Another petitioner Lucifer grumbled; ‘Just like Belial, and Princess Lamashtu’, Lucifer sighed to himself. He needed this nonsense to end; but the duties of the court could not be ignored. Even the foray to the heart of hell could not spare him of the usual petty squabbles from some minor noble from a minor duchy in the fringes of hell’s domain. Add the fact that the death of Beelzebub and the actions of Adrammelech Gloryfowl; now a traitor to the nine circles, has made the last few hours of court intolerable for Lucifer. He needed an out; he needed to piece things together.
It was the words of Michael that weighed heavy on Lucifer’s brow. ‘Jehovah told Cruciata that the key to saving Pava is prayer’; those words repeated themselves over and over in Lucifer’s head. He needed to talk to the young demon, but she was in the dungeons. Then Lucifer saw the answers to his problems.
‘A stroke of genius,’ Lucifer smiling to himself; Enoch entering the throne room; ‘no doubt to tell me of something he found in my study,’ Lucifer chuckling loudly.
“My lord,” the current petitioner looking aghast; “do you find my situation funny?”
“I apologise,” Lucifer getting up; “but I have come to a decision in regard to the late Beelzebub’s titles.”
The entire court immediately went silent as they waited for whatever boons he was about to grant. Some eagerly awaiting for what could be a dream come true or the closest a demon could ever reach heaven short of a raid. Lucifer looked at the gather crowd an smiled wickedly.
‘This will be delicious,’ he thought.
“I Lucifer Morningstar, the Devil, the Satan, King of Hell, Archduke of the Ninth Circle, Duke of Erebus, Sheol, and Hades, Lord of Dis and Pandemonium, Prince of Darkness, Father of Free Will, Leader of the Great Rebellion, decree that Enoch Morningstar shall be appointed the titles of Chief of Justice, Grandmaster of the Order of the Fly and Grand Chamberlain to King Lucifer,” Lucifer stating to the gasps of the court. “At least until I can find a more suitable replacement,” Lucifer adding as he watches his son glares disapprovingly at the need to play politics. “The remaining titles Beezlebub held shall remain vacant until further notice,” Lucifer silencing the restless crowd. “Please direct all court appointed enquires to Enoch Morninstar for the remainder of the day,” Lucifer leaving the throne room.
Lucifer chuckled at that clever move. ‘I can play chess too Jehovah,’ Lucifer recalling his conversation with god earlier. With the din of the court still in the background; Lucifer opens a portal to the dungeon, surprising the guards that were stationed at Cruciata Carronfly’s prison cell.
“Leave us,” Lucifer undoing the cell-lock doors.
“But we have orders from Nergal,” One guard chocking on his words; “no visitors.”
“I hope that doesn’t apply to me,” Lucifer glaring at the guard; “I am the ruler of hell. Or was there a regime change that no one told me about.”
The guards too sheepish to respond just quietly slink away, hearing Lucifer’s words as he open the cell door.
“Cruiata it is time you and I have a talk,” Lucifer closing the door and then placing a seal to prevent eavesdroppers from listening in.
Turning around, Lucifer is shocked at what he sees. Instead of the demon fly daughter of Beelzebub standing before the lord of hell; a lovely young women with Rainbow coloured butterfly wings, blue skin and a purple halo. The only part of the angel before Lucifer the remained the same was her compound eyes.
“That slippery bastard,” Lucifer looking bemused; “You prayed to god didn’t you, Cruciata.”
“I prayed for Pava,” Cruciata looking teary eyed; “I love her.”
“It shows,” Lucifer sitting on the lone chair; forcing Cruciata to sit on the sad excuse for a bed.
“I didn’t kill my father,” Cruciata breaking the awkward silence; “you have to believe me.”
“I know you didn’t,” Lucifer opting to not reveal that it was the Iron Knights that she brought to hell; “but you do know who did kill your father don’t you.”
“I have no proof,” Cruciata being honest; “but I suspect it was the Iron Knights.”
“The same four you brought to hell to kill Rachael Church,” Lucifer grinning; “Now Lady Tenebra.”
