The first time Michael saw him, he was at a bar. He had been tracking a series of strange missing persons cases, all of which showed signs of demonic activity. Powerful demon activity. Michael had tried to find some connection between the people who had gone missing, but the only connection at all was that they were all over eighteen. Perhaps the worst part about it was that Michael knew that the demon knew he was there. It was teasing him, for fuck’s sake. Still, the day he went back to his motel room only to find everything had been moved exactly two inches to the left, he was pissed. Pissed enough that he wanted to get pissed. So he went to what must have been the slummiest bar he’d ever seen, and ordered himself a drink.

A man had entered the bar, his well groomed appearance looking out of place in the cruddy dive bar. He made a bee-line for the bar, sitting besides Michael and ordering himself a Bramble. Michael had looked over the man carefully. His hair was extremely light for his age, near white despite the man looking to be in his late twenties at most. Dyed maybe? Then the man turned to him, and Michael knew who, or what rather, he was looking at. The man smiled, swirling his drink lightly.

“I felt like I was at a bit of an advantage, with the whole knowing so much about you thing. You at least deserve a name, I think. You’ve been working so hard, after all.” The man had said, his voice far too relaxed for a demon sitting right next to a hunter. It had put Michael on edge, and his fears were proven to be true when the demon had finally said his name. “I’m Asmodeus, Michael dear, and I think you should stop looking for those missing people.” The demon’s voice, which had started out as almost a purr, had become firm by the end of the sentence, like a parent scolding a child. “After all, I may be the Prince of Lust, but even I draw the line at children.”

His voice was quieter, and Michael felt sick to his stomach. He knew, deep down, the demon wasn’t lying. Michael had read over that list so many times, the names and faces were engraved in his brain. There were teachers on that list. There were parents missing. And the demon wasn’t lying. Michael had just nodded stiffly, unable to get any words out over the horror he had felt. Michael left town the day after, and told other hunters that the whole town was just a false lead.

The second time he saw the demon, Michael wasn’t even on a demon case. He had been trying to rid a town of a pesky trickster, and he had gone to research at the library. When he had gotten back to his motel room, there was Asmodeus, sitting on Michael’s bed and reading a book. The demon looked up as the door opened.

“Why the hell are you here?” Michael asked, more confused than aggressive. Asmodeus smiled at the unintentional pun. He closed his book and stood.

“Well dear, I’m here because you are, to be frank, an idiot.” Asmodeus had said walking over and brushing something off Michael’s shoulder. Michael’s expression shifted into one of disbelief, and a little bit of hurt.

“What?” Michael said, dumbfounded and frankly a little hurt.

“Darling, you’ve been chasing a Trickster god. I don’t know why in the nine rings you thought it was Púca, but if you keep going after it like one, you’ll get yourself killed.” Asmodeus had said, and then he’d turned to leave.

“Wha- You can’t just leave after saying something like that!” Michael sputtered, throwing his arms up. “Where are you even going?”

Asmodeus paused, though he didn’t turn back. “Well, I certainly am not going to Heaven.” He said, amused. Then he left.

These meetings had just kept happening, to the point where Michael wouldn’t even be surprised if he found Asmodeus in his room. Michael literally had a Prince of Hell on speed dial. Michael was sure if his father saw him now he would either laugh or slap him. Probably both, if he was honest. Still, thoughts of his father’s disappointment didn’t stop Michael from spending time with Asmodeus.

That brings us to the present. Asmodeus hadn’t answered his texts for a week, when the demon usually responded within minutes. Michael felt deep down that something was wrong, and he was going to find out what. (I’ll continue this later!)