Akashic_Tales Originals
Hades, Inc.: The Billionaire God of Death's Chaotic System
Chapter 8: Luna's Audit
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Luna Voss had been managing finances for a very long time.
In her mortal life, a brief flicker of existence in 15th century Vienna, she had been a merchant's daughter with an uncanny talent for numbers. After her transformation, that talent had only grown sharper. Five centuries of watching economies rise and fall, currencies come and go, and financial systems evolve had given her a perspective few accountants could claim.
Which was why the discrepancies in Elysium Corp's books were so deeply troubling.
"This makes no sense," she muttered, scrolling through the digital ledger on her tablet.
It was 3 AM, and Luna sat alone in her office, a sleek, windowless space forty floors below Haiden's penthouse. The lack of windows wasn't an aesthetic choice but a practical one; vampires and sunlight had a famously adversarial relationship.
The office was illuminated only by the soft glow of her screens and a single lamp that cast light specifically calibrated to mimic moonlight. On her desk sat a crystal goblet filled with a dark red liquid that definitely wasn't wine, though the vintage was excellent, O negative, 1986, a very good year for blood donors.
Luna took a sip as she continued to examine the financial records. Since learning Haiden's true identity, she had gained access to a separate set of books, the ones that tracked not just Elysium Corp's mortal business but its supernatural dealings as well.
And those books were a mess.
Accounts that had been active for millennia showed recent withdrawals. Soul-credit transfers that should have been routed through the Underworld's central banking system had been diverted to unauthorized accounts. Worst of all, the emergency fund, a reserve of power and resources meant to maintain Hell's operations in case of divine catastrophe, had been depleted by nearly sixty percent.
"He's been gone for six months," Luna said to the empty room. "How did no one notice this?"
The answer, of course, was bureaucracy. Hell's administrative system had been designed by Haiden to run itself in his absence, for short periods. No one had anticipated that the God of Death would fake his own demise and retire to Seoul to become a tech CEO.
Luna sighed and pulled up another file, this one containing the employment records of Elysium Corp's supernatural staff. Nearly thirty percent of the company's employees weren't human, a fact carefully concealed from mortal authorities and shareholders alike. Some were minor deities seeking refuge from fading worship. Others were creatures of myth adapting to the modern world. A few were actually damned souls working off their sentences through corporate service.
All of them had been under Haiden's protection. And now, with Hell's finances in disarray, that protection was at risk.
A soft knock at her door interrupted her thoughts.
"Enter," she called, quickly switching her screen to display ordinary corporate spreadsheets.
The door opened to reveal Gabriel, the angelic intern, looking distinctly uncomfortable. His white suit was rumpled, his golden tie askew, and his hair, which normally glowed with subtle divine light, appeared dull and lifeless.
"Ms. Voss," he said hesitantly. "I apologize for the late hour, but I was told you might still be here."
Luna raised an eyebrow. "Angels don't sleep, do they?"
"No, but we do observe proper business hours," Gabriel replied with a hint of disapproval. "Unlike some... nocturnal entities."
Luna smiled, deliberately allowing her fangs to show just slightly. "Did you need something, Mr. Gabriel, or did you just come to critique my work schedule?"
The angel shifted uncomfortably. "Mr. Black asked me to deliver this to you personally." He held out a small obsidian box sealed with what appeared to be ordinary wax but was actually solidified divine energy.
Luna took the box carefully. "He couldn't text like a normal CEO?"
"He said this matter required... traditional methods of communication."
Luna nodded, understanding immediately. Some information was too sensitive for digital transmission, especially with Heaven potentially monitoring Elysium's networks.
"Thank you," she said, setting the box aside. "Is there anything else?"
Gabriel hesitated, clearly struggling with some internal conflict. "May I speak freely, Ms. Voss?"
"That depends entirely on what you intend to say."
"It's about Mr. Black," Gabriel said, lowering his voice despite the room being secure against supernatural eavesdropping. "I know what and who he really is."
"Do you now?" Luna kept her expression neutral.
"Yes, and I don't understand how you can work for him," Gabriel continued. "You're a vampire, but you're not inherently evil. Your soul still has the capacity for redemption. Yet you willingly serve the Lord of the Underworld."
Luna leaned back in her chair, studying the angel with eyes that had witnessed centuries of human folly and divine hypocrisy.
"First," she said calmly, "I don't 'serve' anyone. I'm the Chief Financial Officer of a corporation that happens to be run by a deity in retirement. Second, your understanding of good and evil is remarkably simplistic for a celestial being."
"There's nothing simplistic about divine law," Gabriel protested.
