It's been a few days since that conversation with Hana. We’ve been discussing the matter non stop over tea and coffee and while we were working. We got a letter from Beelzebub once, all it said was “help me” and a sentence written in a different language. Virgo easily understood what it said when we brought it to her, being the one who can read, write, and speak every language ever created.

  “He wants to meet you on Earth, preferably the Amazon.”

  Hana and I grew very hesitant. It could be a trap. We aren't stupid. We wrote back, requesting to just keep it written.

  A few minutes later, another letter came, practically begging to meet in person.

  Bring guards if you need too, I just desperately need help.

  Hana, Virgo, and I talked for hours, debating what to do.

  “I'm going.” Hana stated.

  “I'm going with her.” Virgo also stated. I tried protesting, wanting to go with them, but the two were stubborn and refused. I had to let them go.

  “Well let you know if we need help.”

  The two made their way to Earth.

  ?????????????????

  Virgo and Hana made their way to earth. They kept their guard up as they made their way towards where Beelzebub wanted to meet up.

  “I'm kind of nervous. What if this is a trap?” Hana said, anxious and worried.

  “Even if it is, I've got a fist with his name on it,” Virgo said, cracking her knuckles. Hana smiled and shook her head.

  Hana looked down and saw those familiar wings. He was sitting under a tree.

  “Beelzebub.”

  He looked up.

  “Lady Hana! And Miss Virgo,” he greeted, standing up.

  “What? No proper title for me?” Virgo said angrily.

  Beelzebub flinched.

  “Forgive her. She's defensive. What do you need?”

  “I need help.”

  “With what?” Hana asked.

  He showed her Yin’s insignia on his wrist. Virgo scoffed.

  “Yeah, we know. You're his lackey.”

  “I didn't have a choice.”

  Virgo and Hana glanced at each other.

  “Please elaborate.” Hana said.

  He began explaining. He was born on one one of the planets as royalty in another world, but his powers were different. Despite his powers over decay, he was still treated with respect and love along with his sisters. He was king of the fairies and ruled fairly with his two sisters being co-rulers. Yin’s forces came to the fairy lands to destroy them along with the rest of the planet. He begged and pleaded to spare the planet. Yin did, at the cost of his own freedom.

  Beelzebub joined Yin to save his family and home, and in doing so, he lost everything he once knew. His family, his home, and his people.

  “I was a devoted follower of our nature god, but now he's been turned to stone and I can't even mutter one of his prayers or hold one of his worship items without being severely beaten.”

  She nodded in understanding. Virgo was still skeptical, but she could sense his sincerity.

  “The only way out I can think of is death. He says our days are numbered. I'm terrified. I don't know what to do.”

  Hana couldn't help but hug him and let him cry on her shoulder.

  “I'm sorry. I don't know how to help. But I can at least ensure you can get into a favorable afterlife.” She stopped hugging him and he calmed down.

  “I have to tell you something else.”

  “What is it?” Virgo asked, somewhat harshly.

  “Lord Yin wanted me to incapacitate Helena. I had no choice but to comply. I asked for some of his power but I had to give it to Nisshoku.”

  “What was the idea you had?” Virgo and Hana asked. His answer horrified them.

  “Trap her in a never ending nightmare.”

  ?????????????????

  I grew increasingly worried about Virgo and Hana. They haven't been back in a while. Eventually they did come back and ran towards Helena and me. The two of us were in the middle of our godly duties. They were talking a mile a minute.

  “Woah woah woah slow down!” I exclaimed.

  “Helena’s in danger! Beelzebub gave us some unpleasant news,” Virgo panicked. She has never panicked before, so it must’ve been serious.

  “What is it?” I asked, getting defensive.

  “Yin wants to put her into a never ending nightmare! We can't let that happen!”

  “Well I'm not going down without a fight!” Helena stated proudly. I loved when she was like that. “Well just have to see if he can catch me off guard!”

  We smiled.

  Celena came running in afterwards.

  “Nisshoku’s back. He's in the fields and wants to challenge Helena and Yang.”

  “How did he make it up here?” I asked. “Beings of darkness shouldn't be able to enter!”

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  “Well then, let's kick him out!” Helena said optimistically. I’ve always loved her optimism.

  We left to the field where Nisshoku stood, waiting for us.

  “I was wondering when you were going to show up,” he sneered. He had this creepy smirk on his face. “I've been dying for this rematch.”

