**Ten minutes later. The balcony of the Morningstar Mansion.**
"Uncle?" – Charlie's voice carried on the wind as she stepped onto the lonely balcony. She was in her crimson pajamas, wearing her favorite slippers, and holding two mugs of hot cocoa. – Is everything okay?
Charlie's voice was full of care, attention, and understanding... After all, Uncle Ozzy wasn't the first time "mixing up dates." This was just one of many instances, though this time, Uncle Ozzy had prepared a bit too much.
"...Charlotte?" – Asmodeus responded almost reluctantly, turning to Charlie. The Princess of Hell didn't like that Uncle Ozzy didn't immediately remember that she was the one who had sent him out to "relax." – "Thank you." – Asmodeus nodded, accepting the mug of cocoa, which was much larger than Charlie's.
Charlie leaned on the railing next to Asmodeus, who stood there in his robe. She didn't pay attention to the fact that the robe was overly open—her uncle was the Embodiment of Lust, after all. What else could you expect from the main demon of Hell?
The pink robe barely hid his backward-curved knees, and the thick tuft of chest hair spilled out, usually restrained by clothing. Now, Asmodeus's hair was free, though it was just a small indulgence, as the Sins could look however they wanted...
They silently contemplated the crimson clouds of the sunset, kindly provided by her father, who was now somewhere with her mother... Probably "letting off steam" after the meeting with Lust. Charlie shook her head.
Her parents always did this whenever Uncle Ozzy visited... While the Sin himself spent time with her. Entertaining her, playing with her when she was younger, or simply engaging her in something... Not that Charlie was particularly interested in how the Ring of Lust operated, but sometimes even she found it fascinating to listen to the less obvious and hidden details of how succubi and incubi—demons who most often interacted with the human world—worked.
Charlie smiled, almost enveloping herself in old memories that radiated warmth and comfort... Like when Uncle Ozzy would tell her about humans, sometimes even bringing along a succubus or two to supplement his stories... In part, her Uncle Ozzy's tales had influenced Charlie's own methods of work.
"Not that they were practical..." Charlie grimaced, sipping her cocoa. The words of Adam, William... They carried far more weight than even her parents or other close ones. At least they didn't immediately dismiss her, criticizing her like Adam and William did, while also offering advice, like her... best friend.
"Something troubling your heart, Lotta?" - Asmodeus asked, as if he had been waiting for these feelings to surface in Charlie. She tried to hide her unease behind a smile, but, as usual with her Uncle, it was a futile attempt.
" Just... thinking about my plans." - Charlie shrugged, trying to mimic William's tone. He was so good at deflecting... Or maybe she picked it up from her father?
"And here I thought you were pondering your love life." - Asmodeus tilted his head, leaning on the higher railing closer to the left side of the balcony. - "Lying to the Embodiment of Lust about your passions and feelings is a pointless endeavor, Charlotte." - Asmodeus playfully scolded Charlie's shorter figure, immediately taking a sip from his large mug. He didn't care about the taste; he hadn't even bothered to look at the drink.
"...I'm not lying." - Charlie weakly replied, to which Asmodeus only raised an invisible eyebrow—or rather, his left green-purple eye widened as if he had raised one. - "I'm just... figuring it out on my own, Uncle. If I need anything... I'll ask for advice." - Charlie nodded confidently, and Asmodeus smiled.
" That's our Charlotte." - Asmodeus nodded, gazing into the distance at the clouds. - "Just don't overwork yourself and... don't get lost in the weeds of your work, alright?" - Asmodeus added more softly, leaning on his forearms, practically lying on the higher part of the railing.
Charlie's smile faded, and her eyes dropped.
She knew about... Not exactly a "problem," but more of a "side effect" of Asmodeus's powers.
Lust, the Sin of Lust itself, was powerful, rivaling even Satan, who in turn could challenge Lucifer... Charlie got confused in these talks about "power and might," but she understood the general hierarchy.
"Uncle never cared about any of that," Charlie nodded, looking at the silent figure of Asmodeus, whose green eyes shimmered with purple. "A moment of clarity," as Asmodeus sometimes called it, comparing it to something human men experienced... Charlie always assumed it was something vulgar, and she didn't need the details.
The pleasant breeze of the day, harmonizing strangely with the evening clouds, created a truly enchanting atmosphere. It was as if Charlie and her Uncle had stepped into some fairy tale or a painting by a skilled artist... Even if the scent of the wind wasn't quite as her mother had described, it was still...!
Charlie didn't know why Lust was the second, if not the first, most common Sin in Hell. According to some of her Uncle's employees, everyone—from Sinners, Imps, and Baphomets to Goetia and even some of the Sins, excluding her Uncle... All were drowning in Lust or Depravity, in one way or another.
