The world has gone red. That is the last thing I remember. That and the pain. There was pain then the world has gone red. I open my eyes and the world is still red. The sky is red, the buildings are red and black and dilapidated, sun itself seems to be red, if it even exists. That happened once before. Easy enough to fix.
I wipe my face, trying to clear the blood from my eyes. There is none. The world remains mostly red. My suit is red, but that at least has not changed. It is comforting even. Did I fall into some sort of multi-dimensional portal?
As I try to come around, to reach conclusions... they attack me, five of them. I don't get the chance to get a good look at them... Some sort of mutants or freaks or zombies. I don't know. I just react and do a quick work of them. And find out I still have super strength. And can still fly.
I quickly fly into the air, before they get a chance to wake up. I fly above the skyscrapers, to take a better look at my surroundings, to assess the situation, just like they taught me, only to be attacked by a giant eye with bat wings and sharp claws. It grabs me with them and I need to use all of my strength to pry those damn claws open before giant fangs come at me and bite my head off. It is a close thing.
The aerial battle begins, the game of cat and mouse, the endless chase. It is not the only strange creature flying but it is the one which chose me as prey. I duck and weave and try my best to evade it or make it crush into one of the buildings, one of the skyscrapers, without hurting any of the civilians. I am a superhero. I work for NSA. There are rules to be followed. There are rules to never be broken. Protecting the innocents at all times is one of them, one of the big ones.
But are there innocents in this dimension? Every time I land and try to hide, I get jumped by somebody trying to kill me. After second time I give up landing and just continue flying.
The chase seems to last forever. I am able to hurt the creature a bit, by blinding it with my tattered cape and making it slam into one of the buildings. Yet it recovers quickly and continues to chase me. It seems to be the biggest, meanest creature in the air. I do not get to assess my surroundings properly, because it is so relentless and fast, too manoeuvrable, more than a creature of that size has any right to be.
Suddenly, it is not chasing me anymore. Instead, it is gliding two dozen feet and more behind me, as if it hit some invisible barrier. I look around.
There are not that many skyscrapers around like before. In fact, they are quite far away. What is nearby can be described as a castle and houses, mostly white. I don't get a lot of time to flit around, because there is a flurry of activity on the ramparts, as odd monsters in guard uniforms try to come to terms with the situation.
On one of the ramparts, somebody is running. She (and it is very obviously a she) immediately grabs my attention. Out of all the creatures, she is the only one mostly birdlike and the only one not wearing a guard uniform. She looks like a messed up angel or maybe a harpy, black wings, blue featherlike hair, some sort of horns. She shouts something at me but I can't hear her. So I fly closer to the lady, ignoring the rest of the guards.
Half way to her, she takes to the air herself and flies to me. She is taller than me, more muscular… stronger. Yet she seems oddly familiar.
"Girl, this is no fly zone. You gotta land. Quickly!" she screams at me, sounding somewhere between raven and human.
"Where am I? What is going on? And who are you?" I shout back. She shakes her head.
"No time, Gail." She says and opens one clawed hand. The storm comes out of her hand and hits me straight on. I struggle to maintain flight as my muscles spasm and hurt all over.
"Better me than the defences." She adds, sadly, before opening the other hand. I drop like a rock when the second storm hits me, the black and red ground rushing at me at incredible rate. As I struggle to keep my consciousness through all the blurred pain, my last thought is that she knows me and yet I don't recognize her.
I wake up in a strange room in a strange bed. A quick check under the blankets confirms that I am completely naked. My skin color is strange and I appear to be covered in bruises. Another quick check confirms that nothing is broken, but there's plenty of sore spots. The door opens and the bird lady enters, carrying a dress and underwear, dainty little things, covered in lace.
"Sorry about that, Gail. Just doing my job. You are in Hell. You died. And I am Jennmael. That answers your questions." The bird lady says and lowers the things on the bed. The familiarity of her face bothers me.
"What happened? And why do you seem so familiar?" I ask, covering myself better with the blanket.
