Straight from Heaven (Fallen Kingdoms I.)

Chapter 13 - Dear brothers

Ethan gasped for air and cried happy tears when he realized that he could breath. He was afraid to open his eyes and enjoyed the sweet illusion of everything that happened with him was just a dream... Until he felt the cold around him and someone lifted him by his ankle upside-down. That was the moment Ethan opened his eyes, only to meet with three pairs of blood-red eyes. The creature that held him captive was huge compared to him. It had three heads, one resembled the head of a bull, the middle one was similar to a human's head, and the third one was the head of a goat. The creature had his whole body covered with thick, long, brown fur and it's fangs shined when he grinned at Ethan. He searched for the cross in his neck panicking, the cross was still on the ground. The creature sat down and grabbed Ethan into his enormous hand, clenching its claws around him like iron bars of a cell. Ethan trembled in fear and the creature finally spoke.

- Who are you? - he asked and Ethan tried to swallow down his fear. There should be a slight chance of escaping from this situation.

- My name is Cardinal Ethan... - the creature laughed and his laughter filled the cave they were in.

- A Cardinal... Hm... Tell me Cardinal Ethan, what is your sin? - Ethan didn't know what would be the right answer. Denial or telling the truth. After a couple of seconds he decided to stay with the first option. This place might be a test before getting into Heaven!

- I don't have one. I'm not perfect, but nothing I've ever done would be considered as a sin. - the monster laughed again and pulled Ethan closer to his face.

- Really? Fine, who am I to judge. Tell me Ethan, how did you end up here?

- A young lady came for confession and she tried to drive me out of the right path. I managed to stay on it, but she probably got angry and somehow chocked me.

- What did she look like?

- At first she was small, with sun-kissed skin, long black hair and huge brown eyes. Big red lips, small waist and wide hips. She called herself Morrigan... But before I ended up here she changed. - the creature's eyebrows ran up on his foreheads.

- How so? - Ethan tried to remember, but the last thing he could recall was the woman's empty eyes and her tender touch.

- I don't remember... - Ethan mumbled.

- Try!- the monster said.

- She became older than when she was Morrigan and her eyes became totally black... Maybe her skin was lighter as well, but that is all I know, I swear! - the monster nodded and looked over his shoulder.

- Are you satisfied Lucy? - he asked and from the shadows appeared the man, every real believer feared. He looked like an elegant sophisticated human, with black hair and red eyes just like the monster which still held Ethan firmly. This man was really handsome with light skin and strong features, the only things that showed, that he wasn't human, were his horns and eyes. He sighed and looked really disappointed.

- Yeah, It seems like he doesn't know what I'm looking for.

- What should I do with it? - the monster asked and Lucifer's mouth cornered into a devilish smile.

- It's your present from our little demon... Good appetite Asmodeus! - that moment Ethan put everything together. He was in Hell, this wasn't a test. He screamed after Lucifer as loud as he could.

- Lord! Please spare me! I'll serve you even better than I served your father! - Lucifer glanced at Ethan and smiled again.

- I have more than enough people to serve me. You won't get far here with a letter of recommendation from my father. Besides, if you're here, it only means you've done a rotten job! - Lucifer left and Ethan was eaten by his brother. The King of Hell flew back to his residence and on all his way he grinned his teeth. This wasn't the first offering to one of his brothers. The offerings were mostly people from his father's followers and they were sent according their sins to each of the demon Lords including Lucifer himself. Offerings weren't unusual, but normally the demon who brought them revealed itself in hope of a reward. But these last few decades, from time to time the offerings came unknowingly. Each one of them confessed something different which made Lucifer more and more curious about the identity of the demon behind these peculiar gifts. He was trying to find out who this demon is, the most outstanding similarity between the offerings is that they were chosen carefully. Each one of them were killed due to their sins, and the last thing they saw was the pair of empty eyes. Lucifer sat on his armchair and thought over the different types of demons he rules over. The type that had this unique feature is the succubus or incubus. He hit the armrest angrily and murmured in front of himself.

- If at least we knew if it's a man or a woman... But these idiots saw all different kind of people. Could it be a group of succubuses? No way... I would know if such organization existed in my Kingdom. - his thoughts were interrupted by a knocking on his door.

- WHO IS IT?! - Lucifer shouted and a familiar voice spoke.

- It's me, brother. - Lucifer scoffed annoyed, while the door opened and his carbon copy stood in front of him.

- What an unpleasant surprise Michael, please do not take a seat. Be a good boy and f**k off quickly, will you? - Michael shook his head and pulled a nearby chair closer sitting in front of his brother.

- Well, your famous hospitality has no pair brother. Believe me, this place isn't exactly to my taste either, so I'll be quick. Father sent me. - Lucifer laughed and leaned back in his armchair.

- Did I forget to send a Father's day card? I thought we agreed last year that you'll put my name on it as well. - Michael sighed and buried his face in his palms.

- What did I do to deserve this? - he asked and Lucifer smirked.

- Probably a still unknown sin, but as soon as you figure it out, let me know to open a new section for it! - Michael looked at his brother. They were exactly the same, except their aura, eye color and Lucifer's horns. Michael's eyes were clear blue as the summer sky and his presence was calming.

- I'm here because you should put a leash on one of your puppies.

- Please clarify yourself dear brother. - Lucifer said but he got excited. His father didn't send any of his beloved kids to Hell everyday just because of a mere demon.

- One of them impersonated me, even used my name to lure an Archbishop before it killed him.

- There must be a mistake brother. The last Archbishop that came to my humble kingdom was an offering for me. He said he saw me, but you know I hate my hands get dirty.

- Obviously... This is why we assume it was one of your demons. May I speak with him? - Michael stood up and Lucifer looked into his brother's eyes.

- I'm afraid that would not be possible.

- Why? - Michael asked and Lucifer sighed.

- That soul was already devoured. - it was Michael's turn to sigh.

- You never change Lucy... I truly feel sorry for you. - he was about to leave when Lucifer crossed his legs and said in a cheeky voice.

- Who said I haven't interrogated him? - Michael turned back from the door and took a seat.

- And?

- He said indeed that I lured him into his death. According to his testimony, I offered to keep my demon on leash who has the weird hobby of killing priests etc.

- Yes. I remember hearing father and mother talking about that briefly, but they didn't pay too much attention to it. - Lucifer shrugged.

- You have no idea how much I don't care. Anyway, before his death, the demon asked for hundred golds and two silver coins. This is how he ended up before me. He could not talk properly and tried to even attack me for deceiving him. Can you believe it? - Lucifer asked cheerfully, but his brother's expression kept serious.

- When he realized what happened, he thought it was what he deserved. I thought he will ascend to you guys, since he admitted his sins. But as you know, he didn't. When I asked who killed him he just smiled and said "eye for an eye". As you can hear, he said nothing valuable. - Michael stood up and walked to the door.

- Michael, before you leave! - he turned back and met his brother's grinning face.

- Pull the stick that you sat in out of your ass, before you become even more boring! - Michael smiled slightly and said.

- I miss you too! - he went back to Heaven but left even more to think about for Lucifer.

- A demon stealing appearances, killing only sinful believers in high positions, offering then specifically... - Lucifer grabbed an apple from the plate on his coffee table and bit in it before he asked out loud.

- Who the Hell are you?