Hell

As the group of demons moved about the terrain, Jax took the time to get to know the names of the other men in the group. The demon with his suspicions was named Egnil. The other was named Yible. The two were bastard children of Asmodeus born out of hate and resentment.

Yible kept to himself, he wasn't much for talking. Egnil on the other hand took every chance he got to talk to Jax. He hounded him with questions and details about the palace. Much to Jax's dislike, he was forced to answer. Any hesitation on his behalf would show signs of mistrust.

So he talked. Jax opened his mouth and relayed all information about the secret passages in the palace and its residents inside. It killed him to out Gaudium, but he knew the cherub would be able to move fast, should he be caught.

As they continued to make their way across Hell, the four targeted rogue stragglers. Yible would signal the group every time he caught a traitor trying to flee to the undisputed territory over in Etrigan's lands. And everytime one was seen trying to cross over, Egnil would send an arrow flying in the air striking the demon down.

It was sad. It wasn't home anymore. It was pledged with death. Drenched in blood. The piles of bodies littering the grounds were uncountable.

There were backstabbers and murderers around every corner.

It wasn't home anymore.

Jax was lost in thought when Yible started yelling that someone was following them. He had a brief moment of realization as an arrow flew past his head. Egnil snarled at him, he shoved him out of the way as he drew another arrow.

"Get out of my way!" He yelled. Jax did as he was told. He looked over to his brother who had his knives out.

"Get in formation. We don't know how many have us surrounded!"

The four of them clumped up, covering each other's back. They were in a canyon unable to cover themselves from above. Tiny pebbles of rocks slid down from above signaling their attacker.

"Up there! Egnil take the shot!" Yible yelled.

Just as the demon was about to cast his arrow, a landslide of rocks came tumbling down the canyon. Aware he could get rid of the threat, Egnil pushed Jax into the rocks to be buried alive. The demon groaned as the rocks landed on him from above.

"I got footprints!" yelled Yible.

"Get em' then!" Tar'ath called out. "Egnil help Jax! I'll assist Yible in the hunt."

Egnil walked over to the pile of rocks and scruffed at the rubble. He waited until Tar'ath was gone to stop his assistance.

"You can stay under there for all I care. I know you're still Lucifer little bitch." He spat at the rocks. As he tried to leave, he heard more rocks sliding from above. He pulled up his bow and looked to see who was coming. He found a demon stopping dead in his tracks with fear in his eyes.

"Got you!"

He pulled back his arrow and let it fly. A cry echoed out as he hit his target. Egnil took off in a sprint to catch up to his target.

While Egnil was running after his new target, Jax started moving the rocks that boxed him in. He sustained minimal damage to his body with surprise. As he moved the last rock, he looked out to see where everyone had gone. There was no one in sight.

"Help me, Jax!" Whispered Caym. A quick turn to the left and Jax locked eyes with Caym. He moved faster and started lifting the boulders over his shoulder to get to his friend.

"You idiot!" He called out softly. He walked up to his friend and looked at his shoulder.

"He got me in the shoulder, I'm pinned."

"I can see that!" Jax winced as he noticed the demon was indeed pinned against the boulder. "I can't pull it out. You might bleed out."

"I can't stay here! They know I'm following you guys."

"Maybe you shouldn't have been following us so close." Jax looked over the damage. "You're an idiot, you know that? Why are you even out this far?"

"I thought you'd need help… I brought a few reinforcements, but I think they are being tracked down and killed... "

"You lead them to their deaths. I need Lucifer, not yourself. This is too big for just you." He grabbed onto Caym's shoulder and pulled it forward, yanking the arrow out of the rock. Before he could scream, Jax placed his hand over the demon's mouth to mute the scream. "Easy."

"I can't stay here, you gotta distract them."

"I doubt I'd be able to… you have to run."

"Run? One of them has a bow!"

"I know, but I can't tip Egnil off anymore than I have. He's onto me. So you run."

"And if I'm killed!"

"You knew the risk when you took the job, now go."

"I…" Caym took a deep breath and straightened out his back. "Can you at least give me some time to run?"

"As much as I can. Now go!"

Caym took off in a sprint. As he got a few meters ahead of the group, Jax started throwing boulders at Caym. The commotion grabbed the attention of the others.

"I've got a runner!" Jax yelled out.

"I got him," Egnil called out. He angled his bow up trying to get the right trajectory.

Just as he was about to let go of his bow, there was a crack of lightning in the sky. Egnil angled his bow down and looked up for any indication of what came into the atmosphere. Caym was long forgotten as everyone looked at eachother.

"What was that?" Tar'ath questioned.

"Maybe Lucifer has caught on to the damage that has been done," Yible replied.

"That wasn't Lucifer…" Jax added.

"Then what was it?" Egnil yelled. "What was it!"

