44. Introductions

Elise watched as they approached a huge castle. It was larger in scale than Leviathans. It also was much more ostentatious. Their path was clear as they approached the front gate.

Their carriers set them down in front of the gait. Leviathan took Elise’ hand and helped her up from her seat. They walked together into the castle as the rest of their party trailed behind them. The entourage consisted mostly of Leviathans children and their partners. Among them were also many of the demons that served under him.

Unlike Angels who were assigned to the Archangel they worked for; Demons chose whom they served. Lower demons all chose which prince they wanted to follow, and Leviathan being the oldest of them had thousands.

As they entered all eyes turned on them. Their party had been the last to arrive. Elise glanced around the room at all the onlookers. The room was vast. There were hundreds of people there in full debauchery. Many naked bodies where on full display. Some of the demons were even leading people around by leashes.

She assumed they were slaves. She was coping with the idea that slavery existed in hell. Slaves had just been carrying her after all. As they slowly walked further into the room a huge man approached them.

He was tall. Maybe just an inch shorter than Leviathan. He had dark brown hair and the most beautiful green eyes. He was oozing sex. He was shirtless showing off his massive chest and chiseled abs. His pants hugged his skin showing a faint outline of what he had to offer below his belt.

Leviathan made the introduction. “Elise this is my brother Asmodeus.”

Elise looked him up and down. She would be lying if she said he was unattractive. Why wouldn’t he be good looking. He was the prince of lust after all. It was a part of his nature to look the way he did. She offered him her hand in greeting.

She expected a hand clasp or maybe a small shake. He grabbed her small hand and brought it to his lips greedily kissing it. She pulled it back in surprise.

“Brother, you didn’t tell me that she was so beautiful. You know how I love pretty things.”

Elise hid her anger. She didn’t like being called a thing. Leviathan pulled Elise close into his body to show that she was his. He didn’t like that his brother was implying that Elise should be his.

Asmodeus ignored his brother’s insecurity as he tried to strike up a conversation with Elise. “Well Elise I have been told you gave yourself over to my brother here completely. Is that true?”

Instead of answering Elise moved her long hair to the side so that he could see the scar on her neck.

“Well, well, well, so you were not lying. You went out and got yourself an angel. Come, Let’s go meet the rest of the family.”

As he turned to leading them, he shouted to the room. “This is a party, isn't it? Now stop staring and get back to it.”

The guests in attendance went back to talking or dancing or thrusting into each other. Leviathan kept his arm around Elise the whole time. He was hoping to give her some kind of reassurance.

Asmodeus led them to a privet area near the back of the room. Before them stood five men. All were attractive but none of them interested Elise in the least. She saw them for what they were, Princes of Hell. She knew she needed them in order to get back Earth. However, she couldn’t bring herself to smile at them.

“Isn’t there supposed to be one more of you?” She asked

“Smart, yes, we are missing Belphegor. He isn't the prince of sloth for nothing.”

Elise knew who they were talking about. He was supposedly so lazy that even his hellish weapon required very little effort to wield. It was Ballista. He wouldn’t even stand up to fight. He would just sit shooting giant arrows at whomever he was fighting. So, it was no surprise that he had not bothered to go to Asmodeus party.

The rest introduced themselves one ty one. The last to speak was Mara. Elise knew of him. He was the Prince of Hatred. He especially hatred angels. Even more so than others. He was the one who had sent out legions to try to bring her in so that he could torture her when she had first arrived in hell.

He loved torturing lower angels for his enjoyment. He would drive them to insanity just to release them. It gave him great satisfaction to know that her father would have to put them down. He and Elise eyed one another; sizing each other up. Finally, Mara spoke.

“Brother, have I shown you my newest pet.”

He motioned for one of his demons. Leviathan and Elise watched as the demon brought out a man on a chain. Elise knew at once that he was an angel and Mara had him chained with a collar around his neck. Mara had done this on purpose.

He wanted to make Elise uncomfortable. He was hoping to make her shudder at the thought that might be her. But, instead of instilling fear he had made her angry. Although she had no love for the archangels the lower ones had done nothing to her.

Elises hand balled into fists. Her knuckles were turning white. She wanted to knock Mara down a few pegs. Even more than that. She wanted to kill him. There it was again. That urge to kill. It was taking all her willpower not to. They needed the keys and if she killed him, they would never find it.

Feeling the tension Leviathan spoke.

“Elise lets go dance.”

He led her away from his brothers.

Once they were out of earshot, he began to dance slowly with her. He grabbed her waist and pulled her in close. He put his mouth to her ear, and he whispered.

“They are testing you.”

Elise pulled away slightly to show him the confusion on her face. He pulled her in close again.

“They all want you for their own reasons. Stay vigilant tonight. I will at some points have to leave you to deal with them individually.”

She was about to speak when he spoke again.

“I don’t want to, but they will want to see for themselves what you are really like. “

“You can't be serious.”

“Look if we want the keys, then first they need to see that you are not a threat to them. Also they think that if they can keep you in hell, that you will become weak and useless.”

“Can that happen?”

“I don’t think so. I mean there is some clear disadvantages and obstacles for you in hell, which you already know about.”

She did. She felt exhaustion in this place. She also had a harder time flying. Although she could still fight it took a lot more out of her. She wondered herself if the longer she stayed the harder it would be for her to keep up if she was forced to fight.

“They also think if I stay down here long enough that you will not like me.”

She had already seen the changes in Leviathan. He was much greedier with her. He was more possessive, and his punishment of Deliah was extreme. He acted much more like a prince of Hell in this place she thought. He was still compassionate toward her though. She wondered if he still would be if this stay lasted for a while though.

The idea passed as soon as she thought it. He still loved her as she loved him. That wouldn’t change. She was sure about that.

“They are wrong.”

“I know so let's appease them to a point. Not all the way, but just enough. Then maybe with some finesse we can leave this place.”