The Time Key

Let Sleeping Demons Lie: Part #2

"Satan had the wrong person," Mephisto explained. "He should have tried wooing you. I think he might have survived."

"I almost died the first time he possessed me," Shiro scoffed. "And I did die the second time."

"Human death has many stages." Mephisto shrugged his shoulders. "But what if you changed from a caterpillar into a butterfly?"

"Mephisto, what are you trying to tell me." Shiro's voice was suspicious. "That my grave is empty?"

"Hmmm?" Mephisto smiled antagonistically. 

"Just tell me the truth."

"Shiro, I've told you enough; it's time for me to show you. Can you assist me?"

Curious, the Paladin went to Mephisto's side and lifted the weak demon to his feet. As Shiro held his pale hands, they transformed in size, becoming solid and familiar. Shiro blinked his eyes, and Mephisto disappeared, replaced by a slightly older version of himself.

"Are you happy now?" Shiro/Meph grumbled. "You shot us. Nice aim, though."

Shiro's mouth hung open; he was rendered speechless.

"That's...that's impossible." He finally stuttered. "This is a fucking trick!!"

"Listen, Champ." The man broke into a crooked grin. "You gotta a lot to learn. You need to trust Mephisto. Yeah, he's got an evil side, but so do you. You gotta learn empathy, love, and curb that explosive temper."

"So, Mephisto possessed you?" Shiro was incredulous. "You teamed up with a demon?"

"He is my companion." Shiro/Meph shrugged his shoulders. "That's until we tame Satan. But it'll be a long time until you're ready. My body was too old to survive the second possession, and he saved us. Once Mephisto possessed us, Satan released his control. He thinks we're dead. It gives you time to prepare mentally and emotionally for the burden."

"I'm going to become Satan?" Shiro crossed his arms. "Sounds like a shitty deal."

"Nah, they're going to train you to overpower him." Meph/Shiro replied. "Satan will always be in your head, but you will become the new ruler of Hell...and I guess Assiah."

"Who is going to teach us?"

"Mephisto?"

"Yes, all of him." Meph/Shiro answered cryptically. "His soul has many teachers."

Shiro was infinitely troubled. Did that mean he was doomed to an eternity of loneliness?

"Only if you choose to be alone." Meph/Shiro read his mind. "Evil is a choice...not an absolute. If you are in charge of hell, anything is possible. Hell doesn't need to be a terrible place; it's the mirror image of your thoughts, beliefs and feelings. If you play your cards right, you might be able to stay in Assiah. After all, Satan wants to be human so badly."

"So, I become Satan, Lewin becomes Azazel."

Shiro continued to think and became even more curious.

"What about Shura?" Shiro questioned. "Is that why Mephisto wants her? Is she gonna become the new Time King?"

"I don't know the answer to that."

"Are you telling me he's just playing her for kicks?" Shiro accused. "How can I turn a blind eye to that!? He hurt her and did it to make me jealous!"

"Well, Mephisto's not cheating on you..." Shiro/Meph scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "And she's not hurt...far from it."

"Does that mean you're both sleeping with her!?" Shiro wrinkled his nose. "Cheating on me? Stop it with that shit!"