The black figure stepped into the dim lighting more so that everyone was able to get a better look. The figure looked vaguely familiar, but nothing like anyone (other than Mr. Zero) had ever seen before. The figure had crimson skin covering bulging muscle on a seven foot tall body. Its fiery yellow eyes were piercing through the men and horns were peeking out through long dark hair.
It was the devil herself, in full form.
"What are you doing with my beloved," Cate bellowed in a deeper voice.
"Well…you see we…thought that we would um…take him to…get a haircut! Can't trust those long haired weirdoes," Micky stammered.
"We are taking him back where he belongs," Mike said approaching the beast. "Up on Earth with us, not down here with you."
"PUT HIM DOWN!" she wailed.
The Monkees did what they were asked and Cate motioned for Davy to come towards her. He approached hesitantly to the side of Cate he had not seen before. He was frightened by this image, much like he had been frightened by being down in Hell in the first place. Something inside Davy clicked in that moment; he didn't want to condemn himself to living in Hell with Cate. He needed his life to be back to normal.
Cate began to shrink in size a bit and went to caress Davy's cheek. "I'm sorry love. I wasn't there to protect but I'm here now."
Davy withdrew slightly from the touch and Cate began to grow again. "What's this? A change of heart?"
Davy looked into her eyes and remained silent, not quite sure what would be the best thing to say.
"I see. Your friends have put thoughts into your head and tried to ruin our connection. I can take care of them!" Cate's hands began to light up and spout flames. She aimed towards Mike, Micky, and Peter.
"Wait!" Davy yelled throwing himself in front of his friends. "Don't hurt them. It's me that you were initially after and we have some unfinished business to attend to. Let them go."
Cate backed down and the other Monkees backed away for fear of the devil's wrath.
"Does this mean that you wish to discuss our future?" Cate said hopefully. "Come closer so I can be near you, hold you."
"Why so you can take me into your arms and continue to drive me out of my mind? And make me tell you I love you? You've been swaying me towards you this entire time by making me think I had no other options and using your sexuality as a weapon."
"Please, Davy say you love me. I'll make you proud to be mine. We'll turn heads everywhere we go. Strike fear in millions."
"I'm afraid I can't do that, Cate," Davy said calmly. "I'm going to have to decline your offer and go back to my life. I hope you understand."
Cate flinched and stared at Davy. There was little to no reaction. Davy took that opportunity to join his friends and make the journey back home. As he turned and began walking, he felt a strong pressure engulf his body and take his breath away. He was turned around by force to see that Cate had grown to an even greater size than before and was holding onto him tightly in her fist.
"You said that if I thought about this and decided it wasn't for me, that we'd be done," Davy yelled struggling to free himself.
"You must have known that would never happen. Look at what a great couple we make-we're unstoppable. You're incredible," Cate sweet-talked.
"Incredibly done," Davy demanded. "Let me go, I've made up my mind."
"If I let you go, you'll die. The world can't maintain you the way I can. I can protect you keep your best interests in mind."
"You mean your best interests. This is all for you I get nothing in return except for being miserable for eternity."
"How could being with your one and only be miserable?" Cate asked.
"I don't love you!" Davy shouted.
Cate's face contorted into many different expressions. Before Davy knew it he was dropping to the ground with a giant thud. His friends rushed to his side to make sure he was okay. Besides for an aching body he was fine.
Davy turned his head to see what had happened. Cate was in typical form lying in a heap on the ground. Mr. Zero approached her and she picked her head up and looked to be in shambles. Tears streaked her face and she appeared to be broken emotionally.
Cate spotted Davy and made attempts to run over. She was blocked by Mike, Micky and Peter. She utilized her powers to throw the three barriers to the side so she could be face-to-face with the one that broke her heart.
"Did you really mean that?" she asked hoping that the answer would be in her favor.
"Yes," Davy said firmly.
"You know, I fell in love with you the first time you spoke to me," Cate reminisced with a smile. "How ironic your first words to me will also be your last!"
Cate began to wrap her hands around Davy's neck. He closed his eyes and as he felt her hands tightening making it more difficult to breath. He was floating in and out of consciousness. Finally, he was out.
Davy awoke with a startle and surveyed his surroundings. Cracks in the wall, dirt and dust all over, dummy in the corner. He was home.
He touched his neck and felt the pains of bruising. Remembering the events that happened previously he couldn't help but wonder how he had gotten here. Something cold touched his forehead.
"You okay there, buddy?" Peter asked wiping the cold rag across Davy's face.
"What happened? How did I get here?" Davy said frantically.
"Cate began choking you and you lost consciousness," Mike explained. "Apparently, our confidant, Zero, had more powers left in him than he initially let on. He was able to levitate Cate off the ground, loosening her grip and allowing us enough time to grab you and escape."
"How long have I been out?"
"Just a few hours." Micky answered.
Davy sat in silence taking in all the information he had just heard. He couldn't help but wonder about one thing in particular. "What happened to Cate?"
"I can answer that," said a familiar voice that was accompanied by smoke. "After you all escaped, I let Cate down in more way than one. I informed her that she had a trial with the Council of the Underworld. You see, bringing a mortal down there and keeping them prisoner is actually against what we stand for. I know go figure, demons with morals."
"What were the results of that trial?" Peter asked.
"It's safe to say that you will not be seeing anymore of Cate. She was banished to the seventh circle of Hell. There's no coming back from there. You're looking at the newly restored Satan," Mr. Zero bowed.
"Congratulations, I think," Micky said.
"Per our agreement, you four and I will no longer be in contact. Clean slate," Mr. Zero said. "I'm a man of my word."
"What if we are to spend our afterlife with you?" Mike asked.
"That's not a possibility, you're all too good," Mr. Zero said repulsed.
Everyone sat in silence for a few moments.
"Zero, thank you for saving my life," Davy said.
"Think nothing of it my boy," Mr. Zero replied. "I got what I wanted too, everyone wins. Don't think so much of it as a good deed or it will cramp my style." And he was gone.
"Everyone except Cate," Davy said. "You know psychotic or not, I still feel for the girl. It's painful to not have love reciprocated."
"It's even more painful when you tell someone you don't love them," Micky joked.
"Do us a favor Davy and steer clear of girls that are going to go the extra mile to be with you. We can't have a rescue mission every week," Mike said.
"Then do me a favor and don't lead me to slaughter. I blame you all for this, you insisted I talk to her," Davy laughed.
"There is one thing that I'm still unclear about."
"What's that Peter?" Davy asked.
"Is Hell in a different time zone than us? Because it seems like time goes by quicker down there than it does up here. I mean they had a whole trial and Zero took back power in a few hours."
The four of them looked and each other for a moment and shrugged.