It was Internship Week for the fifth graders of Brimstone Elementary; however it had to start off in the most boring way possible. During the day it was announced to the students that they were to learn about the various business around their town, and are to be assigned to undertake temporary internship positions. But first they had to sit through a boring lecture from their teacher, Mr. Carney. The old man rambled on about how it was going to be a great experience for them, and how it was the next step to becoming responsible adults. To their youthful ears all they could interpret was blah, blah, blah.

Rosemary Gravely slouched in her desk as the teacher continued babbling on. Her eyes grew heavy with each dull sentence spoken. She glanced over to the far left of the classroom, where she saw her best friend Krystal texting away on her platinum cased cellphone that her family fortune could afford. 

She then lobbed her head onto her right. There she saw her other friend Kayleigh resting her head on her books. Rosie thought she was lucky to sleep through the whole lecture. 

A pair of fingers jabbed into her Rosie's shoulder. She turned and found another one of her friends in the same classroom, Ashley. She did not have to whisper in order to interpret what she was thinking. Instead she place two of her fingers on her right temple, imitating the shape of a handgun. Her thumb pulled back on the imaginary hammer and fired. At least it was a swift execution, what with her head jerking about as the imaginary bullet richotted inside her skull. Her eyes crossing together and her tongue flew out of her mouth.

The eldest Gravely child snorted a muffled laugh so her teacher couldn't see or hear what they were doing. She then turned to the front of the room and saw her other friend, Joshua, scribbling down in his notebook. He was always the good student, taking notes whenever necessary. Rosie didn't mind that about him at all, at least it kept him busy; though what no one realized or even had a glance at were decorative doodles that Joshua drew to avert his attention away from the boring lecture.

Mr. Carney continued his monologue, "Alright, here are your internships." He passed around small envelopes around to all the students. "Make sure your temporary employers sign your papers and write a five page report about what you learned from the business you worked at."

The school bell rang. At long last it was 3 o'clock. Schools out! The students all rushed out the door like a mad cattle stampede. Rosemary and her friends all walked out together, exchanging what they got for temporary internships. 

"Toads awesome!" Krystal praised, flashing her business card about, "I'm interning at your mom, Rosie. And your dad too, Kayleigh. Soon the camera is going to be on me. I'm gonna be famous!"

"Cool beans, Krystal," Rosemary complied, "I get to work at the local radio station. Time for everyone to listen to Rosemary's Rocking Rock & Roll hits!"

Kayleigh added, "Neat! I'm going to be working at the bakery. What about you, Ash?"

Ashley did not say a word. Instead she smiled and passed around the business card that she received from her envelope. 

"Sawyer-Patterson Paleontology Labs." Kayleigh read, "Sounds cool."

"My dad has some friends that work there," Ashley signed, which her friends were able to interpret, "Should be pretty fun."

"What about you, Joshua?" Krystal then asked. "What did you get?"

Joshua was silent for a moment, staring into the small card in his hand. "Something my mom is definitely not going to like."

And like a bad penny, there stood their principal and Josh's mother, Mrs. Wordsworth. Dressed so holier than thou compared to the rest of the students and facility. She looked so plain and ordinary with her dark green gown and dress, her stockings, and her black shoes. She prided over her small, silver cross that weighted around her neck. So flossed and perfected. She made sure everyone saw it as glorious as she did.

"Hello children," Mrs. Wordsworth gave her students and son a warm greeting. Her eyes glared at Rosemary, "Gravely," She scowled.

Rosemary returned a similar glare back at her principal. She was fully aware of Wordsworth's spitefulness towards her and her family, not just on the account that she wound up in her office now and then. Though Mrs. Wordsworth garnered more hatred towards Rosie's stepfather, as those who remained faithful did and still do.

Principal Wordsworth exclaimed, "I just wanted to see how things were starting off with your interns. This is a big moment for your young lives. As it says in Psalm 90:17, May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands."

"Right," Rosemary murmured while rolling her eyes. The rest of her friends followed too.

