Wrath materialized in one of the temples found in Hell. Places where demons would go to get away from humanity. “Wrath, sir, we did not realize you would be back so soon.” One of the groveling whelps squeaked out as they moved out of her way after her sudden appearance.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Did I not meet your expectations for how I behave myself?” Wrath deadpanned staring into his eyes. She took great delight in how the demon squirmed in place. It quickly peeped out in denial. “Is Envy available?”
“No, sir, I believe she needed to feed.”
Wrath scoffed. “Fine, I’ll wait.”
“You really don’t need to-”
“I’ll wait,” Wrath said through gritted teeth. She placed her hands in the pocket of her suit coat. It was a tradition starting a little under two centuries ago for demons to wear formal clothing. Every few centuries the demons would pick and choose fashion from humans. She twirled around the trackers that Pride grave her in her fingers. You better be quick, Envy. “I’ll just wait in her…” What did she call it? “Office.”
“Oh, of course, we’ll need to go into the 8th circle.” Wrath delighted in the dread spreading over the demon. It smartly masked his distaste and unease. She could still read it, of course. At least he was smarter than some of the other demons who felt they were entitled to hassle her. It had been a while since that happened. Especially since she had begun to maim the ones who did.
Wrath had teleported herself down into the 7th circle. She was given dominion of it along with the 5th. She spent the majority of her time in hell in the latter. Most demons found watching the souls of men endlessly fighting more entertaining. Wrath didn’t care how she spent her time anymore.
They started to make their way to Envy’s 8th circle. The demon accompanying her quickly learned that Wrath wasn’t going to speak to him after a relatively short attempt at small talk. They soon began to pass one of the centaurs of the first section. Hopefully, they won’t talk to me. She thought with a huff. “Wrath, sir.” Or not.
“What do you want?” Wrath groaned.
“Oh, sorry I thought you were here for inspection.” The centaur relaxed its arms. Twirling its fingers over the bow.
“Do I normally come here for inspection?” Wrath glared.
“No, sir. Wait hold that thought!” The centaur quickly noticed movement behind it. “Get back in the blood Alex!” Wrath peaked over him. Noticing Alexander the Great try to crawl his way out of the boiling blood. The centaur readied it’s bow and quickly shot him in the eye. Sending him back down into the river. “Sorry my prince, they try that from time to time.”
“Not an issue. If you would excuse me I have a meeting.” She didn’t wait for his reply. She turned and left the demon following her to say his goodbyes then quickly catch up. Time worked differently in Hell. Wrath wouldn’t have to worry about the human growing antsy. She could walk from Limbo to the center and still not worry for time. She felt the air quickly become heavy as her thoughts ended. Her eyes quickly met then avoided the trees that lined the path. Then continued on to the sides for as long as she could see. She quickened her pace, leaving the demon behind her. She refused to tell him to hurry up. It would be an acknowledgment of her unease in the forest.
The wails and screams of the trees along with the screeching of the Harpies never failed to creep out Wrath. She had watched men rip each other apart but somehow the sight of the harpies ripping leaves off trees was worse. They weren’t really trees of course. She thought as her eyes could see the light of the end of the forest down the path. She quickened her pace. All sins deserved their punishments she was told long ago. Even hers. Yet when she looked at the trees. Trees that had once been those who took her their own lives she felt an emotion she hated. So she tended to keep them out of her gaze. The stone ground became sand under her boots.
The demon caught up to her. Huffing behind her. “Why do I need you exactly?” She glared him down.
“You have never walked alone to lady Envy’s abode, sir. It’s easy to get lost in the 8th.” She scoffed and began to walk. Motioning to him to follow. Fire fell down from the “sky” like raindrops. Lading on the humans who did their best to dodge. She rarely spent time outside her chambers in the 5th circle. Her needs would be tended to by the demons under her command. She would simply spend her time mindlessly watching the brawls. While attending the occasional meeting and putting up with tasks or annoyances. After her first century or so she found this routine and rarely strayed from it.
Eventually, the screams and heat ceased. Replaced by cold dead air as she stared down a cliff. The cliff that started the Malebolge.
The demon stood slightly behind her as he brushed his vessel’s hair away from his eyes. He watched as Wrath silently stared down the cliff. She glanced at him then back into the Abyss. “Do we just… jump?” She quietly asked before stepping forward. She stood mere inches away from the cliff to which she couldn’t see a bottom.
“No, sir.” The demon stepped forward. “Normally we just teleport ourselves down.” Since you don’t seem to want to do that for whatever reason. He added in his head. “We can call on another to take us down.”
“Pardon?” Wrath replied as he walked forward. Eying him from her position next to him. Glaring at how he towered over her small form.
