As I drifted toward sleep, a faint rustle broke the stillness of my chamber. In Hell, rest was a fragile indulgence. Demons did not dream. Sleep offered no sanctuary, only a brief dulling of the constant tumult.
So when the sound reached me, subtle but wrong, it shattered what little peace I had managed to claim. I was awake in an instant.
My hand snapped out, closing around a wrist beside my bed, my grip iron-tight despite the haze of exhaustion. Millennia of survival instincts surged to the surface. In my world, hesitation was a death wish.
The intruder stood frozen beneath my hold, cloaked in a mortal form that did little to disguise the power radiating from him. Crimson hair fell in disordered waves around sharp features and piercing blue eyes that carried the weight of ages. His skin was pale, almost luminous, a stark contrast to the fire-bright red of his hair.
A long scarlet coat draped over his broad shoulders, its high collar framing him like a challenge. Intricate patterns curled across the fabric, ancient symbols etched with intent rather than decoration. Sigils. Runes. Power made ornamental. Beneath it, a simple black shirt. Wide dark trousers. Heavy boots. He was dressed like someone who expected to be obeyed.
He twisted against my grip, clearly unprepared for the strength behind it. Laughter spilled from him, light and careless, though I felt the tension coiled beneath it.
"You're not leaving," I growled, tightening my hold, "until you tell me what the fuck you are and who the fuck sent you."
His smirk faltered, just for a heartbeat.
"Surely," he said lightly, "you recognize me."
"Don't test my patience."
Then, with infuriating confidence, he straightened beneath my grasp and declared, "Loki. Trickster god."
The name hit like a slap.
"You?" I snapped, disbelief sharpening my voice. Of all the entities to breach my chambers, it had to be him.
"Yes, precisely," he said, flashing a grin. "Not so different from your own boss. Just a bit cooler."
Before I could respond, he twisted free—not by strength, but by magic. His form collapsed inward, feathers bursting where flesh had been, and in the space of a breath, a raven launched toward the open window.
I reacted instantly. My fingers traced a sharp sigil in the air. The seal snapped into place with a low hum, invisible but absolute.
"You're not going anywhere," I said, calmer now, as I watched him slam straight into the sealed window and drop hard onto the floor.
I stood, crossed the room, and picked the raven up by one leg.
"Good try," I added. "Now you're going somewhere special."
I turned toward the door, already imagining the look on my boss's face when I delivered a bound Norse god at his feet. Loki began cawing loudly, thrashing in my grip, feathers brushing against my arm. He twisted violently and slipped free, the raven dissolving midair as he shifted back into human form.
"Okay. Okay," he said quickly, hands raised in surrender. "You have to listen to me. Carefully."
I stopped and leaned back against the wall, folding my arms. "I'm listening. This better be worth it."
I wasn't eager for a war. Not because I feared one, but because I preferred my chaos entertaining.
Loki exhaled and looked down at the floor. The usual smugness was gone, replaced by something unfamiliar. Hesitation. When he finally met my gaze, urgency flickered behind his eyes.
"Have you heard of the prophecy?" he asked. "Has anyone mentioned it to you?"
"A prophecy?" I frowned. "No."
He stepped closer, lowering his voice. "You know Odin."
I nodded. The unease in my gut sharpened.
"According to his vision," Loki said, "you and I are meant to play a central role in jump-starting the apocalypse."
The word echoed unpleasantly in my mind.
"He didn't give details," Loki continued. "Only that it was inevitable. That we were necessary." He hesitated. "So I came here to kill you. Thought that might stop it."
I stared at him. "And you thought killing me would prevent the apocalypse?"
His mouth twisted. "In hindsight? Not my most well-thought-out plan."
"That much is obvious." Silence settled between us. He went back to studying the floor while I turned toward the window, my gaze drifting over Hell's volcanic horizon. Rivers of fire. Craters stretching into infinity. Familiar. Usually comforting.
