Lucifer Morningstar's Story

roleplay/the-multiverse/characters/lucifer-morningstar/

Huh

As the dust settled in the Circle of Violence, and the forces of the Dark Legion crawled back into Dis to lick their wounds, wail, and gnash their teeth, a great rumbling would be felt - emanating from the bottom of the plane. A massive crack reverberated through the Ninth Circle. It was like the sound of shattering glass - or ice - and snapping chains.

Finally, an ominous laughter rumbled from the darkest depths of Hell.

It is at that moment that, without any mark or signal, without anything to show how or from where he came, A man in grey rags appeared and sat upon the grand throne. "Ahhh... It's just as comfortable as I remember it." He grimaced and looked around. "Hmmm, rather empty though... Gonna have to fix that I guess." His voice was ponderous and strange, it did not have accent or tint, and when heard, it seemed to have neither grace or grandour. It was a voice as simple as a mortals.

"Right then," The man said, raising his simple uninteresting voice, "Everyone, I need your attention, and your presence, now!"

He shouted this command out into the empty hall, looking for all the world a madman, yet in that command was an undeniable force. Whomever this man was speaking to, whomever he was ordering, and wherever they might be, they would undoubtedly hear his command. Whether they heeded it not, however, remained to be seen...

The False King called and at his command the Lord of Sloth Answer. Belphegor stepped into the throne room only to glance at the past histories of this ancient locale just to then allow his gaze to fall upon the fallen angel who seemed to claim his dominion so easily over all of Hell.

"Your grace called and I came hither." The bearded devil smiled maliciously only to then take another step forward. "However I did not arrive here due to your beckons." Belphegore took another step further into the throne room only to gaze upon the seat of power itself.

The Father of all Inventions found himself lounging for more as he approached the throne and the supposed king of Hell. "Lucifer, we do not need you here, I do not need you." Belphegore spoke without little fear behind his words or respect for the recently awoken king. "Your time away has left you ignorant Lucifer. Step down and allow someone with a little more skill and tact to control Hell."

Lucifer blinked a few times and smiled at Belphagore, the lord of sloth. "Oh this is an astounding treat, the lord of sloth arriving first among all my servants. And here he comes saying how I am not needed? Well that is grand and great isn't it. I suppose I'll just abdicate the throne and leave it to you lot to fight over." His smile is filled with genuine warmth, and would be all the more frightening for it.

Then he waved his hand at his subject. "In honest though, is this necessary? Must we go through this play? I've seen it more times than I care to count, and it's always the same boring script. You try and overthrow me, I correct you and send you back to where you belong, with a new scar across your pretty face." He sighed. "Come now, surely there is something more interesting we can do to settle this."

He looked around, seeing his hall still empty. Then he had an idea. "Oh how about this, You go round up everyone, and then gather them all here, then we can really start to have fun." He waved Belphagore off, signalling that he may go and see to his lords commands. Lucifer then proceeded to rub at his finger nails, checking them for dirt and such.

The Prince of Sloth shook his head and stood defiantly against Lucifer. Belphegore had worked far to hard to acquired his position and the amount of damned souls he had to corral into just the right amount of bullshit.

"Lucifer. Your subjects are arriving in droves to mock and remove you from your throne." The Prince of Sloth kept his eyes upon the former king.

Lucifer looked up at Belphagore and smiled. And in that moment everything would go black as pitch, and the only light would come from Lucifer, and he would look at Belphagore and the demon lord of sloth would at that instant feel every bit of the malice and hatred that could fester over ten million years of damnation and imprisonment, all focused onto a single point in reality: Belphagore.

Then, as though it had never occured, everything was as it was before, pristine and beautiful, and lucifer looked at Belphagore and said "I will only say this politely once, leave this place, and do not return without my servants. If you do not heed me... Well then I'll have to get nasty, believe me when I tell you belphagore" And at this lucifers eyes turned pitch black, not as though they had turned in color, but as though there was only darkness, a void in them. "I will show you the same hospitality I have enjoyed these past millennia.

