“Sorry about that. Thought you were used to truly seeing us!” His face leaned over mine while I twitched angrily in the dirt.
“Well, I’m not. And each one of y’all are different, ya know. If he wants to pop in and say ‘Hi’, that’s all good. But any four dimensional appearance needs to be eased into my field of view for the first couple of times. Once I get to know you like that, you can pop in more often.” I didn’t bother to try getting up. I knew just to my side was the four dimensional appearance in question. Hard to fall when you’re already down.
I saw a flash of light from that direction and heard a rushing like a tornado to go with it. A bright pink, rainbow eyed, fuzzy face of critical cuteness suddenly leaned over me. “Is this better?” Oh hell, he took on a squeaky toy chibi voice to go with the change of appearance!
I giggled despite myself. “Yes.”, I barely squeaked out myself. “But did you have to use that face? Other than it’s so adorable!”
“Well…”, he began as he crouched over me, his butt making a squeak and setting off more giggles from me. “You associate this face with us. And you can view it without issue. But I don’t understand why you are not terrified.”
I reached up and poked a cheek. Squeak. I giggled more. “I kinda do, because of the story that goes with it. And it’s a revenge story, set up so the audience identifies with the protagonist and her summoned demon. But when you went a-snooping in my memory, you picked the wrong image. You’re not Belphegor.”
“How do you know?” Malphas stuck his face back in my field of view. “Have you met him?”
Good question. When I met Malphas, I doubted the name I grokked and spent some time researching him before accepting the identity. But now, I’m meeting one of his fellows, and stating with certainty he isn’t who he claims to be. Just how do I know? I’ve been fooled before.
“Um. Because I do, and I’ve not met Belphegor nor him before.”
Squeaky puffed up his pink, fuzzy cheeks and squeaked with determination. “I still don’t see how this form is intimidating. What are your people afraid of?”
Malphas gave him an intolerant look before turning attention back to me. “No, Black Jack, you don’t get to play ingenue anymore. How do you know?” He had a point to drive into me. I noted I couldn’t see his hands.
I chose to answer Squeaky first, giving me time to think on Malphas’ question. “Dude. I think the only thing Tumblr is afraid of is hardware failure. Besides, the cute factor is why that form is dangerous. Demons are regarded as spooky, with sharp points, and flesh rending claws, and soul shearing teeth, with voices of tortured cats, and the smell of a fraternity toilet. Who would expect something as cute as that, smelling of strawberries and marshmallows, to harbor a dangerous spirit that whispers seeds of self-doubt appealing to a human’s inherent greed? That form will deceive even the weakest man into thinking he is strong, and within a week, he will be consulting you for everything. A few well phrased inconsistencies later, he’ll attribute your plans as his, and his weaknesses as yours. By the end of the month, he’ll be your eager and willing servant. Because how can such a cute thing like you be dangerous?”
The two goetia remained silent over my prone body for an uncomfortable moment. Squeaky tilted his head back and forth, listening to the silly noises and learning how to maximize the giggle-inducing sounds. “I see why you like her, brother.” The chibi voice carried a strange severity. Malphas only gave a sharp laugh in reply. It reminded me of crows. When his brief mirth ended, he gave me a very severe look and I was reminded where his talons could reach.
“To answer your question, Blue-Eyes… Instinct. I don’t know Chibi Cute’s name, but my instinct says it is not Belphegor. You, and others, have been on my ass to trust my instinct more. Okay, here I am. I’m trying. Tall, Pink, and Squeaky here is one of the Goetia, but not Belphegor that seduces by gadgetry. He’s too sly for that. Of all the imagery in my head he could have picked, he didn’t choose the visually safest, he chose the most emotionally appealing. He’s the beggar that appears when you get a windfall. He’s the lost kid on a dark street. He’s the sick puppy scratching at your foot. He’s the woman at the bar asking to stay just for the night. He’s your roommate’s ex asking for a comforting hug. He’s your little brother asking for a second chance, again. He’s dangerous as fuck, Malphas. I also note he has not given me any name. Not after I grokked yours when you gave me an alias. He doesn’t want me to know who he is. Not yet.”
Another uncomfortable moment passed. “Oh my dear brother! I like her!” I was used to the squeaking now. The slippery undertones stood sharply out. “Where did you get such a toy!” Squeaky laid a hand on my bare arm. My eyes and my skin registered the touch of soft plush, like a warm fuzzy pillow. I had to keep my composure and not call my weapons from the body temperature ooze I felt trying to creep between flesh and soul.
“I’m not Malphas’, I’m not yours, and I’m not up for grabs. Knock the shit off.” It was a dangerous bluff. I was immeasurably outclassed by one goetia, and now I have two hanging over me. Squeaky pulled his hand back in sudden surprise. Malphas gave another sharp laugh. Squeaky looked at me, and I saw a strange mix of offensive desire and wounded pride. I was in deep shit.
“I know where you still hurt, girl.” Squeaky’s voice was losing the chibi shrill.
“You, and all of Tumblr. You have one shot to make me cry. Make it a good one. Your performance will be judged.” I’m still prone on the ground. Malphas watched with obvious amusement.
Squeaky blinked. “You are not afraid.” He looked at Malphas. “Is she mad? Or is there more to her than what you told me?” Malphas only sat back and allowed himself the luxury of great peals of laughter.
“She is quite mad, but struggles for sanity for some humane reason. I did not bring her here for you to abuse her.” His mirth suddenly faded. The severity chilled me. “You’ll be seeing more of her soon, and I would establish her connection to me. She is correct, I do not own her. But she will be acting under my aegis, so an assault on her will be an assault on me. Understand, brother?” He placed a cold, dry hand on my right arm. Again I felt his talons near my soul. But not to threaten, to guard.
Squeaky looked at Malphas’ hand on my arm, at his face, at mine. Still visually looking like the cutest summon ever, he appeared nonplussed by the challenge. The image suddenly wavered. I caught a glimpse of something scaly. His eyes widened as he realized I was starting to see through the illusion. He enforced the illusion by breaking into a wide chibi grin. “Okay! I will respect that!”
He left in a blur of sudden light. I didn’t realize I had held my breath until Squeaky was gone. “Malphas. Tell me true. I dun fucked that up something fierce haven’t I.”
Malphas’ mirth returned to him. The mix of predatory satisfaction and successful despotic smugness was one that I have quickly become accustomed to. “Yes. You did. And beautifully so. I like that. Here’s what you need to know about him; Nothing short of complete and total surrender will appease him. You will never do right by him, you will always fall short of his expectations. But you handled yourself just fine. Most humans are afraid of their weaknesses. You acknowledged it and threw it in his face. I like that.”
He removed his talons from my soul and patted my arm in genuine comfort. “Get some rest. You challenged him to make you cry. He will take that challenge.”
Malphas stood up. I saw a glimmer of wings so black they appeared blue from him before the world fell into darkness and the dream ended.
I never did get a name.