10. Asmodeus

Az was horny but also incredibly satiated. He was glad Gabe had been satisfied and drowsy enough not to notice Az taking a lick of his cum-covered fingers. Gabe tasted delicious—sweet instead of the slightly bitter flavor he was expecting. Az vowed to get a mouthful of his cum at some point.

He didn't question his motive there too much. He was a lust demon, but as he stated, his satisfaction was not required, and he didn't need to take part in sex or orgies to fill up on lust. Often he found it more satisfying to watch and enjoy what his vibes did to people as opposed to actually participating. He was quite the voyeur, he supposed.

So he should get complete satisfaction out of seeing Gabe sleep with anyone, but somehow he had become determined that he would be the someone to satisfy Gabe. This morning's orgasm had only cemented that feeling. He had seen Gabe's stress and anxiety melt away, and it was better than an orgasm to see Gabe let go, get out of his head, and achieve his own pleasure with Az's help.

With Gabe headed off to the shower, however, it was time to go about his day. The first order of business was Beel. He got up and walked over to the mirror on Gabe's dresser, and with a few hand gestures he summoned the lesser demon. He appeared, still very blue and orange, and immediately started ribbiting and croaking up a storm.

"Slow down, Beel. I got you back, just as I promised, and you are no worse for wear. Before you complain about whatever has you worked up, did you find Gabe's parents? Where are they and how are they?" Az asked.

Beel ribbited that they were in Limbo together and seemed very happy. They apparently spent most of their time in the libraries, and they seemed to remain out of anyone's focus. Beel complained that it had been most difficult to find them, that no one knew their names, and that only by description had he eventually hunted them down.

"Interesting," Az commented. He idly wondered if they too were somewhat immune to demonic or angelic influence. It would certainly explain why they seemed to want to stay off the afterlife radar.

"I'm sorry it was difficult to find them, but surely that doesn't require the near hysterics that you arrived in," Az continued.

Beel croaked grumpily, and Az just raised an eyebrow. "Yes, near hysterics does describe your state. So what seems to be the problem?"

A fairly long-winded ribbited and croaked response followed. It appeared that Az's presence was missed in Limbo. This was puzzling, since not much time at all had passed. For whatever reason, however, the leadership team had taken an interest in his whereabouts, and, as Beel stated, he was being "sought for consultation."

Az groaned. He really didn't have it in him to deal with the leadership team. He also really couldn't comprehend why they would be seeking him out. He had a legion of lust demons working under him who could do whatever was required, and he knew there was no trouble amongst his legion. He would have felt it if there had been.

He was also technically the Lord of the Nines, but really, with each of the nine regions of the underworld having its own Infernal King, his job as overseer was rather moot. He hadn't had to interfere in any of the regions in millenia, and even then, it had more been an occasional pep talk than any actual interference. Infernal Kings of the Underworld could occasionally get a bit cranky or bored, but they all worked hard. Unlike the leadership team, Az knew how to manage effectively—he trusted his people and let them do their work. They all loved their jobs, and he left them to do what they did best.

Az sighed. "I cannot imagine why the leadership team is seeking me out, but a few days of waiting will not kill them. Unfortunately. Besides, there are some changes being made there anyway. If they get too out of line, I have no doubt that Minos and Adam will put them in their place."

Beel croaked in confusion.

"Ah, yes," Az replied, "you've missed quite a bit, little demon. The Judge of the Damned has taken a human for his soul. None of us are quite sure what that means, but he went up to heaven when the leadership team tried to take the mortal soul back, and now Minos and his soul, whose name is Adam, have passage anywhere. In response to the clusterfuck that the leadership team caused, both Yahweh and Luce apparently agreed that the team would get an overhaul."

Beel gave a sound between a croak and a ribbit that clearly expressed his utter disbelief, but Az only laughed and moved to put him back into his aquarium. As he was placing the lid back on, he heard a sound from the front door. The water was still running in the shower, although he assumed Gabe would be done soon. He wondered if perhaps Gabe's sister was back to check on them again.