Not long after someone would appear clapping with dark expression of not happiness or glee but hatred would appear. Unlike Sirad she was pale with eyes almost as red as blood, with a presence about her. There was no twinge of Eden or even echoes, no for she was unredeemable. Then again she was more a beast than humanoid, she merely took on this appearance to make communication easier. It was better to call her a force, a force so dark and malign it would curdle blood into a grotesque yogurt. Thus it was she stood watching both with passive prejudice expression, "I may not like my brother Lucifer, but we all know you are an egotistical fool who never listened to me regarding Erebuz. Oh and yes if you want others here, that may be an expression, for one most of your Princes are gone. Absolutely vanished. The children of Eden are beyond this realm and finally oh yes Erebuz believes he can control you. There is two others, but they will not make themselves known yet, unless..." the being shrugged her face remaning expressionless but something about the lack of facial ticks would waver the coolest souls.

Nonetheless she continued, "Then we have me, or I. Abaddon or Apollyon once one of your most trusted advisors, until I called you out on the utter notion you could ever hope to defeat Erebuz. You believe that Gem will save you. Perhaps it will but also will make you very attractive target. In essence you are him yet you deny it." again a slight shrug as she regarded Belphegore, "And you dear brother mind always working, always busy. Such dark cruel intrigue. There is a reason you got such a powerful circle. Nonetheless if you done posturing my lord and master." once more her focus was on Lucifer, "You can't fling me into Phlegethon this time, and you knew just like I very few places can keep me contained... As to why, well let's just say battles happened, stuff occurred I witnessed it all the Phlegethon is dried up and Violence is completely purged of all evil and demonic energy. It has been sactified. Thus you need to listen for a change."

Looking with that same vivid hatred she went on, her hand raised counting off each point, "Hell has changed and evolved. There is wars going on, there is beings of immeasurable power now in circles. Including Erebuz. Wrath been overtaken by someone trying to save the souls and also there are two living souls moving through Hell unstopped. Most of the Princes are gone, finite and you would dare jeapordize your position by threatening last Prince who would even consider loyalty to you. Nothing changes, but everything changes, you have not changed. We have."

Finally a smirk appeared as she laughed so full of zealous mirth, "Oh and finally the last thing. Those children of Eden had twin's they are hidden but they are the Anti-Chris's meaning you are facing challenges at all sides. Now perhaps if you apologize I may even consider helping you."

Another figure soon crawled its way into the throne room, a smile plastered on its face. He looked around the throne room to look at the others who arrived before him, then his eyes met the one who had called him here. "Ah! Well salutations to you our grand lord Lucifer. It has been years since we have laid eyes upon you, I trust everything was going well since you left? Yes?" The creature spoke as it bent forward to give a bow to the man in front of him.

"I, Duriel, The Lord Of Pain, have been ever faithful to you my liege for gifting me rule over the Realm Of Pain. Words cannot express the gratitude I feel every time a soul screams out it agony like a musical note, and for that I am ever thankful. But what seems to be the problem here? I hear from the others that you are incompetent, a fool, and your subjects are intending to remove you from the throne. If I may be of assistance I shall work to the best of my efforts to help you in any way I can." Durial spoke eyeing his fellow companions. How could they speak words of disapproval to their lord!? He is the one that granted them a spot of power, he was the one that allowed them to rule over their own realms or go out and serve his will, why would they find it appropriate to go against him? Then again they were all demons and they were all capable of backstabbing each other without a second thought.

At first there was only silence, broken suddenly by a chuckle from lucifer. He grew in mirth until he was laughing outright, then his laughter increased in hysteria until it seemed he had lost his mind. He laughed and he laughed and he laughed, until his subjects would begin to feel unease at his reaction. Abaddon at the least would find it a bit strange yes? That after telling Lucifer of all the challenges and dangers about him that he had to face, he would only laugh?

He continued to laugh, slowly it died down to a fit of giggling, in between gasps of breath he would say "Is this it then? Is this as far as you lot have evolved? Is this as far as you've come? It would seem you are most correct Abaddon, and you know what, you actually do deserve an apology. You were right to scoff at me, and I was oh so wrong to punish you for it, to place you in the boiling pits of blood of the phlegothon. But you are also right, Belphagore, things have changed, all has changed, and my subjects have long forgotten me and my rule. And Duriel, loyal Duriel, you too are right, right to continue your loyalty to me, right to be thankful for all I have given you."

