*earlier,
by the time Lucifer arrived*
The fight roared on, making it impossible for Satan not to wake,
And force himself to emerge from the ruins.
The debris had surely hurt his head,
But what surprised him the most,
Was the absense of chains.
He was bounded by them before,
But now, not a single metal remained but its sore.
Satan looked for answers, and found none,
And when he began to lay another step,
He felt immense pain, he hoped would be gone.
He found himself falling on the ground again,
His fingers dragging the soil beneath.
He felt his teeth grit tighter,
And his eyes in great agony, water.
He wanted to shout, to express his suffering,
But his lack of strength, and exhaustion,
kept him shut.
He had never felt so powerless and pathetic,
And thought that point, perhaps, he was dying.
It was utterly painful..
It was as if something was being pulled from him.
Like a sword forced to be lift.
Blood couldn't be helped, but ooze from his lips,
Making his whole body shiver,
Wondering why it is.
Soon, he lost conciousness again,
But since the explosions and fight were too loud to sleep on,
He awoke.
The pain was gone, but it felt like something left his heart.
He felt lighter, he felt different.
He felt like he was robbed off of something,
But couldn't dare point at it.
He soon found himself walking away from the tower that fell.
And unto his steps, saw the chaos he helped prepare.
He felt his heart sink, seeing how much pain he helped inflict.
And wondered why so,
When he so wanted to do it.
Soon, he heard his name being called.
And even without turning,
he knew where it was from.
*present time*
Lucifer couldn't help but feel joy,
Seeing that Satan was alive all along.
"I thought you've been rid of,
Good thing, I don't have another brother to mourn.
Tell me, what did they do to you?
So that I may avenge your suffering,
And you could help me too."
Satan's lips wanted to say something,
Anything that would make him feel who he was supposed to be.
And yet, no word of hatred came out.
He didn't feel anything at all.
His red eyes, blankly stared at Lucifer,
Wondering, what fully, was his reason.
And as the Lord of Devils saw his will shatter,
Began to wonder if he was still as loyal as before.
"Remember what you owe me, Satan.
I made you, I created you, we have the first pact.
You follow me, and no one else.
You don't want to disobey me, if you don't want any, regrets.."
Lucifer's words were back from before.
Treating him as nothing but his pawn.
Not a friend, not a trusted ally,
But someone he needed,
Someone who he doesn't,
couldn't...afford to lie.
Satan wasn't dumb to not answer as fast,
Knowing that Lucifer does not have a patient mind.
"I am sorry. I was still...processing my return.
I have been deeply injured,
And my own wings...have been burnt.
I did not wish to not answer sooner,
I was just...I was not...completely recovered."
Lucifer's expression told him he wasn't convinced.
Seeing that the intent in his eyes had long disappeared.
"Have you been like Asmodeus, who've gone weak?
Have you fallen soft for the mortals? Who are all beneath?"
Fallen for the mortals?
Who are...all...beneath?
Satan looked at the crowd again,
Seeing that human-knights were abundant.
Serving their purpose that were told,
Fighting and trying...to save the world.
And here he was, standing in shaking legs.
Trying to process how it all came to this.
He swore...it was better on paper,
But seeing how Lucifer's dream would be fulfilled,
He felt...unsatisfied with it all.
He felt no surge of joy nor accomplishment,
No hint of pride on what he helped achieved.
He wondered...if what left was the spirit he borrowed from Lucifer.
Because right now, he no longer feel anger.
All he felt was the bitter sadness growing like vines in his heart,
Aching for his brothers, who were all struggling to attack.
Raphael, only looked at him, with hopeful eyes,
Hoping, praying, he switch his side.
And on the archangel of humility's arms,
Laid the exhausted Michael.
He gave too much again,
And was in the process of healing.
Michael, archangel of charity,
Upon having met his gaze.
Stood up, with wobbling legs.
And in an attempt to look determined,
Continued to use his divine seal.
White markings appeared on his body,
And despite Raphael's warning, continued to attack ferociosly.
