The Fiasco at Scala

The Damned, part eight

8. Ennio absorbed most of the antivenom, which worked its effect of healing the thief and kept him from dying. He returned to full form and ready to move again on his own two feet by Ilaria's side. Ilaria, however, still had the golden apple in her hand. She insisted on giving it to Ennio as a sign of his potential sacrifice on behalf of the group. Ennio readily stuffed the apple into one of the front pockets of his trench coat before the group latched on once more to Julian and continued onto the third Tool of the Trade. Julian was about to exit the tunnel when the intimidating black mass of the Enforcer appeared from above and blocked the giant's way out. A brief standoff ended when the creature jumped forward at the waiting group, only to be met by the frontal tackle of Ilaria, who took the Enforcer to the ground with a splitting crack.

 The Enforcer pushed Ilaria off and dug his hand into the rocky terrain beneath him, pulling out a long shiny sword and chucking it at the queen. Apparently, the creature of bloodlust had a sense of fair play. The duel of royal and spirit continued until the Enforcer toom Ilaria by the hand and transported her to the bright white realm of the Otherworld. With no defining features besides an endless expanse of white, Ilaria fought on against the Enforcer with every slash and hack of her sword. She eventually managed to get the upper hand over her opponent by getting the Enforcer into a chokehold, forcing him to yield to her will. He was urged by the sight of Ilaria's precarious blade to transport them both back to Hell, where Julian and the team were waiting patiently for her return from wherever she had been. 

The Enforcer did not attack Ilaria upon their safe return, as she chose to spare him on the condition that he helped Ilaria and the team return to the mortal world. The Enforcer accepted the conditions of having been bested in combat by a worthy opponent, deciding to join the group on their journey rather than be sent back to the Otherworld as a string of black ribbons. And so, the team continued their journey through Hell, on their way to the Third Tool of the Trade with a new ally onboard their ranks. 

Back on Earth in the royal palace of Scala, the Devil could with all his power a hint of betrayal from his Enforcer, as if he had any credible reason to do so besides being forced from his home realm for no reward or compensation. In his frustration, the Devil called down to the depths of Hell, issuing a bounty of diamonds from the Devil's treasury in exchange for anyone who was able to kill Ilaria and the group, who were being sheltered by a benevolent sentinel giant. The prospect of the reward sent swarms of demons and murderers prowling most of the tunnels in Hell for their prize.