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Satan and Solomon concealed themselves in the shrubs and peered out into the garden. A sleek black cat strode through the iron fencing, slipping between the bars. It held its tail high in the air, without a care for trespassing onto the grounds of the House of Lamentation.
Satan tugged on Solomon's cloak while constraining his excitement to a whisper. "There, there, there! That's him!"
Taking lithe, elegant steps, the cat ambled through the grass and perched atop the back of a wooden bench. Scanning the garden through its shimmering, copper eyes, it resembled a king proudly overlooking its kingdom.
Solomon rubbed his chin. "And you're certain that's a different black cat? You know quite a few."
Under Satan's watch, all feline visitors were welcome and he often enticed them to stay awhile through a variety of methods he had researched over the centuries. With his brothers' assistance, he had constructed a beautiful trellis, adorned with an abundance of Human World silver vine. He had also installed an artificial pond and stocked it with a rainbow of prize-winning koi fish imported from the Celestial Realm.
Best of all, he offered the privilege of his personal entertainment, uniquely tailored to each guest's needs. When it came to premium snacks, fancy toys, a warm lap to lay on, or a good old-fashioned chin scratch, he had it all.
"This one's not like the others. Look at his face, those eyes," Satan replied, gingerly pushing a twig out of the way for a better view. Fascination glittered in his eyes. "He has this very smug, pompous air about him, don't you think? Quite like Lucifer, I'd say." He snickered alone at his own joke.
"Is that why you believe he doesn't like you?" Solomon asked with a placid, knowing smile. "The cat, I mean."
Satan stifled a disapproving grumble as the gate to the garden opened with a drawn out creak.
Yawning, Belphegor dragged his feet down the brick path, making a sluggish beeline toward the wooden bench. He paid no mind to the fact that it was already occupied and laid right down. Eyes half-lidded and already closing, he didn't seem to notice the cat looking down on him. It studied him pensively with its ears perked.
Belphegor let out a surprised grunt when the cat hopped down onto his stomach and then giggled softly when he realized what had happened. The cat settled on his chest, laying with all four paws tucked beneath its body.
"Oh, hello. It's you again," he cooed, passing a hand over its lustrous ebony fur. Its whiskers twitched and it leaned into his fingers as he scratched its cheek. "You know, napping is always better with a friend. Especially a friend as soft and warm as you. Would you like to join me again?"
The sweet sight of his youngest brother made Satan clench his fists. Despite all of Satan's feline-friendly charms, that same cat had always kept its distance. Moreover, it seemed the harder he tried, the more treats or playtime he offered, the more likely the cat was to turn tail and walk away.
This particularly fickle feline had first appeared a week ago, after Lucifer had replaced the old sofa in the living room. The couch was faded, stained, and lumpy in all the wrong places. It had a surface only Belphegor could love and so, for everyone else's sake, it had to go. In protest of the sudden disposal of one of his favourite places to rest, Belphegor had taken to napping outside.
On the garden bench, Belphegor recounted his day as he drifted off. The black cat purred gently, intermittently swishing its tail as if conversing with him. Despite its arrogant expression, an affectionate warmth burned in its eyes like glowing embers as it watched over him.
Satan gnashed his teeth, running his fingers through his hair. "Belphie dozes off like he always does and suddenly that cat is all over him! I don't understand! What am I missing that he has?"
Solomon gently placed a hand on his shoulder, snapping him out of his stormy thoughts. He chuckled. "I think you understand better than you know. As you always say, cats are charming creatures because of their mysterious natures." In his opinion, Satan was rather similar; getting incomprehensibly worked up over what seemed like the most trivial things. After all, he had gone as far as staking out the garden over a single cat that was acting, well, like a cat.
It wasn't long before Belphegor had fallen asleep. The cat had unfurled itself, lying on his body like a glossy, black crescent. It cracked an eye open and swivelled an ear at the sound of rustling among the shrubs on the other side of the garden.
Solomon helped Satan out of the bushes and plucked the little stray leaves out of his hair. "Say, I've recently acquired a magical grimoire I've been meaning to show you. Why don't you come by Purgatory Hall for a while?" he said.
Satan's eyes lit up and the corners of his mouth turned up. "Lead the way."
Lucifer returned to his office, picking out the last bits of grass caught in the cuff of his sleeve. At the snap of his fingers, the fireplace jumped to life. He put on a record and sank back into his armchair as a serene melody filled the room. The scent of his foolish younger brother wafted from his coat collar.
Sweet Belphegor was upset over losing the treasured place where he had enjoyed countless naps with his beloved brothers. However, he had yet to realize that lately, he'd been sleeping alone on that old, worn couch. Until Belphegor decided to give the new sofa a try, Lucifer would make sure he always had someone to nap with.