Semyaza was hunched over an ancient book in a dark chamber in the Grand Library. He had done it! He had found the Restricted Section where Penemue kept the books on Chaos lore, everything from detailed annals of the history of the Chaos Wars to summoning rituals. Semyaza chuckled triumphantly. He now had all he needed to bring back Tiamat and her spawn, not as simple shades but as fully embodied gods of raw primordial power.
Semyaza opened a communication portal to Beelzebub. "I found it! I found the spell needed to resurrect the Chaos beings in their full majesty!"
"With true bodies?" asked Beelzebub.
"With true bodies," Semyaza assured. "It will require a special blood sacrifice, though. You'll need to funnel some particular souls into your hidden stronghold. It requires the sacrifice of a thousand souls of serial killers who murdered for the sheer pleasure of snuffing out lives."
"I have secret loyalists in the correctional facilities of the Eighth Circle," said Beelzebub. "Many of them refuse to accept Nocticula Morningstar as their new archduchess. They'll get me the souls."
"I imagine the revolutionaries will take care of Nocticula anyway when they get around to storming the Palace of Vermin," laughed Semyaza. "They blame the Morningstars for the new caste system. Very clever of you and Nergal, getting that decree passed."
"Hell is nearly ours," Beelzebub said. "But I still need Tiamat's power to destroy Earth."
"And not Heaven as well?" Semyaza asked skeptically.
"Of course not," Beelzebub smiled. "You know the respect I have for my fellow cosmic beings."
"I see," Semyaza said, not believing a thing the demon said and making plans of his own to turn the beings of Chaos away from Heaven and back toward Hell. "I need to get back to my research now. Good afternoon, Beelzebub."
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"Then we are decided?" Louis-Gaston said with a grin as he faced a massive crowd of rebels.
"I believe we are," said his wife Sitri, a celebratory smile on her face.
"No contest," Agent Flauros said with a shrug.
"Then I am proud to designate Senator Tammuz Morningstar the rightful Devil and King," Louis-Gaston announced. "Once we have seized the Royal Palace and dealt with the remaining anti-Earth Morningstars, we will write to Tammuz and invite him to the palace chapel for a coronation!"
All of the assembled demons cheered.
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Atargatis sat in a richly furnished room. It had likely been one of the wardens' rooms that had had its lock moved to the other side of the door. As comfortable as she was, Atargatis knew she had to get out. She needed to get help to rescue Astaroth. The rebels could be executing Astaroth right now for all she knew!
Atargatis knocked on the door to get the guard's attention. "I've changed my mind! I'm joining the revolution!"
"Aha!" said the guard, a former Soviet soldier. "I knew you'd develop class consciousness eventually." He unlocked Atargatis's door and opened it, a welcoming smile on his face.
Atargatis swung a chair into the guard's face, breaking his nose and knocking him out cold. She raced through the hallway, pausing at a corner to let a patrol pass. Once the coast was clear, she continued on her way. In the main room, most of the rebels were clustered on the far end discussing some vote. Atargatis took advantage of their distraction to discreetly open the main door and slip out into freedom.
Now out in the street, Atargatis needed a destination. She settled on her daughter's mansion. It was a little outside of Dis and might take some time to get there, but she had family there and the rebels would ignore it in favor of the Royal Palace for a while. She beat her wings and took off into the skies.