ᶰᵒᶤʳ ᶜᶤᵗʸ, ᵇᵉᵍᶤᶰᶰᶤᶰᵍ

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

''Kate R. Heronwing.''

The three whipped around to see a tall chocolate-brown haired man. He just smirked at them with such pleasure it scared them. He wore a neat blouse with slack black jeans. Sunglasses covering his eyes. Kate squinted before speaking, ''I'm guessing this is another demon here to teach me some demented life lesson.'' She almost spoke humorfully, but at this point, it wasn't hard to believe. The man just shown a smirk. Then shrugged briefly, ''I'm not really a 'demon', exactly. I'm more of what you call an Icon Of Hell.''.

''Yay its Lucifer.'' Kate said sarcastically.

''You're smart, kid.''

Steel hunched over beside Kate, obviously not happy. Probably because Kate would be dragged on some fun adventure and leave him and Kestrel here to do school. Lucifer must have saw his expression because he just shrugged at him. ''If you wanna skip school with me kid, that's 'lright.''  Kestrel's expression brightened, ''finally, skipping school for a good cause!'' Lucifer then suddenly slashed his hand around. A force dragged them closer, and a orange fire engulfed around them. Then they found themselves in a graveyard. It seemed eerie, even in the middle of the day. Lucifer spun around and seemed to be looking for someone. ''Let me just get ol' Ryan first, he comes here a lot, you see.'' The fallen angel scuffled off in search for the messenger demon while the three preteens just waited.

Ryan stared at the grave.

He kept reading the words over, and over.

'William Bryce'

' 'Cause of death; Unknown'

'1999-2004'

'In Loving Memory.'

He just stared.

It wasn't unknown what killed William, oh no. It haunted him, it lingered with him everywhere. Especially since he visited his grave everyday to put roses by it. He just squatted in front of it. Just staring down at it. His eyes dimmed while he stared at it, the sun blasting into his hoodie. But he ignored the heat, and just read. His sad crimson eyes just dazed. His yellow horns started to swirl out of his head. Ryan leaned down and pressed his head against the grave. Moss had formed on the side, tiny blossoms starting to sprout. Ryan focused so singularly that all the other gravestones vanished. And it was just him and William's gravestone. He let out a suppressed sigh. But a sudden loud perky voice interrupted his trance.

''Ryan! Oh Ryyaannn!''

Of course it was Lucifer. Oh dear Hell how he hated Lucifer. He turned around and growled, seeing the three preteens stalk after him. The one named Steel looking around at the eerily terrain in concern. He stood up, ''what do you want? I'm busy right now.'' Lucifer smirked humorlessly, ''staring at your boyfriend again?'' It almost sounded like an insult, but there was a hint of sympathy that he appreciated. ''Ryan had a boyfriend!?'' He heard Kate spit, almost cackling. ''Ryan? Really? I don't believe it.''  Ryan stared at her with dead, sad, sleepless eyes. Kate just stared back with insane, big and keen eyes. Smirking widely at him and showing no sympathy what so ever.

He didn't appreciate that what so ever.

''What do you want?'' He repeated at Lucifer, his shaggy gray hair falling over his forehead. ''Oh, Deviler said we needed to you know, do some social experiments with the thingo.'' He motioned to Kate blandly, who did the motion called 'jazz hands'.  Ryan huffed and stood up. ''Fine, alright. Where do I need to take her this time?'' Lucifer shrugged, ''I don't know.'' He stiffened, glaring at the fallen angel. ''You don't even know?'' The fallen angel shrugged again. Ryan was obviously upset, his fists clenched and his teeth seeming sharper. ''So you just disturb me for no reason what so ever! I just want to be left ALONE with William.'' He said in a inhuman voice, his eyes glinting red. Kate had never seen him so upset before, this William figure must have been some great boyfriend. ''I'm sorry Ryan, I just didn-'' before the fallen angel could finish, Ryan slammed his fist into the square of his jaw. Lucifer shrieked and growled. Stumbling back while the preteens stared in surprise. Ryan seemed uneasy, his eyes glowing a grim red and his teeth starting to form into fangs. His skin seeming to get paler. ''Just bring me to Equality today.'' Kate mumbled to Lucifer, seeing Ryan's unstable state and deciding to give him privacy. Lucifer whispered a curse and nodded, quietly leading Kate away. She turned her head back to see Ryan crouch over the grave again. 

