"As for you…"
Gulp- Tremble- Gulp-
"It's a shame really," Asmodeus sighed. "I liked having you around."
"You did?" Saphyra asked with a shocked expression. "He seemed like an absolute hater. Oh, I guess you like having some around."
"Yeah, it was pretty fun having hating on me all time." Asmodeus nodded. "It's a shame really. Were you a bit stronger, we could have kept you alive."
"H-Huh?" Jack's eyes finally opened. He had been bracing for impact for a while, determined that he would be killed from one instant to the next. "W-What do you mean?"
"Don't listen to them."
"L-Lucien? C-Can you stand?"
"No." The Ice Maniac answered with a straight face. "I can't move at all. My muscles are killing me."
"I-I see." Jack nodded. 'I couldn't tell at all.'
"In any case, don't listen to the bullshit they're spouting." Lucien continued. "They're going to kill us both. My only regret is knowing that it will take a while for Jeanne to see through this Demon scum's lies. My angelic sister… The more demonic they are, the harder she falls in their trap. She truly cannot conceive that such disgusting people exist in the world. My poor sister…"
"Hey! Didn't you say we were about to die?!" Jack shouted trying to bring back Lucien, but it was clear that the latter did not care about the situation at hand.
"My poor Jeanne…"
"Hm…" Asmodeus crossed his arms around Saphyra, elbows resting on her shoulders as he leaned forward. "I like him."
"You can have him." Saphyra said with a smirk.
'H-Have him how?!' Jack thought to himself. 'Wait, why the fuck am I thinking about this?!'
"I can't kill my date's brother in any case."
"You lie, Demon." Lucien said. "Scum like you probably thinks that killing me would actually make it easier to manipulate and deceive my Jeanne."
"He has a point." Saphyra nodded with a raised finger.
"True, the heartbreak of losing a relative can often make one ripe for falling in love. But I dislike that kind of thing, manipulation and all?"
"A Demon that dislikes manipulation?" Lucien frowned. "Why is that?"
"Because I don't need it." Asmodeus shrugged. "In any case, you'll be fine." He turned towards Jack. "As for you, tough luck. Though, good job on keeping him like that, Saphyra."
"Hehe, thank you, thank you."
'Just what are they talking about…?!' Jack's eyes widened as he turned to see the chains or shackles or rope holding his wrists and ankles behind his back. 'There's… Nothing?!'
"You know, actually," Saphyra tapped Asmodeus' chest. "I could probably get him, too."
"Is that so? How come? You can only use it properly on those at approximately your level. Those weaker than you just… Kind of wither, or explode."
"Hehehe," Saphyra stretched her arms and stepped forward. "That used to be the case. You see, I wasn't waiting for you doing nothing earlier." She stood over Lucien and Jack. "They actually…" A purple Ether with yellowish golden hues coated her hands. "Have pretty good teachers at the Academy."
"So you were seducing a Professor with that outfit-"
"I WAS NOT! I ONLY TORE IT AFTER I LEFT!"
"Alright, alright."
"Fuck, fuck, fuck…" Jack repeated nervously. "Why, why can't I move my hands and feet? Why can't I free them? Is it… Is it an invisible rope or… Or wha-"
"It isn't." Lucien answered, cheek having swollen immensely in the past couple of minutes. "I can't sense any Ether around your body."
'And I was trying my best not to mess with his face, tsk.' Asmodeus clicked his tongue.
"Then… Then, what is it?"
"Probably what they're about to do more of to us."
"Meaning?"
"He got it." Saphyra smiled, and the Ether around her hands doubled in intensity. "I'll make you forget all about this. How does that sound?"
"You mean… It's mind control that's keeping my hands and feet together?!" Jack's eyes widened. "I…"
The moment that he figured that out, his hands and feet could move again.
Still, he didn't dare stand or even get on his knees. He remained lying flat on the ground.
"Any preference?" Saphyra asked, hands hovering inches away from Lucien's head.
"Let's see." Asmodeus thought for a moment. "Jack went to look for Lucien, but Lucien didn't hear any of it and simply beat him up. As for Lucien's bruising, let's say he got them during practice."
"Anything else?"
"Put in a good word for me." He added. "I don't think he needs to hate me this much, does he? It'll only make things more difficult."
"Mhm." Saphyra nodded, hands approaching Lucien's hands. "Yes, boss."
Seconds later, Lucien's body started seizing. Neither Saphyra nor Asmodeus gave it much thought.
"Now…" She turned towards Jack. "The difficult, delicate part."