Den, Denida’s human form, trotted from his grandparent’s house with a smile painted across his face. He admired the sunny sky before skipping down the road, humming to himself.
He’s barely grown. Odin clenched his scepter. “We have to do it within one week.” He glared in through a window, then turned to Loki. “I’ll leave the task to you; don’t fail me.”
Loki chuckled. “Why bother? They’re lowly humans.”
“I want to expedite Henna’s prophecy. We have waited in this world long enough. This is your chance to show me that I can rely on you, Loki.”
“But what I still don’t understand is: why? Isn’t that kid Henna’s chosen one?”
Odin adjusted his grip on his scepter. “His soul form is, not the boy, but certain events must fall into place to achieve Henna’s desired outcome, instead of a less desirable one.”
“Understood.” Loki smirked.
“You must use dark magic to kill the boy’s grandmother within one week. I can’t specify how important that is.”
Loki’s eyes widened. “To frame Lucifer?”
Odin sighed. “Aren’t you attentive today.” He leaned closer to Loki. “Correct.”
***
A curtain of snow coated Dynasty like a veil. Christmas decorations adorned the grounds.
Denida and Nina stood on Dynasty’s balcony, waving at a crowd with Dan, Susan, and the Colonel behind them, ringing in the New Year.
Denida kissed Nina on the cheek. She’s so radiant in the snow.
Fireworks exploded brilliantly as the clock struck midnight. The sky lit up with a spectacular magic stroke humming, “Happy New Year!”
Nina hustled to the fireplace as soon as they ventured inside.
Dan smiled as he approached Denida. “A new year, and a new beginning.”
He has no idea… Denida smiled. “Funny you should say that, my friend.”
Dan frowned. “Why?”
Denida scratched his forehead. “It’s a new beginning, as you said; the Underworlds have united again, and Heaven and Hell remain at bay. Things are good.”
Dan glanced at the Colonel, who remained focused on his chat with Susan.
“Claus is still away from our word, out of sight and out of mind,” Denida continued.
Dan nipped his lip. “What are you getting at?”
Denida licked his lips. “I need you to be my vice president, Dan.”
Dan gasped. “Me… but why?”
“You’re very capable, and I need to focus on-” Denida’s eyes trailed to Nina. “Nina and I need time.” He poured two glasses, stepped up to Nina, and handed her one, gazing deeply into her eyes.
***
The Colonel barged through the door to Dan’s office. Dan sat behind one gargantuan stack of papers, but similar piles filled the whole office, leaving just enough room for a narrow path to his desk. Dan held a single page in his left hand and a pen in his right. “You’ve been in charge for a few weeks, now. I’m surprised you’re not more caught up, Dan.” Crap. “- I mean, Vice President, Sir.” The Colonel saluted him.
Dan lifted his head. “Colonel, what’s the matter?”
The Colonel removed his beret and wiped his forehead. “Something terrible has happened.”
“Bad enough to interrupt my work?”
“Yes, Sir. We’ve detected dark magic on Earth.”
Dan struggled to process the Colonel’s words. After a moment, his pen slipped from his hand, falling to the floor with a clink, shattering the silence. “Are you sure? Denny’s magical shield around Earth should protect it.”
The Colonel nodded his head. “Yes, but-”
“Denny brought Heavani to the Devil, in exchange for his word that demons would never-” Dan slammed his fist on the desk. “Of course, it’s happening now, just as Denny is leaving.” He stood hunched over the desk. “Send the task force to deal with it, ASAP!”
The Colonel put his beret back on and marched out the door, where the Commander waited for him.
“You.” The Colonel frowned, glaring at the Commander.
“Yes, Sir.” The Commander maintained eye contact.
“We have permission to investigate the dark magic, so you’d better behave yourself.”
The Colonel led the Commander to the Gate, from which they journeyed to Earth, to reconvene with the task force.
The Colonel surveyed their surroundings, then flinched. “How was anyone able to bypass the barrier and use dark magic here?”
The Commander shrugged. “It came from the little house down there.”
