Davy woke up and stretched. He rubbed his eyes and took in the scene around him. Oh right, I'm in Hell. Literally and figuratively.
"Good morning, Sunshine!" Cate greeted Davy cheerfully.
"I can't say I share the sentiment. After everything you've done," Davy answered. "You know, it takes a very broken, twisted soul to do what you do."
"You're too kind. Thanks for noticing!"
"Well, aren't you a little ray of pitch black," Davy spat back.
"Ooh, name-calling, so intimidating. It's a good thing you're cute when you're angry," Cate said motioning for Davy to come closer to her which he declined by scooting back further in the bed. "What's wrong? What could be bad about this situation? You're alive, uninjured, and not technically my prisoner."
"I'm not your prisoner?!" Davy yelled. "You've got me in a bloody cell!"
"Someday you'll thank me for kidnapping you."
"I sincerely doubt that. Why did you kidnap me anyway?"
"Oh Dearest, isn't it obvious? You're the absolute perfect human specimen. Handsome and kind-hearted, the precise combination I need to shape up my image. You see, everyone sees 'the devil' as all doom and evil. That's not my style. I'm a different incarnation of the title."
"How am I going to change people's perception of you? How are you different?"
"Isn't it obvious? Not to be shallow, but it's your looks. Those eyes, that face, that jawline; it's enough to make people weak in the knees and believe every word you say. Especially when said in that charming accent. I'm looking to present Hell as not a place of punishment, but a place for all those 'lost souls' to have a good time for eternity. If I have you pitching that idea we will be unstoppable," Cate explained.
"You're a manipulator!"
"I like to think of myself as an outcome engineer," Cate countered looking proud of herself as she began to advance closer to Davy by appearing in his cell. "I am very attracted to you and I was looking to sway your view of me into a romantic interest. I am fashioning you to rule by my side. Every queen needs and king and I want you to be mine."
Davy looked on in shock and horror as he scrambled to stand up and begin moving as far away as possible. It took him a moment to process the information she had just spewed at him. He was speechless and noticed she was looking at him expectantly for a reply.
"What makes you think that I would go along with your plan?"
"Oh you know, time and coercion," she smiled wickedly. "I can be very persuasive when I want to be."
"From what I've heard already, you're not as evil as people think you are. Sounds like you're a lover not a fighter," he said haughtily. Davy wasn't sure exactly what his motives were for trying to taunt the devil. Maybe it was to turn her off of using him, maybe it was to fight back, or maybe something else…
"No I'm much worse than merely evil. I am a lover, but make no mistake I fight when needed."
"Be that as it may, you have no power over me."
"You sure about that? Everything down here can kill you, but I can do it the most efficiently. Why do you think you're in a cell? To protect you from these heathens."
He flashed his most charismatic smile. It was a wonder anyone could resist it. "Oh you wouldn't dare."
She narrowed her eyes and clenched her fist. "Do not challenge me."
"Afraid of a challenge?" Davy continued to provoke. He knew pushing someone that could do him serious harm was not the best idea, but he was too irate to care.
"I'm not afraid of a challenge," Cate answered seemingly getting angrier by the minute. "I don't need your approval Love, that's for insecure people."
"Sounds to me like you need some kind of reassurance from me or else why would you be getting so enraged? I can see the horns starting to stick out from under your hair."
Cate quickly tousled her hair to cover up the devil inside her. She could not help herself all of Davy's cruel mocking was setting off the beast within. With a sudden impulse she lunged toward Davy with a pitchfork to his throat. "You think you're so tough, huh? How tough are you now? Come on fight me."
"I'm starting to think you just like me pinning you up against things, darling," he gulped as he struck his back against the cell bars.
"I see being kidnapped and tormented hasn't affected your humor."
"Never," he replied a smirk creeping across his face. "Now, I'm trying to be polite with the circumstances and all, but if you move that pitchfork a centimeter closer to me I will tear you apart."
"Is that a threat?"
"It's a promise," he said through gritted teeth as he began to slowly push the pitchfork away from him.
Cate's face softened and she lowered her weapon and eyed Davy cautiously. "Aww, our first fight! And you have the makings of the devil's groom with that feisty spirited temper of yours. If possible I love you even more."
"Wonderful," Davy said sarcastically. He heaved a sigh of relief.
"I'm going to get going before we spoil this moment."
Cate bounced out of the cell and was about to snap her fingers when she was interrupted by Davy yelling something to her.
"Wait! Before you go I have a question for you."
"What's that, Handsome?"
