Infernal Academia

Chapter 58 - Trayer's Righteousness: Part 2 (Brass Trayer)

With single-minded purpose, Cobalt marched straight out of the Brimstone Institute of Demonics and down into Brimstone proper, his fists balled and his jaw set with determination.  Deep down, his stomach had tied itself into a dozen knots, each burning with something he couldn't recognise.  Shock?  Frustration?  Denial, even?  He wasn't sure.

He wasn't really sure of anything at that moment.

"Brass Atticus Trayer..." he repeated to himself, over and over as he walked straight down the middle of the road.

Cars and pedestrians alike ground to a halt as the Incubus passed, but he was deaf to their outraged cries and indignant honks.  Far above, the crimson clouds grew darker and more turbulent as the wind rose in temperature.  By the time Cobalt reached his childhood home, the storm was almost upon him.

He shunted the front door open and made a beeline for the living room, where he could hear the sounds of a TV playing.  Throwing the door open, he stepped inside to find his mother sitting on a couch, a glass of red wine clutched in her hand as she watched a movie.  Jezebel Trayer nearly spilled her beverage all over herself as her son burst in.

"S- Snookums!  What are you doing here?  Don't you have work today?" she asked in a surprised tone, checking the clock on the mantelpiece.

"Who was he?!" Cobalt demanded, fists shaking.

He had never felt this angry before, and although he anticipated the answer, he still needed to hear it from her.

Jezebel's eyes widened with confusion.

"Who's who?  Snookums, what are you talking about?  Are you feeling okay?  Do you want me to call-?"

"Brass Atticus Trayer!"

Jezebel's voice caught dead in her throat as the wine glass almost slipped from her grasp.  Her entire body went rigid as her eyes widened.  Behind her, the Succubus' tail was the only thing that moved; coiling and thrashing with tension.

"Wh- Where did you... How...?" was all she managed to gutter.

"Mom!  Tell me who he is!"

She shook her head slowly as tears welled in her eyes.

"I- I can't... Th- They told me not to... Snookums, I- I...!"

Stepping forward, Cobalt grabbed his mother's shoulders, steadying her and causing some of her wine to splash to the floor.

"Tell me.  Please," he urged softly, teeth gritted.

She took a deep breath.  Once she exhaled, Jezebel's mask of joviality slipped away.  Cobalt was so used to her always smiling and laughing, seeing her like this was almost scary.  Her face darkened and grew more sorrowful as her eyes glinted with haunted wistfulness.  Tears began to roll down her cheeks as she finally opened your mouth.

"Brass... He's my husband... He's your father, snookums..." she said in a small, quiet voice.

Cobalt staggered back, his legs weakened by her words.  

Not once in his life had he ever wondered who his father was.  Why would he; it was normal for Lust demons to be raised by one parent.  It was just something that he expected and accepted.  But now that he was hearing this...

It all made sense.

"B- Brass... The Hellhound... Was my father...?" he breathed.

"Is your father!" Jezebel suddenly snapped.

Cobalt flinched.  He had never seen his mother lose her patience like that.  In kind, the Succubus gasped at her own outburst, and suddenly rushed forward to wrap her son up in a hug.