Fire flared angrily, illuminating the perfectly flat walls that stretched downwards forever. It left as abruptly as it came, and darkness engulfed the suffocatingly plain room once more. Eight stationary points of light floated in nothingness, forming a perfect circle. Their glow remained steady and unwavering as though they were merely part of the backdrop. All except for one.

“You promised me this world, and now I have been shut off completely from it,” the violet light spoke. “Not a single trace of my power exists in that world anymore, and still you dare laugh?”

“Blame naught but yourself for your arrogant folly, Abaddon. Interacting with mortals is beneath us, much less entrusting them with power,” the golden light said in a commanding tone. “You have reaped your own seeds for playing with your food.”

“What am I to do now, Lucifer?” Abaddon yelled. “My purpose has been denied by these puny mortals. I didn’t follow you out of Heaven for this!”

A beam of light shot out from a blue orb, and Abaddon cringed away from the attack.

“Watch your tone when speaking with your lords, demon,” it snapped sharply. “Before we unmake you.”

“Easy, Beezelbub.” Lucifer glowed a little brighter. “No mortal can hold a candle to our power. Worry not, Abaddon. I shall find you a different world to devour. Dismissed.”

The violet light blinked a few times and disappeared from the pitch black void.

“What of this world, then?” Mammon asked eagerly. “Can I have this one as well-”

“If anyone should have it, it should be me!” Leviathan argued. “It’s not fair that I get such a small portion of worlds to-”

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

“Enough,” the burning red point of light muttered, and the demon lords ceased their quarrel immediately. “Lucifer, my lord. It might have been a mistake to leave this world with so many imperfections.”

“Speak, Satan.”

“Mortals of this world have given a name to the cracks in reality we have created during our most recent war. These cracks have been infected with Heavenly essence, and manifested themselves as natural energy. ‘Arcani’, they call it. They have used that energy to great effect, even forcefully tearing through the boundaries of dimensions and accessing that of ours.”

“It is unlike you to fret, brother,” Lucifer queried. “What have they done?”

“Nothing of great import, although there was an attempted robbing of Purgatory recently,” Satan replied. “It is not their actions I am concerned about, but their rapidly growing power. Mortals have been getting more powerful at a dangerously fast rate. I fear the time will come when they overtake even the gods.”

The points of light flicked in unison, as though they were murmuring among themselves restlessly.

“This mortal that trespassed in Purgatory. What was his earthly title again?”

“Pagonis. Felix Pagonis.”

“Pagonis…” Lucifer muttered, deep in thought. “This can be no coincidence. Demon lords, guard our domain. I am leaving temporarily to have a word with Azrael.”

“Shall we enlist the help of others?” Asmodeus asked enthusiastically. “Hel, Cerberus, Osiris? Oh, how about Yama? I’d love to have a taste of that hunk-”

“Not necessary,” Lucifer snapped. “I’ll only be gone for a short while. And how low are they going to think of me if I ask for their help?”

The seven points of light vanished, leaving the darkness behind with them again as usual. As it always has been.

And as it always will be.

END