Misinformation Can Be Deadly

Chapter 4: Virgil Needs an Explanation Now

CW: black eye, refusal to eat

"I'm sorry, Ro-bro?" Janus asked, looking back at Remus. Now that Virgil was looking over the... demon? He saw he had glowing green eyes, and his brown hair sticking in all directions like a seriously bad case of hat hair, silver stripes in it, though he had a very youthful face and small mustache like a teenager.

Remus slipped through the window completely, letting himself fall to the floor before doing a backwards cartwheel. "This is my brother! I haven't seen him in centuries!" He jumped over to Roman, pulling the growling demon into a one armed hug. "How has Hell been treating you?"

"Very unpleasantly," Roman growled, ducking out from under his arms.

"Yeah no wonder, you look ridiculous." Remus looked him up and down. "You need a new fit."

"A what?"

Remus snapped his fingers and Roman's clothing changed into a more modern fancy jacket, a gray button up with black roses on the bottom of the shirt, and more modern black slacks.

"There, still boring but better," Remus said.

"Do not mess with my clothing you rat tailed ruffian!" Roman clutched his newly formed jacket, but didn't change any of it back.

"Fine, ya Shakespeare head, I was just doing you a favor. And one for my eyes, yeesh! You looked like some kinda history reenactor or something."

"You look like a villain from some epic poem!" Roman shot back, poking his brother's chest.

"Don't I? I got this swishy cape." To demonstrate, Remus grabbed the edge of the cape and twirled in a circle. "Oh, and no one reads epic poems anymore, things have changed. You would know that if you've come to visit every now and then."

"And why do you have the body of a teenager?"

"To match my best buddy!" Remus went back over to Janus, hooking his neck in his arm and pulling him closer.

"Let me go," Janus demanded, squirming out of his grip before fixing his beanie. "There was no need for that." He looked over to Roman again with a suspicious look in his eye. "Why are you here? Demons as powerful as you don't just appear, it had taken me a lot of energy to summon Remus."

"I was summoned here to serve my new m- uh, Virgil," Roman explained, gesturing to the teen who looked like he was about to pass out.

"And what are you doing with a demon?" Janus asked with a guarded look.

"I-I think I need to sit down," Virgil mumbled, leaning against the wall and putting a hand to his face, wincing at the bruise that was forming around his eye.

"I'm pretty sure he's harmless," Remus said. "Virgie isn't the kind to join a cult."

"I don't know, I thought I saw him talking to Cecil earlier today," Janus hissed back.

Roman frowned, walking to be in front of Virgil. "He's not in any cult. Though I did have some fun killing some cultists earlier."

"Ah, let me guess, they thought they could sacrifice someone else to you and they chose Virgil," Remus said. "Makes sense, he's a pretty sad kid. The sadder they are, the better their soul."

"Hey!" Virgil protested.

"What? Your soul is gonna be delicious."

"Remus, that isn't a compliment to humans," Roman reminded him.

Virgil looked back at Janus. "Is there any way to get rid of... my contract with him?"

"You'd have to kill him, but other than that a contract with a demon is forever." Janus's eyes softened slightly. "Sorry, but you're stuck with him. You should rest, I have a feeling this was all a shock to you."

"Yes, and perhaps get something to eat like that other human had suggested," Roman told him.

"I doubt I'll be able to keep anything down," Virgil said.

"Right, demon blood does that."

"Ugh, those cultists probably used their own demons. They're super weak and disgusting little guys," Remus explained. "Their blood tastes horrible."

"I was talking about anxiety in general," Virgil groaned. "I didn't need to be reminded of the demon blood."

Janus made a face of disgust. "Seriously, get some crackers and at least try to get some sleep. If you don't get something in your stomach besides the blood, you're gonna throw up."

Virgil pushed himself off of the wall with a sigh and went over to the pantry. It had a lock with a combination that only the older kids knew since the younger kids would always get in and eat all of the junk food. Virgil quickly put in the combination and opened it, going in and grabbing some food.

Janus reached in and grabbed a chocolate chip granola bar. He opened it and gave Remus the wrapper, who tore a small piece off before eating it. Janus saw the strange look Virgil gave the demon and just shrugged.

"In case you haven't noticed, my demon is more disgusting than yours," he explained, opening the window to the fire escape again.

"Aw Janny, you make me blush!" Remus said, folding his hands together with a soft giggle before going back to his wrapper.

"Right," Virgil sighed as Janus disappeared through the window. He closed the pantry and locked it with the crackers in his hand before making his way back upstairs. He really wanted to shower, but it was far too late and he was far too exhausted so he would have to do it in the morning. When everyone's awake and fighting for the bathroom.

Roman followed him to his room, frowning at how many flights of stairs they went up. It was only three, but he still didn't expect Virgil's room to be up this high with how skinny he was. They passed a flight of stairs where there was talking coming from behind a door, and Roman saw several pictures of younger kids and toys strewn about. The crying kid must be there, as well as whoever else was on this floor.

Virgil pushed his door open, revealing a small room with two empty beds. One side of the room was empty, as if someone had recently moved out, which they did. A poor kid aged out, but Delores had luckily found someone for her to live with. A nice family willing to take care of an 18 year old for a bit till she can get on her own feet. Virgil didn't think he would be that lucky, it was why he had a job. To save up money to live on his own when he turns 18 next month. Delores will try to help him, she always does when a kid ages out, but that is when the state stops paying her for taking care of him.

The other side of the room was filled with smaller things. Dirty clothes thrown carelessly on the floor, a few posters on the wall, a book on the desk that was between the beds as well as a few empty water bottles. There was a small purple cat on the unmade bed, it was old and the fur was matted. There was a single button for one eye, but the other was missing. It was clear that it had been loved well, and Roman couldn't help but imagine a younger Virgil clinging onto it while he slept. Now it was in the far corner against the wall, probably no longer touched.

Virgil took off his jacket and threw it onto the bed along with the crackers, walking over to the mirror. He turned around and lifted the back of his shirt, sighing when he saw the giant scar of a pentagram. He hated being shirtless before, but now there was no way he was going to let anyone see him without a shirt again.

"Oh, apologies for that, usually it's in a place that's well hidden like the back of the hand or on a shoulder, but much smaller," Roman explained.

"And I got a giant one on my back." Virgil pulled his shirt back down. "Lucky me. Well, I never liked showing my body anyway." He walked over to his bed again, moving the crackers onto the desk. He fell onto the bed with a sigh, curling up as he pulled the blanket over himself.

"Are you not going to eat?" Roman asked.

"I'll eat in the morning. I'm tired, and it's been a really long day. Just... I don't know, walk around town or something, unless demons sleep."

"We do not, however that is a fantastic suggestion. I suppose I can learn more about phones and those strange, tall lanterns outside."

"Uh huh, g'night," Virgil mumbled, pressing his face into his pillow.

"Good night, Virgil. Sleep well, and I do mean that."