A Marvelous Devil.
Chapter 38: An Offer You Can't Refuse.
The Underworld.
Dante Andromalius.
Watching Celestine herd us all night to prepare for Hadrian's return was equal parts amusing and sad.
I was conscious enough to know how… complicated my relationship with them was. I had more lifetimes they could even dream of having, with no one but myself to rely on, not having a family or at least something as real as this one was.
Technically, technically, Mephisto, Satanish, and other Hell Lords could be considered my brothers, but it obviously wasn't the same thing.
Especially considering the nature of our relationship.
But this? This was something I had never experienced before.
Demons, by our very nature, could be considered… greedy.
No, that wasn't the correct word. At least not exactly.
We were acquisitive at our core, even if each of us fueled that drive in different ways.
Here, I realized I was no longer a demon. I was no longer the being I once was.
I was but a mere mortal.
Now I had dreams, desires, and a family. And sometimes, I honestly didn't know how to process all these unfamiliar emotions.
I was a different kind of existence now.
I had experienced almost the same things as when I was Seere: relationships with friendly beings, and objectives I would do anything to accomplish.
But these were different, and it was extremely confusing.
Tandy's hand squeezed mine, sending me a worried look as we walked through the Sitri territory.
And I cracked a smile, feeling her worry.
Did anyone ever worry about me when I was Seere?
Even Mephista, back on our final day… I couldn't say if she was truly worried for me.
For her dreams? Absolutely. For me?
I didn't know. Before, it wouldn't have mattered. Now, I wasn't sure I wanted to know after everything I'd experienced.
I wasn't sure if I'd feel disappointed or relieved if the answer wasn't what I wanted.
"Is there something wrong, babe?" Tandy asked, earning the attention of both Nyra and Celestine.
Nyra cocked her well-manicured eyebrow in surprise.
Celestine, for her part, didn't make any move. Hell, she barely even turned her face for a fraction of a second before her eyes returned to the entrance of the hospital.
Didn't fault her for that. She had been a bit scatterbrained since last night.
And considering she could be a bit of an... airhead at times, it was better if she paid attention to where she was walking.
"It's fine," I sent a small smile in Tandy's direction, squeezing her hand, "I've just been thinking about the uncomfortable conversation I'm about to have."
Mother winced at that, but I ignored her for the moment. I wasn't even sure how it would go exactly, and I wasn't about to give her any assurance that nothing negative would happen if… my father decided to keep being a pain in the ass.
After tonight, my name would be on the lips of many influential devils in the underworld, whether from the Old Satan Faction, the New Satans, or especially the Great King Faction.
I wouldn't have a repeat of what happened, considering that, since the sleeping sickness was going to be something of the past, they would use more… permanent methods to get rid of people who were against them.
And if I had to revive Father from the dead… well, it would go badly for him.
Because I didn't want to see my mother cry anymore.
The hospital was as grand as ever, though it felt like ages since our last visit.
It had been a long, long time, and much had changed since then.
But I couldn't waste more time, especially as my mother pulled my hand.
If I weren't stronger than her, I might have called it painful.
Tandy giggled at her excitement, her eyes full of warmth as she hugged mother from behind.
Nyra followed behind us, giving us some space.
"Hello," mother said quietly to the devil at the desk. "We're here to visit my husband. Any news?"
The devil, called Velmira, smiled at my mother.
"Lady Andromalius, it's been a long time since we saw you. I'm afraid to say that he has not shown any signs of waking up, but the good news is that his deterioration has halted thanks to our doctors."
"I'm no Lady yet, Velmira," Celestine laughed softly, a small grin on her face.
"Ah, but that's the talk in the devil net, haven't you heard?" Velmira tilted her head, "It was announced by Lord Lucifer's office that a family that used to be considered extinct was going to re-enter the ranks of the 72 pillars, and that they'll announce it in the coming days. There's no other one I can think of, ever since your son's exam was leaked."
"Speaking of him," she looked at me up and down, "you have quite a good son, Lady Andromalius. I'm sure you're proud of everything he has accomplished."
She then sighed, "If only my lazy ass of a son could follow his example."
I snorted, smiling at the devil and nodding, "A pleasure meeting you. And I appreciate you helping Mother during her visits. I believe she mentioned you once or twice, always saying how helpful you were."
