus remarked.

"Yeah, we know" Jun rolled his eyes.

"If only mortals knew demons have feelings too" Azrael shrugged.

"So" Beelzebub spoke, "if you are to return home I expect you have succeeded in your mission?"

"We have" Juro confirmed, "Azzie has it"

"You know" the girl said as she handed her father the gem, "the fact that you made a consequence like that is pretty devilish of you"

"I suppose that is one perspective to it" her father replied, "some mortals have managed to live up to their end of the deal, however most do not. They are, after all, made to sin"

"I guess the lucky ones managed to not taint their soul any further" Juro mentioned, "but that gem is pure black, there's barely any colour in it like we've usually seen"

"Ah, yes" Asmodeus nodded as he examined the gem, "this man in particular I knew would not be able to succeed, and I had warned him beforehand, but he was blinded by envy.. and that, is what lead to his end"

Azrael furrowed her eyebrows, remembering the bartender they had left behind.

"Jun, Juro" the girl called, "that bartender we left.. what are we going to do about her?"

"You left a survivor?" Beelzebub questioned with wide eyes.

"Yeah but it's fine, I messed with the security systems, there aren't any traces of us there so people would just think she's crazy - or they'll think she killed the CEO" Juro reassured.

"I think we should just wait and see what happens later on the news tonight" Jun said, "then we can decide what to do"

"No but.. she said something weird" Azrael leaned back and looked up, "she said that I'm the one that people have been talking about.. I think she saw Solano.."

"Well we've told you to cover up your mark when we're out" Juro brought up, "you didn't want to"

"Hey! It gives me comfort when I know Solano is there - you're one to talk, I can still see yours"

Juro pointed at the side of his neck, "you can't see it in the dark because my hood is on half the time, plus Thanatos barely moves unless I'm pissed off, other than that he's basically asleep aside from when I use my abilities"

"Well sucks for you two, Kronos is on my back" Jun bantered.

"Yeah but sometimes I still see him on your neck and arms" Azrael argued.

"not always"

"As much as witnessing this argument amuses me" Basileus walked up to them, "will you three be staying or returning to the surface for another day? If I am to prepare dinner for you, I must know"

The three looked at each other, and aware of the situation they were in, the answer was clear.

"I think we have to go back" Juro concluded, "we need to find out what happened with the bartender"

"I guess the mission isn't over yet" Jun pressed his lips together.

"Aw" Azrael pouted, "I really wanted to sleep in my bed for once"

"Why are you complaining when we literally live in the most expensive condo in Vancouver" Juro laughed heartily, exposing his signature crooked smile.

"Yeah but.. it's colder in Van, we're still in winter right now"

"Come back in the morning" Asmodeus ordered, "you three do remember what tomorrow is, correct?"

"It's training day, isn't it?" Jun grumbled as the corners of his lips twitched.

"So you do remember" Beelzebub clapped his hands together, "good!"

"Why do we have to train dad, it's been two months and we're doing fine" Jun complained.

"You've just underwent the change, you're still very new to the feeling of your power being completely accumulated. It can still be very unstable, your animal marks are linked to your emotions, that means your abilities are." Beelzebub explained, "You may have gained control of them before, however that was when you had a small fraction of the great power you now have. You are more capable of destruction than you realize, your mark should already depict that."

Jun buried his face in his hand and shook his head.

"Okay, well, we should go now" Azrael said.

"Very well," Asmodeus agreed, "Basileus will send you back"

She hugged her father once more and smiled, "I'll see you tomorrow"

The boys waved at Beelzebub and bid him goodbye.

Afterwards, Basileus sent the three back to the surface.

-

"Case File 36, witness statement. You may start."

"As I've told you, people whisper, they spread rumours like wildfire, and I didn't acknowledge them.. until I saw her for myself. This is all I've heard. They spoke of a girl. Short black hair and indigo dyed front pieces, a tan complexion, unusual eye colour, but.."

"..Yes?"

"The feature most people talked about is.. a dragon tattoo."

"And on what part of the body?"

"Legs. Arm. Neck. Stomach. When I saw it, it was on her arm."

"So, you are depicting more than one tattoo?"

"No. That's the thing.. they say.. that the dragon tattoo moves... and I speak for myself when I say, it does."

The security feed ended with a soft click, leaving the three demons speechless.

"So.." Juro broke the silence, "not only do you have a case filed in the police department, but they're investigating not just you, but us too"

Juro clicked on two other tabs with witness statements and reports that seemed to contain vague information on them.

"No wonder the police have been out more" Jun scratched his head as he peered down at the monitor, "I mean I knew they've heard of us.. but not this much"

"Is this really gonna create a problem?" Azrael tilted her head, "we're demons, we can literally go to another continent if we wanted to, or stay in hell for a few years"

"Yeah but, we go here when we're bored or when we're on a mission and missions are more fun when cops aren't hunting us down" Jun pointed out.

"Yeah, it'll make it more difficult for us if they dig too deep" Juro added.

Every creature or being knew that humans were never to find out about anything relating to hell or heaven.

It would cause chaos in their world, and evidently, the other worlds as well.

The existence of the three would pose a great issue should their true identities be discovered.

"So then what do we do?"

"I could try and delete everything" Juro suggested, "but they would probably just regather the information or gain more witness statements.. but that would take a lot of time so it would slow them down"

"Okay, then do it" his brother told him.

"Alright but it's gonna take me a few hours, and we have to be really lowkey, which means Azrael has to wear a hoodie or something when we go out"

"Whatever you say" the girl complied as she watched her best friend type rapidly on a program, "though I think we should finish that bartender off"

"Maybe" Jun muttered.

He stood by his brother, watching over his shoulder.

There were two programs loading on the screen, one of them was about to finish.

"Definitely not now" Juro protested, "I don't want more sightings of us"

"Okaayyyy" Azrael sighed exasperatedly.

She plopped down on the couch in their living room and glanced at her right arm; her mark had shrunk, it was the length of her forearm.

"Shouldn't we sleep early?" Jun scratched the back of his head, "our dads would kill us if we're late again"

Azrael crossed her legs and looked up at the ceiling, "I'd rather go through The Raging Fire again than take another punishment"

Her best friend stared at her bug-eyed at the comment.

"What?"

"You would rather go through like ten hours of your own power burning you inside and out and then another five on top of that to take back control after your mark forms and tries to consume you.. instead of battling with your dad and my dad?"

"Did you not see how my turn went?" Azrael pinched the bridge of her nose, "when they said they weren't making any exceptions, I didn't think they meant knocking me unconscious after they both summoned like ten demons on top of their attacks, I couldn't even see where they were half the time"

"Just be glad training is better" Juro turned around in his chair, "but Jun is right, I'd rather battle them than go through The Raging Fire again"