"We need to go now." Jax pulled his eyes from the sky and looked at his group. "Now!"

"You heard Jax." He placed his knives back in their holster. "We're close to the palace. Whatever that was, it's between us and the palace. We need to move fast before it cuts us off."

. _

.

Gaudium walked into the room with his hands behind his back. His apron was covered in blood. The tiny cherub had a look of disappointment on his face. As he came into view, Lilith stood from her seat awaiting news on Asteroth.

"Why does it look like you have bad news?" she asked.

"That's because I do Mistress…" he turned to Lucifer. "We… we lost Asteroth."

Lucifer clenched his fist around his glass. He didn't bother to turn around and face the pair.

"I have more my Lord…"

"What would that be?" Lucifer seethed out.

"Asmodeus has placed Belial's head on a spike outside his territory. He has once again absorbed another branch into his army. Land disputes have begun regarding Etrigan's presence. Asmodeus has even put out a bounty for the young prince… should I call for his safety?"

"No," Lucifer shook his head.

"No, my Lord?" Gaudium looked confused.

"He's already in our care… He was attacked earlier in the night."

"This is getting out of control Lucifer. We need to call for help!" Lilith argued.

"It's too late!" Lucifer turned around and faced the pair. "No one would even be able to come if I got a message out in time. Whoever is still fighting is all we have."

"I give my services to you, Lord Morningstar. If I must fight, I am at your side." Lucifer nodded his head. He appreciated the cherub's loyalty.

"Let me go out, I'll see if I can switch some demons over to you. I just need…" Lilith asked.

"No," Lucifer spoke out. "I already have Jax out there, I don't need you as well. You need to be here for your son. Last I heard he wasn't doing too well."

"Falkor will be fine. He's a strong boy."

"Alas, I still cannot let you go, my dear. I need you here."

"Lucifer…"

"I'll hear no more, Lilith." The woman crossed her arms over her chest in defeat. "Seeing as you're upset with me, can you escort Gaudium to Etrigan. Hopefully he can get him to make it through the night."

"Fine," she responded.

"I will do what I can, my Lord." He bowed to Lucifer and followed Lilith out of the main room.

As the door closed behind them, Lucifer turned around and let his face drop for the first time. He pushed his glass away and had himself a seat in one of his lounge chairs. His arms hung off the arm rests. His absent stare was focused on the roaring fire in front of him.

He listened to the screams and groans of Etrigan as Gaudium worked on him. He closed his eyes trying to cancel out the noise.

Just as he finally settled into his chair, a loud crack of thunder shook the palace. Footsteps came charging into the room. The door slammed open.

"What did you do?" Lilith asked.

"Nothing. I've been here…" he looked up at the ceiling. The glass window showed a blue hue to the sky creeping out from the grey.

"Someone broke your barrier."

Lucifer shot up from his seat and walked over to the entrance of the building. He pulled open the large wooden doors and looked out into the land.

He couldn't see anything. The terrain was too dark. He unfurled his wings ready to take off when a hand placed itself on his shoulder.

"You can't leave. Whatever got in or out has to wait. You can't leave with Etrigan like this. If we lose him that's it. Game over. You need to stay here and protect him."

"If something got out, it's my responsibility to bring it back."

"We have more pressing matters here right now. If anything escaped your brother will know. Amenadiel knows what to do."

"They know about Chloe! I can't have them going after her." He tried taking off, but Lilith grabbed his hand, stopping him once more.

"If you go now we lose Hell!" she yelled.

Lucifer pulled back his hand and furled his wings back into their hiding spot. He turned around, wanting to enter the building once more, but stopped once again when a shout from the distance called for him.

"My Lord!"

"Who in the blazes is…" Lucifer squinted his eyes. "Caym?"

"They're coming!" he yelled.

Lucifer turned to Lilith signaling for her to get to safety. You didn't have to ask her twice. She nodded her head and retreated into the building.

As Caym got closer, Lucifer could see the damage to the demon's person. He had an arrow sticking out from his shoulder. He went ahead and ushered the demon inside unaware of how close the enemies were.

"They're coming, my Lord. They're coming," he said short of breath.

"Who's coming?" he looked over the demon's wound, trying to see how he could remove it.

"Tar'ath and his men."

As Lucifer's hand gripped over the wood, Caym winced.

"It has barbed edges," Lucifer warned. "It's going to hurt a lot."

"I can deal with the pain my Lord, but you have to listen." He slapped Lucifer's hands away and forced him to listen. "Jax is leading them."

"Jax?" he said in disbelief.

"He's the spy, he's working both sides."

"What!?"

"He's on our side though. He's leading them here for an ambush. We have to be ready, my Lord. They will be here in a matter of minutes."