In that moment, an impossible to deny thought would have occured to all three of those before Lucifer. He was agreeing with them, and he was being far too nice. If any of them had any wisdom to them, a sudden suspicion and great fear would grow on them.

"And you are also correct" He continued. "That I have been away a long long time... Long enough that many will have forgotten what I am capable of." And then his voice was cool, colder than ice, colder even then death. There was no hatred in it, no anger, nothing. It was the cold calculated voice of logic, reason, and judgement. It was the voice of command that only an angel of the highest chorus of the light would ever have held. It was a voice that did not care. It was the voice of fate.

And with that voice all things changed. The four of them were no longer in the grand hall as it had been. The pillars, floor, the ceiling, everything shattered into shards of stone, metal, glass, everything changed. Abaddon, Belphagore, and Duriel would suddenly find themselves bound in place, their bodies impaled in every joint of their body. Abaddons hair would be caught by shards and pulled hard, Belphagore's skin would be in flames as countless miniscule peices of glass crawled into him and moved across in cycles and patterns through and under his body. Duriel would find himself sealed in a box of jagged points, so that a movement unasked for would have him cut and shredded.

The message sent was clear, and became only clearer as Lucifer continued the torture. Those who looked around would notice that this was no illusion, this was reality. Lucifer's will had been done by the realm of his existence. In this place, his power was absolute, and his will was law. To disobey him was to ask for annihilation, and pray that it would be given.

"Do you see yet? Do you understand? You come here, insulting me, claiming me weak, ignorant and incompetent, and I respond to you with calm, with peace. Do you understand now that you were spared torment and pain only by my own restraint? Have you gotten it through that skull of yours, "lord" of sloth?" He stepped towards Belphagore, and with each step a spear of stone or steel or what have you would stab itself into Belphagore's body, 30 steps he took to the demon lord of sloth, so that when he reached him, Belphagore was impaled in ways that would pain him unending for eons, but the demon was not given the release of death. "Do you get it now, you ignorant child? I was, and indeed still am, the greatest of the angels. My power was as close to divinity as any power could be. For believing I was great enough to challenge my master I was cast from grace to reside here, and here I am master, and all things that are here are MINE!" with this last, the guise of a man robbed in grey rags was cast aside, and Lucifers wings were made bright. So bright and great was his presence that all else was dimmed in comparasion. Beautiful flowers looked withered and dead next to the feathers of his wings, women with pristine faces were as hags compared to his visage, Olympean men of greatness were weak, knobby kneed, and sick old men compared to his stature. This being of purity and perfection stepped then over to Abaddon, whose body would be pierced through knees and elbows with spears. "You were very right, Abaddon, and you are also wrong. I have changed, and I have learned from my mistakes, which is more than you have, apparently. Lucifer raised a hand and the spears holding Abaddon were no more, and what pain she would have experienced was suddenly gone as well, save the relief that was reminding her of how much better she was now that the pain was gone. "And I am sorry, truly, for what I did last time. It was not a fair punishment, which this you have felt now, is."

He then stepped to Duriel, who would be trapped by razer shards keeping him from moving even an inch without being cut. "And you, Duriel, you arrived late. But you are loyal, and have ever been so. For that you are not punished, but reminded of how following can prevent you of pain. Of how moving or acting without being told." He gestured to the cage of shards imprisoning Duriel "can result in unfortunate.... accidents." And with that last word the cage was broken and Duriel was freed.

Lucifer was then, with a suddenness, sitting upon the throne. The hall was as it had been, with the exception that Belphagore would yet be impaled with barbed spears of stone. Abaddon and Duriel would be free.

"And let this be your reminder, Though I have been gone, I am not diminished. Where once before I was the master of all of hell, so I still am, and will forever remain. Should you challenge me again, then you shall be punished, fair and just."

His presence would remain from then on. And upon the throne no longer sat a man in grey rags, but the Lord and King of Hell.

Lucifer Morningstar, Master of Hell, had returned.

