Fate's Design

Getting back to work

As Abaddon stepped out of the tiny airport, he was surrounded by jungle and sand. He could lose himself among the tall, slender trees, comically large elephantine leaves, and bright splashes of orchids, birds of paradise, and other of the inexplicable hodgepodge of flora. He could hear monkeys chattering away in their multitude of languages, birds shrieking and squawking with a bright flash of feathers here and there. He turned abruptly and found himself with his nose just a millimeter away from touching his nose to a spider the size of a fancy rat perched on a web that spanned the entire pathway. This was a place he could relax. Abaddon ducked underneath the spider web and into the tiny vehicle meant to be a taxi. The older man, driving the vehicle, looked up at Abaddon. Wrinkles swallowed his sharp eyes as he smiled toothlessly at the demon.

“You gonna stay here a couple weeks huh?”

The man’s clipped English was good. As he spoke, Abaddon spotted four teeth in what he had assumed was a toothless mouth.

"Yes. I'll be here two weeks then it's back to work for me.”

The demon liked the old man. He was the type of man who, although it had been by no means easy, enjoyed his life immensely. He was a genuinely happy man.

“That's good. You gotta relax every now and then. You gotta enjoy what's in front of your nose.”

The old man laughed like a hyena, slapping his knee with a gnarled, slightly arthritic hand as if he'd just told the ultimate joke that only he understood.

“I guess so. That's a good way of putting it.”

Abaddon didn't see anything funny about it. He'd spent centuries on earth and never really stopped to appreciate it as he was going to now. Centuries had passed and he finally decided to stop and breathe it in just as it was all about to end. He couldn't help but feel a bit sentimental. He'd never stopped along the way to actually enjoy what this world had to offer because he'd been constantly working to unravel it. Now that the world was on the precipice of his and Lucifer’s plan, he wasn't so certain he was ready to lose it all just yet. Yes, he'd experienced human history first hand, but he'd never taken a step back to actually let it all sink in. He remembered specific experiences, but he couldn't describe the surroundings in any real way. He'd let his moments slip away, all for a greater cause, but he was going to let it all sink in over the course of this vacation. He was going to remember this short amount of time for the rest of his existence.   

The next two weeks flew by as Abaddon spent every moment soaking up the surroundings. He swam and paddle boarded alongside whale sharks, barracudas, and an innumerable amount of varied aquatic life. He hiked every inch of the island, exploring waterfalls and caves, inspecting snakes, monkeys, birds, and insects. He took photos of everything so he would always have something to look back on and remember each moment. He refused to let all of his time on earth go to waste as he rolled centuries of wasted moments into this one short trip. He would always remember, no matter what happened afterward, the scent of the rainforest detritus, the sound of monkeys and birds as a harmonious soundtrack to this time, the bright foliage and how it all seemed to breathe and move as a single living organism would stay in the forefront of his memories.

Abaddon stepped back onto the jet at the end of his vacation. He was slightly dazed, in a trance after his time spent simply being a part of the island getaway. He barely noticed Kristine’s cement smile. He remained quiet on the flight back to San Francisco. He allowed himself to slowly get braced for the upcoming war, all the while vowing to himself that he would attempt to keep this small slice of paradise for himself to go to after the war was won. His head bounced forward as the jet touched down on the busy, slick tarmac. The artificial lights blinded him and the noises of cars, planes, and people deafened him.  Being back in the busy city reminded him of how important this war would be. The world that always should have been theirs, the world that was given to these monstrous humans, would finally be in their grasp.

“Disgusting isn't it?”

The voice that had spoken was unexpected. Abaddon looked up to see a tall, slim man. The man was clothed in a gray Burberry trench coat, collar up so that the iconic plaid was visible. His charcoal slacks skimmed the tops of obviously custom black Italian wing tips. A silvery gray silk full Windsor knot could be seen nestled in an oxblood collar. The man’s face was as perfect as if Da Vinci himself had carved it from marble. His eyes were the color of smoke with golden embers sparkling within. His hair was a deep espresso color with reds, golds, and Browns mixing together in a lush and silky combination. He was not pale, but he was not tan either. He was all at once intimidating and enticing to look at.

“Lucifer. I didn't expect to see you here. But yes, it really is quite disgusting.”

