Chapter thirteen

Darkness surrounded everywhere, but that wasn't a problem for Jugdiel who could see perfectly well in the darkness. He watched the human residence for a while before heading in its direction with purpose and determination, not sure how he was going to pull this off, but was just filled with this urge to help the old woman.

"You are going to scare the poor woman to death if you appear at her door looking like that, " a voice said out of the thin air.

The sudden sound of a demon appearance startled Jugdiel causing his heart to leap from his chest towards his unmentionable while the rest of his body wheeled on his feet in a battle stance. Blue spark of lightning sparking from his fingers ready to strike.

"Woah Woah, easy there brother, " Beelzebub muttered with his hands up in the air a sign of peace, while he added I am not here to fight you.

"What the...., in the name of creator are you doing here? "Jugdiel asked, swallowing the curse words that filled his mouth, feeling irritated that he has been so lost in his thought that he was unaware of the demon's presence.

The witch's demon lips curved into a slight smirk, as he threw a knowing look at the angel knowing fully the words that were about to come out of his mouth. Among his higher brothers, Beelzebub tolerated this angel better than the rest because he doesn't act like he has a stick stuck up so far in his ass that he could barely walk, acting all righteous and mighty like his other brother Raphael.

Jugdiel realizing why the demon was smirking at him rolled his eyes at him. Another human gesture, these humans were beginning to rub off him. First with their hairstyle now with the way they speak and their silly gestures. Jugdiel doesn't know if he likes their influence or not. The jury is still out on that.

"What are you doing here? " he asked the witch demon moving as if to stand in protection against the house he was about to visit.

"Relax, brother, I am not here to harm the little old woman. Was on my way from some coven meetings when I spotted you matching in all your angel glory towards the door and with the look on your face you were about to expose yourself to the human in your real form, and I am sure that little old lady wouldn't have been able to handle that, and as much as I sometimes torture these humans I didn't think I wanted the old lady dying of heart attack, not when she was a member of one of my favorite coven."

Jugdiel's lips twitched in irritation when the demon referred to him as a brother, as he no longer sees them as one, then he frowned when his words sank into his head. His eyes flew in the direction of the house, he hadn't realized the human was a witch, now he feels conflicted about helping her. He had thought her some innocent old lady needing some human contact not one of the devil's incarnates spreading his powers around and sending poor unsuspecting humans into a life of misery in the name of telling them their future, which they never get right and even if they do has no power to avert it. Because whatever the Creator has destined no one can change it except the Creator himself.

Beelzebub's expression grew dark at the look on the angel's face. "Here is that judgmental attitude that you so-called righteous people were like an amour, " he snared at the angel, annoyed that he had thought this one to be different.

"What are you talking about? "Jugdiel asked confused by the demon tone.

"You are contemplating helping the human now you have realized that she wasn't the good innocent human you thought she was."

"Give me one good reason why I should help her when every one of her actions has caused pain or misery to her fellow human."

"Why don't you tell me the reason you wanted to help her in the first place, " Beelzebub countered, and has any of that changed just because you have learned her past identity.

"What do you mean by past identity?"

"Well if you were not so quick to judge you would have realized that I used the word past tense. Yes, she was a practicing witch but had to let go of the practice when it became an issue between her and her child, but unfortunately, she lost that child and her entire family early last year so that is why she was alone in the new year eve."

Jugdiel's heart filled with compassion at the woman lost, and then he turned around heading towards the house to fill his earlier mission. A cough behind him halted him in his tracks.

"What!"

"You need to look human, " Beelzebub reminded the angel.

"Oh, "Jugdiel muttered then imagining the human form touches his forehead to begin the transformation. An angel taking the form of a human was always painful that angels hardly undertake that task unless necessary. His face squeeze in discomfort as his features distorted and realigned themselves, and when the whole process was completed, Jugdiel breathed easy. He looked to see a weird look on the demon face.

"What! "

"You look very handsome, " Beelzebub muttered in a low tone, his eyes flickering with desire as it ran over the angel now turned human.