"You died. Cape accident. Jet turbine. You ended up here in Hell. I stunned you before the defences could vaporize you. Then I brought you to this room, so The Lady can have a look at you and decide whether to let you join the team or not." Jennmael says. "As for why I am looking so familiar to you…"
The bird lady touches the paler spot on her belly and immediately transforms into a sharp dressed woman, wearing indigo pencil skirt and a blue blouse. I recognize her immediately. Jenn Z. Meyers, my temporary NSA handler. She was on that position for just slightly over 6 months, while Rick recovered from his injuries. I liked her. I looked up to her, wanted to be like her when I grew up. If what she said is true, then that was not going to happen now, because I am dead.
"Jenn?! I wondered where you have gone! Rick came back but I couldn't find you anywhere! You were just gone."
"As if I dropped off the face of the Earth? Pretty much. I just went back home, here in Hell. My mission was finished. It was a failure." Jenn says. "I was supposed to corrupt you and for you to serve Hell's purposes while still alive. I failed. Got punished for that and all. Had to work up the ladder for ages again."
"Sorry to hear that. " I say.
"I had such high hopes for you. Only to hear you died and ended up here. The question is, why to Hell are you here?!" Jenn says, her face suddenly stern.
"What?"
She moves closer to me and gets really, really close. I don't like it.
"I checked your body while you were unconscious. You were not a glutton, drug addict or an alcoholic. So gluttony and overindulgence is out. You are still a virgin, so sex before marriage and prostitution are out, which means lust is out too. You never killed or even grievously injured anyone, so wrath is mostly out. You are the most altruistic person I know, you volunteered in zoo hatchery and were frickin' superheroine, so it is not greed, sloth or pride. Why would you become a demon in Hell?! Was it envy?!"
"I don't know! It could be. I just wanted to do some good in the world! I was careless sometimes but… Nobody got hurt, I made sure… NSA also made sure… I just wanted to do some good!" I say and tears start to gush from my eyes. I know I am blabbing and turning into blubbering mess but I cannot stop myself. This is just too much to take at once.
I am dead. I am in Hell. I will never see my parents. I will never see my friends again (and wishing to see them here again is not a good fate to wish for your parents or friends!). I will never grow up. I will never become an ornithologist. I will never have family. I will never do any more good or superheroics in the world either. Jenn talks about sex, drugs and alcohol, but I didn't even ogle boys, let alone share a kiss with one, though I wouldn't mind if I did. I somehow couldn't find time for that, my wake up, go to school, save the world, volunteer lifestyle didn't leave a lot of wiggle room. I didn't smoke, I didn't drink, I didn't do or even try drugs. I tried my best not to be mean to anyone. And what good did that bring me in the end? I still end up a demon in Hell!
She backs off a little and lets out a heavy sigh.
"Shhhhh… Calm down, Gail." She says and gives me a hug. After a while she starts gently rocking me. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be so harsh. It is just a mystery, is all."
I slowly calm down. It takes ages.
"Get dressed, please. Then I'll take you to see The Mistress." Jenn says and lets me go.
"Alright. Where's my supersuit?" I ask.
She grins.
"Smart kid. Lesson one: don't take shit from other demons. It is the most important lesson you can learn here. That is why it is number one!" She says before opening a random wardrobe and giving me my supersuit. "Now get dressed."
I do. She doesn't give me any privacy but instead watches me like a hawk as I put the clothes on. It feels alright, somehow. The suit hurts when it chaffs over the bruises and feels extra odd without a cape, but I decide not to replace it. I won't even try.
"Now follow me." Jenn says, picking the dainty clothes up and opening the huge ornamental door.
The hallway is clean and classy, the pictures in the golden frames and ornamental carvings on the walls. I follow Jenn as she walks at a brisk pace, so I don't get to take in a lot of details. Jenn tells me the stuff I need to know to survive, gives me a briefing like she so often did in life.
"You will speak to her respectfully. She is The Lady, she is The Mistress and she is our queen. We owe her our lives. You especially owe her yours, because the Queen graciously allowed me to get away from the rest of the entourage and fetch you once she noticed you flying in a no-fly zone. My lady, my queen, your grace are the honorifics you will use. I will not tell you her name because that information will only cause you trouble until she introduces herself to you. Got all that?"
"Got it."
"Good. Don't speak unless spoken to and we might both get out of this alive. There was a turf war. The queen is in the infirmary, taking stock of the wounded. She is a good person but she is also a Snake Charmer and dealmaker type of demon, like Bill and Lucifer are, and she WILL charm you. Because she is The Snake Charmer's snake charmer. Your head is often in the clouds but this time that wouldn't serve. Do not get so taken by her personality that you forget to think."
