FILTHHAUS

When the door creaks open you become bathed in the light from outside, the fluorescence casting across your body like it was from heaven above. The lights in this room are dim, gently flickering from the tree where they hang. You had always wondered how the candles didn’t light the tree ablaze, but you supposed at this point you should just suspect magic.

Belphegor stands in the doorway. He’s looking at you, tail flicking this way and that. Beelzebub has left for the kitchen, rummaging in the cabinets and fridge. He had become so protective over you. The youngest doesn’t know how to feel about that. Belphegor slinks into the room and shuts the door behind him.

“…hi.” He’s standing next to your bed, a certain kind of expression on his face, one that can’t be read. He gazes at the expanse of the bed, the offerings of food laid all around your body. In a way, you remind him of the human world fairy tales, about princesses fallen into a deep slumber and a Prince Charming coming to wake her with a true love's kiss. He wonders how many of his brothers have already tried, and to no avail.

He stays quiet for a few moments, just watching you, your serene expression and slow, deep breaths.

“You’re sleeping deeper than I do.” Belphegor says, cracking an awkward smile. You don’t respond.

He goes quiet again. He tries to see what his brothers like about you, namely Mammon, Leviathan, and Asmodeus. He can’t say he sees the appeal.

“…about what I said in the coliseum,” he begins, sitting on the edge of the bed, right by your legs. A few wrapped snacks tumble down next to him and the weight he puts on the mattress.

“I don’t…Lilith fell in love with a human man. And she was punished for it. And it was the humans fault, if he had never wooed her, she would still be here, and we would still be angels.”

You’re quiet, as you always are.

“If Lilith had never found your race so charming…I don’t know what she saw in them.”

He grabs your hand, your skin warm and full of life despite your slumber.

“…your hand is still warm. I can’t figure out if I like that or despise it.” He laughs, his voice the only one he hears. His tail flicks again, ears swiveling.

“You’re an enigma to me, you really are. I can’t figure out what you’re hiding or what you’ll do next. But I guess you’re pretty predictable right now.”

The bed creaks as Belphegor crawls further on, hovering over you.

“I don’t think I like you.”

His body shadows you, the looming of his curled horns falling just above your head, like a pair of your own.

“I tried to understand why my brothers liked you even if you ended up to be a human, but I just can’t understand them. You’re the very essence of what took our sister away.”

There’s a certain kind of cold look in his eyes.

“I will always hate humans. I will always hate you.”

Belphegor sits down on your stomach, uncaring of the way a harsh gust of breath punches from your lungs and out of your lips. He expected them to be cracked and dry, but he should have expected that Asmo would take care of you.

“So I’ve decided that you can’t be here anymore. You can’t be in any realm, I won’t have peace if you are.”

His hands fall on your throat, his slender, almost dainty fingers framing your jugular. It pisses him off how peaceful you look despite his rage. You’re sleeping so soundly now, unaware of the threats above you. Belphegor wishes you were awake so you’d bear witness to every moment.

“I can’t bear the idea of a human getting chummy with my brothers and I,”

His hands tighten around your throat and he squeezes, he squeezes as tight as he can, wringing the life from you.

“You’re nothing, you’re scum, we don’t need you here,”

Your mouth gapes with stolen breaths, a cryptic kind of croaking emanating from your throat. Belphegor grits his teeth, his nails digging into your skin and he has the urge to tear, to rip apart, to destroy the very soul of you.

Belphegor finds himself annoyed with how your unconscious body still gasps for air, yet is so complacent with what’s happening. The bed begins to tremble behind the force of his hands, practically shaking you where you lay. More wrapped snacks and offers tumble off the bed, falling onto the floor with small thumps.

“I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you-“

Your face is turning blue, your eyelids flickering open, bloodshot sclera all he sees. Drool slides down your chin, your tongue bitten down between your teeth. The veins on your neck pop out with agitation. The final straw for him is when your voice finally creeps through, whether you’re trying to speak or it’s basic instinct. It’s a simple ‘no’ that sends him over the edge.

“I HATE YOU!”

There’s a crack, a crunch, a splutter, and silence. The bedroom is so eerily quiet now. There’s peace, there’s serenity once again. Belphegor stares at the consequence of his actions, unfeeling other than relief. Humans truly were weak, feeble minded creatures. Easy to bend, easy to break.

He gets up and crawls off the bed. Belphegor has the decency to toss the food back onto the bed haphazardly. You’re lifeless now, and it looks no different than when you were alive three minutes ago.

He snorts, straightens his back, and leaves.

Asmodeus comes around the corner of the hall after Belphegor has shut the door, a cheery smile on his face. “Oh, Belphie, there you are! Beel told me you were visiting them.” Asmo is holding a little kit of nail supplies and skin care. “Are you done so soon? The others are usually much longer in there.”

Belphegor shrugs. “Not much to do when they’re asleep.”

Asmodeus pouts. “Still, it’s nice to sit with them and just talk. They say the hearing is what always sticks around, you know?”

The youngest doesn’t reply.

“…they care about you a lot, Belphie. I know it upset you finding out they're human, but they still love you just the same. I can sense these kinds of things!”

Belphegor gives a nonsensical hum. “What are you doing?”

“Oh, me?” Asmo lifts the basket he carries. “I’m going to go take care of them! Just because they’re sleeping doesn’t mean they don’t need to be clean and tidy. I think I’ll paint their nails blue this time…” he trails off mostly to himself, before seemingly snapping out of his own thoughts. “Well! I’ll talk to you later, kay?”

Belphegor walks past his brother with a stiff nod.

Even towards the end of the hall he can hear Asmodeus open the door, greeting you with his usual sweet charm. He can hear the concern in his older brothers voice when he probably touches your hand and feels that it’s cold. He can hear the shrill screech when Asmodeus no doubt finds the bruises and sharp angle of your neck.

“NO! OH PLEASE NO-“