When it comes to bed partners Beelzebub has never been exclusive though his appetite tends to run more towards the male species and the angel standing in front of him in human form was reminding him is been long he had some fun.

"Wipe that look off your face before I make you, " Jugdiel threatened the demon before turning towards the house.

"So what are you going to say to the woman?" Beelzebub asked falling into steps with the angel.

"Why are you still here? don't you have anywhere else to be? I thought you preferred your own company so why are you here bothering me? Judiel fired at the demon who has refused to get lost.

Beelzebub rolled his eyes at the angel, "you are talking as if I am a mad scientist, I do get out sometimes, you know."

"Alright, but please can you get out somewhere else and not here."

"And miss watching you make a fool of yourself, not a chance."

Jugdiel continued walking ignoring the demon beside him

Jugdiel paused in front of the old lady's door his hand poised to knock, and his mind trying to come up with words that will explain his sudden appearance. He was so lost in his thoughts trying to come up with a reasonable explanation that he was aware of his hand making contact with the door till it was flung open and he was staring at the old lady who was looking at him curiously.

The old lady eyed the handsome young man standing in front of her door suspiciously, "can I help you? "

Jugdiel watched the old lady like a fish inside water, as he tried to stammer out an answer.

"We were here to see our relative but got lost in the dark when we saw your house and decided to see if anyone was home, " Beelzebub said from beside the angel having also taken on a human form.

Just like the angels taking human form is also painful for the demons but as they were already used to pain it was a lot easier and faster for them.

The old lady was startled by the appearance of the second man, and he was more handsome than any human she has ever seen in her entire life just like the first one. She contemplated letting the two men into her house seeing that she was alone in the house, but she didn't want to turn them away into the cold night.

"What the hell are you doing? "Jugdiel whispered asked the demon beside him from his side mouth, irritated at the demon once again butting into his business.

"Saving your ass, seeing that you can't lie to save a soul."

Jugdiel was about to tell the demon that he didn't need his help but the old lady was already ushering them into her house.

The interior of the house through small was neatly kept and has a homey ambiance that made Jugdiel feel relax and welcome, he looked towards the demon who was glancing around the house to see the same relaxed expression on his face.

The old lady directed the two gentlemen to a seat and left to offer them something got to drink. She was surprised they were not freezing to death seeing how scantly they both dressed.

As soon as the woman left the room, Jugdiel was on the demon, glaring at him. "What were you thinking joining me here, if my fellow angels see us here they will think we are walking together and you know is forbidden for angels and demons to work together."

"Relax brother is just the two of us here who is going to tell, you or the old lady? " Beelzebub replied with a slight smile resting back into his seat.

Jugdiel was about to remind him that no one hides anything from the Creator when the old lady came back bearing a tray in her hand. Jugdiel immediately rushed to her side to relieve her of the burden and placed it on the tiny center table in the living room.

"I made you guys some tea to help you warm up, " the old lady said to her handsome visitors taking a seat in the rocking chair at the corner of the room while she watched them. From the way they look, they appear to be Americans. She has always been curious about the people of that country may be her visitors can enlighten her she thought.

The two men stretched out their hands towards the two cups taking it to their lips for a taste. They didn't need the warmth but couldn't turn down the old lady's hospitality.

Jugdiel not realizing how hot the so-called tea was took a heavy swallow and had to bring it right back up into his cup when it burnt his throat his face squeezing at the discomfort in his mouth.

The demon who had only taken a sip of his drink chuckled at his brother's misery while the old woman smiled before apologizing and admonishing him to take it in small quantities.

Jehiel face turned red at his blunder while he stared into his cup as if it held the world's mysteries.

"You are Americans, " the old lady said in more a statement than a question.

Beelzebub nodded his head while Jugdiel remained silent.

"Can you tell me about where you are from?"

Jugdiel looked at the demon wondering what they were going to say, they weren't from American and if they should say where they are really from the old lady will be rushing them out of her house deeming them crazy.

