4 What Comes After (Ch. 4)

Sitri shook herself from her musings of the past. It was time to look forward to the future, a future of Queen.

She strode down the hall with royal grace, inclining her head ever so slightly to the guards prostrating themselves on the floor as she passed. Standing the guards signal to the guards ahead who open the door with a grand flourish for her.

The demons inside are too busy feasting uproariously, food flying in almost every direction to even notice her enter.

Luckily her table was in the forefront of the room, raised above the rest. There where only 3 chairs at this table. All three chairs where gold with velvet cushion seats. Her chair was slightly larger with elaborate crarvings. She had arranged the chairs so her brothers would be on each side of her but noticed Stolas had moved his chair to the furthest side of the table with Sebastian between them.

Sitri sighed, the youngest one didn't quite trust her after thier many years apart and much preferred the company of his elder brother who he had spent considerably more time with.

Smiling widely she approached him first, crushing him to her chest in a huge hug.

"Brother!" She exclaimed lovingly. He unceremoniously picked himself of her hold and gave her a cursory nod.

"Hello sister" He muttered before returning to pick at his food.

She then moved on to Sebastian kissing him once on each cheek.

"I've missed you both!"

He smiles, "and I you sister"

Sitri sat down in her chair besides him.

"How have you been?"

"Well..." He started shyly "I'm a contracted demon" he pulled his hand out from under the table on on the underside of the wrist was thier family crest glowing a soft purple, the sign of a contact.

Had she not already been sitting, Sitri would have fallen from the shock.

"How could you?? You're the crown prince of Hell. Don't you remember my mother?"

Her brother shifted uncomfortably, "I know sister but I'm part angel. I think a part of me just wants to help people. With a contract I can at least make a humans life worth something."

Sitri sneered "What do you care about humans? Weak sniveling things. We are above them. Do not forget.. at the end of the contract, they render ties to thier immortal soul... angel."

"That's why I have to make it count!" Sebastian spoke exitedly and earnestly. "I just decided to see what would happen and someone who really needed me called for me. I was lonely sister" Stolas hurumphed from besides him, offended "and this human makes time seem a little enjoyable with something to do and focus on."

Sitri arched an eyebrow cynically "makes time seem a little enjoyable.. Your humans life will pass within a blink of an eye to an immortal like us. What.. are you in love?" she scoffed.

"Well then there you go sister, all the more not to worry. A humans life is not that long so even if things go awry it would not matter, just a spec in time. And as for being in love.. I wouldn't say that but.. I want to protect him"

She considered his logic. As long as he wasn't getting hurt she supposed. Because of the contract humans would not be able to go against it or try to kill or overpower the demon as it would immediately nullify the contract and thier soul would immediately be consumed the demon. She was unclear about his relationship to the human as he seemed to close for her liking but he seemed genuinely happy. What was she going to say about it, she was no stranger to lonliness.

"...So after the banquet you'll be returning to your..." she could barely spit the word out "human?"

"Yes. He let me leave for the day but I have to protect and serve him. He is my master now".

Sitris shoulders drooped "It's sad to see you stooped so low. I was hoping you both would stay here at the castle now that father was gone.."

Sebastian placed his hand on hers apologetically. "I'm sorry, I just had to do something after we killed father. Something to distract myself."

"I understand. And then what about you?" She turned her gaze to the youngest at the end of the table.

Without looking up to meet her eyes he replied "I decline your invitation. While Sebastian was busy with his contract I had to find something to and.." his cheeks reddened slightly "I found someone. I will be going back to live with them."

Sitri gasped, "I'm so happy for you! You deserve it, who is the lucky demon?"

He stayed silent.

"They're not a demon..?" Sitri asked.

He shook his head. First Sebastian and now him? Both with humans? They where demons!! Well.. in part. But then Sitri reconsidered it, while she thought humans where lesser creatures her brother was half human and no lesser than her. Maybe she needed a new way of thinking.

"Well congratulations then Brother. I hope you're happy.."

"Thank you" he smiled. "Life has really started now that fathers not looming over us now. I can finally relax and enjoy my life. You should too sister. You're Queen now. You have the castle to yourself and you can do anything you want."

"Hmmm, yes" She agreed dryly. "I suppose that's true."

The rest of the banquet seemed to pass by quickly and before she knew it both of her brothers where at the front gates saying goodbye.

"We'll visit!" They promised and then they where gone leaving her alone in her castle of guards. Sitri didn't blame them for rushing to leave. The castle was a dark place for them with few happy memories.

She went slowly back inside. What comes after for her? She went to the throne room and sprawled across her throne, her legs on the arm of the chair. She got to thinking about how both her brothers seemed to be happier now and she felt wistful, almost jealous of them. Maybe this contract thing... no that was silly.

Weeks passed and then months as she occupied the castle and preformed her duties but she soon was bored out of her mind. Demons where petty creatures and many of her days where spent settling small squabbles and ensuring demons didnt get out of hand. She hated her post and made up her mind. She was going to leave her fathers advisor in charge and going to visit earth and the humans. Maybe she'd go on a rampage, maybe she'd seduce a man and take his soul. Anything besides the monotony here.

Sitri remembered her brother. "a humans life passes by in in a blink anyways." and she began thinking about the contract. It was lonely in the castle without her brothers and friends where short in supply for the Queen of Hell, especially after having slaughtered the last ones in command of her father. Maybe she would take one.. She mentally slapped herself. No. She was the Queen of Hell what was she doing? Well.. she thought, she could still have her fun while in a contact.. what harm could come of it? As her brother said it was something to do and she'd get to escape her royal duties for a short while. She could after all ensure the contract was extra short. She grinned devilishly, she made up her mind and heaven help the poor soul that summoned her.

She opened her mind to anyone trying to summon a demon, it was surprisingly more common than one would think and within less than an hour she felt a tug on the fabric between Hell and earth indicating someone trying to form a contract. Before the demon the human was attempting to summon could appear, she materialized in the humans circle instead, taking thier place in the forming contract.

"Well hello" She grins, her canine teeth sharp against her lips regarding the young man in front of her "I am the Queen of Hell~ How may I help you... my lord?"