Pain Purity and Apocalypse

Chapter 3: Terrible Time in the Underworld

Friday, May 4, 1993
(Location: The Demon Nation)

Lucifer sits ominously behind a black marble desk. He rests in a coal coloured, medieval throne with silver accents printed into the leather fabric.

"Well? Is she too afraid to come? She's late, and I don't particularly enjoy waiting for my company to arrive, behind the ordered schedule."
His voice is deep and echoes off the shadowy walls. He curls his knuckles under his chin, and rests his deer skull head atop his bony palm. Two, curved horns, rise on the sides of his skull in place of antlers.
His figure is barely outlined in the engulfing darkness, just the silhouette of a towering man. Still, you can see the scarlet letters: RORO, printed just above the breast of his black suit. His blood red eyes glare into those of Stephan, the sorry butler who has served him for his prolonged time in office.

"Last I heard, sir, Trinity Augustine is barely able to stand on her own after the attack. By no means do I wish to pry at you sir, but take into consideration her feelings. Shouldn't you give her time to rest?" Stephan stands a few feet from the front of the desk, his arms folded behind his back. Lucifer's skeletal jaw opens with a slight, CRACK! He does this when he is at the brink of snapping. A low, guttural growl escapes with a metallic echoing, it accompanies the end of his every word.

"You dare take me for a fool? I know that, Stephan, but it is now my job, as the strongest leader, to compensate for the loss of the only man who stood a chance at defeating AOME!"
His voice fills the massive room, everyone in the Demon Nation, Hell, can hear that cry. Lucifer's glossy, black nails tap rhythmically across the smooth marble. His breath comes in deep exhales. Stephan takes two cautionary steps back, viewing his master like a bomb diffuser views the choice between cutting the red wire, or the blue wire.

" *Ahem* sir—"
"What. Do you. Want, Stephan? If the answer is nothing, then let me be at peace."

He points to two, large black doors to the right of his desk. Above them, In solid gold lettering, a sign reads: The Punishment Void. Below that sign, in smaller gold letters, it says: (Warning) Any Human Who Commits A Cardinal Sin, Their Soul Will Be Stored For Consumption.

"I'm a very busy Demon, as you know well. So, if you wouldn't mind finding my late company and dragging them here by their ears, go do so, now!"

Stephan sighs, feeling ignored and unimportant. He begins taking a few steps to the exit, when his Lord calls for him once more.

"Stephan, you heard about Norman and Jane, didn't you?" Lucifer closes his eyes, as a powerful Demon— some might argue— the most powerful— he has the unique ability to visualize past and future events. He rekindles the scene from Tuesday, May 2nd. He watches Lok approach the Augustine mansion; He watches as he set his ally's home aflame; He watches Norman— once a renowned leader— be bested; And worst of all, he sees the guilt in Lok's eyes, the pain in his face, Lok did not want to kill Norman and Jane that night... And yet, he still did... And it infuriates Lucifer to his very, soulless core. He wanted to be the one to end Norman's life, not let someone else do the job for him.

"You're feeling pain from the tragedy. You can't hide it from me, sir, I know you all too well."

Stephan bows before his lord. Lucifer narrows his eyes, small, red slivers within the empty sockets of the deer skull. He has no head of his own, his body is composed of black particles of mass. He can fill objects, such as this skull, to give him more of a physical form. He waves his clawed hand, acting as if the loss of his dear friend hasn't touched him in the slightest. If a Demon feels a strong emotion, they conceal it for only themselves to know. Emotions make you weak, and weakness is a highly laughable ailment for a Demon, a creature of decay, destruction, pestilence, and most of all, greed, to experience. To a Demon, a friend is someone who gives something beneficial in return, may that be physical objects, or something more personal, like reputation.