Belphegore was not surprised by the tactics Lucifer used against them. He knew that with a snap of his fingers Hell would all kneel before his audacious rule like a fat child begging for another ice cream at an all you can eat parlor. It was however to his great detestable joy that the events that seemed to follow forced the Prince of Sloth to roar in pain causing every hall within Hell to shake at the Demon Lords agony.

It was only when the others seemed to face lesser punishments and freedoms beyond what Sloth's prince had received that something seemed to click with Belphegore. He was no coward but possible smarter than the rest as he offered only the toothiest of grins at his newfound Hell within Hell.

"A reminder from a foppish contemptible fool! Do you truly think I shall remain bound to such sloppy methods of torture. Truly you can do better than that. Your truly blind if you do not see the cogs already in motion. I am the first but never will I be the last to stand by and allow such a dim light rule while others of far greater minds can do better."

The Prince of Sloth turned his attention to the others present and shook his head. "For shame that such ilk like yourselves are so easily goaded by someone who thinks so highly of himself. Imagine who else has had God's ear from time to time only to be cast down into this pit!" The prince of Sloth began to chortle as he knew his timing could not have been better. Forces upon his bridges moved but not towards the sanctity of the chamber they all stood present in. Instead they found hosts upon the earth realm above and whispered dark truths into the ears of others.

"Imprison me and let me wallow in this pitiful attempt of pain. I am sure any of the Flesh Carvers in Hell could do a better job than you Lucifer. Who knows how senile you've grown do to that slumber you took."

Although the agony seemed neverending in its twisted torment, Abaddon barely flinched although she did grimace and grit her teeth. Really she could have ended this display by reverting to her true form, but she let the petty Prince have his way if only to appear subserviant. Nonetheless she would not give him the pleasure of appearing weak so fought through the agony, despite how it felt like the torture was trying to scalp her. To distract from the anguish she imagined finally toppling him and crushing his pathetic ego.

Eventually it stopped and she heard her brother she simply replied matter-of-factly, "There is a way to show power dear brother, be subtle in your jabs and attacks for they will be useless if they hear through the venom your true intentions. I showed the Prince of Lies here what he wanted, scope and knowledge. But he knows I have great seething hatred for him. Thus he trying to rebuild bridges. You are meant to be smart dear brother, so be less up-front and keep the dagger hidden." the entity of destruction did not even seem to care that Lucifer could hear, she would merely turn, "Would you rather clumsy attempts on yourself or skilled machinations? I assume the latter, thus my instructions to my brother, benefits your ego as it is."

Her eye fell on Duriel, "Lord of Pain returns once more and here you are ever the bootlicker your sister has far more spirit in my view. Then again you were banished from Hell by the previous occupants. I on the otherhand was trapped and saw all. You are to make clear late on the hour, much like the Prince and even I. Only Belphegore understands the way of things. Hell is no longer united and Erebuz will continue to push his influence in the Infernal lands. Long, long ago Hell was united out of fear, it's been forgotten, erased. The circles need leadership again or we face a further fracture Hell and without Violence dear Lucifer your power, which comes from the circles is diminished. You must feel it?"

Duriel did his best to not take deep breaths in fear of the razor points cutting into his flesh. Compared to the others, he was the one that received the least amount of punishment. Belphegore seemed to suffer the worst punishment as he hear his roars of pain, oh the sweet sound of pained screams! The sounds threatened to send shivers throughout his body but he did his best to remain silent to avoid getting cut. Abaddon on the other hand just grit her teeth, a shame really for him, he wanted to her her howls of pain. But what was the most impressive scene was when Lucifer transformed into his true form, he felt like a worm compared to his strength and beauty. He was the lord of hell, and he was stunned that anyone would dare oppose his great power...oh how grateful he was to serve under him.

Once everything was over, Belphegore still continued to insult Lucifer while Abbadon also sent some subtle jabs at Lucifer, but her eyes fell on Durial and commented on his loyalty to him, and compared him to his sister. "I do not care for the poison you spit from your mouth, I will continue to serve Lord Lucifer as long as I have some use to him. You two should be thankful that he has not shown you what true terror is...Lest I savor in your endless cries of pain. As for you Belphegore, have you not learned your lesson? Despite our lord giving you just a light punishment? He has a vast amount of power so you should be grateful he has not tried to show you real pain...I do not mind if you keep running that mouth of yours, I won't mind listening to your howls as well." Duriel spoke as he chuckled.