A lie. I hadn't heard about her even once. Still, after dealing with mortals for so long, I knew one thing... they thrived on praise for their deeds.
"Oh my, thank you, my lord," she bowed her head minutely, her chest puffing in pride.
"Now, where was I?" she lowered her head and looked at the computer, "Ah, yes. I believe Lord Hadrian does not have any medical examinations planned for today; you should have all the time you need for your visits. Now, is it only the four of you? I will make sure of letting the cooks make something nice for you lot."
"My thanks," I nodded, "And yes, it's only us four. Do we need to go through security once more?"
Velmira squinted her eyes with a hint of mischievousness, looking at her sides before grinning, "I believe the newest lord shouldn't waste time in something like that. You can pass with these cards."
Tandy snorted behind me as I kissed Velmira's hand after taking the cards.
Waving at her, we walked to the farthest elevator, passing four security checkpoints.
Sona hadn't lied when she explained how serious her family took the healing industry, and she had gotten the very best for me.
Such a dear… The image of her, the last time we saw each other, passed through my mind for a moment before I shook my head.
By Seere, I was such a horny bastard now.
"This is absurd," Nyra muttered, entering the elevator. "Why was I ever jealous of high-class devils if they go through all that for a damn visit?"
"I get both sides," Tandy said, eyeing the fancy mirror. "They might do too much, but people who pay can rest easy with this level of security."
"How much do these suites cost?" Nyra asked, both eager and dreading the answer.
"Beats me," I shrugged, "Sona did this for me, free of charge."
"Ugh, I hate you," Nyra said, her jealousy warming my soul.
The elevator hummed softly as we ascended, and Celestine's grip on my hand tightened with every passing floor.
She hadn't said a word since we entered, and I didn't push. She needed silence, I'd imagine.
The hallway smelled surprisingly clean, unlike the mortal hospital I'd visited in my last reality to heal some New York bigshot.
Two guards flanked the entrance to the private wing, their demonic power solid enough to deter some normal mid-class devil. Not worth much, truthfully speaking, but it was better than nothing. Especially since the hospital itself had an ultimate-class devil guarding it at all times.
Sona's family really took this seriously.
The suite was at the corridor's end: a reinforced door with security and medical wards. Any change in my father's state would alert doctors, who could teleport in.
Celestine's hand found the handle before anyone else could move.
She opened it in a hurry, her usual calm act nowhere to be seen.
She was adorable. I knew that she was older than me, at least biologically speaking, but I genuinely couldn't see her as the adult in our relationship.
As for the room… it was nice. Way too opulent, but at least not in the gaudy way I'd come to expect from some devil families. But even then, there was way too much wasted space, with extra bedrooms in case someone wanted to stay the night, each with its own bath and closets.
And there he was.
Hadrian Andromalius lay exactly as he had been left, his chest rising and falling in a gentle rhythm. Like a normal, if deep sleep.
But he looked... diminished. A bit thinner, but nothing that noticeable.
And I didn't know what to think at that moment. Was I still angry at him? No, not really.
Celestine crossed the room in a flash and sank into the chair beside his bed. Her hand found his, and she held it with both of hers, pressing it against her forehead.
She didn't say anything.
She just cried. Quietly, her shoulders trembling as the tears fell onto his knuckles.
"It's finally time, baby," she whispered to the unconscious devil. "Our boy came back. He's here, Hadrian. He became everything you ever dreamed of and even more."
Tandy stood beside me, hand in my arm. She watched Celestine with a small, warm smile.
Nyra stopped at the doorway, arms crossed, leaning against the frame. She looked uncomfortable but watched the scene with a mix of longing.
Her family was… a sore spot for her, one I noticed during our first dinner together.
And I just stood there, looking at the man who was supposed to be my father with an expression I kept carefully neutral.
I sighed, closing my eyes for a moment with a bit of irritation. Not because of father, but because of prying eyes.
I opened my eyes and looked at the window, locking eyes with the devil watching me with his utmost attention.
"Did you know that it is rude to pry into family matters?" I sent my voice through telepathy.
The devil in question, hundreds of kilometers away, had some kind of mental defense, but he let it pass as I felt the connection settle.
"Didn't you say a Satan should have anything they want?" The neutral voice had a hint of amusement, making me snort in return.
Touche.
