by Eric Vall
Not a party, an official War Council Meeting, Mephisto corrected.
“I believe he was being facetious,” Gamigin whispered.
“Sprechen sie English!” Todd said as he cleared his throat obnoxiously. “If you’re gonna insult us, at least do it in our language, bro.”
“Uh, he was being funny,” the demon elaborated. “I was simply telling The Master of Whispers that Daniel was being funny.”
“Oh,” Todd shrugged, “why didn’t you just say so, bro?”
“I did,” Gamigin grumbled. “Maybe if you had an IQ higher than a beached trout … ”
“Guys!” I blurted. “I won’t have division within my ranks. Hell already has enough of that shit going on, and I’m not going to let it happen with my subjects. Now, what was this news you said was so important?”
I bring news from the Second Circle, master. I have been conversing with Mammon, the Demon King of that domain, and I’m pleased to inform that he is open to the idea of an alliance.
I could feel my heart flutter in my chest, but I tried to stay as calm and regal as I possibly could.
We already had Asmodeus and the First Circle on our side, but now we might have the Second, too? And without any sort of bloodshed?
It almost sounded too good to be true.
“How likely do you think Mammon is to join us?” I asked the orange-skinned demon.
I am not sure, he admitted. He has told me he is entertaining the idea, but he wants to meet you in person first.
“Then we should bring him in.” I nodded.
“Oh!” Libidine gasped excitedly. “Invite him and Asmodeus here for a royal banquet.”
“Some of the best political deals in the history of man were made over dinner,” Eligor agreed. “That sounds like an excellent idea.”
“I can make the food,” Gula offered, “and maybe Ariel could whip together some cool-looking centerpieces and the rest of the your succubi could act as the welcome party.”
“I know how to play the political game,” Ira spoke up. “I could be your ‘ambassador’ to Mammon.”
“I will make no promises about what I will or will not do,” Tris called out from the couch. “Especially for a commitment that’s not happening right here and now.”
“I will also act as an ambassador,” Cupi offered. “As will Eligor and Superbia. Between the four of us, your Demon Lords, and Asmodeus, there is no way Mammon leaves here as anything less than an ally.”
“I really hope so,” I agreed. “We’re going to need all the help we can get to defeat Beelzebub.”
“That’s where the bad news comes in,” Gamigin sighed. “Now that you’ve confined the Lord of the Flies to Hell, he has moved up the preparations for his assault. Apparently, his forces have mobilized and are on their way here as we speak.”
“Fuck.” I gasped as my heart fell into my stomach. “How long do we have before they get here?”
The horse-faced demon simply shrugged.
“There is no telling,” he admitted. “However, we are fortunate the Seventh Circle stands between the two of you. Abbadon has refused to take a side in this conflict, and his forces have been holding off Beelzebub’s for about two days now. Unfortunately, once Beelzebub gets through this roadblock, he can link up his army with those of Baphomet and Gressil, and then they will be in the perfect position to invade our kingdom.”
“Abbadon is fighting against Beelzebub?” I tried to clarify. “Why is he doing that if he hasn’t chosen a side?”
“Because he’s certifiably insane, Jacob,” Cupi warned. “Abbadon is the most crazed of the Demon Kings, and I’m sure he isn’t taking too kindly to another ruler infringing on his turf.”
“Could we get him on our side?” I pondered aloud.
The room went silent as everybody looked at me like I was out of my mind.
“That’s--I don’t know,” the blonde succubus finally responded. “Abbadon has never been one to play well with others. Just ask the last Demon King who tried to work with him.”
“Who was that?” I continued to prod.
“Bro,” Todd sighed with a facepalm, “for a Demon King, you sure don’t know your demonic lore. Ever heard of a little guy called Baracleses?”
I shook my head, which drew another sigh from the imp.
