I, Devil (a love story)

Chapter Seventeen: Adramelech

Hell is a many layered, complicated organ. It isn't a place but a vibration, a state of being. It is both hot and cold, empty and bustling. There is no better king of Hell than me. Azazel, Lucifer, whatever you want to call him, didn't so much quit as step-aside. Hell has many rulers, and I am the best of them.

We don't experience time here the same so Azazel likes to say he was the ruler of Hell in the ancient world-- and I am the Devil of the modern age, but that isn't totally accurate. Azazel has permissions that I do not so he is always seen as the ruler of Hell. But, I keep the machine rolling. I keep the wheels oiled and the trains running on time. I like to make Hell a painful experience. Something to remember.

It is hard to describe my day. I am organized. I focus nearly all of my energy on becoming larger. My ultimate plan is-- or was, to consume Azazel. Ultimately, I planned on being the largest Devil and the only one left. Then, I planned to rival God.

I first concocted my plan by making my personality, my identity, focused on efficiency. I consumed my smaller brothers-- other angels who saw the wisdom in my plan and we allied our consciousnesses together. Then, I invented money. I realized that I could commodity sexuality by actualizing on the human male's desire to dominate. It was this idea that made me large. I spent most of humanity's timeline perfecting money. Sex and money. Everything came down to sex and money. I am the Devil of desire, rage, and cash.

I rival Azazel in the size of my consciousness. I don't spend a lot of time on drama or Azazel's diva bullshit. When Azazel was king, Hell was just about stroking his ego. Everything was chaotic. With me, we have had fire and sulfur. I gave humans something to fear. I gave demons jobs to do. I ignored my brothers unless they were going to serve me.

Being so large, I've had to keep my boundaries of consciousness clear. If I consume a consciousness and it is not congruent with my personality, I cut it off and it becomes its own being. It becomes a demon, a god, or whatever. I've made more demons than most of my brothers. My one goal, my singular focus, was to become the largest entity in the universe. I draw clear boundaries between, 'is it me, or is it not part of me?' ... if it isn't, I let it go to rot in the wastes of the universe and become something else.

I didn't have time for Azazel. I never do. I am far busier than he is. When he made a 'formal request for private discussion among kings,' I... didn't care. I didn't want to make deals with Azazel. I didn't want to discuss anything with my brother. Unless he was going to allow me to eat him and chew on his knowledge of the inner workings of the universe, I didn't want it. I didn't want him.

Of course, Azazel is desirable since he has a clearer understanding and access to manipulating time. Time is not something I have. I have money, but I don't have time. So, when Azazel comes knocking on my door, he likely wants something. He probably has a pet project, some human in need. Once in a while, my brother goes on a kick where he thinks he is a good guy, or can become a good guy. He wants back in God's good graces-- whatever that means.

We have different agendas. I began to wonder more and more about what he wants. He wants to become the largest consciousness in the universe, no doubt, just like I do, but neither one of us is going to budge on who is the dominant one. We can never merge. We have tried to hash out a good contract, a good agreement, but it is never correct enough. Because I must be on top. Plus, Azazel is so scattered and nervous. A part of me doesn't even want his neurotic thoughts anywhere near my being. I would feel tainted.

Plus, I hate the idea of merging with him.

I didn't know where to meet. I know what Azazel likes. I know he prefers a human avatar, which means a room. Which means clothes, a face, and decorations and an atmosphere. I must conjure scenery, a setting. Plants, maybe? Walls? What kind of walls do angels pretending to be human like? I always like red. Red is my color.