"So Joshua," she continued, "I hope you got something exciting."

"It's something alright," her only son gave a nervous chuckle.

"Well let's see it."

"That's okay. We can talk about it later."

"Nonsense!" the principal swiped away her son's card. "Whatever you received as a position I'll be proud of you, dear."

Mrs. Wordsworth inspected the small business card. So small. It had a red color with a golden outline around the corners. There was even a watermark. But what she read made her heart stop. Her face froze. Her body stiffened. Completely petrified. 

And like a domino she tipped over on her back. She hit the tiled flooring so fast she was out cold. Rosemary, Joshua, and the others all rushed to check on their fainted principal. What she read on the business card could only come from her darkest nightmares.

Devil, it read. Inferno Incorporated.

Internship Week began!

All the adults from various businesses all across Brimstone met and interviewed with their assigned students. They talked and shook hands. Some students were ecstatic to work with their representatives while others were only interested in getting a grade for their assignments. 

Among the students and adults were Rosemary, Joshua, and their friends all gathered around Mrs. Gravely and Mr. Marlow. Both Mrs. Gravely and Mr. Marlow were dressed in their talk show attire. Following them around was their trusted cameraman from the studio they worked at. Some of the kids gathered around them briefly to get their five seconds of fame, without the two adults noticing them.

"I'm Marcus Marlow!" Marcus spoke to the camera.

"I'm Carmen Gravely!" Carmen also said.

"I'm Krystal Lotsadeux!" Krystal joined in.

"Ooh, good opening," Mr. Marlow commented, "And it's time to see What's Hot in Brimstone." 

"We're here at Brimstone Elementary for a very special week," Mrs. Gravely told the viewers. "This is an event called Internship Week where the fifth graders are tasked with well established business here in our town, to learn more about them and to maybe one day become successful in their future careers when they're older."

"That's right Carmen," Mr. Marlow agreed, "Our special intern for the week is Krystal Lotsadeux, heiress to the Lotsadeux estate, and she'll be learning from us on how to look good on camera."

"Good thing I already do." Krystal commented. The two adults laughed.

Mr. Marlow then told the viewers. "Come join us later after the commercial break as we show dear Krystal around the studio as our special guest star."

The camera man shouted cut. A thumbs up from him was a clear sign that he got what he needed.

"Oh this is gonna be exciting." Carmen Gravely said. "You kids are taking your first big step to adulthood."

"It's a big honor and responsibility," Marcus Marlow added, "You all ought to feel proud."

Mrs. Gravely then focused her attention towards Joshua, "So Joshua, Rosie tells me that you'll be interning with Lu for the week."

"Uh, yeah," a nervous Joshua said, "It should be... well... I'm not entirely sure there's a word to describe this."

"I know that Lu can be... over enthusiastic. But he generally has a good heart deep down. Very, very deep down. And don't worry, he promised not to do anything too hectic or showboating."

The fire alarm suddenly rang inside the gymnasium. The students and adults moved away from a corner where a massive fire erupted. The fire then shot up and formed a rectangular archway. At its core it birthed a swirling portal. The spectators watched fearfully as odd shadows encroached the haunting doorway.

Out of the fire portal were a clan of heavily armored soldiers. Eight of them marching out of the open mouth. The portal's flames reflected off their polished black armor. Their horned helmets masked their faces but their visors were focused straight ahead. Their arms hauled large machine guns unlike anything manufactured on earth and their backs were sheathed swords. The rhythmic stomps from their metal-clad boots sent tremors throughout the gymnasium.

The soldiers finally came to a halt. They turned and faced each other, weapons at their shoulders. Then out of the same portal was another large figure. It was a large throne made of black gold. Sitting upon his throne was the devil himself, giving his most sinister of smiles to the crowd. His scarlet eyes, his well-dressed red suit, his black hair moussed back that it resembled a pair of horns, and his small goatee below his lips. The towering throne was hauled by dozens of people below it. They were very frail, their dirty, grey skin was close to the bone. They were also hairless and dressed in tattered rags. The servants all looked similar to each other which made it difficult to determine their gender, but they also looked to close to being human. 