“Baracleses was the original King of the Third Circle,” Superbia explained. “He was a fairly powerful ruler, one of Lucifer’s best. That is, until he crossed Abbadon. Sometime in the seventeenth century B.C., Baracleses grew too cocky for his own good. He tried to bait Abbadon into forming a lopsided alliance that would have given all the benefit to himself and next to nothing to the king of the Seventh Circle.”
“So … what happened?” I asked curiously. “Did Abbadon sniff the bad deal out?”
“That’s exactly what he did,” the redhead nodded, “Abbadon pretended to go along with the agreement, and he even went so far as to invite Baracleses and his most powerful Demon Lords into his home so they could discuss the parameters of the alliance. Then, while they were there, he had his men kill them all.”
“Holy fuck, bro,” Todd whistled. “He Red Wedding-ed those poor bastards. How low can you get?”
“That’s not all,” the madame continued, “after he slayed the King of the Third Circle, he sent his minions into the fallen king’s domain and had them ransack the entire thing. Those slush-covered bodies we encountered when we traveled through the place? The Shades weren’t always like that. It was Abbadon’s idea, one that he essentially got Belphegor to adopt when he took over through pure intimidation.”
“Damn,” I mused. “Is it bad I actually kind of want this guy on my side?”
“Jacob!” Liby gasped.
“What?” I shrugged. “He may be batshit crazy, but he’s a wild card. If we want to pull out all the stops and defeat Beelzebub once and for all, we’re going to need somebody like that on our side.”
My words were only a half-truth. Yes, I wanted Abbadon on our side, but it wasn’t for fighting Beelzebub. If we truly wanted to take down Lucifer himself, we needed somebody who was unpredictable, powerful, and clever.
It sounded like Abbadon was all of the above.
Master? If I may, I would suggest we don’t court this idea of allying ourselves with Abbadon.
“I second that notion,” Eligor nodded, “he’s too unpredictable.”
“That’s what I like about him,” I admitted. “Beelzebub will never be able to guess what will happen next, because I don’t even think Abbadon will know! Plus, he’s right there, next to the Eighth Circle. Do you have any idea how beneficial it would be to have a sanctuary for our men just one circle away from our final destination?”
“Yeah,” Todd interjected. “I could totally use my Predator powers to turn our troops invisible, and then we could move ‘em through the Fifth and Sixth Circles undetected.”
“Now you’re thinking with your noodle,” I said with a wink. “I like it.”
“Uhhhhh,” Todd groaned, and then he floated over to my ear to whisper. “Bro, you should totally say ‘no homo’ after complimenting another man’s noodle.”
“That’s not what I meant, Todd,” I said with a roll of my eyes. “I mean I like your idea. I think we should invite Abbadon to this dinner, too.”
“Master, if I may … ” Gamigin interjected, “having Abbadon come here might be a tad unwise.”
“How so?” I argued. “He’s coming to us, we’re not going to him. If he tries anything funny, then we’ll kick his ass and take over his Circle, too.”
“I don’t think you realize how powerful he is,” Sia protested. “Think Azazel, but one-hundred times more sadistic and cruel.”
That mental image caused a knot to twist up in my stomach, but I had to push onward. We needed this guy and his territory if we ever wanted to stand a chance against Lucifer.
“Invite him anyway,” I demanded. “That’s an order. He might be crazy and sadistic, but he doesn’t soun
d stupid. Even Abbadon would know how dumb it would be to start something in the domain of another Demon King.”
Mephisto and Gamigin looked at each other with concern in their eyes, but then they nodded at each other.
As you wish, master. I shall inform Mammon of this invitation and tell him you look forward to hosting him.
“And I shall send one of my spies to Abbadon,” Gamigin explained with a twinge of concern in his voice. “They will deliver the invitation to him, as well.”
“Thank you,” I said to the demons, and then they both turned around and headed back down the stairs.
Daniel had been standing there with his arms crossed the whole time, but he finally raised his hand eagerly.
“So, uh, what is my role in this meeting?” he questioned. “Don’t tell me I have to just sit on the sidelines while you guys have all the fun.”