"So," I said eventually, "Odin's prophecies. They're… reliable?"
"They're absolute," Loki replied quietly. "One hundred percent."
That did it. The room felt smaller. Heavier. For the first time in a very long while, something cold coiled in my chest. Fear.
Asmodeus, demon of lust and desire, did not fear easily. But the word apocalypse had a way of stripping confidence down to bone. And I had the sinking feeling this was only the beginning.
I couldn't ignore the turmoil within Loki himself either. In that moment, I realized that a trickster knows a trickster, and despite his reputation, Loki's words rang true with a clarity that cut through the chaos of uncertainty.
Loki suddenly stood up and took a deep breath, "Well, I–" he was just about to say something before we both heard footsteps outside the door. We looked at each other in panic before we heard a knock.
"King Asmodeus, is everything all right?"
I frowned, "Yeah. Who's this?"
"It's Amon."
I sighed in relief when I heard that. At least it wasn't one of the higher ups.
"I just sensed some strange energy coming from your area." He added.
Well this wasn't that good. This meant that the sense had kicked off and others were able to sense an intruder on the premises.
"Yeah I just... have a cat in here." I looked over at Loki and he looked at me like I said the stupidest thing in existence. However, he acted fast and turned into a black cat with huge green eyes. Well at least he was a shapeshifter.
Pushing the door open, I found myself face-to-face with Amon, his golden locks framing his handsome features in an almost ethereal glow. Dressed in formal knight attire that seemed unsuitable with the fiery depths of Hell, he exuded an air of regal elegance that set him apart from the other demons.
"See for yourself." I said and kicked the door open wide and leaned back against the wall. Amon slowly walked in and was greeted face-to-face with Loki in all his feline glory.
"That really is a cat." He stated. "How did it even get in here?" He turned towards me.
"Oh I just was... experimenting with some things... '' I offered a feeble attempt at deception, my words stumbling over each other in a clumsy attempt to deflect his suspicions. Amon, ever loyal and trusting, seemed to buy my half-hearted excuse, sparing me further interrogation.
We really held our barriers properly sealed and not many things can pass through. It is Hell, after all. To be honest, I was actually fascinated how Loki even managed to break through it and come here. Guess Norse mythology wasn't fooling around.
Amon frowned and then looked back at the cat who just meowed at him. He waved a hand in front of his face in a dismissive motion and then just said, "well, whatever. Keep your secrets. At least you're not hiding another being in here."
I laughed in a way that almost sounded fake, which it really was. I guess I found out then how Loki and I would bring on an apocalypse. If we continued sneaking around like this, Hell would freeze over from the boss's wrath once he'd find out. And after that... Well, the survivors will tell the story.
"Anyway, that's not why I came here. The boss proposed a meeting in like 30 minutes. Says it's some sort of emergency." Amon said before going back out of the room.
"Again?" I was confused and then sighed in frustration. The Devil stopped showing his face in those meetings for ages yet he still arranged them. Most of the time he spent his time holed up in his chamber and would just send his voice messages from there to the meeting room. In fact, not many demons have seen his face. Only a few of us who were among the higher ranks saw him but even that was only a handful of times.
"All right, I'll see you down in the hall in a few." Amon nodded and left the room. I closed the door and turned back at the cat and it quickly transformed back into Loki.
"Dude, why did you choose a cat? I hate cats!" He whined.
"Well, it's either being a cat or being a fried Norse God. Your choice." I shrugged. Loki actually laughed at that and then continued,
"Anyway, I'm going to go now. But you have to unseal the window and after that, I promise you, you won't ever see me again."
"A trickster's promise is a joy for the foolish one." I said but then unsealed the window anyway. I didn't want him to linger here any longer than needed. If they caught us, we'd both be fried, not just him. I still wanted to enjoy my life.
"Okay, go now. Better procrastinate the prophecy as long as possible."
