Cameron explained his idea of each of them working individually to come up with various ideas, then putting them all together. Jack sat in one corner and figured out how to turn down the volume on his guitar so he wouldn’t disturb the others. He tried the improvisation again, and as things came to his mind he tried lacing them together. There were places in his mind that he knew had never been filled with anything before, but now they held the knowledge of song structure, theory, and ability to create something from nothing. He tuned out Dorian and Miles, who were doing the same thing, but Cameron wasn’t creating anything. He sat behind his drums, listening to everyone, then got up and went to each one, listening intently. Eventually he started playing invisible drums, as if he could see each individual piece of his drum set before him anywhere in the room. After sitting next to Jack for awhile, creating whatever beat he had in his head, Cameron stopped, looked at Miles and back at Jack.
“Hold up!” He pointed at Miles. “That thing you just played, it would go perfect after what Jack just wrote. Like, put them together.”
They turned up the volume on their instruments and Jack played the riff and melody he had just made up. Then Miles played his right after. They did it again, this time with Cameron doing his part on his real drums, and almost immediately Jack felt some connection with the drummer, a string or a rope or a pipeline as if what he was playing was channeling to him. Cameron seemed to feel it, looking at Jack in surprise as he played. When Miles joined in, he too looked at Jack as if the connection flowed to him as well. Dorian stood there, looking back and forth between everyone, his expression one of someone calculating a complicated algebraic equation. Then he jumped in, and soon they all overlapped and filled the gaps until it was one cohesive unit.
Though Jack’s hands weren’t glowing, they may as well have been as what felt like his soul-reaching power was driving his hands and sending it through sound to each of the others, who in turn sent it to each other like an electric grid where everyone was connected. And when he sang, even more of that power spilled out and filled the room until Jack thought the stone walls might cave in. The section of riffs they had just put together came to an end and the power drained from them all like the pipes had been emptied. They looked at each other in silence for a few moments, then Cameron jumped to his feet.
“Dude, you guys, we just wrote a song! Did you feel that? I thought my brain was gonna blow up. I love this new power.”
They continued this process non-stop for days, eventually getting frustrated whenever a servant came to check on them. They were provided with stone stools, which Cameron already had, and soon Cameron requested parchment and a pen to write. “Words are coming to me like crazy. It’s so weird. I gotta write them down, keep playing.”
The four demons talked very little, only occasionally discussing the creation of their songs. Dorian did often interject to express how his ideas were more sophisticated and therefore should be followed more than the others, but Cameron put him in his place when he overstepped his boundaries. But the bassist’s ideas were often right, and their music took a more technical turn, rapidly switching between odd time signatures within the same song. And as the songs progressed into solid pieces of music, Jack began to feel it so strongly within him. Strong enough that it seemed like his emotions flowed out of his hands and into what was heard. His solos came so naturally, and as he “dueled” with Miles, the strange connection he sometimes felt when working with him on Earth seemed to strengthen. He was sure Miles felt it too.
And when Cameron had finished the lyrics and explained his ideas for each song, Jack found it perfectly natural to sing them. He sang them without the music first, surprised that he was able to sing in tune without it, then attempted to play at the same time. His brain seemed to split itself as if giving one portion the guitar duties and another the singing. It did require some effort and focus, but putting his two new powers together, mixed with what he was sure was some part of his Soul Reacher abilities, was a form of euphoric excitement he didn’t know was possible.
But as much passion as he had for what they had written, he couldn’t help thinking about what their supreme leader would think of it. Was it heavy enough? The songs were long enough, and certainly not cheesy, but were they too technical? Cameron’s lyrics seemed to fit the requirements, but would Lucifer agree? And if he didn’t like it…inevitable punishment was not as upsetting as having to rewrite what they had all put so much of themselves into.
He finally expressed his concern to the others. “What if he hates it? What if we’ve failed before we’ve even actually begun this whole mission?”
“We got this, man,” Cameron said. “This all came natural to us. We gel. Musically at least. We’ll work on not hating each other later. Lucifer loves music, he’s pretty eclectic I think. I just hope he thinks my lyrics are tempting enough.”
“I know all about temptation,” Miles said. “You nailed it.”