The throne came to the stop. A couple of the souls ran in front of the throne and made themselves into a human stairway. Lu waltzed his way down their back, some of the servants groaned as he walked down.

"Well at least it's not too hectic," Carmen said.

"Where is he?" Lu called out with enthusiasm. His smile grew ever so wicked. "Where's my intern at?"

The crowd then pointed at Joshua. "Um, right here, sir." The boy gulped.

"Josh, Joshie, good to seeing you, lad!" Lu rushed forward to the young Wordsworth. His cold hand snatched up the boy's and he wildly shook it all about.

"Always a pleasure to see you, sir,"

"Sir? Whoa now, you don't have to call me sir. Every time I hear that I have to check over my shoulder to make sure my Father's not there. Call me Lu! Or call me Lucifer, Satan, The Big S. Call me whatever you'd like, just don't call me late for dinner."

The devil turned to his throne. "CARD!" he angrily demanded. One of the souls hurried over from the throne to the devil's side. The soul's weak arm, which shook like a dead twig in a wind storm, held up a small business card. 

The devil swiped it away from the soul and growled. "Now go be useless elsewhere!"

One of the guards grabbed the soul by its throat and heaved it back to the fiery portal. The other guards forced the slaves to carry the heavy throne back to their realm as the doorway closed permanently behind once they entered back through. Now only Lu was the sole remaining demon among the human world. 

Lu's attitude changed back to his chipper state. "For you, little Wordsworth."

"Thanks but I already have your card." Josh kindly said.

"Not mine. Yours." the devil corrected. "I just had these crafted overnight."

Joshua then took the card. A small smile formed on his face as he read his name off the card, and it mentioned him being a trainee. It was his very own business card.

The gymnasium doors then burst wide open. "Joshua Wordsworth!" Everyone jumped when they heard Principal Wordsworth holler at his son. "You are not going anywhere, young man!"

Both Joshua and Lu stared at the madden lady. Sweat dripped off their foreheads and their hearts raced faster than ever. 

Mrs. Wordsworth calmed herself and held up a lunchbox. "You forgot your lunch in the car." The principal walked to her son and gave him his lunch. Joshua smiled and thanked his loving parent. 

Mrs. Wordsworth's smile morphed into a scowl as she looked at Lu. "I want my son to come back in one piece. You hear?! Or so help me God-"

"I can give you two guarantees, ma'am," Lu interrupted. "One: Pops won't help ya. Two: he'll be fine. Now excuse me for I think some pastries call for my attention."

Lu walked away from the group and towards where the bakers were at, gobbling up as many free samples he could fit. 

"Alright Joshua," Gloria Wordsworth added, handing her son his backpack, "I've packed your books, your pencils, your bible, a few bottles of holy water to protect yourself from Satan and his followers' possession. Do you still have your cross?"

Joshua pulled out his cross out of his shirt to help assure her confidence. Small, silver, and hung onto a thin chain, but it made him feel safe wherever he went. "Right here." he muttered.

"Good. Be safe, my son. You are my greatest gift from God."

She hugged and kissed her son goodbye just as Lu returned. The crowd and students went on with the fair. Lu kissed his wife and stepdaughter a farewell and led Joshua outside. There in the middle of the street was the crooked elevator that always appeared inside the Gravely home. Joshua always saw it whenever he was over but never set foot inside it, fearing its demonic power.

"I thought that was part of Rosemary's house?" he asked.

"Oh no," Lu assured his young intern. "This isn't just an elevator. This contraption allows us to travel from your world to mine, crossing through different dimensions in any direction I so choose. What? Did you really think that my world was directly below yours? My boy, you've got a lot to learn, and I'm just the teacher to show you."

The demonic elevator crashed dead center inside the devil's large office space. Its crooked doors popped open with Lu and his new intern stepping outside.

"Welcome to Hell!" Lu said, "My home away from home."

