In the universe of good versus evil, there are several things which could go wrong. In some cases, it could turn out for the better. However, in the case of Satan and his eldest son, Adrian, it could turn out very, very bad. You see, for those of you who don't know, Adrian and his brother, Cassius, disapproved of their father's decision to rule over Hell for the next ten thousand years and decided to create their very own Hell on Earth. The two brothers left Hell, breaking its gates, preventing any souls from entering Hell and causing the process for deterioration for their father.
With no other choice, Satan's youngest son, Nicky, was forced to travel to Earth in hopes of capturing his brothers in his father's silver flask and returning to Hell with them both in tow. This was not an easy task, either, for his older brothers were both stronger than him plus Adrian was far more intelligent and strategic in his methods. The one good thing he did have was his ability to return to Earth if he died, which he had a slight tendency of doing. Luckily, his wit allowed him to triumph over Cassius and capture him in the flask.
Later, after sacrificing himself in order to save Valerie - a woman with whom he had fallen in love - from Adrian's attempt to kill her, Nicky discovered his mother was, in fact, an angel and deep inside him was the inner light. However, during Nicky's time in Heaven, Adrian discovered he could obtain the throne of Hell while his father was in his weakened condition. He took the throne and transformed into a soon-to-be ruler of Hell and raised his throne up to Earth, where he could rule over the souls which would become his as soon as his father had completely deteriorated.
Armed with the inner light and an orb given to him by his mother, Nicky returned to Earth for a final showdown with his brother, almost failing in the attempt. With little time to spare and Adrian frightening the crowd in his bat form, Nicky pulled out the orb and smashed it on the ground. There in front of him stood Ozzy Osbourne, who bit off the head of the bat and spit Adrian into the flask with Cassius. Nicky returned to Hell to revive his father, and, after giving the flask to his father for proper punishment to be served his brothers, returned to Earth to live happily with Valerie.
This story starts off two years later, when Heaven and Hell were planning a peace treaty . . . and Adrian was to be set free . . .
For as long as the two planes had existed, there has been a feud between Heaven and Hell, good versus evil, known as the Divine War. Maybe this is the way God wanted it, to have a competition between the two worlds in order to keep the balance and to keep himself entertained throughout the millenia. He knew that eventually, the angels and demons would have to create alliances in order to maintain the balance.
The Divine War was not entirely hidden from man, nor was it entirely revealed. Many on Earth were aware of the perpetual and deadly battle that raged in the heavens above and in the depths of the earth below. Religions were formed from the empowered, the wicked, the bloody carcasses of those who fought to control the fates of the human worms whose souls were a delicacy to be found nowhere else among the universes.
Of course, the pitiful humans, though weak, could not be controlled. The battles were individual, internal, a fight between temptation and conscience; but what battles they were. Angels and demons constantly tore at each other over the sweet, delectable soul struggling, trapped between them. They were an addiction like no other.
The angels saw the souls as objects to be cherished, to be polished and petted and eventually befriended, make higher than the highest of kings, the archest of angels. The demons saw souls as food, as the bittersweet blood coursing through their wickedly filthy veins. They saw them as things to be tortured, worn thin, wrung of every piece of dignity and humanity they might cling to after death. Only the most corrupt, the most rotted souls are given to them, though they long for the sweet, innocent souls so cherished by the angels.
The angels protect and guard the purest of soul, keeping them just out of the clawed reach from those corrupted demons who long to devour the innocence and purity of a perfect white soul. The dirtied slip from the grasps of these daring angels, and the farther they fall to sin the more difficult it is to climb back up to where they can be defended. It is, as has been stated, an eternal struggle.
As a result, the demonic army suffered. With much fewer souls to satisfy their hunger and the brave angel guardians slaughtering them like flies, a sort of peace was now needed to return the balance and leave the will and decisions to the humans. And desperate times called for desperate measures . . .
"I can't believe you're actually planning on going through with this, sir."
Satan glanced over at Michelle, annoyed with her disobedience once again. She was a pleasant enough girl, he had to admit that, but she had a tendency to get under his skin and not getting back out. "Michelle, if we want peace between the two planes and the balance between good and evil to be properly restored, then we must proceed with this course of action without hesitation. Besides, who was it who begged, pleaded, and bargained her soul for this event to take place?"