"Understood." I say, suddenly apprehensive.
Pretty soon we come to a room which appears to be the aforementioned infirmary. Jennmael changes back into her demonic form and walks in first, before motioning me to follow.
It is a big room. Two dozen beds, around half of them empty. IV stands and smell of blood and antiseptics, but lots of light coming from the windows and beastly guards standing on the other side of the door. I don't like hospitals and this room gives off the vibe of one.
The creatures lying in their beds are hurt, bandaged and bloody. The tall women stands on the other side of the room, with two demonic ladies in attendance, and talking with the furry creature wearing full nurse's uniform. The queen, it cannot be anybody else. She looks stunningly beautiful, yet imperious, towering over everyone in the room and I am immediately smitten. Jennmael is tall, a whole head taller than me, yet the queen seems almost as twice as tall as her, which I notice as Jenn bows.
"My queen. I have brought Gail, the fallen superhero. Again, thank you for allowing it. I am very grateful." Jennmael says.
The queen takes one long look at me. I clumsily bow but do not speak, as instructed.
"You did well, Jennmael. She is adorable!" She speaks then moves closer to me, her voice sultry and seductive, as she smiles. She takes my head in her hand and raises it up to look me in the eyes, firm but also gentle, moving it well within limitations of human body. Despite the invasion of personal space that is her hand on my chin, I cannot resist her, I do not even try. I am completely in her power.
"You are adorable. Just look at you! Petite, toned, slender … Cute as a button!" she speaks and she smiles, pinching my cheek and fawning over me like a grandmother or a fussy aunt. It is annoying, yet I am oddly charmed. I blush in embarrassment.
"All dressed up in her superhero jammies, too! Well, megamesh won't help you much here in Hell." the queen adds, as she lets go of me and takes another good look from slightly farther away. The ladies behind her laugh and my cheeks flush a darker shade of red. The queen coves them with a look.
"You may speak."
"Your grace." I start but I have nothing else to say. Her smile shows up again, like a sun behind the cloud.
"Yes, I do have a lot of grace and I am using it as a weapon. You're such a flatterer!" The queen laughs easily, as I blush again. Then her expression grows serious.
"My name is Lilith. You did well to not take the clothes I offered. You don't take stuff from other demons. Not until you strike a deal first, at least." She says. "And for that to happen, you will have to prove yourself useful to me. Super strength and extra durability are dime a dozen in Hell. Flight is rarer, but still very common. Jennmael reports that in life, you could also speak with birds. That is mildly useful, mostly for spying purposes. But I already have one designated bird speaker, Jennmael, so the only thing you could be useful is another backup and a substitute. So I am interested in your other minor skill. " She shares a look with Jennmael.
"You could heal any bird with a touch while you were alive. Just touch the bird, spend some energy and it is healed. Heal this bird type demon and we will negotiate the terms. Fail and I will kick you out into the mean streets of this city. As freshly reincarnated, you will die fast, if you are lucky or die slow and tortured if you are not. Resist and you will be killed immediately, on the spot. " the queen says, pointing at the unconscious and heavily bandaged demon on one of the beds. He does have a beak and feathers, but one of his wings is a mess and a huge chunk of his chest is missing, as well as lower half of his left leg. He appears comatose, barely breathing, his ribs are cracked and broken, as well as assorted other bones and numerous limbs. The worst wounded of all the patients in the room. He is also obviously not a bird but a bird demon instead.
"Alright. I'll try my best." I say. I take a deep breath and touch him on the shoulder. As I close my eyes and concentrate, I can feel the energy leaving my body. It takes a while. My body starts to ache from tiredness and effort. It seems forever before the energy stops draining. I don't dare open my eyes. He is either healed or dead. That is the only reason it ever stops. I hear a deep sigh.
Curious, I open my eyes. The demon is whole and hale again, sleeping this time and not comatose. I am surprised at the quickness and the effectiveness of the healing. The amount of energy I spent and the tiredness I feel is about the same as when I healed that ostrich in the zoo. But that was just one broken wing! The damage on the demon was much more extensive!
"He will wake up in half an hour or so, I think." I say, slightly tired.