Beelzebub rolled his eyes at the angel before turning to the old woman and started relegating her with stories about American. Made up stories of course but the woman didn't know that and from the smiles and interest radiating from her face it didn't make any difference, after all, that is why they were here to make her feel less lonely even if for a short while.

The old lady watched the slightly darker male talk while the fair one just stared with a pleased smile on his face, thinking him deaf and dumb as he hasn't said anything he asked his brother using sign language she learned in her early days if his brother was deaf and dumb.

The two men watched the weird hand gestures from the old lady with a confused expression, then realization dawned on Beelzebub and he broke into loud laughter. He laughed so hard making the other two wonder if he was going crazy.

"What is funny?"Jugdiel asked the demon in a very soft tone and in heavenly language knowing the other man will be the only one picking it up. He has a feeling that the demon was laughing at him and he didn't appreciate it.

"I think our host believes you deaf and dumb, " Beelzebub replied in the same tone and language before breaking up into laughter again.

"I am not deaf and dump ma, "Jugdiel said to the woman with flushed cheeks.

The old woman who was wondering why the other male was laughing realized her mistake when the fair one spoke and felt bad at her wrong assumption. "I am sorry, " she said with a soft smile in his direction and received a nod in acknowledgment. He isn't a talker she thought in her mind. She was about to ask her visitor another question when she realized that she hasn't offered them anything to eat and they have been talking for hours. She quickly got to her feet to go towards the kitchen to get them something when she felt a sharp pain in her chest and the next thing she was crashing to the floor.

Jugdiel flung his cup aside and rushed towards the woman when he saw her falling, with his speed was able to catch her before she hit the floor, but the woman wasn't moving to feel him with panic. He started shaking the woman calling her name but no response. He wanted to use his powers on the woman but he didn't have any healing powers that were his brother Raphael and calling him down here will get him in trouble. Her gaze swung to the demon who was still on his seat sipping tea like nothing was going on.

"Hey a little help here, " he said in an annoyed tone to the demon.

"The old lady just had a heart attack and if you don't want her dying you better take her to the hospital, " Beelzebub answered in a casual tone feeling unconcerned for the human lying still in the angel's arms. He was only here for the angel and not the human so he didn't care whatever happens to her, then he realized that if something happens the angel wasn't going to be happy so he quickly stood to his feet grabbing the woman from the angels hand rushing towards the door, released his wings and took to the sky.

Jugdiel was a little slow to react when the human was suddenly snatched from his hand, fearing that the demon meant to cause more harm to the human rushed towards the door but it took him a little time to return to his angel state giving the demon a head start. Then he was off soaring in the sky after them.

He caught up with them in front of a hospital and when he took on his human form, Beelzebub was already through the door the woman clutched in his arm.

inside the hospital, jugdiel had to restrain himself from punching the demon for the stunt he pulled.

"Hey let me explain before you start throwing punches, " Beelzebub said to the pissed-off angel that joined him at the waiting area. "Every second we delay taking her to hospital reduces her chances of survival so instead of wasting time telling you what I wanted to do I just did it."

"Where is she? "Jugdiel asked relaxing at the demon's explanation.

"The doctors have her, they said to wait here."

As soon as the words left his mouth a doctor came out of the room heading in their direction.

"You are the one that came in with the old lady? " he asked Beelzebub who nodded his head quickly urging the doctor to go on.

"I am sorry we lost her."

Jugdiel felt his whole body go numb from the man's words, without a word walked out of the hospital.

"Hey hold on, " Beelzebub said running after the angel leaving a confused doctor in his wake.

Beelzebub trailed after the angel who refused to slow down till he caught up with him. He ran to his front and stopped him in his tracks and when he was about to go around him, held him back by his hand.

"I know you are saddened by her loss but think it this way, we both know that was destined to happen but you made sure she wasn't alone in her final moments."

The demon's words brought little comfort to Jugdiel, looking into his brown eyes which was the eye color he chose as a human whispered thank you in a soft tone before zooming off to the sky.