''Alright.''

Lucifer had finally gotten them to that same place Ryan to taken her when they first met. He mumbled unheard words and it split open. He stared at Kestrel and Steel for a moment. ''Should I bring them in too? I mean their...humans.'' Kate squinted, ''yes, you're damn bringing them in.'' She grunted, walking inside with her hands in her pockets. Steel shrugged at Kestrel and quietly followed Kate in. It was as wonderful as Kate remembered it, but there were less demons here today. Just two or three, there probably wasn't much business during the day. Lucifer lead them back into the same room, she waved to Charlie. And he waved back, squinting at the 'humans' behind her. Then she spotted an elevator. There were outlines of metal vines around the entrance. And the door slid open and dinged. ''Ladies first,'' Lucifer snickered, the three creeping inside before he. Then he pushed a few buttons and the elevator went down, full speed. Which was quite fast. Kate leaned on the rail for balance while Steel shook in the middle and Kestrel held onto Lucifer's arm. Then they slammed into the ground. Kate slowly stalking away from the railing. Poking Steel's arm quite harshly to see if he would fall over, and he almost did. Catching himself quietly before almost hitting the ground, glaring at Kate. Kestrel unlatched herself from Lucifer's arm, who just ruffled her hair. The elevator dinged and the door open.

Hell.

No literally, they were in Hell. Fire-pits smoked, red sunstone and sandstone colored walls and caves. Trees that leaves were purposely fire and embers. She inhaled, ''so this is an elevator to Hell.'' Lucifer nodded at her, Kestrel and Steel slowly crawling out and huffing. ''Never thought I'd see Hell and be alive.'' Kestrel shrugged. Steel snickered a little. ''Alright, come on. I'll take yo to Equality's place.'' And Lucifer lead them through the burning underground cave that was Hell. Seeing a few demons and such along the way. When the finally reached Equality's living space, there was already someone outside. He had pale ginger hair and crimson horns. A ripped denim vest with a white t-shirt with a skull on it. And long brown jeans with tiny rips in them. The man turned around and squinted, and Kate realized his pupils were minus signs. She let out a soft snicker to herself. ''Hey Math demon? What's 2 - 2?'' She called out to him, cupping her hands around her mouth. The demon turned around and stared at her blankly. Lucifer squinted, ''oh hey Kris.'

''Why did she ask me math-''

Lucifer shrugged. And Kate just waited for a response. ''Uh...2?''

''Ok he's not smart.'' She noted. Her two friends shrugging too. Kris stared for a moment before speaking again, ''hey have you seen Equality I don't think she's here-'' then Equality slammed open the door. Knocking Kris forward and onto the ground. ''Hi.'' She groggily mumbled, dark circles under her eyes. Wearing furry pajama pants and a shirt with an alien emoji on it. ''What do you want?'' She didn't seem to notice Kris on the floor (/she didn't really care). ''Shit.'' Kate shrugged before Lucifer gently shoved her aside. ''Uh well Boss-man wants you to do more training with the O' Unholy One. here.'' She squinted at him for a second before huffing. ''I hope your not another Steel, mister. Because I've got my hands bloody full with Steel, senior.'' She hitchhiked back to Steel. Who growled and rolled his teal eyes. The equal-sign eyed demon didn't really react to that, not really knowing Steel. ''Who name's their kid Steel?''

''My parents.'' Steel wheezed.

(''What the hell'') Lucifer shoved Kate forward and Equality yawned. ''Do I have to babysit now? I swear that bloody devil drives me crazy.'' She dragged Kate inside by her wrist. While Lucifer seemed to be leading her friends away, Kris sneaking inside on his own. Her house was a wide shack. With deer heads and moose heads on the wall. Couch's with bear-skin blankets and white pillows. The fireplace at the end gave the huddle an extra orange glow. Equality sat down on the couch in front of the fireplace. ''Ok, kid, just let me talk with Kris and I'll deal with ya. Go wait outside or something.'' Kate nodded, reluctantly, and went outside to the lawn. It was massive. With three covered cages at the end. She went over to them, playing with the cloak over the third.

She only heard muffled voices from inside. Not giving a damn about what the two demons were discussing. Then she heard the door open and Equality stomped over tiredly. ''Don't rush to the thirddd.'' Equality shooed her to the first cage.