"Divine law," Luna repeated with a soft laugh. "Tell me, Gabriel, in your extensive training at the Celestial Academy, did they ever teach you about the economic realities of afterlife management?"
The angel blinked. "I don't see how that's relevant."
"Of course you don't." Luna took another sip of her blood, letting the silence stretch uncomfortably. "Do you know why I work for Haiden Black?"
"Immortality? Power? Protection from divine judgment?"
"Fairness," Luna corrected. "In all my centuries of existence, he is the only divine entity I've encountered who judges based on actions rather than arbitrary rules. Who understands that morality exists in shades of gray, not black and white."
Gabriel looked skeptical. "He's the God of Death. He literally sends souls to eternal torment."
"He sends souls where they belong based on the lives they led," Luna countered. "And he created a system with the possibility of redemption and growth. Can Heaven claim the same flexibility?"
The angel's silence was answer enough.
Luna sighed. "Look, I understand your position. You were sent here to spy on a deity who's supposed to be your enemy. But if you're going to be effective in your role, either as a spy or as a double agent, you need to understand that the divine politics you've been taught are largely propaganda."
"That's blasphemy," Gabriel said, but without much conviction.
"That's reality," Luna replied. "Now, was there anything else you needed, or can I get back to preventing a supernatural financial crisis?"
Gabriel's eyes widened slightly. "Financial crisis? What financial crisis?"
Luna realized she had said too much. "Nothing that concerns Heaven. Just some... accounting irregularities."
"In Hell's finances?" Gabriel pressed, suddenly interested. "That could be relevant to my... assignment."
Luna considered her options. The angel could potentially be a useful ally, especially if Heaven was somehow involved in the financial discrepancies she had discovered. But trusting a celestial spy was risky at best.
Before she could decide, a notification appeared on her tablet, an alert from Elysium's supernatural security system.
"We'll have to continue this conversation another time," she said, standing abruptly. "There's been a breach in the eastern perimeter."
Gabriel looked alarmed. "What kind of breach?"
"The kind that triggers alarms specifically calibrated to detect divine energy," Luna replied, already moving toward the door. "Which means either one of your colleagues has decided to pay us a visit, or our celestial killer has found a new target."
"I should come with you," Gabriel offered, surprising them both.
Luna paused, studying him. "Why would you help defend Elysium against a potential heavenly attack?"
"Because I'm bound by contract to this company," Gabriel said, sounding slightly bitter. "And because... I'm starting to think there might be more to this situation than Heaven has told me."
Luna nodded, making a quick decision. "Fine. But stay behind me, follow my instructions exactly, and if you betray us, remember that vampires can move faster than angels can fly."
"Noted," Gabriel said dryly.
Together, they hurried toward the security center, an unlikely alliance formed in the face of a common threat. As they moved, Luna sent a quick text to Haiden:
*Possible celestial intruder. Eastern perimeter. Bringing the intern. Financial discrepancies worse than expected. We need to talk.*
His reply came almost instantly:
*On my way. Don't let Gabriel get smited. Paperwork would be a nightmare.*
Luna allowed herself a small smile despite the situation. Typical Haiden, facing potential divine conflict with bureaucratic concerns.
Some things never changed, even when the God of Death became a CEO.
---
Haiden materialized in Elysium's security center in a swirl of shadows, startling the night shift operators, a mix of humans who thought they worked for a normal security firm and supernatural entities who knew better.
"Status report," he demanded, striding to the central monitoring station.
The head of security, a former Valkyrie who had traded her spear for cybersecurity certifications, pulled up a holographic display of the building.
"Eastern perimeter breach at 3:17 AM," she reported crisply. "Divine energy signature detected, power level consistent with a mid-tier celestial entity. Containment protocols activated, but the intruder is evading our standard wards."
"Show me," Haiden ordered.
The display zoomed in on the eastern side of the building, where a glowing figure was moving through walls as if they were mist, heading steadily upward.
"They're heading for the executive floors," Haiden observed. "Not random."
"Targeted," Luna agreed as she entered with Gabriel in tow. "The question is, which executive are they after?"
All eyes turned to Gabriel, who raised his hands defensively. "Don't look at me. Heaven didn't authorize any extraction mission that I'm aware of."
"'That you're aware of' being the operative phrase," Luna noted dryly.
Haiden studied the angelic intern carefully. "If this were an official Heaven operation, would they tell you?"
Gabriel hesitated. "Probably not. I'm... not exactly in the inner circle."
"Shocking," Luna muttered.
Haiden turned back to the security display. "Activate the Tartarus Protocol."
The Valkyrie security chief looked alarmed. "Sir, that's designed for Class 5 divine threats. This intruder barely registers as Class 3."