Joshua pinched his nose together. "I don't like the smell." he gasped. There was a foul odor of rotten eggs in the air. At least it wasn't burning meat, but rotten egg smells were bad enough. 

"You'll get used to it." the devil assured, "Let's meet the gang. Ah, here they are."

Both Lu and Joshua were welcomed by an assortment of familiar faces. A purple succubus Joshua had seen numerous times before. Lilith was her name. She had come up to the Gravely household before. The short, stubby bat-like demon Scrugs was also among the welcome committee. 

There were three other demons that Joshua recognized but didn't remember their names. He last saw them during Rosemary's game night at her house, and he recognized the larger of the three, Moloch, was the father to one of his friends, Dominic.

The last demon Joshua was completely unfamiliar with but he recalled Rosemary's stories about him. He looked as Rosemary described him. Some sort of centaurian creature with the body and head of an old spider. Six fingers in each had that carried a long staff. Six black eyes that rarely blinked. A scarf that covered most of his face. Dressed himself like a demonic pope with his ragged robes and papal tiara. 

Legion. That was the one Rosemary described. Legion, the dark sorcerer and priest of heresy. Joshua was sure that this demon never came up to his world, but what reason would he? The demon was described as being very old. No one knew how old exactly but he could recall Hell looking much, much different than it was now.

Lu began his role call. "Here's Lilith. My personal secretary."

"Ello there." The sweet succubus greeted with a curtsy. "Please to have you down here with us."

"And here's Scrugs, my personal assistant." 

"Hiya, Josh!" Scrugs also greeted.

"You already know these fellas: Balthazar, Ghuul, and Moloch."

"Wazz up!" the wild Balthazar hollered.

"Welcome to the hotbox, kid." the timid Ghuul said, giving the boy a short salute with his fingers.

"Sup." the hulking Moloch grumbled. Never was one for small talk.

"And last but not least. My loyal adviser, Legion."

"Welcome to our domain, young Master Wordsworth." The old demon bowed his rounded head.

"Hello," Joshua gave a kind wave. "Nice to see you all again, and to meet some of you for the first time."

The demons noticed something off. The human boy wore something around his neck. It was a necklace with a silver chain. Attached at the end was an odd-shaped T. Yet the demons recognized that this was no letter.

"Watch it, everyone!" Balthazar screeched, hopping a couple steps back from the boy. "Kid's got a cross!"

"Keep it away. Keep it away." Ghuul urged.

"Oh, I'm melting." Moloch bellowed. "Oh, what a world."

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to hurt anyone." Joshua nervously said, covering his rosary with his hands. 

"The only thing you're hurting is their acting career," Lu assured, unconvinced by his friends' stale performances.

 "And their humility." the ancient warlock Legion grumbled, also dismayed by his fellow kin.

The demons all started to laugh. "Oh that's hysterical." Balthazar cried, "Kid thinks demons are repelled by crosses."

"Beware!" Scrugs playfully put his claws together to form a cross, "The power of the 'T' compels you."

"I think they make nice little earrings if you ask me." Lilith teased with the others.

Their laughter ended when one by one each demon was struck across their heads. From tallest to shortest—starting with Moloch to Scrugs—they all felt a blow from Legion's wooden staff.

"Holy objects and other relics should not be taken lightly." Legion scolded his fellow demons. "Now act your ages! You're being rude to our guest."

"Ah, we were just having a little fun," Balthazar said, rubbing the fresh lump on his head, "nothing too personal."

"Wait, I don't understand," Joshua queried, "Shouldn't my cross repel you?"

"Why would it?" Moloch asked.

"Because the Bible referred to demons as being angels who were cast out from Heaven," the boy went on, "and Lucifer—er, Lu, I mean—was their leader. And anything resembling Christ is suppose to be a defense against demons."

"A few truths do not account for the whole story." Legion bellowed.

"Meaning?"

Lilith explained, "There are actually no angels down here, love. Except for the boss of course. But he's a full-blooded demon now."

