The Abyss had grown silent.
The ash-strewn winds whispered across scorched hills as another clone of Beelzebub emerged from the cracks of a deep trench, his horned silhouette flickering with infernal heat.
His eyes narrowed.
"They're gone."
He took a slow step forward, scanning the earth. His foot landed beside a severed, blood-soaked leg.
Gerard's cut off limb.
A low growl rumbled in the fallen angel's throat.
"That damned Archangel… always so dramatic." He spit to the side. "Always so… in the way."
He knelt and dipped two fingers into the blood oozing from the boy's leg stump. Thick, potent, Nephilim blood.
A grin split his face, wicked and wide. "But no matter. I already have what I came for."
He turned to the silent monolith, the Sun Gate, long dormant, long sealed. With care, he smeared the Nephilim blood across the
glyphs etched into its surface.
The ground trembled and the glyphs pulsed then Sun Gate… activated.
The stone split with light and fire, its heart opening like a mouth to Paradis, but before Beelzebub could step forward, something stepped out.
A figure, short, almost delicate in frame. It waltzed through the gate with perfect poise. Black and purple idolwear across his
slender body, decorated with silver lace, magical girl ribbons, and glittering
boots. His long, silky hair fluttered in invisible wind, and his lavender-painted lips curled into a playful smirk.
"Heeey Beelly ~ Long time no see."
Beelzebub hissed. "Lucifer."
Lucifer placed one hand on his cheek in mock surprise. "Oh? No warm welcome for your oldest friend?"
Beelzebub growled. "What are you doing here?"
"I just came to see how an old friend was doing," Lucifer said with faux innocence, twirling in place.
"You knew I'd be here… activating the gate." Beelzebub paused, suspicion darkening his gaze. "You're the one who tipped off Heaven,
aren't you?"
Lucifer gasped, placing a hand over his chest. "Moi? Why would I get in the way of my sweet Beelly's revenge?"
Beelzebub turned, snarling. "Save your sarcasm. Why are you really here?"
"To invite you, of course," Lucifer replied, now tracing a circle in the air with his finger. "I'm starting something… exciting. A new era. And you, my dear Beelzebub, could use allies. Let's face it you just lost to Mickey....Again."
"I vaporized one of his wings last time."
"You vaporized a feather, dear," Luci giggled. "Besides… I hear Dante's gotten even stronger since you last saw him. And rumor has it…Papa's thinking about flooding the topside."
Beelzebub narrowed his eyes. "You lie."
Lucifer just hummed, tapping his lips. "Suit yourself~."
Beelzebub stepped past him and into the glowing portal. "If I see your painted little face around me again… I'll kill you on the spot."
"Promises, promises…" Luci purred.
Beelzebub vanished through the gate, leaving the idol alone in the ruins.
Lucifer sighed, looking down at the severed arm Beelzebub had left behind. He picked it up and examined the blood dripping from it with amusement.
"Looks like things are finally getting interesting." His voice dropped an octave, and a sadistic smile twisted across his lips.
"I wonder what Papa will say… when he finds out things aren't going according to His Divine Plan anymore."
...
Beelzebub stood under a clear blue sky, green fields. He was free.
The angel threw his arms wide and laughed, the sound echoing like an ancient curse across the hills.
"FREE! AFTER EONS, I WALK PARADIS AGAIN!"
But he was not satisfied.
No not yet.
He turned toward the gate behind him. "I'll need more. More Nephilim blood. Only then can I free the rest."
Then he saw her.
A little girl, no more than six. Blonde hair, bright blue eyes, a daffodil clutched in her hand. She had been picking flowers nearby,
humming a tune to herself.
She approached Beelzebub without fear.
"Here you go, sir," she said, offering the flower with a smile. "Mama says it's polite to give flowers to sad people."
Beelzebub stared at her, blinking slowly. "You're… not afraid of me?"
"You look tired. Mama says tired people are usually grumpy," she said cheerfully. "You can come eat with us. You're so skinny."
Beelzebub's mouth slowly opened, his jaw distending. He hadn't tasted fresh mortal blood in centuries. He was going to swallow her whole.
But she held out a slice of bread.
"You shouldn't look at people so mean, mister. You won't make any friends that way."
Beelzebub froze.
The words struck somewhere buried deep beneath his horns and hatred where memories of exile and solitude festered. Even among the fallen angels, he had been shunned. Blamed. Cursed.
The little girl looked up at him.
"Will you be my friend?" she asked.
"…Yes," he muttered.
"Yayyyy!" she beamed. "You can play with me now that Raphael's gone."
The demon's expression twisted into something unreadable. He slowly reached out, gently placing one hand over the girl's face.
Her eyes closed, she slumped gently into his arm, unconscious.
"I will spare you," he said softly. "But the others…" He turned toward the city beyond the hills. "…will feed me."
Beelzebub raised both hands. A dark light surged around him.
"My children, rise."
The skies blackened.
From every rooftop and shadow, flies emerged not in clouds, but in floods.
Each one swelled and swelled, until they were the size of small dogs. Their wings buzzed with vile energy and acid dripping from their fangs.
The people of the city screamed as the swarm descended.
"Flies outnumber humans one hundred to one," Beelzebub whispered. "And yet they eat only filth. Not anymore."
"RISE, MY CHILDREN!"
"FEAST!"
The sky went dark.
Screams filled the streets.
Flies bit into flesh, spat acid across buildings, devoured men, women, and children. Bones melted. Eyes burst. Blood ran in rivers.
Beelzebub stood at the center, absorbing the death. Every soul fed him, his body pulsed with dark energy.
He raised both hands again, casting a massive hex across the ruins. A black barrier shot up around the city sealing it in
shadow.
"No one gets in," he said, "and no one gets out." He looked down at the unconscious girl in his arms. "You…" he said softly, "Would you still be my friend if you saw all of this?"