The Heir and The Avatar

The want for a better life

Mammon ran away from the home he shared with his brothers… his brothers… Tears stung his eyes at the idea of them. They weren’t his brothers! They could never be his brothers… Real family wouldn’t hurt him like they did, they wouldn’t beat and insult him constantly for not being smart enough, not being fast enough - not being good enough . Mammon whimpered as he collapsed to the ground a short distance from the gates. He eyed them through his tears - Why should he stay then? Truth was if his brothers didn’t love him, who in the celestial realm would ever care about him at all. He looked down at his bruised, scarred arms littered with an assortment of injuries, why should he stay when there was nothing here for him. Mammon pushed himself up with a determined glare. Maybe it was time to find somewhere that did care.

~*~*~*~

Prince Diavolo of the Devildom, and future Demon King ran with his trusted Steward at his side. He had been having dinner with his father when they had seen something falling from the sky, but as his father corrected him, he had to run to ensure the one who fell from the sky had survived. His Father had needed to grab something before he could join them.

“My lord…” Barbatos called, motioning to where a whimper came from. They hurried over, finding a young male, maybe Diavolo’s age, burnt white feathers littered the ground next to them, as two bat-like wings came from his lower back. But his tanned skin was covered with scars and burns, Barbatos already began to cast healing spells to lessen the fallen’s pain. Diavolo had heard the ideas that angels could fall and become demons, but had never witnessed it - and here he was - having no idea how to help, or whether the newly fallen demon would survive.

“These injuries… were not caused by the fall.” Diavolo looked up as his father joined them along with the few Avatars of sin there were. Astaroth of Sloth, Amdusias of Lust, Baal of Gluttony and Stolas of Envy. They were looking down at the young demon that could only still be classed as a child in terms of both demon and angel ageing.

“Abuse…” Astaroth knelt, resting a hand on the head of the demon, and closing his eyes. “His own family… both of them… This poor child.” He stood and faced the others. “He will need a good family here.”

“He shall stay with us for now.” King Balem frowned, and shook his head. “We shall ask him first, Barbatos, how is the healing going?”

“As well as it can, he will survive. But things may go better if we can get him somewhere more suitable.” Barbatos nodded.

“Then take him to the palace, we can care for him there.” Balem nodded. “Sins, we need to discuss what Astaroth has seen in the child's dreams.” The others nodded in agreement

~*~*~*~
The Avatars of sin sat at their own thrones before the King, Balem was scowling as he read the updates from Diavolo.

“Is the healing still progressing well?” Stolas asked, worry etched into his expression, his familiar sat at the head of his throne hooting softly.

“As well as they could. Barbatos and Diavolo are more concerned of any mental injuries we can’t heal with magic. No angel will fall for no reason, and his injuries…” Balem shook his head. “No one should bare such marks… Astaroth, in his dreams - what did you see exactly?”

“Well, when he fell, this child must have believed he was truly dying, I saw flashes of his life. His first brother, Michael, mentally abused him, emotionally tortured him. Locking him up in the dark - withholding food…” Astaroth scowled at the table before him, “Such abuse… is unthinkable here… and such actions would have resulted in us killing such offenders… but no… the choice of this God was to move him to a different family. And they added Physical abuse to that list. This child has not lived. He simply existed.”