Present day

Odiva stood a few steps behind her husband while from above, they watched their sons address the Conclave. It was a marbled and endless chamber that had never known light, sustained by and between the realms of Earth, Heaven and Hell. A neutral and eternal ground, where no demon, angel or soul could overpower the other.

From where she positioned herself, Odiva could also feel her husband’s reaction better, without giving away much of her own. Or so she hoped. Even after all these years, reading her husband still offered the right amount of challenge.

 The great Satan. The fallen one; now a kingdomless king, forced into the shadows where he watched his sons rule the Hell he had built. Despite the horrific distortion only a demon could create, Odiva still saw it, amidst the cacophony of his sins: a father’s pride.

Leviathan spoke like a king, his voice echoing through the vastness that was the assembly hall. He was no longer the young demon who lived for his parent’s eyes and approval. Lucious said little, nodding and supporting the king as he spoke, even though, it was his words Odiva heard from Leviathan's lips. They were working together and had prepared well for this gathering.

The changes for Hell they announced saw even the humans’ representative shift in his seat with bewilderment. The erratic hunting of souls ceased. Adequate judgement would occur, and they would feed the unworthy of redemption to demons who still needed souls to survive. Demons would not seek angels for war, so long as angels did the same. They would present any angel found in Hell to the Conclave for execution. The same would happen to demons found lurking in Heaven.

However, exceptions were to be made, and here, Lucious stepped ahead. Leviathan’s frown displayed his disagreement, but it did not stop Lucious. “*Nephalems and *Cambions are to be granted the same courtesy as souls. They are no longer to be persecuted for being what they are. Times have changed and we are all still here. The threat you think they pose is not real. We will shoulder the responsibility. Court will welcome and open its gates to any Nephalem who seeks it.”

“We,” Leviathan emphasised between clenched teeth, “will shoulder the responsibility if they are worthy of it. If they prove to be a threat to our balance, we will eliminate them as we would any other.” He addressed the Conclave, however his eyes narrowed on Lucious.

The following silence lasted long enough to pull Leviathan’s gaze away. To this, Satan scoffed but said nothing. They both appreciated their sons' stubbornness, though perhaps Satan enjoyed it a little too much.

“I commend you, Lucifer, for speaking so diligently for these… creatures,” one representative said, leaning forward, and a shiver ran through Odiva. She and Satan exchanged glances. They could not see the face of the angel under the white hood, as was the typical garment the Conclave representatives donned. But the message was true. Samael was part of the Conclave.

“I’ve heard of your recent… engagement-is it, to a human soul? It’s no wonder your interest in this matter runs deep. Cambions are one thing… but Nephalems...” Samael’s expression remained hidden as he spoke, though his tone was as light as Odiva remembered from centuries before.  

“His engagement has nothing to—” Leviathan started, but Lucious interrupted.

“Yes, Nephalems too. And you’ve heard right. I’m to marry my soul bond.” Lucious spoke calmly, but not calmly enough to deceive his mother. Settle down, she whispered to herself and Satan held her hand. Her husband did not seem concerned as he kept his stare below.

“I wasn’t aware that was on any concern to the Conclave.” Lucious finished.

“Oh, no, it’s really not, no! Marry whoever you like!” Samael waved, perhaps too coolly. He’s not even trying to hide it anymore, Odiva thought.

“Isn’t it a rare soul, isn’t that correct?” Samael asked.

"She is." Lucious said, glaring.

The human representative gaped at the revelation, and he looked sideways to his fellow colleagues, maybe seeking the same shock, but finding none. To his right was the High Seer of Nar, who, unlike her colleagues, kept her shaved head uncovered. Her face was already too unreadable to betray any reactions. Since Satan’s fall, Odiva had known Ammit attended these meetings, but hardly ever spoke, keeping Nar’s issues private and according to their laws. Odiva suspected it was Ammit who had sent for her and Satan, and shared the message about Samael’s sudden rise to such a powerful seat. It did not matter who did or said whatever else. Samael was here and planning something.

He was there, to the left of the human representative, Heaven’s newest and youngest Conclave lord; it seemed the previous representative, the one Samael watched over, had died under undisclosed circumstances.

Samael scoffed. “My apologies. Pronouns are not important in Heaven! But tell me, wasn’t your father after it— Sorry, sorry!! Her! After her?”

The human representative gasped. “But... that would offset the balance! Satan would set demons loose on Earth!”

Odiva narrowed her gaze at her husband while he chuckled and waved the accusation away.

Samael’s lips curled into a soft smile. “I believe that was the intent, Marcus. But note that I used the past tense. I don't believe this is the case presently. Prince Lucifer might clarify that for us, though…”

Lucious clenched his fist, stepped ahead of Leviathan, who rolled his eyes as though he had been already expecting this.

“Mara could not offset the balance between our worlds any more than any of you. Satan attempted his bid and failed. She is to be my wife, rare soul or not. Now, until the Conclave presents me with valid reasons for sustaining this line of questioning, I suggest we move along.”