“I’m not interested in getting beheaded or thrown in a lava pit,” Dorian said, crossing his arms over his bass. “So we better be sure this is right. Maybe it needs more work. I have ideas—”
“No,” Cameron and Miles said in unison.
“I swear, if I get tortured over this dumb thing—”
“Stop denying you love it,” Miles said.
Cameron stepped forward and put a hand on Dorian’s shoulder. “Don’t you see how your regular gift has impacted what you’re doing now? It’s intelligent creativity. It works. Fuck the Dark Lord if he hates it.”
Both Jack and Dorian gasped. Jack expected the door to fly open and servants burst in to drag Cameron away to some terrible torment. But nothing happened.
“Are you insane?” Dorian whispered. “You don’t say things like that. Does your wisdom not cover common sense?”
“Even I don’t say things like that down here,” Miles said. “I save my smack talk for Earth.”
“Even that’s dangerous. Just when I thought maybe I wasn’t surrounded by fools…”
The door opened and everyone went silent. Jack began to tremble, certain that Cameron was caught. In walked Amdusias, looking at each of them in turn. “Well?” he said. “Time’s up.”
“Is it?” Jack asked. It hadn’t felt like two weeks already.
“Yep. I’d ask you to play it for me first, but Lucifer wants you immediately. Hope it’s good shit.” With a wave of his hoof all the instruments disappeared. “Off we go, then.”
Led by Amdusias and flanked by guards, the four demons made their way across seals until finally reaching the one for Lucifer’s domain and in front of the two seals within the castle. “Hold on to each other,” Amdusias said, and Jack took hold of the duke’s smooth black leg in one hand and Miles’s arm in the other. Instantly they were in the most ominous-looking hall, the flame lights very dim, the walls made of black stone, and lines of statues depicting angels being torn apart or tortured in violent ways. Amdusias saw them all gaping at the statues and said, “Yeah, he’s got a bit of a grudge, as you can see. Imaginative guy. If he likes your music, you won’t end up like that.” The duke chuckled.
There were various closed-off rooms along the hall, which ended at black doors ordained by what appeared to be real bloody skulls posed in the position of a scream. Jack didn’t dare ask for clarification and imagined he might end up as a decoration if all their work failed.
Inside was a massive throne room, and pacing in front of the throne with hands behind his back was no doubt Lucifer. As Jack had only ever seen him as a giant, smoky apparition during announcements, seeing him in real life was surprising. He was the same size as an average human, walked like a person, and when he stopped and turned to face his guests, his glare was intense but not monstrous as Jack had imagined. The large, black, feathered wings shone in the firelight that was only slightly brighter than the hallway. His pants and vest were black, the latter open to show a muscular bare chest and showcased equally muscular arms. His long black hair reached the middle of his chest, and his expressionless face was adorned with thick stubble. Though the horns on his head were short, they were thick and incredibly sharp at the tips.
The four demon servants dropped to their knees and bowed with their hands on the floor. Amdusias bowed but remained standing.
“Here you are, my Lord,” the duke announced proudly. “I can assure you once again I have given them the ability to meet your requests. At your command I’ll give them their instruments and have them play for you.”
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Lucifer sat on his throne, leaned back slightly, and motioned for the duke to proceed.
Amdusias told the demons to stand, and at first they hesitated. They were in the presence of the supreme leader, the Dark Lord, and standing would be disrespectful surely. But slowly they did as directed, and the duke made their instruments appear along with a music stand for the lyric parchments so Jack could read them.
Jack’s hands trembled and for a moment he thought for certain he wouldn’t be able to play. He nearly dropped his pick, unable to calm himself. He glanced to his left where Miles stood and saw him shaking as well. On his right was Dorian who had his head held high and wasn’t trembling, but his eyes were closed and he swallowed hard. Jack looked behind him at Cameron, shocked at how calm he was. Cameron pointed to his head, then to Jack’s and back, as if reminding him of their connection. That’s what it would take. The problem was getting started.
With a deep breath, Jack nodded at everyone and they began their first song. His hands eventually calmed as the music filled him and flowed to the others just as it had while locked in the cave. He kept his eyes on the lyrics to avoid eye contact with their audience. The musical power flowed intensely and steadily until their song was finished. Jack got the courage to look up at Lucifer, still sitting on his throne with his elbow on the armrest, he chin on his hand.
