Akashic_Tales Originals
Hades, Inc.: The Billionaire God of Death's Chaotic System
Chapter 6: The Intern from Heaven
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The morning sun streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Elysium Towers, casting long shadows across the polished obsidian floors of the HR department. Haiden Black stood with his arms crossed, staring at the young man seated nervously in the interview chair.
The applicant was perfect. Too perfect. His resume boasted degrees from universities that even Haiden, with all his immortal knowledge, had never heard of. His recommendation letters glowed with praise that bordered on worship. His suit was immaculate white, his tie a soft gold that seemed to catch light from angles that shouldn't exist.
Most suspicious of all, he had a faint glow around his edges that only someone with divine sight could detect.
"So, Mr... Gabriel," Haiden said, deliberately mispronouncing the name. "Why exactly do you want to intern at Elysium Corp?"
The young man, who was almost certainly not young and definitely not a man, smiled beatifically. "I've always been fascinated by your company's... innovative approach to corporate structure. The way you balance profit with purpose is truly... heavenly."
Luna, standing beside Haiden with a tablet in hand, raised an eyebrow so slightly that only someone who had known her for centuries would notice.
"Heavenly," Haiden repeated flatly. "Interesting choice of words."
"Just an expression," Gabriel said quickly, his smile never wavering. "I'm very down-to-earth, despite what my references might suggest."
[New Quest: Mentor a Celestial Being]
[Reward: Partial Immunity to Divine Surveillance (72-hour duration)]
[Penalty: Spontaneous Halo Manifestation During Your Next Board Meeting]
Haiden suppressed a sigh as the System notification appeared. Of course his father would find this amusing.
"Your application says you're particularly interested in our... special projects division," Haiden continued, flipping through the resume. "Care to elaborate on that?"
Gabriel's perfect posture somehow straightened even further. "I've heard rumors that Elysium Corp is involved in... unique ventures. The kind that transcend traditional business models."
"We're a tech company, Mr. Gabriel. We make software, hardware, and occasionally questionable decisions at holiday parties."
"Of course," Gabriel nodded earnestly. "But there are whispers about your... afterlife management systems."
The temperature in the room dropped several degrees. Luna's hand moved subtly toward the emergency button under the desk, the one that would activate the building's supernatural containment protocols.
Haiden held up a hand to stop her. "Interesting. And where might you have heard such whispers?"
"Oh, you know," Gabriel waved vaguely upward, "around."
[Quest Update: Celestial spy identified]
[Progress: 25%]
[Suggestion: Keep your enemies closer]
Haiden exchanged a look with Luna, a silent conversation passing between them. This was clearly a spy sent from Heaven to investigate rumors of Hades' new mortal identity. The smart move would be to reject the application and strengthen their mystical defenses.
But the System had other ideas. And Haiden had learned the hard way that ignoring his father's "suggestions" usually led to cosmic consequences far worse than a temporary angelic intern.
"Well, Mr. Gabriel," Haiden said, clapping his hands together with sudden enthusiasm, "I think you'd make an excellent addition to our team."
Gabriel blinked, clearly surprised by the easy acceptance. "I... would?"
"Absolutely. Your... unique perspective could be valuable. We'll start you in the special projects division, under my direct supervision."
Luna's expression remained professionally neutral, but Haiden could practically hear her mental objections.
"That's... wonderful," Gabriel said, recovering quickly. "When do I start?"
"How about right now?" Haiden smiled, a predatory gleam in his eyes. "I believe in throwing new recruits into the deep end. Sink or swim, as you mortals say."
Gabriel's perfect smile faltered slightly at the emphasis on "mortals."
"Ms. Voss will handle your paperwork," Haiden continued. "Including our standard non-disclosure agreement."
"Non-disclosure?" Gabriel repeated.
"Oh yes. Very comprehensive. Binding in all realms and dimensions. Standard corporate stuff."
Luna produced a thick contract bound in what appeared to be ordinary leather but was actually something much older and more binding. "If you'll just sign here, here, and... here."
Gabriel hesitated, pen hovering over the contract. "This seems rather extensive for an internship."
"We take intellectual property very seriously at Elysium," Haiden explained. "The penalties for breach of contract are quite... eternal."
A flicker of understanding passed across Gabriel's face. For a moment, Haiden thought he might bolt, but instead, the angel-in-disguise signed with a flourish.
The contract glowed briefly, sealing the divine pact.
[Quest Update: Celestial being bound by contract]
[Progress: 50%]
[Next step: Assign meaningful work that reveals nothing important]
"Excellent," Haiden said, taking the contract and tucking it into a drawer that seemed to lock with more than just a physical key. "Now, your first assignment."
Gabriel straightened, clearly ready for his espionage mission to begin.
"Coffee run," Haiden announced cheerfully.
"I... what?"
"Coffee. For the executive team. Ms. Voss will give you the list. Very complex orders, I'm afraid. Some might say supernaturally specific."