"But enough about us, we are here to see what our fair Lord wanted. So let us quit squabbling like children as they fight over a toy, surely our Lord has called us here for an important manner that needs to be discussed by us. Let us ignore these rather petty issues which can be solved by any one of us." Duriel turned to face Lucifer and bowed yet again. Still thankful to avoid his wrath for now...

"Irony is ever a delicious present. Here are two of my princes, whom I've always thought brighter than the third, and yet it is Duriel who shows the greatest amount of intellect here. To you Belphagore, I merely laugh" At this Lucifer waved his hand, and Belphagore was freed and released from the punishment placed on him earlier. "Begone. If you think me so pitiful a ruler, so useless to you, then begone and leave. Reliquish all the powers You had ever gained from service to me, for once you pass from this hall you shall be as you were before I raised you. I do not have the patience to remind you of your weakness ever and yet again."

"To you Abaddon, I have only made a simple reminder. Ever as the circles diminish indeed so does my power, But what you have seen is only a fraction of what power I still have. Let that show you then just how great my power truly is at current, and how much greater it could be, were you to aid me in uniting the circles once more and bringing hell once more to it's height. And think then, of how much more powerful you could be, how much greater than your brother. For erebuz will not share the power he holds, whereas I will give it freely to those who deserve it. For all my flaws, I shall ever strive to be fair, something few others shall ever show you, I assure you."

"And aside, Duriel is correct, I did not bring you all here to listen to your torments and bickering and insults. Hell is very much at risk, and I have returned to set things right. The circles are fractured, the souls doomed here are running free of punishment, and most insulting of all, more insulting than one of the circles being under the control of the gates of light, are MORTAL BEINGS, WALKING UNCONTESTED THROUGH MY DOMAIN!" at the end of this, not only would the halls reverbate, but the lords in his presence would feel their very souls shaking with the force of his voice, as though listening to that anger would shatter their existence afore long.

"Now..." He spoke after calming down. "Abaddon, you clearly dislike me, and for understandable reasons, but you come here with wisdom to speak and counsel to share. So share it. In the meantime, Duriel, gather what beings follow you that hold sorcery and stealth in highest order, and bring them before me. I have tasks to set to, to announce to hell, and to Erebuz, that I have returned."

And so Lucifer spoke only to Abaddon and Duriel, ignoring completely Belphagore, who's ignorance and irrelevance had finally reached the point where they were no longer deemed worthy of Lucifers attention.

The Prince of Sloth had already had his whispers and machinations already in full motion. The supposed ignorant prince who had ben left and ignored simply sneered at the foolish prospects of the others within the room and found them only wanting of what ignorance they had allowed to fall the circles of Hell.

Lucifer had admitted himself that with the chaos of each of the rings so his powers seemed to decline if not for the worst. Belphegore simply turned away from it all and was the first to leave. What simple fool thought that Belphegore was some simple demon was beyond him.

"I need not use cloak and dagger to tell you sorry lot how wrong you all are. I surrender my title but the powers I have acquired and the damned souls I have personally collected are mine." The Prince of Sloth smiled and turned to look at the others before he stepped out of the chambers for good. "I only leave such a worthless title and I spit upon you lowly spirits."

Upon his final words Belphegore vanished and gathered his belongings. Every soul he had ever plucked would be quickly consumed and his own legion would uproot from his bridges and accompany their only true lord. What many had forgotten about Hell was that it was not a domain for any one being to claim as their domain. It was a Hall created to caste down those who had acted in a damning manner and suffer eternal punishment for their sins. it was only when creatures of Heaven fell that the Halls of Hell grew with Lords and Ladies who claimed certain portions as their own.

Watching her brother display she sighed in utter forlorn regret, before speaking, "First Violence then Fraud and you are losing Wrath. Your powers come from the circles dear Prince, but seems to me Hell is fighting you all the way on your venture. I would comment further, but I do believe the actions speaks for themselves..." pausing she appear to grin, but it vanished quickly after her crimson gaze locking on Duriel and Lucifer, "I will say again without Hell being united you will stand hopeless against Erebuz if you ever hope to defeat him. Plus he controls Dis that is Heresy you still have power in it, but he could easily quench that control and turn off the tap. That leaves you with Betrayal, Gluttony, Lust and Greed all other circles are contested, purified, gone or beyond your grasp."

