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The gates closed behind them the moment they entered.
Inside, the castle opened into a vast hall that defied everything Hell had taught them to expect. The floor was polished veined with faint crimson lines that glowed. Tall pillars carved and rose toward a vaulted ceiling painted in murals of fallen stars and burning heavens.
Braziers lined the walls, but their flames were controlled, elegant, blue-white fire that gave warmth without smoke. Long banners hung perfectly still, embroidered with strange sigils. There were no screams, chains or rivers of blood.
Just… an orderly castle in the middle of hell.
Kara took it in, brows knitting together. "This is not what I expected," she said quietly. "I thought it would be… worse... or look worse."
Zatanna glanced up at the ceiling, impressed despite herself. "Perhaps," she said lightly, "since one of them is a fallen angel, he still has some class."
John snorted immediately. "Yeah, try not to say that to his face."
Arthur said nothing.
He walked forward at an unhurried pace, eyes glowing faintly as his vision peeled back layers of reality. What looked empty wasn't. Demons lined the upper balconies, stood behind walls, lingered in archways, watchful, restrained, disciplined. Servants rather than soldiers. Not lesser, just… controlled, or bound by contracts.
Shadows slipped from his feet like spilled ink, spreading soundlessly along the floor, climbing columns, seeping into every corner.
Arthur closed his eyes for a brief moment.
'Just in case.'
When he opened them again, the violet glow sharpened.
"Listen," he murmured, not for the others. "Observe. Gather anything useful from these Demons. Even servants gossip."
The shadows obeyed. No sound. They vanished into the architecture itself.
A presence appeared in front of them without warning.
The figure was tall and impeccably dressed in a dark, tailored uniform reminiscent of an old-world butler. His skin was a deep, ashen red, horns curved neatly back along his skull, and his eyes burned with a subdued, intelligent light. He bowed, respectfully.
"Welcome," he said smoothly, voice refined and measured, "esteemed guests."
Kara blinked. "Esteemed?"
The demon straightened, hands folded behind his back. "Naturally. All who are granted audience with the Triumvirate are regarded as such."
Without waiting for permission, he turned and gestured down a long corridor lit by floating lanterns of cold flame. "If you would follow me."
Kara leaned closer to Arthur, lowering her voice. "Should we trust him?"
John was already walking. "Love, we're in their house. If they wanted us dead, we wouldn't have made it past the gate." He didn't even look back. "Can't get much more dangerous than this."
"I'm not scared," Kara shot back, floating forward to keep pace. "I just don't trust demons."
"Wise," John said approvingly, still not slowing.
Arthur followed calmly, he glanced at Kara. "We'll be fine, let's just go."
She hesitated, searching his face, then nodded. "If you say so." She moved closer to his side anyway.
Zatanna brought up the rear, eyes glittering with mischief as she leaned toward Kara and whispered, "Relax. Your knight in shadowy armor is right there."
Kara's cheeks immediately flushed. "Zee.. what are you saying?!"
Zatanna smirked. "Just saying you're very well protected."
Kara looked away sharply, jaw tight. 'Idiot,' she thought. 'Why is she saying this right now?!' Outwardly, she kept her composure, but internally, she was absolutely screaming.
Arthur, oblivious, or pretending to be, continued forward as the corridor opened toward something deeper, older.
The demon halted before a pair of colossal doors wrought from black iron.
He did not step closer.
Instead, he inclined his head and gestured toward the doors with an open palm.
"My lords await you inside."
John narrowed his eyes. "All three of them?"
The demon met his gaze evenly and gave a single, precise nod. "Indeed." His lips twitched, not quite a smile. "You would do well to be… respectful inside, John Constantine."
John snorted. "No trust in me whatsoever."
Kara glanced between them. "You've got some sort of past with them, don't you?"
Zatanna smiled sweetly. "It'd be more surprising if he didn't."
Arthur didn't wait.
He walked past them without a word and pushed the doors open as though they weighed nothing.
John stared after him. "Wait a min.."
He exhaled sharply. "Oh boy…"
Then he followed.
Kara and Zatanna exchanged a look and went in after them.
The chamber beyond was vast a great hall shaped like an inverted cathedral. The ceiling disappeared into shadow, punctured by slow-turning constellations of hellfire that cast a shifting light. At the far end, three elevated thrones rose, each distinct, each radiating a different kind of pressure.
On the center throne sat a man who looked… human.
An old man, white-haired and neatly groomed, wearing a perfectly tailored suit as black as the void. His posture was relaxed, almost casual, one hand resting on the arm of the throne. His eyes, however, glowed red and sharp.
To his right sat something monstrous, an insectile horror, wings folded tight against a massive frame. Compound eyes glimmered with intelligence, mandibles clicking softly as it shifted.
To the left
A Demon, a familiar looking one. Eyes burning. He leaned forward on his throne, claws digging into the armrests, gaze locked onto Arthur.
The demon servant stepped forward and bowed deeply.
"My lords," he announced, "they are here."
The insect creature's voice scraped across the hall "Leave us."
The demon straightened instantly and vanished from the chamber, the doors sealing shut behind him.
Silence followed.
Arthur stood there, violet eyes narrowing as he took in all three of them at once.
The old man smiled first.
"Welcome, friends," he said warmly, spreading his hands. "To our humble abode."
His gaze lingered on John, amusement flickering. "Ah… seeing you again, John Constantine, made me forget myself. How rude of me... the others don't know us."
He gave a soft chuckle.
"I should introduce myself properly."
He rose slightly from his throne, just enough.
"I am what they call the First of the Fallen."
He gestured languidly to his companions.
"This charming presence is Beelzebub." The insect monster clicked in acknowledgment.
"And this is Belial."
Kara says "He looks like Etrigan.."
Zatanna whispered to her "That's his father."
"We are the Triumvirate of Hell," the First continued, eyes gleaming. "An old order."
Arthur smiled at that
Amused.
The First of the Fallen noticed immediately.
"And you," he said, eyes sharpening. "What is your name, Shadowed one?"
Arthur didn't answer right away.
Instead, he lifted from the ground.
Shadows surged beneath his feet, coiling and hardening into form. In moments, a throne rose crafted from living darkness, elegant and lethal. Arthur settled into it as though it had always been there.
The Triumvirate stiffened.
John sucked in a breath. "Arthur.."
Kara's lips curved into a pleased smile.
Arthur lifted one hand, and more shadows obeyed. Three additional thrones formed, equal in height, flanking his own. Kara, John, and Zatanna were gently raised and seated as if the shadows themselves insisted on their comfort.
John shifted awkwardly. "You don't really have to.."
Arthur finally looked back at the First of the Fallen.
"Now," he said calmly, violet eyes glowing brighter, a faint smile resting on his lips, "that we are properly seated… we can converse."
The room went very still.
"I am Arthur Blackwynd," he continued, voice steady and absolute.
"The Monarch of Shadows.
And the Lord of Death."
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then the Triumvirate smiled.
Not offended anymore, they were Intrigued.
Belial leaned forward slightly, eyes narrowing. "Is that your true name?" he asked. "And also… Lord of Death?"
Arthur met his gaze without flinching.
"It is my true name," he said simply. "Do with that what you can."
The First of the Fallen laughed softly, delighted.
"Oh," he said, settling back into his throne,"this is going to be very interesting indeed."
/-\
If you Like this story! Check out my other stories! Solo leveling in Westeros.
&
If you wish to read more or simply support me than check out my patreon at
"https://www.patreon.com/FrenzyAren"
You can Get Access to 3 More Chapters OR 7 More Chapters if you want