“Actually,” I began, “I do have a job for you and Ariel and some of your finest men. I want you guys to show off your fighting skills, using the weapons and armor that Ariel built. That way, we can give our potential new allies a taste of what they will be getting if they join us.”
“An excellent idea, my friend,” Daniel said through a toothy grin. “I’ll go tell the angel, and then we can get started right away.”
The blond Shade could hardly contain his giddiness as he spun around and dashed down the stairs like a madman.
“That was very impressive,” I heard my mother chuckle from behind me.
“It looks like we raised a regular little Calvin Coolidge over here,” Dad added proudly. “Jacob can negotiate with the best of ‘em.”
“Thanks, guys,” I laughed, “but I really don’t know what we just got ourselves into.”
Everybody got a kick out of my words, but they weren’t false. I didn’t know anything about Abbadon other than what I’d been told from my succubi and my two Demon Lords. And from all of their accounts, he was a wildcard, a stick of dynamite with a mystery fuse that could blow at any minute.
I just hoped that, when he did blow up, it would be against Beelzebub or Lucifer, and not me.
Chapter 3
After our war council meeting had concluded, my team went off to prepare for our little party.
Superbia was in charge of all of the logistics, with Libidine as her assistant. The two succubi were currently out and about in the Fourth Circle, looking for Shades who’d be willing to act as servers and who could help move tables and all that fun shit.
Todd and Tris had been tasked with finding Charron, the Ferryman of Hell, and giving him a message to deliver to Asmodeus. It was a very simple task, but it was also one I knew wasn’t going to cause much pushback from the imp and the Sister of Sloth.
Right now, I was sauntering through the North Wing of the castle, headed toward the dining hall and the massive kitchen facilities that were housed in its bowels. As I grew closer to my destination, my nose picked up the decadent, sweet smell of whatever Gula was whipping up in the kitchen. Even though I was far from hungry, my stomach grumbled when the aroma hit my nostrils, and I wanted a taste of whatever she was making.
I entered the bustling industrial-sized kitchen to find Gula with her back to me, and her hands were on her wide hips as she observed several Shades running around like madmen. The succubus had a comically-large chef’s hat on her head, and her normally skimpy outfit was replaced by a loose-fitting white smock that ran the full length of her body.
I guess even an ancient sex demon wasn’t immune from the wrath of the Health Code.
I snuck up behind the redhead, slid my arms around her hips and then placed my head on her shoulder.
“What’s going on here, beautiful?” I asked playfully.
“I like this position,” she purred.“I don’t think we’ve ever tried it standing up before.”
“There’s a first time for everything,” I laughed and gave her a tender kiss on her neck.
“Jacob!” she gasped through a chuckle. “Not in front of my employees. How are they going to get this massive banquet done if their boss is too busy fucking her boss to lead them?”
“We could always go to the freezer,” I said with a wink. “The two of us have some fond memories in there, don’t we?”
“You mean when Tristitia and I locked you in the freezer and then set the whole building on fire?” Gula chuckled. “I don’t know if that’s quite a ‘fond’ memory.”
“It was for me,” I shrugged, “that’s when I realized just how crafty and resourceful you were.”
“Stopppp,” Gula giggled. “You’re going to make me blush. I’m trying to keep an air of authority going around here.”
“Ah,” I nodded as I pulled away from the succubus, “I forgot you like to use the Ramsay method of kitchen management.”
“I’m not that vulgar,” the redhead shrugged, “I just like to run a tight ship, that’s all.”
“So, what’s on the menu for our oh-so-esteemed guests?” I asked as I watched a Shade in a chef outfit fill up a pot of water.
The succubus finally turned around, and I saw her eyes were full of wonder and excitement. She clapped her hands together, rubbed them vigorously, and then threw them out in exclamation of her accomplishment.
“Now that we’re allies with Asmodeus, I’ve been able to get shipments of food from the First Circle,” Gula explained. “Now, we can eat more than just Vargrat meat!”
