Demons & Dynasty

Chapter 6

I smoothed out my dress and walked downstairs. Lucifer, Mammon, Leviathan, Satan, Asmodeus, Beelzebub, Belphegor, Simeon, Luke and Solomon all stood around the door as the watched me clme down the stairs. Besides some wearing bowties, some wearing ribbons and some wearing neckties, their outfits were splitting images of each other - pitch black suits and paper white shirts. Solomon stepped forward, holding out a hand, "Come on, Y/N, let's do this". I took his hand, I had always been impressed by Solomon, it was nice to have someone to talk to about human things. "Alright, let's do this."
I looked around at my family, all of them staying strong, before we left for Diavolo's castle where the funeral was to be held.

Upon arriving we were greeted by an extremely solemn looking Barbatos, his usual attire replaced with an all-black-suit, black shirt and signature black gloves. "Hello everyone," he spoke, his voice wavering.

"Barbatos," I spoke quietly as I pulled him into an embrace. "We're so sorry. I'm so sorry."
"My dear Y/N, it is not your fault. We're here to celebrate Lord Diavolo, all will be well. Im sure of it." But his tone of voice conflicted his words, his breath hitching as he clearly held back tears.

We proceeded to the garden, pristinely up-kept by Barbatos as usual, I turned to him and complimented the gorgeous red flowers and the delicate hanging vines. "Why thank you Y/N." A small smile was drawn on Barbatos' face and dare I say a slight blush. We turned down a small aisle,  leaving the beauty of the garden to enter a small clearing, empty besides a large tree with a hole in the ground at the foot of it, a coffin and a series of black wooden chairs. I noticed some of the workers from the castle sitting on the chairs at the back, obviously now out of work. My eyes scanned the clearing and, on the front row, next to the aisle was a figure dressed in black like everyone else, but he had a corona of white encasing his body, a perfect parallel to his short white hair. Michael I whispered to myself.
"Yes," Lucifer spike from behind me following my gaze, "that's Michael, and next to him is his maid, Chalkydri, however she more commonly goes by Chalkie. She was very close with Levi while we were in the celestial realm, though they have obviously since grown distant. She is closer with Barbatos now, given their similar situations." He smiled, I knew he was feeling nostalgic for their time in the Celestial realm. "You, Barbatos and I will be sitting at the front with Michael and Chalkie, Y/N." Lucifer said calmly, taking my hand and guiding me down the aisle, Barbatos following behind. The brothers piled in behind us as Lucifer and I reached the front. Michael and Chalkie rose from their seats upon noticing us and Michael drew Lucifer into an embrace. "It's good to see you Lucifer, although I hate that it is under these circumstances." Michael's deep, booming voice seemed to echo, "and you must be Y/N." Michael turned his gaze to me and I studied his face. His skin was as pale as a sheet, he had small wrinkles but still looked young. His eyes though, I'd seen them before, they were the same as Diavolo's, golden and sparkling. "It really is a pleasure to meet you," Michael raised my hand in his a lightly kissed it, "but the same sentiments go, I am so sorry that it is under these circumstances."

