“So how’s it feel, being such a high and mighty protector and condemning one of your own species to punishment?” asked Gryft with contempt. His hands were tied and his magic had been blocked off.

“Um, not that bad, in all honesty,” Iris said, furrowing her brow. “You were the one kidnapping angels and who scratched my wing. I think some punishment is in order.”

“You don’t get it,” he snarled as they walked into The Temple. “I don’t see why you worship the slab of marble.”

“Gryft the carvation,” called out a booming chorus of voices. “You have been here many times before for punishment. It seems the lessons have not sunk in.”

“I was always a slow learner,” he grinned. 

Iris had to admire his ability to keep up his cynical joking even in the face of what was basically a deity. Although, Iris still wasn’t sure what The Temple was… She and all the other carvations feared the power it housed though. Legends of its wrath had made sure of that.

“Let’s see…” Iris mumbled. “Gryft has been charged with endangerment of Heaven and its inhabitants, and attacking one of his own without motive.”

“Do you deny these crimes?”

“I have a thing or two about that last one actually,” he said.

“Do you deny these crimes?”

“Ugh, fine, no I don’t. I’ll accept whatever you gotta do to me.”

“Then you shall face your punishment.”

“Is this going to be like last ti-”

In a flash of light, Gryft disappeared mid-sentence. What The Temple did with him wasn’t any of Iris’ business, but she still got curious. She’d poked around The Temple when she was younger, but the warning that it gave her was enough to deter Iris from pressing further.

“You may leave now.”

“Alright…” She started to walk out but paused for just a moment. “Can I ask what happened to him?”

“That is none of your concern. Now leave so we may deal with him.”

“Ok, Temple.”

*   *   *   *   *

Iris, Lisha, Beatrice, and Max were all eating dinner together in the castle in Hell. They all had been going through some tiring weeks, so the four of them thought another group dinner would be a bit fun, and cooking it themselves could only be chaotic fun. Most of it was Beatrice freaking out as Lisha kept adding butter to the pan.

“Stop it!” Beatrice freaked out as Lisha added a whole half stick of butter just to piss her off. “You’re just ruining it!”

“It’s just a little butter,” she teased.

“It’s like butter soup! You’re going to ruin my diet!”

“Your body’s just fine, babe.”

“I can’t maintain a bodybuilder body like that.”

“You need to eat enough to gain the muscle for bodybuilding,” Lisha said, rolling her eyes.

“Hmph.”

“You think she’ll ever run out of steam?” Iris asked.

“Which one?” laughed Max.

“Sorry, I meant which one do you think will run out of steam first?”

“My sister for sure. I don’t think she ate breakfast or lunch.”

“Ah well, that’ll do it…” Iris’ smile fell a bit as she looked at her sister and Beatrice fighting over the spatula.

“Something wrong?” Max asked softly.

“It’s just…”

“Your mind still on the missing angels?”

“Yeah… They just disappeared on my watch and I have no clue where they could’ve gone. They’re nowhere in Heaven or Hell.”

“You’ll find them,” she said surely. “Maybe I can ask a few friends for help too.”

“Thanks,” she sighed.

“C’mon then,” Max said, yanking Iris’ halo from over her head and playing with it.

“Alright, alright,” Iris laughed, trying to take it back. Max held it out of reach though, and Iris chased her around the castle for it all the while Beatrice’s screams for Lisha to stop adding butter echoed throughout the home.