"Andrielach?" asked the boy slowly. He stopped, not knowing if he should laugh, but on the other hand, it wasn't the first time this had happened to him. Occasionally someone confused him with someone else... mostly mortal old men, but oh well.

"You're an idiot, you know?" he asked at last.

"You told us to go away," the fool really believed this charade, mistaking him for someone he couldn't be even if he tried very hard. He didn't have time to answer him, however, because Yahweh entered the hall, who, unlike his accomplice, understood perfectly well who he was facing.

"Tiramis! My angels have reported to me that you are coming. What do you want here?" Yahweh asked.

"I know you are planning to head for Hell in a month's time. I have come to politely ask you to step aside, or I will take care of their defense," he declared, having seen Uzifiel slowly putting together what he had heard into a whole and was only just realizing that he was not facing his former master but someone he sincerely hated.

You will not take care of it.

He ignored it.

"We know you will. Do you think that's any kind of barrier?" This boy pulled a hearty smile onto his lips, and Yahweh nodded. "I'll bring you down too if necessary."

"Are you confident in what you are doing? You know I have intelligence better than you or Hell. I know what you are planning, better than your generals. Retreat while you have the chance," he hissed, resting his hand on his sword. He could take them down now, he could stop it all now.

"I won't change my mind. Hell will fall with the same bang as my throne was overthrown before, is that clear? And you, if you are reasonable, you will do nothing," Yahweh declared calmly, so Tiramis finally drew his blade, ready to strike.

"Are you sure?" he asked, but something held him in place, and he knew exactly what.

I forbid you.

He didn't lower his sword; he wanted to stop it all here and now, as long as all this chaos could be avoided. It was still possible to return the throne to the Goddess, to put it all in order... It was possible. But he didn't have that much power over himself to do anything; he belonged to the Almighty, and the Almighty wouldn't let him go one step further.

Did you hear that? Hide your weapon.

So he did, although he was boiling more and more with every passing moment.

"You won't die today, but if you send anyone to Hell, I'll smash both you and your ridiculous army. You know I can afford it, old fool," he growled, turning back to the exit. He walked quickly, trying not to explode.

You won't do anything against him because I say so.

"Why the hell are you defending him? Is this another game? I'm supposedly your son, right?" he asked angrily, looking around to see if anyone could see him muttering to himself again.

Yes, you are. I bought you. And you will do what I say, and I forbid you to touch him. It's according to my plan. I want to see if Lucifer can defend himself and how. That's why you won't tell anyone about what Heaven is preparing.

"If I do nothing, Hell will fall. They are not prepared. I will not allow it."

And what do you care about Hell? It doesn't belong to you. Let it fall. You wanted power, didn't you? That's what you asked me for last time, so listen, and you'll get it.

"As if I had any choice," snorted the one opening the portal and returning to his rooms in Hell.

"Where have you been?" Ksira had managed to arrive before him, sitting on his bed and staring at him in such a way that he would have sworn she saw through him.

"To do his business. Weapons won't sell themselves," he replied quite confidently, against his own instincts.

"You said you'd wait here. I've done the right thing, but they won't give me any more military support. I want to go back to the palace and reclaim the throne as soon as possible. Empty provokes, and the angels won't hide that I'm not there for long."

"Wait. You need soldiers. After all, the priestesses did not try to overthrow you alone. They were not the ones chanting outside the palace. You can't go in there now and take your seat, even if it's in accordance with your laws. You need an army, security. Let me act."

If only she knew, if only he could explain to her, everything would be easier. And he knew perfectly well that she was too smart to believe the lies he was straining out of himself, but here she was safe, at least for now, and she needed to know that too. He sat down beside her and took out another cigarette. There had to be some way to stop what was coming.