Barbatos took a seat next to Chalkie, me next to Barbatos and Lucifer on the end of the row. A hush fell over the gathering as a frail looking Demon approached the coffin in order to begin the ceremony. One by one the brothers and other guests were called up to pay their respects. I noticed Barbatos grip Chalkie's hand, a grave look on his face, tears in his eyes.
The demon holding the ceremony looked at me, "Y/N, you once discussed funerals with Diavolo, how they worked in the Human realm, what did you tell him?" I knew this was going to happen, I had discussed it with Barbatos, so the brothers and I could prepare. "I told him that when I was young I attended the funeral of my parents," tears stung my eyes now, remembering my parents and Diavolo, "I told him that once they put the coffin in the ground we all chucked things on top that reminded us of them." I chuckled, tears now streaming, "I chucked strawberries, my parents loved strawberries."
"And you and the brothers have something for Diavolo in this manner, don't you?"
The 8 of us stood up as the coffin was lowered into the ground, and stood around the hole beneath the tree. Firstly, Lucifer presented a scroll, "this was the pact I signed," he spoke calmly but with evident pain in his voice, "when I gave myself wholly to Diavolo so that he would give Lilith a human life. It's void now." A tear rolled down his cheek as he chucked the scroll into the coffin and stepped back. Next, Mammon stepped up and threw in a credit card, "Diavolo gave this to me for my birthday when I maxed out all the others. Of course I maxed this one out straight away as well, I don't want to see it anymore."
Leviathan chucked in an action figure, "I got this for Diavolo when he told me how much he enjoyed *(insert fave show/programme here!)* it's the main character, they were Diavolo's favourite".
Satan chucked in a book, "it was the first book I got when I was born into the Devildom, Diavolo bought it for me."
Asmodeus stepped up next, "when I first got to the Devildom I realised I had left all my makeup back in the celestial realm" he smiled but sadness was deep set in his eyes, "Diavolo bought me this," he spoke revealing a childs makeup set, bright pink blusher and the brightest tackiest eyeshadow, "I think he should have it now".
Beelzebub chucked in a packet of *(insert favourite food that comes in a packet!)* "this w-was Diav-volo's f-favourite" Beel sobbed, Belphie rubbing his back, comforting him as his threw a Diavolo stuffed plush teddy into the hole. "Before, y'know, everything, Diavolo and I had a bet, which I lost, so I had to buy a personalised teddy that looked like Diavolo. I don't think I need nor want it anymore."
"Y/N, you're next." Asmo spoke.
I had had a very hard time thinking about what I should give Diavolo. There were so many things, so many memories. But I'd settled on something. I couldn't throw it away totally, it meant too much to me, but I'd made a copy for me to keep. From my pocket I pulled an envelope, and inside a letter.
"I'm gonna read this before I throw it in, is that alright?" Everyone nodded and so I began.

"Dear Y/N,
I would like to begin by thanking you. Firstly for accepting my exchange programme, not so many would have been as welcoming as you were, you came at it with open arms. Secondly, I would like to thank you for everything you've done for the brothers. I know you won't want to hear it, you're too gracious and kind. But you have changed them Y/N. You've made Lucifer take time off work. You've made Mammon appreciate things besides money. Leviathan has become more engaged with the real world. Satan, like Leviathan is becoming more engaged, you're making him more caring. Asmodeus has begun to realise that there are other people in this world and that not all of them will fall so easily for him! Beelzebub is becoming interested in things besides food. And Belphegor, well he was your biggest achievement, Y/N. You saved him, and through that, you saved all of them."

I couldn't carry on, my sight was too blurred by tears and my throat seemed unable to form words. I clutched the letter to my chest when I felt a soft hand on my shoulder. I looked up through glassy eyes and saw Satan, "here, Y/N," he said softly, "let me finish it." He took the letter from my hand as I leant into Belphie who was stood next to me. Satan cleared his throat.

"And lastly Y/N I want to say I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I brought someone like you, someone so strong and brave and beautiful into this world. One that caused you pain and sadness. However, as much as I feel guilty I wouldn't undo what I did. I can't put into words how much you mean to us, and I speak on behalf of myself and the brothers when I say that you are special. You will always be loved here and you will always have a home. I know you're probably crying now, so wipe away those tears! You will have a great life Y/N, you will go on to have a brilliant family, and I hope you will never forget us. And just so you know, you're free to come back if you need us. We'll never say no to you coming back home, because, truth be told, none of us wanted you to leave. We'll welcome you with open arms, the same way you welcomed us into your life. We all love you, Y/N, and I have no doubt we'll see you again.
~ Diavolo"

"Wow" Satan looked at me, eyes red and face puffy. "When did he give you this?"
"I must have put it in my luggage when I went home after the exchange programme. I found it in my bag when I got back to my apartment. I thought this was the right time to share it." And, with that, I leant over a dropped the letter, watching it slowly float down until it landed on the coffin. I closed my eyes and hugged Belphie tighter. "Its okay, Y/N, it will all be okay".

A/N - Hey all! I really enjoyed writing this bit, even though it was so sad! The throwing things on-top of the coffin made me smile - I've only been to one funeral (my great grandparents) when I was about 5 and throwing strawberries onto the coffin before it was buried is probably one of, if not my earliest, memory. Although its sad, it was something special and a really lovely way to remember them. So yeah, this chapter really made me smile 😊