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Dagon was watching the priests running around the temple collecting the offerings dedicated to him. He did not even intend to be worshiped like this. He just wanted to spend some time near the sea. But his presence seemed to influence the grain harvest in a positive way. So humans started to worship him. Thanked him for the good harvest. Came to him with offerings. Asking him for favours. And honestly, Dagon started to enjoy the attention
He was just a demon really. Not one from the lowest. But he has not been an important angel either. He believed in Lucifer and his ideas, sure. Stood behind the rebellion. Oh yes, he fought viciously in the war. Not for status, power or some high ranking post. No, he wanted change. Wanted fairness. Wanted to show those pesky Archangels that they were not so special after all.
And things in hell were actually different. One could work their way up. It was not just given to you on a wimp. It could be earned.
And even though Dagon did not intended to do hellish deeds with his actions, he did. And it was noticed by hell. Dagon was a little bit surprised that it was enough, especially as he did not intend to do anything at all. But a God, so jealous, the mere presence of someone else being worshiped was enough to doom the humans. Blind and utter obedience was not just expected from Her angels it seems.
It also meant that his presence and actions were not just notices by hell. Heaven, too, was watching him. They even send an angel once or twice trying to convince the humans to stop worshiping him. But Dagon gave them a good harvest. Dagon walked among the humans. Dagon listened to them. Dagon gave them a good life. God did none of that.
And God had favourites. Always had. Among the angels and among the humans, too. So as long as Dagon would not affect the selected few, he was fine. And he had no intention to do so. He was actually satisfied with how things were at the moment. Sadly humans being humans, they were not satisfied with what they were given. One day some humans came back from a quarrel with some other group of humans. Dagon did not care about these kind of things. But they brought back something. A big ornamented chest. Apparently very valuable. So it was an offering made to Dagon. It sparkled in the sun. Dagon liked it. Dagon liked sparkling things after all.
He might have liked it less, if he had known that it belonged to a special kind of humans. The favourite kind.
A few days passed and Dagon started to get a bad feeling. Nothing had happened so far. It was just a bad feeling. A feeling of dread. He just knew something was wrong. So he decided to leave the temple for a while. Dagon went back to some nice quiet place at the seaside without the buzzing sounds of humans around him. As a matter of fact there were no humans around for miles. But the felling followed. Not immediately, but always close behind.
He moved his place yet again. Found a new place he liked and thought about staying. And yet again, the feeling followed. He caught himself looking back regularly. It was not just a bad feeling anymore. He was sure by now he was followed. And he slowly got an idea who it might be. And he did not like it. Not one bit. And if he was totally honest, he was afraid.
He glimpsed back again. Not the first time today. Not even the first time this hour. But for the first time ever he spotted someone. Which meant, the someone wanted to be spotted. Dagon kept staring at the figure. Not really knowing what to do, he turned and started walking towards it. The figure vanished. Dagon gulped not knowing what to expect, but allowed himself to relax.
"Hello demon" A sweet soft voice behind him. Dagon tensed again and choked. He did not dare to move. Even though it did not need to beat at all, his heart was pounding in this chest.
The voice sounded again. "You have been very busy down here, haven't you?" The source of the voice circled around him until it was standing right before him. Archangel Michael. In all their glory. Their armor, obviously more for representation than actual protection, was glistering in the sun. Hair partially kept back to keep it out of their face, but still flowing down at the back. Eyes, cold and fierce, piercing into Dagon's.
Dagon would love to say he did not run because he wanted to stand his ground. That despite the fear raging inside him, he did not give in and run. That he did face Michael as equal. Dagon did not run, true. How could he, frozen by fear.
Michael was still piercing him with their look. Searching. And slowly the realization crept in and then there it was: disappointment. They let out a sigh and rolled their eyes.
"Really? I was sent for you. You are barely worth my time." Michael looked Dagon up and down, shaking their head before they continued.
"Whatever you think you are doing here on earth. Stop it. Just give back was was stolen and you might even leave unharmed."
Dagon opened his mouth, but nothing came out. He wasn't even doing anything up here. He never even wanted the attention. He was just glad that finally someone was appreciating him. His mouth was still open but not one word came out. After a few attempts to say something, he closed his mouth again.
"You look like a fish on dry land gasping for air. Answer me demon."
Dagon heard the command and just wanted to obey. Was is just because of the mere presence of the Archangel Michael or did they use a miracle? Dagon did not know. Dagon did not care. And Dagon hated it. He hated how the Archangel came here and demanded with a self-righteousness, that made Dagon rage. He just wanted to be left alone.
He straightened his back. Drawing strength from the rage inside of him.
"And what if I don't?" Dagon fought back the fear building inside of him. Fought against the urge to step back. He felt prickles all over his body as Michael started to grin.
"Oh? Look who found their tongue. You might not be as boring after all." Michael took a step towards Dagon. He did not back up, Michael's face now only inches away from his. "Well...and as of what will happen if you do not do as I say..."
It happened so fast, Dagon did not know what has happened. He played it back in his mind and still could not tell. All he knew was that he was lying in the dirt. Face down. Pinned down by the Archangel Michael with their knee pressing down on his back. Unable to move, he could feel some strands of the angel's hair falling down, brushing his ear as Michael leaned down to whisper in his ear.
