Chapter 98: MAMMON

(Earlier)

[as Sellena and Mar were still talking]

Elenchos saw Mammon enter the library quickly,

Belphegor too, was shocked, as he left his gambling, finally,

But in his face was not an anticipation to bond with his son,

But a look of worry, as if he had something in plan.

He ignores the humans and walked directly to Elenchos,

"Do you still have that golden hourglass I gave you?" "Of course!"

Elenchos felt weirded out however, as why would he ask about it out of the blue,

Until Mammon quickly sighed it relief, "Bring it to me at once, could you?"

"Bring it out? Lord Mammon, I...you lost another bet, didn't you?"

"Yes, I did! So now do what I want of you,"

"But it's a gift from you, when I turned fifteen!

"Just give it to me," "Are you still in a dream?

Do you not hear yourself, Lord Mammon?

You're one of the Supreme demons,

And yet you're like a beggar searching for money,

How much more would you take from me?

You were barely present in my life,

And when you do, you only tell me such things,

and then the moment I give you what you want,

You get out of my sight."

"I don't have time for this, the witches want the money now,"

Elenchos felt extremely shocked, "How?

How could you keep living like this?

You spend money as quickly as a passing breeze,

You gave it to me, why take it away?

I treasured it for years, and cleaned it everyday,"

Belphegor felt pity upon Elenchos and quickly took Mammon outside,

Giving him some of his own precious objects, just so he won't hurt his nephew's pride,

Mammon quickly left, not even taking another glance,

But Belphegor was simply angry, how could such neglect, Elenchos stand?

He went back inside, but Elenchos and his human are both gone,

While Sellena quickly stood, as Belphegor said, "We are done,"

The demon led her back towards Asmo's door,

As he bids farewell, and went to his own, body feeling sore.

That was when he realized that Eligorr drained a lot from him,

And wondered what else Asmodeus was up to, why he went out in a whim,

He pulls the covers and started to sleep,

Hoping he won't get the same bitter dream.

...

Asmodeus finished cleaning himself on one of the spare rooms,

And noticed how paler were the complexion of his horns,

They were also smaller, meaning he must have drained so much,

But that didn't matter, although they even appear softer to the touch.

It looked awkward on him, but he was forbidden by Lucifer to hide his horns,

Unless he is to sleep of course,

So he changed on spare clothes, and walked out of the room feeling worn,

He felt his muscles tensed, and his eye sight getting blurry,

How he hoped to get to his bedroom, his steps became quicker, as he strives to hurry.

Sellena was surprised to see him immediately collapse on the bed,

She wanted to check on him, but remembered what Lluming said.

The angel looked at her waringly, before he continued sleeping,

As Sellena pulled the blanket up, as Asmodeus smiles, now stuck dreaming.

Sellena sighed, asking how she could stop caring,

When what he sees in him, was not a devil worth punishing,

His looks were soft, harmless and tamed,

It felt upsetting, that he was still a sinful monster just the same.

She cannot sleep that night,

Thinking still, as the coldness bite,

That was when arms wrapped around her tightly,

Signalling that Asmodeus was aware of her being awake,

As she reacted to it quite calmly.

"Tomorrow...can I ask you a few things?"

Asmodeus asked, as Sellena could only think,

"Sure...I guess, you sounded quite serious,"

"I'm just tired, it should be all obvious,"

"Alright, sorry for making you worry,

I just can't sleep," "What's wrong then, honey?"

"Haha, you're not supposed to ask that, you sound so sleepy,"

As Lluming butt in, "You two, just sleep already,"

...

Mammon went to his room and tried to sleep,

But from Elenchos lashing out, his mind failed not to keep,

He felt a bit uncomfortable, and fought within himself,

His eyes soon widened, when he asked his own if it's guilt that he has felt.

He knew he had never been a good father to the young demon,

But doing such tasks had never been common,

He had never even planned to have him in his life,

As he was just a product of an unpleasant night.

In his heart he still carry wounds from the past,

That he actually don't know when it'd finally last,

He recalls the only woman he ever did love,

But was taken away, but what others claimed an all-loving God.

He crumpled his fists as he look at the wall,

Feeling the pain, he had hid from all,

He was just so afraid to feel attachment,

It was the same thing, that brought him unspeakable torment.

