Page 8 of Promised to the Demon King (The Demon Brides #1)

"What is taking so long?" Asmodeus roared as he sat in his throne room. His long, thick, black, beastly claws dug aggressively into the round ends of the armrests. He was struggling to keep his Demonic beast in check. He didn't want to lash out entirely at his trembling Oracle. Sacha has served him loyally for centuries.

"I am sorry, my King. Haggot root only blooms every few years, and it seems someone has gone around the rings, dug up, and destroyed all the mature plants." Sasha stuttered in fear.

"Who?" he demanded, his control slipping. He could not take human form without that potion.

"I have put out my feelers; it seems it has been Vivex, my King. She has been one step ahead of us on every blooming. I am sorry, my King. There is no Haggot root to be found in all of Hell now."

"That bitch!" Asmodeus roared. His Demonic aura pulsated with little regard for the others around him. The room of the audience dropped to their knees in submission and fear.

The throne room's chamber door opened, announcing Thalon and Philan's arrival. They dropped a knee before their summoning King.

"Thalon, submit a request to the Supreme. I am sending Vivex to face Judgment." Asmodeus growled in frustration. If he had his way, he'd send her there now, but since she was under the rule of a different King since banishment, a request for approval must be submitted to avoid a Ring war.

The human realm often dramatized Hell, led by the misconception of a few Christian crusaders in the sixteen hundreds.

However, rules and politics were set in place, regardless of what plain you resided within.

Lucifer and Lilith were the Supreme rulers. Everything was to be in accordance with their leadership. Each of the rings had a single Demon King. These Kings were rulers of their own individual Rings, and they collected the souls stained heaviest with the sin associated with that King: Pride, Lust, Greed, Envy, Gluttony, Wrath, and Sloth. Lucifer had once been the King of Pride, but as more Sin developed and took hold of their own rings, it became very clear that the Kings needed a Supreme hierarchy. Lucifer rose even higher, overseeing the seven sons. He put the seven fallen angels that followed him away from God in place to oversee the Rings until the time came where his sons would rise up.

Beneath these seven Kings were their appointed Lords. The Lords were the enforcers of the Rings. They delegated punishments and consequences calculated for the crimes committed by the minor demons.

What Vivex did was against the Supreme Ruler's law. No Demon, minor or major, is permitted to destroy a widely shared ingredient such as Haggot root.

You may barter and trade for ingredients between the Rings, as not all are indigenous to one Ring. However, destroying them was forbidden and had grave consequences.

Vivex may have taken away Asmodeus' opportunity to gain human-to-human interaction with Nova, but she will suffer greatly for her interference. He's made sure of it.

"Right away, my King." Thalon blinked, and Philan remained on a bent knee, awaiting his own orders.

"Philan, I need you to watch over Greed. I need to know his every move. I suspect he is upset about the deal containing Carol and Jonathon Thompson's souls. Carol is not heavy in value; she is rotten to the core. Jonathon is a pure and genuine soul. It holds great value. This would have made Greed stronger and increased his Ring, but the mortals mistakenly called upon Lust to fulfill their wishes instead. I suspect he is aware of Vivex and her crimes. Watch him closely, Philan."

"Yes, my King."

After Asmodeus had dismissed Philan and everyone else, he slumped into his throne.

He was the almighty King Asmodeus, the second strongest of the Rings. He worked his ass off to take the weakest of the Rings and push his presents of Lust into the human plain, making Lust a genuine competitor of the Rings. It was everywhere now. This generation was stained with his sin.

Yet, here he sat, defeated but a minor Demoness. There must be a way for him to walk the earth.

Roz has been doing as much as she could over the last few years with the rise in accidents surrounding Jonathon Thompson and Nova. He knew Vivex had a hand in these attacks. Roz can only intervene so much as a spirit, only able to be seen by other Demon spirits or essence or of Demonic descendant like Nova was. Roz was only at quarter strength, without corporeal form as she was tethered to the Demon realm, as were her full powers. She is only truly able to influence the minds of sinners around her.

This was the agreement between God and Lucifer long ago when dividing the plains and setting guidelines. No Demon or Angel spirit and essence shall be fully strengthened until they take genuine corporeal form on earth. That was also why the ingredients were scattered and costly in barter.

All a Demon and Angel could ever do to a human was make deals if summoned or called upon, and they could influence minds. This was why humans were so riddled with sin. Demons use influence to weaken the soul's resistance to sin.

Sin breeds more sin, and before you know it, families share and learn sin, spreading throughout the world. It was a beautiful sight to behold as a Demon King. Sin and Souls granted them strength and status.

King Asmodeus being the second most substantial Ring was a great accomplishment. Lust was making a comeback amongst the seven Sins. Sex was everywhere now. Sex sells, and it feeds his Ring strength.

"My son, Asmodeus!" A strong baritone voice boomed into the room, uninvited. Only one Demon would dare enter his space with such a domineering presence.

