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‘They’re all staring at us,’ said Verin. ‘Don’t these people have better things to do?’
‘You two never cared about being in the spotlight before,’ replied Kaarl. ‘If anything you sought it out. Perhaps if you wore clothes they might have less cause to stare.’
‘Don’t try to change us,’ replied Verin.
‘I’m not trying to change you.’ said Kaarl. ‘I was offering a solution to the attention you suddenly don’t want anymore. Clothes might help.’
‘Those Chinos make you look fat.’
‘Really?’ asked Kaarl ‘You’re starting this crap already?’
‘I told you you’d pay.’
Kaarl shook his head.
‘This is childish, Verin, even for you.’
‘Your face is childish.’
Kaarl braced himself for a long and excruciatingly annoying day.
The crowd began to thin out as the procession reached the entranceway to the Halls of Knowledge, a massive pair of gates set between two bronze Angels. The statues’ hands stretched above their heads and they held a large tome between them.
‘That’s so typical,’ said Vetis as they passed under the statues. ‘A girl and a boy so no one feels left out and they’re holding a book because it’s a school.’
‘Not to mention the bronze,’ added her sister. ‘Even red people can’t complain about racism when you use metal.’
‘Yet in a way you still are,’ said Kaarl.
The Halls of Knowledge were large, impressive sandstone buildings. None of them stood higher than four stories but what they lacked in height they more than made up for in width. In front of the arched entranceways stood statues denoting purpose; a globe for Geography, a large clock for History and so on. Kaarl struggled to think of a likely subject for the two statues hugging in front of one of the doorways.
‘Might be Sex Education,’ said Verin, looking over his shoulder. ‘If that’s the case I’ll be teaching that class before the end of the day.’
The quad in the centre of the campus was a lush expanse of perfectly manicured grass. As the trio took their seats on the ground, the twins surveyed their fellow academics. With so many students talking at once the noise was chaotic. While the sisters were rating boys and making snide comments about the other girls Kaarl took his own chance to evaluate their peers. White seemed to be the preferred colour of choice for Angels however there were emerald greens, sapphire blues and even some midnight blacks dotted about. Although the masses were a riot of colour there seemed to be no red beyond the wings of a few Angels, and they certainly weren’t as vibrant as the girls’ shading.
The twins will be happy that they’re still special little snowflakes, Kaarl thought.
The conversations began to die down, starting with those students closest to the stage. It appeared that a heat wave was making its way across the wooden platform but the blue flashes at head height gave away the distortion’s true nature: Sophie, the Angel of Wisdom and member of the Council of Virtues. Her body was crystal, something resembling diamond but with a much higher clarity. It made her transparent and had the effect of distorting everything when one looked at, or rather through her. Her eyes were a fluorescent blue and the only way to tell it was actually Sophie rather than the first signs of a cataract forming.
‘Welcome,’ Sophie said once she had reached the centre. Her voice brought an end to all but one of the conversations amongst the students.
‘He’s a seven at the best,’ said Verin, drawing disapproving glances from the students around her. ‘Unless you’re drunk. Are you drunk? Why aren’t you sharing?’
Kaarl gave Verin a gentle nudge and she scowled at him before turning her attention to the stage.
‘I am Sophie,’ the Angel continued. ‘As many of you know I am a member of the Council but more importantly, for your time here anyway, I am the Chancellor of the Halls of Knowledge.’
‘Another job,’ Vetis whispered, ‘only a single mum would work that hard.’
‘I didn’t think she had kids,’ replied Verin.
‘These Halls have existed for almost as long as we have,’ Sophie told the students, ‘and it is within these walls that you shall learn about everything from the Rift to the Mortal realm as it is today.’
In Perdition, the Rift and the reasons for it had been a closely guarded secret. Kaarl had been given a brief explanation before Lucifer had sent him to Earth but he was under no illusions; most of the things the Light Bearer had told him were probably lies. Learning about the Rift, the war that had seen his parents cast from Paradise, from a more reliable source would be interesting.