He wanted to keep his distance,

Seeing love and affection as nothing but nuisance,

So he submerged himself on earthly pleasures,

As the hurt of failing there, won't give him the same pain and pressure.

Family...he lost his first,

As he saw the events took place,

He couldn't imagine it'd be that worse.

The day he had Elenchos, he felt fear than excitement,

In his head, plays the same sequel of events,

More so when he realized that Elenchos was a rather kind creature,

He was not like the others, who only wanted suffering, as their form of pleasure.

He felt afraid because he was not hard to love,

And was afraid, that his efforts to ignore emotions won't be enough,

Elenchos was a precious child, and it'd be a lie if he claimed he didn't find him adorable,

How he remembered the times, when he reads the toddler his very first fables.

Mammon learned to control because of him,

But everytime Elenchos is near, he gets shattered of his peaceful dreams,

He gets reminded that anytime, he could lose everything again,

So he chose to ignore him, to save himself from pain.

Maybe if Elenchos becomes cold, ruthless,

Mammon won't have to worry any less,

He won't have to feel sorry for his son,

Knowing that on his own two feet, he could independently stand.

Yet somehow, despite that, Mammon realized how selfish and childish he's been acting,

All he did was for himself, none for his son who's the one suffering,

He felt that perhaps he had truly gone too far,

That he may regret his decisions, as anything could happen when it's war.

What if he suddenly dies? And his son hates his memory forever?

Isn't that quite a sad way to go? Staring at his cold dark eyes, as he finally develops ego?

That night, he sells his finest robes and silk,

Although it took him, a great pure will.

He bought books, so to make his son felt noticed,

As he was very robbed, by Mammon's way of grieving.

When he finally had them, he wrapped each carefully in a golden fabric,

Sealing it on a box, that could only be opened by magic.

Despite the torned relationship, he still did care for his only heir,

Just afraid to show affection, as the feeling of lost, he cannot bare.

When morning came, Elenchos felt surprised to see a huge box waiting in front of his door,

It had Mammon's name on it, as the other card had illegible words,

Mammon always had a bad handwriting, but Elenchos still treasured his father's effort,

Although he wondered why to such thing his dad resort.

He went back inside, as he took the huge box with him,

As Mar felt, such radiance enveloping him,

Elenchos had always look like smiling, but this one felt so real,

The first effort in a while, and the first day of his way to heal.

He opened the boxes, and like a child, eyes gleamed,

If he was any younger, he would have by then squealed.

He looks at Mar, who could only smile back,

"Look, big sis! Dad gave me these! I should make him some snacks,"

"While I'm not against it, isn't it too early for that?"

"Well, I guess you're right, but now what?"

"Just read them first I guess, after all isn't it your dad's fault?"

"I know that but still, it's not like he planned for me at all,"

"Hm, I can't believe you're considered a demon, when you understand than more humans does,

What if you join the angels? And escape all this fuss,"

"Right now? I don't think I would, well, not without my father,

Not without my uncles too, especially Lord Lucifer.

Despite his prideful interior, I actually find him a great father figure,

Well...minus the sinister bonding moments we had back then,

And his chaotic plan to tend with the future,"

"Ah, well, I think it's because your Mammon's heir,

But if not, then everyone should beware,

I won't change my opinion about Lucifer,

He's still playing God, and wanted to destroy the world over."

Elenchos looked saddened, but understood well of what Mar was saying,

Lucifer was far from a saint, and his wickedness is no denying,

He does spend a lot of time watching the zombie pit,

Throwing humans just for his own fascination,

Watching them be torned limb by limb.

"Maybe you should talk to your uncles, convince them one by one,"

"Ah, you don't understand, from their ideals, they're far too gone!

It'd take a miracle to convince them to switch sides!

To their millenias of hard work, they'd rather die!"

Mar purses her lips, and looked at her palms,

Reminding her of refuge, so she be calm,

What can a weakly human do? To move things forward,

She looked at Elenchos, and sternly said, "You can be their own steward,"

Elenchos wrinkled his expression, and asked what it meant,

"Maybe you were born, to persuade them, and make their decisions bend,

Everything has a reason, Elenchos, and you may be a gift,

To change their hearts, so our worlds won't worsen and rift."