Lucifer stroked his neatly trimmed goatee as he contemplated what Michael had just proposed. To invite God into Hell bordered on the unthinkable. It wasn't the Lucifer wasn't fond of God. To be perfectly honest, Lucifer adored Jehovah as the closest thing to a father he could remember having. He would always be grateful to Him for taking him and his siblings in after their biological parents died in the ancient wars to drive back Chaos. Unfortunately, bringing his father figure down to the Ninth Circle was completely ludicrous.
Lucifer knew exactly what Beelzebub would say if he were here. "This cannot happen!" Beelzebub would no doubt say. "It may break Cruciata's heart, but the political stability of Hell has to come before Pava's life. She is only one demon, after all."
"Michael, I'm not even sure God would accept such an invitation," Lucifer said at last. "He knows as well as I do how controversial this would be."
"He'd do it to save a life from Chaos," Michael said. "Especially if it were you and me who asked hi. He still remembers what happened to our birth parents."
"Please, Lucifer," Immundus pleaded to his father-in-law. "My sister may have made mistakes, but she deserves better than to watch her girlfriend die!"
"I agree," Leviathan nodded, squeezing his wife Sekhmet's hand. "Chaos cannot claim another life like it did to our parents."
"I know, brother," Lucifer sighed, "but the court might revolt against me if I did this. I'd find myself in the exact same situation as God was so long ago." Lucifer sighed again. "I suddenly feel rather guilty."
"I imagine," Michael said awkwardly.
"Is there nothing you can do?" asked Enoch.
"There must be something!" said Nocticula.
"What's happening?" Rachel whispered to Lilith. "Something happened to Nocticula's lover? What's Chaos?"
"Chaos is an ancient cosmic force opposed to the efforts of angels and demons to build a coherent universe," Lilith answered. "God's angels had to drive them off before creation could occur. Lucifer's parents, Enlil and Ninlil, died in those primordial wars. God raised Lucifer, Michael, Leviathan, and Astaroth alongside his own children after that. As for Pava, a Chaos entity seems to have slipped into Hell and assaulted her."
"That sounds bad," Maisy whispered.
"Agreed," Rachel nodded.
"It is," Lilith responded. "Chaos isn't supposed to be able to break into Heaven, Hell, Purgatory, or Earth. God sealed them away in the Void. We'll have to get to the bottom of this. But what's important right now is saving Pava. Lucifer had to be dragged out of bed in the middle of the night to bring Penemue up to the Eighth Circle to diagnose her."
"Dad, I'm sure the nobles will understand if Chaos is involved," said Proserpina.
"I'm not so sure," Lucifer sighed. "I know I can count on Lord Adrammelech and Lord Nergal to raise a huge stink. Archduke Beelzebub would oppose it as well, and he could probably talk Archduke Belial into stonewalling me. But..."
"But what?" asked Ammit.
"I may have an alternative," said Lucifer.
"What is it, brother?" Michael asked, eager for some hope.
"I know that the courts of Heaven and Hell won't tolerate God in the Ninth Circle," Lucifer said. "But they should be mostly fine with a minor demon like Pava being brought to Heaven for healing. If not, then we can take her to meet God in Purgatory. It's neutral ground."
"What if she's to wounded to be moved that far?" Baal asked as he filled his plate with more bacon and the meat of some animal that Rachel couldn't identify.
"Then we bring Pava and God to the First Circle," Lucifer said.
"I assure you, I have zero problem with letting God into my circle," said Proserpina.
"I may want to bring in Metatron and Sandalphon as well," said Michael. "Oh, and perhaps Raphael, He's our greatest healer, after all. We need all the help we can get against a Chaos wound."
"You may do that so long as you follow the guidelines I've given," Lucifer nodded.
"Thank you for allowing that at least," Michael smiled, getting up and dragging Baal away from the table. "Farewell for now."
"We'll keep you posted, Your Majesty!" Baal said, grabbing his plate of meat as he was hauled off by his angelic friend.