Chapter 1 Michaels Back
Present
The slap of his dress shoes echoed through the hall as he walked up to the double doors of the library turned dance floor. You could hear the soft sound of Glen Miller playing from the other side of the thin glass. The man opened both doors to make a point that he had entered and stepped through. Those who looked turned silent. They saw him as the boss, the one you didn't question. He made his way through the parted crowd and found the food bar. Once he'd picked up a small strawberry tart, he turned around to face them.
The first to speak was a demon; he was obviously new and didn't know the rules, "Michael, where have you been? We've had demons and monsters out looking for you, all over hell and earth. No one could find you."
The other demons and monsters around him gasped and shook their heads at this demon's stupidity. Michael, however, took a drink from his glass and chuckled, "Well, that's because you were all looking in the wrong place."
A strong silence filled the room and the demon stared at him in confusion, "What do you mean? Where else could you have been?"
Michael tilted his head at the newcomer then set his glass down, "You're new, I can tell. What's your name demon," his strong voice the only sound in the room.
"Ron..." said the demon, his confidence now receding.
Michael draped an arm around Ron's shoulder and turned to walk away from the bar, "Well Ronald," he looked at him with a small smile on his lips, "since you're new here, I'm going to let your stupidity go with a warning."
They had stopped at a window that faced out over a large maze made of tall dark hedges. Michael turned Ron so his back was to the window and Michael's hands where on each of his shoulders. He gave a slight shove that sent Ron soaring back and through the window. Nobody moved except for Michael. He stepped forward and off the edge of the window and landed on his feet two stories down.
He found Ronald's frightened face and lent forward, eyes flashing black, "I ask the questions around here. You keep quiet and keep your head down unless spoken to. Understand?"
Ron looked at him with wide eyes and nodded.
"Excellent," said Michael as he stood upright, his eyes returning to a striking blue.
He turned to look back up at the window he had just jumped through, "Spread the word. Michael's back and better than ever."
He gave a short-dark laugh and turned to the maze. The other demons and monsters watched silently as he disappeared into the foggy maze, the only light emanating from either the broken window or the bright moon.