Satan, January 11th

From the palace entrance stood four that stared back at Satan, Nico, and Arsene. Satan noticed Araya first. Arsene’s younger sister. Araya still had the ends of her hair curled and her flower hairpin. Thank Diablo. She barely changed.

Arista, Arsene’s older sister, towered over everyone as usual. She was hunched over, clutching her stomach. She looked much more disheveled and cozier than the last time they had seen Arista.

The third girl was unfamiliar, tiny, with umber brown complexion, wavy carmine red hair, and a grey sweater. She resembled Arista somewhat. From the letters Arista sent, which Satan barely read, he could only guess that that was Arete, Arista’s daughter.

The last person was someone Satan least expected.

Lucifer.

He had the signature Satanel hair trait of having messy hair, his much shorter and parted to the side. He had glasses, boots, and a leather jacket. Satan felt mixed as he stared blankly at his brother, who averted his gaze.

“Hey, been a while. I finally convinced Lucy to show himself.” Araya said.

“Can I sit down? I feel dizzy….” Arista asked as she swayed back and forth. Arsene took her arm and led her over to the couch in the next room while Satan marched up to Lucifer and glared him down.

“Uh - hi,” Lucifer greeted.

“What the hell were you doing away all these years and telling none of us about it? Satan spat

“He ran away to avoid becoming a ruler..” Araya clarified.

“And this is true?” Satan demanded, staring Lucifer down.

“Yes, but what’s so wrong with that? You never liked the idea of being a king either.” Lucifer defended himself.

“Because you left, and for two thousand years, you had us convinced you were dead. I made things easier by accepting my position, now that you’ve finally thought to show your face I think you should too.”

“Why is it even necessary for ME to rule Arsenia’s hell? Arsene can choose anyone for that, it’s her planet after all.”

“It’s your punishment for everything that happened with the sins. So why can’t you make things easier and just go with it?” Lucifer readied his scythe while Satan created his Pitchfork, the brothers’ skin shifting to red. As Araya watched the two brothers launch into an argument, she slowly slinked away with Arete.

“Um… can you handle this outside or something? I don’t think Arete or anyone else needs to hear all that….” Araya hesitated.

“Gladly.” Satan hissed with a furious smile. Satan quickly teleported himself and Lucifer away with his blood magic. Araya walked over to the couch where everyone else was while Arete followed from behind.

“I’m glad to see you both again, but why did you never mention Lucifer being with you?” Arsene asked Arista.

“Well, he wanted to run away from responsibility, and so did I, in a way. Mortals on Earth were always so weird towards me, you know? I’m sorry.” Arista apologized.

“I know in your last letter you said you were pregnant. How far along are you now?”

“Six months.” Arista rubbed her stomach, “But that’s the least important thing right now. Nen, why are you hiding your eyes?”

“I had a corneal abrasion during the Satanel reunion. People invaded the palace, hurt only the kids and I, and left. We’re still trying to figure out why.” Arsene explained. Araya tried to peek under the blindfold to see. Arsene shooed her off, crossing her arms in annoyance. Araya retreated reluctantly with a frown. Nico stifled a laugh. Araya rose from the couch and pulled Nico away from the others.

“Wh- huh?” Nico said. They sat at the kitchen table. Araya smirked as she rested her head on her hands.

“So… How’s your relationship with Arsene’s? Any changes? Are you becoming my brother-in-law anytime soon?” Araya asked, swinging her legs on her chair.

Nico bit his lip, looking off to the floor. “It’s been the same since you left, unfortunately.”

Araya burst up in her chair, slamming the table.

“You’ve made absolutely no moves on her?” Araya screamed. Nico became nervous, shushing her with a finger to his lips.

“Back when you left to look for Lucifer and Arista, I didn’t really know how to feel about Katherina,” Nico winced at mentioning her name, “I felt so confused. Did I love her or hate her? I needed to solve that before pursuing anyone else, but even so, I also wanted to make sure any new woman in my life would be someone Bree could feel could be her true mother. She’s always wanted a new mother. That took a long time to unpack. I was going to try to start pursuing her this year but then the reunion incident and now the war. I’d feel gross pursuing her in such a difficult time. Unless she herself pursues me, that’s a different story.”

