Demons are an interesting bunch. They make deals, cast our souls into eternal damnation, and, occasionally, provide entertainment for us weary humans. While there are many spirits in history who were demoted to the simple abstract thought of demons, as modern writers, we stick with the traditional. From Satan himself, to Lilith, to even the seven deadly sins, there’s no doubt that, just like angels, we use demons for inspirations for our characters. Below are just a few of the demons we explore:

Lucifer - The Devil himself isn’t really a demon. He was actually once an angel, considered to be "the Morning Star." A cherub who carried God’s light, he was cast down when he thought he could ascend to God’s throne. He is now the leader of the hosts of his own demons, as well as the ruler of Hell itself. There have been instances where the Devil has been used as a love interest, such as Emma Mohr’s Betting on the Devil. His more famous name is Satan, which means “adversary.” 

Lilith - A growing figure in popular culture, Lilith is a woman in Jewish mythology where she, rather than Eve, was the first woman. After refusing to submit to Adam, Lilith left the garden and became the mother of monsters. Her name is associated with the night, but she is also attributed to other ideas such as freedom and fear. In modern day culture, Lilith is used as a symbol of liberation for many feminist groups. C.S. Lewis, author of The Chronicles of Narnia, has stated that the White Witch was inspired by Lilith herself, who was beautiful, yet cruel, and who aspired to kill Adam and Eve’s children.

Beelzebub - Yet another famous demon, Beelzebub is one of the seven princes of hell. Once a deity worshipped by the Philistines, he is regarded as “Lord of the Flies”, and was formerly a heavenly angel. In the Testament of Solomon, he claimed to be the cause of war and the destruction of demons. In Christian demonology, Beelzebub was often highly regarded in Hell’s hierarchy. John Milton, in his poem, Paradise Lost, regarded Beelzebub as the second-ranked in a sea of fallen angels. Even the witch hunter and exorcist Sebastien Michaelis associated Beelzebub with the deadly sin of pride. 

Azazel - Azazel is the name of a fallen angel that appeared in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Azazel was considered one of heaven’s most powerful angels, and in Judaism was a powerful force of evil. For example, the Dead Sea Scrolls mentioned how Azazel kept spreading sin on earth. In Christianity, Azazel’s name is often translated into “scapegoat” or wasteland”. In Islam, Azazel was once considered the wisest and noblest of angels, but as a result became arrogant. When God created humans, Azazel refused to serve them, and as such was cast down. In Supernatural, he appears as one of the princes of Hell. 

A majority of texts do classify demons as beautiful, iridescent angels that once served in Heaven. However, due to their arrogance, they were cast down to Earth. While these demons may or may not continue to plague humanity, writers still tend to use them as their muses, whether for antagonists, protagonists, or love interests.