The Devil's Office

9: An Incoming Message

          Shahmeel and Beelzebub quietly waits for Anato's presence in the dining room. "The food's going to be cold soon. Where is she?" Beelzebub said. "I don't know, I'll go check out." Shahmeel said and stood up. "It's fine, it's best if you take your breakfast first. I'll go call her. " Beelzebub said and went out of the dining room. He went to the fourth floor, where Anato's room was located. He then proceed in front the door and knocked. "Anato? Are you all done?" He asked. There was no respond, he slowly opens the door and looked inside. "Anato?" He called out again, there was no one inside. He closed the door and checked the other rooms, but still Anato wasn't anywhere to be found. Coincidentally, Mammon went out from the fifth floor. "Brother, have you seen Anato?" Beelzebub asked. "Isn't she helping in the garden?" He answered. "She's already done with that, I'm trying to call her before her meal gets cold." Beelzebub explained. "The garden was the last time I've seen her." Mammon said. "I see, never mind then. I guess she has to take her meal cold." Beelzebub said and went off.  Mammon quiets down in his own thoughts and proceed with his business. As he walk towards the library, he saw a bunch of boxes left in the middle of the hall. "Mm?" He mumbled. It was Leviathan's boxes from awhile ago. "Wow, how irresponsible can you be?" He said to himself. He looked at the storage room beside him, there was a key left hanging in the doorknob. He then opened the door and have a look inside. At that moment, he saw Leviathan cherishing Anato's head as she sleeps on his shoulder. "Mm? Brother!" Leviathan greeted in joy as he realises the door open. Mammon was provoked by the scene his witnessing, he was outrage to see Anato sleeping beside the very least person he suspected she would lean on. At the same time, Anato awoke from her slumber. She looked at Mammon, who was also staring at her and quickly stood up. "Thank you for opening the door for us." She said nervously, still not able to look him in the eyes. "See? I told you someone will find us." Leviathan said to Anato. "What are you two doing here, alone?" Mammon asked while maintaining his calm demeanor. "The door got jammed all the sudden and we can't seem to open it." Anato answered. "Oh really? Is that true, Leviathan? This wonky, old door suddenly got jammed." Mammon said as he look at Leviathan, who was smiling innocently. "Yeah, it was my fault for not making sure the door was open before we went inside." Anato explained. "It's fine, it wasn't your fault. I'd say the person who went in first is to blame." Mammon said. "Yeah, don't worry about it Anato. Accidents happen, you should go on now. You look tired." Leviathan said to her. "Okay." She said and awkwardly pass Mammon. Then it was the two of them left. "Playing innocent again, are we brother?" Mammon said. Leviathan chuckled. "I don't know what you mean." He said and went out of the room, he carried the boxes. "If you excuse me, I need to carry this boxes inside." Leviathan said and went back inside. Mammon quietly looks at him and walked away. As he entered the library, he quietly sat down on the couch near the wide window and open his book. He sighed heavily, the thought of Anato laying on Leviathan was too much for him to bare. "Leviathan doesn't deserve her trust." Mammon said to himself.

          Anato entered the dining room after taking care of her business. There was no one but a meal with aside of a sign written her name. She sat down and open the cover, it was steak prepared fancily. "It's cold, but I bet you it will taste as delicious as it was hot." Beelzebub, who was standing by the wall spoke as he sat down in front of her. "Sorry, I got stuck in the storage room with Leviathan awhile ago." She apologized. "Storage room? Wow, I forgot that room existed." Beelzebub said. "Oh, well apparently Leviathan needed to put boxes inside that room. But the door jammed and we couldn't get it open, so we had to wait for help." She explained. "Leviathan couldn't get it open?" Beelzebub said. "Yeah, he has no powers right. I kinda felt pity that he's the only one who didn't have it, it's quite unfair. He--" "--If you excuse me, I have somewhere to be. Please enjoy your food." Beelzebub smiled and left the room. As he exit, he crosses his arms.That's odd. Leviathan doesn't have powers? He contemplated. Coincidentally, Leviathan went out from the third floor and proceed towards the opposite direction. Beelzebub quickly went towards him and wrapped him arm on Leviathan's shoulder. "Brother!" Beelzebub exclaimed. "Yo." Leviathan said. Then they continued walking. "Where're you going?" Beelzebub asked. "Going to Satan's chamber. I need entertainment." Leviathan said. "Why don't you read your books?" Beelzebub asked. "I've finished all of the new stock, I'm trying to convince Satan to fetch some new books from the human world." Leviathan said. "Convince? Why would you convince him? Don't you have powers that could manipulate one's mind?" Beelzebub said. Leviathan chuckled. "I don't have powers now, brother. I'm just a powerless demon, cursed by his own brother." Leviathan said. "Are you serious?" Beelzebub asked. "Yup." Leviathan agreed. "When did it happen?" Beelzebub asked. "Just recently." Leviathan answered. "What did you do?" Beelzebub asked. "Well, it started as a prank but turn dark with just a blink of an eye." Leviathan answered. "Jeez, why would you even prank Lucifer? You know he's the type who doesn't get jokes." Beelzebub said. "I thought it was funny." Leviathan said. Beelzebub chuckled. "It is quite funny." Beelzebub said. "Great that I could be your entertainment." Leviathan said. "Don't be so down about it, anyway how was it? Getting stuck with Anato?" Beelzebub asked. "Normal, I guess." Leviathan said. "Yeah right, knowing the person you are. I wouldn't believe you wouldn't do anything to her, just tell me a little bit. Did you get a peek inside?" Beelzebub said, getting closer to Leviathan's ear. "Hey, what do take me for, some pervert? I'm not like Asmodeus, okay." Leviathan said. "Come on, just a little cleavage?" Beelzebub asked. "Well okay, just a little bit. But that's all." Leviathan said. "I knew it." Beelzebub said and chuckled. "What is this cleavage I'm hearing?" Asmodeus said as he entered from the first floor. "Nothing." They said. Then silence came blowing around them, Asmodeus stared at them suspiciously. "Cook for me, brother." Asmodeus said and pulled Beelzebub's collar. "Ack-- Help-- I can't--" Beelzebub struggled to speak as he's being pulled. Leviathan looked at them and continued towards the first floor where Satan's room is located.