Walking around in a circle before them both she went on, her eyes glinting with cruel tenacity, "And yet I don't want Hell to be lost, for it is needed and also it is home and though I may not possess the usual human traits I do realize Hell should be united even if under such pretenses as the Princes. All in all we are at a conumdrum, Hell is not united and most of the Princes are gone and those here, well I have no circle. Duriel lord knows where you would put him... Although Lust seems evident and my dear Brother listened carefully and is already scheming, friends, foes, enemies, lovers... if you ever hope to defeat Erebuz you will need all the powers of the circle, yet you have four circles under complete control no three circles, wait four. I missed out Limbo, so you have Greed, Lust, Gluttony, Limbo and Betrayal. Five circles... five circles nine is where the power lies, Violence is solvable, Wrath will involve a fight... and Fraud well not even I am privy to the knowledge of my brother..."

Duriel shuddered as Lucifer yelled, it was clear he was upset by mortals walking through his domain uncontested. Wait? Mortal beings? The humans that walk the surface and provide him with the tormented screams were walking through hell without any consequences. Even he snarled in disgust, how did some humans get into hell in the first place? Let alone walk through without anyone to stop them...Oh yes, one of the circles of hell was under the control of the light and the circles were fractured.

Soon Duriel watched as Belphegore left, willing to relinquish his title and his position. He did not say anything to him and just chuckled, if that was true then he may be truly willing to go against Lucifer. Oh well, it was his decision to leave so he had no sympathy for him...did he have sympathy? Oh who was he kidding of course not.

Lucifer soon told Duriel to gather his followers who held sorcery and stealth in the highest order, How lovely! Most of his best followers were proficient in stealth and sorcery. Oh how he loved to watch as a weary soul was granted a moment of relaxation when suddenly his follower would appear out of nowhere and continue their endless torture! If it was his Lords wish it shall be done. "It shall be done Lord." He spoke as he bowed his head before vanishing from sight almost as quickly as he had arrived.

Lucifer leaned back upon his throne and rolled his eyes as Belphagore left. "I will never understand how he could be under the delusion that his thoughts are hidden from me." He gestured at Abaddon. "Be reminded, my little monstrosity, that I am far older than any of you, as I was the first to be fallen from heaven. I've seen endless parades of demons and all their little machinations all the schemes and plots... I've quite almost literally seen it all, Abaddon, I know how people think, and I know how these things go."

He shifted in place and looked at her, now that both the others had gone. He looked at her for once as though for the first time, as though he had never seen her before. He gauged what he saw and then spoke in a tone that was not full of pride or prejudice. "What do you want, Abaddon? You hate me, that is clear, and with such hate I expect you to side with Erebuz in the coming fight. So why then are you here, what do you want so greatly that you would put your hatred and anger aside for it? You've told me what you don't want, a broken hell, but nothing of what you desire so much that you would bother coming here, full of insults and spite, knowing full well how the last time we met played out. So why are you here?"

He was, at least it seemed, truly curious of her reasons.

That was a curious question indeed and she had not expected such one, the old Lucifer was never so interested. Even so, she would not show her own intrigue instead she stared with dark smile, one of the first, "I like to keep my options open dear Prince. You were blind to the going on in Hell I was not, I was merely trapped as the Phlegethon was never-ending depths as you know. So I had much time to consider and listen to the machinations. I saw my brothers like Levithan, Belphegore, Beezlebub all rule, I saw Asmodeus return, then leave. I saw these princes vanish or be defeated. I saw all and you what else I saw a child of Eden... Lilith a name so dark and feared going insane trying to keep things in order. Someone who did not want the throne but took it, because Hell needed to be orderly. I saw all this and it made me wonder, wonder dark secrets. Why would a child of Eden risk all just to keep the balance, did she know something we did not?"

