A Devil with an Angel's Heart

Chapter 33

||Kate

You were sitting in the garden, back against a tree, enjoying the sun and reading a book, waiting for the old man to arrange for Mondatta to return to Aswan. The boy was currently sleeping, curled up next to you, head in your lap. Your group had returned to the castle, having to give up looking for Dio's mansion for now. Since Mondatta couldn't tell you either, his brother had always gone alone to meet Dio, only once had Dio come to see Mondatta and that was on their first encounter...Why was Stroheim taking so long. Waiting for his message that all the preparations were made and the one you had asked to come was ready to be delivered, drove you crazy but you also knew that it did take time. Your helper was a master in staying hidden when someone was looking for him. If you were in hell you'd have him come crawling to you, but you were here- in the human world. Besides, there was so much to do, you didn't have the time to go and get him yourself.
Mondatta stirred, waking up from his nap and you realised you hadn't turned a single page.
"Did you sleep well?", you asked.
Mondatta seemed a bit embarrassed but answered anyway, "...Yes."
"Good. Listen, I've got a few things to take care of. You can come with me, if you want or you can stay and play with my little cousins or something.", you offered.
"Nope, I wanna come with you.", Mondatta answered hastily, turning red right after. You patted his head, "All right."
So, you got up, and left for your father's office. There was still a new animal you had yet to see.

||Joseph

He joined his Egyptian friend on the terrace for some tea. Jotaro and Polnareff were there, too. The teen had pulled his hat into his face and was sleeping while Polnareff messed around with Iggy. From the terrace, one had a wonderful overview of the garden and the forest. As he was stirring his tea, he spotted movement at the border of the forest. So, that's where Kate had been. The group had stopped looking for Dio's hideout for today. Kate promised it would take just one night to find Alastair Thorne and deactivate the memory spell currently hiding away Dio's manor. So, for now, they had no other choice than to trust the girl and belief that whoever she gave the task to, would find it swiftly.
As Joseph watched Mondatta following Kate towards them, he wondered just who she was gonna ask.
"It's amazing.", Avdol broke the silence.
"What is?", inquired Joseph.
Avdol nodded towards Kate, "How she picks up friends and allies everywhere she goes. Look at Mondatta. He's so scared and shy, distrustful even, and yet, he's been glued to her side since we found him."
"Well, she did save his life.", mentioned Polnareff, "Though, I still don't quiet understand why we should trust him. Why did she bring him here?"
"If Kate says it's fine, it most likely is.", hummed Jotaro.
"She also said that brat used to work for Dio.", retorted the French.
"Once again, you didn't listen.", explained Avdol, "She said he was deceived by Dio, which in all honesty is no surprise, and that Mondatta himself never actually attacked us."
"But why trust him?", inquired Polnareff further.
"I took a look at his soul.", Kate's voice came from near the steps leading into the garden. Polnareff opened his mouth to ask but Kate already answered, "I used Lucifer's powers, with them I can see the soul and heart of a person. Depending on how they shine, I can see whether they are good or evil and how much they've been corrupted. It often helps when looking for a appropriate punishment. Some of the most powerful angels like Michael, for example, have the same ability, but they usually try to see whether that person can be helped and healed or if they're a lost cause and can not be redeemed before the end of their life. Even, if a person is beyond hope, angels still try to help them, to at least lessen the punishment a bit....Typical."