“You’re right. Maybe I’ll just have to play matchmaker.” Araya trailed off.

“Please, but don’t tell her any of my feelings.”

“Duh, of course.”

***

“So um, what else did I miss?” Arista asked.

“Satan had a secret son.” Arsene said.

“Another Satan kid? Wow. I’m glad you stayed the same mostly. Please don’t change too much.”

“I mean, wasn’t planning on it, but I’ll try not to.”

“Hey, who told you you could talk about Phoenix just yet?” Satan’s voice boomed. Everyone paused, turning to Satan. Satan and Lucifer were covered in bruises. Satan had a black eye, his hair looked messed up, and he used his blood magic to put his hair back into its usual side ponytail. One of his horns had a crack in it.

On the other hand, Lucifer had cuts on his face and neck, his glasses were shattered, and his jacket had some tears.

“Where’s Araya?” Lucifer asked.

“You don’t need her to heal you. You just have cuts and ruined clothes.”

“Well, I didn’t expect them to start tearing in the middle of a fight or for my sunglasses to get flung, which by the way, thank you very much for that.”

“Your. Absolutely. Welcome.” Satan gritted his teeth. Before another fight could happen, Araya and Nico walked out of the kitchen chatting. Araya turned to look at the brothers before groaning and whipping out her grey pole, her unusual healing tool. She walked up before Satan first, and her hands and pole glowed yellow transparent flowers. She pointed the pole at the spots where Satan got hurt. Since the horn crack wasn’t huge, it could be repaired. Satan’s bruises faded a bit, some smaller ones fading away entirely. That face bruise was mostly gone, but it would still stick around a little longer. While best suited for healing wounds and bruises, healing didn’t necessarily make the bigger ones go away entirely.

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Araya stepped before Lucifer and healed his bruises before the yellow glow faded.

“Well? What about my jacket and glasses?” Lucifer asked.

“Really?” Araya asked.

“Yes, really!”

“But not the ones on your pants?”

“Not the ones on my pants.” Lucifer echoed.

She readied her pole and pointed the pole at the tears and cracks. The tears were fine, but some cracks still remained.

“You’re gonna have to give it a day, I’ll get rid of the cracks for good tomorrow. Also, guys, I get you’re mad at each other, but on a normal day I’m working. I will not always be readily available to heal you after your fights, so either, a) hire a healer when I’m not around to heal you after your fights, or b) fight each other with your words. But please, be mindful of Arete.” Araya said.

“I can work with that. After work, I’m going to make up a list of the best insults.” Satan smirked.

“Fuck you!” Lucifer laughed. Hopefully, they wouldn’t launch into another fight right now. Araya covered the ears of Arete, who averted her eyes from her idiot step-father and hot topic step-uncle.

Araya groaned, launching into a Latin rant that made Satan burst into laughter. As Araya finished her healing, Satan finally stopped laughing.

“Okay, that makes things easier, I have to go get my son now.”

“Can we come with you?” Arsene begged.

“Why?”

“If we meet him right off the bat maybe he won’t feel so awkward around us!”

“Okay fine, just don’t overload him.” Satan sighed.

***

Satan and others arrived on the smallest island surrounding the Rainbow Kingdom’s palace. Takahiro’s methods of finding Eris’s location were unbeknownst to even Satan. The seven trudged their way up to the island's highest point, the highest hill with a singular large tree. You couldn’t tell by sight alone if someone was supposedly living here.

“How the fuck does she live here?” Lucifer commented, gesturing to the tree.

“You’ll see,” Satan sat in front of the tree with arms crossed and clasped his hands together until… “wake the fuck up.” Nico, Arete, and Arsene stared at him dumbfounded while Arista and Lucifer burst into laughter.

A portal appeared, and out stepped a short gold-eyed woman with a small child hiding behind him. Eris and Phoenix. Satan got up slightly and opened his arms, signaling Phoenix to run into his arms into a hug.

“Why did you bring everyone?” Eris growled as she pulled a black shawl over her shoulders more.

