Azazel is a demon appearing in Preludes and Nocturnes and Season of Mists.
History[]
Azazel is one of Lucifer Morningstar's co-rulers of Hell; part of the triumvirate formed by Beelzebub, Lucifer, and Azazel after a civil war in Hell destabilized the realm.[1]
It returned in Season of Mists. After Lucifer evacuated and closed Hell, he left the key to the gates to Dream. Azazel was one of the petitioners for the key, and the right to rule Hell, with the Merkin and Choronzon. "I seek the return of our lands, the lands of my people, the lands from which we have been unjustly expelled. I do not come as a mere ambassador, but as the representative of all daemonkind...." Azazel offered "a sweetener" to its demand, it offered to return to Dream his former lover Nada in exchange for the key.
Dream confines Azazel
Dream said he would take the matter under consideration. Eventually, however, the key was given into the care of the angels Remiel and Duma. Angry, Azazel renounced Dream's hospitality and told Dream to retrieve its hostages from within it if he dared, or it would consume Nada. The overconfident Azazel had forgotten that in Dream's realm, Dream was the power, and the demon had no defenses against him. Dream ironically then imprisoned Azazel, the former djinn, in a small bottle and stored it in a chest beside the Corinthian's skull and the bottled city from Fables and Reflections.
Other appearances[]
The Sandman Universe[]
In Hell & Gone, Azazel arrives with the rest of the Triumvirate when Mary Locke appeared in Hell for her brother's soul. Azazel later takes part in the war of Hell against Mary with its legions of demons. However, under the effects of the Music Box, Azazel begins devouring its own cohorts, among them, ironically Choronzon.