Weeks had passed since the apocalyptic madness began, and somehow, I'd made peace with the ridiculous truth: I was destined to commit the greatest sin in existence. Glorious, right? Out of all the billions of people on Earth—me. Just me. The universe's favorite little chew toy.
I sat at the breakfast table, staring blankly at my plate. The eggs were too yellow. The toast was too dry. Everything was too… normal. A cosmic joke, considering the seven embodiments of sin loitering behind me like a pack of dark, handsome gremlins.
Beel tugged my sleeve like a needy puppy. "Please… just a little bite~"
"No. My mom's literally right there," I hissed under my breath.
"Rina? Is something wrong?" Mom tilted her head, sipping the last of her coffee. Her eyes squinted, concern etched between her brows. "You look pale. Are you sick?"
"Are you?" Mammon raised his eyebrows at me. Out of nowhere, he puts a palm over my overhead and stares at me.
I gulped.
"Hm, you're warm."
"O-Of course I am!" I blurted out of nowhere, causing my mom to look at me with a weird face.
"Are you okay sweetheart?"
I put away Mammon's palm and lowered my head. I could feel my cheeks burning.
W-Why did he suddenly touch me like that?!
"Sweetie"
"Yup. I'm fine. No need to worry."
Mom stood, grabbing her bag. She rushed over, planting a kiss on my forehead. "No school today. No parks. No nonsense. I'm serious. The sky screamed blood last week, sweetie. I'm not trusting the world just yet."
"I'm eighteen," I groaned.
"And I'm still your mother." she left, slamming the door behind her like a mic drop. "Your dad and I won't be home tonight since we'll be visiting your grandma. Do you want to come?"
I pursed my lips.
I do want to come.
But grandma doesn't like me very much.
"I-It's fine. You guys can go. I'll take of the house."
My mom smiled and planted me a kiss. "Alright darling, I'm off."
My mom left shortly. It was a relief that the demons could make themselves invisible. Now I don't have to worry about explaining why seven men are in my house.
People are definitely gonna think the wrong idea.
"So, are you guys seriously just squatting here now?" I asked, arms crossed.
"Probably," Lucifierre shrugged, spinning a spoon like it was a sword.
"I can help you with your college activities," Mammon said, adjusting his glasses with pride. "And your bank account. Greed's specialty."
"I can eat leftovers~!" Beel chirped.
"I can silence anyone who bullies you," Levi offered, disturbingly calm.
"I can teach you... adult things," Asmodeus purred, sidling up to me.
"Don't make me do anything," Belphegor yawned, already lying down on the carpet.
"I could eradicate the human race if I'm bored enough," Satania muttered from the kitchen counter.
I sighed.
"I guess you'll all be useless then."
I rolled my eyes and turned around to return to my room, but the seven of them continued to trail behind me like dogs.
"Except me, right?" Mammon flashed a grin.
"Well if you're going to be staying here, you gotta at least do something in this house. I can't let you live here rent-free! What am I, your mother?!"
"We can all do our thing but that'd be a problem for Satania." Lucifierre smirked. "He breaks stuff. And people."
I sighed, throwing my arms in the air. "Satania, you cook?"
His red eyes slid open. "I could cook you and feast on you."
I rolled my eyes.
"I can make you a woman, Yuriko~" Asmodeus winked, curling a strand of my hair around his finger. "That's my help!"
"No thank you."
"Gross," Lucifierre groaned, slapping Asmodeus's head. "Stop leaking your freak pheromones."
"Pheromones?"
"Demonic essence," Mammon said, fixing his cufflinks. "It's how we influence mortals. Like fear. Or lust."
"Well, Asmodeus, kindly take your sex fumes elsewhere." I waved my hand like swatting flies.
"Bring me wine," Belphegor groaned without looking up.
"What am I, your maid?"
"So the human disobeys..." he stood—towering, drowsy, and terrifying. "You are… so..."
I flinched. "So what?"
"…Ordinary." He rolled his eyes. "Why did Father even care?"
I gritted my teeth. "Get your own damn drink."
"Do you want me to burn your house down?"
"Wine. Got it."
I shuffled to the kitchen like a defeated soldier, but something in the air shifted.
He was already there.
Satania stood by the counter, arms folded, eyes closed like a statue carved from night. His presence made the lights seem dimmer, like shadows bowed toward him without permission.
I ignored him.
Bad move.
"Human."
"Hm?" I replied, pretending to search the cabinet. Every part of me screamed to not look. His eyes? They saw things. Stripped things. Made you doubt your soul existed.
"The scent of that boy lingers on you. Where is he?"
My stomach dropped.
Hans.
"Was it you?" I confronted him. "Was it you who hurt Hans?"
Satania tilted his head. "Just me?"
I stepped back, heart hammering in my chest.
"You hurt him, didn't you? The skies didn't just turn like that for no reason."
"I suppose some of my servants broke off the Gates when we left for here. It should make a job for the angels to get rid of them."
Servants... does he mean other demons?
He walked closer, slow, ominous.
"You're shaking."
"W-What..?"
I hadn't noticed that I was already trembling at his presence. I quickly averted my gaze away, knowing that if I interacted with him further- I waltz into his trap.
"Does my manifestation threaten you so much that your mind collapses?" his voice was cruelly smooth.
"N-No..." I murmured, trying to breathe.
"Did he scare you?"
"No…" My throat clenched. "B-But you almost tore off his body... you made him suffer-"
His voice dipped into a whisper, right against my ear. "Then should I kill him for you? It's easier... you know?"
My blood ran cold.
"You fear me," he stated flatly. "Good."
A hand reached out, resting atop my head. His touch didn't burn, didn't sting—it was chillingly still, like death waiting.
"Just what I wanted."
"If you hurt him, I'll kick you out. I don't expect you to be concerned of others."
A muscle twitched in his cheek.
"True. They would wither and I couldn't care less."
"Then why do you care if Hans scared me?"
Checkmate.
"This is my house. My realm. You don't own it, and you don't own me." I held up the wine triumphantly. "You want obedience? Earn it."
Lucifierre clapped from the hallway, eyes gleaming. "Incredible feat talking back to my brother like that. I knew you could use some of my pride."
"Thanks," I smirked, while walking off the counter leaving Satania speechless.
The rest of the night spiraled into demonic chaos. Belphegor passed out. Beel tried stealing wine. Asmodeus draped himself over Satania, who kept booting him off like an annoyed cat. Lucifierre chugged like there was no tomorrow. Mammon tried to restore order and nearly tripped over Beel.
"I'm going to bed," I called out.
Mammon bowed. "I'll clean up. Sleep well, young sinner."
"Can I sleep beside her?" Beel asked sweetly.
"Denied." Mammon glared at his younger brother.
I ascended the stairs, oddly comforted by the rowdy chaos behind me. For once, I didn't feel alone.
But halfway to my room—I stopped.
Satania stood in the dark hallway, arms folded, waiting.
"You were just downstairs," I said slowly. "How are you already up here?"
"The crucifix," he said.
I raised my brows, "What about it?"
"Take it to bed with you."
I blinked. "Why?"
He turned to walk away, "And lock the door."