The Beginning Of An End

Chapter 24

Days rolled into weeks and the snow hadn't stopped falling at any point whatsoever. The morale amongst the demons had significantly shifted over the course of a few weeks due to the seemingly upcoming doom. It was interesting watching the demons suddenly losing confidence in our leader. With the imminent apocalypse, even the Devil was flailing and just doing whatever seemed like a good idea without much thought.

Meanwhile, I had spent most of my time without moving from a chair in the casino and was just consuming alcohol. Bereft of allies save for Belial, whose whereabouts still remained unknown, I reveled in solitude amidst the gathering storm. Everything was falling apart before our very eyes - Astaroth was dead and the snows of Asgard were blanketing Hell.

For the past few days, I had began finding joy into making parties every day and practicing in only taking in human alcohol. The parties grew more extravagant overtime, fueled by copious amounts of said alcohol and an atmosphere of unbridled abandon. The demons who frequented my parties, drawn to the allure of fleeting pleasure in the face of impending oblivion, reveled alongside me. Lustful encounters with fellow demons served as a welcome distraction, further obscuring the specter of the end that loomed ever closer on the horizon. To those around me, I became a beacon of optimism amidst the darkness, a symbol of defiance in the face of inevitable destruction.

There was a good side to it all though. The more I had sunk into the full despair and fun-riddled part of me, the more Babylonian the world itself had become. The cheap thrills and vices had encircled the humanity as well and in turn making my power grow. But as the snow was falling here, the ice caps began to melt on Earth and the parts of the world that had never seen snow, saw it too.

As I sat in the dimly lit casino, contemplating the unraveling of all I had known with music blaring, a glimmer of hope flickered within me. Perhaps, against all odds, I would be reunited with Loki once more, at the precipice of the apocalypse. That seemed to be the only thing keeping me going. The only thing that mattered.

And while I was lost in thought and seemingly hopeless optimism, I noticed someone taking a seat across from me on the poker table. I turned my attention to the newcomer and was actually surprised that it was Beelzebub. We hadn't spoken ever since the argument about Mammon's possible future. It was the longest we'd ever spent without talking and I thought it would go on until the end of time but it seemed it wasn't going to be the case.

I didn't say anything, allowing him to be the first one to speak. And so he did.

"I know we haven't spoken in a while. And you'd think I am crazy for saying this but... I think you're right." His eyes locked on me firmly, as if waiting for my expression to soften but frankly, I was far too tired. So, I kept my stoic face, waiting for further explanation. "About Mammon, I mean. I shouldn't have left you to do all this by yourself. I promised I'd be there through it all and I wasn't... and for that I'm sorry."

I did not expect to hear that and I was positively surprised. He definitely got my attention in that moment so I leaned slightly forward.

"Well, I'm glad to hear you say that." I said, still keeping my reservations.

Beelzebub smiled lightly before he continued, "In recent days, I've been rather busy, earning Mammon's trust. And let's just say... you should come with me to my realm."

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued by his words. A small smirk began to play on my lips as I mused, "Is that so?"

"Well, there's only one way to find out." Beelzebub shrugged before standing up. I hesitated for a moment, but my curiosity always seemed to win out, so I rose from my chair too.

We made our way through the corridors of the casino, the sounds of revelry fading into the background. The weight of Beelzebub's words lingered in my mind, and I couldn't help but feel a mix of anticipation and unease. As we exited the castle, the cold air bit at my skin, a stark contrast to the warmth and chaos inside.

"I still can't get used to this weather." I commented as short laughter erupted from me. "Shit, I sound like a human."