Michelle rolled her grey eyes. "I understand that much, your Highness, but what roll do I exactly play in this scenario? I'm not of any use to either individual, at least, as long as he behaves himself. I didn't give you my soul to be his watchdog." She glanced around the throne room. "I could never quite get used to this place."
Satan sighed, rubbing his temples with his clawed hands. "Michelle, your being in Hell is your own fault and you know it. You were part of the problem . . . now you'll be part of the solution. Now, please, get me the flask."
"But, sir . . ."
"Now, Michelle."
Without another word, Michelle bowed to the Prince of Darkness and left the throne room to retrieve the silver flask. Originally stored in the ass of Hitler, the flask was now heavily guarded to prevent an escape by either of its occupants. It was also protected from anyone who may try to steal the flask and destroy it, destroying the souls of Satan's two eldest sons with it. That was something Satan would never allow to happen, even though they betrayed him, for his love for his sons was immense.
Michelle nodded to the guards as she walked by them, for they knew she was the only mortal here who was not dead and was the only soul other than Satan permitted to touch the sacred object they so loyally defended with their lives. As Michelle drew closer to the flask, she could feel the power and evil of the two souls surging out of the flask almost like a thick fog. She shivered, knowing how dangerous Adrian had once been before his captivity . . . did she dare compare him to an animal?
As she lifted the silver flask from its pedestal, she could hear the grumbling of the two brothers inside, which nearly chilled her to the bone.
Get your collar out of my eye, Adrian! she heard Cassius roar.
Oh, would you shut up, brother! I think someone is moving us out of this dreadful room. The voice of Adrian, while angry and irritated, was as alluring as it had been two years previous during their first chance encounter. Whoever it is out there, if you can hear me, I will spare your life if you will let me out of this flask right now. His voice was as sweet as sugar as he spoke.
Michelle gingerly cradled the object in her hands, trying desperately not to jostle it too much as she walked out of the room and past the guards. She did her best not to react to the voices coming from the flask.
Adrian, you know not a damn soul can hear us with the flask shut. Cassius told his brother.
A laugh came from Adrian. Oh, Cassius, how little you know about this flask. No superhuman creature can hear our voices, but any mortal creature can hear every single word we speak.
How do you know it's a human, Adrian?
I can smell a human a mile away, Cassius.
Michelle swallowed hard and continued her slow walk to the throne room. Just a few more feet . . . She silently thought to herself.
Did you know that, other than Father, only individuals with devil-blood or demon-blood pumping through their veins can touch this flask? Adrian added, sounding more bored than proud of his knowledge.
Only because you've told me so many times in the last two years! Cassius growled. If this damn flask wasn't so fucking small and I wasn't so damn weak, I would fucking bust your head open for ever time you told me that.
Cassius, if I had a dime for every time you said that, I would be a millionaire.
Michelle was filled with relief when she finally handed the flask over to Satan. "I'm ready, sir."
Satan nodded to Jimmy, his right-hand demon, who gave her the Invisibility Robe. "Be careful, Michelle," Jimmy warned her, his beady, blue eyes flashing with concern as she began putting on the robe. "Do not let him see you at all. The only exception would be if he were able to sense your presence. In which case, leave the room immediately before he realizes you are mortal and susceptible to his powers. If he is able to discover you and you utter a single word to him, you will immediately forfeit your soul to his Evilness and you will rot in Hell for all eternity. Understood?"
She gave him a solemn nod, covering her head and disappearing from everyone's sight. As soon as Michelle was undetectable, Satan began the task which everyone had begun to fear; opening the flask and releasing the greater of two evils, Adrian. As soon as the flask had been opened and gently tipped a little to the side, a heap once known to be Adrian fell out, the stench of the grime covering his body enveloped the room and brought tears to Michelle's eyes.
The poor whelp on the ground could hardly be described as the creature she had encountered two years ago known as Adrian, eldest son of Satan. The man before her, covered in who-knew-what, breathed heavily as he failed his attempts to rise to his feet. He did manage to rise to his hands and knees, which was enough to satisfy him for the moment. He vomited onto the floor, the liquid unable to be identified as anything from Heaven or Earth as it burned and steamed like a powerful acid.
When Adrian threw a viscous glare at his father, everyone in the room cringed at the ferocity his steely grey eyes held. Michelle noticed that even the Prince of Darkness could not hide his discomfort as he, too, flinched. "Hello, son."
