The Beginning Of An End

Chapter 5

Throughout the entire night, my mind was filled with so many summonings made by people but at the very least, I didn't think about anything else. I decided to be inside my room for as long as I could so as not to attract any attention. Surprisingly no one bothered me either so I was finally at peace. But the hour of the ceremony was approaching and I had to be there. Unwillingly, I opened my eyes slowly, breaking through my meditative state. A commotion could already be heard all around the castle, everyone seemingly excited to be there. The more time was passing the less I felt like I was representing the type of a demon I should've been. Although, considering the recent events, I wasn't really too much of myself either way. On the other hand, if the apocalypse was approaching, I may as well enjoy the rest of my days.

I rose from the bed and conjured in my mind the image of a formal demon attire. In an instant, I found myself clad in a sleek black shirt complemented by a vibrant red necktie. Opting for a more relaxed look, I loosened the tie slightly, wanting to avoid appearing too stiff. Stepping up to the mirror on the opposite side of the room, I rolled up the sleeves of my shirt to my elbows, knowing they would otherwise bother me throughout the evening.

In a moment of inspiration, I envisioned a flowing maroon red cape draping elegantly from my shoulders, its raised collar adding an air of mystery suitable for a masquerade. Gazing at my reflection, I observed my pale face which had definitely seen better days. With a subtle adjustment of my short black hair, I added a touch of style before summoning a plague doctor mask into my palm.

A smile tugged at the corners of my lips as I regarded the mask, one of my favorite human fashion pieces. Not only would it lend an air of intrigue to my ensemble, but it would also allow me to blend seamlessly into the crowd, concealing my identity from prying eyes. With a final glance in the mirror, I donned the mask, admiring the transformation it brought, before departing the room, ready to embrace the festivities of the evening.

The hallways were empty, the faint echoes of distant revelry signaling that the majority had already congregated in the grand hall. It struck me as curious how many demons chose to gather during this time of year, despite harboring such disdain for our leader. It led me to the sobering conclusion that many of them were either lying or simply hypocritical in their sentiments.

One might question why demons held such animosity toward the very being who had brought them into existence. The answer, however, was remarkably straightforward: our leader had begun to mirror his own father from the realm beyond. The irony was not lost on me. After all, it seemed that an apple never fell too far from the tree. It was a classic tale of transformation—of watching oneself evolve into a figure one despised. Unfortunately, the Devil remained steadfast in his dominion, much to the frustration of many among us.

I walked downstairs into the big hall, the many demons already chattering between each other almost happily. Seeing all of them like this made me realize that maybe they weren't here for the Devil, they were there just for themselves. It was mostly the lower ranks that were excited to be there as they were the only ones who had to work much harder than any of us. The Devil was known to give them a lot of errands that required a lot of strength and power.

I was able to recognize most of them and as I was trying my best to push through the crowd, I collided with someone. I looked up only to see a gigantic head of a fly used as a mask which made me gasp and stagger backwards. I quickly calmed down as I realized that this could be only one demon - Beelzebub. He could've chosen a less terrifying mask, that was true. He had his arms across his chest and refused to move as he kept staring down at me with the huge green eyes.

"You seem mad." I noted.

"You have such a good eye!" He retorted sarcastically before telling me to follow him as he turned around and started walking through the crowd. We arrived at a small bar table tucked away in a corner of the hall. Nearby, positioned next to the expansive windows, a long table displayed an array of mouth-watering foods that looked as tantalizing as they smelled. The aromas wafting from the dishes were irresistible. Beelzebub was truly a master chef.