Lamashtu looked up Just as a portal of light began to form; she wondered if it was her brother Enoch who is now an angel. Still finding it doubtful that one born of darkness could turn to the light; she could not accuse her sister Alecto of being a liar, Lamashtu knew Alecto was not one to fabricate tall tales. So when she saw Father Brown stagger through the portal with a wounded Metatron, she called for her spouse Hecate.
Despite the fact that she was neck deep with wounded that recently came through from the other circles; the cow-taur demon came fast to help the wounded warrior.
“Put him down here,” Hecate instructing the human; “what happened?”
“A creature of smoke came up on us as we arrived in Dis,” Father Brown answering; “it wounded Metatron before I could harried it off.”
“A chaos shade,” Baal speaking as he approached the commotion; “just like at the dessert.”
“Yes,” Father brown nodding; “I may be an immortal soul but I can help with the wounded,” father brown looking at the wounded demons before him.”
“What can you do,” Hecate snorting as she used a simple spell to stop the bleeding.
“Before I became a priest, I was a medic during dessert storm,” Father Brown asserting; “the first one. I may not be able to cast spells like you can, but I know my way around a needle and thread and can perform triage.”
“Triage,” Hecate looking at the human quizzically; “what is that?”
“You assess who is priority for care based of off seriousness of wounds versus and time,” Baal answering; blowing smoke from his cigar as he exhales.
Hecate looked at the toad demon; stunned that he would know what that meant. Looking at the human, she sighed; knowing that she could use more help, she had no other alternative but to indulge in this novel ideal. “Go on then,” Hecate relenting.
“Unless it is an arterial bleed, those with limb wounds can wait,” Father brown looking at the healers; focus on those who wounds are on the torso and heads. Broken limbs can be temporarily dealt with splints. Bumps and scrapes are last.”
“Not bad,” Baal chuckling; “for a human.”
“Are you going to stand their fouling up the air or are you going to help,” Father Brown looking at the demon; all sense of preaching gone and using all the training he can recall during his days at boot camp.
“Watch it,” Baal glaring; “you might be…”
“Either grab a gurney and help with the wounded or get out of the way,” Father Brown barking at the demon; as he looks at a female demon with a piece of metal lodge in her abdomen; “she is first! Get me a medical kit,” Father Brown beginning to sterilize his hands with what he hoped was alcohol; “assuming any of you know what that is.”
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Nergal fumed; news of both Lilith and Lucifer being flesh puppets meant that his rule as the devil was not secured. Beelzebub examining the ashes of both remains confirmed the rumor. The ashes were supposed to react and glow red when combined with a mixture of bloodbloom and water from the river Styx. Only the ashes of Astaroth glowed red; the ashes of Lilith and Lucifer did not react.
“If only you had of followed my orders, explicitly,” Beelzebub putting his concoction away; “I told you to storm the palace but you had to get cute and use pawns.”
“It was a sound plan,” Nergal speaking before being cut off.
“Using the leader of an insurrection that wants to fight for a better life,” Beelzebub slapping Nergal; “was not the plan I had in mind. Storm the palace, remove Lucifer and the remaining senators,” Beelzebub screams; “then you would have been looked upon as a savior! Even a dog would have figured that out,” Beelzebub snarling.
“But,” Nergal looking stunned; “we won! The city is ours. Hell is ours!”
“The first and Eighth circles are locked down,” Beelzebub spitting; “by noon tomorrow there is a good chance that the 2nd and 3rd circles will fall to Lamashtu and her growing army. An army full of human and blood born demons,” Beelzebub walking away; “don’t follow me; uless you want to end up like Adrammelech.”
Nergal just glared as the demon with the lower half of a centipede headed back to the hall senate.
‘I’m the devil,’ Nergal seething; ‘I should be the one in charge.’
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Hecate sighed as she managed to grab a moment’s break. Despite her initial hesitancy; Father Brown was proving to be most efficient in helping with the wounded. His manner of treating injuries was very novel to her and the rest of the healers. The thought of opening up a wound to be larger than it was, was horrifying to her. But watching as he took tweezers to remove small bits of metal; or shrapnel as he referred to it, then seeing him use small clamps to stop bleeding before stitching up wounds was impressive. It took longer than using spells; but he kept going despite everyone else suffering exhaustion as they used up their energy. He managed to deal with ten patients in the space of four hours.
“I can’t believe that human,” Lamashtu offering her lover a cup of coffee; “he was either very brave or very stupid to back talk at Baal.”
“Can’t argue the results,” Hecate nodding; “he managed to get our lord of pollution to put out his cigar. And to help with the simple tasks,” Hecate sipping her java; “to think that toad demon actually watches human programs and knew what meatball surgery meant.”
“How is the angel,” Lamashtu changing the topic; “will he live?”
“He will,” Hecate answering; “but he can’t stay here. He needs to go back to heaven.”
“I hear my sister Nocticula went to see someone I despise,” Lamashtu doing her best to remain civil; “Alecto said it was to get him to help watch over the children.”
“That is sound idea. Best they stay out of this conflict,” Hecate nodding; “who is she seeing?”
“Dionysus,” Lamashtu throwing up a little in her mouth; “did I tell you he once tried to proposition me? He did a stupid jig all the while he was sporting a raging hard on!”
“I’ve heard rumors of that randy angel,” Hecate finishing her coffee; “but as far as I’m concerned, that is all they are. Just rumors,” Hecate getting up to head back to treat more wounded; “Trust your sister Lammy, Nocticula knows what she is doing.”