Adrian did not accept the warm greeting. "How dare you call me your son, trapping me in that damned flask like a dog in a kennel for what, two years now? Do you know how impossible it is to live in that small Hell hole with a brother twice my weight? I could have fucking died in that flask." He spit out a little drop of bile, which burned as it, too, hit the floor. "You treat me like an animal in desperate need to be caged, yet you have the nerve to call me son?"
He paused as a new scent caught his attention and filled his nostrils. "What is that smell? Do I smell . . . a mortal?"
Whoa, he wasn't kidding when he said he could smell a human. Michelle swallowed hard and Jimmy shifted uncomfortably as Adrian sniffed again. "I smell a human . . . and not just any type of human, but a live woman human." He glared suspiciously up at his father. "Is my father actually trying to spawn again in an attempt to keep me from achieving the throne?"
He growled, causing Michelle to take a step back. "For the past two years, I have dreamt of nothing more than your utter and complete defeat, father. I have plotted and connived how I will regain my rightful place in the throne, imagining how delightful it would be to hear you scream in pain by the tortures you would endure under my rule." He tried to stand once more, but his hardships in the flask had weakened him massively. He fell to the ground, his filth-covered body hitting the rocky floor with a loud thud. "For two years, I've had this dream, and yet, here I am, too weak to even look upon you."
"Son, I . . ." Satan sighed, unsure exactly of what to say or even think about his son's immediate outburst. "Adrian, you will eventually regain your strength; it will take much time and healing. For now, why don't you wash up and get some rest? Once you have awakened, I will inform you why it was you, and not Cassius, I released from the flask."
"But . . ." Adrian wanted to know why right at that very moment, but he did not have the power to continue. He allowed himself to be carried out of the throne room to his bed chambers. His first action was to prepare himself a bath. The flask had not done well to help his handsome features. As soon as the hot bathwater was drawn, he slowly lowered himself into the tub, glad to finally be able to stretch out his cramped limbs.
Complying with Satan's orders, Michelle stood in the doorway of his bathing room, afraid to come any closer. While the stench would drive most anyone away, it was not what was allowing Michelle to keep her distance from the spawn of Satan. Adrian had been able to smell her in the throne room from a few feet away; there was no way she was going to permit that to happen again. She could not allow her soul to rot in vain after all she'd gone through.
Michelle did her best not to watch him as he bathed. Adrian was devilishly handsome to begin with, with or without the grime. However, the girl did not need to stand in the doorway; it wasn't necessary for her to stand that close to the spawn of Satan. She merely needed to be in his room. Michelle, for some reason she could not explain, was attracted to this creature of evil. As she had thought before, Adrian was devilishly handsome in his usual attire, but out of his attire . . . he was way too tempting for a simple human mortal.
This was exactly why Michelle's jaw promptly dropped as Adrian stood and stepped out of the tub, unknowingly exposing her to his nude form. As Adrian picked up a black towel and began drying his golden hair, Michelle drank in the sight of his toned body. It was definitely better than she had remembered. The only reason she drew no closer was the fact he had sensed her - correction, smelled her - in the throne room from a couple feet's distance. She couldn't risk to be exposed and tortured in the very bowels of Hell in which she now lived.
She backed up until she was against his bedroom door as Adrian exited the bathing room and headed to his four-post, king-sized bed. She kept an eye on him, watching closely as he pulled back the red sheets and blankets and collapsed onto the soft mattress and pillows. Soon, Adrian was asleep, his soft yet viscous snores echoing throughout the kingdom and disturbing anyone within the halls. Michelle gingerly grabbed his clothes and silently left his room, making sure the door shut quietly behind her. As Michelle took his clothes to be washed, she thought to herself, I'm going to hate this assignment.
As soon as Michelle had appeared in the throne room, Satan was ready to talk. "Michelle, how is he?"
"Adrian is sleeping soundly," she reported, her response followed by one of Adrian's snores. Trying to supress her amusement, Michelle continued, "His clothes are nearly dried and one of the demonesses will make sure they properly folded and returned to his room."
"Fine." Satan sat on his throne, obviously irritable. "I need you to go up and tell Holly Adrian has been released. She will go to Elaina, the angel high council leader, and let her know it is time to begin."
Michelle was taken aback. "Your Highness, isn't it a little early to begin preparing for the event? Not to disobey your commands, but wouldn't it be wise to at least inform Adrian before we set our hopes too high?" Michelle bowed, hoping that, if Satan lost his temper, he would be merciful.
