The Prince of Hell

Magnus

Chapter 2

People tended to give Edom a bad name. Yes, the place was literally hell, or at least one of them. And sure it was crawling with demons and there were vast waste lands as far as the eye could see. But, there was beauty to be found there as well. All you had to do was look past the glamour, and with an invitation from the king of course, step through the wards, and into the city of Sheol.

The city was a marriage between the best of ancient Greece and ancient Rome, large white columned buildings contrasting perfectly with the red bricked walk ways and the red cloudless sky. The people...well, magical beings, that called the city their home, added a certain character and charm that couldn't be found anywhere else.

At the very center of the city, the palace where Magnus and his father lived, the very defination of grandiose. It would cause the now queen of England to blush. From it's high marble walls and columns, to the large arched windows that were perfect for letting the light and view in. The garden of Eden, an unkept vampire's back yard in comparison to the one at the palace's entrance. Flowers beautifully color coordinated; reds, yellows and blues, forming elaborate designs that grabbed and held your attention.

The intricate, alluring, yet deadly maze at the east entrance. forever green. Magnus could remember getting lost in those maze for hours as a boy, his father having to come and find him. Or portaling anyone who had annoyed him there as a young warlock. Probably a few annoying vampires still trapped there even now, if he thought about it. He really should check on that.

Then there was the Red canals, it's waters the color of blood - where no one dared swim because they thought it home to deadly creatures, but infact was simply home to a few gold fish that Magnus had gotten as a birthday present and had placed them there as a child - snaking around the entire city like a ribbon tying everything together in a nice big bow. All in all, no matter where Magnus went, he always looked forward to returning home.

"So, when are you leaving?" Asked Asmodeus. He was sitting opposite Magnus at a large gray Arianna marble dinning table, covered with a very delicious looking breakfast spread.

Asmodeus was the king of Edom. Though if you asked Lucifer, he would say that he was the king of all the realms of hell, Edom included, and though Asmodeus was given rule over Edom for his loyalty in the war against the heavens, he was not a king but a prince under his command. However, which ever way you chose to look at it, Asmodeus was the ruler of Edom and in his eyes and the eyes others, it's king.

"In two days time, I think," Magnus replied, taking a sip of his coffee. He knew his father was against him leaving, that Asmodeus didn't think he'd fully recovered from what had drove him home from his last visit to the mundane world, though the ruler of Edom seemed to have given up trying to change his mind. And perhaps he was right, Magnus thought, but it's been almost tweenty years... And besides, one could only sulk for so long.

"And where will you be going this time around?"

"Thought I'd visit New York," said Magnus.

"Oh," his father replied, and what looked like sadness flashed in his eyes before quickly disappearing.

"Yes, a friend of mine, Ragnor..." Magnus began, picking up a piece of toast and smearing it with strawberry jam. "You remember him right?" Asmodeus nodded. "Well, he's been living there for a while now. Said it's changed alot since the last time I was there."

"Ok. And what is it you plan on doing there?" Asmodeus asked, his concern now clear. He knew is son, and if he didn't have something constructive doing to keep him busy, well, lets just say that Magnus wasn't called the great destruction for nothing.