Once the window was unsealed, Loki shot me a final smirk before leaping into the night, shifting into his raven form and vanishing without a trace. I watched him go, a heavy sense of foreboding settling over me. With Loki involved, I knew one thing for certain: nothing was about to stay simple.
I lingered in the shadows of the room, the prophecy gnawing at my mind. How could Loki and I—creatures from two completely different worlds—be tasked with starting the apocalypse? The thought was absurd, terrifying, and yet… undeniable.
With a resigned sigh, I tore my gaze away and stepped into the dimly lit hallway. Part of me hoped the emergency meeting had nothing to do with the recent intrusion. Another part knew better. The Devil had been too wrapped up in his own thoughts to notice much, but trouble had a way of finding me anyway.
Descending the grand staircase that led to the hall, I found Amon waiting for me below. Without wasting a moment, I approached him, the urgency in my voice betraying my unease.
"So, what's the emergency about?"
"I don't know honestly. I'm just a messenger of a messenger."
"You're right. I don't know why I thought you would know." I sighed.
The closest person to the Devil himself was King Paimon at the moment. He was the one who was giving us orders and was essentially the Devil's right hand.
"By the way, that cat reeked of some strange energy. Please don't ever bring it back." Amon said and I looked at him as we were walking to the meeting.
"Uh yeah... Like I said, it was just an experiment..."I muttered, hoping to downplay the situation.
As we entered the room, the dim light cast eerie shadows against the walls, and the air felt heavy with anticipation. The long table dominated the center of the room, its dark wood gleaming under the faint glow of the flickering torches that lined the walls. Rows of ornately carved chairs stretched along either side, each one occupied by a demon of varying class and rank.
I made my way to seat number three, my eyes scanning the faces of my fellow demons as I took my place. It was a strange mix of apprehension and curiosity that filled the room, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something big was about to happen.
"Now that we're all here..." We heard a deep and rumbling voice but saw no face behind it, per usual. "There has been a breach inside this realm." As soon as he said, everyone started murmuring with each other, an obvious confusion lingering in the air. Only I felt the unease as I pretended not to be there and hoped nobody would ask me any questions.
"Now, I don't know what has happened nor did I get any reports which is pretty concerning. Some of you who have been guarding the realm have not been careful enough. In that case, some of you will have to build a much stronger wall." When he said that, there were a lot of grumbles among the seated demons. I decided to remain quiet for the time being. Personally, I didn't know why I hadn't just dragged Loki all the way to the lock-up. Maybe it would have prevented the whole apocalypse thing. I hoped I wasn't going soft. If I came out now and said what had happened, I didn't know what could've become of me.
I noticed Beelzebub across the table eyeing me. He knew that I was usually the one to complain about extra work due to being my closest friend here.
"I won't hear another word!" The Devil continued because the demons started being louder with their complaints. "We wouldn't have come to this if you idiots had paid attention to what was going on in front of you!"His voice carried the weight of thunder, resonating through the air with a commanding force that demanded attention. Whenever he raised his voice, it echoed like a tempest, instantly quelling any noise and drawing all focus to his words.
"Now, the marquises and the lower ranks will be responsible for building stronger protection and the ranks from princes and above will be responsible for guarding and monitoring the work. I want you to be working on it until I say it's good enough. The meeting's dismissed."
As soon as those words were uttered, a collective groan echoed through the room, accompanied by the sound of scraping chairs as everyone rose reluctantly from their seats. It wasn't that anyone particularly relished the thought of a meeting disrupting their usual activities. After all, there were far more enticing prospects than sitting around discussing whatever matter had prompted the summoning.
A wave of exaggerated disappointment washed over the room as demons exchanged knowing glances. While the idea of tormenting souls may have been a tempting notion for some, the truth was far less dramatic. Here in Hell, our methods were much more practical. Souls deemed sufficiently sinful were instead transformed into demons of lower rank—essentially serving as the reserve forces in our hierarchy. Of course, the transition from soul to demon was a gradual process, and not every sinful soul had the privilege of ascending to our ranks.