“Yes,” Cruciata sounding defeated. “But I did not tamper with any wards,” Cruciata raising her voice, or whatever charges that snake Nergal told you.”
Lucifer arched an eyebrow, “what makes you think Nergal is a snake;” Lucifer sounding intrigued.
“Because he was hanging around with my father,” Cruciata stating; “helping him hide those same Iron Knights I’m guilty of bringing to hell! Him and Lord Adrammelech;” Cruciata, adding in the end.
“Interesting,” Lucifer now truly interested; again not opting to tell Cruciata that Adrammelech is now a traitor by performing a profane ritual in the heart of hell. “I suggest you tell me everything.”
*********************************************
Lucifer sat back it the simple chair completely floored at what Cruciata told him. It defied possibility. “I hope you have proof to back this up,” Lucifer staring at the nervous angel, that until an hour ago was a demon.
“The east tower in the palace of Vermin,” Cruciata sighing; “dad’s primary residence. There is a secret door behind a statue of what I’m guessing is my Grandfather if he were a demon.”
“Go on” Lucifer listening.
“I snuck in once because I was bored a curious,”Cruciata looking about nervous.
“No one can hear us,” Lucifer pointing to the ward on the door; “I have seen to it. So please continue.”
“I saw my father along with Nergal and Adrammelech standing outside of a Pentagram inside of a circle,”Cruciata panicing; “Oh the horror.”
“Spit it out,” Lucifer snarling; pausing before adding, “please.”
“At the center of the circle was a dammed human soul, bound with its chest cracked open and heart torn out,” Cruciata bursting to tears; “the heart was still beating but the body still.”
“Just like at the ward,” Lucifer remember what he saw in the volcano; “what else Cruciata.”
“A black shade rose from the body as the heart dad was hold turned into a black crystal,” Cruciata now visibly distressed; “I soon ran out of there. If father noticed my presence,” Cruciata crying; “he never let on.”
Lucifer allowed Cruciata to blubber as he pondered what the child said.
“Perhaps Enoch might know,” Lucifer thinking outloud before seeing Cruciata staring at him. Getting up he heads to the door but stops.
“The lockdown is over,” looking at Cruciata; “you can portal out of here. I recommend you had to purgatory first before making a beeline to heaven.”
Curciata practically leap off the bed and began to summon a portal. It consisted of holy light instead of the typical flames from that of a demon, yet the magics were the same.
“When you get to heaven,” Lucifer looking serious; “speak only to Jehovah. Tell him what you told me, and only him. I’m certain he is waiting to re-unite you with Pava. Who is also now an angel,” Lucifer adding with a wry smile.
Cruciata was about to step through the portal before she turned around and asked; “but what of my charges? Won’t things look odd if im gone after you talked to me?”
“Leave that to me,” Lucifer pulling a metal orb from thin air just as he breaks his ward; “now go.”
Cruciata gives Lucifer a thankful nod and passes through the portal.
Placing the orb on the floor of the cell; Lucifer leaves the cell and relocks the door just as Nergal and the same guards approach.
“My lord,” Nergal stammering; “you should have told me you wanted to speak to the prisoner. I would have had the torturer ready to loosen her tongue.”
“No need,” Lucifer eyeing his Chief of Hell's Secret Police with a neutral; yet suspicious stare after Cruciata’s words in regards to Nergal; “Cruciata was spouting her usual lies. Keep her locked up for tomorrow’s trial,” Lucifer walking away; “and see that no one disturbs her. That includes providing her with the evening meal Lord Nergal,” Lucifer adds; knowing the shifty demon will at least honor that command.
Lucifer portals back to his private study to see a pissed of Enoch waiting for him. Before Enoch could lay into his father for his stunt in court earlier, Lucifer jut silenced him as he placed the same ward on his door as the one on Cruciata’s cell.
“I suspect ears at the doors,” Lucifer staring at his son smiling as a loud explosion could be heard coming from the dungeons. “Now that should keep our enemies guessing for a bit,” Lucifer grabbing the scotch; “it will be a while before Nergal, Adrammelech and whoever they are working for figure out that Cruciata fled to heaven.”