Lest he be caught in a compromising position, he conjured himself into some black slacks and a button-down shirt—he thought that would be fitting for school teacher attire—and headed toward the front door.

He hadn't reached it when he heard a familiar, bubbly voice call out, "Yoohoo! Time to get decent! Grams is here! Although I wouldn't mind seeing the demon naked, but Gabe, you can get dressed. I've no need to see your junk."

Az laughed as he walked into the kitchen from one direction and Grams walked in from the door. Apparently Gabe liked to give out spare keys, and his family had no trouble using them.

"Oh!" she exclaimed. "Well, you do look lovely all dressed up. Although I meant it about the seeing you naked part." She wiggled her eyebrows at the last part and gave him a bit of a leer. It was an interesting look on such a wholesome looking grandma-type.

Az noticed she had a bag in her hand, and she began unloading bagels, juice, cream cheese, and butter. She looked around and noticed Gabe's absence; she could also probably hear the shower running.

"So," she drawled, "you're still here. I take that to mean that Gabe's… interests, as they were, are not simple? I'm assuming if it was just orgasms and done that you would be gone by now." She waggled her eyebrows at him again and smiled conspiratorially.

"I'm not sure that discussing your grandson's sex life is exactly appropriate," Az retorted.

"Pssh. You're a lust demon. Don't go getting all puritanical on me," she chuckled. "Besides, I'm not asking for the specifics. I'd just like to know the general lay of the land. I want my grandson to be happy and fulfilled, and for some reason, he has clearly shied away from relationships. I'd like to know why, is all, so I can see him properly matched up."

"I'm not getting puritanical. I'm simply respecting Gabe's right to privacy. I won't be discussing him without his permission," Az responded firmly.

She stared at him for a moment, taking his measure, and he swore that her eyes flashed white for just a moment. He had a sense of being read like a book, his pages flipped through for an idea of the plotline. He remembered that disconcerting feeling from eons ago, although he could not remember who exactly had given it to him so far back in the past.

Wasn't that intriguing? It would explain so much… But his thoughts were interrupted as he heard the water shut off in the bathroom.

"My goal," he reassured her, "is for Gabe to discover what he enjoys and provide it for him, along with self-awareness. I will not allow him to come to harm. I will also not break his trust."

"Yes," she mumbled, more to herself than him. "I did call for someone perfect to serve Gabe's needs. I simply forgot how private he is." She shrugged then smiled almost fondly at Az, her eyes once again twinkling with an odd light. Az had the definite sense that this woman was not what she appeared to be.

"Well, I'm sure you boys will get along just fine," Grams continued, turning to Gabe as he walked into the room. "Is your lovely demon treating you well, Gabey?"

‘Gabey' turned a rather bright shade of red at the question, probably thinking about the morning with Az. That only caused Grams to laugh outrageously and made Az hold back his own smirk.

"I just brought you boys some sustenance. I'm sure you're exhausted from all the sexcapades you've been having," she sassed.

"Grams," Gabe admonished. He was still rather red and somehow looked both amused and appalled. "You've gone and saddled me with a demon who can't be revoked, you know. He's an Infernal King of Hell, or some such thing."

"Ah, well," Grams replied airily. "I'm sure he'll go back to the underworld when you two are done burning up the sheets. Besides, he seems a lovely sort. I'm sure it will all be fine."

She must have sensed that they both had more than a few questions for her, because she was suddenly all business and heading toward the door. "Well, really must be going! Lovely to see you both! Enjoy some breakfast before school!"

And she was gone like the whirlwind she was, the door slamming shut behind her. Gabe looked frustrated but also relieved at her abrupt departure (and he was still blushing a bit, too).

Az, however, couldn't get one burning question out of his mind: How in the afterlife did Grams have angelic or demonic ancestry? And whose ancestry was it?