Satan, January 11th

Satan entered the tv room from the throne room. He stared at Arsene, who laid on the couch and watched TV, flicking through channels. Though she never said it directly, he could guess she couldn’t stomach working that day, with everything that had happened, and he couldn’t blame her. Nico sat next to her, staring more at Arsene than whatever was happening on the TV.

He watched as Arsene paused on the news channel.

“King Zeta and his fellow Time Travelers have announced that Queen Katherina of the Fuschia Kingdom has cut ties with the Time Travelers of Tempest and is allying with the Black Kingdom. The Black Kingdom's palace caught on fire and Takahiro was believed to have been the one that sealed it away by a shield of darkness. King Yami claims he did not make the shield. He reported being visited by Takahiro Koizumi moments earlier. He believes he was the one behind the fire and the shield. Investigators are working on the way to shatter the barrier, and King Yami predicts Takahiro Koizumi is plotting something.” The newscaster explained. Then, it switched to the five Time Travelers in Tempest, who denounced Katherina. Arsene hugged a pillow uncomfortably.

Satan clenched his fist at the news, whisper-rambling in demon tongue, both his and Nico’s native language. Arsene knew it too, but not to the extent they did. Initially, it seemed nonsense, but Arsene and Nico started hearing about Katherina and Takahiro.

“Of course, showing your true colors again. I can’t believe I ever dated you.” Satan mumbled in demon tongue.

“You… what?” Nico’s eyes widened in disbelief. But then Satan paused as he realized the mistake he had made.

“Fuck, I didn’t want you to tell you now… to make a long story short, I met Katherina while you were separated. We were in a relationship for 11 years. It was abusive, but that still doesn’t change the fact that I was with her behind your back. We also had a son together, and for that I’m sorry,” Satan bowed with crossed arms, digging his sharp nails into his clothes and skin, and his eyes glued to the floor, feeling tears threaten to spill, “If you don’t want to keep working for us, I understand-”

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“Where is your son?”

“You’re… not mad?”

“No, Katherina has a way of manipulating and abusing people. Me, of all people, should know that.”

Satan’s lip trembled, and in a rare sign of affection, he ran up to Nico and hugged him, sobbing happily, but just a little.

He’s not with Katherina, right?” Nico asked.

“No, never,” Satan wiped his eyes and sighed, “He’s with my best friend, Eris. She had to go into hiding after her separation from Takahiro. He wants her back for reasons I’m not sure of yet. I’m not worried about Katherina getting her hands on him, but I don’t want Eris to be found by Takahiro….” Satan thought aloud.

“If we don’t know his motivations, maybe it'll be fine if we just exercise caution?” Nico suggested. Satan nodded. His eye seemed to catch Arsene’s; the blindfold made it hard to tell for sure.

“You’re quiet… are you okay with all this?” Satan fretted.

“I don’t care about the relationship. If Nico isn’t mad about that, then I’m not. It’s more so the fact you hid an eleventh child from me.” Arsene sighed.

“It took me an long time to realize I was being fooled… I have little to say. I’m sorry.” Satan apologized yet again. Arsene shut off the depressing news and stood up off the couch, grabbing her winged scepter.

“You can’t change the fact you made those decisions, but you can make the effects of those decisions better. Let’s start with getting your son back. What’s his name?” Arsene asked. Satan nodded.

“It’s Phoenix. Eris is hiding on one of the Rainbow Kingdom’s islands. I’ll teleport you there, if you want.” Satan explained.

“Yes, I’d like to meet him.” Arsene said.

Satan turned his chain belt to blood, by saying, “Blood: transform into chains!” The chains melt and slid down his clothes, until Satan moved his hand to the side, making the blood follow him.

A door creaked, and Satan froze in place, looking at Nico and Arsene.