The Destiny of the Half-Bloods

Chapter 2

THE EYES OF HELL:

The Prince of Lust and his second in command sit boredly upon their thrones artfully constructed of crocodile skeletons, giant jaws of bony teeth protruding over their heads. The sounds of crackling flames dancing about the room combine with the rhythmic drumming of Asmodeus' skeletal fingers to create a haunting melody.

They are impatiently waiting for news from their Earth-bound spies.

"This stupid meeting had better be worthwhile," moans the Duke Agares, who is lazily draped sideways over his throne. He has an arm thrown across his black eyes. “I was in the middle of orchestrating an earthquake in Los Angeles." He shakes the bones of his burned wings loose, throwing a cloud of ash into the air like black snow.

"Again?" Asks the demon prince as he places a crown made of human finger bones on his horned and hairless head. His skin is coal-colored, making him look like magma with glowing red lava peeking through the pattern of cracks all over his body. “I thought you just made an earthquake there last week?”

"Can you blame me?" laughs the lower demon, waving his hand flippantly in the air. “The city named itself after those damned angels." Asmodeus gives a small chuckle, revealing a mouthful of teeth sharper than a raptor's.

“So, my prince... how is Dameon’s training coming along?” Agares asks while studying his claw-like fingernails. “His year of freedom is almost over, yes?”

“Yes, though I’ve had to place him under Lamia’s guidance.” Asmodeus sighs. “He needed the extra nudge towards our evil ways. She tells me that he fills his days with philandering and petty crime.”

Agares snickers. “Ah, to be young again. We shall see if he is able to handle the pressures of true evil when you give him his first assignment.”

Asmodeus rubs his eyes in exhaustion. The stress and disappointment that Dameon’s humanity has caused is humiliating.

“Are you sure about giving him such an important job straight out of the gate? Your plan is quite risky to be entrusting to a demon with such... human tendencies.” Agares continues.

“I am well aware of that, Agares,” hisses

Asmodeus. “But if Dameon is successful, this may result in his destruction. We have no way of knowing, and I can’t waste a pure-blooded demon on that risk. He is expendable. I only allowed him to survive after I finished with his mother because I knew he would be useful one day. Besides, he is loyal to me.” Asmodeus cackles. “The fool.”

“Let’s hope you’re right,” Agares says. The demons continue waiting impatiently, listening to the infernal sounds of flames and damned souls screaming in the distance.

Agares is about to fall asleep when the sound of frantic slithering begins to echo through the chamber. "Finally," he groans as he pulls himself upright. Nybass, the leader of the bisicones enters the chamber with a bow. Bisicones are a depraved race of winged serpent creatures, forged in the darkest corners of hell and condemned to serve the high demons for all eternity.

“Oh great Leaders of Hell, I have excellent newsssss,” Nybass hisses through pointed teeth. The scale-covered monster bows to kiss Asmodeus' feet while its bat-like wings fold in respect.

The demon prince yanks his foot away, and flashes a look of disgust to his companion. Even demons are repulsed by these creatures. They gaze down at it with distain. Asmodeus sighs, “What do you want, Nybass? This had better be important, or I'm sending you back down to the sixth circle."

“Oh, my lord," he cries, "That won't be necessssssary, I swear! You see, we have located the daughter of Archangel Sandalphon!” The bisicone squeals excitedly, clapping his claws together proudly.

"You idiot." Asmodeus rolls his eyes. "We traced her to that mortal school years ago. That’s why we planted Dameon there! But we cannot identify her in the crowds until that damned heavenly cloaking spell is broken.”

"But it'ssssss true, oh evil one! Her power is eclipsing their spell... it grows more magnetic every day!" Nybass pleads. "She has begun to use her song in public! Your highness, we have seen her and have found her name.”

The prince raises an eyebrow curiously. Agares sits forward in his chair, finally interested in the conversation.

“Sssssseraphina,” Nybass hisses with a greasy smile.

“Finally,” Asmodeus muses, sifting back in his throne and seductively stroking his chin with his long, skeleton-thin fingers.

“The archangels couldn’t expect to keep a power like hers locked away forever,” Agares says with a crooked smile. “A magic that can hypnotize and paralyze even the strongest men.... it will soon be ours!”

“But the best newsssssss is yet to come, my lords.” Nybass forgets himself and steps closer to the high demon.

“Oh?” Asmodeus recoils in disgust, holding up a foot ready to kick away the creature of it gets any closer.

“She has no idea who she isssssss! She believes herself to be mortal, a human girl. The child doesn’t even know how to use her powers to their full extent, so she cannot even defend herself!”

“Alone and powerless!” The prince can barely contain his joy. He releases a skin-crawling laugh that echoes through the chambers of Hell. “If we manage to keep our plans hidden from Heaven, Dameon’s mission will be easier than the temptation of Judas, and bring us tenfold more damned souls!”