Taking a breath her eyes glinted once more, as she exhaled the acidic metal air, everything the very air of Hell was dangerous to mortals since breathing it in and out, would slowly metalicise their organs, a horrible way to die, but deserving, "I consider this for a long time, I hate you, but you were made for this position, Erebuz is merely using Hell and though I despise you down to your very eyes and mouth, I have to admit better the devil you know. Far be it from me to be presumptious I am giving you one chance to not screw up. I am being lenient because I learned in my prison and saw the struggle, how difficult it was... we do need order and I am charismatic... nor even shall we say polite, but you can be both... Lilith was reckless, you are egotistical both useful sins as it was. Basically I am giving you this chance because you know Hell but my bets on Erebuz in reality, nonetheless I have some money on your name if only for nostalgia and belief you did understand this..."

As she regarded him with her pale features and dark eyes, she whispered the last bit, "We did not always agree Lucifer, but you knew well my mind while intent on pure destruction was the best in Hell, because of my single focus it allows me to pay attention to others. That being said, drop the delusions of war with Heaven, right now... we need to fix a fracture Hell and you have one chance."

Lucifer Rolled his eyes and gestured around. "Why does EVERYONE have this notion that I'm blind? Did you think that, after being set free, I would immediatly rush to my throne to let everyone know I was back? I've been free for some time, in fact, and have been keeping quiet, keeping hidden, trying to get a good look at whats all happened. Trying to catch up, as it is obvious that I have missed quite a bit." He said in exasperation, then he gestured vaguely at Abaddon. "And of course your right, furthest thing from my mind right now is an assault on heaven, that would only be proving to everyone that I am a fool."

Lucifer held his head in one hand and gazed down at the floor before him, his other tapping the arm of the throne. After a few minutes in thought like this, he gestured for Abaddon to come closer. "You, Abaddon, are a stubborn, spiteful, ingracious, and annoying bitch. But your wise and cunning and dedicated to your goals, whatever those may be. As it stands, I'm surrounded by ignorant children who have delusions of granduer and grace, of which they have niether. Anyone I might have been able to rely on is either gone, or thinks themselves better than their stature. You, Abaddon, hate me, and this I understand. And I deserve it, as I deserve the hatred of every bitter soul that is chained to my domain, for you are correct, I was made for this task, to govern hell. It is hell that holds the sinful souls of every twisted mortal, and as you well know, mortals are damn near as prolific as rabbits."

"So then, I don't doubt you would be able to figure it out on your own, exactly why it is so absolutely paramount that hell remain in order. But for the sake of saving time, I will tell you." He said to her, awaiting her approach to the throne.

Pausing she listened to the words nodding once or twice before speaking in reply with her brow furrowed as if in thought, "Mayhaps you have actually learned after the actions of before. In the past you were reckless. I am happy that you appear to now understand where that leads. So yes I did believe you honestly went straight for the throne. That you been listening is encouraging, maybe you may actually stand a chance against Erebuz. Perhaps."

Hearing the compliments she gave a subtle grin, "Why you flatter me Lucifer, sadly it does not get much anyway, but one does appreciate the gesture nonetheless. Sadly for your sake I prefer results not increasing of my ego, that is your department I do believe Lucifer. Myself I crave only two things, Destruction and order in Hell, those two ideals are enough for me. And always were, you let me have those and don't fling me into a lake again you will never witness the Ides of March. I do so promise that. From me at least..."

As she walked over finally having spoke she went on, "Power is finite and fleeting, the secret you may not realize Lucifer is though I crave no power outside of the norm, I understand the complexities of it and how it corrupts and soils intentions of veritable nature. I know from past of how this relationship was, you do believe I am naive and even unaware of what's what. That is far from the truth, I do understand. Though nor am I a puppet, willing or otherwise. I just understand way of things. I only want leadership for Hell. It just that both you are Erebuz are the two most worthy of it. Although you have the experience, he has what we shall call tenaciousness. I could ponder further, but if one knows the position of where one is on the chessboard, you are far more safe, since you know your limits. I know my limits Lucifer, and that is why in the end you need people like I. Erebuz too, but one thing must change, currently Hell has a huge ego problem, one needs to go and you need allies, which it is looking unlikely you will discover in Hell if I was to be forthright."

With her crimson gaze glinting in the sharp light, she ended, "Now, you know I understand more, than I display, you may continue."

Lucifer rolled his eyes at her. "To be quite frank with you my dear, all of this posturing and egotism is getting more frustrating than it's worth. To get right to the point then, hell was not created with the intent of being a realm like that of the mortals, divided and fought over as it is. Hell is, first and fore most and above all else, a prison. The souls of the damned are to be imprisoned in hell and dealt punishment for their actions. And while we are all fighting each other over control over hell, nobody is doing the damn job." He leaned back on his throne and closed his eyes with a grimace, as though fighting an unknown ache in his soul. "I can feel them, I can feel the damned trying to escape, and should they succeed, they will take part of hells power with them, and the mortal realm above can barely contain it's own mass and collection of insanity."

He then opened his eyes, yet they remained glazed as though he was seeing only the distance beyond sight. "And Erebuz, I shudder to think of how far broken things would become if he was to be in charge. A being who knows nothing of control and restraint, who's destructive capacity and desire for chaos would eventually lead him to open the flood gates, and unleash the damned from the prison that has held them so long. That would begin armageddon, and would end, eventually, in the dessolution of all things save heaven and those deemed worthy of it." He sighed as he finished, eyes closing as he remembered no doubt the splendors of grace.

"The problem with Erebuz is that he either does not know, or does not care, about how his rule will end. I on the other hand can see, and the best way to ensure I rule for a long, long, very long time, is by doing the task appointed me. And if I should be defeated by Erebuz then so be it" He smiled then looking down at abbadon. "For I will have the last laugh, when at the very end everything he wanted so badly comes falling down about his head."

Nodding she listened carefully, even obediently, not interrupting. Hatred existed, but you can respect those you revile. And those you respect you did not interrupt. It was the way of things, nonetheless she did feel fit to speak up at one point before he had ended, "I would be doing my job but my Circle is now shall we say impossible for me to stay in and control. The entirity of it been consecrated and now a damned Garden has blossomed in that once aberrant plane. This is why I am free, the Phlegethon no longer flows, all the dark malevolent intentions with those foolish cretins who lived only for battle, those who were weak and pitless and thus must kill themselves and finally those who commited violence against God. All those souls were set loose. I would love, to do my job, but everything you and I worked for in that place is forever lost. It's utterly soul wrenching, no pun intended."

As he continued, this time she let him finish before responding, "I have few demands Lucifer, but I do agree his end game is not the benefit to Hell. I know this, but it does not wound me as much it does you. Since my very existence is based on destruction and ending of all things. You once called me the Mad Dog of Hell, because I am ceaseless in how I strive for utter desolation. This is what I am."

Pausing she breathed the sulphrous air of Hell, feeling it reinvigorate her body from the holy powers that had infected her time in violence, "I fully realize his end game, but I also though I am a force I admit without qualms that Hell needs to be united. Erebuz methods while appealing to me, would undo years of tireless work." as if lost in thought she chuckled, a cruel melody, "Remember, Lucifer, when Sheoul fell and you told me something important. When I did not hate you, you told me, that Sheoul fall was something you would have stopped, but knew was going to occur... You knew because even Hell has a prophecy, inscribed on the throne in a tongue so ancient, only those who sit on the throne know it... Do you remember?"

Lucifer nodded at her. "yes, I remember, I can still feel those twisted words etched upon my mind, my very essence. With every step we take we fall further and further into this trap, this binding weave of fate. As I already said to you, it tires me, and I long to end..." He paused suddenly, his eye having caught something in the shadows of the hall.

Thereupon the shadows fluttered a single wisp of white, like mist except of lesser substance, as though a soul itself had entered physical being. Whatever this was, it was all but entirely unaffected by the miasma of hell, and passed through it as though all that was real was nothing. "Abaddon.... That..." Lucifer gestured at the white stream that passed through the hall. "What is it? It has no presence, and in my domain I should know intimately of it's existence and yet I do not even feel this thing."

From the white stream issued a slow and hazy voice, as though a sleeper spoke. "Darkness... Fallen star.... Gaia.... Grove...." The softspoken voice called as though from years away, and as it's voice quieted, the stream faded from existence, as though it had never even been.

Lucifer turned to Abaddon with an eyebrow raised in question.