As promised, even though it took me awhile...

Chapter Two-Double Trouble

[Amaimon-Gehenna]

Marble floors spread out underneath my gaze. Dark cobalt with veins of silver and flecks of obsidian drifted in its stony embrace.

Why you ask was I staring at the floor? Well, in all reality it was the only place I could look without getting punished. Tou-san was big on subservience.

I could tell you the entire layout of the room without skipping a single minuscule detail but only because for centuries I had tried to find the perfect place to direct my gaze while within the throne room. After over eight and a half of them I had found kneeling was the only position in which I could take that would allow me to look at the floor without seeming defiant.

So I did. My report was not meant to be long—none of my reports were because I could not stand cow-towing to another for anyone for too long. On my hands and knees I continued speaking to the fiery figure lazily slouching upon his equally dark marble throne.

Yes, the floor and I were intimate acquaintances from all the times that I had made the presumption to leave before I was told to or whenever I mouthed off. My cheek-bones and nose had been smashed into the floor far too many times for my liking so I waited.

But I still found myself impatient to escape back to the confines of my bedroom and the safety of my hidden stash of sweets. A nap wouldn't hurt before Tou-san sent me on another mission or errand either.

Playing goffer between him and Aniue was exhausting with both of their constant mood swings. Spying on Aniue had been easier then imagined; Aniue already knew I was doing so and he just played along to avoid getting us both into trouble so everything was good there. But that didn't excuse the fact he had threatened to rip my tongue out if I tattled to Tou-san about a certain fling with that rude Exorcist.

I felt my hackles bristle at just the thought of that loud-mouthed, annoying human Aniue had latched onto. If he hadn't been a toy of Aniue he would already be thrice dead.

I dared not complain to either one of them about these missions so I kept quiet about my displeasure—but it was taking its toll, I could only handle so much abuse before having to vent and I was getting to that threshold quicker than what was healthy even for me.

Not that it would show on my face. I was stubborn, not stupid. My monotone expression rarely ever waved for such reasons. I rather avoid a hiding from Tou-san and another punishment from Aniue.

When the last syllable of my report fell from my lips I waited for Tou-san for to ask for further detail or dismiss me but to my consternation the silence of the throne room swallowed my voice and stretched itself past its normal limits. I forced myself to not hold my breath. It would be noticed and seen as assign of weakness. And Tou-san did not abide weakness in his children. He absolutely loved it when we faltered and took every pleasure in making sure it didn't happen again. Such was the sadism of Tou-san.

Best not provoke him…

I lay unmoving in front of his throne for minutes on end. Nothing but the smooth crackle of fire and the engulfing silence met my sharp hearing and I readied myself for whatever action Tou-san would see fit to act on.

He was a bit mad after all.

Then again insanity amongst demons was hardly outside the norm.

At last the silence was shattered by the sound of rustling fabric. It was faint but the clack of shoes stepping across the floor was unmistakable and I told myself to remain relaxed less I earn myself a kick in the head.

I knew that when the sound faded and the glow of fire reflected ever stronger on the shiny floor I gazed at that Tou-san was standing right next to me.

I said nothing and repressed the urge to shudder as a clawed hand wrapped around my chin jerking it up gently. I hated it when he was gentle. It always hurt worse later then when he was being intentionally cruel. Tou-san didn't have a gentle piece of soul in his metaphysical body. He wasn't the god of Gehenna because he was kind.

"My, my what a lovely face you are making my son. Too bad I can see ya bittin' yer lip. What have I told you about scaring them?"

I hadn't even realized that I had bit it. I was too used to chewing on things to notice I had done so. I slowly blinked, eyes forced to look at the pools of swirling blue and red like a blood-soaked whirlpool Ani Egyn loved to make all the time in the area human's called the "Bermuda Triangle" that danced with malice and madness.

His inky-blue claws bit into my skin drawing beads of blood to the surface of my pale flesh.

I didn't dare move. You didn't try to escape Tou-san if he was talking to you. Ever. If his flames were turning your very blood into vapor and skin to parchment you didn't move an inch or make a peep. It just wasn't done.

Once more I was somewhat surprised to find that his flames didn't burn. They had long ago but now I was far more resilient to resist their hungry tongues that made things burst into flame with just a simple lick.

White tendrils of hair fluttered around my own verdant locks as Tou-san leaned forward and lapped at the blood pearling across my closed lips.

I refused to be caught off guard even then so I kept my eyes open staring blankly into his own mocking ones.

He pulled away smacking his lips obscenely and yanked his head away as if he wished to have slapped me instead.

I glanced back down knowing my place. Even if I put a toe out of line here and there I always tried to keep from angering him or Aniue too much, I never knew when they would deem me expendable.

Plus, it was fun to play a little cat and mouse. If only I didn't have to pretend that I didn't enjoy getting caught.

I heard footsteps away from me and knew that I would soon be dismissed. Tou-san would ground my face into the floor usually if he was displeased with one of my reports.

Considering that a little groveling at his feet instead of being tossed around till dragged to his bedroom was a nice change in pace I stayed silent and obedient till I heard him huff, "Well? What are ya still doing here! Scram you stupid brat! Unless you want a spanking?!"

Realizing that I was to get out I gracefully stumbled to my feet and bowing deeply bid Tou-san goodnight and made my way to the doors—not running but not loafing around either.

And I would have made it too. If only I had remembered to turn off my cellphone. I would soon come to despise the golden contraption that Aniue had thrown at my head a few years back.

As it was, I froze with my hand outreached to grab the door handle. For a few seconds I could only hope my ears had been wrong and that I hadn't heard the "ding" that accompanied the arrival of an email to the accursed device.

But alas as I blinked in slowly dawning horror hoping that it was just my imagination that I had heard, the silence of the room became still.

Tou-san had heard it too.

My toes curled and I resumed my faltered dash to freedom, wrapping my hand around the handle of the large throne doors.

It was not to be for I heard a very audible and dangerous "snap" and the doors locked themselves with an ominous "clu-chunk."

"Amaimon…"

If I had disliked that Exorcist at the moment then I surely hated him forever afterwards.

If you want to have another one-shot added just ask. I'm quite fond of this.

Review if you please.

Tarry a while. Thou art so fair. ~ Wild-Tama

P.S. Poor Amaimon...