"So it appears you indeed possess St Martha's gift. Well… I'll admit that's useful." The queen speaks. The ladies in waiting behind her do not appear to be pleased.
"I find your skillset in demand. So you'll get a good offer." She continues, smiling again.
"Your grace?"
"Instead of being just a guard in the palace, you will work as a healer for bird type demons and won't be sent out to fight unless absolutely necessary for defence. To ensure your ability to work as a healer, I will do all steps necessary your healing powers are not impeded or destroyed. You will also work in the rookery, helping in the hatchery and doing intelligence work with Jennmael. But you will also obey my every command, although I will allow argumented disagreement.
You are forbidden from going into the town unaccompanied or without permission or engaging in any form of activity which incurs the loss of your healing ability and I can use steps to insure that the loss doesn't happen and the asset is protected. You won't be tortured, drained of blood or in any other way impeded in movement or ability, pursuant to previous point. You will be given freedom of the estate and movement in non-restricted areas (unless differently agreed), granted ability and permission to petition and request things from me and my court and the right to fly in the no-fly zone. You will not join my personal entourage unless requested, but will still be part of the palace staff. You won't be punished in any way you do not accept as just.
In return to your continued service, you will be provided pleasing and nourishing non-cannibal food, shelter in the form of fully furnished quarters, clean water, new clothes once a month, work phone and consumer electronics. You will have all protections of a staff member and a fitting salary for the staff member of that level. If I break the agreement, you'll be free from servitude, no strings attached. If you break it, all the protections and privileges in this agreement are null and void and you're free game to anyone.
Do we have a deal?"
It was too much to take at once. But I noticed one glaring thing.
"I can leave your service by informing or indicating to you that I want to do leave and I will not owe anything to anybody and you or anybody else won't hold a grudge and murder or hurt me for it? Or ask anybody else to do it for you? Right? And I can always ask you to renegotiate the terms? " I ask. The queen frowns.
"Sure, alright. That escape clause is acceptable. I can also let you off my service, no strings attached. You get to keep things gifted and paid to you. So, do we have a deal?" The queen asks.
"We have a deal." I say and we shake hands. The wind rushes around us and the purple power moves through me and the queen and all around us. Then all is peaceful and quiet again.
"Good. The clothes Jennmael holds and those in your quarters are your payment for this first month. You will wear them when ordered and whenever you like otherwise. Your first order of business is: Heal the rest of the bird demons in here then Jennmael will show you to your quarters and ensure the fulfilment of our contract. Protect the newly acquired asset." The queen speaks, turning towards Jenn.
"Yes, my queen." Jennmael replies.
"The queen gave Gail new clothes! Gail is now free… to wear them!" one of the lady attendants jokes and they all laugh, including the nurse and Jenn. Only later I found out what that inside joke was about.
I obey the queen and Jennmael takes me to my quarters. They are right across the hallway from the ones in which I woke up. After all that healing, I feel tired and drained. The only thing I want to do now is sleep. Or maybe take a shower and sleep. Or take a shower and eat something and sleep. Or maybe just sleep.
"So this is your room." Jenn says, in her human disguise. "We need to just do one more thing and I will let you sleep."
"And that is?" I ask, cautiously.
"The queen ordered me to protect the newly acquired asset. That means that I need to give you a thorough physical. Poking you a bit while you were unconscious doesn't really cut it. So… I have… a well-equipped doctor's office in my quarters for that purpose, just across the hall. And medical training from the living world for that. I was what you would call a lady doctor in one of my previous lives." Jenn says.
So I follow her across the hall. She locks the door behind me, unlocks the other one across the living room and lets me in, before locking it again.
Jenn puts the doctor's coat on, interviews me, measures my pressure, and listens to my heart and lungs. Uses some sort of magic wand as a scanner, for Hell energies or something. Then she tells me to undress, does the whole body exam ("Does this hurt? Yes? Don't worry, demons heal faster, it will heal soon. Just a bruise.") then proceeds to tie me to a ob-gyn chair ("So you wouldn't slip or move at the wrong time.") and give me another thorough exam. Some of the tools are from the living world, some are not and are disturbing. Among all the diagnostic tools she uses, I also notice what appears to be different sized pincers, an array of scalpels and scissors, spools of thread and weird looking sewing needles, a rasp like tool in three sizes, an array of bottles filled with different colored liquids, bone saws, pliers… which are definitively not diagnostic tools. They look like torture implements in fact.