"Michelle, you don't need to bow to me," said Satan, exhaustion filling his voice. "Yes, I should tell Adrian of my plans, but we are still going to inform Holly that Adrian has been released."
"But, sir, what if Adrian chooses to return to the flask rather than . . ."
"Then we will tell Holly and that poor angel won't have to go through with this," Satan replied simply. "Now go before I do lose my temper, Michelle."
Michelle bowed again to the Prince of Darkness before she touched her medallion with her right hand. The medallion had been given to her as an endowment from her foster parents back on Earth, both of whom had not realized its power. She remembered the day she herself had discovered its intense energy.
Michelle, being only sixteen at the time, had decided to place it around her neck and wear it around her home. At one point, she had touched it and instantly, she was transported from her home to a place covered in flowers and filled with light. Frightened, Michelle ran to the nearby castle where she was greeted warmly by a woman named Holly, who completely captivated Michelle.
Her golden-blond hair flowed majestically down her shoulders, her blue eyes sparkled like sapphires, and her smooth, pink skin was flawless. She would be, in Michelle's opinion, the most beautiful woman she had ever seen. "Hello, Michelle, I'm Holly. We've been so expecting you for quite some time."
"You've been expecting . . . me?" Michelle swallowed hard, the new definitely surprising. "For how long?"
Holly smiled warmly. "Since you were born, honey. You see, you're in Heaven right now."
Michelle blinked. "Heaven? You mean, I'm dead?"
Holly laughed at Michelle's confusion. "No, the medallion your foster parents gave to you brought you here. You see, it was forged in the bowels of Hell long ago, so it has mystical properties and stuff. Whenever you wear it and touch it with your right hand, you'll come to Heaven. If you touch it with your left hand, you will go to Hell." The angel offered Michelle a white, woven chair, which the human accepted gratefully.
Once she was off her feet, Michelle looked into the angel's crystal eyes. "Why is this happening to me? Does this have anything to do with my real parents?"
"Well, it has something to do with your real parents, yes. Water?" Holly held up a clear glass of sparkling water. When Michelle graciously received the glass, Holly asked, "What do you know about your parents?"
"I . . . really have no idea of either my mother or my father," Michelle replied truthfully, taking another sip of the water. It was the most delicious-tasting water she had ever sampled in her life.
"Well, we had to let you know about this sooner or later." She sighed, flinging a lock of golden hair over her shoulder. "You see, a little over sixteen years ago, a young angel met a demon at a Heaven-Hell mixer thing . . ."
"Heaven-Hell mixer thing?"
"I'll explain that later, okay? Anyway, the angel had a few daiquiris and became a little tipsy." Holly's flawless cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "To keep it short, nine months later, she gave birth to a tiny, baby girl . . . you."
"You mean, I'm half-angel and half-demon?" Michelle asked incredulously, her jaw dropping when Holly nodded.
"You see, I'm your mom just as Jimmy - Satan's right-hand demon - is your dad. We both loved you, but I couldn't keep you up here and Satan had enough troubles in Hell with his other three sons, so we had to put you up for adoption." Holly's eyes fell. "I'm truly sorry, sweety. I didn't want to give you up, but I had no other choice."
"Don't worry, Mom. I forgive you." Michelle smiled as Holly's face brightened. "Besides, I think I needed the hardships I've endured or I wouldn't be who I am today."
The memory faded as Michelle found herself outside Heaven's golden gates. She sighed, knowing how hard her life had become since that fateful day. I never should have tried visiting Dad. She thought to herself as she knocked.
"Who's out there?" called a sing-songy voice.
"It's Michelle, Holly's daughter," Michelle called back. "I brought news for her."
"Alright-y."
The large doors opened and allowed Michelle to enter the kingdom of Heaven. Michelle walked through thehalls, glad to finally be out of the hot, steaming rooms of Hell. She was lucky she had demon-blood running through her veins or she probably would have died the moment she first transported there. That memory was anything but pleasant.
"Do you think there would be any problems if I tried visiting Jimmy?" Michelle had asked Holly on her third visit.
Holly pondered over this for several minutes. "I don't see why not. Just be extremely careful, honey. I'm not exactly sure where in Hell you'll turn up."
"Okay." Michelle gave her mother a hug before she touched her medallion with her left hand.
"Oh, my God! Who are you and where did you come from?"
