Aerwyna swam serenely down the hallway, running her fingers across the rough coral walls of the Atlantis Courthouse. A school of angelfish trailed behind her, tickling her tail for attention. Giggling, she turned and pet them for a few minutes until they got distracted and swam off to beg for affection from a different mermaid. She plucked a little pink sea-snail off her halo and set it gently on the sand.
She was there to submit a petition. Cruci from the Halloween party had sent her, along with several other angels, letters detailing the witches' plans to open a grey-area space for angels and demons to meet in person, rather than being stuck as pen pals. Aerwyna had also been writing to a rather charming fellow by the name of Benjamin Shakespie.
Magically-waterproofed stack of papers in hand, Aerwyna approached a sea-cherub, "Hi! What's your name?"
The cherub smiled happily at her, "I'm Gupple! What can I do for you, your holiness?"
"Well, Gupple, I'd like to meet with someone who, according to certain sources, is my soulmate." She handed him the petition, "If you could have this sent to the Seraphim in charge of angel happiness, I'm sure she'd be more than willing to consider our proposal."
"Sure, ma'am! Love is such a beautiful thing. What's the proposal?" Gupple glanced at the papers, and his smile fell.
"You'll find several signatures on it," Aerwyna explained, "Including other angels with separated soulmates, each of the Redeemed, and the Hell Ambassador, as you can see. Apparently, she has one too, and it's, like, a whole big thing."
"You want to go to Hell? But miss, you don't belong there!"
"Respectfully, sweet Gupple, I do what I want. And it's just for visits, anyway."
"Surely the soulmate of someone as good and pure as yourself would never have found themselves condemned?"
"Oh?" Aerwyna smiled, "Then why haven't the matchmakers found my person yet?"
"Perhaps they have yet to die?"
"Or they went to the wrong place."
"What makes you think this demon is who they say they are? What are your sources?"
"Some rather powerful witches."
"Witches? Well, that's your problem, right there. Witches aren't to be trusted!"
"Personally, I found them rather delightful and fun." Aerwyna plucked a shell off the ground and examined its bright colors. A tiny octopus was hiding inside. It peeked out at her, and she set the shell back down. "Please submit the petition, friend."
"Lord, save me from the naivety of mermaids…" Gupple sighed to himself. But he did as he was bid. He couldn't disobey a direct order from an angel, even if she was grossly mistaken. He was sure Emily would straighten it all out in the end.
"Thanks, Gupple!" She waved, swimming off to deliver a letter to the post office. She didn't technically need to hand it to them in person, but she liked making friends, so she took the excuse to get out of her reef for a bit. In the few weeks she'd been writing to Ben, she'd memorized the names of all the post office staff. One time, she brought them a fresh batch of crab cakes just to make them a little happier.
A few days later, Gupple personally sought out Aerwyna to give her an update on the petition. He found her lounging luxuriously near the tide pools, tail replaced with a pair of human legs. She wore very little, as mermaids often do. Nudity was common among the merfolk, and there wasn't a single Heaven dweller who complained about the view. However, Gupple worried that it may be more of a problem where she was going.
"Your holiness," he flew up to her, unable to grow legs like she could.
She turned to him and smiled, "Oh, hello again! Good to see you. How is your day going?"
"Well, ma'am, I'll be honest, I've been better."
Her smile faded to concern, "Oh, no, what's wrong? Anything I can do?"
"Your petition has been approved," he said grimly, "Emily signed it this morning. Apparently, the Hell Ambassador can be quite persuasive. But, please, I'm begging you, don't go. They're demons, they don't deserve you!"
"No no, that's great news! Why are you crying?"
"They're going to hurt you!"
"I don't really think they can," she countered. "There now, it's alright," she stood up and plucked him from the sky, holding the sobbing cherub to her bare chest like a crying baby. "They're taking precautions to make sure everyone is safe. You don't think the Seraphim would allow us to go if it were really all that bad, would they?"
"What sinner could be worth that level of risk?"
"A kind one."
"There's no such thing!"
"Only if you refuse to get to know them as people."
"If they're so kind, how are they in Hell?"
"That's not my tale to tell."
Aerwyna sent Ben a letter that day, knowing it wouldn't arrive half as quickly as it would have if he weren't so far away. But she let him know she'd be coming, and told him when to meet her. She didn't know if he was free, but she was sure he'd figure out a way to make the time work.
When it was time, she put on her prettiest shell bra, adorned herself in sparkling coral jewelry, and polished her scales to a shine. She thought about walking, but she wanted to arrive as herself, and she did not feel like wearing normal-people clothes. It was easier to get away with wearing nothing if you had a tail. Luckily, being an angel, she could swim thought he air as easily as the water. Magic was a useful thing.
