'What the hell just happened?' Steve thought to himself. A minute ago his boyfriend had turned into a demon and now he was alone. He looked around but nothing indicated either of the two men had been in the room. The smell of sulphur filled his nostrils, and Steve scrunched his nose at it. He stood from the couch and moved to the front door. He stepped out and looked up and down the street. He wasn't sure what he was looking for. He began walking and before he realized it, he was at the park a couple of blocks away from his school.
He sat down on a bench to catch his breath. It all happened so quickly, he had no time to adjust. He didn't notice when the figure sat beside him.
"Hello," the boy sitting next to Steve said.
"Wha... uh... hi," Steve said hoping he would go away. He recognized the boy from his school. He mentioned him to Stoph.
'Not Stoph,' he corrected himself
"My name is Michael," the boy introduced himself.
"Steve," he replied, still wanting the boy to leave.
"Yes I know. I know your friend, Stoph," Michael said staring at Steve's face.
"That's not his name...." Steve thought out loud.
"Ah, he told you," Michael confirmed, nodding his head and looking out at the field he and Mephistopheles had stared at while talking.
"What? You know?" Steve said coming out of his trance.
'Maybe this kid knows about Stoph... er... Mephistopheles,' he corrected himself.
"Yes, we used to have the same boss," Michael said.
'Oh no. Another demon?' Steve put his head in his hands. Michael chuckled. A musical sound.
"No, I work for a higher power." When Steve gave him a confused look he glanced at the sky and then back down at Steve.
"God? You're an angel." Realization struck Steve. "Michael," Steve nodded. "You guys with secret identities have a real sense of humor you know that," Steve shook his head.
"Well we have to have some fun, right?" Michael smiled. Steve shrugged.
"Can you tell me what the hell... sorry... just happened?" Steve asked. Wincing at the swear.
"It's alright. And yes, I think I can let you in to what's going on," Michael smiled.
"Mephistopheles made a deal with the Devil. If he told you who he really was, what his job is, and you still loved him, then He would let you be together... but if not..." Michael trailed off.
"Then he goes to hell," Steve nodded.
"No, actually, YOU go to hell. What I don't understand is if you're not with Mephistopheles, then you must have said you didn't love him. But then why are you here?" Michael queried. Realization struck Steve.
"He traded places with me..." Steve gasped.
"Ah... despite some bad decisions. Mephistopheles is a good man... demon... thing..." Michael said before shrugging it off.
"He... he protected me. But he had no right to bet my soul in the first place," Steve scowled.
"If it's any consolation it was tearing him apart, trying to decide what to do. He wished he could take it back," Michael told Steve.
"He did?" Steve asked, shocked.
"Yes, the day before he told you, we talked here. Mephistopheles and I are mortal enemies. He's the Demon Lord of fear and death. I'm the archangel in charge of ridding the world of things that cause fear. But that day, he begged for my help and advice. What he feels for you is real. I'm not surprised he took your place," Michael nodded.
Steve felt the hot tears pour down his face. Michael got a far off look in his eyes.
"I apologize. I must leave. I wish you the best though. Remember that Mephistopheles took your place so you could live. Don't waste his gift," Michael said before walking off. Steve sat for a moment crying silently at the mistake he had made. He did still love Stoph.
After a moment he stood and headed home. His parents knew something was wrong. His teachers knew. His friends too. But he told no one of what had happened. Francis pestered him for weeks, asking about Stoph and what had happened. Steve shut him out. Over time Steve realized Michael was right, he couldn't waste his life grieving for a mistake. Soon people stopped asking and Steve moved on.
But old wounds are opened easily.......
*
~ 10 years after Steve last saw Mephistopheles...
Steve arrived home after a long day of work. He stepped inside the house his parents had given him when they moved to Florida. He took off his police uniform and took a hot shower. Stepping out of the shower with a towel around his waist he lay down on the bed. The towel fell from his hips and he crawled under the covers naked. He reached for the remote to his stereo and turned on 'Mephistopheles' by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Following the same pattern he had followed since Mephistopheles gave his soul to save Steve, he listened to the music build and climax. He knew the story by heart now. It was the story of Mephistopheles and Faust. But Faust was replaced by Beethoven for this version of the story.
Beethoven sold his soul for amazing musical genius and when the time limit on his powers went up he was given the choice of destroying his life's work and no one would remember it, or going to hell.
Steve wondered if Mephistopheles saw Beethoven in hell.
Steve sighed as the song finished and rolled over and fell asleep. He didn't dream.