Jenn writes things down. I feel uncomfortable, because I am still naked and tied to the chair with leather straps, my legs spread.
"Aren't you going to untie me?" I ask.
"In a few minutes. We're almost done. Good thing you are sitting down because I have some good news, some okayish news and some bad news."
"Ok, fire away."
"Ha. Good news number one: except for minor skin discoloration and claws on your arms you're still very close to base human. Well, superhuman… With one slight difference. "
"Okay?"
"Which brings me to good news number two: that difference is that you, as most sinners except for those rare damned to whom that is part of the punishment, won't have any menstruation any more. So, no cramps, no pain, no hormonal misbalance. No flow.
Connected with that is the okayish news: You won't be able to have any children like all the sinners who incarnate in here. There are two types of demons, incarnated sinner souls and native demons. Only native demons can have children and you are dead and not a native demon so… Eh. It is what it is. Everybody deserves love. You still have the ability to masturbate and feel sexual pleasure. And catch venereal diseases, so be careful, okay?"
"Alright? Not that I actually thought about raising children in Hell." I joke. Jenn gives one slightly forced smile.
"Okayish news number two: you can't get killed and get to heal faster. It will still hurt but that is demonic healing factor for you. Good news number three: we have painkillers and all sorts of anaesthetics here, so we can numb the pain until it passes."
"Yay?" I say. "So what is the bad news?"
"Well… I have checked and double checked and triple checked. You really do have what is called St Martha's blessing or St Martha's gift. That is very rare... affliction. I really hoped you don't have that. And the gift is the only reason you got as good deal with The Queen as you did."
"So, what sort of rare important pause affliction are we talking about?" I ask.
"You get healing and calming powers. Extremely strong healing and calming powers. But you have to stay pure. Untainted." Jenn says. She looks very uncomfortable.
"Pure and untainted? I am already in Hell! If I were pure and untainted I would be in Heaven, right? What do you mean?" I ask, slightly annoyed. I am tied to the chair and naked and very uncomfortable, both physically and with the subject matter being discussed.
"Old school rules pure. As in, inexperienced. Virginal." She explains. "I'll say it openly: You can't have any form of sex or activity which would break your hymen. Else you lose the healing powers. And can't do your job. So you are in breach of contract. And it is open season on you!"
"Oh."
I really didn't think about that. So that is what the contractual mumbo jumbo was.
"Which brings me to bad news number two: I got direct order from the queen to protect the newly acquired asset. The problem is, the newly acquired asset is your healing powers, not you. They are connected, but not the same. So I have to use everything within my power to assure your ability is unimpeded and it doesn't get destroyed. That involves protecting you but also some other things. "
"What do you mean?"
Jenn lets out a sigh and removes her human disguise. Then, despite my fervent struggles, gags me with something that has a tongue protector.
"I'm sorry. It is nothing personal. Just me doing my duty, in Hell. Remember okayish news two and good news three. I promise you'll feel no pain. I also promise I'll put everything back like it was once you decide and are powerful enough to give your healing powers up. This will sting a little." She says, holding a syringe full of some unknown liquid. I struggle to no avail.
She stings me down there, injecting me in two places. Then she uses one of the rasp-like tools, the smallest one. There is a lot of blood and she uses some sort of suction device to syphon it all ("Magic ingredient, very valuable." she mutters). Then a needle with catgut thread. There is no pain, yet I faint from the sight alone.
I wake up in my room. Jennmael is the one to wake me. I feel woozy. I lost a lot of blood and have trouble standing, let alone throwing a punch.
"I hate you. I hate you! I hate you and the queen! I hate you all so much." I tell her.
"You have the full right to your hatred, although it is not good for you. I am just doing my job. Also, I said I am sorry. It is not like I have any choice in the matter."
She checks the stitches then injects me with another dose of local anaesthetic before I can feel any pain. Then she helps me use the bathroom and take a shower. Then she changes into her human disguise and takes me to breakfast. Its scrambled eggs, jam crepes and coffee on today's menu.
"I don't drink coffee." I tell her when she brings us some.
"Why not? You are already in Hell." Jenn jokes. I just look at her. She smiles and starts eating.