Supreme King Lucifer.

"Father!" Asmodeus stood and bent a knee out of respect.

"Rise, my Son. I received your request. The matter is being investigated as we speak." Lucifer announced.

"I followed the rules regarding my bride, Father. I was to be granted permission to walk the earth for this last year approaching her awakening. I have been robbed of this reward!" Asmodeus roared after sitting back on his throne, releasing his frustrations.

"Indeed, you always follow the rules, Asmodeus. Unlike many of your brothers. I have an unusual request and proposition for you." This caught Asmodeus' attention.

"I am listening." Asmodeus sat up straighter.

"You made yourself quite the deal, Asmodeus. It is all everyone is buzzing about. Jonathon Thompson is a powerful soul to hold claim over as a Demon King. He is good and pure. Perhaps too good and pure for Hell, don't you think?"

Asmodeus furrowed his brows in confusion. He needed to figure out where Lucifer was going with this. Lucifer had never interfered with souls collected before, especially if freely given, as Jonathon Thompson had done. This soul would put him in the running as the highest Ring, even above pride.

"I have had several meetings with God regarding this deal made with you eighteen years ago. We have worked out a new deal that may benefit everyone."

"Okay." Still trying to understand.

"Yes. Relinquish your claim over Jonathon Thompson and his pure soul, and we shall grant you twelve tainted souls in the placement of the switch." Lucifer offered confidently.

"With all due respect, Father. There is no way twelve tainted souls hold the same value as a pure one. Why would I accept this trade?"

"Because two souls have the option to become closely tied to your beloved future bride."

"Wait-- I don't understand." This had Asmodeus on the edge of the seat.

"Your bride is in danger. There is no doubt about that. I am offering you a rare opportunity with the agreement of God to allow this opportunity to take place. Nothing can be done about the Haggot root. Nothing shall bloom in time for which has already been replanted. This means you shall not gain corporeal form, but I am granting you permission to claim two souls now and inhabit the vessels for the term until she turns eighteen."

"Two?"

"Yes. We knew you would not relinquish great power and value in this new deal, so as an added bonus, we offer something unique and never permitted before. You and Thalon, the girl's Demon father, may enter these two vessels and stay close to your bride. This will allow you to walk the earth and keep her safe while allowing Jonathon Thompson access into Heaven, where he belongs."

Asmodeus fell silent. He was sacrificing power by forfeiting this one's soul, but without the Haggot root, he also risked losing Nova to Heaven. If she dies before her Demoness essence awakens, he loses her to Heaven completely. He knew that if Greed supported Vivex, then Nova was in danger. Vivex on her own, was dangerous but with a power Demon King like his brother, Greed, backing her, she would be limitless in her pursuits.

"How can I bond and build our trust and relationship if I was someone else? She would fall in love with the wrong face. It defeats the purpose of the time spent."

"It keeps her safe; is that not more valuable? There are creative ways to woo her, my Son. I did it with Lilith while she was with Adam. I am sorry that they interfered as much as they had. As you know, this investigation will take time. Vivex does not work alone; in the meantime, your bride is vulnerable and alone."

"What do you mean by that? How is she alone? She has her father."

"Jonathon Thompson dies in two days, Asmodeus. It is unpreventable, unlike the other attempts that your young Queens guard, Roz, had managed to intervene with. So I will ask you again: Does her seeing your true face truly matter more, my Son?"

Asmodeus fell silent again. No, it wasn't more critical. Not now, anyway.

"Twelve souls on top of Carol's rotten soul, and Thalon and I gain access to the vessels until she is awakened in three months and can come down here?"

"Correct. Do we have a deal, my Son?"

Demons truly did love to make deals; Lucifer, the Supreme King, loved to make them even more. Asmodeus knew that Lucifer undoubtedly had something with God in this trade. He gained from this deal as well. Asmodeus didn't care, though. He would somehow figure out how to lure Nova to his true face. What mattered was ensuring that she survived to eighteen, he couldn’t claim her until then anyway.

"We have a deal, but Vivex is sentenced to face Judgment now and if it is discovered that Greed helped, he will be dethroned from his Ring as punishment."

"If Greed is discovered to be associated with this crime, he shall be dethroned for five decades and put in the pits with those working alongside him. I shall look into the matter of Vivex and her dealings directly, and if it is found that she is guilty of crimes enough for Judgment, than that is what she shall receive. I must look into her dealings thoroughly first, to see just how much damage this poison has caused. I suspect you are not the only one wronged by her as of late. Be patient, my Son. Go be with your Queen."

"Then I agree. I accept this new deal and relinquish my claim over Jonathon Thompson. I grant him access to Heaven upon his passing."

The deal was struck, and Asmodeus felt the weight of the switch take hold.

After Lucifer left, Asmodeus called Thalon to his private chamber to ensure absolute discretion.

"My King," Thalon greeted.

"My friend, sort your affairs discreetly. We walk the earth in one weeks time for the next three months!"