Chapter fourteen

Most will see him as the most handsome of all God creation, with a serene face that speaks of innocence but with cruelty that rivals none on earth or beneath it as is being demonstrated by the screams of pain of a low ranking demon who is currently being punished for three straight days in the internal flame without reprieve for going against the emperor orders.

Asmodeus was raised amidst these screams that he should have gotten used to it, in fact, he had suffered some of this punishment himself but still, the pained screams send shivers down his spine, and as he looked on the Emperor dark smirk as he watched the screaming demon he couldn't help be happy he is not in the demon place.

"So what are you going to do to ensure our victory in this year's bet? " Lucifer asks his fourth prince, and couldn't help but notice the slight shudders that run through his body from the screams of the demon he was punished for disobeying him.

They were in his fire chambers, considered the punishment chamber where most of the population of the underworld dreads to be. He decided to hold this meeting here to remind his prince what awaits him if he fails.

Asmodeus looked up from his kneeling position to focus on the glowing red eyes of his emperor, as he thought of a suitable reply.

"I am going to make use of the people around them to make sure they fail, " he replied confidently and was greatly pleased to see a pleased smile curve the lips of his king.

"That is a good way but you must make sure that the higher angels don't get wind of this plan of yours or they will throw a wedge in your way and I have already drummed it, failure is not an option unless you want to be the reason why we all are damned into the eternal inferno for a thousand years without reprieve."

"No, " Asmodeus shook his head, "I will ensure that my plans work, I won't disappoint you, " he assured his emperor.

Lucifer believed him, but can't help this gnawing feeling in him telling him that this time might be different, good different or bad different is not yet clear. He wheeled around to face the demon in the flames who feature were distorted in pain and flickered his hand to increase the hotness of the flames eliciting more beautiful screams from the demon male.

Asmodeus watched his emperor have his fun, when no further words came from him dared to make his escape.

The demon behind the door heard the approaching footsteps and quietly sneaked away, a look of someone with something up his sleeves on his face.

Its been a week since Michelle was discharged from the hospital, three days since she made a promise to herself to stop drinking, a promise she had kept but with a lot of difficulties, she thought eyeing the wine bottles she had stuck up from her last purchase. She contemplated having them thrown away or giving them away to her friends but she has been able to part away with it.

"Mum when is dad coming back? " her daughter asked taking a seat at the dining table.

Since her husband left after their last fight she hasn't heard from him and for days now their daughter has been asking when he will be back, a question Michelle has not been able to provide an answer to, not from her lack of trying. She has called the bastard severally to enquire from him when he is coming back but it kept going to voice mail.

Michelle sighed closing the wine cellar turned to face her daughter. "I don't know sweetie, daddy has a lot of business to take care of."

The disappointed look that clouded her daughter's features sent an arrow of pain through Michelle that made her want to murder her husband for putting their daughter through this even though she is not without blame.

The door rattled like someone is slotting a key into the keyhole drawing the attention of the two individuals in the house. They made them towards the entrance to see who it was.

"Daddy, " the young girl screamed running towards the tall leaned man that just walked through the door.

A smile lit the man's features as his green eyes brightened at the sight of his daughter while he braced himself for impact. Catching the little body in his arms he hugged her tightly having missed her but the sight of his wife caused all the exciting feelings in him to disappear as his face became devoid of any emotions.

Michelle watched the daughter _ father interaction and couldn't help smiling at her daughter's excitement but all that disappeared when her brown eyes met the cold green eyes of her husband and it grew angry as she regarded the man, telling him with her eyes that they needed to talk.

Tony ignored his wife's look and turned to his daughter, "how are you pumpkin?" he asked tenderly.

"I missed you, daddy, where have you been?"

"Daddy had to work to make sure you are provided for, so you can have the new bike you have been asking for, " he said shaking her cheeks softly.

Aliya smiled at her father's words even though she would have preferred to have her father home than the bike but he is home now and they can be complete once again, she thought smiling inside. Then she remembered her mum's accident and opened her mouth to tell her dad all about it.

Tony was really tired from his journey, his mistress had worn him out with all the attention she demanded from him throughout their stay and the nagging when he said he was going back. Women there was no pleasing them he thought. He saw his daughter's mouth open to begin another chatter which he wasn't in the mood for so he quickly shut her down.

"Pumpkin why don't you let me unpack first then you can tell me everything I have missed."

He saw his daughter frown at his suggestion but ignored it and placed a kiss at the crown of her head before heading upstairs towards their room.

Michelle rolled her eyes at her husband's words like they need more money, they have already had more than enough with her being a senior partner in one of the high ranking firms in LA and him being a very good stockbroker. Well is even a moot point as he wasn't even on a business trip Michelle thought bitterly remembering the actual place he was. Her anger grew that she immediately followed him when he passed without a look in her direction towards the stairs.

"Not now, " Tony said to his wife following him into the room.