‘If you wish to help Paradise and the Mortals then what you learn in this place will be essential,’ said Sophie. ‘There is a fine line between guidance and manipulation, a line that can blur depending on the situation you find yourself in. You will need a solid foundation to recognise the difference between the two and act with integrity.’
‘Been there, done that,’ said Verin.
‘During the next three years we will observe your progress closely. Your learning plans have been individually tailored, focusing on areas we feel you need guidance in. If, after your final exams, we feel you are not ready to represent our realm on Earth you will be forbidden to put a foot down there until you can prove yourself suitable.’
‘You didn’t tell us that,’ hissed Verin.
Kaarl shook his head in disbelief.
‘I didn’t know.’
Kaarl struggled to focus on the rest of Sophie’s speech. No matter how slim it was, there was a chance that he would be banned from returning to the Mortal realm. Paradise may have been his new realm but as far as Kaarl was concerned Earth was his home. He had worked hard to get there and even harder to stay. Kaarl had been under the impression that Angels could come and go as they pleased between Paradise and the Mortal realm. He had even used it as a selling point when convincing the twins to join him in his defection.
‘You said we could live in either realm,’ said Vetis.
‘That’s what I thought,’ replied Kaarl. ‘I mean, everything I was told –’
‘Enough,’ said Verin, cutting him off. ‘Don’t get us wrong, Paradise is OK but if we have to spend all of our time up here we will go nuts. We need Earth; it has just enough grime so we don’t lose the plot and go on a rampage.’
‘I’ll sort it out,’ Kaarl promised.
As the applause for Sophie’s speech tapered off Kaarl launched himself up and headed towards the stage.
‘I thought you would want to see me,’ Sophie said as he landed.
‘And I’m sure you know why.’
The Angel of Wisdom politely waved away a few other students as they approached.
‘We make allowances for essential travel and your task in the Mortals’ realm definitely qualifies,’ said Sophie. ‘You will need supervision but we have given that role to Gabriel so it is not a major change. The only difference is that you cannot live there; when you are not working you will need to be here. Until your studies are completed of course.
‘I was under the impression that when we joined you both realms would be open to us. I told Verin and Vetis as much when I asked them to come with me.’
‘That was not the reason you chose to embrace our cause,’ replied Sophie.
‘No it wasn’t; you showed me what I was doing in a different light and I knew it was wrong. Verin and Vetis saw that as well but freedom was a big factor in their decision to join me. They like it here but they need the chance to cut loose now and then. It’s just not in them to stay cooped up in Paradise.’
‘I am sure the twins will do everything in their power to pass their tests,’ replied Sophie, ‘and when they have done so they may come and go as they wish. I know these new restrictions will be difficult to adjust to but it should be enough to keep them happy. If worse comes to worst they’ll just have to re-sit. It is not like the door will be forever closed to them.’
‘It still feels like we were lied to,’ said Kaarl, crossing his arms. ‘Well, like I was lied to and I passed it on.’
‘It is true that you are free to move between realms, after you pass the tests.’
‘That’s a pretty important detail that was either left out or glossed over.’
‘I have every faith that all three of you will pass the first time around,’ replied Sophie, ‘so it is not that important. There was no attempt to mislead you, Kaarl; this has been our way since Paradise’s first dealings with the Mortals.’
‘That would have been a good thing to know before today.’
‘Would it have affected your decision to join us?’ asked Sophie.
‘No, but it would have been nice to have the full story. It was a big shock finding out like this.’
Sophie’s finger made a faint clinking sound as she tapped her chin.
‘I can offer to tutor the three of you personally if you are struggling,’ she said after a moment. ‘The fact you were born in Lucifer’s realm should be taken into account and compensated for.’
‘That seems fair,’ said Kaarl. ‘Verin and Vetis will probably still complain but it should go some way to smoothing this over.’
‘It will have to do for now,’ the Angel of Wisdom told him. ‘Sorry to rush you off but there are others waiting to see me and I have a lot to do today. If I think of anything else that we should have explained to you in detail I’ll let you know.’
‘That would be nice,’ said Kaarl, flaring his wings and rising up. ‘I’d better go find the twins before they break something.’