"That's what happens. Give back what is not yours. We will talk again tomorrow, demon"
And just as that, the weight on Dagon's back vanished and he was alone again.
Dagon did not know how long he was lying there. Was it seconds, minutes or hours? His eyes were stinging as tears of rage shot into his eyes. He grabbed a handful of dirt as he formed his hands into fists and beat on the floor. Tears were now running down his face as he got back up and vowed to not give that Archangel anything they asked for. If heaven wanted him to stop, they have to make him stop.
The next morning came. He would not run. And he wanted Michael to see he would not run. So Dagon wandered around openly. He was sure Michael would find him anywhere. And they did.
The Archangel appeared in front of him and waited for him to come closer. Dagon gulped and forced one foot after another. The rage that fed his defiance the entire night, was now again competing with the fear as Michael was standing before him. But he was still determined and so he walked. Once he reached the Archangel he was greeted with a smirk.
"I see you choose the hard way."
Dagon raised his chin. "I am not doing anything wrong. I am not even hurting your little human pets."
"Oh..? But you do, you see. I was send to deal with you." Michael's smirk grew wider. "In any way I see fit."
"Then that's what you gotta do. I will not leave just because you tell me so!" Oh why did his voice betray him like this. The tremble so clear. But he stood his ground.
Michael's smirk turned into a full grin now, showing their teeth. Dagon could feel prickles all over his body. All his instincts told him to run. Dagon looked right into Michael's eyes. He had to fought the urge to look away. But he was determined to not be the one to break eye contact. Grey eyes piercing back into him. So cold.
"Just know that this does not bring me any joy." Ohh..how could a voice so sweet cause such fear.
The angel held our their right hand to their side and Dagon could see the light slowly shining. Oh shit. Oh fuck. Was this...Were they conjuring a holy weapon? He knew what this would do to a demon. It could kill him. Actually kill him. His entire body screamed. Told him to run. And so he did. Right at the Archangel. And he swung his fist at Michael's face. He did not even expect it to connect. It was just a desperate act. So he was just as surprised as Michael when his fist hit the angel's face. Their head jerked to the side and both were standing still for a moment. The light forming in Michael's hand has vanished and they slowly turned their head back. The smirk has never left their face.
"Bold today, aren't we?"
Dagon felt his feet leaving the ground. He didn't even see them grabbing his collar. He grabbed Michael's arm trying to lose their grip and clawing at their face, but he was not able to reach anything.
"It's okay. I will make it fast." With this words Dagon was thrown to the ground. He looked up and saw the angel unsheathing their sword which had been hanging on their belt. Dagon allowed himself to hope that this was not a holy weapon.
"You are a disgusting little pathetic creature. And you should know your place. You are a thief. This is what happens to thieves!" Dagon tried to get up as Michael swung their sword and brought it down. He put his hands up to shield his face. At first Dagon thought nothing had happened. He looked down at this hands. It took him a seconds to realise what was wrong. There were his hands. On the ground. His arms ending in stumps now. The pain has not yet settled in.
He let out a cry of rage and tried to tackle the Archangel down. To beat their fucking head in. He would not even need his hands to do that. But he was not even close to grabbing Michael, who evaded his attack easily.
"You are just making this harder for yourself, you know." Michael was taunting him now and it was just fueling his rage. He knew he had no chance. He would not get out of this situation. But he would make it count. He would not beg. And he would go while standing on his feet.
He was charging the angel again, guided by his fury. The angel just stepped aside. He turned around just in time to see the sword coming down at him again again. Shining in the sun. Dagon really liked shiny things. He blinked and found himself back at hell. He was not sure what happened, but his hands moved up to his neck. Relieved to find it still there and his head still on his shoulders. And his hands were back, too. No holy weapon then. He gulped and looked around. Demons were buzzing around him. Hell was crowded as usual. He wanted to break down. But not in the middle of hell. Not where everyone could see him. Well..first he had to get a new body anyway.
"Dagon!" The voice brought him back from his thoughts. He turned around and saw the Grand Duke of hell. It made him forget about Michael immediately. There was a new threat before him. He bowed down "Grand Duke Beelzebub. Your disgrace."
How bad did he mess up that the Grand Duke of hell themself came here to scold him.
"I am sorry, your disgrace. I messed up." Dagon did not dare to look up at Beelzebub and kept his head low.
"I heard what happened. You faced Michael? Archangel Michael?"
Dagon nodded and pressed out a "Yes, Grand Duke".
"I see. Get your new corporation and report to the Dark Council. They want to hear it from you in person."
Dagon nodded yet again. "I will do it immediately, your Disgrace."
"Oh and Dagon. No more time on earth for now. Instead you will be transferred to Torments and Torture."
NOW Dagon looked up. Why...How...he was not punished? Instead he was promoted?
Beelzebub gave him an awkward pat on the shoulder before he left Dagon standing there.
Dagon collected himself and went to get his new corporation with Michael back on his mind. Remembering the smirk on the Archangel's face. It was the first time he felt ambition. He would raise up and become an equal. And when the day comes he will wipe that smirk out of their little smug face.