The Colonel squinted at the house. I should use my soul form, so that humans won’t see me. “Acknowledged.” He strolled down the road, his focus flicking between the buildings he passed on his way to the house. When he arrived, his eyes widened, as paramedics hastily departed through the front door with a gurney. Did somebody die? He glanced back at the Commander, then continued inside the house.
The Colonel gasped and quivered like his knees had turned to mush. He bolted from the house and leaned up against a wall.
The Commander ran up to him. “Colonel, are you okay?”
“We’ve got a serious problem.”
The Commander stepped back. “Sir?”
“There are pictures of Lord Denida’s human form in there.” The Colonel rubbed his forehead. “I have to interrupt Denida’s vacation. There’s no other way.” He hurried to the Gate to return to the Underworld’s HQ, where he marched straight past Dan’s secretary to enter his office, but the stacks of paper from earlier stood alone in the empty room.
Where did he go? The Colonel plopped down in a chair, rubbing his forehead. Denida’s office, maybe? He jumped to his feet and stepped out.
The secretary in front of Denida’s office greeted him with a smile. “Hello, Colonel. They are expecting you.”
They? The Colonel’s eyes widened as he trudged through the doors.
“John…” Denida stepped up to the Colonel and shook his hand. “- just who we needed.”
“Needed, for what?”
“Something feels off. Dan said he sent you to investigate the Darkness appearing on Earth?”
“Affirmative, near your human form…” The Colonel lowered his head.
“Tell me more.”
The Colonel flinched. “Someone used dark magic to kill one of Den’s relatives, Sir.”
Dan gasped, lifting his chin from a stack of papers. “Are you serious?”
“If the Darkness killed them, then Lucifer is behind it.” Denida bared his teeth.
The Colonel pursed his lips. “Yes, Sir.”
Denida ran his fingers through his hair. “Guess I’ll need to return to Hell, after all.” He put his hand on the Colonel’s shoulder. “Dan’s in charge until I get back. Can you check on Nina for me?” He lifted his ring to his lips, then vanished from the room.
“Where’s-”
Dan lifted his hand. “Nina’s at Dynasty with Angel.”
Oh, her horse… The Colonel spun around and marched to his car. At least I get to see some beautiful greenery.
“John, welcome.” Dynasty’s butler opened the car door and saluted the Colonel.
The Colonel nodded. “Lady Nina is with Angel?”
The butler scratched his cheek. “Correct, at the stables.”
“Thank you.” The Colonel stalked to the stables, where Nina stood, brushing Angel. The Colonel cleared his throat.
Nina turned to the Colonel. “John, what brings you here?”
“Denida instructed me to check on you.”
Nina threw the brush into the bucket at her feet. “Why? I thought he wanted to spend time with me, to focus on us, for once.”
The Colonel tapped his palm on his trousers. “Something… came up.”
“Again?” Nina approached and poked the Colonel’s chest. “Well, you can tell him he needs to finish that up and get ready for some time away. I’m finding it hard to stay here without Daniel.” She shoved past the Colonel.
Denida won’t like this…
***
Lucifer’s mansion. Denida rubbed the ring on his finger, which guided him on his trek. Darkness surged through the air in Hell, creating thick black fog. As he neared the mansion, the mist thinned.
Denida peered back before pushing on the door, finding it locked. The hell? Denida stepped back and scrutinized the building, seeing that it stood as majestically as always. Finally, he gritted his teeth and thrust his arm forward, forcing the doors open with magic. He strolled into the dark hall ahead of him. Denida paused, glancing around. It’s never been in disrepair like this. Denida ran his fingers across a fist-sized dent in the drywall.
He marched down the corridor to a pair of double doors and thrust them open.
Dust and cobwebs covered every centimeter of the room. Filth littered Lucifer’s throne. Dim light glimmered from the back room.
Denida slowly approached the next door, glancing at the throne as he passed. As he stood before the next room, he peeked through the threshold. Lucifer sat on the floor, staring up at a mural of Heavani. Darkness engulfed him like a cloak.