"No, of course Pride and Wrath are higher, almost inherent to everyone in Hell, but... Lust?" Charlie often wondered when she and her Uncle were alone, especially after his episodes of "forgetfulness."
Sometimes Charlie felt like they were all living in some kind of wrong Hell, but such was their reality, where Asmodeus was arguably one of the strongest...
Even if he had... such "incidents." They happened—meaning they occurred almost always.
"Uncle... If you want to vent, rant, or just scream... I'm here to listen." - Charlie nodded, looking at the unresponsive Asmodeus, who, after a dozen seconds, covered his face with his hand.
"It's fine, Charlotte. Don't worry." - Asmodeus replied quietly, likely not even believing his own words. Charlie didn't interrupt him. - "I'm a powerful Sin..." - A nervous chuckle escaped Asmodeus's lips. - ."..As if I have anything to worry about. "- His hand dropped, and Asmodeus began repeating what he always told Charlie after these "episodes." - "My Ring is thriving, the other Sins actively use my services, the Goetia often resort to them, even if they pretend otherwise..." - Asmodeus's head dropped, and his voice rose slightly. - "What more could I want? "
" ...For example... Knowing what day it is?" - Charlie's words, as she looked at her Uncle, seemed to hit him, and his shoulders slumped. - "Uncle... If something's wrong... "
Charlie wasn't so much at a loss for words as she was... unsure how to solve her Uncle's problem?
Once, she had vaguely asked William about "methods" and "the nature" of certain phenomena, realizing that what had once been at the back of her mind was now front and center.
As the Embodiment of Lust, spreading, encouraging, and resonating with Lust... Asmodeus himself fell under its influence, simply existing in a constant state of sexual arousal, if not some kind of "mental fog," where time became irrelevant, and his body demanded new, stronger doses.
Asmodeus lived like this. A constant search for new pleasures, a constant escalation of something... Asmodeus himself never delved into the details of his "work," and Charlie had enough of the "secret" stories from succubi and incubi. The saws inserted in inappropriate places, the things adults did with diapers and their stomachs...
"But you understand that..." - Charlie started again, for what felt like the hundredth time in these twenty years. Asmodeus's voice rose, and a stream of fire escaped his lips.
" I know, Charlotte. I know." - Asmodeus sighed heavily, tilting his head back and looking first at the blood-red clouds, then at Charlie. - "I'm working on it, controlling my powers, not the other way around." - Asmodeus said firmly, to which Charlie only winced.
Both knew what these "powers" did to him, both knew that Asmodeus sometimes "fell" into situations like earlier. Charlie was even glad that none of the other Sins were around. She didn't like it when they fought. It was good that only Will was there...
"Wait... What if I... entrust this to..." Charlie's eyes widened, and her back straightened. Charlie... felt somewhat awkward "throwing" William at her Uncle like this, after all, he was a Sin... But he had helped her so much... And he got along with her mom...
" Uncle... Maybe you could ask for advice from... Someone?" - Charlie said slowly, gesturing... something. Asmodeus frowned, the weight of his green-purple gaze intensifying.
" Charlotte, dear... I love you." - Asmodeus clasped his hands together, pointing them at Charlie. - "But... Forgive me, what in Lucifer's name could a Sinner possibly "help" me with, let alone give me advice?" - Asmodeus's words carried a multitude of tones and shades unfamiliar to Charlie, making it hard for her to understand... Charlie shook her head.
" But, Zephyr is a good friend of mine!" - Charlie said importantly, looking at the unimpressed face of the Sin. - He's helped me with advice, kind words, and... It's because of him that I've grown as a person, going through so much in just a couple of years! - Charlie smiled widely, spreading her arms. The Sin's expression didn't change. - He gets along well with my parents, has impressed them more than once... - With each word, Charlie's voice grew quieter, looking at her Uncle's unchanging expression. - ...My dad hasn't killed him yet? - Charlie almost whispered, to which Asmodeus nodded.
- Oh! Truly a worthy achievement for a Sinner. - Asmodeus shook his head, genuinely lost in thought. - And what could this... Sinner... - Asmodeus smirked, giving Charlie a strange look. - Possibly tell me, the Embodiment of Lust, that's new?
Charlie leaned back slightly as her Uncle leaned toward her, looking at her with a playful smile, making her eyes dart around, avoiding the green-purple flames.
- I...
...
"...And then it turns out that if you try the early method, it only provides incomplete protection... A couple of times, depending on the type and degree of Lust's influence," William nodded to himself, allowing his hands to occupy themselves with simpler, more pleasant work while most of his mind—the rest already habitually occupied by Silence—thought.
