The Genesis Game

"Come now little brother." Grinned the demon prince Beezlebub. "It's just a game, and for you, much better than the alternative.  Though I am sure my minions would love to spill your blood on the floor."

Seraph knew the Demon Prince was correct.  All around him the horde of demons leered, ready and waiting for him to make a move against them.  He could feel their bloodl.u.s.t in the air and knew in this place, he would not be able to win a fight, not alone.  

"It was a mistake to come alone." He admitted to himself, though he doubted any of the others would have been able to help him survive a battle in the Demon Prince's throne room.

"What are the rules." Asked Seraph as he looked ahead at the grinning demon.

The demon answered, leaning forward in his throne, his smile widening to show rows and rows of razor sharp pointed teeth and motioned for two of his minions to bring out a chair.

"Sit." Commanded the Demon Prince, and Seraph compiled without hesitation, showing neither fear nor false bravado.  Seraph simply did. He would not allow any of these demons to see weakness and uncertainty from him.

With a flick of his wrist, the Demon Prince had more of his minions bring out additional supplies.  A small table and an eerie glowing cage that appeared to have human spirits trapped inside of it, and though Seraph could see the spirits strained, the cage did not bulge. 

"The rules of the game are simple." Explained the Demon Prince.  "This is a Soul Cage, inside it are a few of the human souls that I have brokered, or have been sold to me."

"What use do you have for souls?" Asked Seraph curiously. Being in the dungeon meant the Demon Prince would have an endless supply of humans to maim and torment.

"I don't torture them if that's what you were thinking." Replied the Demon Prince slyly and he opened the cage and reached in with his beastial hands and grabbed one of the lingering souls.  

From his chair, Seraph could see that the spirit belonged to a young woman, struggling and crying.  A heavy aura of despair expelling from the spirit, and though Seraph noticed, there was nothing he could do for her.  

The Demon Prince monitored Seraph for reactions, to judge his reactions Seraph was sure, hoping to get a rise out of him, or trick Seraph into attacking or trying to save the woman.

"If he's trying to goad me into attacking him, it means his hands are tied for whatever reason." Seraph thought in realization. 

Without drawing a reaction from Seraph the Demon Prince quickly grew bored and with a shrug of its shoulders raised the screaming spirit it had in its hand to its mouth and bit down.  Tearing the spiritual essence in half as the soul let out one last scream before vanishing altogether into the Demon Princes belly.

For a brief moment, the Demon grinded its teeth before letting out a sound indicating escastly.  With a small burp the Demon turned back to address Seraph. "We consume them, the souls. They are a delicacy, at least to me." Said the Demon Prince without reservation.

"From the darkness I can see in your soul, they've been a delicacy for you as well little brother." Complimented the Demon with a mocking smile.

Seraph shifted involuntarily  in discomfort, a subtle movement but a movement noticed by the demon as it narrowed its malice filled eyes.

Soul consumption had been one of the chief causes of humanity's destruction.  A learned technique, not ability, hence why Seraph had been able to use it on Erin.  But it was not a technique he wanted spread throughout humanity again. Even if he did not use it like he had in the past, somebody eventually would, that was how such dangerous things profilierated.

As if reading his thoughts, the demon spoke up.  Its voice thick with honey as it spoke. "I am willing to guard the secret of soul consumption little brother, and lend you even a little portion of my power, but in return you must do one small thing for me, it is a small something do not worry, we can talk more of it after the game."

Warning bells and red flags went off in Seraphs head.  Deals with demons almost always backfired, Seraph knew this would be no different.

"What are the rules of the game?" Asked Seraph once again as he looked at the Demon Prince.

Grinning, the Demon lifted the soul cage and placed it on the table.  Inside Seraph could see all manner of trapt humanity struggling and calling out to him to save them.

"The game is simple. You must find the murderer among these souls and extinguish it." Said the Demon.

Seraph said nothing, instead looking closely at the Soul Cage and those trapped within.  A holy man screaming in agony, a mother crying for her children, a soldier far from a battle. By looking at each of them Seraph could tell part of their story, all innocent, all capible of murder.  He could not choose.

"I am sorry" He thought in the deepest parts of his mind.  This was not a challenge he could win. Seraph reached forward and opened the latch as the soul cage, letting them spill out towards freedom, collecting each before they disappear to wherever they were bound.  

All around him the demons bristled, anxious to move on him for the kill, only a curious gaze by the Demon Prince keeping them at bay.

With the last of the souls safely in his hands, Seraph stood up so that every demon could see him.  Full of anger and hate activating his Aspect of Wrath ability as dark energy rolled off of him. As they all prepared to attack, Seraph surprised them all as he shoved the souls into his mouth consuming them, their light extinguished and sat back down.

"Marvelous little brother." Responded the Demon Prince in good humor.