"It's not about power level," Haiden explained. "It's about containment. I want this intruder captured, not repelled."
"Yes, sir." The security chief began entering commands into her console. "Tartarus Protocol activating in three, two, one..."
Throughout the building, invisible wards flared to life, ancient symbols of binding and containment that had once held Titans now repurposed for modern security. The air hummed with power as reality itself bent to Haiden's will.
On the display, the glowing figure suddenly stopped, trapped in a corridor between executive offices. The light surrounding it pulsed frantically, like a firefly trying to escape a jar.
"Got them," the security chief announced with satisfaction.
"Excellent," Haiden said. "Luna, Gabriel, with me. Let's see who our uninvited guest is."
As they headed for the elevator, Gabriel looked increasingly nervous. "If that's an angel in there, this could be considered an act of war against Heaven."
"Only if Heaven admits they sent an operative into my territory without permission," Haiden countered. "Which would be a violation of at least three divine treaties."
"Your territory?" Gabriel repeated. "This is a mortal corporation in Seoul, not the Underworld."
Haiden smiled thinly. "Wherever I choose to establish my presence becomes my territory by definition. Divine law 101."
The elevator ascended swiftly to the 60th floor, where the trapped intruder awaited. As the doors opened, Haiden paused, his expression becoming serious.
"Stay behind me," he instructed. "If this goes badly, get to my office and activate the emergency portal. Code word is 'Persephone's pomegranate.'"
Luna nodded, while Gabriel looked increasingly alarmed.
"You have an emergency portal to the Underworld in your office?" the angel asked.
"I have emergency portals everywhere," Haiden replied casually. "Never know when you might need a quick exit."
They moved cautiously down the corridor, the air growing thicker with power as they approached the containment field. Around a corner, they finally saw their intruder, a figure of light and fury, beating magnificent golden wings against invisible barriers.
"Well, well," Haiden said, crossing his arms. "Ariel. It's been, what, three centuries?"
The glowing figure froze, then slowly turned. The light dimmed enough to reveal a stunningly beautiful woman with golden wings and eyes that burned like twin suns.
"Hades," she spat, her voice resonating with celestial harmonics. "I knew the rumors were true. You didn't die, you just abandoned your post."
"I prefer to think of it as a career change," Haiden replied smoothly. "The afterlife industry was becoming so tedious. All judgment and no joy."
Ariel's wings beat furiously against the containment field. "Release me immediately. I am on official Heaven business."
"In my building? Without an appointment?" Haiden clicked his tongue disapprovingly. "Heaven's manners have really deteriorated since I last attended a divine council meeting."
Gabriel stepped forward, unable to contain himself. "Archangel Ariel? What are you doing here?"
The celestial being's burning gaze fixed on Gabriel. "Trainee Gabriel. I might ask you the same question. You were sent to gather intelligence, not fraternize with the enemy."
"I'm undercover," Gabriel protested weakly. "Gathering... intelligence."
"By standing at his side against a representative of Heaven?" Ariel's voice cracked with divine displeasure, causing the lights in the corridor to flicker.
Luna stepped forward, her vampire nature allowing her to face the archangel's wrath without flinching. "Perhaps we could discuss this civilized manner? Preferably without destroying half the building's electrical system."
Haiden nodded. "A reasonable suggestion. Ariel, if I lower the containment field, do I have your word you won't immediately try to smite anyone?"
The archangel's wings folded slightly. "You have my word as a servant of the divine."
"Good enough," Haiden decided, making a subtle gesture. The air shimmered as the containment field dissipated.
Ariel straightened her immaculate white suit, apparently celestial beings shared a fashion sense, and fixed Haiden with a glare that would have incinerated a lesser being.
"Heaven has concerns," she announced formally. "Souls that should be processed through your domain are being diverted. The balance is shifting."
"I'm aware," Haiden replied, surprising everyone. "That's why I have my CFO conducting a full audit of Hell's finances and soul-flow."
Ariel's eyes narrowed. "You knew?"
"I suspected," Haiden corrected. "Luna confirmed it tonight. Someone is embezzling from both our realms, stealing redemption credits from Heaven and diverting damned souls from Hell."
"And you didn't think to inform Heaven of this crisis?" Ariel demanded.
"I've been retired for six months," Haiden reminded her. "And it's not like Michael sends me Christmas cards with updates on celestial affairs."
Luna cleared her throat. "If I may, the financial discrepancies suggest this has been happening for at least a year, well before Haiden's... career change."
Ariel absorbed this information, her divine glow dimming slightly. "That would mean the corruption began while you were still ruling the Underworld."
