Hey everyone! Here is the update like I promised! I think it's a bit shorter than the last one, but I wanted to make sure I had a head start on content for Chapter 3. I'm excited to keep writing this, I have some new ideas, and I hope you like it!

Tom turns around and gives the other demon a smile. "Thank you, George."

The demon flies off, ready to pick up someone else. Marco looks around, taking in Tom's room.

"You know, I was too panicked and dizzy last time I was here to really appreciate your room. But it's nice. Well decorated."

Tom smiles at his comment. "Thanks. I did most of it myself. I should probably redecorate though. This was before I changed, and when I was still in my… Angsty phase." He cringes slightly, remembering how he used to be. "It was bad… So bad…"

"What? You mean you aren't still in that phase now?" Marco gives him a playful smirk, nudging his shoulder with his elbow.

Tom's mouth hangs open in a silent gasp. "Wow. How rude. I am SO much better now. I even dress better."

Marco laughs. "I know, I know, I get it. Your room now makes sense though… Well if you want any help painting and redecorating, you know who to ask!"

"Thanks for the offer, but I can just do it with magic, no problem." Tom shrugs.

Marco huffs jokingly, crossing his arms. "Fine, I see how it is. You don't want to learn about… My culture!" He puts the back of his hand on his forehead, letting out a few fake sobs.

Tom holds back a laugh and plays along, dramatically letting out a sigh and a drawled out "Fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine. I guess I'll let you show me your Earth ways or whatever." He does air quotes when he says "Earth ways".

Marco switches back to his regular self and cheers, putting his hands in the air. "Woohoo! Heck yeah!"

"Oh! You wanted a tour of the place, yeah?"

Marco throws his head back in mock exasperation. "Ugh, yeeeeeees! Finally!" He breaks into a grin. "Yes, I would love one."

Tom chuckles, shaking his head at his friends' antics. "You're ridiculous. Follow me." He walks towards his large wooden doors, leading out into the hallway and to the rest of the castle. He flicks his pointer finger and both doors creak open, swinging outward, away from the two boys. Tom walks out into the hallway, pausing for a moment before deciding to go left.

"Here, this way." He turns on his heel and starts walking, leaving Marco to stare in awe out the large windows lining the long hallway.

Marco shakes his head, snapping out of it, and quickly scampers after him, the big doors closing and sealing themselves behind him.

Tom leads the way into a main corridor, Marco looking around with another agape expression on his face.

He breathes out a quiet "wow" as he follows behind the demon boy.

Tom lets out a light chuckle, slowing down to fall into step next to Marco. "Surprised that hell isn't blisteringly hot?"

"I feel like surprised is an understatement. No wonder you said to bring winter clothes. It's freezing. It's also breathtaking though..." He says while looking around to take in the view again.

"Hey, I'm kind of a jerk sometimes, but I wouldn't lie about something like this now that we're friends. Before, yeah, I probably would have lied to see you show up in a tank top and shorts and laugh my head off about how frozen you were." He cracks a mischievous grin.

Marco lightly punches his arm. "Wow, rude! I'm glad we're friends then, yikes." They both just take a second and smile at each other before Marco's eyebrows furrow together in question. "Hold on. If hell is supposed to be all hot and lava-y, then why isn't it?"

"I figured you'd ask sooner or later. I'll tell you the lore first. Lucifer, or the devil as most people call him, was an angel at one point. Once he was banished from heaven, he came down here to Hell because it is the furthest away from God's love. Which is also why it's so cold. And believe it or not, but the furthest away from God's love is actually in the middle of Earth. The other thing is that there's this myth where apparently Lucifer himself is completely frozen, from the waist up, in the middle of hell."

Marco stares at him for a few seconds, processing all of the new information that Tom just gave him. "Wow, that's a lot to take in. I can't believe there's so much that I didn't know. And that geologists were wrong. I honestly think that's the part that's tripping me up the most."

Tom stares at him blankly. "That's what got you?"

Marco nudges him playfully. "Hey, shut up. Yes, that's what got me. Wait, you said that was just the lore though. What's the truth? Because there's no way that the center of Earth can be molten and frozen at the same time."

"Ohhh, I see why you're confused. Let me tell you the rest. We aren't actually on Earth."

Marco blinks at him for a few seconds. "We aren't?"

"Nope. See, my people were apart of a huge war. We were completely decimated afterwards and needed to hide ourselves from further attackers. So, we made it seem as if hell were in the center of Earth because most people can't handle the intense heat that the center has. No one would dare try to come and attack us. But it's just a portal. A diversion, if you may. We're all actually still on my home planet, we just never left. You know how elders love their lore though. I guess to them it's just more fun to pretend we're actually in hell like the stories."

Marco stares at him, trying to take in all the information. "Wow, that's pretty crazy. And interesting. I love some good stories like that. Hold on. How do you know you won't get attacked again? You're still on your home planet. Isn't that dangerous?"

Tom shakes his head. "Actually, no. A few years after the war, we made peace with our enemies and set up trade. Everything seems to be in a state of peace, and I don't actually know of any other planets that fought after our long, bloody war. It probably scared everyone out of even considering the idea."

Marco gives him a warm smile and a sigh of relief. "That's great then. I don't have to worry about you up and disappearing on me."

Tom grins. "Awwww, that's so cute. You need me!"