The difference in Caim and Ba’al were quite simple. Caim liked a challenge. He liked to see what he could get people to do for him on their accord through manipulative ways. He often got caught up in his own games. But, if Ba’al wanted something, a pet per sae, he wouldd’t be waiting for anyone’s permission. That’s what choke collars and whips were for. Ba’al gave no one choice. At least he rarely gave them choices they would enjoy unless it was highly beneficial to him.
Gluttony was a lust of the mind indeed, over-self-indulgence.
As Cordelia smirked as she watched the resistant snow cat, Ba’al, he couldn’t help but find the irony humorous. For it was Ba’al who knew exactly what he had set up here.
He was reminded of a favorite quote just then:
“The flesh endures the storms of the present alone; the mind, those of the past and future as well as the present. Gluttony is a lust of the mind.”
For Ba’al was musing how a broken heart was much like that. It affected the mind. It affected from the past, the ever present, and onward to the future once it was seeded. It was like a weed that kept sprouting if reminded. But, if enough salt was rubbed in it was like Miracle Grow. It could either beat you down or make you stronger.
There were 2 snow cats and Ba’al had seen the competition. Caim couldn’t go on board with any standard presentation to beat a larger more powerful beast. He needed a different angle.
Cordelia had played right into Ba’al’s loving hands. She didn’t recognize Tray. That much was chance alone. He had no clue if she would.
The lack of vacant seat? Perfectly planned and executed. She sat. She sat close, made no fuss about the closeness. She even seemed to be warming up to his touches.
What a close and cozy pair they made up front and center in front of that brooding snow cat who thought he’d never see this woman, his recently passed fiance, like a widower attempting to move on in his life. Then BOOM. Right when he thought maybe he could do it, just maybe, how about a pull on that heart string with the sight of his lost love? It was probably a welcome sight too? Until he’d notice who’s lap she sat and made such cozy home in. The very demon that tore his family apart? The one that wasn’t there to save them all when the massacre hit town? The one that claimed protection over his family like Caim always did when he suckered people into contracts. But, Ba’al would be nowhere. He didn’t give a damned soul in Hell about those vampires. He had far more fun niggling Caim’s magic black market runners than he cared about having any silly vampire coven. He liked creating mass suicides. Vampires were already dead. He was impressed by Damien’s massacre though.
Tray wasn’t refusing to perform for Caim. Tray was breaking down in front of a entire crowd of demons.
Cordelia had been sent a nightmare by the Boogie Man, but maybe it really was prophetic? Bits and pieces of it were coming true right before her eyes. She just didn’t know it yet.
Ba’al would actually hold her closer to him when she cringed her eyes closed at the hot poker. He would nurture her and try to give her that sense of security in his arms that everything was alright.
When that part passed and they went on to talk of coffins and he found her slang interesting. It said a lot about her that she used it in this day and age. He became quite the little escort actually. “I haven’t heard that since back when they’d call it a Chicago overcoat. The era left it’s impression on you.” He mused still petting how silky soft her pale skin was. “No. I’m not bored. I find it quite fascinating you kept them.” Death had a way of leaving the soul how it identifies itself. The incident still defined her even now after an entire vampiric undead lifetime. That was noted as essential to who she was and what she let affect her. Just this one gesture of sharing with him told a thousand stories and he took mental notes of every thought for it’s potential.
“I want you to tell me more about it, later, tonight. when we’re alone.”
The more conversation that was opening up between them only made them appear more and more cozy like they were very familiar with one another. This only enforced many of the lies Tray had been told along the way.
The animal portion of the show would complete itself and their human forms would be put on display. Often the demons would put their talents or earth life stories up for display too. Anything to make them more unique or special to end up with that prize. Many went for the reactions to pain. Sometimes it was showing off how much pain they could handle. Sometimes it was more comical to the demons as their lack of a pain threshold would create terrified reactions. But, the hot poker thing really wasn’t Caim’s style. He had just been desperate when Tray started to fall into his emotional abyss with lack of reaction at all. Caim had a bit of that planned for Tray too. He had a video-esque illusion to put up behind Tray as his the cat’s beautiful body would be demonstrated. He’d created the video from footage on security cameras and Tray talking to himself in Venice. But, it wouldn’t be a video in Hell. It would be a larger than life background illusion far more impressive than a jumbo-tron. It would also be a letter he never sent to his friend.
