The sound of the door creaking was followed by soft and calm footsteps that echoed in the ears of the already sleeping angel. He was covered with sheets, and his body was marked with several purple-red spots. When he heard the footsteps approaching the bed, he slowly opened his eyes and, still with a heavy body, slowly turned towards the person who stroked his hair.

"It's nice to see you, Mr. Spy," a husky and foreign voice called into Zophiel's ear.

The angel immediately widened his eyes, but his body was frozen by a spell that mysterious person near him cast. His heart skipped a beat, and the racetrack seemed too slippery, so much so that with each syllable the person uttered, he felt his heart slip several times and miss the frantic beats.

And the person seemed to enjoy it.

"Oh... am I not the person you thought it would be? Tsk, tsk… How reckless, Mr. Spy…" the person slowly turned Zophiel's body, and the angel's eyes widened even more. "Surprised to see me?"

The person in front of him had brown hair and a blonde streak in his bangs, which was combed back. His face was thin, and the mask he had just taken off showed navy blue eyes with red highlights that shone under the dim lights. His smile was terrifyingly captivating, and his fangs showed without fear and shame, so much so that he couldn't stop giggling when he saw the angel's distorted face.

"Oh? Do you want to talk? I'll let you talk," the person flicked Zophiel's nose.

The spell loosened a few spots in the angel's body, allowing the angel to move his lips and open his mouth.

"Ah…" Zophiel breathed and glared at the person. "S-Shire- no… Asmodeus…!" he growled.

"No growling," Asmodeus chuckled leisurely. "What? Am I not your friend? Remember our gold times in Heavens? C'mon!" he joyfully slapped Zophiel's tensed shoulder.

"Since when did you recover your memories?" Zophiel glared, trying to move his fingers.

Asmodeus took a stool and sat on it close to the bed. He sighed and took a dagger from his pockets. Despite its worn-out look, with only a blow it turned brand new and vicious again.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk…" Asmodeus shook his head in disapproval, and the dagger danced around his fingers and hand as if it were a part of him. "Zophiel, Zophiel… the dearest Seraph from Heavens… do I have to remind you about who is in charge now?" he pointed the dagger at Zophiel's ear.

"I'm not afraid of a mere dagger," Zophiel grinned darkly.

"It's not a mere dagger, remember?" Asmodeus chuckled, sliding the dagger on Zophiel's neck but only allowing the angel to feel the cold blade's surface. "It's an ancient instrument I always used, and… you know who made it, right?" he snickered.

"I don't care. What do you want?"

"I need you," Asmodeus made the dagger dance through his fingers again.

Zophiel chuckled darkly and tried moving his fingers again, but nothing seemed to work.

"If you behave, then I'll release you," Asmodeus smiled, throwing the dagger next to Zophiel's cheek. "Or else…" and the dagger came back to his hand, "… I'll have to cut some feathers~" he smiled again.

Zophiel finally could move his finger and he made a quick gesture, but Asmodeus reacted before a heavenly spell hit his face. The demon forcefully and painfully grabbed his fingers. The angel's bones cracked, and he groaned, but the demon wasn't touched. Much the contrary: he couldn't stop smiling and his grin grew even wider. As a result, the air in the room became thick and suffocating.

"I know what you're trying to do," Asmodeus laughed, his maniac laughter filling Zophiel's ears and mind, but his eyes were as stern as the devil's.

"Let go of me," Zophiel growled, but Asmodeus wasn't fazed.

He laughed more and shook his head when his eyes laid on the marks around Zophiel's body and the residual energy within him. He knew very well whose energy was, and maybe he could use that to his advantage.

"Zophiel, Zophiel… ha ha ha ha! I can't believe you did that!" Asmodeus yanked Zophiel's arms, analyzing the angel's torso. "A demon… right?" he whispered in Zophiel's ear, and the angel gasped.

A sin... Asmodeus was having a lot of fun that night! Maybe it was a good deed coming after all.

He still had work to do and a mission to fulfill. So, he wanted to mess with the angel until his second objective showed. He needed two, not only one.

"He even marked you like the dog he is," Asmodeus chuckled, tracing Zophiel's neck. "You reek demonic essence way more than Agarath, which means… you've sinned a terrible sin," he smiled.

Zophiel scowled and growled. "Leave him out of this."

"Hm~ so he's an important demon for you…" Asmodeus lifted the angel's chin, looking at that beautiful, scowled face. "Do Heavens know about that? They're very strict, and you're their spy. Such a tragedy!" he dramatically posed, a hand on his forehead and the other resting on his chest, right on the heart.