"Hm. I'm not against it, but I want some assurances," I sent back.
"Name it," returned to me.
Tapping my foot on the floor a couple of times, I allowed the Dark Force to come out and play, the black fog opening a doorway in the underworld between our two locations without any trouble despite the wards around his.
Cutting the connection, I waited until the green-haired Satan walked through.
His eyes never left the fog until it retreated back into my body.
"Lord Andromalius," he said formally, "a pleasure meeting you in person, at last."
"That it is," I nodded, seeing how tense Nyra and especially Celestine got from his presence.
Something must have shown in my eyes, because the Satan coughed into his fist before addressing my mother.
"You have my apologies, Lady Andromalius. But I wanted to oversee this moment, if you'd allow it," he nodded a tiny bit more than what was necessary.
He said it as if it were an option, and if my mother had said no, he would have left. At least that was my read on him.
Obviously, Celestine didn't even think of denying the Satan.
But it was the thought that counted.
"I understand, Lord Beelzebub," she bowed back.
Nyra went ignored, but considering how pasty white she had gotten, it was for the best.
"So, what assurances, Dante?" he looked back at me after glancing at Tandy for a moment.
Heh, his eyes shone when he looked at my light.
"First, can you make sure that what we speak here will stay between us?"
He simply nodded, and in less than a second, an absurd amount of wards appeared around the room.
What a fucking monster. A couple of thousand years more under my guidance and he could grow to be just like me.
Quickly, without bothering to explain how I had come to know, I asked him what he knew about the sleeping sickness, and he responded that he strongly suspected it was something artificial.
But he was also firm in his belief that he couldn't accuse any band of using it, even if most of the cases pointed towards only one culprit.
It was a bit disappointing, but it wasn't like it mattered. That was something for me to deal with. Not him.
Not the Satans.
Not anyone but me.
"So be it. Yes, it is the soul gradually separating from the body. Think of it like they have different signals, growing farther apart day by day. The fix is something easy, in the grand scheme of things. That is, obviously, if you have knowledge of souls, and feel confident of messing around with them without changing the very essence of the person." I explained calmly.
"Easier said than done," Ajuka snorted, "Souls are… finicky, to say the least."
"That they are. Did Serafall say everything about the meeting when we allied to each other?" I asked curiously.
"Not everything," he lifted an eyebrow, "she hid some things, but she did explain your view of souls. Quite… an intriguing opinion, and one I wholeheartedly agree with."
"I knew there was a reason I liked you, even without meeting each other," I laughed brightly, happy that someone as accomplished as him believed in the same things I did, at least according to this. Shame he was a bit too passive, but… meh, time changed us. There would be a point where he would realize the folly of following those self-imposed rules.
"So, yeah. It is not simple, and as… knowledgeable as I am," he interrupted me with a chuckle and shake of his head in irritation, but I continued as if I hadn't heard, "I wasn't strong enough to… facilitate the molding, I didn't want to risk it."
"And so you disappeared for over half a year and returned stronger, with no one knowing where you went, or how you disappeared so thoroughly."
"Exactly," I nodded with a smirk, earning a huff from the Satan who just waved his hand airily.
"Now, for my assurance. This is something you might be able to replicate after using your bullshit magic. But if you want to see it, you'll vow right now to never use that knowledge to heal anyone. If you need someone healed, it will go through me, and my family will be paid their due for it."
He opened his mouth to say something, but I just raised my hand.
"Now, I know there will be times I will disappear, and I doubt you'll be able to find me. In those cases, you can do what you want. But only then," I nodded firmly.
"Agreed," he said after a moment of hesitation.
"Good," I stood up from my seat and walked toward Hadrian's bed. "Now, I'd appreciate it if you kept your distance. I need to focus, and your magic is too ordered for my liking."
Ajuka took a couple of steps back without complaint, his eyes amused at hearing me call his famous Kankara formula like that.
Celestine looked at me with red-rimmed eyes, still holding Hadrian's hand.
"Mom," I said softly, "you can stay. Just don't say anything, no matter what you see."
She nodded, smiling through her tears and kissing my brow like she used to do in my memories.
Such a flutter inside my chest was welcomed.
Tandy moved to Celestine's side, her hand resting on my mother's shoulder.
What a precious light mine was.
I placed my palm on Hadrian's chest and closed my eyes.