He thought about potential protection against the Sin of Lust, which had once again brought William down from "Heaven to Earth," forcing him to actively seek a way to defeat the strongest beings in existence, despite being just an Archangel who had lived for barely a century.
"By the way, the first hundred years are coming up... I should start preparing a celebration... God knows I won't have time otherwise," William nodded, adding another task to his mental checklist, a document about which would appear in his office, in the most visible spot.
As for "protection against Asmodeus's Lust"...
With the same success, William could try to figure out how to defeat Adam, Lucifer... Even Michael himself. The data was criminally scarce, and what had worked once wasn't guaranteed to work again. Testing the method would be difficult, and the method itself didn't inspire confidence.
William sighed, blinking and "returning" to the present, where his hands were weaving small houses for Razzle and Dazzle in Charlie's room, after she had left him there.
Not that these goatlings said anything to him—William doubted they were even capable of it—but when they showed him barely legible, crooked drawings pointing to their past attempts at "construction"... William agreed to the request of Charlie's close "friends" and got to work on the simple task.
Just creating small sleeping houses shaped like trees, or small "gardens" or "mansions"... The drawings were hard to decipher, so William decided to create something of his own rather than wake the two red goatlings sleeping on Charlie's bed.
Thoughts of projects, tasks, and some hands-on work. Everything William needed for happiness.
A kind and honest soul, even if alone, in Hell. A district, some connections, and relative peace... What more could one need for peace of mind?
Not that... He had anything else that could trouble William.
"Disappointing loved ones, complete disregard from his entire family, betrayal of trust, the terrible fate of people reached by his clumsy hands... A beloved woman whose patience might run out, and she'd leave..." A tense chuckle escaped William's lips, and his fingers twitched, forcing him to redo a significant portion of Dazzle's future resting spot. "Everything's fine, couldn't be better!"
Not that he was running away from his direct duties as a priest, entrusting them to a Construct-replacement. Not that the people of Earth were suffering from the consequences of his actions, which he could see right here when he encountered another "distorted" Sinner...
William massaged his face, sighing heavily. He had made some houses, clearly better than what the goatlings had drawn or somehow created...
"And all because some idiot wanted to prove something to someone... Like the last idiot, going all the way, just..." A stray thought slipped through, suppressed by his consciousness as William shook his head, massaging his face.
- Go fuck yourself. - William whispered under his breath. Just a thought out loud. Just an expression of feelings and thoughts that had definitely been bothering him for the last few decades.
- Then why don't you do it yourself? - A soft voice responded from behind, making William startle in recognition. William turned around, seeing in the doorway of Charlie's room a tall, human figure...
Which immediately stretched to its usual size. William didn't even have time to examine the other form before he could see the familiar tall figure of Asmodeus, this time in a simple robe over his bare body. The robe was open, revealing the left side of his chest and his right curved leg.
"Is that a heart tattoo? Didn't think he'd have one instead of a..." William shook his head, standing up and straightening, giving a slight bow.
- Your Majesty, I apologize for this... - William hastily restored his business tone for such conversations, as the Sin had "come to his senses," as Charlie had informed him before leaving.
- Nonsense. I don't care for formalities. - Asmodeus waved his hand, slowly stretching his leg, taking a long, slow step around the room. - I'm more about... a practical approach, don't you think? - Asmodeus smirked, his mane briefly flaring like flames.
This time, William's mind and soul weren't drowning in a sea of desires, thoughts, and the rest of the storm of words that resembled more of a description of some drug-induced trip than anything rational, not even resembling a dream.
- I'll be brief... What's your name again. - Asmodeus waved his hand, looking at the pink-purple walls, almost beige, examining the shelves with various trinkets of Charlie's, from some vase to musical instruments. - Little Lottie asked me... "To ask you for advice." - Asmodeus's face twisted as he examined the claws on his hand, curling his fingers. - I don't want to lie to her, so I'll just "ask for advice," you'll tell me something banal that I already know, and we'll both wait for Charlotte.
William nodded, though the Sin clearly didn't need his agreement. He simply presented William with a fait accompli, pressing with a more important and businesslike tone.
- So... Zephyr Half-Rot... or whatever your name is. - Asmodeus waved his hand disinterestedly, not even looking at William, folding his arms across his chest. - Let's say... One of my employees... Has a problem with lust... And he... - Asmodeus's voice momentarily lost its previous confidence and importance, and his green-purple eyes, full of flames, darted around. William waited patiently. - Let's say he has memory lapses. - William nodded again.