"Shut up!" Zophiel argued.

"Hoho! See? It's not fun when people share your secrets," Asmodeus leisurely brushed Zophiel's cheeks. "Say, when will your beloved show up? I need to talk to both of you-"

Something cold pressed against the back of his neck. Asmodeus chuckled softly, and his eyes turned toward the direction of the new sensation. Behind him, he felt another dense and oppressive energy that was nostalgically familiar.

Click.

"Move, and I'll ruin your reincarnation," a deep and menacing voice came from behind Asmodeus.

There he is. Asmodeus chuckled and clicked his tongue. "Mephistopheles, it's a pleasure to meet you again, but… why aren't you calling me 'Your Grace'?" his eyes glowed, and Zophiel tried to break free from the spell.

Another "click" sound and Asmodeus felt the cold, something adjusting its position at a vital point.

"Ha ha ha! Look who's all mighty and stuff!" Asmodeus laughed out loud, but with each movement he made, the cold thing followed like glue. "But don't worry, I have no intention of harming you or your reputation," he smiled, touching the bed.

Zophiel felt something surround him, a warm and cozy energy. He was free from both God's chains and the spell Asmodeus cast. Not only that, but his hands were normal again... could that be an illusion caused by Asmodeus' poisonous pheromones?

Even freed, Zophiel couldn't move properly due to Asmodeus's oppressive aura, which had flooded the room with burning miasma. Despite being exposed to such energy, Zophiel wasn't hurt.

"Tell your beloved to relax. I won't hurt you two," Asmodeus chuckled, now leisurely.

Zophiel hesitated and exchanged looks with Mephistopheles. "C-Come here, Mephistopheles," he finally voiced, and the devil's eyes twitched, not moving an inch. "It's ok… if he wanted to kill me, he'd already have done, and you would be dead as well," he exhaled, trying to calm down from Asmodeus' oppressive energy.

"Sweetness," Mephistopheles hesitated, but Zophiel raised a hand. "Ah… fine," Asmodeus heard the cold something being stored, smiling at that.

"Well! Let's talk then!" Asmodeus clapped hands, and the room's lights turned purple and pink. "It's a special spell to hide our conversation from Agarath," he strummed his fingers in the air, and Zophiel felt something cover his nose and mouth like a mask. "This way, you won't be intoxicated with my aura, ok?"

Mephistopheles was right beside Zophiel, holding the hand that had a slim, golden ring. His eyes were attentive to Asmodeus, and with the once prince from Hell's energy influence, his horns came out as well as his long, scaled tail.

Asmodeus chuckled softly at their natural closeness and rested his hand on his chin. "Who could guess our Hell's psycho was married to the Heartless angel?" He couldn't help but tease, receiving a low growl from Mephistopheles in return.

"So, what do you want to talk to us?" Zophiel closed Mephistopheles's lips with his hand, interrupting the growling and fangs-showing.

"It's about Mine Karawaga," Asmodeus smiled, and Zophiel tensed. "I heard you want to protect him, right? I also do, but I'd like to include one more person…"

Zophiel hesitated a bit before talking. "Who would it be?"

"Lord Addai," as he spoke, Mephistopheles's eyebrows furrowed. "He's… well, he's very attached to Mine, and Mine is Agarath's focus. I fear the clashing between Addai and Agarath would be terrible for them and for Mine, so-"

"He's Lilith's Heir. We can't mess with him-"

"Shush while I'm talking," Asmodeus zipped Mephistopheles's mouth with a spell. "Ahem. So, I want to protect him too," he looked at Mephistopheles, then to Zophiel. "He's an adorable child, and he's been through a lot too. I want to help them."

Zophiel turned pensive. It would be suicidal to protect them, especially given Addai's volatile and unpredictable behavior. He knew that the child was at that party and that he stole someone's identity to avoid his bond with Lilith being exposed to Agarath. Zophiel exhaled, feeling a headache kick.

How could he forget about Addai? He let him slide because he didn't think that child would go that far to avoid the trade, but now… how could he make such a beginner mistake? He had been watching him since Mine came to the Pub with an odd energy around his body as if he was being told that Mine was his property.

When he saw that lone child in a dark room, painting beautiful and detailed paintings, he felt that he wouldn't be a big piece. When he discovered Addai's bounds with Miss. Lilith didn't think he would have her stubbornness and courage. When he saw that devil in front of him with a fragile Mine beside him… he knew he would be a big piece, but not from this jigsaw.

He made a mistake, a terrible mistake.

"Tell me your plan," Zophiel looked at Asmodeus, who smiled in return.

-- CHARACTER SHEET --