“That was not what I expected.” His eyes were on Jack only.
Jack’s heart sank and he looked down. All that work, all that immense power was wasted. He waited to hear what their punishment would be.
Amdusias cleared his throat, clearly nervous himself. “Well, my Lord, they do have other songs. Perhaps you’d like to hear another.”
“Yes. Play another.”
Lucifer’s tone was difficult to read, dark but not angry, but also not pleased either.
With another deep breath, Jack led the group through another song, trying to keep the power going. He felt the others pushing it as well, sharing in his desperation to give the Dark Lord what he wanted. At the end of the song, Jack kept his head down but his eyes up just enough to see that Lucifer was now leaning forward with elbows on his knees. Again his gaze was only on Jack and there was clear curiosity there.
“Well, my Lord?” Amdusias said, clicking his front hooves together nervously. “What did you think of that?”
But Lucifer ignored the duke. He stood and slowly approached Jack, his curiosity remaining in his eyes. “You’re the Soul Reacher, yes?”
Jack nodded, looking down. The Dark Lord was only a foot away from him, standing half a head taller. He expected something terrible to happen, a hand squeezing his throat to flatten it perhaps, or hot fingers poking out his eyes, or a blast of flames to come out of nowhere and roast him alive.
“Look at me.”
He wants me to watch him torture me.
Their eyes met. Lucifer did not move or speak. No attack came. There was something interesting about the supreme leader’s eyes. Jack wondered how many demons had been allowed to stand close enough to see them for more than a second. They were no different from a human’s other than the irises being a dark gray that Jack didn’t think was a typical eye color. Typical for a supreme demon perhaps. They were like pools, like something he could jump into. So he did with his mind just as he would a human, just as he tried with Miles, and there was a spark just like with Miles, a flash of sorts but dark. Terrifyingly dark. But he wanted to swim deeper. Who else could do such a thing? Then a bigger flash as if he had burst through a wall and reached through.
What—how—
And the thoughts became burning darkness as he was pushed out and he gasped. Lucifer had taken a half step back, glaring at Jack in shock. Jack closed his eyes, never wanting to open them again.
“How the fuck did you do that?” The words were a soft growl.
“I don’t know. I’m sorry.”
After a soft sigh, Lucifer said, “Amdusias, take the instruments away. You four, kneel like you should be.”
The duke and the demon servants did as told. “My—my Lord, should I try again with them? I can—”
“No. You did brilliantly. You’ve earned another day as my favorite duke. This is going to go much better than I expected.”
Jack stared at the floor. Did this mean he liked the music after all? But he remained still as a statue.
“Oh! Oh, that’s great, my Lord. I’m very glad they turned out good for you. Is there anything else I can do for you?”
“No. Go. I need to brief them now.”
Once the unicorn had left, Jack watched Lucifer’s large black boots pace before him. He didn’t even dare look to either side at his bandmates.
“Before I send you to Earth,” Lucifer began, “I need you all to understand the amount of power you have. When the Great Kings selected you, I was confident that their choices were good. I don’t think anyone realized exactly how good.”
Jack sensed Dorian shifting beside him, but remained frozen with eyes down.
“I had wanted your music to exude some power. To be tempting to our target, obviously. To be just enough to get the cambion close to you to complete your mission. But after what I just heard it’s clear that it is so tempting it will be like dangling a fresh piece of meat in front of a starving dog. That cambion will rush to you quickly.
“So, when that happens, your job, Soul Reacher, is very simple. You will take his soul and bring it to me.”
Jack sat up, but was still afraid to look at Lucifer. There was no way for him to take the soul of a demon, no aura, no connection strong enough to reach in. And now he was expected to take the soul of some incredibly strong creature.
“I know what you’re thinking,” Lucifer continued. “You won’t need an aura. He’ll be easy to spot because he won’t have one. Besides, if what you did a minute ago is any indication, you can do it. This cambion is quite powerful, but not as much as me.”
It was true. He had connected to the most powerful demon to ever exist, even if the connection wasn’t as strong as with a human. Lucifer broke him from his thoughts.
“I want you to try to take his soul.”
Looking up, Jack saw Lucifer was pointing at Miles and gasped. “But—”
“You’re not going to actually take it, you fool. I want you to see how deep you can go with a demon. I want you all to see the power you have at your disposal. Just connect with your mind.”