Davy grimaced at the constant use of terms of endearment. "What are you going to do when my friends come looking for me?"
"Oh Davy, don't be silly," Cate laughed. "Don't you think I've already taken care of that."
And again she was gone in a puff of smoke.
Mike, Peter, and Micky arrived back to the Pad from the movies.
"Davy!" Mike yelled. "Are you home?"
No answer.
"He must have really needed to ride off all that bad dating juju," Micky said.
"What does his bad dating have to do with candy?" Peter asked.
"Not Jujubes, Knucklehead!"
Mike wandered over to the table as he listened to the other two babble on. He picked up a paper lying on the table and began to scan the contents.
"Hey you two, enough about the candy. Get over here," Mike said. "Look at this note. Looks like Davy had to make a last minute trip to England for a family emergency."
"I hope everything is ok," Peter offered.
The guys kept on discussing what emergency may have come up.
"Oh don't tell me you believe that rubbish," another voice interrupted their conversation.
All three men jumped and turned around to see who the owner was of the mysterious voice. There perched next to Mr. Schneider against the wall was none other than Mr. Zero.
The three Monkees stared down the intruder for some time. When the initial shock had worn off Mike was the first to address their nemesis.
"Man, we're done with you. We won Peter back fair and square."
"Yeah, haven't you had enough? Why embarrass yourself further?" Micky added.
"Nice to see you gentlemen too," Mr. Zero said cynically. "I'm not here to attack, I'm here to assist."
Peter, who had been cowering behind Mike, picked up on something that Mr. Zero had said, "What do you mean rubbish? Assist with what exactly?"
"So glad you asked my dear boy," Mr. Zero began with a condescending air. "Rubbish as in that obviously falsified note."
"How would you know it's fake? Did you have something to do with this?" Mike asked beginning to become angry.
"Quite the contrary, my hands are clean," Mr. Zero was keeping his composure.
"Since when does the devil ever have clean hands?" Micky asked skeptically.
Mr. Zero turned his palms towards the boys, "I always do I use Lava Soap. But all joking aside I know more about that note than you realize and either you want my help or you don't."
"Not interested in another deal with the devil," Mike answered.
"Well then, good thing I'm not the devil anymore."
"Not the devil anymore? What did you get…fired!" Micky laughed at his own joke.
"Haha, Mr. Dolenz. No I was demoted after that fiasco with your quartet. And after that I'm still willing to offer my services to you as a trio."
"Trio?" Peter questioned.
"Yes, Mr. Tork. There are only three of you and your fourth is not coming back any time soon. But with my help it will be sooner."
"I have more than a few questions about this, because it seems sketchy."
"Ask away Mr. Nesmith, I have nothing to hide."
"Where exactly is Davy, if this note is not from him? And how do you know so much about it?"
"Certainly. You see my successor of the Underworld throne was my niece, Hecate. You all may be more familiar with her as Cate."
The guys' faces fell at the mention of Davy's former pursuer as Mr. Zero continued, "Precisely the reaction I expected. Well, my darling niece had her sights set on your diminutive counterpart. Whatever the devil wants, the devil takes. I think you can see where I'm going with this. I'm taking a stroll through her chambers and what should I happen to stumble upon, but a cell with a familiar looking British man."
"So, Cate is holding Davy captive. For what reason?" Micky asked.
"She wants him to marry her and rule the Underworld by her side."
"Davy would never go for that," Peter said. "That would give him too much evil, negative power. Power he doesn't want."
"Don't be a fool. Everyone wants power," Mr. Zero scoffed. "Plus with the right amount of persuasion, anyone can shift their views."
"What kind of persuasion?" Micky asked.
"Don't fret, Cate wouldn't hurt him and she can't use powers to make people fall in love with her. However, Stockholm Syndrome is a real thing and the close quarters along with psychological coaxing are enough to make anyone change their mind. That's why we have act swiftly before your friend succumbs to her charms."
"What's in it for you?" Mike interrupted. "You can't expect us to believe you're doing this out of the goodness of your heart."
"Right you are, I can't get anything past you. I'm looking to take her down and reclaim my throne."
There was silence for some time as all parties looked at each other taking in all the information that was presented.
"If we band together on this, do we have your word that we will not cross paths with the devil again?" Mike broke the silence.
"Mr. Nesmith, I won't so much as trick-or-treat here on Halloween."
The three Monkees huddled together whispering as Mr. Zero looked on. When they were through, Peter once shaken by their guest, stepped up to him.
"You've got yourself a deal. What's the plan?"