"Precisely," Haiden agreed. "Which suggests an inside job, someone with access to both realms' systems."
"Impossible," Ariel declared. "No single entity has such access."
"Unless," Gabriel interjected hesitantly, "they were working with accomplices on both sides."
All eyes turned to the angelic intern, who shrank slightly under the combined gaze of a vampire, the God of Death, and an archangel.
"Explain," Ariel commanded.
"Well," Gabriel continued, gaining confidence, "Ms. Voss mentioned accounting irregularities. If someone in Hell's bureaucracy was working with someone in Heaven's hierarchy, they could potentially create a shadow system for soul trafficking."
Luna looked impressed despite herself. "The intern has a point. The transaction patterns I've identified would require access at multiple levels."
Haiden's expression darkened. "A conspiracy spanning realms. That would explain the murders in Seoul, eliminating clients who discovered the truth."
"Murders?" Ariel's wings flared. "What murders?"
"Four victims so far," Haiden explained. "All killed by divine fire. All clients of what appears to be an unauthorized afterlife insurance scheme."
"Divine fire," Ariel repeated, her voice growing cold. "You're suggesting a celestial being is murdering mortals?"
"The evidence points that way," Luna confirmed. "Though we haven't identified the specific perpetrator."
Ariel's wings folded tightly against her back, a gesture Haiden recognized as extreme distress in celestial body language.
"This is worse than we feared," she said quietly. "Heaven sent me to investigate financial discrepancies. We had no idea lives were at stake."
"Well, now you do," Haiden said. "The question is, what are you going to do about it?"
Ariel straightened, her divine authority reasserting itself. "I will report to the Celestial Council immediately. This matter requires our full attention."
"And in the meantime?" Luna pressed. "There's still a killer out there, and Hell's finances are still in disarray."
"In the meantime," Haiden interjected, "we continue our investigation. Luna completes her audit. Gabriel continues his... dual role. And I work with Detective Moon to catch our celestial killer."
"Detective Moon?" Ariel's eyebrows rose. "You've involved a mortal in divine affairs?"
"She involved herself by investigating the murders," Haiden explained. "And she's proving surprisingly adaptable to supernatural realities."
Ariel looked skeptical but nodded. "Very well. I will return to Heaven and convene an emergency session of the Council. But make no mistake, Hades, this temporary alliance doesn't change the fundamental order. You abandoned your post. There will be consequences."
Haiden smiled, a expression that contained eons of darkness. "There always are, Ariel. The difference is, I no longer particularly care about Heaven's opinion of my career choices."
The archangel's eyes flashed with divine fire, but she controlled herself. With a formal nod to each of them, even Gabriel, who looked both terrified and awestruck, she spread her magnificent wings.
"Until we meet again," she declared, and in a flash of golden light, she was gone, leaving behind only the faint scent of ozone and lilies.
"Well," Luna said into the silence that followed, "that was dramatic."
"Angels," Haiden sighed. "Always have to make an exit."
Gabriel looked offended. "We're trained in dramatic manifestations and departures. It's part of the celestial curriculum."
"Of course it is," Luna said dryly. "Now, about those financial discrepancies..."
Haiden nodded, his expression becoming serious. "My office. We need to talk privately."
As they headed back toward the elevator, Gabriel trailing behind them, Haiden couldn't shake the feeling that something larger was unfolding, something beyond embezzlement and murder. The involvement of both Heaven and Hell suggested a conspiracy of cosmic proportions.
And if there was one thing his eons of existence had taught him, it was that cosmic conspiracies rarely ended well for anyone involved, mortal or divine.
[System Alert: Cosmic Conspiracy Detected]
[New Quest: Uncover the truth behind the financial discrepancies]
[Reward: Temporary Access to Divine Ledgers]
[Penalty: Financial Collapse of Underworld Economy]
"Perfect timing as always, Father," Haiden muttered to the floating text. "Nothing like a little pressure to make retirement interesting."
Luna glanced at him, recognizing the signs of System interaction. "New quest?"
"Just the fate of the cosmic economy at stake," Haiden replied with forced lightness. "Nothing we can't handle before breakfast."
Gabriel looked between them, confused. "Who are you talking to?"
"Divine micromanagement," Haiden explained vaguely. "You'll get used to it."
As the elevator doors closed, Haiden made a mental note to call Detective Moon first thing in the morning. If Heaven was officially involved now, the case had just become exponentially more complicated, and dangerous.
Especially for a mortal detective who was already walking the thin line between skepticism and belief.
Some revelations could break even the strongest minds. And Haiden was beginning to worry that Kyra Moon might soon face truths that no mortal was ever meant to comprehend.