Reluctantly, Jack looked into Miles’s eyes. There was a strange emotion there, sort of like fear but tinged with something residual, something left over from their musical connection, like it was still there fading slowly. It allowed him to jump into the pools of his brown eyes as if the door was wide open. There was more than a spark; he was as far into his friend’s mind as he was with any human.
What’s happening-doing-what-oh shit-no no no
Jack’s hand began to glow, the heat of it filling him like it always did, though it felt weird after not using it for fifteen years. “Fight back, demon!” Lucifer shouted. “Use your power, your mind to fight him.”
The connection constricted yet deepened as if now it flowed both ways. But what came into Jack’s mind was much clearer.
We’re friends, you bastard. Don’t kill me. Don’t you care? Don’t you? Put that hand down, asshole!
A picture flashed before his mind. A man’s face—perhaps his own but it was so fast he couldn’t tell—then a loud bang that made his head feel like it had been blown off. Jack pulled away, falling backward, his connection shut down, his hand going back to normal, his head numb. He looked at Miles in disbelief and was met with an equal expression.
Lucifer chuckled. “Very good. The Soul Reacher can enter demons as well if the conditions are right. But he is not invincible. Now, do the same to him.” The Dark Lord was pointing at Dorian.
Despite what had happened with Miles, Jack wasn’t worried about what sort of defense Dorian might have. Asmoday’s demon couldn’t fight back with intelligence alone, which seemed to be his only strength other than an overflowing ego. But when the connection happened, once again through the weak channel that the music had left open, Dorian’s thoughts—you can’t-no way-nope-can’t—were followed by little sparks that snaked through the nerves of his brain and collectively sent a sudden flash of white that filled Jack’s body. He screamed and fell over, shaking uncontrollably. He had been electrocuted.
Lucifer laughed at this, quite amused as Dorian sat with his hand over his eyes, mouth agape. “I don’t think even Asmoday knew you could do that.” He looked at Jack. “Get up, Soul Reacher. When you’re attacked like that, you can’t just lie there. Get up. Last one.”
Cameron was told to crawl over to Jack, who slowly got back to his knees. He had no idea what to expect after getting a surprise electrocution from someone he had been certain would be harmless. The drummer seemed to not know either. After a deep breath and a sigh, Jack dove once again into the open connection of Cameron’s blue eyes.
No idea-what-weird-crazy-oh shit
Cameron’s hand shot out and grabbed Jack’s neck. It burned, the heat going through his skin and surrounding his trachea, solidifying it into steel. His ability to breathe disappeared, the connection dropped, and he fell to the floor clutching his neck. He put his hand on what felt like a steel pipe in his neck.
“Undo that!” Lucifer demanded. “Fix it!”
The drummer put his hand on Jack’s throat again and the pipe slowly disappeared. Jack gagged and coughed out liquid metall, gasping.
“Holy shit,” Cameron squeaked. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t you dare be sorry,” Lucifer said. “That was brilliant. Now, Soul Reacher, you have been weakened by the powers of three demons. All of them could destroy you together if you remain down like that. Where’s the inner strength that demons like you are supposed to have? Your power is natural. Theirs in synthetic. Get up and show me the strength it took to get in my head.”
Jack wanted nothing more than to collapse and not move for days. If this was what was waiting for him on Earth, he wanted nothing to do with it. But Lucifer shouted at him to get up again. There could be no showing of weakness before the Dark Lord. Indeed, how had he connected to him, someone he’d never even met before? The music did it with his band mates. The music affected demons.
That’s it.
Without opening his eyes, Jack felt the three channels that were still open, so faded now but still detectable. His own soul had connected to theirs somehow, long term, perhaps permanently. He thought of his guitar, wished he had it, knowing it would renew the power, but just thinking of it and a piece of the song they had just played created enough of a burst that shot through the three channels. All three of the demons groaned and clutched their chests. Jack felt them trying to fight back but he denied every attempt, instead using it to fuel the power building up. Even with his eyes closed he could see his hand was glowing brighter than ever. Lucifer yelled for him to stop, and Jack shut down the connections, his three bandmates collapsing on the floor.
“That cambion stands no chance,” Lucifer said, his voice hinting at awe. “Not a chance at all.”