"How many pacts do you have?", Mondatta asked before anyone else could say anything.
"Ten. Compared to Solomon's fourty it's not much, but I have the entire elite, only the best of the best. Only the strongest demons get to make a pact with me!", Kate happily answered, oozing with pride.
"Who and what are their powers?", Mondatta's eyes shone. Kate had won another fan.
"Let's see. There's of course The Seven Brothers, starting with Lucifer. He's the oldest of us all. As I just mentioned his power is to look into a person's heart and soul. Then there's Mammon, Avatar of Greed. With him by your side there ain't no chance you lose a gamble, ever. Fortune and riches will come to you. Then there's Leviathan, Avatar of Envy. He gets insecure easily and needs constant reassurance. But he's the owner of Lotan, the sea serpent, and Admiral of Hell's Navy. Then, there's also Satan, Avatar of Wrath. He's got a lot in common with Lucifer, but don't you ever tell them! They don't really get along most of the time. Satan get's angry easily and trust me you don't want to be faced with his wrath. His get's extremely strong and his spells turn even more destructive. Destroying stuff is Satan's speciality. Once he's angry, only cats can calm him down, he loves nothing more. Understandable though, cats are so cute! Anyway, next would be Asmodeus...He's the Avatar of Lust, he's extremely narcissistic and thinks he's the most beautiful out there. His power is to charm people, but frankly put, he seduces them. Only a few can withstand that power, his manipulation of the mind. I'm lucky to count myself amongst them. Next would be the twins, Beelzebub, and Belphegor. Beel is the Avatar of Gluttony, his hunger never ends. He's actually devoured an entire restaurant before! And he's extremely strong. Physically, I mean. Once he asked us all to sit on his back to add some extra weight while he did some push-ups. No wonder he's constantly hungry, if you ask me."; Kate giggled, then continued, "With his powers it becomes possible to eat anything. Your stomach will be able to handle everything... except for Solomon's cooking. No, really, his cooking may look delicious, but it should be considered a lethal weapon. And Belphi, well, he's the Avatar of Sloth. He sleeps, all the time. With his powers I can put people to sleep, for several days straight and nothing will wake them up.", Kate explained and Mondatta's eyes lit up more with every word she spoke.
"But that's only seven!", complained the boy.
"Calm down, I'm not done yet. The other three would be Barbatos, his Majesties, Lord Diavolo's, loyal butler, Mephisto and Diavolo himself.", Kate continued.
"Wow! You made a pact with the Lord of Hell?!", Mondatta exclaimed.
"Well, yes...Anyway, Mephisto has the ability to learn and copy anything in an instant. An attack, an unknown spell...anything. Barbatos is the guardian of time, he can see the future, the present and the past. He doesn't use this ability most of the time. He says that would be boring and time is not something to be meddled with. He made me promise that I would not use his powers unless absolutely necessary.", Kate explained further and Joseph listened intently, finding this extremely interesting. Kate never truly spoke of the demon's powers. But he also felt that there was still a part she didn't reveal.
"And Diavolo,", meanwhile Kate continued, "he has the ability that's called the Emperor's Eyes. This ability forces anyone he looks at to speak the truth and follow orders, if given some."
"Stop bragging!"
One of Kate's many cousins joined them.
"I'm not! You wanna see bragging?! Here, this- this is bragging!", Kate faked outrage, before letting all her pact marks glow and showing them off by striking several poses. Only seconds later they laughed and brushed it off.
"I must admit that I'm jealous, though.", sighed the cousin, if Joseph remembered right, her name was Pearl and Kate's partner when going on missions.
"How so?", wondered Kate.
"Well, you have such a strong connections with your demons you can take on their demon form, you're the strongest mage ever, broke most magic related records at the age of thirteen, lead an entire army and have the right to sit on hell's throne! Oh, and not to mention, you took over your mother's position as the Beast Master in this family!....", Pearl paused for a moment before continuing, "Sometimes, it feels like you're so far ahead in life, you know. You easily overshadow us all. I see you out on the field, getting to do all these cool things during our missions, and don't get me wrong, it's a pleasure working with you, it's a great feeling to see how we function as a team and I'm happy to be your eyes and ears giving you all the information and directions and what not from here, but...I wanna be on the field, too! I wanna do what you do! Whenever I see you guys training in the arena I'm so jealous cause I want to be out there, too, but I also know that I could never keep up with you. So...I think I should stay where I am, on the bridge, assisting you. I feel like I'll just be a hindrance to you and the others. I'll never be as great as you are, Kate. I-"
*SMACK*
Pearl stood there stunned, holding her cheek, staring at Kate with wide eyes. Joseph had been startled himself, Avdol spilled his tea, Polnareff stared at the two girls and even Jotaro had sat up from his nap. Kate had slapped her cousin so hard a red handprint was left on the girl's cheek.
"Never say that again! You hear?!", Kate insisted, grabbing Pearl by the shoulders, "You wanna join the field-staff? Do it! You'll never know if you're good enough if you never try! We all were beginners at some point!"
"You should join us later.", Kate added after a short moment of silence, then removed Pearl's hand from her cheek inspecting the handprint. She then reached into her pocket and handed something over to Pearl.
"Here, put this on your cheek, it should lessen the pain."
As Pearl moved to give it back, Kate refused, saying she would need it in the future.