“Luci?” Denida’s voice cracked hoarsely.
Lucifer jolted up, the Darkness clinging to his body. “Hello, Denida.” Contempt saturated his tone. “Our business is done,” he hissed and stormed out of the room with Denida in tow.
Denida hurried after him.
Lucifer whipped around so suddenly that Denida stumbled. “- unless you have returned to Hell to join me in my war?”
Denida could see Lucifer’s eyes filled with rage and emptiness. “What war?”
Lucifer’s crimson eyes sparkled. “Heavani died; God will pay!”
“Wait.” Denida lifted his hand. “Pay, how?”
“Exactly the way Henna wanted.” Lucifer smirked. “His death, and all of Heaven’s.”
“If you go to war, you won’t have time to focus on new souls.”
Lucifer clenched his fist. “I… don’t… care. You’re no longer welcome in Hell!” He slammed his fist into Denida’s chest, and Darkness surged from it. It encircled Denida, thrusting him out of Hell.
Denida clenched his fist, using all the ring’s power to eradicate the lingering Darkness, which still encased him. He closed his eyes against a sting in his heart from the massive amount of energy he used. Denida arched his neck and peered around, realizing he now stood outside of Heaven’s Pearly Gates.
It’s worse than we thought. I must talk to Gabriel. He hurried to Heaven’s Gate, only to pause and rest his hand on his chest. His meager stamina slowed his stride.
Saint Peter shot Denida a death stare as he approached. “Halt! You’re not allowed inside.”
Denida waved his hands. “I just need to-”
A white light surrounded Saint Peter’s silhouette, and his eyes glowed intensely. “I said no,” he hissed. “Come closer at your own peril; I dare you.”
I’m not strong enough after expelling that Darkness. Denida withdrew with his hands, before spinning around and strolling toward the Gate outside Heaven.
Denida knelt beside the Gate, stroking the cloud’s surface.
“Didn’t it go well?” A woman with rainbow eyes manifested beside Denida.
“Queen Henna,” Denida turned his eyes from her to the cloud. “What are you doing here? Our dealings are done.”
Henna sat beside Denida and glared at him sternly. “Are you certain of that? You have yet to fulfill my prophecy.”
“No, we’re done.”
Henna smiled. “You’ll listen if you want to avoid more casualties. Most of the souls in your Underworlds have split souls, with some of those souls connected to a human on Earth. You know from Claus what happens when any of those connections, or their human forms, die.”
Denida caressed the cloud under his hand.
“Have you already forgotten how strong Claus became after his other soul forms died?”
“Enough of this.” Denida gritted his teeth and jumped to his feet. “I know what you are.”
“What I am?” Henna frowned.
“God, Gabriel, and Lucifer’s goddess…”
Henna rose with an irritated expression. “That’s not all I am. Someday, you will understand.” She waved and disappeared with a rainbow flash.
Denida gritted his teeth. Henna remains at large. He clenched his fist, and his Underworlds ring teleported him back to his office. He fell to his knees, but swiftly staggered out to his secretary.
“Sir?” The secretary’s eyes widened.
Denida grabbed ahold of her desk to pull himself up. “I need to see the Colonel, ASAP.”
Denida fell into his chair, recuperating, waiting for the Colonel.
“Denny?” Nina lounged on a couch in Denida’s office and smiled widely.
“Nina?” Denida’s ears burned. “What are you doing here?”
“I figured I would seek you out, since you’re so preoccupied. Why do you need to see the Colonel?”
Denida sighed. “Henna…”
“No, it’s time to move past that. We need to focus on us, remember?”
“I know, but-”
“Don’t you want to work on our relationship?” Nina crossed her arms.
“Beep,” the intercom sounded. “The Colonel and Master Sergeant Susan are here.”
“I do, and I will, after this, I swear.” Denida bent over and pressed the intercom button. “Let them in.”
The Colonel saluted Denida. “You wanted to see me, Sir?”
Denida slammed his desk so forcefully that some pencils rolled onto the floor. “Henna!”