- And you... want my advice on how he can better remember...? - William spoke cautiously, choosing his words, to which Asmodeus simply nodded indifferently. - ...Well... The most obvious and simple solution... Stop indulging in lust for a while, "get clean," as the kids say nowadays. - William shrugged, not seeing, but rather feeling, the Sin of Lust roll his eyes.
- As if no one's tried that. - Asmodeus shook his head, finally turning to William, looking at him with a mix of a frown and an emotionless expression. - Tried it more than once, but it always... Always pulls him back in. - Asmodeus clearly wanted to end it there, but some thought made him bring his hand to his face, rubbing it. - No, there's one solution, but it...
- It's not easy to decide on? - William immediately recognized the tone of voice, the words, and even the posture... Maybe he imagined the last two, but he was sure about the first. Asmodeus froze, raising his gaze, interest appearing in his pupil-less eyes. - The soul just freezes in indecision, fear of the unknown, when you know perfectly well what you need to do, but... - William spoke and spoke, unexpectedly pouring out his own...
- ...You're afraid of it. Afraid of stumbling, afraid that you'll fail and everything will be much worse than before. - Asmodeus nodded, looking at William in a new way, examining his figure with some surprise. - Huh... Maybe there's a reason why Lord Lucifer hasn't torn your soul apart. - Asmodeus nodded slowly, rubbing his chin, to which William only rolled his eyes. - ...How... How do humans deal with this? - Asmodeus's voice was softer, half a tone lower. William sighed, sitting down on Charlie's bed.
- Everyone has their own approach, but for me... - William spoke slowly, diving into distant, almost dreamlike memories. - Gather all your courage in a fist, in a burst of a moment... Just do it, or rather, start doing what you've planned. - William exhaled, raising his gaze and noticing the attentive eyes of the Sin of Lust. - Not the best method, but it's definitely come in handy... A couple of times.
Asmodeus didn't respond, staying in the same pose for a while. His claws weren't rubbing his chin, and Asmodeus seemed to have turned into a statue.
Finally, after three moments, the Sin of Lust raised his pupil-less eyes to William.
- Well... - Asmodeus slowly drew out his words, his tone resembling the one William had heard during their first "meeting." - Since this... Sinner, - Asmodeus chuckled briefly, smirking at William. - Actually gave useful advice, then... I'll allow him to learn something in return. - Asmodeus slowly spread his arms in an inviting gesture that seemed almost enticing. - I'll allow him to ask the Sin of Lust and satisfy this thirst for knowledge. - Asmodeus exhaled blue flames, running his claws over his robe.
William shuddered, lowering his gaze, once again feeling something akin to the earlier "episode," though this time it was much milder. Perhaps the Sin of Lust was just "warming up."
"He didn't specify how many questions I could ask, didn't clarify how personal they could be... Could they touch upon any secrets...? And how much does the Sin know about...?" William pondered, placing his bets on just one attempt to get something... And even then, there was no guarantee it would be the truth.
Though his question might be banal or silly, still...
"Why can't people stop sinning?" William asked quietly, to which Asmodeus bared a jagged green-and-purple grin.
"Oh-ho-ho!" Asmodeus's figure drew closer, and William already regretted sitting on the bed. "Is this truly what this soul wishes to know?" Asmodeus whispered, leaning in closer. William could make out the fur—if it even was fur—on the Sin's "face," could see the mane on his chest... William nodded.
If there was anything William wanted to know, even "back then," before the Song, it was knowledge about Sin from the Seven themselves. Who better to know about it than the Embodiments?
"Then..." Asmodeus suddenly straightened up, leaning on the bedposts of Charlie's bed, looking down at William. "Tell me, if you enjoy sex... would you stop having it just because some priest forbade you?"
"...No?" William whispered cautiously, placing both palms on the top of his cane.
"You wouldn't give up something that brings you such emotions, such Passion... just because someone once said it was right..." Asmodeus shook his head, his voice growing deeper and more "resonant" as he emphasized certain words. "Especially... if it brings happiness and joy... Why stop? It's fun." Asmodeus spread his arms, gesturing around the room.
"So Sinners..." William said slowly, to which Asmodeus laughed, patting him on the shoulder.
"Are addicted," Asmodeus whispered in a soft, deep voice, leaning in almost to William's face. "To sensations, emotions, and... everything the soul can achieve... when set free." Asmodeus whispered, his eyes glowing with green-and-purple energy as he stared at William. "A beautiful addiction. Deadly and rebirth-giving... Lethal and yet so enticing... Sin is not just something 'bad'... It's what can grant freedom, unattainable in Heaven... Lust is not just animal instincts, but something more..."
