Chapter Text
The vast eternal night sky stretched overhead, but its astral beauty brought little comfort as its ungrateful audience shuffled about and gathered down below. Hardly any bothered even a short glance above, too selfishly drawn into the spectacle on stage.
Understandable.
It was the first public execution under Diavolo’s reign, after all.
And of an Avatar, no less.
He tested the chains binding his wrists behind his back, finding not even the slightest give.
Of course.
“It is with a heavy heart that I stand before you today…” Diavolo began, standing at the podium and projecting his voice far and wide, captivating all who might listen while Barbatos stood dutifully at his side. He spoke of a dream of peace, of a new era where no being of the three realms need live in fear. Not a replacement of the old ways, no, but reimagining anew.
“… and as it stands, I can not allow treachery to coexist with peace—“
“Treachery?”
Belphegor took one step up onto the stage, not bothering waiting for his introduction.
“What treachery?” he continued, ignoring the gasps and murmurings of his family among the crowd. “I’ve committed no crimes.”
“Belphie…”
Beel’s voice nearly made him falter, but he persevered and strode onto the stage, glaring up into Diavolo’s eyes with disdain.
Diavolo, to his credit, remained firm.
“You know full well what you’ve done,” he said, then turned back to address the crowd. “For the crime of murdering an exchange student who had joined us in good faith—“
“Murder’s a bit of a loaded word, don’t you think?” He goaded, nodding to the crowd without looking, knowing full well you would be there. “If you’re going to charge me for a crime, shouldn’t the act be something a little more… permanent?”
“Belphegor!”
This time Lucifer’s voice snapped inside him and he growled, risking the chance he might have to see you again as he turned and snapped.
“Well?! Shouldn’t it?!” He barked out a laugh, his heart breaking as he watched Mammon shield your sight from him. Traitor.
“What does it even matter? They’re just a human! They could just die again today, tomorrow, any day!”
“Belphegor, that’s eno-“
Diavolo raised his hand, silencing his faithful dog Lucifer without a single word.
Traitors.
Every last one of them.
“The impermanence of their death does not erase the fact that it happened, Belphegor,” Diavolo said, his words cold and hard. “The exchange program was meant to show good faith among realms, and that all would be safe from undo harm.”
“And humans are meant to die alone and forgotten, often for pathetic and stupid reasons.”
He might not get a rise out of Diavolo, but Barbatos broke his composure just slightly. He smirked, the bindings suppressing his powers but he still had enough to let himself out, swishing his tail to emphasize his arrogance.
Baiting the butler would only disgrace his master~
“All this could’ve been settled so easily too,” he said as if placating a child, “we could’ve just eaten their soul and gotten another human. There’s dozens out there. I might’ve failed once, but I’m happy to do the job again~”
Barbatos turned toward him but Diavolo snapped his fingers, releasing the first seal.
Pain shot through his arms as the chains wound tighter, biting into his skin and drawing his arms further back, forcing his head back as he fell to his knees, his mouth open in a silent scream of agony.
“This is not the leader I wish to be,” the wretched demon lord said, voice growing distant as pain began to devour the senses.
Another snap and Belphegor crumpled forward, the chains returning to their former state.
“You…” he muttered, unable to lift his head from the stage, “You… bastard.”
“If that is what I must be for my people, so be it.”
The scent of death approached, not nearly as romantic or ethereal as human text might be believed. No, it was more domestic, simplistic. Heavy boots strode toward him at his back, and the reaper yanked him up by his hair, exposing his neck as the coldness of their blade hissed for his flesh.
One of the few things that could truly harm a demon.
“Whether you agree or not, I cannot change that, Belphegor.”
He glared up at Diavolo, hating the hint of pity he saw in his expression.
“Our future depends on coexisting with humanity peacefully.”
The reaper’s blade withdrew, and he closed his eyes, waiting for the swing.
But it didn’t come.
He opened them again and looked up at Diavolo.
“What? All the theatrics for a bluff?”
Diavolo crossed his arms and sighed, turning his back and gesturing for Barbatos to set up the chopping block.
“No, no…”
“There is no posturing here.”
Once placed, the reaper pushed him upon it and curved their scythe to rest just in reach of the corner of his eye, its otherworldly energy beginning to hum for blood.
“Then, what?” He lashed his tail and struck at the reaper blindly, forcing another laugh. “You want me to beg and plead for mercy?”
Asmo sobbed and Solomon murmured something in a low tone.
Still, silence lingered as the two demons stared each other down, waiting for one to relent.
It was sickening.
But it was exactly what he wanted, wasn’t it?
Belphegor let out a sigh and raised his head just enough, fearlessly keeping his throat exposed. “Alright, fine. You want my sincerity?”
Lucifer gasped but he’d long since dismissed any concern that first traitor would have, instead waiting for that stupid sense of hope to flicker in Diavolo’s eyes.
Then, when he finally saw it, he spat.
“Piss off.”
Asmo wailed again and Diavolo closed his eyes, turning away with a deep sigh. Then, he looked to the reaper and nodded his head, and the scythe vanished from his sight once more.
A strange sense of dread fluttered in his chest, but he closed his eyes and lifted his chin high, welcoming what was to come openly.
He’d never wanted to live among demons anyway.
“Lucifer…”
Your voice cut through the chaos just as the scythe began to sing, breaking his solace as he abandoned his unspoken promise and turned to look into the crowd.
“Can I ask…”
In the briefest of glimpses, your eyes met.
“What happens to a demon’s soul when they die?”
NO!
How dare you take this from him?!
Tainting his last memory with your false sympath-