Luna handed Gabriel a tablet with an impossibly long list of coffee orders, some containing ingredients that definitely weren't available at mortal cafes.
"But I thought I'd be working on special projects," Gabriel protested weakly.
"Oh, you will be," Haiden assured him. "But at Elysium, we believe everyone should understand the fundamentals first. And nothing is more fundamental than caffeine."
As Gabriel left, looking slightly dazed, Luna turned to Haiden with a raised eyebrow.
"An angel," she said flatly. "You just hired an angel as an intern."
"A spy from Heaven," Haiden corrected. "And I didn't just hire him, I bound him with a contract that prevents him from revealing anything he learns here without my permission."
"Clever," Luna admitted. "But dangerous. Heaven doesn't take kindly to having their operatives compromised."
"Heaven can take it up with HR," Haiden replied dismissively. "Besides, this way we can control what information gets back to them."
"And the System approved this plan?"
Haiden tapped his temple. "Suggested it, in fact. Apparently, my father thinks this is hilarious."
Luna sighed, a sound that contained centuries of exasperation. "Your family dynamics continue to baffle me."
"Try having Chaos as a father," Haiden said with a grimace. "Family game night involved actual universes as playing pieces."
They walked together toward the executive elevator, Luna making notes on her tablet as they moved.
"We should inform the others," she said. "Aria will need to be careful around him, her angelic heritage might be recognized."
"Good point. And tell Jinx to strengthen the digital wards. Our celestial intern might try to access restricted files."
"Already messaging her," Luna confirmed, fingers flying across her screen. "What about Detective Moon? She's been calling all morning about the case."
Haiden checked his watch. "I'll meet her this afternoon. The latest victim had some interesting residue that Cerberus identified. Definitely divine in origin, but with a twist."
"A twist?"
"Fallen divine," Haiden clarified. "Someone who was once of Heaven but isn't anymore."
Luna's eyes narrowed. "That narrows it down considerably."
"Indeed. Which makes our new intern all the more intriguing. Perfect timing, wouldn't you say?"
"Too perfect," Luna agreed. "It feels like a setup."
The elevator doors opened to reveal Haiden's penthouse office. As they stepped inside, Haiden noticed something unusual on his desk, a small white feather that definitely hadn't been there earlier.
"It seems our intern left a calling card," he observed, picking up the feather. It glowed faintly at his touch.
"Sloppy for a celestial spy," Luna noted.
"Or deliberate," Haiden countered. "A message. 'We know who you are.'"
"And your response?"
Haiden grinned, a expression that had once made the bravest souls in the Underworld tremble. "Let's show our new intern exactly what kind of company he's joined."
[Quest Update: Intimidation tactics approved]
[Progress: 75%]
[Suggestion: Reveal just enough power to establish dominance]
The feather in Haiden's hand suddenly blackened, as if burned by an invisible fire, then crumbled to ash.
"I think it's time for a company orientation," he decided. "The special edition."
---
Gabriel returned two hours later, struggling under the weight of coffee carriers and looking distinctly frazzled. His perfect appearance had suffered, his white suit was stained with what appeared to be seven different types of coffee, his golden tie was askew, and his hair stuck up at odd angles.
"I don't understand," he was muttering as he entered Haiden's office. "How can anyone drink coffee with actual stardust in it? And what even is 'tears of a remorseful demon' as a sweetener option?"
"Ah, excellent, you're back," Haiden said, not looking up from his computer. "Just set those anywhere."
Gabriel carefully placed the coffee carriers on a side table, then stood awkwardly, waiting for further instructions.
"Problem?" Haiden asked, finally glancing up.
"I... couldn't find all the ingredients on the list. The barista at Celestial Brews looked at me like I was insane when I asked for 'essence of forgotten prayers.'"
"Did you try the secret menu?"
"There's a secret menu?"
Haiden sighed dramatically. "First rule of Elysium Corp: there's always a secret menu. You just have to know how to ask."
Gabriel's perfect composure cracked slightly. "And how exactly does one ask for 'liquid moonlight filtered through a phoenix feather'?"
"In the original Enochian, of course," Haiden replied as if it were obvious. "Don't they teach you anything in... where did you say you went to school?"
"Celestial Academy of Divine—" Gabriel caught himself. "I mean, Columbia. Columbia University."
"Right," Haiden said dryly. "Well, consider this your first lesson in Elysium's corporate culture: nothing is ever as it seems, and everything has at least three layers of meaning."
He pressed a button on his desk, and the office door locked with an ominous click. The windows darkened automatically, and the ambient temperature dropped several degrees.
"Now," Haiden continued, his voice taking on a subtle resonance that made the air vibrate, "let's discuss why Heaven sent a third-tier guardian angel to spy on my operation."
