I only have a handful of demons that I trust, who have earned their own space at my manor and are provided more luxuries than others. But it takes decades, centuries, and sometimes longer to earn those positions. My most trusted right-hand man is Toth, who is sitting next to me, looking just as fucking bored as we both stare at Autumn. She’s a very bland-looking demon. She isn’t ugly, but she isn’t someone you would do a double take of. Her hair is slightly frizzy like no one told her she’s a demon and could put more work into her appearance. Her clothes are plain and meet the trend of the human world, but not in a good way.
She fucked up such an easy task that in my irritation, I’d rather just destroy her soul. But the fact of the matter is that I need as many demons as possible right now. Heaven, as always, is looking for a reason to start shit.
“We told you to collect the souls, not bring them here,” Toth says plainly. Toth was a commander of the Battle of Chach. His bloodlust, command, and ability to keep his cool are some things that spoke to me, and I made him a demon only a month after his arrival in Hell. His loyalty is fierce, and he takes a lot of this bullshit off my plate.
“I thought it would be helpful. I know we’re low on reapers.”
I stand, not liking this demon, who has only been a demon for a few decades, pointing out the faults of my operation. I can’t even remember why I turned her when I look back at her. She’s not particularly smart or gifted. Then I think back to the sixties and how desperately I was in need of demons, and it all makes sense.
When I speak, Autumn trembles. I lean over the desk, knowing that my height and appearance are menacing as I stare her down. “It is none of your concern how many reapers we have; it is their job to bring the souls to Hell, not yours. Did you know you fractured two of the souls when you portaled here?”
“Fr—fractured?” she shudders.
“They were important souls to me, bargained for souls. Ones that had potential to be demons instead of just living a life of despair in this realm.”
“I’m sorry, my lord,” she says, bowing her head. I roll my eyes, done with this meeting and all the bullshit I have to deal with on a daily basis. I don’t mind being in charge, I quite like people fearing me and listening to what I tell them to do. It’s just gotten so mundane. I nearly wish the angels would start a war with me just to switch up the routine.
Suddenly there’s a soft knocking from the doorway, looking up, I see Kas. When Autumn swings her gaze to her, I see the hatred she has for Kas, and it makes me smile. I look back at Kas, one of the few demons I find truly competent. I gifted her and others with apartments that aren’t complete shitholes. Maybe they can work their way up to living in the manor, but most live on Earth for the majority of the time anyway.
“Sir,” she says, and I look up at her incredulously.
“Kasdeya?” I reply, using her full name, knowing she hates it. She has great control of her facial expressions and hides her irritation as she responds.
“I think I have something you’d like to see.”
Toth nods, glaring back at Autumn. “A day with Elvor,” I command, and Autumn shivers. Toth grins as he grabs her by the upper arm and portals them to the portion of Hell no one wants to see. The place where you’re gifted with an endless lifetime of torture.
“How benevolent of you,” Kas comments as we leave the meeting room and walk through the gardens.
“Where are we going?” I ask, not in the mood for games.
“To see the new arrivals, of course.”
Kasdeya is nearly as old as me and has been in Hell forever. I always keep her at an arm’s length, mostly because of her sarcasm and her connections to other realms. I never truly know if I can trust her, even if after a millenia she hasn’t let me down.
“Because?”
“Fuck’s sake, can’t a demon just surprise the devil for once?”
“Anytime a demon surprises me, it’s usually done by being a fucking disappointment.”
“Not this time,” she replies, opening the gate to new arrivals. This is where the souls get sorted. They go straight to the pit if their lives deemed them worthy of torture, or they go to general population where life goes on; it’s not physical torture, but it’s not great either. The dead who prove their worth to me in Hell are the ones that I bestow the blessing of becoming a demon.
“There’s actually a new one today,” she grins as she leads me to a side room. A man in his forties looks around, clutching his hand. He looks to be missing his ring finger.
“Where am I?” he asks. I’m sure it’s confusing since I made the admittance area stark white. I get a little thrill when people think they’ve made it to Heaven and not Hell.
“Hell, silly,” Kas answers, conjuring two chairs for us to sit. “Mind telling the big boss how you got here?” She points her thumb in my direction, and I remember why I can only take her in small doses.
“My student,” he says, looking between us, and I can taste the lie coming from his lips. “She came to my home and chopped off my finger. I’m not sure how that killed me.”
I glance at Kas, surely it can’t be.
“Thank you for your time; you should be sorted shortly.”
Kas stands without touching me. I fucking hate being touched, and I appreciate her giving me space as she escorts me down the white corridor to the next door. She grins up at me, but I keep my face stoic.
“Kas, what is the meaning of this?”
