The Human And The Satan

5.

"Today, we'll start with something basic, Leah Summers. Have you ever been to a courtroom before?" Basilia asked me and I furrowed my brows, shaking my head. Barely.

"Um, no? I have seen a couple of movies where they depicted scenes from a courtroom. But I have never been to a courtroom before." I said, and Basilia looked at me as if I had grown two heads. I opened my mouth, trying to explain to her what I was speaking about, but she beat me to it.

"You talk about weird things, Leah Summers. However, I have no interest in knowing about the movies now." She said, making me purse my lips, but I nodded my head, fair enough.

"So, we have souls from different realms and of different species. They come post their demise and their statement is recorded here. If we find that they are not too harsh to repent in hell, we send them to heaven. But if their karma is too bad. Or if they have committed any sin, we make them stand in different groups. According to the severity of their sins, of course." Basilia explained to me.

"So, people don't go to heaven directly after death?" I asked her in surprise, and Basilia laughed, shaking her head.

"No, Leah Summers. Every soul needs to report to hell before they depart for heaven. If they are worthy of it, of course. Anyways, what you'll be doing is, you'll be taking notes of the cases that will be reported today. And then I need you to submit to me the reports for the same. Okay?"

"Okay. Is there a specific format I need to follow?" I asked, taking the thick register from her. It was golden in color. There was a pen attached to it.

"No, suprise us with your creativity, Leah Summers. But you must include the name of the souls, their species and from where they have come. You need to specifically mention their sins. On a scale of ten, how harsh or how sinful you thought their karma was. And lastly, add your thoughts as a conclusion." She said and I raised my brows at her as an amused smile formed on my face.

"This looks like a school project, Basilia. We used to have report-making in schools," I said, and she smiled at me.

"This is no less than an academy either, Leah Summers. To get out of hell, you need to prove your worth. And because you're not here to pay for your sins. You need to work hard to impress the Sire. Besides, this is for your own benefit," Basilia said, making me furrow my brows at her.

"My benefit? How?"

"Satan could've easily appointed you as a helper in the kitchen or to the laundry. And trust me, that would have taken all of your day. But instead, he sent you to the courtroom. To make you learn a thing or two. And it makes me conclude two things, Leah Summers: One, he is either planning to appoint you here forever. Or two, he is planning to give you a degree. That's what you call it on earth, right? A professional degree to let you work in a reputed firm after leaving hell."

Basilia's words made my heart stop beating for a while. According to her, Satan would either never let me leave hell. Or he is planning to make me work for a professional course, so that I can live a happy life after he allows me to move out of here. Neither of them sounded convincing to me.

A degree from Hell? What will I tell them? That, hey, I had accidentally summoned the Satan and, in revenge, he made me work in his courtroom. Here's the experience letter? I'm not sure about the job, but they'll surely send me to a mental asylum.

"This is your working desk. Do not leave this place until the Sire leaves the courtroom, okay?" She instructed me further.

"Yeah, understood. Thank you, Basilia."

"Don't be thankful yet, Leah Summers. This is my job. And I know you didn't commit any major sins. I was going through your reports just now." She said and I blinked at her words.

"Thank you, I guess? But you just said major sins. Does that mean I have committed minor sins?" I asked her and she laughed, shaking her head.

"Greed. Envy. Anger. They still happen to make count of your sins. So, every time you're unhappy about someone's success, you commit a sin. But it's not really considered a sin enough to punish you until you don't think badly of that person. So, yeah. No major sins." She said, making me breathe out a sigh of relief.

"It's a relief to know that if I die any day, I won't be getting burnt here." I joked and she laughed at me.

"True. Sire will be coming here any moment now. I should also take my place. If you feel any difficulty, leave the space and carry on with the next case. Okay?"

"Okay, Basilia."

And with that Basilia walked up the stairs and took her seat on the chair placed just below the throne. Indicating that her place was above us all but below the Satan. That she was the only person— only demon who had the highest authority after Satan, himself.

And soon, everyone stood up and my eyes darted to where Satan was walking. Unlike all the times I had seen him, he looked different now. Very different. His black coat was replaced with a black suit. He had a crown on his head, studded with multiple stones, and with every step he took, the courtroom was getting more and more silent.

Unlike the presidents back on my planet, Satan needed no guards. He walked alone, like he owned the place. But in a way he did.

As soon as he sat down on the throne, placing his right leg on a small table kept below his throne before looking at his staff with a gaze that made them all bow down in respect. Including me. The aura around him was so dark, was so powerful and dominating that I couldn't help but bow down too.

"Ας ξεκινήσουμε με την ακρόαση των υποθέσεων." He said, his voice was powerful, thick and deep. (Let's start with hearing the cases)

I felt a shiver running down my spine as when he waved his hand and everyone sat down. But I was frozen on the floor. I forgot I was a part of the crowd as well. That I also, was supposed to sit down.

