Chapter 54: Sheltered

                                    

                                          
Belphie was already getting comfortable. "Ahhh, this is amazing! I'm really starting to feel like I'm out of that room. This sense of freedom, it's so great I can barely take it!"
                          
Ivy chuckled. "Don't die on us. You've only been free for a while."
                          
Beel was silent. Belphie turned to him. "So Beel, want to go out somewhere and have some fun? Aren't you hungry?"
                          
Beel was still silent. Belphie piped up. "Oh, you know what? I haven't been to Hell's Kitchen in a long time. I want to go! We used to stop there on our way home from RAD all the time... Hey, are you listening to anything I'm saying, Beel?"
                          
Beel finally spoke. "... It really is you."
                          
"What? You're realizing that now?"
                          
"This isn't a dream, is it?"
                          
"Well, do you want proof? What should we do first? Want me to give you another hug?"
                          
Beel then threw his arms around Belphie and squeezed him. Ava and Maria smiled at the twins while Ivy merely pursed her lips. Belphie smiled at Beel. "I know I suggested we hug, but I didn't mean that you should throw your arms around me and squeeze me to death! Hey, Beel, come on. Avalon, Maria, and Ivy are watching, you know?"
                          
Beel smiled. "... I don't care."
                          
Ava smirked. "Just ignore us. We aren't here. Continue your sibling hug."
                          
Belphie looked at his twin. "Well you may not, but think about me..."
                          
Ivy smiled at them. "Please, continue."
                          
"Uh, I'd rather not, honestly. Even though the look in your eyes says you'd actually like that. That's enough hugging, don't you think? You shouldn't overexert yourself for no reason. It'll make you hungry."
                          
Beel stared at him. "... Why, Belphie? Why did Lucifer lock you up in the attic? Why did he do something like that to you, and then lie to us about how you were off studying in the human world?"
                          
Belphie hummed. "Well..."
                          
An unknown voice then cut through the air. "Because if he hadn't, Belphegor might have destroyed the human world."
                          
Belphie was shocked. They turned to see Diavolo and Barbatos. Diavolo turned to Belphie. "Hello, Belphegor. It's been a while."
                          
Belphie swallowed. "Lord Diavolo... hello."
                          
Beel was surprised. "Lord Diavolo, what are you doing here...?"
                          
"I'm sure Lucifer must have told you about me. Seeing as he's your loyal lap dog and all."
                          
Ivy stood up. "Don't push it. Also, is what he saying true, Belphegor? Is that really why you were locked up?"
                          
Beel turned to his twin. "Well...?"
                          
Belphie went silent. Beel glared at him. "Answer me."
                          
Belphie glared right back. "Why don't you ask Lord Diavolo and his steward? I mean, check out the look they've got on their faces. Clearly they think they know everything there is to know."
                          
Barbatos glared at the slothful demon. "You might want to watch your tongue. It would seem that the time you spent hidden away in that room has made you forget your place."
                          
Diavolo looked at his steward. "It's okay, Barbatos. I'll tell you what happened, though you might not be pleased with what I have to say."
                          
Ivy sat down with her sisters. "Tell the truth, Diavolo. No more secrets."
                          
Ivy was going to get her answers. No matter the cost. Avalon rubbed her shoulder. "Calm down, Ivy."
                          
Diavolo decided to start. "... It all started with the plan for the exchange program. When my proposal for the student exchange was officially adopted, Belphegor was viciously opposed to it. Apparently, he appealed directly to Lucifer and asked him to put a stop to it. It would seem that Lucifer dismissed his objection out of hand. You've always hated humans, haven't you, Belphegor? Which is why you couldn't accept my plan, or the fact that Lucifer was working to execute it."
                          
Ivy was so glad she chose to sit. Diavolo kept talking. "You got angry--so angry that you lost control of yourself. And if no one stopped you, you might have inflicted great harm on the human world. Lucifer realized that and chose to shelter you. Next, he told me he sent you off to the human world."
                          
Ivy decided to pipe up. "Wasn't he the one who locked him up?"
                          
Belphie looked outraged. "Lucifer sheltered me...? Did I hear that right...? He locked me up, sealed me away, confined me, detained me, imprisoned me, held me captive... That's what you call sheltering me? Seriously? If you're trying to be funny, I'm not laughing."
                          
Diavolo furrowed his brows. "Oh no, that was the correct choice of words. He was sheltering you... from me."
                          
"... What?"
                          
"Because he knew that if he didn't, I'd have you put in chains."
                          
Ivy was surprised. Barbatos started chanting. "Hear my voice and heed my command. These words are sound... the sound, melody. And through it I bind thee, and rob thee of thy freedom."
                          
Belphie was surprised. Beel looked at his twin. "Belphegor?!"
                          
"That was a binding spell that will keep you restrained. And it cannot be broken... not by you, at least. Belphegor, you are hereby charged with treason."
                          
Beel was surprised. Ivy and her sisters stared, silent. Diavolo turned to Barbatos. "Barbatos, take Belphegor away. He's to be kept beneath the castle."
                          
Barbatos bowed to him. "Yes, My Lord."
                          
Belphegor tried to struggle. "N-No! NOOO!"
                          
Beel was horrified. "Stop...!"
                          
"Beel...!"
                          
"How... HOW COULD YOU DO THIS...?! DIAVOLO!"
                          
Luke suddenly entered the room. "Hey, come on. What's with all the noise...? GAH! What's Diavolo doing here?!"
                          
Ivy suddenly leapt up. "We've got to stop Beelzebub!"
                          
"Wha?! We've got to WHAT?!"
                          
Ivy suddenly latched on to Beel. "Let go of me, Ivy!"
                          
Ivy glared at him. "If you put up a fight now, you'll do more harm than good."
                          
Luke nodded. "R-Right, exactly! Listen to Ivy!"
                          
Diavolo turned to Beel. "If you choose to defy me now, you'll only end up making things worse for Belphegor."
                          
Beel growled. Luke huffed and wheezed. "Finally, Hercules here has calmed down..."
                          
Diavolo grew silent. Ivy relaxed a bit. "Thank the stars. Where's Lucifer?"
                          
Diavolo turned to the Cosmos. He was surprised to see a violet eye in place of the green. However, he answered her with a straight face. "In the House of Lamentation. I've had him put under house arrest."
                          
"Are you sure that's the right thing to do?"
                          
"It's my mission and my duty to help bring stability to the three worlds. To shepherd them along that path. Belphegor is trying to destroy that very same path. Lucifer knew that, and yet he protected Belphegor anyway. I'd say that more than justifies the steps I've taken, don't you think? Also, remember that you're just an exchange student here, and nothing more. This is a problem that concerns us demons only. As a human, you have no right to interfere."
                          
I'm the Cosmos! I think I have some right to interfere!
                          
Ivy thought angrily. She only clenched and unclenched her fists. Diavolo turned to leave. "Now, it's time I go."
                          
Luke blinked in surprise. "Wait, so he came all the way here just to cart Belphie away?"
                          
Beel was furious. "... Dammit!"
                          
Ivy was just as furious. "I want to blow something up."
                          
Avalon and Maria were going to have to try to prevent a murder.