Abaddon clasped his friend’s hand. It had been many centuries since the two had seen each other. They once worked as a team, scamming and conning humans into selling their souls. They had been the downfall of the Christ child, a sad fatality of a long con. They ultimately destroyed Atlantis, claiming every soul in the city before they met their demise. The two of them, working together, we're an unstoppable force and it was time that the duo reunited and put their skills to the test once more.

“You seem different Abaddon. I think this may have been the first time you have truly relaxed. Amazing how it clears the mind and sharpens the focus.”

Abaddon dos feel different. He could more easily despise the human infection of constant progress. He no longer appreciated the raised scabs of cities and towns on the severely battered skin of the earth.

"You know, you're right. I couldn't see it as well while I was neck deep in the s**t, but now that I've been gone I can see the decay and the excrement for what it is.”

The look on Lucifer’s face, the flash of triumph and Hellfire in his eyes, told Abaddon that this was the answer he had been looking for.   

"That is good. Now we can move forward with our plan. Our minds are clear, our heads are right, and we have the fortitude and tenacity to finish the job we started before The Fall.”

Lucifer snapped his fingers over his head and the door opened in the limousine idling next to the pair. He gestured for Abaddon to slide in first and fluidly followed behind him. The two rode in silence to whatever undisclosed location they were headed. The headlights and tail lights glowed frantically all around them until they reached a deserted country road. The quiet was almost unsettling. Abaddon couldn't put his finger on why until they pulled up to an unlikely manor house and stepped out of the limousine. Other than the sound of gravel crunching underneath their feet, there were no other sounds. There were no crickets, or owls, no barking dogs, no frogs, not a single sound from a living creature. The wind didn't even blow to rustle the leaves surrounding the property. The manor, itself, was large and ancient. It was the type of house an anonymous eccentric billionaire owned in a book. One where the mysterious host invited a large group of guests to stay with him and never showed up himself while his guests met their doom one-by-one. The manor had its own personality. It crouched in the dark, surrounded by expansive fields, over grown gardens, and dried up fountains. It looked like gas lamps and candelabras would still light it. It was the type of house that had secret passageways and paintings that followed your every move with their eyes. This was the type of house that Abaddon had always envisioned owning throughout his time on the earth.

“Welcome to our headquarters. This is where we will conduct all of our business for the duration of the war. I've already taken the liberty of having your things brought here. It is an undisclosed location that only you and I can get to by ourselves. One or both of we must reveal the location to anyone or anything that we need to have here. Time as you know it does not exist here, neither does life. The only things that exist here are those we wish to exist."

They had reached the heavy mahogany double doors and pulled them open to reveal the interior of the mysterious manor.

“This isn't what I expected. Where are Riffraff and Magenta? Where are Dr. Frank N. Furter and Rocky? Columbia and Eddie, Janet and Brad?”

Lucifer liked quizzically down at his companion.

“Are you quite alright Abaddon?”

Abaddon snorted a soft laugh and looked back up at his friend.

“I'm sorry. I forget you haven't spent time here in quite a few centuries. It is a reference to what is called a cult classic."

Lucifer seemed satisfied enough at his right hand's explanation as he closed the doors behind them and continued into the foyer.

"I see. You will have to show me so I understand. Come, let me show you where we shall be staying.” 

A large crystal chandelier encaged in a wrought iron sphere dominated the foyer. Abaddon guessed it was the size of a young elephant. The light from it sparkled across the polished obsidian floor. Underneath the chandelier was a koi pond surrounded by ferns and tropical flowers. The large multicolored fish swam lethargically in the dimly lit foyer. As Abaddon looked up, he realized that the roof of the foyer was glass with ebony beams for structure. They exited the atrium-like foyer and entered a decadent living room. The style was a mixture of modern and antique European. Large worn leather armchairs flanked large, low cream-colored sectionals. The coffee table was half of a giant brushed steel steamer trunk. Edison lights and Tesla coils dominated the modest lighting and yet another, albeit smaller, of the caged chandeliers hung from the ceiling above the table. The floors were antique hardwood stained a warm mahogany. Dominating the center space, keeping the floors safe from the furniture, was a huge cream wool rug. The lines were clean and comfortable. It was casual and chic at the same time. And the entirety of the rest of the manor was decorated in the same fashion-from the bedrooms to the kitchen. Lucifer enjoyed his luxuries and it was as if the entire interior had been copied from one of those high quality, opulently expensive furniture company catalogs. This would be a comfortable headquarters for them to continue planning and eventually implement their plan.