"I have nothing to protect us with…" Lucifer turned his head and caught Lilith with a look of worry on her face. "Get in the cellars! Take your boy and the prince and hide in the cellar. If anything happens you stay in there. Don't open it for anyone! Am I understood?"

Lilith nodded her head and took off. Caym stood tall after snapping off the end of the arrow.

"Do you think you can get to others?" Lucifer asked. He kept his eyes on the door.

"I'm not leaving your side, my Lord, I promised Jax I'd fight by your side."

"I need reinforcements. You'll find a small battalion on the other side of the red sea." He could see a group coming around the bend a league away. Lucifer looked down at the demon, "go!"

"Right away, my Lord."

. _

.

A crack of lightning broke out from the sky as Michael broke through the barrier. He touched down outside Hell's gates and let Mazikeen go. The demon shoved him as they lost the element of surprise.

"You've alerted everyone that someone has come through!"

"What did you want me to do!" Michael yelled back. "He had a seal on the portal. I did what I had to."

"We've lost the element of surprise because of you! If there is a war going on right now, we're going to have an army at our throats within minutes."

"Then it's best you get your knives out now Mazikeen, I'm afraid I can already sense disturbance in the air."

Michael looked out past the gate, noticing a gaggle of laughter similar to hyenas, followed by a low growl in the dark greeting them from the other side. He brought his wings back into their hidden place, not wanting to risk them getting bitten.

"You should have kept them out," Maze warned. She took her pose as the laughter got closer.

"And risk bite marks, no thank you."

"Pansy," she murmured.

"You have any idea what the laughter is from?"

"Lower level demons… they hide in the shadows."

"Do I need to light the area?"

"No. Let me take care of it." She signalled for him to open the gate. "Open it and then close it behind me. I guess it's best you put your wings away. No one can know you're here. Once the coast is clear I'll open the gates."

Michael walked over to the old rustic gate. There was no lock on it, but he knew no one was foolish enough to be met with hellhounds and the heckling laughter of what awaited on the other side.

"Ready?" he asked.

Mazikeen nodded her head. Michael went ahead and opened the gate, immediately coming into contact with creatures with sharp teeth and razor sharp claws. Maze kicked the creatures out of the way as Michael closed the gate behind her.

A cloud of darkness prevented him from seeing what was going on, on the other side. All he heard were the grunts and whines of her opponents. A few shakes of the gates indicated she resorted to flinging the creatures across the metal.

As she took care of the last demon, all that was left were the hellhounds. The cloud disappeared leaving Michael to see past the other side.

"You have hounds on your left and right Mazikeen!" Michael called out.

"I can see that!" She quickly lowered her knives to the ground and showed she meant no harm. "Easy, easy. Look at my face, you remember me right?" She called out to the hounds.

They pulled back their lips and snapped at her feet. Maze didn't bother flinching, she knew if she moved she was dead. With a quick sniff, the leader laid flat on the floor and awaited orders. The others followed its example and laid on the floor.

"You can step inside now," Maze told Michael.

He pulled back the door and stepped into Hell for the first time. He looked up above him and took in his new place of residence. As he was distracted with the cloud above, he flinched at the feel of fur against his hand. The pack leader forced Michael to pet its head. He looked down at the animal with curiosity.

"Does it think I'm my brother?"

"Doubt it. He probably smells Lucifer's scent on you," she motioned to the outfit he had on.

Michael crouched down and gave his full attention to the beast. It was a large black dog that came up to his waist. Similar to the features of a great dane. Its ear stood up on command, listening to everything.

"Will they be a problem for us?" he asked.

"No, they'll protect us if there's any trouble. In fact, we should take a few to cover our backs, something doesn't feel right to me." Maze looked out into the terrain already feeling a sense of dread coming their way.

Michael combed his hand over the top of the hound's head. It was a magnificent beast, powerful when provoked. Michael clicked his tongue signalling a few to follow them. No more than five broke from the pack and followed the pair. They tailed their backs making sure there was no one in the area.

"How does it feel being back home?" Michael asked, trying to make small talk.

"This doesn't feel like home anymore…"

"You've settled on Earth, you've found a home there," he gave his insight.

"That and…" she shook her head, "something is off here."

"I can sense it as well. Seems Amenadiel was right to send us off when he did."

Maze kept quiet as they walked further into Hell. The obsidian pillars were just a league away. Once they got past the cells they would have a straight shot to the palace. The place she knew they'd find Lucifer regardless if a war was going on.

Maze signally Michael to follow her. As she led them through the territory, Michael kept his eyes on look out. He made sure to check for prying eyes. As they came close to a sea of lava, demons stood tall as they welcomed the pair.

"Lord Morningstar," the commander addressed Michael.

"Belios," Maze sneered. "What are you doing out here?"

"Mazikeen? What… where did you come from?" The other demons broke formation and gathered around Michael and Maze.