  Helena conjured her spear.

  “Save the reintroduction for later. I already know what you want, and it's not going to happen!”

  Nisshoku laughed a bit. Then charged at her. Helena blocked his sword swipe. The two began hashing it out. I was about to join the fight but his shadow powers caught me and I was paralyzed. I fought back as hard as I could, but he seems to have gotten stronger.

  I stood there helplessly fighting his powers while he was battling Helena. After a few hours the two were tired, and trying to catch their breath. Helena was about to slash him one last time with her spear, but Nisshoku sliced her hand open and she dropped it, her blood pouring out from the open wound. Nisshoku held up his hand, charged with a black energy.

  “Sweet nightmares darling.” He was about to blast her. I found myself able to move again and as fast as I could, I ran over to her.

  I felt excruciating pain, then everything faded to black.

  ?????????????????

  I was sitting on my throne, wine glass in hand, busy with my divine duties, so I didn't witness the battle. Souls needed torturing, prayers needed to be answered, and time needed stabilization for the hundredth time. I hate mortals. They're always messing with time and it drives me crazy. Regardless of that, I didn't hear Nisshoku come in.

  “Your majesty,” he said. It startled me a bit and it broke my concentration.

  “Did I say you could enter?” I asked, irritated.

  “No, but I have news, both good and bad, if it could even be counted as bad.”

  “Spit it out,” I demanded, still irritated that my concentration was broken. I hoped his news would make it worth my while.

  “The bad news is Helena was not incapacitated.”

  My eyes grew wide with surprise, which quickly turned to anger. I shattered the wine glass in my hand and slammed my fist onto the arm rest and stood up, beyond pissed.

  “WHAT?! YOU FAILED?!”

  “B-but I have better news!”

  “It better be good,” I growled, just about ready to blast him into oblivion.

  “Yang took the fall instead.”

  My anger subsided as I processed the news. Yang was the one hit by the nightmare. My brother, my opposite, and my worst enemy, was trapped in the never-ending nightmare. I couldn't help but laugh at this turn of events. I sat back down on my throne and returned the shattered half empty wine glass to its original form with my time powers. I just placed it down, not even wanting to drink the rest of it anymore.

  “Oh, this is too good to be true,” I said. I decided to take a look with my powers, and sure enough, there he was, lying helplessly on his bed, tossing, turning, and face occasionally contorting in fear. It was even better than what I wanted. I sat back down on my throne.

  “You did an excellent job. I'm promoting you to lieutenant. No need to worry about your blessing, it will come sooner than you think. Keep up with your work.” I snapped my fingers and a slave was summoned. I shoved the wine glass to it. It immediately left to toss the tainted wine and sterilize the glass. Another slave handed me a new glass shortly after.

  “I have one thing that troubled me however,” Nisshoku admitted.

  “What is it?”

  “They knew.”

  “I'm aware of that, and I know who did it. That little roach thought he could slip by me. He should know that I keep a very close eye on him due to the nature of his contract.” I slammed my fist onto the armrest, furious at Beelzebub’s severe act of rebellion against me. “He will be severely punished. My authority is to never be defied!”

  “Do you wish for me to take care of it now?” He asked. I laughed a bit.

  “You will in due time. As for now, I will personally handle his punishment.”

  “May I watch?” He asked eagerly.

  “No.”

  He deflated a bit.

  “As you wish.”

  “Tell Abbadon and Moloch to prepare the army. Destroy as many planets as you can to draw the other gods out. I will personally take care of them.”

  He bowed and left to relay my orders. I left to go to my dungeons. Beelzebub will face his planet’s worst torture.

  I chugged my wine and arrived at his cell. Two of my guards forced him to turn around.

  “You sneaky rat. Did you really think I wouldn't notice?”

  He began crying.

  “Please, master! Please!” He continued begging and crying for mercy.

  “I'll spare you from death. However,” I started. My guards ripped his shirt off. “You won't be spared from your people’s worst form of punishment.”

  I grinned as my guards ripped his wasp-like wings off. His screams of pain amused me. A fitting punishment for a foolish traitor. He kept crying out in pain before he passed out. I left to continue with my duties.