The petition had detailed several rules, including the portal point to Hell being anchored in Redemption City, so that the angels who knew the most about demons could keep a proper eye on it. Aerwyna opened her own portal and swam through it, coming out of the water into the heart of the city of redeemed souls. She found a handsome man in a white suit offering a large bouquet of pink irises to a smiling woman.
"Pardon me," she called, "sorry to interrupt your date, but I was wondering if you could help me find mine. I'm looking for the Grey Area."
"Of course," the man said, "It's no problem. Here, why don't we take you to it?"
"Thanks! What's your name?"
"I'm Marcel. This is my girlfriend, Mayberry. What's yours?"
"Aerwyna," she answered while they guided her.
"Nice to meet you. Who are you meeting?"
They made pleasant small talk while Marc and Mayberry guided Aerwyna to the center of town. One angel, a snake-man surrounded by weird little egg-creatures, tinkered around with some large unfinished contraption. He seemed to be having trouble.
"You good?" She called, looking up toward where he hovered in the air.
"Quite alright misss," he said, staring intently at his project.
"Boss can't get the movement right," one of the egg-things said in a silly voice.
"The kinematics of my device musst be precise, else it shan't be accurate."
"Have you tried using a lubricated cylinder, rather than all those springs?" she asked, looking closely at his project.
He looked at her, then looked at the device, then slapped his own forehead, "Of coursse!"
"Good luck," she called before turning her attention to the portal area.
"Did you bring your box?" Marcel asked.
"Right here," Aerwyna plucked it from the air, smiling at the carving of flaming horns.
The box was the key. She removed the lid, placing it into a heart-shaped keyhole and turning. The portal whirred to life, opening to reveal a violent red landscape filled with the sound of screams and gunshots. A wave of intense heat blew Aerwyna's hair back as she stared into Hell itself.
She hesitated. She knew, objectively, that Ben lived in Hell. She knew Hell wasn't meant to be pleasant. She knew it would be warm. But facing it now was terrifying. Still, she was only visiting; Poor Ben had to live there. Taking a deep breath, and allowing the seawater in her heart to calm her spirit, she swam through the gate, taking her box with her.
A witch with a familiar voice greeted her, "Hi! It's so good to have our first visitor! Who are you here to see?"
"Is that you, Cruci?" Aerwyna asked, staring at her. She looked nothing like her human form, instead taking the shape of a rather skeletal creature with pink, heart-shaped horns and bright red eyes. She led her down a staircase into a building that looked fortified beyond all reason, as if they were expecting an angry mob or a fleet of dive bombers.
"Little drowned girl?" Cruci asked, looking Aerwyna over.
"Yes. I'm here for Benjamin Shakespie."
"Ooh, what dramatic timing!"
"Is it?"
"Oh yes! There's been quite the drama with his business partner. Poor Shakespie has been at his wits end catching up."
"Is there something wrong?"
"That depends on who you ask. Our sister Aida has been sobbing her eyes out from it. But Shakespie just became richer than he's ever been. It's complicated."
"Is he here?"
"I'm afraid not. I can text him, though."
"He has a phone?"
Cruci gave her a baffled look, "Yeah? Why wouldn't he?"
"We've had to write letters. Why couldn't I call him?"
"The only person able to use their device in both realms is Elida. Unless you're on a Hell network, you're stuck with snail mail."
When they reached the bottom of the stairs, Cruci typed a passcode into a number lock. A door opened, and they entered a surprisingly nice meeting area. There were dining tables, a fountain, even greenery. Aerwyna wasn't sure what she'd been expecting, but it wasn't this.
"What's down there?" she pointed to a hallway that branched off from the other end of the room.
Cruci gave her a knowing wink, "privacy rooms."
There was a commotion outside, muffled by thick drapes. Curious, Aerwyna swam over to a window and peeked through the curtains. She saw a clean black limousine roll up, flanked by paparazzi cameras all trying to snap photos. A driver with red skin and horns hopped out, opening the door for the passengers.
Several demons filed out, most of whom were in clean suits and tapping away at tablets. All of them were trying to get the attention of one particular man who was trying very hard not to be annoyed. The man was short and tidy, in a well-tailored tuxedo and black top hat.
One of the suits spoke, "Please sir, we need to go over this quickly! VoxTek's managers are right on my tail about these raises, and I really need to show you the numbers."
The short man looked at the suit and said, "When everything is a crisis, nothing is a crisis. Exactly how many things will explode if this waits a few hours?"
"Honestly, sir, probably three at least."
"A comparatively small number. We can either discuss this when I've finished with my meeting here, or you can speak with Elida."
"But sir-"
"Gerald," he interrupted, "For the love of Lucifer, take a break. I can't have you burning yourself out like this. I promise it'll be okay."
"With all due respect, boss, I won't be able to relax until this is resolved."
