Straight from Heaven (Fallen Kingdoms I.)

Chapter 18 - Team up

Valerie returned to the place where Svetlana was attacked and she searched for any kind of clue, to find out, who hurt the witch. Unfortunately, a few days passed, and her search seemed to be useless. Just when she was ready to leave the ally, Valerie's eyes met with a demon's. It looked different from what she got used to already. This demon dressed elegantly, he had a red shirt, and black suit on him. He wore an ocular on his left eye and his horns were covered by a tall hat. He leaned on his walking stick calmly and took a deep sip of his cigar. His eyes almost shined in the darkness of the alley.

- Well, well, well... What do we have here? - he asked and it seemed like he made the question for himself.

- It looks like a fallen angel my lord. - a shaking voice answered and only then, Valerie noticed a tiny dragon like demon behind the one whose eyes were still lingering on her. Valerie rolled her eyes and sighed.

- If you have anything to say, say it. I don't have time to waste. - she said and the demon laughed.

- What a fierce little creature you are! - suddenly he appeared right in front of Valerie and grabbed her face into his black hand. His long nails almost cut Valerie's flesh but she kept staring into those judging eyes.

- Tell me, what should I do with you now? - he asked and the dragon like thing sat on his shoulder.

- My Lord, this is Svetlana's pet...- he whispered into the demon's ear and Valerie's eye twitched. She felt the anger rising inside her.

- How do you know her?! - her teeth grinned and the demon smiled at her.

- She is a friend of mine. We had several businesses together. - Valerie's fists clenched.

- She was your friend. - the demon's thick eyebrows ran up on his forehead.

- What do you mean?

- Svetlana is dead. Someone attacked her here and she died at home. - Valerie said. He sighed.

- Such a loss. She was a real treasure. - he finally released Valerie and extended his hand to her.

- My name is Devland, and this is Gino, my assistant. Svetlana took an important part in my organization, she was basically family. Gino, we must find who did that to her, luckily, we have a witness. - Valerie smirked.

- Who attacked Svetlana died before her. - Devland's eye got darker and the dragon hid behind him.

- How did you say sugarplum? - Valerie took a step closer to him and said with now a huge grin on her face.

- They. Are. Gone! I tortured them and killed them, but most importantly... - Valerie looked into Devland's eyes and grabbed his tie pulling him closer.

-I'll find each one of their accomplices and I won't stop until the whole gang disappears.- Gino trembled and Devland started to laugh. He took his tie out of Valerie's hand and after a couple of minutes of laughing he stared at her dead serious.

- Work for me sugarplum. - Valerie crossed her arms on her chest and stared first at the extended hand than back into Devland's eyes.

- What do I gain from this? - Devland laughed again.

- I'll help you find each member of the organization and bring justice to Svetlana.

- Sounds promising. What would be my job? - Devland grinned.

- Some errands here and there. Using your innocent beauty, you should collect information for me and from time to time, slice a throat. So... Is it a deal then? - Valerie thought about it for a few minutes. She was still unfamiliar with the hierarchy and how things exactly were going down in Hell. She only realized at that moment, how lucky she was that Svetlana took her in. Bringing her justice was the least she could do for her...

Svetlana's words rang in her ears while she took the hand extended to her direction.

"Sweety, you are not God's creation. You are something different, mysterious, intangible even for him." Since she wasn't God's creation, Valerie supposed that his rules didn't apply to her anymore. Also what worse could possibly happen than being in Hell? Devland smiled and pulled Valerie to his side, embracing one of her shoulders with his arm.

- Splendid! Let's go to our house and make a strategy! - they did as Devland said and he already gave a mission to Valerie that night. She nodded and left without a word. As soon as the door closed behind her Devland leaned back in his throne and lit his cigar. The room slowly filled with smoke but a sudden wind took it out by the window. Gino flew in and closed the windows quickly.

- So, how is she doing? - Devland asked and the little dragon stuttered.

- I-I d-d-don't think this was a good i-idea my Lord... - Devland glared at his slave.

- Why? - Gino took a step closer and looked around in the room, although it was only him and Devland in.

- Didn't you feel the power within her my Lord? She might be even more powerful than the King... - Devland caught Gino in his hand and blew some smoke on him.

- Relax. I'm fully aware of that.

- Then why did you lie and hire her?- Devland smiled.

- Oh Gino... There is something you don't know about humans. They tend to see the good in everyone, there is a thing they call hope. That little girl somehow ended up down here, but what Svetlana told us about her, she is pure and kind. So as long as we can keep the appearance that we are on her side... She will dance as I whistle my dear friend. Who knows? Maybe this little fallen angel will be the key to my success.

- But my Lord... - Devland threw Gino on the table.

- Stop being so dramatic and go down to check on the prisoners. Hurry up! Before you will be the next thing I lit on fire! - Gino nodded.

- Yes my Lord. - and he flew downstairs. The guards let him in and he checked on each and every prisoner. He stopped at the smallest cell. Carefully he handed a tiny piece of bread to the person inside.

- Sorry, but he caught me. - Belyar took the bread Gino, ate it quickly and smiled at the tiny dragon.

- Thank you my friend, this is more than enough. - Gino tried to smile but his worries sat on his face.

- What's wrong? - Belyar asked and Gino took a deep breath.

- Do you remember of the foretell what Svetlana told us? - Belyar nodded.

- She is already here... And I'm afraid that she will exterminate us all. - Belyar smiled and put one of his bone fingers on the tiny dragon's shoulder.

- Gino, if she is the one, she won't kill without a reason. - Gino shook his head.

- Belyar, Svetlana is dead... Gorg and Jockey caught her and beat her. She saved Svetlana, and brutally killed Gorg and Jockey, but Svetlana died. She wants to find and kill whoever had the slightest connection with those two.

- I suppose your boss has a plan.

- Pf... Come on! He just seeks for power! He hired her and plans to use her. I tell you Belyar, as soon as she finds out the truth... What we knew as Hell will be only a fairytale.