Susan and the Colonel exchanged a glance.
The Colonel licked his lips. “I thought we weren’t dealing with her, anymore.”
“We are, now. She is up to something, and Lucifer’s preparing for war with God. We must maximize our security measures.”
Susan stepped forward. “Can’t you persuade Lucifer to-”
Denida shook his head. “He exiled me from Hell.”
The Colonel gasped. “I thought you were on his good side?”
“We made a deal; I’d bring him Heavani, and he’d protect our human forms on Earth.”
Susan stayed rooted to the spot. “What does this mean for the Underworlds, and everyone on Earth?”
Denida rapped his knuckles on the desk. “Everything is about to change.”
Susan rubbed her palms together. “Maybe you should talk to Henna. Didn’t you say she knows everything that happens?”
“Maybe you’re right.” Denida turned on his heel. Wait, would Henna get anything out of this? He froze midstride with a heavy sigh, then strolled over to Susan and rested his hand on her shoulder. “She won’t help. Besides, she doesn’t know everything. She allegedly sees all the possible futures that can occur, but doesn’t know which course fate will take. That depends on our choices.”
Susan tilted her head. “We’d still be better off after talking to her than we are, now.”
Nina cleared her throat and stepped in between Denida and Susan. “The Henna debacle is over.”
“Sir.” The Colonel saluted Denida. “I’ll rally our security detail.” He marched out of the office.
Susan followed him, only to pause after a few steps, and spun to face Denida. “Sometimes, we have to do what we don’t want to. You told me that once, Denny. If you know where she is, go.”
“You’re right.” Denida kissed Nina’s cheek. “I’ll walk you out.” He held the door for Susan. “I’m sure she’s at her planet with two suns.”
Susan paused just outside the office, and her eyes narrowed in confusion. “That’s habitable?”
Denida nodded. “Yes, but she’s that world’s only resident, now.” He scratched his temple. “I forgot to tell the Colonel to report day-to-day operations to Dan. He’s using Claus’s old office.”
“I heard about that, but I didn’t know you were retiring?”
Denida laughed and leaned against the wall. “I’m not, but with all this going on, I don’t have time to devote to the Underworld, so he’s my acting vice president.”
Susan waved as she strolled down the hall.
Denida examined the ring under his glove. I guess I have no choice but to talk to Henna. He frowned at Nina and opened his mouth to speak.
Nina shook her head at him, as a composed sadness wrestled with bitter acceptance for control of her lips.
With a sigh, Denida closed his eyes and clenched his fist, teleporting away.
Denida’s eyelids fluttered, only to squint against the sunlight from the twin suns reflecting on a castle’s glassy façade. Denida raised his hand to his forehead and rushed inside to escape the direct light.
The castle’s grand interior stood as bare as Denida remembered it from the last time he visited Henna.
“Welcome back, Denny.” Henna appeared behind Denida.
Denida spun around in shock.
Henna smiled with her rainbow gaze. “I’m glad you had a change of heart.”
“I didn’t.”
“Then why have you come? Did you miss me that much?”
Denida folded his hands together. “You can see the future.”
“Not exactly.” She leaned in and met Denida’s eyes. “Didn’t Lucifer’s story tell you that much?”
“I want to know more.” Denida wrinkled his brow.
“Think of it as a big tree. When a choice is made, fate branches and new options appear. The choices you make determine your future.”
Denida lifted his finger. “What options will Lucifer’s war lead to?”
“The end, one way or another.”
Yikes. “I need to know how to end this with as few casualties as possible,” Denida hissed.
“And you think I can help you with that… or that I want to?”
Denida bared his teeth. “If you want my-”
“I’m not Lucifer. I don’t need to make a deal with you, to get your help. You will bring the end to God, Lucifer, and Gabriel in time; Destiny ordains it.”
“Destiny, my ass. I care about protecting souls, so I intend to prevent this catastrophe. I’ve had enough of your galactic mumbo jumbo.” Denida’s eyes flared. “Goodbye.” He teleported away.
