HELLBOUND

2. Becoming The Devil

"What?" Armand was very surprised to hear Viserys's words. "Become like you? A monster? No!" This time Armand tried to stand up. He didn't care if his body was in pain. Well, the most important thing is to escape from this monster.

"I am not a monster," said Viserys calmly. He also didn't look worried when Armand tried to run away.

Armand managed to get up. He immediately stood up though very slowly. Armand walked toward the door. He tried to open the door, but he couldn't. This room's door cannot be opened.

"Come on!" shrieked Armand. He kept trying to pull the doorknob, but to no avail.

"You won't be able to open it until you decide on my offer," said Viserys.

"Are you nuts?" shrieked Armand. "I don't want to be a monster! I refuse your offer! Are you satisfied?"

Armand was angry, annoyed, sad, and also scared. What kind of situation is this? How could he possibly be a monster? He felt he had stepped into a comic book and run a ridiculous story.

"Then you must die," said Viserys.

"Why?" he asked.

"Because you already know about creatures other than humans. You can threaten the stability of the universe," Viserys replied.

"Bullshit!" Armand approached Viserys. He stared intently at the man. "You wanted to kill me from the start! You did that to my grandparents. Admit it, you killed them. Why did you have to bring me here and act as if you were helping me?"

Viserys smiled. He mocked Armand, who was so angry.

"You laugh?" Armand grew increasingly annoyed. "Okay, kill me! Just kill me!"

"I want to, but I can. I'm not in charge of killing humans," replied Viserys. "My job is to return everything to its proper position."

Armand felt that what Armand said was pure nonsense. "Exactly what creature are you? Why are you bothering me? My family is dead, and now I'm stuck with a strange creature and…." Armand stayed in horror on Viserys' face. "Terrifying."

"I am a devil," replied Viserys. "King of Devil. I am the leader of the devils in hell."

Armand was silent. He felt this was going too far, but all he could do now was laugh. He didn't know how to respond anymore.

"Devil? King of Devil? Lucifer? Or God?" Armand sounded in disbelief at Viserys' words. "I believe more that you are the result of experiments from a laboratory. But A devil? What kind of bullshit!"

"Yes, it sounds like bullshit. But it's true. I am Lucifer. The leader of the devils and I came to the world because I had to set something straight. My boss was furious because there was a little mistake that had happened. And it will have long repercussions if it is not resolved soon," Viserys answered.

"I don't believe you! Why did the devil come to the world? They are in hell… and…." Armand was tired of arguing. His head was suddenly very dizzy. He held his head which was spinning.

Viserys saw Armand in pain. But he didn't react to anything. It seemed he knew that Armand would be like this. Viserys just kept quiet, waiting for what would happen to Armand.

"Help!" Armand held his head in extreme pain. "Please!"

His body fell to the floor. He looked at Viserys, who smiled at him. He groaned in pain. His eyes turned black. His body emitted black smoke.

"Aargh!" Armand shouted.

"Just wait a moment. You will see something," said Viserys.

"Fuck!" Armand didn't care what Viserys said. He's in pain. Go to hell with it all.

For an hour, Armand was in pain. After that, he felt like he was fresh. His originally thin body suddenly turned into a muscular one. Her dull skin became tight. His jaw is also getting firmer. His clothes were torn from the hot smoke coming from his body.

"Finally, my grandson," said Viserys.

Armand was silent. His body doesn't hurt anymore. He felt all his pain disappear. He also tried to get up. Armand could easily stand up.

"What happened to me?" muttered Armand.

Viserys looked proudly at Armand. He then pointed Armand at the mirror. And how surprised Armand was when he saw that he was so different.

His face became handsome. His body was stocky, and his eyes were as black as Viserys's.

"What the hell? This is me?" She couldn't believe that the man in the mirror was him.

Viserys approached Armand. He smiled proudly and hugged her. "You're becoming like me," said Viserys.

"What do you mean?" Armand pushed Viserys' body. "I am a human!"

"Yes, before you were eighteen years old. Now you are eighteen years old. And you have to change to your original form. Hem, but you still have human blood," Armand answered.

Armand shook his head. He doesn't understand. "My family is normal. How could I…."

"Your father is my son."

"Your son?" Armand was even more surprised. "So you're saying that I am…."

"Devil son," replied Viserys.

Armand stared at himself in the mirror. "Impossible," said Armand. "However?"

Viserys stood beside Armand. He also looked in the mirror. "My Son, Vichir, escaped from hell twenty years ago. He is still very young and unstable. He fought with other demons bringing something that shouldn't be brought," said Viserys. He turned to Armand. "I just found out he's dating a human in the world. And he has you as his descendant."

What fairy tale is this? Armand had never heard of this and his mother. "And that thing has a Sacred Stone?" said Armand.

"Bingo," replied Viserys.

"I don't even know what that thing is. So why should my family suffer the consequences of fighting your creatures from hell? My grandparents died. Why? Why kill them?" Armand didn't want to care about the story Viserys told him. He doesn't know his father and doesn't care about him. "Who is targeting my family?"

"Daemon," replied Viserys. "My brothers."

"How ridiculous your family is. You fought over something I didn't know about, and now you're involving me?" Armand.