"I trusted you!" I say bitterly after a while, sounding almost as bitter as the coffee she gave me. The pancakes and scrambled eggs are good, though, and I try my best to eat slowly and not to ravenously devour them.
"Lesson number two: trust nobody. You are in Hell, there is no such thing as paranoia, and everybody here is really out to get you."
"You could have told me about that first." I say, sounding petulant even to myself.
"I did. My exact word were: Sorry about that, Gail. Just doing my job. You are in Hell. You died. And I am Jennmael. " She says.
"It is not my fault you had wrong assumptions that anybody in Hell is trustworthy." Jenn adds. I feel violated.
"You made yourself look trustworthy! How come you have that human disguise?!" I say, annoyed at how nonchalant she is to my pain.
"It's a status symbol. And a magic tool allowing me to do my job. Both." She says.
"So it was all fake?" I say, feeling horrible.
"Nah. I actually kind of care about you. And like you. As a protégé and maybe a tool." Jenn says. It makes me even more miserable.
"Cheer up lass! Remember the okayish news two. Your body heals a lot quicker. I'll get the stitches out tomorrow. In three days, you'll be as good as new. Only slightly safer. And smoother."
I give her a "What to hell are you talking about?" look.
"I abraded a lot of your skin layers. You won't need to shave there any more forever. No more hair follicles to produce fur. " Jenn says with a smile.
"You really are some sort of a monster, aren't you?" I ask, in shock.
"I certainly am. And so are you, else we wouldn't be here in the first place. The difference is, we still don't know what kind of a monster you are." Jenn says, still grinning.
"Now finish your meal. Today I'll start teaching you the ropes. No flying until you are fully healed. The draft up there stings something fierce."
I can't help but bitterly laugh at the absurdity of it.
So she does "teach me the ropes". She shows me the rookery (it has real rooks), the hatchery, we have lunch and go back to the infirmary.
Fewer bird demons this time, only four instead of eleven. We meet the Queen there and she says "hi, how's it going, how's my new cute bird healer doing? Adjustment process going well? Do you like the dress and underwear? Asset secured, the stitches are not crooked? May I take a peak? No, of course not, not if you don't want to show me. Have to go, duties call. Cheer up, Gail, I have full trust in Jennmael, it will heal soon. Bye."
Then intro to the bird intelligence network. I want to leave then and cancel my agreement with Lilith, use my escape clause. Jennmael organizes an outing to the Pentagram City, with three other flying guards as an escort. It is horrible… The things I witnessed out there, the helplessness because I cannot help anybody… I change my mind.
And welcome bedtime. Tomorrow morning Jenn removes the stitches and rubs some weaker topical salve on my private parts. I notice the bruises from yesterday and the day before are gone. We do the same rounds today, only adding report collation to the mix. Six bird patients this time. I try to heal some who are not bird demons and fail, always, with every one of them.
That evening, I try to remember how I died, like I fuzzily tried before. I think about the jet turbine that killed me. It was connected to a jet I helped a minute before. That jet had almost certainly crashed afterwards. All those passengers…
I have nightmares. After waking up in cold sweat twice, I knock on Jennmael's door. She lets me in. She is the only one I know here. We have a long talk, almost an hour and a half. I cry, I rage, I curse.
Jennmael forces me to lie down in her bed, holds me tightly to her feathers and lets me cry myself to sleep in her room.
The morning after, I am all healed up. No need for the anaesthetic today. It is not even sore, just slightly tender.
"There. You can still pleasure yourself, you can pee, you just can't put anything inside. I just narrowed the entrance, nothing more. The asset is secured. You're welcome." Jenn says sarcastically after the final check-up.
"I still hate you." I say, putting the panties and dress back on.
"It will pass. You'll get used to it, to the new look and feel. I remember that it took me two months after incarnating to get used to the fact I now have cloaca instead of a regular anus. And a frickin' air-sac. And that I don't pee, ever, just produce damn guano. People are very mentally resilient." Jenn says. I look at her, still angry.
"You're lucky, that's all I am saying. At least your internal wiring is unchanged. Just added extra-long retractable claws, slightly different skin and eye colour. No extra or fewer internal or external parts, like eyes, horns and tails. That is what leading a virtuous life and not committing a lot of sins does for you in here." She adds.
"You think so? Really?"
