Lucifer Damned (Morningstar Book 3), Percival Constantine [electric book reader .txt] 📗

At the time, it was a means to an end. Only intended to be a temporary measure. But the struggles of those early days and dealing with the fallout from the Nephilim Wars and Abraxas’s rebellion wore on Lucifer. He retreated further and further into his own empty realm and his lofty goals to establish a Heaven of his own fell to the wayside.

As Lucifer glanced around Beelzebub’s realm, this failure was brought into stark reality. He had never actually visited any of the realms of Hell. But now he saw the rotting and dilapidated structures. There were people in chains out in the public square. Screams of torture filled the air and the stench of death and decay was thick. As befitting Beelzebub’s title, insects freely moved about the realm, their incessant buzzing causing Lucifer’s skin to crawl.

In the center of the realm was a large castle, made of the same chitinous material as the armor worn by the guards. Its architecture seemed almost organic and the walls looked as if they’d grown out of filth. The guard led them through the heavy doors and inside the large structure.

They ascended several flights of stairs, each step seemingly moving beneath them, as if the entire castle itself were alive. And finally, the guard brought them to a large dining room. A long table was stretched out in the middle of the room, lined with food. Guards surrounded the table, but only one being ate.

The creature that feasted on the buffet was like a giant insect. His wings buzzed as they carried his gluttonous form around the table and he gorged himself to his heart’s content. His antennae twitched and his head jerked in their direction. The giant, yellow eyes hummed, laid out in the hexagonal patterns possessed by a fly.

Hell had a transformative effect on its denizens. The longer and more corrupted they were by Hell, the more extreme the transformation. Such was the case with Beelzebub. His gossamer wings flitted, carrying his large, stocky frame over to the other end of the table near the doors.

“Do my eyes deceive me or izzzat the Morningstar?”

“Beelzebub, it’s been some time,” said Lucifer.

“Yes, not since the last meeting of the Infernal Court.” Beelzebub turned from Lucifer to Mara and his eyes carried a harsh burn of intensity. “Why is she here?”

“She’s here because I asked her to accompany me,” said Lucifer.

“I do not approve of her nor her mistress,” said Beelzebub. “You remember my position on this matter, do you not?”

“Yes, I remember you speaking out of turn against me. And then I blasted you with enough hellfire to knock you unconscious,” said Lucifer.

Mara’s surprise at this comment was obvious by her expression—eyebrows arched to their fullest, wide eyes jerking in Lucifer’s direction—but she said nothing. She would save that for later, along with questioning why Lucifer would claim Beelzebub had always been loyal to him.

Beelzebub gave a light chuckle. “Ahh yes, I remember quite well. But that was before you abdicated the throne. Left it to a half-breed of all people.”

Lucifer walked along the table, examining the contents of the buffet. Most of the dishes consisted of insects and entrails, with nothing that looked or even smelled particularly edible, let alone appetizing.

“I’m not here to discuss Cross. Instead, I have another matter that we need to address,” said Lucifer. “Cocytus.”

“Oh? What of it?” asked Beelzebub.

“I need to get there.”

“Why would you need to visit that prison? And why would you need to come to me?” asked Beelzebub. “You gave the throne to Cross, surely he owes you a favor and could grant passage through his realm.”

“If I were to go to Cross, it’d be hard to keep my presence in Hell a secret,” said Lucifer. “And that is precisely what I intend to do.”

“Then the question remains as to why? Both in regards to Cocytus and the secrecy.”

“My reasons are my own. You once trusted me without question. I see that’s changed.”

“You’ve made questionable decizzzions,” said Beelzebub. “Granting Cross control over Azzzmodeus’s realm, helping Cross imprison him, and then giving him your very throne. You can see why I’d be suspicious of your judgment, Lucifer.”

“All fair points,” said Lucifer. “And I wish I could tell you more.”

Beelzebub stared intently at the Morningstar. His insect-like eyes hummed with a soft, yellow glow. “Ahh, I see now. You’ve lost your spark.”

Lucifer looked away from the demon’s gaze. He’d hoped perhaps he could avoid Beelzebub learning the truth about why he had come, but that was always a long shot.

“How could such a thing happen? How izzz it even possible?” asked Beelzebub.

“It’s a long story,” he said. “But as Cocytus was created with my power, seems likely I can find some answers there. All I’m asking for is some help getting there.”

“You know, it’s funny you should come here and tell me you need to get to Cocytus,” said Beelzebub. “Becuzzz I’ve heard some rumblingzzz. Of increased activity in the Badlands.”

“The Badlands have always been dangerous territory, that’s not news,” said Mara.

“Though I’d prefer your whore hold her tongue in my palace, she’s not wrong,” said Beelzebub. “However, this is different. I’ve even heard tell of demons leaving the comfort of the city walls to journey into the Badlands.”

“That doesn’t make sense,” said Lucifer. “Why would they take on that risk without good cause?”

“My sentiments exactly,” said Beelzebub. “And now, you want to go to Cocytus. I wonder if this has anything to do with the rumors of a new threat rising in the Badlands. There are even suspicions that perhaps this is not a newly arrived demon, but one who escaped the confines of Cocytus.”

“Is that so?” asked Lucifer.

Beelzebub nodded. “Though that’s not possible, izzz it? Becuzzz Cocytus is impenetrable. No one can break in, no one can break out. That is what you promised us all those eons ago, wazzz it not?”

“You want the truth, Beelzebub? Very well, here it is.” Lucifer leaned against the table and