The Devil's Playmate

TWENTY-SEVEN

   "Where are the drinks? Since when were we so family friendly?"

Lilith's perched up right next to Benjamin, her arm slung around his shoulders. He was silent, internally panicking over the thought of Lilith being here with him. She glares over at Nisroch.

"Where are they?"

"Uh, You know we don't drink during court. Behemoth might beat me up if I go against the rules."

"Why not? Today is a day of celebration! Benjamin here gets the chance to pick any of you lucky fools to be his friend!"

Lucifer glares. "What are you talking about?"

"I gave Benjamin a book so that he can choose a friend. You were supposed to help him out, not be his actual option... which is unfortunate, but do not worry everyone! I'm here to set the record straight despite the confusion," Lilith claims with a large smile. "I am giving the opportunity for everyone to have a chance and become this little cutie's partner-"

"Me!" Eligos shouted from his section, standing up with his hand raised. "I deserve him!"

"Sit down, boy. You don't deserve shit if you haven't finished up my load of work," his "boss",  Fleurety, barked at him.

Eligos was yanked down by one of his acquaintances who also worked under Fleurety. Purson gave the empress a nervous smile before trying to shush Eligos, who still yelled at Lilith.

The empress blinked. "Oh, my. I didn't know you were close with Eligos. Very nice. He's a good option, Benjamin. But I do have to say that I'm a little biased and would tell you that Belial is also a good option."

Belial preened, turning to face Benjamin with high expectancy. There were note cards in his hands, all of them scribbled on with small bouts of gratitude if Benjamin ever decided to change his mind and chose him.

Belphegor stood up and said, "Hold on! I-If you're actually being honest, then I want him! Give him to me, Lilith! I promise you that I'll take really good care of him! We'll have sleepovers every night in my realm."

Mammon retorts, "I doubt that'll come to pass."

"Shut up!"

Satanachia, one of the Six Great Lords, looked down at his subordinates. Pruflas, Aamon, Barbatos and Astaroth, each of them wearing his own special sigils.

Satanachia questioned, "You are under Benjamin's authority up in the human world. Do you not want to take this chance and be his lifetime companion, Prince Astaroth-"

"No! Absolutely not! I'm already scared of seeing him every day at school, but to be his friend?" Astaroth nearly gagged. "Even if you offered me the chance to sit on top of the master's throne, I will not be his partner! I'm scared of him."

"Cowardly as ever, aren't you? Don't you think it's time to grow some balls?"

Astaroth looked across the large meeting hall and saw Valefor, a demon under another one of the Six Great Lords, Sargatanas. Valefor struggled pushing off a succubus from his lap until she sneered and bared her fangs, just daring him to make her sit on the floor since there was no other seat.

"Please try to keep your pets well-mannered," Satanachia sighed over to Sargatanas.

Sargatanas snorted, "It's not like Valefor is wrong."

"Wait! I want him as well!"

"Put your hand down, Ronove. He doesn't know you."

"He knows of the Ars Goetia. I'm the twenty-seventh member! I think I'll treat him a lot better than anyone else."