[ WP ] Satan is a single father trying to raise his son , who , in a rebellious phase , is all into peace , love , and harmony .

The boy was kind. His smile lit up the room no matter how dark it was, his eyes shone with a warmth that matched his surroundings, and he always believed in the innate goodness within someone's blackened heart. By all rights he would be considered by most to be a perfect son. 
 
 **He hated him. ** 
 
 Satan growled to himself as he reflected over how his child had turned out. How could a boy manifested in the bowels of hell itself turn out to be so... so... *different*? 
 
 Initially, he thought the boy had merely constructed a careful ruse to lower his guard and usurp his power. But no. The brat genuinely espoused peace, harmony, and *love*. 
 
 It sickened him, filling him with a revulsion he had n't felt in centuries. It disgusted him more than any of the sins committed by the wretched and judged alike that wailed in agony before him. 
 
 He felt the memory stir. He crushed it immediately. He refused to remember. 
 
 Satan growled. His influence would not be tolerated here. This was his domain, and the boy would inherit it one day. He would ensure of that. However, until then... he would not raise his hand against the boy. He knew doing so would only reinforce his resolve. The insolent child truly believed in turning the other cheek. 
 
... Besides, he was still his son. 
 
 A knock shattered his self-reflection. A small figure peeked in through the arched doorway. Concern was etched all over his face as though it were a tattoo. He hated it. 
 
 Despite being Satan himself, he still strongly disapproved of tattoos. Especially facial ones. 
 
 `` What do you desire Samil?'' His voice bellowed across to the diminutive figure. Yet without a single trace of fear or hesitation, the boy immediately bounded in and began running towards the Lord of Hell with a wide smile plastered across his face. 
 
 `` Dad! Look at what I can do now!'' With a flick of his fingers, Samil conjured up a chain, both metaphorical and literal, of spirits in front of him. They cried out in agony as their shackles burned their bodies. 
 
 Satan allowed himself a small smile. Perhaps there was hope for the boy after all. 
 
 That hope and smile died immediately. 
 
 Instead of torturing the souls or something truly devilish, Samil severed the chains binding the spirits and healing their burn marks. `` See dad! I can get rid of these shackles and free their souls. They do n't have to suffer anymore here! Is n't it amazing.'' 
 
 Rage, anger, hatred. These emotions all began boil within Satan's mind as he watched his son openly subvert the work he had done. He was the Jailer of the Damned, the Reckoning of the Judged, the Lord of Hell! He would not allow this impudent whelp destroy his reputation in a single moment! 
 
 Extending one of his massive clawed hands, Satan crushed his hand together with an earth-shattering boom. Chains shot forth from all over, rebinding the souls of those that were just freed. The chains pulled back, as though they were attempting to tear apart their prisoners, but no matter how hard and far they pulled the victims' bodies did not rip in half. Instead their shrieks of pain and suffering grew in octaves, as the chains began moving and dragging their quarry away back into their respective circle of hell. 
 
 Still snarling with fury, Satan snapped his head towards his son. But what greeted him, gave him pause in his anger. A wide-eyed and teary face stared at him, filled with disbelief and overwhelming sadness. 
 
 `` W-why dad? Why do you always do this? Why do they always have to suffer?'' 
 
 Narrowing his eyes, Satan stared at his foolish child. `` Boy, do you not understand my role here. I am here to inflict retribution upon those whose lives were wasted. To return the pain and suffering they have caused a hundred fold. They are here to **suffer**.'' 
 
 He brought forth one of his claws and pressed it against Samil's chest. `` And you my son, shall take up my mantle one day and continue.'' 
 
 With a sudden cry, Samil's eyes lit up with a fire Satan had never seen before in the boy. `` I refuse! I refuse! I will never serve as this! I will help them be free from this suffering. You're not a jailer, you're just a monster! Why do you even do this? Do you just enjoy hurting people?'' 
 
 `` Still your tongue foolish child. I take no pleasure in it. It is simply what it is. This peace and love you speak of... it has no place here. You must execute your role with ruthlessness. This is the mantle I bear, and it too shall be yours one day. This is why you exist. This is why you are my son.'' 
 
 A heavy silence lingered, as Satan's words echoed off the walls. Samil kept his eyes closed, breathing heavily. It felt as though an eternity passed before one of them spoke again. 
 
 `` I hate you.'' 
 
 Satan's eyes widened. 
 
 `` I hate you. I hate this place. I hate everything about you! You're just some tyrant who gets his sick twist off the agony of others!'' Samil cried out, as he began gathering energy around him. The room began to shake, a few cries were heard resonating from each level of hell. 
 
 Satan began reaching out to stop Samil but froze. He narrowed his eyes. This... felt familiar. 
 
 You're not a Lord of anything, just some cruel monster who deserves nothing but contempt! I am not alone in this! There are others who refuse you too! Your kingdom is built upon the suffering of others and held up by an unworthy king. And they refuse to be a part of it! **I** refuse to be a part of it any longer!'' 
 
 The energy surged, blinding Satan for a brief moment. When his vision returned, he looked about. Scorched cracks decorated the walls and floor, the cries of the denizens of hell seemed to blend together into one cacophonous cry, and a tear in the ceiling seemed to extend beyond all sight, even that of Satan. 
 
 With a heavy sigh, Satan brought his hand to his eyes. He could feel the headache growing. The memory had returned in full. 
 
 Samil's actions had brought forth a reminder from a millennium ago. A reminder of his own. Of when he had defied his father. 
 
 Satan had thought he could have done better. That the kingdom he was in was nothing more than a mockery. He had gathered those who felt the same way and had left in a similar fashion to Samil. Well... evidently based on his son's disappearance, he had not done any better. 
 
 Despite existing for far longer than any mortal being and having seen countless sons and fathers, Satan had no idea what to do as a father. 
 
 Forcibly bringing his son back was an option, but he would simply forever resent and defy him. Attempting to trick him would only work for a short while and would accomplish nothing in the long run. 
 
 Satan sighed. He needed experience. He needed to talk to someone who had gone through the same thing. But no mortal would be able to understand this burden. None of his generals had children of their own, at least none that they attempted to maintain a relationship with. 
 
... There was only one being who could possibly relate, but the thought alone made him retch. He glanced over at the doorway where Samil had stuck his head in through. He would not see his son poking his head in again to say hi. He would not see his son showing him something new he learned. He would not see his son. 
 
 A faint twinge stirred in Satan. 
 
 Pride... that damnable sin of pride had kept him down here. For all these years, he had refused to give it up. It had been the cornerstone of his kingdom. It had enabled him to press on despite all the setbacks and betrayals he had experienced. But for his son... he would swallow his pride and ask for help. 
 
 Growling, Satan stood up from his throne and spoke out loud to the empty room. 
 
 `` I know you can hear me. Do n't you dare look down upon me from your high chair. We need to talk... Father.'' 
 
 
 
 **AUTHOR'S NOTE: ** I'm not entirely sure how I feel about this one. I might have humanized Satan a bit too much and lacked a bit of build up honestly. I could have drawn more biblical allegories/references, but I did end up rushing it a bit. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for reading this!