Startled, Michelle turned around to find herself staring at a man, or at least he resembled a man. His ears were pointed like an elf's from stories she had been told during her childhood. Two horns protruded from his forehead and his hands were clawed. Guessing from her mother's description, she guessed this man was Satan. "Hello, sir. My name is Michelle. I'm Holly's daughter."
"Yes, well, a pleasure to meet you." He gently shook Michelle's tender hand. "However, this doesn't explain how you got here. Only demons, devils, and souls meant for torturing are able to enter Hell. The only way a live human can enter Hell is if they have the Hand of Lucifer."
"You mean my medallion?" Michelle pulled it out so Satan could see it.
Satan looked like he was about to be sick. "How did you get that?"
"My parents gave it to me on my tenth birthday; they said it had come with me as a baby along with a note. The note . . ."
"Do you know what that means?" Satan appeared very frightened by the medallion. "You are the One!"
"I beg your pardon, sir?"
"You are the Chosen One, child. Lucifer gave you his prized possession, which means you will be the woman who ends the Divine War! Please tell me your mother told you about that."
"Yes, Holly did tell me about that." Michelle paused for a brief moment. "Is there anyway I might be permitted to see my father, sir?"
Satan blinked, confused at the girl's thoughtlessness for the situation. "Uh . . . who's your father, kid?"
"Jimmy," she replied simply.
Satan turned from her a moment to shout, "JIMMY!" When he turned back to Michelle, he smiled and said, "He'll be here in a jiffy."
A tall, red-faced demon with what resembled mountain goat horns ran through the door, panting from exhaustion. "Yes, your Evilness?"
Satan gestured to Michelle. "Michelle, this is Jimmy. Jimmy, this is Michelle, Holly's daughter." Satan sent him a stern look as he added with emphasis, "Your daughter."
"My daughter?" exclaimed Jimmy. "How is that possible . . . sir?"
"Apparently, at that last Heaven-Hell mixer we attended, you and Holly spent a little time together and now, sixteen years later, here she is . . . bearing the Hand of Lucifer."
Jimmy looked Michelle over. "She has her mother's hair . . . and her bone structure." As Michelle stood straight and tall for his inspection, Jimmy walked around her to decide if there was anything which could prove she was his daughter. "She seems to have a mix of Holly's and my eyes. She definitely has my smile."
"And she has the Hand of Lucifer," Satan added. "How did she come to possess that particular item, Jimmy?"
"Well, sir, your father told me to give it to her. He seemed to think she would become very powerful later on . . ."
So much for that theory, Michelle thought as she passed through the doors of her mother's home. "Mom?"
Holly appeared from behind a mirror. "Oh, Michelle, you're here! How have you been? They haven't been treating you too badly, have they?"
Michelle managed a weak smile. "As good as they can treat a person in Hell." She sat down in the white chair and looked over at her mother. "Mom, I've brought news; Adrian has been released frm the flask."
"Oh, he has?" Just like her daughter, Holly hadn't looked forward to this event. "Well, what did he say?"
"Well, that's the thing, Mom." Michelle chuckled nervously. "No one has told him yet."
"Why not? You should have told him, honey."
"I can't, Mom. You know I'm not allowed to Adrian see me again, not after that incident in New York a couple years ago. If I do, I'll become his slave for who-knows-how-long."
"Oh, you're right, honey. I'm sorry." She hugged her daughter, knowing how difficult this time of her life must be. "Why don't you come with me?"
"I'd like to, Mom, but I really have to be getting back . . ."
"Oh, this will only take a second. I promise. I just want you to meet the angel who's doing this for the safety of all mankind." Holly took her daughter's hand and led her out to the garden, where the angel was singing as she watered the flowers.
Michelle nearly froze as they drew near. Of all the angels in Heaven to do this, did it have to be her? "Hi, Melody."
"Michelle? Oh, my goodness, I haven't seen you in over two years!" Michelle's best friend embrace her. "Wow, look at you. I hardly recognized you with your new hair cut! It is so wild!"
"You really like it?" asked Michelle, self-consciously touching it. "I just had it done last week."
"It is really awesome. So, what brings you back to Heaven?"
Michelle swallowed. "I brought news . . . about Adrian. Satan just released him today."
"Oh, my gosh. Really?" Melody's face softened as she thought about what was coming. "So, the time's come?"
Michelle nodded, not believing what her friend was going through. "Yes, Melody. The time has come for you two to wed."