  Ripping his wings off reminded me of my own wings. I loathed them. It's the only feature Yang and I share, wings, except mine are pitch black while his were gold. I went into my private quarters and took off my cloak and top. I stared at my reflection, tired eyes and pale skin, my black wings wrapped around me. I clenched my fist and was about to punch my mirror, but decided against it. I traced my faded battle scars and stretched my wings out. They were large, and I wanted them gone. I don't need them to fly, I have my powers for that.

  I called for Nisshoku. He knocked on my door.

  “Enter,” I ordered. I didn't bother covering my head.

  “You needed me- holy shi-” he stopped himself. “That's what you look like? And I didn't know you had wings, my lord.”

  “Yes I look like this; I do have wings and I want them gone.”

  “B-but they're so beautiful-”

  “Just do what I say! And make it quick.”

  He hesitated for a moment. Before unsheathing his sword.

  “A-as you command.”

  It took everything I had to not scream as he quickly sliced off my wings. They fell to the floor. My wounds eventually healed, forming two parallel scars on my back. I felt lighter, as if a weight was lifted off my shoulders, literally. I put my top and cloak back on, putting the hood back on my head.

  “Why cover your head?”

  “Personal reasons. Now get out. I wish to be left alone.”

  He left my quarters, closing the door. I just stared at my wings and watched them fade into darkness. Tears streamed down my face for some reason and I just let them fall. I went to my bed and climbed into my covers and just wept silently. I didn't know why I was weeping. I just did. I didn't even remember falling asleep, but I woke up after twenty minutes feeling numb and empty.

  I eventually just went back to work, ignoring my feelings and focused on what needed to be done, occasionally looking at my brother’s helpless state. His suffering cheered me up and I was able to focus again.

  ?????????????????

  Beelzebub stayed in the dungeon for months before being freed again. He took his frustrations out on Nisshoku, who became his default punching bag. He eventually learned of the orders given by Yin to mobilize the army to conquer or destroy as many planets as possible.

  “To draw the gods out.” He was told.

  All he did was nod and mobilize his part of the army, however, it was difficult for him to relay orders to his aerial forces. They had almost no respect for him anymore due to his traitorous actions.

  He became very insecure about his lack of wings. Abbadon sometimes slaps his back with a small laugh, hurting Beelzebub. Moloch helps ease his pain, but nothing could save him from the turmoil and despair inside of his heart.

  Yin came by to speak with him again. The words spoken horrified Beelzebub.

  “The deal’s off you traitor,” he said, coldly. “You knew the terms and conditions of your contract and yet you deliberately chose to go against my will. You knew that I regularly kept track of your every move to ensure your complete obedience to me.”

  “You didn't even try to stop me.”

  “I simply have no more use for you. I needed some excuse to eliminate you and your equally useless planet. Now should it be a slow and painful process, or quick and merciful? My final order to you as your master, choose between those two options.”

  Beelzebub begged and pleaded and cried to spare his home and family, but his pleas and begging were ignored. In fact, Yin enjoyed them and laughed slightly. He grabbed Beelzebub and teleported to his home planet.

  “Make your choice, slow and painful or quick and merciful.”

  Beelzebub was still begging for Yin to not do it. Yin was growing impatient.

  “CHOOSE HOW YOUR PLANET WILL BE DESTROYED ALREADY!!!”

  Beelzebub hesitantly thought about it.

  “Make it quick and merciful. I don't want to see them suffer.”

  Yin grinned and with a quick blast of darkness, the planet was reduced to space rocks. Beelzebub gave a loud cry of agony and anguish. Yin simply laughed a bit. “There is one thing I must tell you. Your beloved sisters have been dead for a very long time so I simply had no obligation to keep my end of the deal, but I did since I have a few standards for myself and one of them is remaining faithful to any deal I make.”

  Beelzebub was utterly crushed that his two sisters were long dead, that on top of his home being destroyed threw him into a deep depression.

  Yin dragged him home and threw him against a wall, clearly enjoying what he did.

  Beelzebub just ran to his room, curled up into a ball, and cried hysterically.

  Yin went back to the destroyed planet and felt strangely cathartic. He wasn't sure why. A small piece of the planetary remains floated up to him. He grabbed it and crushed it in his hand. He suddenly felt pity for Beelzebub. Yin took the broken debris and tossed them in Beelzebub's room, saying nothing. He wasn't sure if it was a gesture of pity or rubbing salt in the wound. Either way he didn't care. All three of his current generals were going to die, or more accurately, be killed very soon and Yin eagerly awaited to finally be rid of them.