Barbatos's heart

Wilting Flower

Asmodeus's POV:

Everything was a complete mess! We were attacked at the Demon Lord's castle a few days ago when I found out that my best friend had been taken and seduced by the old king of Devildom aka Diavolo's father. On top of that, Barbatos has betrayed and locked us away in the dungeon. It wasn't necessarily his fault, but I had to be mad at someone for being down here! Not to mention I was livid about Barbatos handling my little flower the way he did! She was his wife, his soulmate but he forgot her because of that old bastard! Elaina was all alone and there wasn't much we could do about it. She had been crying since he locked her away and my brothers and I could only watch as she made herself sick. I figured out early on that I could outstretch my arm to hold her hand from our cell. It wasn't much but she took it. Any consoling, anything I could give her, I would.

Elaina was pale and sickly. She had to have sunlight or some sort of equivalent, like the greenhouse Barbatos built for her. This was not a good environment for an angel, but Diavolo's father knew that. I swear he was trying to kill her. It was too cold down here, too damp, too dark. It was even hard for myself and my brothers to fight off the cold. Luckily, Barbatos wasn't completely heartless when it came to Elaina. Although I didn't know if it was him or "Zeb" controlling the situation. He had brought her down some very thin blankets and brought her food more often then the rest of us.

Barbatos wouldn't speak to her much. He mainly regarded her with disgust, but Elaina never gave up. Everytime he would come into the dungeon, she would try to get him to see reason. She tried to get him to believe that they were, in fact, married and in love. "Why would I ever pledge myself to a conceited, holier-than-thou creature like you?" He spat. Oh, how I wanted to punch him in his smug face! "Batey... Please... What about Wendy and Hazel?" She whispered. He was about to open the door on his way out but once she mentioned the babies, he stopped dead in his tracks, his hand ghosting over the knob. "What?" - "The babies, Barbatos. Our little girls." She replied. I thought something had finally cracked. I thought maybe he had broken the spell. "I don't have children." Barbatos deadpanned. I was wrong. There was no hope there. He had just denied his little princesses.

"Did you see that?" Diavolo pointed out when Barbatos had left. "See what?" I asked. "Barbatos! Something happened. Did no one else notice his reaction when Elaina mentioned the girls?" Maybe I wasn't wrong after all. "I thought I was seeing things. I though the spell broke for a second, but then he just went stone-faced again." I explained. "The spell didn't break, but its possible that it isn't as strong as we thought." Lucifer added. "I thought I felt our connection. It was only for a brief second though. I failed. Nothing will work." Elaina sniveled. My poor Little Flower couldn't catch a break. "I think it can. I think you're the key, Elaina. Maybe your connection is what can break the spell." Lucifer smiled. "I've been trying everyday. I'm tired. There's nothing more I can do right now. I don't have the strength." Elaina cried. That night, we all tried to get some sleep, but I could hear Elaina weeping softly. It hurt me so much to see her like that, so defeated. "Stay positive little flower." I whispered.

I don't know what time it was, but I knew it was late when Barbatos came into the dungeon. Most of us were sleeping but Elaina was still awake, shivering from the cold. I pretended to be asleep so I wouldn't be noticed. Barbatos walked over to her cell and opened the door slowly and quietly. "Here." He whispered softly as he handed her a thicker blanket and a little mug with steam coming out. She just looked at him with wide, tear soaked eyes. "Why?" She asked. "I-I don't know... I just didn't want you to freeze. Okay?" He scoffed. "T-thank you." Barbatos said nothing more and left immediately, leaving Elaina to stare at her new "gifts" with a small smile on her face. Maybe she was starting to win him over after all.