One of the benefits of Verin and Vetis’ unusual colouring was that they were easy to spot from above. The sisters were talking to three Angels as Kaarl swooped in beside them. The apparent leader of the girls was stunning; long-legged with skin of polished silver that glittered in the sun.
‘Listen,’ said Verin to the silver Angel. ‘I don’t know who you are or what your problem is but–’
Her sister pulled her aside and whispered in her ear.
‘Oh, you’re that Sasha. You got your boyfriend back when I was done with him so I don’t see what the big deal is. Get over it.’
‘I don’t think you realise who you’re messing with,’ replied Sasha, her delicate hands balling up into fists.
Verin stepped forward and smiled.
‘It’s you that should be careful,’ she told the girl. ‘I was born in Hell, I count Lucifer, Light Bearer and Son of the Morning, amongst my close, personal enemies and I’ve seen Million Dollar Baby like six times. Unless you really like hospital food I’d leave if I were you.’
Sasha gave Verin a long, venomous look before turning on her heels and storming off.
‘Making friends already?’ asked Kaarl.
Verin shrugged.
‘Not my fault she can’t hold onto her stuff.’
‘What did Sophie say?’ asked Vetis.
‘The good news is we still get to go to the Mortal realm for work,’ Kaarl told the twins. ‘The bad news is it’s only for work. The tests, and the ban if we flunk them, apply to us as much as anyone else. Sophie said she is sure we’ll pass though and she is willing to tutor us if we struggle.’
‘I guess that’s something,’ said Verin. ‘If we need a tutor we probably can’t do much better than the Angel of Wisdom.’
‘No moaning or sulking?’ asked Kaarl, unable to mask his surprise.
Verin’s eyes were firmly fixed on Sasha’s back as the Angel walked away.
‘It’s the first day of school and I’m already enemies with the most popular girl here,’ she replied. ‘I’ve got bigger things to worry about.’
Chapter Two: Better late than never (#ulink_652fe274-cdf1-54ae-a33b-26013c764a17)
In Hell, as on Earth, the most memorable lessons are taught more often by failure than success. Lucifer’s son Damon had learnt his in the hardest, most brutal way possible; it had cost the boy his life. In front of the fiery Gates of Perdition, the portal from the Mortal realm to their own, Demons and Damned Mortals alike had watched on as the Lord of their realm incinerated Damon with a flick of his wrist. Those present would never forget the look of indifference on their master’s face, the glint in his violet eyes or the way his enormous black wings stirred the ash that had only moments before been his son.
Lucifer had seen hints that Kaarl was wavering and Damon had been sent to the Mortal realm to take the reins of Synergy. When Kaarl, Verin and Vetis had confirmed the Light Bearer’s suspicions and turned their backs on Perdition it had fallen to Damon to return the trio to Hell to face his father’s justice. The boy had failed spectacularly in both endeavours and paid the ultimate price for his shortcomings. Lucifer had sent a clear message to his realm as his words, and the specks that remained of his first-born child fell on the assembled masses. Failure was not something the Light Bearer would tolerate from anyone.
Three years had passed since Kaarl and the sisters had betrayed the realm, turning from Lucifer’s embrace and taking up Paradise’s cause. Damon had long since been dragged from his lightless cell and punished but the whole affair was still the main topic of conversation in Perdition. In taverns and alehouses across the stone city its residents argued incessantly over the fallout from the betrayal.
‘It’ll be another war,’ said an enormous Demon. His voice boomed across the crowded bar and his red hands dwarfed the tankard they held. ‘He has to make a big move soon and you mark my words, it’ll be war between us and Paradise that comes next.’
‘You’ve been saying that for two years now,’ a grey Demon shouted back from the pool table, ‘and nothing’s changed.’
‘That’s not true at all,’ said one of the Damned.
Dressed in the curry-stained baby-blue bathrobe he had died in, the man had a scraggly, hobo-like beard and was clearly very drunk. He slurred almost every word.
‘We are disappearing,’ the man continued, draining his glass. ‘Almost every day I hear of someone that’s lost a friend and never seen them again. I’m missing a few myself.’