"Then either hire a new therapist or contact Elida. I won't be reachable until I've finished my meeting." The short man began walking toward the Grey Area.
"But she scares me."
The short man stopped, turning toward the demon called Gerald. "Elida?"
"Yes, sir."
"Why? She's the nicest person you'll ever meet."
"It's just…" Gerald ran his hands through his hair, "ah… She's sweet and all on the outside, but… I don't know. Lately something about her seems off. Like she's less of an angel than she used to be. No one knows how she got the Vees souls, and I don't want to accidentally end up owned too, you know? I'd rather deal with you. You're not an overlord, or an angel, or a witch, you're just, you know… normal?"
The short man stared at him for a long time, clearly thinking hard. Finally, he said, "We'll handle this when I'm done. Go home, take a breather, and try to relax, okay?"
"But sir-"
"That's my final word." The short man turned and left the posse of suits alone, pulling a pink stone box out of his pocket and inserting the lid into a keyhole. The door opened, and he entered the Grey Room.
Aerwyna moved away from the window, swimming through the scorching air to get a closer look at the short man. He had sharp teeth. Very sharp. But he didn't give off any kind of frightening energy. He didn't seem scary or dangerous like she thought a demon would. If anything, he was kind of cute, if not in the traditional sense. She watched as he locked the door behind him and straightened his cuffs.
"I'll just be over here if you need anything," Cruci excused herself, backing away to hide in another room.
The short man turned around and saw Aerwyna. He stopped moving, staring at her. "My God…"
"Ben?" Aerwyna asked, fiddling with the box in her hands.
He gaped for a moment, then remembered his manners. He removed his hat and gave her a dapper bow, "Miss Aerwyna, it's a pleasure to see you in person again. Please excuse my tardiness, I'm afraid this week's letter got a bit lost in the chaos and I only just received it a few moments ago."
"And you came anyway? So last minute?"
He straightened, hat over his heart, "How could I not? It's rude to keep a fine lady waiting. And if it's not too presumptuous of me to say so, Miss; you clearly are among the finest."
She smiled, pleased at the classy compliment. "I met a man in rags and dirt, and here you stand dripping in silk. I had no idea you were so fancy."
"I may have died in squalor, but the opportunities I sought in death have provided me with a respectable income. Forgive me, I would have brought you a gift had I had time to find one."
"Oh, that reminds me," she waved her hand and pulled an object out of the air, holding it out to him, "I brought this from home for you. I don't know what your taste in décor is like, but I thought maybe you'd enjoy having your own little piece of Heaven to brighten up your place."
In her hand she held a luminescent shell patterned with pale swirls of opalescent color. It shimmered as she turned it, and it provided a soft light not unlike Aerwyna's own angelic glow. Pressing it to her lips, she blew into it. A deep, rich sound rang from it like a fine instrument. It was like the ocean itself was singing.
Ben hadn't known Aerwyna was a mermaid. It hadn't come up in their conversation at the party, or their subsequent letters. It certainly explained why she swam through the air when they'd met, rather than walking like everyone else. He stared at her, fascinated and awestruck. She wore a lot of jewelry, all made from oceanic materials. The only thing she had that could be considered clothing were the two shells covering a small portion of her breasts. The rest of her glimmered and shined freely, like a goddess from a coral throne.
Damn that Cruci. Now Benjamin owed her a fruit basket or something.
They sat for a while, Benjamin smiling like an idiot as Aerwyna told him about Heaven, and her work as a scientist, and all the beautiful things she'd discovered. Ben told her about the goings-on with Positivity Potions and VoxTek, and all the crazy things he's had to deal with as a result. They talked about their childhoods, their lives, their deaths, and how they came to be where they were. It was the most peaceful he'd felt in… well, ever.
Time passed, but neither of them noticed. Benjamin's phone buzzed. He silenced it. She showed him how to play the conch shell. It took him a while to get it right, but he eventually got it down. He asked her about Atlantis. She asked him about Hell. They shared one another's energy, soaking it in like they'd been starving.
Benjamin had courted women before. He'd been around a while. But Aerwyna was something else. He hadn't planned on meeting her, and he wasn't sure what he should do now that he had. No matter how many addiction potions Ben drank, his cannibal hunger just wouldn't go away.
Could he go cold turkey? Would it even work? No one he knew had bothered to try. Until recently, winding up in Hell was the end of the road. There was no reason to try to improve. Benjamin knew Elida had let Cruci build all this purely as a way of manipulating demons into trying harder for redemption; but even knowing that, he couldn't help admitting it was a damn good motivator.
"Before I leave," Aerwyna asked him after their time had come to a close, "can I kiss you?"
His first instinct was to tell her no. To respectfully decline and spend more time getting to know her. It would be the gentlemanly thing to do.
Instead, he kissed her.