          The night arrived, Anato was on her way to visit Belphine whom she hasn't met since the ritual. She reached the lobby and stopped for a moment, when realising that it will take a long time to arrive Belphine's chamber. She felt scared to continue down due to being lost the last time. Then, a wind blew her hair away from aside of her. She turn towards where the wind came from to see the front door open wide as if someone forgot to close it back. Anato went near the door and shut it close. "That's weird." She said to herself. Coincidentally, the door opened in the corner of the room, it was Lucifer. "Mm? Anato, what brings you here in the lobby?" Lucifer asked. "Oh, I was about to go visit Belphine, but just scared of getting lost again." Anato said and chuckled awkwardly. "I see. Well then, I can accompany you if you want me to." He said. "Can you? You're not busy?" Anato asked. Lucifer smiled and went near the stairs heading down. "Let's go." He said and continue. Anato followed beside him. "Thank you, I'm sorry for asking too much." Anato said. "Don't be, it's never your fault things like this happen." Lucifer said and gave a warm smile to her, she felt slightly relieved. "Anyway, I didn't hear anything from you ever since the ritual. I take that it didn't work." Lucifer said. "Yeah, I couldn't remember anything besides my death." Anato said. "So, how did you died?" He asked. "I hanged myself." Anato said. "That's quite unexpected." Lucifer said. "It's not a surprise for me, I've had that feeling I died by killing myself." Anato said. "How did you know?" Lucifer asked. "I don't know, it's just a feeling." Anato said. "I see." Lucifer said. Suddenly, Anato felt a presence of someone coming upstairs. She stopped walking, Lucifer stopped as well and turn towards her. "Are you okay?" He asked. "Someone is coming." Anato said while looking downstairs. Suddenly, a bright light shun from below. It was a combination of a million flashlights. Lucifer look at the direction she was facing, he was surprise to see the light as well. Slowly, the light grew closer and brighter, they await for the light. It didn't felt like danger, rather a spilling peaceful vibe can be felt around. They stood quietly. Suddenly, Lucifer collapse on the floor, Anato instantly catch him but was unable to carry his heavy body. She got caught in the fall and they rolled down the spiral stairs, she quickly grabbed the stairs' fence while holding onto Lucifer. "Ahh.. " She mumbled in pain, she sprained her ankle and her back hurts. She stabilize her position and sat down down properly. "Lucifer." She shakes him, then realise his hands were rashing up. "Lucifer!" She said in a higher tone. All the sudden, the bright light grew closer that it blinded Anato's vision. She closed her eyes tightly, but still it was very bright. She felt a warm grasp on her hand, then it became dim. Slowly, she open her eyes to see a man in white pajamas was standing below her. She then realised Lucifer was gone. "W-where's.." She said while looking around. "He's safe, don't worry. It must've hurt falling awhile ago." The man said. She looked at the man's face, he had a kind demeanor. He gave a merciful stare in her eyes. "I-I'm okay." She said and tried to stand up. The man helps her get on her feet. "W-who are you?" She asked. "I'm Uriel, and you must be Anato Fuda." He smiled. "How did you know?" She asked nervously. "Just guessing. If I may, are you heading to Belphegor?" He asked. "Y-yes." She said. "That's great, I would like to meet him as well. But it seems like he's not in his room. So I thought he's somewhere around this house." He said. "She's in her room." Anato said. "Could you let me meet him?" He asked. "Why would you like to meet her?" She questioned. "I would like to deliver him the message from our Father." He said. She quiets down, doubting if she should help this stranger. Who is this Fathe- She stopped in fear this man could hear her talk as well. "I'm Archangel Uriel, God's right hand. I'm here not to harm you, but just to announce our Father's message to Belphegor." He said gently. "What's an Archangel?" She asked. "Well, we're just fellow workers in heaven." He said. "Do you promise to not hurt them?" She asked. "I promise." He said while rising his palm. She quietly looks at him in suspicion, he just smiles innocently.