The curse was... ugly. Now that I truly focused to learn the depth of it, I could only call it ingenious.
It was elegant, in a disgusting sort of way. The body and soul would drift apart with time, until they didn't match, and the devil would die. It wasn't something that could be used against anything that wasn't at least partly devil.
Curious.
Whoever designed this was talented. I'd give them that much.
Closing my eyes, I felt the Cosmic Power answering my call.
It was funny, every time I used it in this universe, I felt some kind of… pressure against it. Like the world itself didn't know how to house it, because there was nothing with the kind of weight Galactus's power truly had in the hierarchy of things.
It was usually shown by the air trembling, or the simple weight that was too much for weaker beings to handle. Not this time. I was… holding its leash this time. I didn't need power, I needed control.
Ajuka's breath caught in his throat, his eyes growing as wide as saucers as his own magic tried to make sense of the Cosmic Power and failed even worse than with the Dark Force.
He didn't get bothered in the slightest; in fact, his expression grew intense as he tried to make sense of it.
The energy that flowed through my fingertips and into Hadrian's chest was akin to a Godly authority more than anything else.
An authority over the fundamental fabric of what made a living being... alive.
The curse recoiled. I could feel it writhing, trying to adapt, trying to hide within my father's body. It didn't work.
I reached into the gap the curse had carved and began pulling.
Not the curse. The soul.
Hadrian's soul was... tired. Almost faint, for lack of a better word. But the core was intact, stubborn, and proud even in unconsciousness. It resisted my touch for a fraction of a second, but the soul itself submitted to my will as I began to renew it.
Another way to see it was if I called the soul a flame, Hadrian's was simply an ember left behind. The Cosmic Power was just gifting back what it once was by rewinding their memories.
As I told Serafall. Souls? Souls were history.
I pulled my hand back and opened my eyes.
Hadrian's body was turning back into what it once was, color returned to his cheeks, his hair shortened just a tad, and his demonic power returned to its previous peak.
Then his fingers twitched, followed by his eyelids.
Celestine let out a choked laugh.
His chest rose with a breath that wasn't aided for the first time since he fell asleep.
And then Hadrian Andromalius opened his eyes.
They were blue. Pale blue, just like mine. Confused, with a hint of fear in their depths.
Mother cried even harder when she felt his hands squeezing hers.
My mother broke.
And I felt… fulfilled for what I had done.
Hadrian's arm moved weakly, his hand finding Celestine's cheek as he started wiping her tears.
"What..." he said confusedly. "Where am I?"
I watched them for a moment. Celestine crying into his neck, Hadrian's confused eyes searching the room, his body tense as he looked at Ajuka.
Then I turned to the Satan.
"Did you get what you needed?" I asked calmly.
He looked at me for a long moment. Nodding silently, his eyes watching me in a different light.
He didn't look at me like another devil, no. If anything, he watched me like a peer this time.
"Only to leave with even more questions, Dante," he grimaced, "but I understand what you did, if not the how."
"Good." I tilted my head toward the door. "Then I'd appreciate some privacy. Family business, as you'd expect. I doubt you want to see family drama."
Ajuka didn't argue. He gave me a respectful nod, then stopped once he was at the door.
"I added my personal number to your phone. Send me a message when the builders finish the new Andromalius Castle. I will ward it personally."
The bastard didn't even hide he had a way to control every devil phone.
"And what do you want in return?" I asked curiously.
A tiny smile grew on his face, "A conversation after tea would be acceptable."
Then the door closed shut.
Hah. I knew he'd want more. I knew we would be the best of friends.
I looked at my parents, who were glancing in my direction, Celestine with a small, sad frown that managed to overcome her exhilaration, and Hadrian with the most confused face known to men.
Nyra read the room before anyone had to say a word. She bowed once, murmured her goodbyes, and left the room, saying something about supervising the workers back in my territory.
Smart girl.
"Mom," I said quietly, "you can leave too, if you want. I doubt this will be pleasant for either of you."
Celestine shook her head, her hand still clutching Hadrian's. Her eyes were swollen but firm.
"I'm staying. Hadrian was not the only one that failed… we were both at fault."
Feeling Tandy's worried eyes on my back, I made sure to send through our bond that this was something that needed to be done.
