Chapter 12 Lesson 2-8 - The Pact (Part 2)

Rubbing his neck, Beel let out a heavy sigh and stepped back. "...You know what? This isn't any of your business, human. I'm leaving. I've already eaten everything there was in the refrigerator now anyway. I'm pretty sure Lucifer is hiding a poisoned apple in the desk in the study..." Beel finally left the kitchen, taking his growling stomach with him. When all was quiet, I tried to organize my thoughts, having more questions than answers. 'I know it's none of my business, but I feel like something is just not right. They all keep mentioning that there are seven brothers and they all live here in the House of Lamentation, but they "have to pretend" that the youngest "doesn't exist"? If you have to pretend, then wouldn't they just say there are six brothers, instead?'

Before I was finished organizing my thoughts, I heard someone trying to get my attention. "...psst...hey!" Confused, I look around, trying to find where the voice was coming from. "Is that you, God...?" I mumbled it out, cringing at how stupid I sounded and felt. "Seriously? No! Over here! Look!" Following the sound of the voice, I find Levi hiding near the doorway that leads to the dining room. "What are you doing hiding there?"

"What do you think? Beel was just in here! I can't have him finding me with you, now can I?!" After making sure no one else was coming to the kitchen, Levi came out of his hiding spot. "So, it's really true, right? Lucifer definitely used the word "frozen"? In that case, it could only be hidden in here." Levi went over to open the freezer part of the refrigerator. "In the freezer? I mean, I guess that makes sense." I came over to where Levi was, wanting to help him search the freezer.

"Hmm...all I see is a bunch of ice inside. ...Oh wait, look! It's the ice cream Satan hid from Beel about a century ago. I totally forgot about that. Heh, I'm not about to tell him, though. It'd spoil the joke. He'll probably figure it out in another 2000 years or so, I'd say. ...Wait a second. There's something else behind the ice." Reaching into the farthest part of the freezer, Levi pulls out Mammon's credit card, completely frozen over. 'I guess that's one way to freeze a credit card. If this wasn't a "mission" where we would need to be quiet, I would be rolling on the floor, laughing so hard.'

"Found it! Lucifer wasn't lying. It really IS frozen!" Levi happily took it out of the freezer, when it almost hit the ground. "Ugh, it's super heavy! And big, too! I'm gonna put it in the microwave and thaw it. Let's see, I guess about two minutes on auto should do the trick. Now, I'll hit the start button and let the defrosting begin!" I didn't know what to do as Levi puts that huge hunk of ice into the microwave. 'Should I tell Levi that microwaving a literally frozen credit card was a bad idea, as it could destroy the credit card and make it useless?'

"What's with all the racket, you two?" I almost jump so hard that I almost hit the ceiling when I heard Mammon come into the kitchen. I was planning on how I should tell Mammon gently what Levi and I were doing, but Mammon found it out before I could say a thing. "...Hey, wait a minute! There in the microwave... That looks like Goldie, my credit card! My baby! The one thing more important to me than life itself...!"

Mammon's eyes were shining with joy, that is until he notice that the microwave was trying to defrost his "baby". "Get it outta there before the microwave demagnetizes it and makes it useless!" I agreed with Mammon, thinking of other ways we could have gotten the credit card out of the ice. 'We could've chipped at the ice until we got the credit card free, or we could have left that chunk of ice in a sink or a tub, and let it thaw overnight.' "Ooh, didn't think of that. Better stop the defrost cycle, I guess!" Levi was taking his time to stop the defrost cycle, making Mammon mad.

"Levi, you idiot! How can you do somethin' so stupid?! You're dumb as a stump, ya know that?!" After finally stopping the defrost cycle, Levi took out the still frozen credit card, placed it on the table, and rested his elbow on top of it. "Hmm, are you SURE you should be talking to me like that, Mammon? After all, I'm the one who found the credit card Lucifer took from you." Levi was smiling as Mammon suddenly went silent. "So, do you want me to give you your credit card back?"

"You'd BETTER! ...Um, I mean, yes, please. Please give it back, Leviathan, sir...!" I was embarrassed for Mammon, who was high and mighty a moment ago, and now he's on his knees, begging for his credit card. "Oh wow, this is embarrassing! I can't believe that's all it took for you to abandon your pride! You're even down on your knees! You're one of the seven rulers of the Devildom, Mammon. Shouldn't you be ashamed of yourself? Well, whatever... Okay then, if you want your credit card back, you've got to give me the Seraphina figurine you won at the convenience store." Looking so smug, Levi started talking down to Mammon.

"The Sera...what now? What're ya talkin' about? I don't remember winnin' anything." Mammon gave Levi a look of confusion, which caused Levi to harshly glare at his older brother. "I don't believe this! You forgot that you even have her! How could you?!" I can understand Levi's anger since figurines should be treasured and taken care of even if you aren't into anime and such.

"Ugh, c'mon, enough! Whatever you want, I'll give it to ya! Just give me back my credit card!" Still on his knees, Mammon let out an exasperated sigh, just wanting his credit card back. "All right, but there's one more condition: I want you to make a pact with this human." Levi smiled, adding another condition, which Mammon didn't fully comprehend right away. "Right, a pact, fine. I'm more than happy to do whatever you...wait, WHAT?! Why d'ya want ME to make a PACT?!" Mammon quickly got to his feet and glared at Levi, who still had a smug smile on his face.

"Think about it: If you make the pact with Daisy, you'll have to do whatever you're told, right? Then Daisy'll order you to give me my money back immediately. And since you can't refuse a direct order from your master, you'll do exactly that. Game over, I win!" Beaming, Levi was excited to have trumped Mammon, who was frowning. "Pff, I don't believe this. It's just money, Levi I can't believe you'd go through all this trouble!" Mammon was shaking his head as if he was disappointed in Levi. 'Says the one who was on his knees, begging for his credit card.'

"Excuse me? Remind me again which one of us tossed aside what little pride he had left, all to get his hands on a credit card?" Levi gave Mammon a look that screamed "You shut up and give up." "Hey, you shut up! And you, human! What're ya thinking, lettin' Levi use you like this? Are you stupid? Go on, say somethin'!" Mammon quickly turned and glared at me, probably thinking I would back down and agree with him. I flashed Mammon a cold smile, causing him to flinch. "Make a pact with me, Mammon." 'Time for payback and sweet revenge.'

"UH-UH, NO WAY! NOT INTERESTED! I am the Great Mammon, Avatar of Greed, one of the seven rulers of the Devildom! Fool...do you actually think I'd let some human be the boss of me?" Mammon, shaking his head, crossed his arms across his chest, as if to say that was the end of the conversation. "Oh Luuucifeeer! Mammon's here unfreezing his credit caaaard!" Levi started calling out to Lucifer in a sing-songy voice, causing Mammon to freeze.

"I mean, of course I'll make a pact with you, human! I'd be thrilled to!" Mammon held out his hand, as if he intended on giving me a handshake, and I reluctantly took his hand in mine. Soon, a glowing mark appeared on my hand. Mammon let go of my hand and the mark on my hand stopped glowing. I stared at my hand, faintly seeing the mark, which had a symbol I recognized from my research of demons. 'If I remember correctly, this is the symbol of greed.'

Mammon stormed out of the kitchen, and Levi was jumping around, cheering how he had successfully bested Mammon. I sighed, feeling tired and ready to go to bed, as I headed to my room. I flopped onto my bed and sighed again. 'I guess this is going to be my new normal now...'