Gabriel froze, his eyes widening. "I don't know what you're—"
"Please," Haiden cut him off. "The fake resume, the too-perfect appearance, the literal glow around your edges that you're not quite experienced enough to fully suppress. You practically have 'HEAVEN SENT ME' tattooed on your forehead."
For a moment, Gabriel seemed to consider maintaining his cover. Then his shoulders slumped slightly.
"How did you know I was third-tier?" he asked, sounding genuinely curious.
"The gold tie," Haiden replied. "First-tier angels wear platinum. Second-tier wear electrum. Only third-tier guardians are assigned gold. Basic celestial hierarchy."
Gabriel looked impressed despite himself. "You know a lot about Heaven's organizational structure for a... tech CEO."
"I know a lot about many things," Haiden said, leaning forward. His eyes briefly flashed with an inner darkness that contained the void between stars. "Including the binding nature of the contract you signed."
The angel swallowed hard. "About that... I may have been somewhat... deceptive in my application."
"You don't say," Haiden replied dryly. "Well, deceptive or not, you're now legally, and mystically, an intern at Elysium Corp. Which means you answer to me."
"Heaven won't be pleased," Gabriel warned, though his voice lacked conviction.
"Heaven is rarely pleased about anything. That's their whole brand." Haiden stood, walking around the desk to face Gabriel directly. "But here's what's going to happen, you're going to work here, learn what I allow you to learn, and report back exactly what I permit you to report."
"And why would I agree to that?"
"Because the alternative is activating clause 27B of your contract," Haiden said pleasantly. "The one about penalties for corporate espionage. I believe it involves something creative with your wings and a dimension where time moves very, very slowly."
Gabriel paled. "That can't be legally binding."
"It's binding in ways that transcend mere legality," Haiden assured him. "But I'm offering you a better option. Be my eyes and ears in Heaven. A double agent, if you will."
"You want me to spy on... Heaven?" Gabriel looked scandalized.
"I prefer to think of it as 'enhanced celestial communication,'" Haiden replied. "You tell me what they're planning, I feed you information to take back that serves my purposes, everyone's happy."
"Except Heaven."
"Well, you can't please everyone."
Gabriel considered this, clearly weighing his limited options. "And if I refuse?"
In answer, Haiden simply smiled and allowed a fraction of his true nature to surface. The shadows in the room deepened, gathering around him like loyal pets. The air grew heavy with the weight of eons, and for just a moment, the faint outline of a black crown materialized above his head.
"Let me be clear," Haiden said, his voice now containing echoes of the countless souls he had judged. "I know exactly who and what you are, Gabriel. But you have only begun to glimpse what I am."
The angel took an involuntary step back, his celestial instincts finally recognizing the predator before him.
"You're not just a CEO," he whispered. "You're—"
"Your boss," Haiden interrupted, allowing his manifestation to recede. The room returned to normal, the oppressive atmosphere lifting. "For the duration of your internship, at least. So, what's it going to be? Double agent or clause 27B?"
Gabriel straightened his ruined tie, a gesture that seemed to help him regain some composure.
"I'll be your... communication channel," he conceded. "But I won't betray Heaven's core principles."
"I wouldn't expect you to," Haiden assured him. "I just want information. What Heaven knows, what they suspect, what they're planning."
"And in return?"
"You get to keep your wings attached to your body in their current configuration. Plus, valuable corporate experience for your resume."
Gabriel nodded slowly. "I suppose I don't have much choice."
"That's the spirit," Haiden said cheerfully, clapping him on the shoulder. "Now, your next assignment is to organize the interdimensional filing system. Jinx will show you the basics, though I should warn you, some of the files bite."
As if on cue, the office door unlocked and swung open to reveal Jinx, her multi-colored hair even more chaotic than usual.
"You called, Uncle H?" she asked, then noticed Gabriel. "Oh, is this the spy from Heaven? He's cuter than the last one."
Gabriel blinked. "Last one?"
"Don't worry about it," Haiden said dismissively. "Jinx, please show our new intern the archives. The non-lethal sections only, for now."
"Got it. Come on, Feathers," she said to Gabriel. "Let's see if you can handle files that exist in three dimensions simultaneously."
As they left, Haiden returned to his desk, feeling rather pleased with himself. The System notification appeared before him:
[Quest Complete: Celestial Being Successfully Mentored]
[Reward: Partial Immunity to Divine Surveillance unlocked for 72 hours]
[Bonus: Gained potential informant in Heaven's hierarchy]
Not bad for a morning's work, Haiden thought. He had neutralized a potential threat, gained a source of information, and satisfied the System's requirements all at once.
His phone buzzed with a text from Detective Moon:
*Another body. This one's different. No fire, just... emptiness. Like something was extracted. Need your expertise ASAP.*
Haiden frowned. A change in the killer's method was significant. Perhaps their celestial murderer was evolving, or responding to the investigation.
Either way, things were getting interesting. And if there was one thing retirement had taught Haiden, it was that "interesting" usually meant trouble.
Especially when Heaven was involved.