Samael raised his palms defensively. “Forgive the mention. I’m only new here, filling in for my predecessor. I was under the impression it was our duty to establish the state of affairs; mainly any potential disruption to our realms.”

“The man said to leave it alone." Leviathan cocked his head at the angel. "Unless by disruption, you're talking about all those angel attacks our settlements?”

Samael’s smile broadened, though with his eyes still hidden under his hood, it seemed far from genuine or warmth.

“What, no? I think it's worth the mention. Because once your little shits stop pretending they're not hunting for our colours, then I think we might all live happily ever after. Hm?” Kiruna hissed at the representatives and only the human soul councillor leaned back.

“Have you evidence of these attacks?” Samael asked, his smile lost. Odiva thought she sensed a smear of distress. Some kind of avoidance. The angel leaned back against his chair. Whatever he was seeing did not amuse him.

“How about the head of fifty wolves?”

It was Lucious’ turn to placate Leviathan with a glare. He seemed to know where this was going.

“Her name is Aarin,” Leviathan declared, and Lucious called his name. Ignoring him, Leviathan continued. “I was there when she slaughtered my wolves. Fifty of them. On our soil. And there has been no mention of it here so far. Why not? You think you can still carry on dumping your shit on us like the old days? Call your dog off, or you’ll have her head instead.”

Again, Kiruna hissed high above Leviathan shoulder. This time, it was Ammit’s eyes that narrowed on Leviathan’s tail. The High Seer then looked at the hidden balcony where Odiva and Satan were, as though she could see them through the obscure mantle Odiva had erected to shield them from view.

“This… Aarin you speak of, she is not one of us. She’s a fugitive; an exile, precisely for the reasons you have mentioned, and many others. She’s already paying the price for what she’s done,” Samael said in neutral tones.

Leviathan frowned. “You think that’s enough? Or that it makes it right?”

"Aarin was never after the colours," Lucious intervened. "That wasn't what happened."

“That's right. Our records say she’s gallivanting Hell with your brother. The favoured prince, Beelzebub. Wouldn’t it stand to reason to clean up your house?”

“Gallivanting? 'That what your records say? You son—”

“Irrespective of accusation, are you not contradicting yourself, your highness?” Samael cut in. “You say you want angels out of Hell. But here you are, asking the Conclave's assistance to... deal with your problem. How are we to find Aarin without permission to enter your kingdoms?”

Leviathan inhaled, readying for another retort, but Lucious hand on his shoulder stopped him. “No one is asking for the Conclave's assistance. You have our agenda, ” Lucious said, with finality. “We have nothing more to discuss. The king is due back at Court to attend other matters.”

When Leviathan relented, Kiruna, too, looked down and wrapped herself around his waist.

Samael chuckled. “Indeed. The king’s worked so hard for his throne.”

Leviathan’s eyes flared Red, and with a clenched fist he jerked for the table of representatives, but again, Lucious’ arm stopped him with a firmer grip.

Samael sighed and looked at his fellow representatives. The human and the High Seer nodded curtly. “I suppose that is all then,” Samael declared, and he looked around the surface of the table. “Oh, no gavel? How charmless.” 

“Oh, King Leviathan, before you go! How is your mother faring?” Samael asked, pausing the two demons’ retreat. “Last I heard, and forgive me, it was a long time ago— your tail had bitten her? Is that the same one? The tail, I mean?”

Leviathan and Lucious turned. The king narrowed his eyes at the angel. “What did you say?”

Satan and Odiva watched in silence, neither willing to volunteer their secret location, though Odiva's hand caressed the neck scar she had refused to remove.

“Is it a sore subject? I only worry and wonder." Samael paused and raised his nose to the air slightly. He took a deep breath, as though a particular fragrance permeated the air only he could discern. "We were good friends once. Well, with your father too, much before I even met your mother.”

“Who the fuck—” Leviathan snarled at the angel, with Lucious failing to stop him.  An abrupt scrape on the marble floor halted his advance. The nagging screech of a chair scraping the floor prolonged until heads turned to locate the High Seer standing up. Another young Seer came to her aide, though for whatever else they attempted, it was clear the High Seer's display of slowness was exaggerated.

“Forgive me. The years weigh on me,” Ammit said, her unfamiliar and deep voice resonated across the room. She was centuries old, Odiva knew, yet her appearance was still that of a human woman in her mid-thirties. Her tall, confident figure leaning on the arm of a novice Seer looked as futile as teaching a demon how to sin. “Please, carry on.” Ammit waved, walking away. Odiva found it a little easier to breathe.

While Leviathan and Samael locked stares, the timing to continue with threats was lost.

Leviathan jerked Lucious’ hand off of his shoulder and stormed off. Lucious remained behind, observing Samael one last time. Odiva was sure that even from his angle, Lucious could not see the angel’s full face. Still, the little that he caught, Odiva knew had disturbed him enough.

TBC.

Fanart time!

Thank you so much, Pompastic, for this gorgeous Valentine's day spin❤️! Continuing on the Levi + Sergey alternative reality, it seems it was Sergey's turn to visit Hell: