XVI
The unlikely duo spent a while golfing until Lucky’s stomach started growling, so they locked up and went out to grab some dumplings before attempting to knock out the organization task for the day.
If they could get through that shift in the routine to reset, tomorrow wouldn’t be as headache-inducing when they went back to tossing things into boxes.
It went about as smoothly as it could, and much quicker once they’d gotten over their hangovers and Lucky stopped staring like a lovestruck fool at the selfie they’d taken together with the fiery pits behind them that he’d secretly made his phone background.
Lucky had wanted to ask Charlie if he’d like to head back to his place to watch a movie, to sit and talk, do anything, but he knew that it wouldn’t be beneficial for his developing feelings, and daddy dearest had summoned him for a meeting. He hoped it wasn’t about his performance.
He dropped Charlie off at The Radiant Reaper and spent a few minutes escorting him outside to let Luke and John handle its business.
He’d set up a deal with the manager of the high-rise to ensure the hound was fed and walked by a trusted sitter that came highly rated while Charlie was at the office.
That way the human wouldn’t see the beast’s true nature.
He’d also convinced Charlie that all hellhounds really needed to eat were human bones.
Plenty of nutrients while also acting as a distracting treat since they took a while to chew through. The perfect combo.
Lucky told Charlie he’d see him tomorrow and headed back to the office.
The fact that he was informed by the front desk clerk to head to the meeting room was concerning.
At this hour, with this much urgency, all Lucky could believe was that he was about to lose his job.
He swallowed hard and rode the elevator down to one of the bottommost levels of Hell—a space nestled between the Circle of Treachery and Satan’s personal residence.
As he stepped into the circular room, his heart sank.
Somehow, his worst fears couldn’t have come close to this. Something had happened on Earth.
The amount of important people sitting around showcased it was dire.
All of the heirs of the Nine Circles and the king himself were present, along with the high demon lords.
Disaster had struck somewhere, and it seemed to be unexpected.
Global warming had really fucked up their ability to predict death.
Sometimes shit just shifted, and no one was able to really prepare for it, not even the focus of Heaven and Hell.
Thankfully, he wasn’t the last to arrive since Bub’s seat was empty—which was not uncommon—so that made him feel somewhat better.
At least for a few seconds until he sat near the head of the table and the heat rolling off the king’s figure washed over him.
He sat in the appropriate seat for his circle, nestled himself between the realms of Gluttony and Anger and feeling small between the two.
Gluttony’s reigning heir’s positively mountainous frame obscured his view of Lie two seats down who had thrown him angered glances from the spot with the placard for Lust.
“You’re late,” Satan noted.
“Apologies,” Lucky replied, not offering an explanation.
“He’s always late,” Lie said with a sneer.
Lysander, the Heir of Gluttony, snickered.
Every roll of neon-pink skin wobbled like heat waves across blacktop.
The whole room seemed to rock from the heft of her near nine-foot frame’s glee.
Lysander was all brawn, little brain, and an absolute powerhouse.
Much of the modern architecture and infrastructure of Hell had been erected by her strength.
Despite her intimidating nature, she was the most fun of the siblings to party with.
On more than one occasion, her raving had brought literal roofs down, and she could drink anyone under the table.
Lucky didn’t feel like addressing the comments from his family.
He turned to one of his other siblings who he hadn’t seen in some time.
Another son—the favorite son—that their father had also named Lucifer Morningstar Junior like so many other sons between them.
Though the Heir of Anger had held the moniker much longer than Lucky, at some point around the end of the twentieth century, the pronouns changed along with the name.
Lucius felt more correct, as did a non-binary identity.
It was fitting for their personality, their statuesque and androgynous appearance.
Despite it, they still enjoyed being called The Favorite Son by anyone who felt the desire to acknowledge the truth.
Everyone in Hell had started calling them Luscious Lucius due to their supermodel-like appearance.
All long locks of raven-hued hair, long horns that curled so far the edges reached their shoulders, burning orange eyes, porcelain-white skin unlike any other devil in the family, and a perfectly straight smile that felt emotionless.
Hollow. They were one of the few children who had wings, that still held a somewhat angelic nature in their blood.
Much like everything else about the Heir of Anger, those wings of black were impressive.
A literal rockstar amongst demon folk, idolized and loved by all.
The perfect child who, should the current ruler ever step down, could carry Hell to greatness just like the man who came before them.
It was doubtful that would ever happen, but many felt more secure knowing such a promising ruler was looking out for them.
They were the sibling Lucky would say he was closest with, but they only talked on rare occasions.
Simply by existing, Lucius made Lucky feel inferior—even though Lucky was the most respected reaper of them all with the most impressive Soul Score despite his young age
Calm and collected, Lucius was known by another name: The Patient God of Anger.
They were the only heir who had actually risen to the throne of their circle, and had done so with dignity, hard work, patience, and an iron first. Running the Circle of Anger with a stone-like demeanor, they were one of the most beloved and revered devils in all of Hell.
And one of the few who stood up for Lucky.
Lucky had a deep respect for them, but they also terrified him.
“Give him some grace.” Lucius’ calm but powerful voice reverberated throughout the meeting room.
It was slow, beautifully enunciated, and robotic.
“He works harder than any of us, and his track record proves it. His Soul Score is immaculate, and you know that Mammon would not have retired and given up his position as the ruler of Greed to someone unworthy. Despite it all, Lucky is the head psychopomp as things currently stand. That is not a lazy devil’s game.
” Their eyes moved like slow spotlights to zero in on Lorelei.
“I wonder if you would be better suited to rule over the sin of envy, dear Sister. It seems all you do is compare.”
Lysander chuckled again, the chandelier shook from the weight of her sinister glee.
Low murmurs between the siblings and the demon lords swept over the chamber, leaving Lie turning a darker shade of red as smoke rolled from every opening in her head.
She threw angered glances at Lucky, who simply tried to ignore her.
It wasn’t his fault Lucius had spoken the truth.
“Lucius is correct. You should worry about your own circle,” Satan said, his eyes shifting over the fire consuming his head in a manner so similar to Lucius’. “I will handle Lucky’s missteps in the recent weeks in private.”
Lucky set his head in his hand, still keeping quiet as conversations continued. He turned his gaze to his left, and found that Lucius was staring at him with that stone cold, unreadable expression.
Bub finally raced in with fire flashing up around his bare feet with each step.
“Sorry, Your Majesty,” Bub said as he took his seat.
“Were you on Earth?” Satan asked.
“Yes, did you—”
“See the news? Yes, I did. Heaven has already called.”
“I kind of figured.” Bub sighed heavily.
Everyone shared concerned glances.
“What’s going on, Your Majesty?” one of the demon lords asked.
“A natural disaster, and a massive one at that. We’re looking at hundreds dead, so we’re going to have to work overtime tonight to make sure we don’t lose any of our souls to the shifting chaos that will surely follow. I spoke to the Seraph’s Office—”
Rubbing their chin, Lucius hmm’d and said, “It must be quite bad then.” They were the only person who could have interrupted the king and kept their head.
“Immensely,” Satan confirmed. “Prepare for an all-nighter. Meet me at the gates in half an hour, the rest of my children without titles such as yours are already en route.”
Though everyone wanted to groan, they all knew to hold their tongues. Lucky rubbed his temple. This was the last thing he wanted to deal with.
“Might I inquire what we’re to do about our normal contracts?
” one of the other Morningstar children asked.
Lucky wasn’t sure he recognized her. Someone must have failed spectacularly at their job to cause a replacement shift without him knowing about it, but aside from the four circles from Lust to Anger, turnover was high.
Especially with more notoriously hard to manage levels like Violence and Limbo.
Limbo was the most boring of the circles, everyone started there and everyone was always eager to leave as soon as possible, which left the poor entrance to Hell somewhat messy with the lack of care.
“No changes to your normal routines, obviously. Move.” The king waved and dismissed everyone.
Lucky scrubbed his hand over his face and cursed quietly under his breath.
Lucius tapped him on the arm, but their long finger remained on top of Lucky’s forearm for a moment before they turned those blazing orange eyes his way.
They leaned over as the sound of chairs moving and chatter filled the room.
“You feel cold, little Brother,” Lucius whispered.
“Not here,” Lucky replied.
He pushed himself up with his hands splayed on the table to support himself, but as he rose to his full height his knee buckled and he was barely able to catch himself. A shaky breath left his lips, and no smoke followed.
“Lucky?” Lucius asked, tone a bit too loud for Lucky’s liking. It caught the attention of those around them.
Lucky lifted a trembling hand and shook his head. He pushed his chair back and took a few steps away from the table.
“Lucky, I’m not done with you,” Satan boomed.
But the prince didn’t hear it. He couldn’t hear anything, so he kept on moving toward the royal family’s elevator so he could get out of the room.
Anxiety rose in his chest. How would he manage all of these extra contracts?
The ones he was already behind on? The paperwork? Charlie? When would he see Charlie?
It was all too much. He scrambled into the elevator, needing to get away from the eyes, from his siblings and the expectations of his father. The shouting. He needed a second to be alone.
Managing to get into the carriage, he pressed the button for his floor and tried to grab the railing.
As he took another step, his vision vignetted and he toppled to the ground.
The last thing he saw before he crashed to the warm elevator floor was Lucius’ uncharacteristically concerned face before everything went dark.