"I've come to help. What is the damage report?"

Belios looked at Michael awaiting instructions. Michael nodded his head informing it was alright to talk.

"Asmodeus has taken all major territories, except for Etrigan's lands. The prince has been escorted to the palace where his health is being determined. We've successfully secured the lands, but we lost half the battalion in the process," he looked over his men and frowned. "We managed to cut Asmodeus off in his advances, he retreated back to his lands."

"He's taken all major territories? Who's still alive?" Michael asked.

"I'm afraid Etrigan is all who's left, Lord Morningstar… but we fear he may not survive his injuries."

"What happened to him?" Maze asked.

"He…" he cleared his throat before continuing, "he was dragged by the neck through the courtyard. When his mother arrived we had just given the young prince enough time to escape with Falkor. My informants have notified me that he is practically on his deathbed."

"Has Asmodeus been able to absorb Van Ra Daath and Belial's armies?" Maze asked.

"Only partial, Mazikeen. Without proof of Etrigan's death, they refuse to bend the knee."

"Then you take this battalion and gather the few that refuse to listen to Asmodeus. Meet us at the palace when you are done." Maze barked out.

Belios looked at Michael not entirely sure if he should be listening to her.

"You heard Mazikeen, go."

The demon bowed his head and readied his men. One by one they gathered their weapons and marched off the side of the red sea.

"How many territories were just taken by Asmodeus?" Michael asked.

"Seven. He has more control over Hell than Lucifer ever had."

"How could it have gotten this bad?"

"He's been gone longer than he should have… with the whispers the priest sent back here, it must have started something. Lucifer probably had his hands tied with the upper level demons."

"The ones that are now dead?"

"Yeah… so much for that." She said.

Michael turned his head once the hellhounds started growling. Someone was approaching. Their footsteps could be heard from meters away. Both Maze and Michael turned around to welcome the new arrival. Once he was close enough, Caym stopped dead in his tracks like he'd seen a ghost.

"My Lord?"

. _

.

Lucifer was sitting in his favorite chair when three demons stormed through the front door of his home. Jax stood by the door as his company walked deeper into the palace. He slipped into the building only once he noticed the hellhounds weren't around.

"It's over Lucifer," Tar'ath called out from the doorway. Yible and Egnil moved to the side of Lucifer with their weapons drawn.

"Is it now?" Lucifer asked. He fixed each cufflink not gracing them with so much as a look.

"We've taken the remaining territories and turned your remaining loyalists against you," he pointed over to Jax and signalled him to enter the room.

With a heavy heart, Jax lifted his axe up to his shoulder and entered the room. The air went stale as Lucifer looked up for the first time. The two shared a look before he finally addressed the other demons in the room.

"And who are you two?" Lucifer looked between the demons holding the weapons.

"Not your loyalists," Egnil spat at Lucifer's feet. Yible pulled his arrow back on his bow, angling it straight at Lucifer's heart.

"Demon forged obsidian arrow," Yible called out. Lucifer turned his head and looked at him. "One slip of my finger and this arrow could kill you," he warned.

Lucifer smiled.

"I believe you'd be dead before you even let your finger go," he corrected.

"Now, now," Tar'ath called out. "There will be no killing at this moment. Father wants him alive so he may see what he's done to this glorious place."

"Glorious place?" Lucifer let out a chuckle. "Rich."

"Lucifer," Jax warned, "please don't make this worse."

"He speaks! Oh that's nice to know... I thought they'd cut your tongue out!"

Jax looked away and walked over to his brother's side. Tar'ath slapped his hand on Jax's shoulder. Lucifer rolled his eyes and looked over to Egnil, the demon was dripping blood all over his hard wooden floors.

"Do you mind! Wipe that bloody blade before it stains the floors!"

The demon walked up to Lucifer and brought it up to the Devil's chest. Lucifer glared at the demon as he used his suit to clean his sword.

"All clean," he said with a smile. Lucifer didn't appreciate the gesture, he clenched his fists and stared the demon down.

"Does he need to arrive to father in one piece? Give me a finger, just a finger." Egnil pointed his sword forward gesturing to Lucifer's ring.

"Enough!" Tar'ath yelled out. "Scan the area and find that cherub. He'll be keeping Asteroth prisoner." He signalled Egnil to leave the room. With distaste the demon followed order and headed out.

Lucifer kept his eyes on Jax as everyone moved about the room. Jax tried to keep his focus on something other than his master.

"Your mother will be so disappointed in you once she hears about this," Lucifer said.

"Our mother is on our side," Tar'ath pointed out. "She gave up your little outpost out by the barrowjane. My father should already be on his way here. This will be done in a few hours."

My outpost by the barrowjane? He smirked as he realized Lilith led Asmodeus into a trap.