Wrath stared at the seemingly endless 8th Circle and began to walk. Leaving Geryon behind. 76 waving him off and thanking him before catching up to her. An old stone bridge extended for as far as her eyes could see. It was one of many bridges. Forming a loose grid leaving empty spaces in between. The stone of the bridge’s boundary extended deep into the darkness on some. Others extended just far enough so no humans could escape. Wrath glanced into the pit they were walking beside. Men and women screamed as they tried to avoid snakes. Not that they can really be avoided. She inwardly chuckled. There was most certainly a bottom to this pit. It was just covered up by said snakes. She watched as one bit a scrawny man before he quickly turned into a goat.
She was always baffled by the 8th Circle. Envy may be the least “demonic” Prince but at least she knows how to torture people. Wrath thought. In Hell the punishment fits the crime. At least since the mid-1300s. Wrath had heard that some human wrote a book that inspired the demons of Hell. Before Hell was much more like her circle, violence with a dash of fire. Wrath rolled her eyes. It would have been much more manageable to just burn and torture them. But no, that would be too fuckin’ easy. Her eyes drifted to her left meeting rows of feet on fire. She could only imagine what they did. To be buried upside down and lit on fire. For a moment she considered asking 76. That would be admitting she didn’t know. She couldn’t risk it and continued onward.
I don’t remember it being this large. Wrath could feel a slight ache in her feet. She pressed onward wanting to get her Pride bullshit over with. After passing numerous areas she began to see the outline of Envy’s Palace. It towered over the edge of the 9th Circle. Dark ashen stones came into view. Behind it sat the cliff going straight down into the next circle. Chained of giants stood awkwardly on the ice that glazed the 9th’s ground. Their large figures stood hauntingly over the palace.
They eventually made it to Envy’s doorway. A large stone door decorated with intricate carvings. That towered over them with a dark presence. However, Wrath knew that it’s outward appearance betrayed the inside. 76 moved to knock before Wrath pushed the door open with a huff. She left a flustered 76 behind as she made her way through the hallways. To where she knew Envy resided. She wanted to wait till they were alone to tell him to leave. The 8th circle, most often called the Malebolge by the stuck up ones. Was host to many demons, however, as she walked the halls. Her presence invited the gaze of the Malebranche that littered the halls. Most of the other demons knew to avoid her gaze at all costs. Her eyes flitted to the artwork that covered the walls. There’s more now. Wrath scoffed. The arts were a popular topic for demons. Conversations about preferred torture methods can only last so long. Long before she became a prince, demons began to find interest in the subjects. That spiraled into wearing the latest fashions, eating meals, and other disgusting human-
Wrath could feel blood dripping down her chin. Of fucking course. She brought up her sleeve and whipped the blood from her laceration. She scoffed. Way to go, why don’t you just bite your lip off. As she began to near Envy’s wing the number of demons lessened. Leaving only her and 76. They could hear the distant sounds of a record player in Envy’s office. As they got closer the paintings changed. Envy always displayed the newest pieces at the entrance. So as they got closer and closer the paintings began to age. Some had been delicately restored while others sat yellowed and chipped. Wrath had been given the knowledge long ago that she also was more emotionally attached to these pieces. Her favorites she kept in her office. Created long before Envy traveled. Intimate paintings and illustrations of long-dead Celtic kings and figures. Landscapes humanity has almost certainly marred. A few sketches of her form from artists that she fed on.
Wrath stared at the old wood door they had arrived at. “Leave.” She stomped over and moved to open it. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw 76 open his mouth. “Return to your post in the 7th Circle. Do not speak of this.”
76 closed his mouth. He thought for a second before Wrath’s glare prompted him to speak. “Of course, my prince.”
As he teleported away she sighed to herself. She reached out for the doorknob. Gripping it when suddenly the door flung open hitting her in the face. She fell to the ground before quickly pulling herself up. Anxiously looking around to make sure none saw what happened. Out from the doorway emerged a well-veselled demon. It looked down at her with its dark eyes. They gleamed with hatred before simmering down into a false calm. “You must be the new Wrath. Honestly, I must thank you for maiming your predecessor. He was such a brute. I was surprised to learn he was defeated so easily. Of course, he would have been nothing to someone like me.” Her honeyed voice glided over every word. She placed a pale hand to her chest, closing her eyes. When she opened them again there was a faint twinkling. “Yet the job was done so I rejoice.”
“Who the fuck are you?”
Wrath saw a flash of anger in the woman's face. Before it was covered up with a smile. “Oh yes, apologies my dear.” She elegantly moved into a bow. Her hand brushed up to the lavish fabric that flowed down her form. “I am Vanity, it's a pleasure to finally meet you.” She lifted her hand in the air. Wrath simply stared at it with a raised eyebrow.
“Oh, you're the demon Lucifer kicked out.” Wrath smirked as she watched Vanity’s eye twitch.
“Oh come now that’s not exactly what happ-” Wrath cut her off.
“No, I remember when I joined. Pride mentioned that you and another demon named were kicked out. Also that you changed your name. What was that name again?” Wrath did her best to make her voice sound as innocent as possible.
“Oh, I don’t go by that name anymore so it doesn’t matt-” Wrath cut her off again. Enjoying the annoyance she could tell was building in Vanity.
“Oh good. I didn’t bother remembering the name of a lowly demon like you.” Wrath watched as Vanity struggled to keep a calm face. Vanity moved her hands behind her back. Wrath watched as red drops fell to the ground. At least I’m able to have some fun today.
“Well, it’s been just… grand meeting you. I’m guessing you're here to see Envy. I best be on my way.” Wrath watched Vanity start to crack. Wrath turned around happy with herself and Vanity began to walk away. After waiting for Vanity to not be checking. She glanced back. Noting the deep red gouges that lined the arms of her vessel.
After Vanity turned the corner she entered Envy’s office.
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Vanity saw out of the corner of her eye that Wrath spotted her bleeding. That didn’t matter. She did what she needed to accomplish. Rounding several corners she entered the small long empty room Apathy was hiding in. “I bugged Envy’s office.” She met his vessel’s eyes before leaning against the wall. Dusting away the grime that covered it. Not like it’ll matter. She thought. This vessel is ruined anyway. I liked this one too…
“It seems our plan’s timeline has been moved up.” She watched as he raised his eyes from the floor and to her. Holding her gaze for mere seconds before going back to kicking around the pebble at his feet. “Are you going to ask why?” She said through gritted teeth.
“Not really,” He sighed out.
Vanity sighed before walking over with a kind smile. Then brutally stomped the rock into a pile of dust. Ruining her expensive shoes in the process. “I ran into Wrath on the way to Envy’s office. In the centuries she’s been a prince she has only gone to anyone else’s palaces on Pride’s orders. Pride’s in fucking Heaven so that can’t be happening!” She watched as Apathy sadly stared at the dust pile. She grabbed his throat dragging him off the box he sat on and forced him to the wall. Forcing his eyes to meet hers. “Change of plans! Listen in on whatever Wrath is seeing Envy for. Tell me word for fucking word.” She stomped over to the adjacent wall. Leaving Apathy to weakly sliding to the ground. His head of brown curls covered in the dust Vanity stirred up. She brushed her fingers against the cold stone forming a portal. “I have to get a new vessel. Send the address of the first one on the list,” She said with a huff before stepping into the swirling black portal.
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