CHAPTER 4
1267 Words
I like drinking tea without sugar. It has the same taste of life: bitter
We arrived at the palace without a problem. Nothing strange actually, probably only an i***t would have attacked one of Hell's overlords.
We came near the entry gate. Two guards were standing still with their spears crossed over the gate. I came near them and took out Lucifer's letter. They immediatly "uncrossed" the spears and stood at attention. They knew me well. I put a hand inside one of my pockets and took two silver coins, which i trew to them. They took them and hid them in their armors. I always wondered why Lucifer still used guards. They were so... medieval. Still, I wasn't going to be the one that judged the king of Hell.
We passed through the entry gate. It opened into a garden. It had green grass, flowers and some apple trees. At the center proudly stood a fountain. Probably this was only place in Hell which had such things. In the corner of my eye I saw a gardener working on some rose bushes.
We reached the entrance door and knocked. After a few seconds the door was opened by a demoness. She was a cat demon and she was wearing a victorian household dress. She smiled and, opening the door wider, bowed a bit and said: -It's a pleasure to see you again Poker Face.-
-The pleasure is mine my dear Alina. Now, could you please stop bowing, you make me feel older than I am. And you know I don't really like these formalities.-
She stopped bowing and smiled, then she hugged Anya. The two of them had become friends from the first time I had brought her to the palace. Under the mask I smiled.
After a few seconds the two separed and Alina composed herself.
-His Majesty Lucifer is waiting for you.-
-Very good, you don't have to come with me, I already know where to go.-
That said I took Alina's hand and, after feeling inside my pocket, I placed on it a golden coin. I always gave her one as a present because I didn't see her often. Her smile widened.
Here in Hell were accepted amny kinds of "currencies". Normally dollars were used but gold, silver and wrought obsidian were accepted, thus having a much higher value. One time I also heard that wrought obsidian could be used as a weapon by shadow demons. Quiet interesting kind, I had always liked them. They could be very useful but I never really decided to buy the services of one.
-Thank you very much Poker Face!- she said.
-For what my dear?-
I walked through the vestibule and reached a double door that, I knew, led to the main hall. I went through it and found myself in a room with walls covered in red wallpaper with apples drawn on them. "One thing for sure, this faily really likes apples or really hates doctors" I thought to myself. On the walls were also many family paintings. One in particular showed Lucifer, Lilith and their daughter Charlie smiling while wearing formal clothes. Every time I saw it I wondered how the heck they were able to smile so much for so long. It really was a mistery to me.
At the two sides of the room were two flights of marble stairs that led to the first floor. I had been there many times when Charlie was still a little girl. She loved to play with all the mechanical toys I gifted to her. At least I still had my fantasy from my previous life.
The floor was covered in red carpeting.
And then, at the center of the room, stood him, the King of Hell: Lucifer.
I bowed a little and said: -My lord.-
He snikered and said: -Quit with that s**t, you know I hate it. I'm not some kind of... you know what, just stop it.-
I lifted my gaze and said: -Ok. You know you can move right. Staying put in that position must be very uncomfortable.-
The whole time he had been putting all his weight, if he weighted something, on his sceptre and stayed at a forty-five degrees inclination just to stare directly at my eyes. He smiled showing his white teets.
-So, what's the situation? What's so important that convinced you to call me with such a hurry?-
He didn't answer me. He turned around and began to walk towards a door that was on the opposite side from the door I entered. I followed him without saying a word. Then he spoke: -Poker Face, you know well that Hella is a dangerous and violent place.-
-It's been thirty years since I fell down here and you're here from the dawn of creation so yes, I know it.-
-Già.- He said marking the "G".
-Did you call me here to see if I've studied banalities?-
-No, no, dont worry, it's something much more serious.-
We reached the double doors and entered into another room. It was smaller and, like the rest of the palace, it had a red wallpaper with apples. At the left of the room were some windows that showed the garden outside and glimpses of the city. At the right side of the room were a brick fireplace, a table and three lined chairs. Because it was day outside the fireplace wasn't lit up.
We sat there. The same way we did many times in many years. It was so familiar.
-So, will you finally tell me why you called me here?-
Lucifer smiled and took a bell from the center of the table. Nearly immediatly a butler appeared and said: -You called Sir?-
-Yes Alvin. Could you bring us some tea?-
-Immediatly Sir.- and he hurried away to oblige.
-How long are you going to keep me hanging. I don't have a noose around my neck.-
He looked at me for a second, then he asked: -Do you remember my daughter Charlie?-
-Obviously, I'm her uncle.-
-Well, she decided to try change the situation here in Hell. She opened a Hotel in which she wants to rehabilitate the souls of the damned so they can go to Heaven.-
-Ah, right. She did an interview this morning at the "666 news" to advertise it. It didn't go very well actually.-
In that moment Alvin came back with a plate on which were set two cups and a teapot. He put them down in front of us and started to pour us some tea. When he finished the operation I took a golden coin and threw it to him. He took it without hesitation and put it in one of his pockets. Then he excused himself and went out.
-You're pampering them too much.- said Lucifer.
-Mine the money, mine the way I spend it.- I replied.
-Right, right. Well, going back to our conversation, you know all too well Charlie. Even if she didn't succed in the interview she won't surrender.-
-You're right.-
-And, as you know, Hell is full of demons that would find it fun to destroy everything she's working for.-
-Where do you want to go with this?-
Lucifer's smile turned into a grin. He sipped some tea. -I want you to go at Charlie's hotel and sort of become her bodyguard.-
Silence fell in the room. I sipped some of my tea, then I said: -Are you asking me to or are you ordering me to?-
-I'm asking you this as a friend.-
Another sip of tea.
-I accept.-
- Writer
