Barbatos's heart

Raid

ELAINA POV:

Before long the brothers were at the castle, even Mammon. They were all flittering around like a bunch of maniacs. "What's going on?" l called out but no one would answer. Barbatos and Diavolo disappeared with Lucifer in the study while everyone else seemed to be getting ready to head out somewhere. "Beel, what is going on?" I asked again as I held Hazel and pushed Wendy back into the theater to watch her movie in quiet. She didn't need to be around this. Beel didn't answer. He just waved me off and told me to go back into the theater room.

Barbatos reemerged with the other two and joined the brothers. "Barbatos! What is happening." I was a little more than anxious at that moment and needed answers. He looked down at me with so much sadness and fear in his eyes. "I am so sorry." He cried. "I am so sorry I didn't send you away sooner." I was shocked. "What? Send me away? Why would you do that? Why is Diavolo so freaked out about Zeb all of the sudden? Why are you all acting like this? Please talk to me! Don't shut me out anymore." I begged. Barbatos grabbed my hand gently and let me into the theater. "Zeb is not who you think. Zeb is.... Zeb is...." Not him too... "Zeb is what?" I demanded an answer. "Diavolo's father."

I looked at him and scoffed. "Stop." I deadpanned. "Zeb is like our age, or close to it and Diavolo's father is dead. Isn't he?" Barbatos kept his serious face. "No.... No, you never did say he was dead, did you?" I asked. The anxiety building in me told me it could be possible. It all started to make sense. "Y-you're joking... Right? Please, Batey... Tell me you're joking?" "I wish I were." I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Diavolo's father, the most evil man in existence was still alive, he was out, and he had my best friend. He was the reason for the attacks, he was the reason Aurelia was kept prisoner at the castle, he was the reason Diavolo and Barbatos were frantic, and he was the thing that broke us all apart.

"I will open up a portal and you will all go home." Barbatos urged as he led me and the children out into the throne room. "We have to do this now before-" "Before what, Barbatos?" A man's deep voice bellowed. I knew that voice. It was Zeb. "Before I come to destroy your little family? Elaina, lovely to see you again my dear. You look as stunning as ever." He smirked wickedly. I heard a deep, animalistic growl from deep in Barbatos. "Leave her alone!" He snarled. "Oh Barbatos look at you. You have changed! All prim and proper with a wife and children. Who would have thought a monster like you could turn out so well and to marry an angel? Well that's just impressive."

Time seemed to stop as Zeb strode farther into the room. Barbatos had a protective hold on myself and the girls. He was still growling lowly, like a threatened alligator. (ever heard an alligator growl. Its terrifying). "Now, now Barbatos. No need to be so worried. I wouldn't hurt Elaina or your children. I would be more worried about what you would do to them." Zeb chuckled lightly. "I would never hurt my family!" Barbatos snapped back. "Where is Aurelia!?" Diavolo blurted. I was honestly relieved at his outburst. It got the attention away from us for the time being. "Don't move Barbatos! I'm not finished with you yet." Zeb clarified. He slowly made his way over to his son. "Your precious human is safe. More so with me than she has been with you." He laughed. "You were the one who sent those wretched demons after her! You were the one trying to harm her!" Diavolo spit.

"True. When I found out you were trying to create peace between the three realms, well, that really pissed me off! The three realms were created to keep us separate because we were all so different. The stuck up and narcissistic angels, the good for nothing, weak humans that idolize them and the demons. The ones who wouldn't bow down to their bullshit and were cast down to Hell because of it or as you call it now, 'Devildom'. Has a nice ring to it 'Devildom' more like a kingdom and less like pit of death, although I like it better that way. Back to Aurelia though, attacking her wasn't getting me anywhere. You just kept her on a tighter leash each time. It was once I saw what it was doing to her, that I realized that just maybe, I could pull this new plan off. If I could get Aurelia away from you and into my arms, well wouldn't that just break your young heart. I planned on dragging this out a little more but I knew once you heard my voice, you'd catch on. Aurelia is safe in my hideaway, she knows nothing of what's going on and I intend to keep it that way for now. I figured you would try to come find me, but I really missed my home and it was time to come back." His father made his way over to the throne and circled it.

"How did you get in?" Lucifer asked. "Oh, the same way I knew Aurelia was miserable. The same way I knew everything really. Barbatos." Everyone looked at my husband in shock, including myself. "W-what? N-no! I would never! You're lying!" Barbatos snapped. Wendy hugged my leg tightly. I let go of Barbatos and cradled her in my other arm. "What did you do?" I asked him. I was shaking, I was afraid. Something seemed wrong in that moment. Something about him seemed different. "It wasn't his fault really. I just had to find the right strings to pull. You see, Elaina... I'm sure you know by now that magic creates strings that are connected to each other. No matter how long a string has been separated, if you mend it, it can work again. It may not be as strong, but it will do when needed." "What are you trying to say?" I questioned. "He's saying that the magic he used on Barbatos all those years ago is still there. He has been manipulating him. Secretly using him as a puppet and he didn't even know it." Someone explained, but I couldn't pinpoint who. Maybe Satan or Lucifer. I was so focused on Barbatos at that moment. He had gone completely stiff. He was breathing so heavy and his eyes were wide. He was scaring me. "Elaina, Run!!" He yelled. It was the last thing I heard from him before all hell broke loose. I felt a pair of hands grab me, I was being pulled away. Wendy and Hazel were crying. Glass was splayed across the throne room, windows were shattering, demons were breaking in, destroying everything, yelling, charging, and Barbatos was a part of it all.