[2020+] Hellbound

Prologue

It was a long day.

In fact, Exousia had never felt a single day that was longer than this one in his entire existence. As each second ticked past, it was really hours to him.

There was absolutely nothing to do. The last thing he would want to do is go onto the battlefield against the angels. On one hand they hated him, and on the other hand, a leader should stay on the sidelines, observe... scheme.

Oh, but he totally deserved the hate he received from his remaining brothers and sisters. He knew. He always did.

Exousia flung the throne room door open to be greeted with an icy embrace. The curtains were closed, causing the room to be in pitch darkness. Dust covered the shelves, and the single rug on the floor was folded, ungroomed. The room was a cold mess.

The king of Hell sat on his throne.

His hands twitched. There was a lack of servants and new souls in Hell. Ilithios, his most obsessive and obedient servant, was dead. He had been dead for a long while now- killed by a pathetic group of mortals. Angels had been massacring his demons like measly prey. Dozens had been going missing, no- killed- each day.

Was he... Losing his own war? The thought of it made his blood freeze.

Mind racing, he ran his hands through his unbrushed hair. These thoughts had been plaguing him for weeks.

An ear piercing thud echoed through the room. Exousia jumped from his seat.

He inched towards the door, alert. His heart raced.

Who- more like what- could be at his door? An angel?!

He didn't want to take any chances. He grabbed his angel blade from his trenchcoat pocket and held it in a fist. Whoever dared to challenge him would regret the day they were even conceived into their creator's mind.

"WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU-!" He shouted. He stopped midway through his punch as he recognized what was standing in his doorway.

A short, scrawny demon shrieked, shielding its face with its twig thin arms. Its eyes were mortified at the sight of the blade.

He coughed, putting his weapon away. "Just- just leave your weapons at the door and come in-," he stammered, covering the left side of his face with his hand.

The small creature dropped its pathetic spear at the doorway, then waddled inside.

"Ma-may I?" The demon croaked. It was pointing towards the closed curtains.

Exousia flopped onto his stone throne. "I don't see why not..." He muttered.

The demon opened the curtains. A piercing light streamed in, almost blinding the angel. He drew his arm over his face and snarled.

"Sorry my lord-!!" the demon exclaimed.

"Just tell me what you want!!" The king snarled, putting his arm down. "Or do you have bad news for me?"

The demon shrank back. "We tried to take down the angel blockade and-."

His eye twitched, claws digging into the stone arms of the throne. "Annddd what?"

"They killed all of them- the angels killed them..."

Exousia inhaled sharply and lifted one of his shaking hands.

"S-Sir please!!" The wide-eyed demon pleaded. "I have a propos-"

The demon exploded with a single snap of his fingers. Blood splattered across the walls. He wiped the blood off his cheek and snout.

"Well that was a waste-," He sighed shakily.

There was another knock at the door.

"LET YOURSELF IN!!" The king snapped.

A tall, lanky demon with a skull for a head stepped in. The fox demon bowed, placing his weapon on the floor and tipping his hat to the king.

"What do you want?" Exousia asked. His voice trembled.

"My lord," the demon started. "I have an... Idea for you. About the soul shortage? I can tell you if-."

Exousia rolled his eyes, his claws clutching the arms of his throne. "What's the catch?"

"I simply don-."

"Of course there's a catch, you're a demon." He snarled.

The demon continued as if nothing had happened. "King- Lord- what if you let the deal makers out? Onto the overworld?"

"What do you mean? That wouldn't exactly do anything, the wait for the victim's soul is a whole ten years."

"Simply shorten the term then-," the demon stood thinking for a few moments. "Six months maybe?"

The king looked around the room for a few moments as he tapped his fingers. "Who would be dumb enough to accept a deal when they die six to twelve months later?"

"You'd be surprised, my lord." The demon bowed again. "I've been on the dealing grounds myself- some do get desperate."

"How many, exactly?" The king's eyes narrowed.

"Not as many as those that accept ten years- but if you choose the right dealers I am sure they can find some has-beens that would accept the time." He paused. "There isn't much to lose in this bet, my lord."

"Oh really?" The angel got up to close the curtains. "If I do this, I lose demons I could be using to kill the angels keeping souls out in the first place."

Darkness consumed the room.

The demon stood his ground. "Sir- if you'd excuse me- how well has that been going? How many troops have been slaughtered today? How many more demons do you want to waste?"

Exousia cocked an eyebrow while crossing his arms. His blood started to burn hot. He understood his point, however.

"You- I like you," he chuckled, shaking a finger, "You aren't afraid to challenge me- very brave."

The demon nodded in acknowledgement.

"What's your name?"

"Skrel."

"Who do you suppose I release, Skrel?"