When Tray was walked out Caim would tell his story about who he was, where he came from, the Cammora clan would be mentioned as their violence was widely known in Hell. Then it was only all the more attentive with so many of it’s modern members there in the stands beat down by Hell. But, there stood Tray alive and under the devil’s thumb. He’d also announce that Tray had taken over heading the clan since the massacre. Santino’s face nearly shit bricks right out his eyeballs. After how outcasted he’d made his son even after he’d welcomed him back home. It was clear on the man’s face how shocked he was. Caim would also announce the clan’s still superior dominance after only one vampire hand was involved still He did not tell the story of Nicolo killing Cordelia. He did proudly mention his grandson’s part in massacring Ba’al’s coven. But, this only brought up the emotions in Tray that showed what he’d thrived in and lived through and carried on with burdening him. Caim was painting the picture of a very strong soul instead of strong body like the others seemed to be doing. He was winning the crowd with it too. Not to mention the mentioning of his many artistic talents. The tale became quite the big fish. They seemed to be on the edge of their seats. But, it was all true. He embellished nothing.
But, when he opened the cage and released him from the leash to form into his human body that video-illusion would play:
There was a question and answer phase too. Ba’al stood with Cordelia at side. “Is this not the cat’s lost woman?”
Tray would interrupt, naked as the day he was born, looking up through emo bangs shielding his face like the bohemian brooding wall flower he appeared to be after such a tall tale of bravery. The image hardly went with the story. But, he wouldn’t let Caim answer that one. “I wouldn’t know. It looks like her. But, I don’t think she ever existed.” The lies he was fed narrowed a spite in his voice so constricted. They had been weaved with just the right amount of truth to twist the tail whole heartedly believable.
The judges were taking major notes, Belial scribbling down the most. If one didn’t think Belial didn’t know the real fates of all his vampiric kind they’d be mistaken. He wouldn’t stand up to correct the story. That wasn’t his goal here. His goal was to judge the unique and specialness of the pets on display. He was Hell’s litigant and he would be doing a damn lot of judging now too. The Unholy Trinity had issues. They were broken brothers but united again by Caim’s shoving ass into Satan’s seat and times were changing. But, working this closely together now he was seeing more. This was a judge that knew more than the crowd and Ba’al knew it. He set it up like that. He knew the demons would see the missing pieces even if the puzzle couldn’t be figured out and that would always impress the deceptive species. It seemed the new devil was earning marks in his reputation in ways he hadn’t quite expected or realized he was yet.
But, it was at the crowd’s reaction smirks and chuckles Caim finally realized what Ba’al had done for him. He’d been so angry. He lost marks in the first round. But, he had such high marks in the second it was bound to make up for it. It was during the applause after Tray’s words dismissing the vampiress in the stands with such the heavy heart on his sleeves, the agony of his dismissal plain, but the numbness also apparent. The brooding sadness in the undertone of the whole presentation fed those who hungered on misery.
As scores went up one by one, artistry, and all the like, Caim’s start value ended up the highest. By that alone he wagged a finger at Ba’al. That genius mother fucker.
He was trying to help all along. A standing ovation was being spat and screamed and cheered as he waited for all the results.
But, when Caim’s high score went up pushing him into 1st Ba’al went running for him.
Caim had been trying to win this thing for years, another reason he was so particular and obsessive about his pets. But, he never quite made it to the running. At this point he didn’t even mind Ba’al’s insect breath he was so stoked.
Tray would be standing there, shoving his pants on, his shirt on, no shoes looking up at the crowd like they were all nobodies to him and that cocky attitude was only gaining more reputation in the demeanor of Caim’s pet. There wasn’t a thing he did, a glance he gave that didn’t help Caim in every way. Kasha would be watching.
But, with all that having gone on and Cordelia left behind Ba’al by herself while the two parts of the trinity celebrated, how would the deceased vampiress be reacting? How would she be reacting through the entire display?
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