Just as I was about to leave the meeting room, Beelzebub appeared beside me, quiet and deliberate. I had a feeling this would happen—I probably should've been quicker.
He was imposing even without trying: tall, broad-shouldered, with dark hair that fell in careful waves framing a face both sharp and commanding. His eyes, a piercing shade of amber, seemed to see everything and miss nothing. The tailored black coat he wore hinted at authority, the subtle embroidery along the seams catching the light just enough to suggest refinement without extravagance. Even in stillness, he radiated presence—a mix of strength, attentiveness, and restrained power that demanded notice.
"You know you can tell me everything, right?" Beelzebub's words cut through the air with an honesty that left little room for evasion. Known for his straightforward nature, he was always willing to listen to those in need. Though his demeanor could be strict when necessary, his care for those he held dear shone through
"What's this about?" I replied, attempting to feign innocence, though I suspected he had already sensed my unease.
"Nothing, you were just acting a bit off during the meeting. Seemed kind of nervous," he remarked, his keen perception cutting through any facade I attempted to maintain.
I was accustomed to being an open book, never one to shy away from sharing my triumphs and failures. But this time was different. The weight of the revelation I carried was too heavy to share, especially knowing the potential consequences for Loki. These were unfamiliar emotions, ones I struggled to navigate.
"Ah, I'm fine. Nothing to worry about really. I just... had a strange dream today," I offered lamely, knowing how feeble the excuse sounded. For demons, dreams often held significant meaning—usually portending summons to the human world or foretelling important events.
"What?!" Beelzebub's voice rose with alarm as he quickened his pace to match mine, his concern palpable as he positioned himself in front of me.
I silenced him with a gesture, a sense of urgency compelling me to take action. Gripping his arm firmly, I propelled him toward my room, his confusion and growing frustration evident in his expression.
"What's going on?!" Beelzebub demanded, his tone edged with irritation as I ushered him inside and secured the door behind us.
"You can't breathe a word of this to anyone. It's crucial that it remains classified," I stressed, my voice low and urgent as I chose my words carefully. "I believe an Apocalypse is imminent."
Beelzebub's reaction was immediate, his features frozen in disbelief as he struggled to comprehend my revelation.
"A what now?"
"Yup,, you heard me."
"Okay, but do elaborate."
"I think it involves me and one more... deity? I'm not sure if it's a demon or not." I really had to lie a bit. "There was nothing really interesting in the vision itself. The apocalypse just looked very Biblical. Pestilence, famine, death and those fellas."
There was yet another long period of silence surrounding the room.
"Why would it show the vision only happen to you though? Shouldn't it happen to the Devil first?"
Good point. In which case I just shrugged.
"I wish I knew... I just know the vision has been very unsettling."
"Huh." Beelzebub rubbed his chin and circled a few times around the room. "I hope you're wrong though."
"I mean I hope so too but the vision was pretty convincing."
"So, are you going to report it to the big boss?" He frowned a bit.
"I don't know... Maybe there will be more dreams about it. So until I'm sure that it is what I think it is, I don't think I'll be telling him. That's why I'm begging you, don't tell anyone."
"Okay, if you say so. I just don't see the difference if I say it or not."
"Just... Trust me on this please."
"Alright. You're almost like family. Your secret is safe with me." I felt a weight lift from my chest—Beelzebub never broke his promises. And it was comforting, knowing someone else was aware of the apocalypse besides Loki and me. I didn't know when I'd get another chance to talk to Loki about this, but at least I had Beelzebub now, someone I could turn to if an existential crisis hit.
"Thank you," I said quietly.
"Well, I have to go. Gotta guard those walls," he chuckled, heading toward the door.
"Oh, right. We have to do that now," I muttered, rolling my eyes and sighing. "Come on—let me join you before the big bad boss comes to whoop my ass."
Beelzebub laughed, and together we stepped outside the castle walls, bracing for the long day ahead.