“Sorry, they insisted so they could meet Phoenix.” Satan apologized as he lifted little Phoenix to carry him better. Satan smiled gently at Phoenix as Phoenix wrapped his arms around Satan again, closing his eyes for a moment.

“I missed you, daddy.” Phoenix mumbled.

“Me too, Fifi.”

“Auntie Eris, what are you gonna do now?” Phoenix asked, turning to look at her.

“See you off to the palace, go back into hiding in the void, probably.”

“The void was boring though! Daddy, couldn’t she stay with us?”

“Hm, Takahiro wouldn’t even set foot in Hell if he still has that phobia of death, but,” Satan hesitated, “would he send you-know-who after you in his place? If you want to, you can stay with us. If you're okay with the maybe threat of Takahiro and living with mine and Nico’s family.”

“That’s a risk I’m willing to take.”

“Why are we still fucking walking, we have Eris and Phoenix, can we just teleport home?” Lucifer yelled.

“Language!” Satan yelled back as he teleported them back to the palace.

Satan first took Eris and Phoenix into the long hallway where everyone’s rooms were. Though only nine rooms needed to be occupied, it extended much farther than it likely ever needed. There were probably two hundred rooms. Eris took the room to the right of Arsene’s, which had a themed nameplate with her signature angel wings and everything, very fitting for her. She opened the door to nothing special. Grey walls, a decent-sized bed, night tables on either side, candles, a desk, a closet, and an empty shelf. Just an average room.

Phoenix took the room next to his half-brother, Crow, on the opposite side of the hallway from Eris. The inside was the exact same as Eris’s.

“It’s perfect.” Phoenix said.

“Really? Even though it’s nothing special?” Satan smiled.

“Yes.”

“We can go buy new furniture tomorrow or something if you want.”

“We also need new clothes.” Eris said.

“That too.” Satan replied.

Arete, Lucifer, and Arista entered the hallway, and each picked out their rooms. Arete chose the right of Eris’s, and Arista and Lucifer shared a room across from Aretes and right of Phoenix’s. Arete, Lucifer, and Arista set their things down in their new rooms. Finally, a more permanent place to have all their things.

At least, when Arete was with Arista, she had been living in the same home when it was time to be with her father.

Satan and Eris made their way to the living room to chat, and Arista and Lucifer headed for the kitchen, leaving the two kids behind. Phoenix turned around and hesitated before walking up to her and greeting her.

“Oh, hi. Um, Phoenix, right? Uncle Satan’s kid?” Arete said.

“Yes. Daddy never mentioned you.”

“I mean, he didn’t really know I existed until today so I don’t blame him.”

“Neither did I. Do you like teenage mutant ninja turtles?”

“Yes! Do you have any of the episodes?” Arete beamed.

“I do, I’ll show you!” Phoenix grabbed Arete’s hand. They raced to the living room and the laptop sitting on the couch. Phoenix opened the laptop, opened up Netflix, and started playing the show.

Satan’s Diary

January 11th, 2020 11:53 PM

I revealed my secrets to Arsene and Nico and thank Diablo. They aren’t mad. I brought Fifi home, and Eris came with us. I set up their rooms too. We may go shopping and get some new furniture and things for their rooms tomorrow or something. Fifi and Arete are getting along well, I didn’t expect that, but I’m glad. Fifi never had friends his age.

I’m still worried Katherina may come down here and start things with my family. One calm day, or even a few quiet hours, is something I’d take any day. But, unfortunately, yesterday and the 4th were crazy.

In other news, I’ve been thinking. If it’s Takahiro and Katherina behind the attacks, they won’t stop. Suppose Takahiro managed to take back his kingdom despite his lousy reputation there. In that case, I doubt he will try to take over more and more and more until he has taken all of Ayuzuma. If I don’t do something sooner or later, more kingdoms will look the other way, and he’ll be free to keep conquering.

Maybe I can talk with the Queen of The Rainbow Kingdom herself. I tend not to leave unless it’s for diplomatic reasons. Me going out of my way to contact her should show that. Honestly, I’d do that right now, but Araya has me trapped. I think she’s sleeping. Fuck it. I’ll talk to the queen tomorrow. I missed cuddling with my first best friend.