Hadrian's eyes were clearing by the minute. He looked between Celestine and me, and I could see the gears turning behind those pale blue eyes that were so much like mine.
"What happened to me?" he asked, his voice rough. "How long was I… was that Lord Beelzebub? What was he doing here?"
"Over half a year," I said flatly.
He blinked in disbelief.
"You were cursed," I continued before he could speak. "With the sleeping sickness. It was never a disease, and the doctors here would just extend your life until you wasted away. It was placed on you by the Great King Faction because you decided that your pride was worth more than your family's safety."
"Dante!" Celestine started.
I looked at her, and she fell silent.
Hadrian's jaw tightened in anger at my disrespect.
That stubborn fire, already flickering back to life after six months of nothing.
"I did what I thought was best for my family!"
I raised my hand.
He imitated Celestine. Not because he wanted to, but because my demonic power filled the room in a way that made the wards around the room whine as the alarms blared.
"You fell asleep," I said calmly, "and you left Mother alone. With no money, no power, and nothing she could have realistically done to care for you."
I snorted in irritation, but it was muted at this point.
"She couldn't afford to keep you here. This suite, these doctors, all of it came from a deal I made with Sona Sitri. A deal that I negotiated, that I paid for, while you were wasting away."
A sprout of shame burrowed inside his soul.
"So…" he swallowed in excitement, and I watched his throat work as if the words were fighting him. "Sona Sitri… So, did everything I did work in the end? Did you join her peer…"
I grabbed his jaw and pushed him against the bedrest.
His eyes went wide, and Celestine flinched at my side but didn't move.
"And you're still going," I said neutrally. "After everything, that's the only thing that matters to you?"
I released him not so gently, leaving him wincing in pain.
"The Andromalius clan will be restored within the week. Lord Lucifer himself signed the paperwork." I looked toward the window. "I am a high-class devil now. I have a territory, a peerage, and the attention of three Satans. None of which came from joining anyone's service. I do not serve."
"I did all of this," I said, "while you slept. While Mother cried through your absence. And you know the best part? The ones who did this? They didn't even think of you after it was done."
My father's eyes were filled with tears of shame and regret.
"I healed you because I promised her," I nodded at Celestine, whose tears had started again. "And because you're my father, and that means something to me even when you make it difficult. Because, despite all that, you matter to me, Father."
Tandy put her hand on my shoulder, looking worried, but for the first time, I moved away from my light.
"The people who did this won't use something as tame the next time, because it will be known that I can heal this 'sickness'. They will kill the next time, and I promise you that you will regret making her go through something like that."
His eyes met mine, and for the first time since he woke up, the pride was gone.
"I will pull your soul from nothingness, and when I revive you," I pulled back, my voice turning colder, "I will make sure you never see the outside of your room."
Celestine laughed for a moment at the absurdity of the threat, but I wasn't joking, and she knew it.
And from the look he sent her, I supposed so did he.
"I understand," he said quietly. "For what it's worth, I'm sorry."
"It is not me who needs an apology," I stepped back, taking Tandy's hand. "Tell her. You have a lot of catching up to do. And so do I."
Later.
Dante Andromalius.
"Shouldn't we stay with your parents?" Tandy asked as the Dark Force deposited us in front of a modest house on the outskirts of the Bael territory.
Humble. Almost aggressively so, but knowing what I did from my friend's situation, it made sense.
"They need time alone," I said, smiling at my light. "And I'd rather strike while the iron is hot. You'll have time to meet your father-in-law later."
Tandy blushed before she looked at the house. "Who are we visiting?"
"A surprise," I smiled, knocking twice on the wooden door.
Tandy narrowed her eyes but didn't push.
Footsteps approached from inside. And I couldn't help but note how… precise the person was. Just from the sound alone, I could tell she was as trained as my friend.
The door opened, and a voluptuous blonde with sharp eyes stood in the entrance, looking between us with a polite expression. If only her demonic power wasn't ready to unleash on our faces. Oh, what a delightful family magic, so similar to my Dark Force, even if diminished.
Kuisha Abaddon, and Sairaorg's Queen. She had potential.
She didn't look like she liked me that much… Wonder what Sai told her.
"Can I help you?" she asked, her eyes lingering on Tandy for a moment before returning to me.
I smiled.
"Dante Andromalius," I said pleasantly. "And I have an offer that your king will be interested in hearing."
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