The man pointed to the empty seat beside him and belched before attempting to speak again. The patrons nearest to him pulled the man away from the bar and out of the tavern before he could utter another word. The red Demon’s eyes narrowed as he watched the Damned drag their inebriated companion away.
‘Remind me why we come here, Nicor,’ he growled.
‘It’s close to home,’ the grey Demon told his friend, ‘easier to stumble back from when we’re done for the day. The ale is not half bad either.’
‘It seems like they’ll let anyone in though. Let’s find a tavern where these Mortals are either banned or know their bloody place.’
Humans were second class citizens in Perdition and, much like the elderly, they were expected to be seen and not heard. Mortals were Hell’s currency in the Game of Souls and claiming them was Lucifer’s top priority but once they were dead and Damned they became little more than background noise and a nuisance as far as the Demons were concerned.
Most of the Damned were content with the arrangement. After discovering Hell was filled with brothels and bars rather than fire and brimstone, being ignored or treated like dirt by the Demons seemed a small price to pay. In truth Hell would have been very much like their worst nightmares had Lucifer not seen realm-wide eternal torture as merely a waste of his Demons’ time. Never-ending torment was labour intensive and Lucifer saved that punishment for a special few: the Damned that had killed thousands of their fellow men and women before their descent. Their actions had echoed across history and they had deprived Lucifer forever of the chance to claim those innocent souls caught up in their wars and schemes. For that transgression they suffered far worse a fate than anything a Mortal mind could envisage.
Aside from the constant and still unexplained disappearances of the Damned very little had actually changed in Perdition. Immortal lives of sin and depravity had continued unhindered and most Mortals found new friends to replace the ones that had gone missing without a trace. Rumours and theories about Hell’s “next move” persisted but with each day that passed the rank and file grew more confident that whatever was going to happen didn’t involve them. Demon and Damned alike wanted to see Perdition win the Game of the Souls but no one wanted the duty of making it happen to fall on their shoulders. The lesson learnt from Damon’s demise was still fresh in their minds; with great responsibility came the chance for great punishment in service to the Light Bearer.
The sprawling city was comprised almost entirely of small stone buildings, surrounded on all sides by an endless sea of black sand. Soul Reaper tower however could be seen from anywhere in the realm; it almost touched the majestic burning sky that gave Perdition its heat and light. It was the workplace of the Fallen; the first of the Angels to turn to Lucifer’s cause during the Rift. Inside the immense marble structure, Hell’s highest ranking officials were about to learn they had no such hope of shirking responsibility. Perdition’s Board of Directors and most important employees worked ceaselessly within the Tower to bring Lucifer’s vision to life. While most of them toiled to keep his vast city running and made plans to claim the immortal souls of specific men, women and children, a select few had been ordered to attend a secret meeting. It would be their job to set the stage for the main event.
In his favourite black handmade suit, Mastema, Tempter of Men and Cursed Accuser, arrived at the meeting twenty minutes late; as was his custom. Making sure his jet-black hair was perfectly in place the suave Demon Lord shoved the massive doors open and strode into the boardroom. The glorious and fearsome sight of the Light Bearer and Son of Morning sitting atop his throne at the head of the blackened oak table caused him to misstep slightly. A colossus of white gold and black wings, the sight of Lucifer never failed to inspire and strike fear in equal measure.
‘You think it wise to make me wait?’ asked Lucifer as Mastema took a place at the table.
Although his voice sounded like a whisper it carried clearly to every corner of the room. The contrast of the soft honeyed words coming from the Light Bearer’s massive frame always unnerved even the most fearsome of the Lords. Lucifer’s raven-dark wings flared briefly and his violet eyes held Mastema’s black in a death grip.
‘My sincerest apologies, Master,’ replied the Tempter of Men, bowing before taking his seat. ‘With my new duties and the differences in time zones I made a mistake and it shall not happen again.’
‘My knowledge of the Mortal realm is somewhat limited,’ admitted Lucifer. ‘But I am sure that time zone changes are measured in hours.’
‘For the most part, my Master, you are correct. Some however are in half-hour increments which in fact makes me ten minutes early for this meeting in Kabul.’