“Hey, Geryon! Time to do your job!” He called out into the darkness. It echoed through the pitch-black air. Cutting through the silence that existed before it like a knife. After the sound dissipated. They stood in silence. Wrath glared towards him for a second before returning her gaze downwards. She began to hear the sound of rocks hitting the ground below. It got louder as the ground shook before quieting down to a hush. She could hear the faint sounds of something moving in the darkness. “I would stand back,” Her companion stated. She moved away from the cliff’s edge. The paw of a lion emerged from the darkness soon after. It landed on the cool stone and scratched its way near the cliff. The beast which Wrath guessed was named Geryon pulled itself up. Her eyes met that of a man. However, aside from the face, the figure, no the form in front of her, was nowhere near human. As it pulled itself up from the abyss her eyes quickly drifted across its body. Two grotesque wings emerged from what she believed was the body of a dragon. Not that she had much knowledge of such creatures. As it fully sat on the cliff’s edge her eyes glimpsed the end of the creature. The mismatch of living parts ended with a tail resembling that of a scorpion.
“Why am I surprised at this point?” Wrath muttered under her breath. The demon that accompanied her stepped forward.
“Geryon we need a ride down.” He started to step forward. A smile on his face. Geryon raised into a more regal position. He sat on his scaled hind legs, his feline arms holding himself up. His human face. Which Wrath was still quite unnerved by. Stared down at her. He eyed her with suspicion. His face was normal. Oddly inviting to Wrath. Like that of a trusted friend. Wrath wasn’t used to such phenomena anyway. Still looking upon his face filled her with calm. She hated it. His mouth sat under a bushy white mustache. Long white hair extended down past where flesh met scale.
An aged somber voice rang out from his lips. “76, it is good to see you.” His gaze turned to her demon companion. She hadn’t bothered to ask his name. At least now she had something to call him by. “Tell me, why do you call upon me? My purpose is to aid humans traveling through the circles.”
“Well you see, Ger-” 76 began to speak. However, Wrath swiftly interrupted him.
“That doesn’t matter.” She walked forward. “I am one of the seven princes. I am entitled to not have subordinates asking questions when they aren't privy to the answers!” She snapped at him. I can’t believe I am having to do this for Pride. She blew air through her nostrils. Never again will I relax around anyone. “So will you take us down or not?” She said through gritted teeth. Once, I’m done with whatever Pride wants me to do. I can get back to dealing with that stupid human. Then finally I can be alone again.
Geryon studied her in silence for many moments. He chuckled before sweeping himself down into an odd bow. His paws moved awkwardly into the stance but with an underlying grace to them. “Of course, my prince,” He mocked. Wrath’s eye twitched.
She did her best to try to keep her cool. If she… had a moment, yes, had a moment with someone under Envy’s command. It most certainly would reach her. Before that, however, it would reach other demons. So close to the 9th circle it would certainly spread to there before long. Wrath could only guess that some other demon was taking Pride’s place at Lucifer’s side without his lapdog around. Another demon might tell Lucifer on a whim about what I did. I rarely leave my palace. Lucifer hasn’t told me to do anything. I have no reason to leave my palace. He would have no reason not to inquire about my actions. He’ll find out. Wrath knew that Pride was most certainly going against him. Pride only left the 9th circle on his orders. Until she disappeared a while ago. Until such orders happened she eagerly awaited a command like the bitch Wrath knew she was. If Lucifer finds out. Wrath closed her eyes. Lucifer won’t find out.
Wrath took a deep breath. What did that human teach me, again? Ah right. She closed her eyes and began to count to twenty. After reaching four she got annoyed and quit. “Great!” She said in a false happy tone. “So do we just climb on your back then?” After finishing her question she began to grind her teeth. Most demons can easily see through the facades of others. No reason to not try though.
Geryon turned around. He studied her briefly before sliding his body down into a lying position. His grotesque wings sat tightly against his body. Wrath and 76 took this as an invitation and began to walk forward. Wrath motioned for 76 to go ahead of her. She carefully watched him climb up on the back of Geryon. Stepping up near the end of his body Wrath used his leg as a step to climb. She inwardly cringed in shame as she crawled up Geryon’s back. Slowly scooting forward to get closer to where she guessed she was supposed to ride. “This is so humiliating…” She muttered under her breath. If 76 heard her he didn’t take any notice. She braced herself tightly holding onto scaled skin.
In a rush, she suddenly found herself in the air. Still on the back of some hybrid demon, but in the air regardless. For a second she forgot where she was. As the cold lifeless air of Hell brushed on her face she was quickly brought back down. Wrath quickly glanced around into the dark void as they soared into the abyss. However, there was nothing to see, only an unnatural black. She was surprised, however, to see how far down this cliff truly went. When she first became a Prince of Hell she was forced to do a tour of the circles. However, they took a much different root. Using magic to traverse was much easier and faster. She could only guess at this point how far down they were. When a gradual noise entered her ears. The distant screams of those tortured in the 8th Circle. On her first tour, they had just teleported down. She didn’t get to hear the dead silence be lit up with the screams of thousands. If she was being honest she would say she hated that sound. She wasn’t honest with anyone, however, so she adored it.
We must be halfway down. She thought. She scanned down to look for the bottom. Eventually, that familiar stone platform entered her view. She remembered the tour. As Pride the first powerful demon she had met. Paraded her around Hell announcing the “new” Wrath. Before descending to the 9th to meet Lucifer and the other Princes.
Geryon elegantly landed on the platform. Wrath clumsy slid herself off his back. Her feet landed in the 8th once again.
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