Asmodeus

**Asmodeus** is a major recurring character in the *Divine Comedy*.

They are an androgynous hermaphroditic fallen angel that rules over the Circle of Lust and is one of the Seven Emperors of Hell. As the lord of Lust, they are widely known for their charismatic, bombastic flair and charms as well as the ability to seduce the masses into submitting to their sexual desires.

## History

### Background

In Heaven, Asmodeus was one of the Cherubim and a chief of the choir beneath Satan himself. Though his activities are unknown they were part of Lucifer's posse in where they joined the Morningstar in one of his many cases of mischief and shenanigans. However, Asmodeus was also part of the one-third of angels that joined Lucifer's cause in standing against Heaven's tyranny.

Asmodeus would plow through and beat down several angels that stood in their way only to be confronted by Raphael himself. Raphael and Asmodeus engaged in a fierce battle though Raphael pleaded with Asmodeus to stop during the battle. Seeing that Asmodeus would not relent, Raphael no longer restrained himself and overwhelmed the Cherub, resulting in Asmodeus' defeat. Aghast at what he had done, Raphael approached the injured Asmodeus to heal him only to realize too late that Asmodeus lunged at him with a knife to his throat. Before the blade could reach him, Chamuel arrived in the nick of time and slashed off a piece of Asmodeus' body.

Amodeus would fall from Heaven and was fatally wounded from Chamuel's attack. The fallen cherub would call out to anyone in a desperate attempt to save them but just as when they were on the brink of losing consciousness, Asmodeus would be discovered by Belphegor who helped carry Asmodeus (later joined by Eisheth) back to where Lucifer was rallying all the fallen angels in a makeshift camp where they were tending to the wounded. Belphegor would go on and try to heal Asmodeus of their injuries alongside Lucifer which sparked the close bond the two have today. Much later, Asmodeus would join six of his siblings in creating Hell through their own version of the Jam with Asmodeus taking claim over a Circle that would be known as the Lust Circle.

### Lost Love

Asmodeus would go on to rule the Lust Circle for many centuries and the torn piece of their body would develop sentience of its own whereby it becomes a pet of Asmodeus. It is also said that Asmodeus and Leviathan got into a fiery dispute on who would consort with the Sirens only for Asmodeus to gain the bulk of these Sirens and produce the Lilim. Though Asmodeus lavished in their carnal rule and expenses, they felt lonely in some sense which frustrated them deeply. They would occasionally peek through the human world to see which human was ripe for the thirsty taking only to have their eyes fall on an exceptionally beautiful human woman named Sarah. Asmodeus was smitten by Sarah, so much so that they killed seven of her suitors in a fit of jealousy so as to have her all for themselves.

However, Asmodeus' actions did not go unnoticed as they gained Raphael and Chamuel's attention. When Sarah's last suitor, Tobias, came to ask Sarah's hand in marriage, Raphael accompanied him in disguise alongside Chamuel. Raphael tells them that on the first day he should lay the liver of the fish on the fire which will repel Asmodeus and that by the third night he will receive a blessing that will see him impregnate Sarah. And then on the fourth day, he will give her a child but not out of lust, rather love. Tobias then took out the fish liver, burning it on a set of coals which prevents Asmodeus from coming near the newly weds and also made Asmodeus deeply hate fish.

An enraged Asmodeus sought to unleash devastation against the entire palace only for Raphael to quickly intercept and fight them in a lengthy battle. Their fight took them all the way to the desert of Upper Egypt where Raphael defeated Asmodeus once again. Asmodeus dared Raphael to kill him, accusing him of how he takes pleasure in taking away anything that will bring them any form happiness, but instead the archangel bound him there on a rock surrounded by water, completely cutting him off from ever laying his hands on Sarah and her offspring. This event cemented Asmodeus' hatred towards Raphael though the archangel tried to reason with the Lust King that he was only following orders but was met with a venomous scoff from Asmodeus. Asmodeus also developed a fear of water as a result.

### Aphrodite

Asmodeus was freed after many years and would come to wallow in depression which according to Lucifer made the Lust Circle dim and gloomy and not in the fun sort of way. He was convinced by Belphegor to take some time off for themselves in the human world and would end up in Greece. They instead entered one Dionysus's bars drowning their sorrows from past the incident with Sarah, and it was from there they met none other than Aphrodite herself who was also drowning her sorrow from Adonis being killed by a jealous Ares. Unsurprisingly, the two hooked up in a drunken stupor and had a one night stand that, in Asmodeus' words, "made of all Arcadia engage in the biggest orgy throughout Greece."

Over the centuries, despite Aphrodite's involvement with Ares and her assortment of lovers, she had the longest-term affair with Asmodeus. Asmodeus admitted that at first he would use Aphrodite as she was the only one that could keep up with him. But overall the two had a complicated relationship as they were two principles that contrast and oppress one another. Moreover, considering how Asmodeus views the notion of love, he would avoid Aphrodite which hurt her in the process.

## Trivia

* Their theme song would be "Sexy Naughty Bitchy Me" by Tata Young.
* Ever since their second bout with Raphael and developing a hatred/fear of fish/water respectively, Asmodeus completely avoids the Envy Circle.
* According to the series writer, Asmodeus's favorite drink is the Hanky Panky.
* Asmodeus was the one who invented aphrodisiac and even named it after their lover Aphrodite.
* Due to Asmodeus being intersex they are addressed by They/Them pronouns though Asmodeus really could care less what others call them.
* Asmodeus has a permanent scar on their back from where the lion body part was torn from them by Chamuel. The scar itself is occasionally agonizing for Asmodeus to where they apply a special ointment that numbs the pain.
* Asmodeus and Mammon are gambling companions where Belphegor calls them "GamBros".
* Even though Valentino is a vassal for Lust, Asmodeus despises him. Moreover, Asmodeus is highly cruel and ruthless towards Valentino the same way the latter is to Angel Dust. They also enjoy toying with the moth demon, crushing his pride, and mocking the fact that Valentino can't do anything about it.