With each word, as if imprinting itself in William's mind, Asmodeus's voice grew more alluring, exhaling a faint purple mist barely visible to the eye.
"The Distorted truly... display such symptoms when torn away from their usual activities... But what are the odds this is just a meaningless coincidence of correlations?" William shook his head, meeting Asmodeus's understanding gaze.
"This... I am deeply grateful, Your Majesty..." William bowed his head, to which Asmodeus simply waved a hand, stepping back.
"Oh, come on now," Asmodeus laughed, though his piercing gaze never left William. "But what about other questions?" Asmodeus stared expectantly at William, whose fingers tightened around the top of his cane.
"...Can I ask other questions? At what cost?" William asked slowly, to which Asmodeus merely laughed, looking at William as if he had told the funniest joke.
"What cost for a friend of Charlotte?" Asmodeus grinned, tilting his head with his flaming purple mane. "I am a benevolent and understanding Sin... I can quench such a strong and knowledge-thirsty soul." Asmodeus whispered, to which William merely sighed. This time, he asked his next question almost instantly.
"Are you a man or a woman?" At William's quick question, Asmodeus laughed loudly. The laughter was penetrating, ringing, though brief.
"Yes," answered... Asmodeus? His... Her? The mane "pulled back," resembling actual hair, the face turned white, more bird-like, and the waist and chest narrowed, becoming more feminine. The Sin's legs remained bent but grew thinner, retaining a certain elegance and grace, along with clear... "feminine" features.
The flame of the mane-hair darkened, taking on a bluer hue, and the back feathers now numbered four, with the blue feather splitting into two different shades.
"Lust is not bound by anything, save for imagination..." whispered...? Whispered Asmodeus, whose now more delicate fingers, devoid of obvious claws, brushed against William's cheek, causing him to shudder and instinctively pull back.
"Understood," William sharply raised his voice, met by the surprisingly soft and pleasant laughter of the Sin of Lust.
"No, no more questions. Otherwise, I'll lose my mind right here," William shook his head, feeling... strangely out of control... The thought "refreshed" his mind, allowing him to...
"But I can see, hear, and feel the burning thirst of your soul, dear," Asmodeus tilted her bird-like head, her eyes glowing with purple flames as she gazed at William. "Do not fear... This is not Heaven, which limits the soul's knowledge and passion," Asmodeus said, pulling William out of his thoughts once more. The tone in which she said "Heaven"...
"...Did Charlie tell you?" was all William could ask, struggling to regain control over his emotions and the reactions of his vessel. Asmodeus merely shrugged, swaying her hips slightly as she circled him.
"Why wouldn't a Sin recognize the familiar gleam of a Fallen from Heaven, when the King himself is from there?" Asmodeus spoke sarcastically, to which William only grimaced and nodded.
No, if she already knows... Though this is just an excuse...
"Were you born like this, or did you Fall from Heaven?" William forced out, slowly beginning to clear his mind, simultaneously "sending artificial impulses" to mimic sudden, disorienting thoughts. Asmodeus shook her head.
"It's not proper to ask such personal things on a first date..." Asmodeus smiled widely, swaying her hips as she slowly approached. "But... if you can..."
William was saved by the opening door, revealing Charlie carrying a tray of food. William couldn't make out what was on it, nor did he care—the important thing was that he could shield himself behind the Princess of Hell from the Embodiment of Lust.
Asmodeus didn't change her form, baring her teeth as she stared at William. The purple-blue mane burned, and her eyes radiated a barely visible purple energy. Asmodeus slowly, almost theatrically, straightened up, deliberately exposing much of her now clearly feminine chest beneath her robe before turning to a confused Charlie with open arms.
"Oh, dear, you're just in time!" Asmodeus almost sang, taking two steps to revert to her previous male form. "We were just waiting for you to begin our grand annual tea ceremony!" Asmodeus said, turning to William, who, breathing heavily, nodded.
"...But... wasn't that five years ago?" Charlie asked in confusion, to which Asmodeus simply ignored her words, waving a hand at William with a laugh.
"Oh-ho-ho...! If only you could see how the Mighty and Powerful Satan fits at a small pink table with a tiny teacup in his hands!" Asmodeus laughed, nodding at William and an awkwardly smiling Charlie. "Simply hilariously adorable!"
"...I'm glad you and Zephyr managed to find common ground..." Charlie cautiously began, stepping around her uncle and sitting next to William, casting a quick glance at the still-sleeping goat-like creatures.
"With whom?" Asmodeus genuinely seemed puzzled, to which Charlie only sighed.
I'm back, and by the way, I'm offended that no one wrote MORE, and thanks Nathan for subscribing, it's only for you that I got up and translated!!!!.