And that's when his eyes met mine. The molten lava in his eyes made my body burn. I gripped at my dress, fisting it. His eyes moved down to look at my action. I felt as if he was peeling me off. Like he was undressing me, leaving me open.

And then, he nodded his head at me. I blinked in surprise. He was asking me to sit down. I concluded a minute later. And I did. I sat down in embarrassment. Everyone now had their gaze on me. I wanted to die in a hole.

"Everyone, meet our new guest, Miss Leah Summers" Basilia said, making everyone focus their gaze on me. Oh, Lord.

"She is here on her dokimasía (probation) period. And she is under the care of Sire himself. So, no-one is going to cause her any pain or misery intentionally. And until we have Miss Leah Summers with us, the proceedings will be done in her language— English. So she can manage her work easily." Basilia continued, and I smiled awkwardly at everyone.

Satan had his eyes pinned on me.

"Case number one should be brought inside," Basilia announced, and a very bloodied soul walked in. Dressed in tattered clothes, blood all over her body and her glasses were half broken.

"Introduce yourself," Basilia ordered, and I shivered at the authority her voice had. And even the soul looked terrified to look at the red-skinned demon who was dressed in a green coat . But I knew she was far sweeter than her scary appearance.

"I am Harvey Stewart. I was forty-nine years old when I died in a car crash. I was drinking and driving. My son is in the hospital, undergoing treatment." She said softly, tears rolling down her eyes. Oh.

"According to your life records, you have been an alcoholic mother, you barely took care of your children. You had never brought food for them to the table. But there are no records of physical abuse. However, there is a slight mention of mental torture. In the very last of your days. No charity. The only social work recorded in your life is feeding dogs. Occasionally." Basilia read out her life and my eyes looked at the woman. She had guilt and fear in her eyes.

"Miss Leah Summers, please make the report. And from the next case, start taking down the points the very moment I start to speak. As for you, Mrs. Stewart, go inside with Devil Kyros, he'll help you to the realm you belong to." Basilia continued, and I nodded my head.

Name: Harvey Stewart

Age: forty nine

Species: Human; Planet: Earth

Sins: Ignoring her children, drinking and driving, not taking care of the children she produced. Mental torture.

Charity: Feeding dogs.

Punishment: Hell.

Cause: For neglecting her children, forcing them to be their own parents.

Severity of the sin: 8.9

"Case two report to the grounds of the courtroom." Basilia ordered, and this time a husky walked in the courtroom, barking at Satan, making me snort.

Satan's eyes moved to mine, making me straighten my posture when his fiery eyes made me shudder. Holy s**t!

"Can you speak?" Basilia asked the dog and he nodded his head, barking once.

Satan clicked his fingers and the husky's spirit turned into that of a man. I blanched back. Woah. That was...... wow.

"Introduce yourself." Basilia ordered, and the husky obliged.

"I'm a dog. My species is Husky. My owner called me a good boy and Pluto. I died when I was ten years old. I died taking the snake bite to save my owner. And I did! I saved him!" The husky said and I was taken aback by the adoration he had for his owner.

"Your life report says that you have playfully killed many butterflies but you have saved many robberies from occurring. You have treated your sister— cat like a father. No sin other than killing the butterflies." Basilia said, and I couldn't help but admire the husky standing in front of me.

I'm proud of you, buddy. How much I wanted to have a dog as well.

Name: Pluto

Age: ten years

Species: Husky dog

Planet: Earth

Sins: Killing butterflies.

Other karma: Dying while protecting his owner from snake bites, taking the loneliness of his owner, preventing robberies, and treating the cat in his house as his child.

Punishment: A week of service before being sent to heaven with a clean slate. However, no painful punishment shall be imposed.

Or

No punishment at all

Severity of the punishment: 0.5

He was also sent with Devil Kyros. Soon, soul after soul walked in, describing their fates. Some had lived quite a simple life, while others had quite an adventure. While some had terrifying sins like that of terrorism, rape, murder, torture. It made me shiver because of how cruel and inhumane humans are.

Soon, minutes turned into hours and I felt my urine putting pressure on my bladder. I had no idea as to how long the sessions would continue. So finally, I stood up from my desk when a soul was sent by the devil and Basilia was about to call the next soul to decide its fate.

Everyone looked at me, appalled. Maybe this was a sin. Or infringement. But I really needed to pee.

I rushed towards Satan's throne and his golden eyes looked at me with such darkness that it made me shiver.

And when I reached his throne, I placed my hand on the railings of his seat, taking deep breaths. Or Lord. This is so bloody embarrassing. He'll think I'm intentionally doing this to irritate him when this is not the damned case!

"Look, I'm really sorry, Satan. But I really need to pee now. Can I..... can I use your bathroom? And bloody hell, I forgot where your room was." I said, and he looked at me for a long minute before standing up from his throne.

This is it. I'll die now. He'll kill me.

"Come, I'll take you to my room. Memorize the direction this time." He said, astounding me. But I nodded my head and asked him to hurry. And he did.

Maybe...... maybe he is not that bad.