Inside the infernal palace, everything was quiet. Even the screams of the tortured souls failed to penetrate its black walls. The chandeliers had all been put out and only the torches burned in their stands, throwing up gloomy shadows on the soot covered walls. Lucifer had ordered all his followers to leave him alone. None were permitted to enter his palace tonight, except those he wished to meet himself. Seated atop his throne of human skulls, the Black Prince looked like an exiled king who had been forced to abandon everything he loved and live in utter despair.
Before the end of the 13th hour, Samyaza returned to Lucifer, bearing the news of his failure. He expected to be treated with severity, but Lucifer didn't seem displeased. It was as if he had expected him to fail.
"Do you kno