"You are automatically involved because you are Vichir's son. Daemon suspects, you are holding that thing," Viserys replied.

"I don't know!" Armand immediately dismissed Viserys' assumption. "I didn't even know that thing existed. I didn't know my dad was a fucking devil!"

Viserys were silent. He understood that Armand was still in denial about his family background. Vichir had not been seen for a long time. Even since Armand was still in the womb.

"Wait?" Armand suddenly remembered something. "Where is my mom? She's not dead, right?"

"I don't know. I thought she had run away. I didn't see her return to the house," Viserys replied.

Armand forgot that he didn't know where his mother was yet. Hearing the story from Viserys, Armand also felt that all of this had something to do with his mother.

"Does he know my father is a devil?" he asked.

"I think yes. I don't know the exact incident because, at that time, my relationship with Vichir was not good."

Armand also thought of something. He couldn't take what happened at his house for granted. And he also did not know whether his mother was still alive. Or her mother had just run away. He already knew that Daemon was after him? Why did he have the heart to kill his parents like that?

"Could it be in my mother's hand?" muttered Armand.

"We never know. Only Vichir knows where he keeps it," said Viserys.

"Then I have to go back to my grandparents' house." Armand rushes away.

"No! You cannot!" Viserys confronted him.

Armand's eyes showed cruelty to Viserys. Now she was no longer afraid of this man. Armand felt that he was now a completely different person. He's not afraid of anything anymore. He didn't want Viserys to get in his way.

"Get out of my way!" Armand pushed Viserys' body away easily. Viserys' body toppled the other way. Luckily, Viserys could control himself, so he didn't hit the wall.

"Wow! Wonderful! You're so excited, Dude!" Viserys actually praised Armand's ability which changed drastically after becoming a devil. More like a half-demon.

Armand pulled the doorknob again. This time he was able to open it. But he was really surprised when he saw outside the room he saw nothing but darkness. He turned to Viserys.

"What is this? Where are we? Am I in hell? I mean, am I dead?" Armand panicked again.

"Chill," Viserys said. He snapped his fingers, and the darkness turned into a luxurious tunnel. Armand was really surprised. He was about to leave, but Viserys snapped his fingers again, and instantly the place turned dark.

"What the fuck are you doing?" Armand feels that he has been played by Viserys. "I must go back to my house and look for that thing!"

Viserys turned on the television screen in this room. He looks for a channel that broadcasts the news. Armand was again irritated by Viserys' behavior, but he glanced at the television for a moment. There was something that made him flinch.

Armand realized that too much time had passed. He saw the news on television showing the year 2024. That means it's been a year since the massacre at his house.

"It's been a year?" muttered Armand.

"Yes," Viserys replied. "That house has been destroyed, and no one lives in it anymore. People think you burned to death. They would be shocked to see you."

"So you're saying I can't return to my own house? Does that make sense?"

"I hid you from Daemon. He's after you. Right now, Daemon is roaming the world to find you," Viserys replied.

Armand felt his life was over. How could he live in a strange place like this? He didn't know what kind of world this was. There was nothing beyond that door but darkness.

Viserys pat Armand on the shoulder. He knew that Armand felt his life had been ruined.

"Don't worry. You can still live in the world," said Viserys.

"How? How can? People think I'm dead! And you say Daemon is after me for something I don't know about!"

Viserys pat Armand on both cheeks. She smiled at him. "You can leave your old life behind. You also have devil powers. Daemon will find you. But before that, I will make you stronger. You have nothing to fear."

Armand looked into Viserys' eyes. There was something that made him curious. "Why?" he asked. "Why are you going against your own sister and protecting me? I am the illegitimate child of a human. You shouldn't have helped me."

Viserys didn't answer right away. It took a few seconds beside him to get his words out. "I am the ruler of hell. I have to maintain the stability of the universe. Daemon's arrival to the world will cause many deaths that are not according to the grim reapers' schedules. The world will be in chaos because of this."

Even though it felt like a myth, Armand tried not to dismiss Viserys' words.

"I'll find a place to stay for you. Don't worry." Viserys convinced Armand.

***

After a long debate between Viserys and Armand. Finally, Viserys brought Armand back to the world. This year, he brought Armand to the dimension specially made by Viserys to hide Armand.

Viserys take Armand to a luxurious house. Armand was very, very impressed with this house. Houses that only exist in elite residential areas can only be owned by super-rich people in this country.

"Whose house is this?" he asked. His mouth could not stop chuckling in amazement when he saw how luxurious this house was. In the car park, he saw several luxury cars lined up. In the past, Armand could only see cars on the internet.

"This is yours. I gave it to you for free. You are my descendant. You are free to use my wealth in the world," replied Viserys.

A grown man approached Viserys and Armand. He was wearing a suit that looked very formal.

"Sir," the man said politely.

"Brandon, do you know who he is?" Viserys asked the man while pointing at Armand.

"Yes, Sir," Brandon replied.

"Now you will serve him. This house will be his and all my wealth. Serve him well," said Viserys.

Armand was silent. It's like a dream. In an instant, he became a devil and a rich man.

"What the fuck?" muttered Armand.