"I know for a certainty. You're a good kid, just rough on the edges. The standards for going to Heaven are just too high, Gail." Jenn says.
"You know, that is the nicest thing you have said to me since I incarnated."
"Don't get cocky, lass. No relaxation. This is still Hell." She says, with another bitter smile and a punch to my left shoulder. It leaves a bruise.
I notice that my appetite is normal again. I guess I have replaced all the lost blood and I don't need to eat as much.
Tomorrow, I don my super suit, we go flying together and practicing evasion and fighting. I don't feel any draft. The tenderness is gone and the healing is complete. I still have nightmares sometimes, but Jenn let's me sleep in her room when they are too much to handle.
Slightly over three weeks later, as I am walking down the hallway, I realize I am whistling happily. That I am not mad at Jenn or the queen any more. Human minds ARE resilient. It only took a few days for the habits to form and just a couple of weeks for the weirdness and demonic idiosyncrasies of Hell around me to become normal. I still yearn to fly over the city streets, beat up punks and do other heroic work, but now I realize that is just a soap bubble dream.
I was super strong and resilient and could fly in the world of the living, which made me more powerful than the average citizen, a superheroine. In here, I am slightly below the median, power wise. There is a LOT of demons who can destroy me with a thought.
And many more, order of magnitude more who have angelic weapons. Demonic healing doesn't usually work when pitted against those. They at the very least leave scars. Someone stabs you in the liver or stomach with angelic knife and you die slow, bleed to death while you watch helplessly. Except if you are a bird demon and get to me in time. It is scary thing to be a superhero in Hell because you can die much easier than in the living world.
Maybe that means I am not really a hero? Because a real hero does good no matter the personal cost?
I don't know. I'll always do what good I can. If that means keeping order and semblance of laws by working for Mistress Lilith, then so be it.
I reach the Tower of the Raven, location where crows and ravens come to give us the info they collected. Jenn is already waiting for me.
"Did you do something with your hair this morning?" she says, peering at me suspiciously.
"No, not really. Why do you ask?"
"Nothing. I like to see you smiling. You should smile more." Jenn says.
She gives me a hug. I am stunned.
"What is that for?" I ask her.
"Welcome back. You have finally finished your healing and adjustment." She says.
"What do you mean?"
"Your personality is back to baseline, the way it was before your death. I am just glad it finally happened. I apologize for traumatising you on your first day. "
"Well, don't feel bad, it is not like you had much of a choice. It was a direct order, with no wiggle room, certain actions are allowed for survival, as you always said. And you did help me do some good and find a place in this world where I can continue doing good. You are forgiven. I am very grateful." I say, smiling. Now it is her turn to look stunned.
"Welcome to the Lesser Damn Furies. Also known as Lower-deck Functionaries and Legion Do Fixies." She says, finally speaking out. She fetches a small ring from her pocket, similar to the one she casually wears, except when doing doctor or other touchy work. Or dirty work. "Take it, you have earned it."
"Never heard of them before. Is this a magic ring?" I ask.
"No, it is explicitly not magic at all. You never heard of them, because I never told you before. It is a smallish team compared to the size of most gangs in here, but an important one. We might not be lords and ladies of Hell, but we keep it functioning. We maintain the infrastructure, we collect and store all sorts of information and practical knowledge, we clean the messes and produce functioning equipment. We are underpaid, overworked, cranky, grouchy and worship coffee as elixir of life. And we are Legion. Unionized too." Jenn says.
"Am I going to have to go to union meetings?" I ask, jokingly.
"Only if you want to. But there are not many meetings in the first place. We don't do meetings as a rule. We get shit done instead." She conspicuously pats me on the shoulder.
"You get to leave the castle today, with me escorting you. I'll arrange the meeting with Simon BO and Steven PFY. They do networks and computers, infrastructure and programming. I think you'll like Piffy. He's about your age. Quite a nice boy but enough of a bastard to be worth liking. "
The way she says that reminds me of my mom, who always tried to make me spend more time with other teens, instead of doing Super work and volunteering. She would often say that I need to hang out with my peers after school, not just during school. But interests and hobbies of my age group were so different… I get sentimental just thinking about it.
"I can't wait to meet them." I say and Jenn smiles. I like to see her sincere smile. So I decide then and there to help her smile more often.
We start our work day. It might be okay afterlife after all.
The end