His halo gleamed, fighting the vividness of Lucifer's arrows,
As Gabriel and Raphael, tried to get close.
Lucifer felt thrilled like never before.
He never knew why, but he felt more powerful.
Maybe the archangels were drained,
Or maybe he's just too strong for them,
Either ways, he likes to make their lives hell.
"Satan, if you don't want me to sneak an arrow to your back,
Do something with Asmodeus, who's been trying to help them up.
He's almost as fast as you,
And despite being stronger than most,
I couldn't keep an eye on them all at once.
Do something about it,
If you don't want to die."
The words, the order, pinched his heart like it would as needles.
Satan knew Lucifer was serious.
He had his dreams unfolding right before his eyes,
Merged with Selaphiel, he shone brighter than any star.
"That's right! Hurt me, and you'll only hurt your brother!
So just give up and agree to follow my orders!"
Lucifer continued to remind the archangels of the consequences,
It was truly smart, to hold one of their brothers hostage.
Satan wanted to sink when he and Asmo's eyes met.
He saw how fragile he is, how much he's wounded.
But despite the burns in his body, Asmodeus was still determined,
Satan couldn't help but fear, he would be his end.
"Asmodeus...why didn't you just run away?
You're the last thing I wanted to kill."
Satan mutters to himself,
But by the time Asmodeus closed the gap,
He hid his mournful face.
Having him show his pity might make Asmodeus think he wouldn't kill him.
And if he didn't, Lucifer may plan something for him,
Something far...terrifying.
It never ends well when Lucifer was disobeyed.
Satan saw the consequences, time and time again.
He felt his fingers tremble at the sight of his approaching boy,
Whom he loved and sheltered so much,
from very long ago.
"Asmodeus."
"Satan."
"Haven't I told you? That the time we meet again, we'll be-"
"Enemies. Yes, I remember that clearly.
And I know very well, that it's both our duty to defend what we believe in.
I would not beg for your mercy.
Nor would I ask you to surrender.
I know you more than others do.
I know you also...wouldn't want to lose."
(Asmodeus...you are a fool.)
Satan tells himself, as he hides his emotions, trying to escape.
(I wouldn't want to lose to anyone,
I would have loved to kill them twice.
But if it's you, my dear.
I...I'd rather hope this was all a dream.)
His fingers continued to shake by the time Asmodeus was close,
Knowing well, that he was to be burned.
Satan hoped he was deaf when he heard Asmo scream in pain,
Not used to the harm that Satan had given him that day.
Asmodeus was quick, was smart in tactics,
But Satan knew them all, being the one who taught it.
He hoped he didn't. He hoped he couldn't read them.
Because he didn't want the fight to be too easy,
He wanted...he wasn't...he wasn't sure if he wanted to win.
But what if he won?
He was sure Asmo would recieve a far...cruel death.
And so, he continued to block every attack Asmodeus may offer,
Burning his chains with his incredible fire.
He knew Asmodeus was exhausted,
He knew he was close to falling unconcious.
And he hoped he would just fall down from the ground and sleep.
But he was still fighting, stubbornly still.
"Just give up, Asmodeus! You're too weak!"
He had his lips yell out, not fearing if Lucifer would hear.
Tears started to fall from the devil's cheeks,
"Anyone...anyone but you, please..."
Asmodeus couldn't help but waver when he heard Satan say it.
He was...he was hesitating to kill him.
"Don't pity me, don't pity me at all!
I am not...I'm no longer that weak fragile boy!"
Asmodeus yelled back, as he summoned his chains from the ground,
And despite his eyes wanting to shut down,
He continued to release the magic that he can.
Satan continued to beg him not to do anything else,
To just fall down and rest,
But Asmodeus looked as if he wasn't afraid.
"If this is what fate that awaits you,
If only I knew you'd die in my hands,
I wouldn't have held you in my arms that time.
I wouldn't have...wouldn't have named you mine!"
Satan yelled in frustration,
As fire continued to emerge.
If only Asmo was still that young boy...
He would have...surely followed.