He had seen the anger in those brown orbs while he passed her on the stairs and wasn't in the mood for any of her naggings, his ears are already bleeding from the ear full he received from Charlotte.

" I thought you were supposed to be gone for only two days, "Michelle spoke ignoring her husband's words. "So spending time with that harlot was more important than spending the new year with your daughter, "ahe said in a snide tone, trying to keep her voice down because of their daughter but the anger consuming her at her husband's blatant infidelity was making her voice go up.

"I didn't think you will be sober enough to notice my absence, as I recall you were mouth deep into another bottle before I left, " Tony replied in this same tone getting his clothes out of his suitcase to the empty hanger.

His words made Michelle step back as if punched.

"It is better than running around fucking some whores and lying to my daughter that I was on a business trip, "Michelle shot back, which her husband retaliated leading them to a shouting match.

Jugdiel landed on the roof of one of the chosen to hear two voices rising to the roof, he drew closer to the source to see it coming from the room to his right. He was about to head in that direction when a dark form dropped beside him causing him to react on instinct. He turned around and blasted the demon with lightning from his fingertips.

"Fuck, " Blephegor cursed as he was pushed off the roof by a strike of lightning causing his black wings to erupt to stop his fall.

What is with his angel brothers striking first before questions, he thought wincing slightly from the pain on his left shoulder, the angel's aim has been on point.

He rose above the roof to see the angel advancing towards him with his silver wings flapping behind him with his fingers still crackling with lightning. "Hold on, I am not here to cause you any trouble, " he said to the advancing angel.

What is with demons appearing out of thin air everywhere he goes, Jugdiel thought advancing towards the demon. At his words, he stopped throwing a curious look.

"I am here to warn you that my brother intends to trick the chosen into falling away from their vows and causing you to lose the bet."

Jugdiel tilted his head as he weighed his words wondering if he should believe him, demons are not known for being truthful. Before he could ask him to explain his words another lightning struck him this time coming from his behind sending him flying towards Jugdiel.

Jugdiel looked in the direction of the power to see Raphael hovering in the sky his golden wings glittering behind him, his sword flaming white flames as he directed it towards the groaning demon. Jugdiel ran to deflect the ball of fire heading towards the demon.

"What are you doing? " he asked his brother, shielding the demon from the glowing glassy eyes.

"Out of the way brother, why are you defending him when he was just about to attack you?"

Raphael had been coming to see one of the chosen when he had seen the demon heading towards his brother who just landed on the roof of the intended chosen, he had made himself invisible to the demon and had watched then he saw the demon flying backward and had assumed he was attacking his brother.

"He was just telling me about the tricks Asmodeus was going to use to win the bets."

"And you believe him?"

"What trick did my brother tell you I was going to play to win, " a voice said from the air, as Asmodeus joined the group.

Raphael's fist clenched at the sound of the demon, he immediately turned to glare in his direction.

"What are you doing here? " he asked the demon his fingertips crackling with lightning.

Asmodeus eyes flew to the threatening fingers, he rolled his eyes as his lips curved into a taunting smirk, "oh brother you need to get laid to loosen up those sticks that are keeping you high strung, " his smirk grew wider when he saw Raphael face narrow in rage. Oh so easy, he thought grinning inside. "Anyways I was on my way to check out the chosen and to my surprised she already has a good number of audience, " he said, flickering his gaze in his brother's direction who had the decency to glance away. He will deal with him later.

The loud voices filling up the building beneath their feet reached his ear, drawing his attention. "It looks like our chosen is not having a good day he taunted heading into the house."

"You know you are not meant to interfere, " Raphael barked following the demon into the house.

"Relax brother, I am only going to observe, " scouts honor he said raising his hands like he had seen the humans do.

Jugdiel who appeared beside the demon rolled his eyes. "I believe is with two fingers to signify Scout's honor and not your three fingers, " he corrected, "and also honor is not a word that I will associate with you."

"Here she comes, " Asmodeus said with excitement as the female chosen stomped her feet downstairs heading towards what appears to be the leaving room.

The four higher beings watched as the woman threw open a small cupboard hanging up the wall, and took out a bottle of alcohol and a glass.

Asmodeus broke into loud laughter at this. He didn't even need to use his tricks on this human to even get her to fail.

After the whole argument with her husband Michelle was in damn need of a drink that she was almost shaking. She found her way into the living room to the wine cellar where he took out a bottle of vodka, then a glass dropping both on the table.

Jugdiel looked on with dismay as the human took out the alcohol, he desperately wished to influence her not to do it, but he can't it was against the rule and so he had to watch helplessly as his first chosen forsakes her vow.

Raphael dislike for human weakness grew as he watched the female once again fall back on her weakness, he was really tempted to do something, but the reminder that he can't be sent his ire skyrocketing, and since he can't take it out the human, the only outlet was his brother who picked the sorry excuse for a human. He turned to glare at his brother itching to smack him for not thinking before he picked the chosen.

Eyeing the bottle, Michelle let out a sign before pouring a small amount of quantity into her glass.