“Oh thank god,” I sighed with relief, but then I quickly caught myself. “Not that your Vargrat dishes weren’t good, of course. It’s just, eating the same type of thing day after day can get a little--”
“I get it, Jacob,” the redhead smiled, “I was growing tired of it, as well. That’s why for this extravaganza I’m making smoked pork tenderloin with a maple glaze.”
“Oh dear,” I whistled as my stomach growled once more. “That sounds fucking amazing.”
“It will be,” she giggled. “Especially when it’s paired with homemade biscuits and sauteed green beans.”
My stomach growled again at the succubus’ words, and I grabbed my gut jokingly.
“If you don’t stop talking right now,” I warned, “I’m gonna have to go help myself, even if it’s still fucking raw.”
“I actually got that reference!” Gula announced proudly.
“I knew you would,” I shot back with a wink. “Keep up the good work, Gula. I’m going to go check on your other sisters and see how everything’s coming along for tonight.”
“Just don’t get too caught up in their company,” the redhead warned and smirked. “They all have work to do, too.”
“I’m going to see Ira first,” I explained as I began to back out toward the door. “I don’t think I want to get too caught up with her work.”
I gave Gula a final wave, and then I turned around and headed out toward the main entrance of the castle. I wound through the hallways for a bit before I entered the courtyard, crossed over the lowered drawbridge, and then headed toward Ira’s building.
The “Playground.”
It was where the Sister of Wrath thought up all of her new torture methods, both for our enemies and for the Shades who inhabited our Circle. The building was only about half a mile away from the main castle, but it was always easy to find.
Ira’s Playground was built into a massive warehouse made out of black brimstone and then covered all around by a layer of shiny black leather. It may not have been the most aesthetically pleasing, but it was what the Sister of Wrath wanted.
As I approached the door, I could hear the sound of a whip cracking alongside muted gasps of ecstasy.
Did I really want to know what was going on in there?
I took a deep breath, reached up, and pressed the doorbell.
The noise from within the building ceased, and then I heard the distinct sound of high heels clomping along concrete growing closer. Then the plug-shaped doorknob twisted, and I was greeted by Ira’s Dom.
“Well hello, handsome,” she muse
d as she looked me up and down. “Did this naughty boy come to play with us today?”
“Us?” I questioned as I stepped through the threshold. “Who else do you have--”
My question was answered before I could even get it out.
There, hanging from a series of fibrous ropes in the middle of the room, was Ira’s submissive half. The sub was completely naked save for the blindfold over her eyes and the ball gag in her mouth. The ropes were strategically tied around her body so her legs were spread widely apart and her massive breasts were squished between their constraints. There were long, thin cuts and bruises all over her body, assumedly from the whip her Dominatrix was using.
“Hyy Jcb!” the sub tried to greet me through her gag.
“Uh, hi Ira,” I chuckled back awkwardly before I turned back to the Dom. “What’s she doing here? I thought your sub was still making the political rounds on Earth?”
“Cgrss issn’t in sessn,” the sub mumbled.
The Dom strutted over to the hanging woman, pulled the gag out of her mouth with a wet pop, and then patted her on the head.
“There you go,” she purred, “now you have permission to talk.”
“Congress isn’t in session,” the sub repeated. “We’re on recess for another month or two, which means--”
The Dom slapped the thigh of the sub as hard as she possibly could, and the sub let out a happy yelp.
“Which means we have alllll the time in the world to have fun,” Ira’s Dom finished.
“Hopefully not too much fun,” I reminded the two halves of the sister of Wrath. “Our guests will be coming later today, and I want them to see all the crazy methods of torture we use here in my kingdom.”
The Dom’s face stretched into a frown.
“We don’t use torture here, though,” she reminded me. “Outside of my playground and the occasional interrogation, you have us treat the Shades well.”
“I know that,” I confirmed with a nod. “We’re not monsters. However, if we want to court two more Demon Kings, we’ll have to pretend like we are. So, pull out all the stops for tonight.”