"Truthfully, I don't know what happened to my followers." Lu added. "I took the fall and was kicked out, and they were banished elsewhere. Not sure where." he shrugged off his old memories. "That's ancient history. Perhaps it's time to get to know the real story. Legion, if you would do the honors."

Legion bowed his head to his king. "As you command, my lord," With his dark power, his decrepit hand waved in the air. Old candles hidden in the shadows lit up, revealing a decorated mosaic depicting various demons and locations of the Inferno. The centerpiece bared the image of a humanoid being—with large teeth, red skin, and a pair of horns—engulfed in a sea of fire and smoke. The painted, dark eyes haunted young Joshua the more he stared at the mosaic. It resembled what his mother and the church always described about the deceitful devil of the old testament. 

"Our long, factual history began long ago after celestial beings fought a civil war with one another. In the outcome only three have survived. Together they founded a new paradise and crafted new lifeforms in their own image, to rebuild what was lost in their world. They created many worlds across many galaxies. Two worlds were the most promising, yet one was given more attention than the other. It became a kingdom of light. A sanctuary for the pure. What these beings did not know was that they were not the only ones to have survived."

"This is where things get good," Scrugs whispered in on Joshua's ear. 

After the elder demon hushed him, he continued, "There was one other to have survived. This entity, known only as Corruption, found its way to one of these worlds, and shaped its inhabitants in its own twisted image. According to the ancient scriptures, this was the birth of Hell and its demons. 

"Abandoned and forgotten. Violent and manic. The inhabitants soon preyed on one another. But there was one where was one that rose up. One that united all the demons under his rule. One that set out for conquest across other worlds and the realm of the light. His name would forever be remembered as the great adversary against God and his angels, Satan.

"Wait!" Joshua interrupted, turning towards Lu, "I thought your name was Satan."

"The terms 'Devil' and 'Satan' are not just names, but titles." the sorcerer corrected him, "Titles that are given to the one demon who shall rule all of Hell. Many bore those names and ruled over this realm with such power. And now that power and entitlement has been passed to Lucifer."

"How did you become the devil?"

"I killed the last one." Lu said with a greedy grin. "Now Hell's much more prosperous under my rule."

"Amen to that!" Lilith praised.

"So shall we begin the tour? We can stop at the gift shop later on."

Lu, Joshua, Scrugs, Lilith, Balthazar, Ghuul, Moloch, and Legion all walked around the giant office space. "Top floor, my office." Lu stated. "I run everything in this dimension all in here. Should've seen it when it was just a tasteless throne room. All dark, musty, and way too bland. This way to the elevator!"

The Devil led the gang to a large elevator. Unlike the demonic one that transported individuals from Hell to Earth, this was just an ordinary, rusty elevator, large enough to hold the whole party. All but Legion entered inside.

"You're not joining us?" Joshua asked the ancient demon.

"I've seen every crack and corner of the tower before," Legion grumbled, "I have no need to see it again. I shall remain to maintain order for you, my lord."

"Sounds good, Legion," Lu agreed. "Pull the lever, Scrugs!"

Scrugs obeyed. The elevator jerked around, failing to move in the right direction.

"WRONG LEVER, YOU IDIOT!" Lu spat. He smacked his cane at Scrugs' oddly-shaped head.

"Sorry!" Scrugs squeaked as he pulled the correct lever. The elevator dropped to the lower levels. Joshua could hear the screams of the damned grow louder with each descending floor.

The first floor the elevator came to was a wide space filled with scurrying demons. Some demons were dressed in fashionable suits and carried brief cases while others stood off to the sides, opening portals for the suits to walk in and out.

"This here is the Dealing Department." The Devil lectured, "It's where we send out some demons, which we call Contractors, out to Earth to deal with some humans for their souls. In return we'd give them their greatest desire. Money, power, women, whatever they can think of we can give - for a price of course. 

"They'll enjoy their taste of paradise until pay day comes around. And, oh boy, you better cough up for soul willingly or it'll end ugly. You see, Joshy, we demons live by a moral code that cannot be easily broken: if a demon should make a deal, they intend to keep it to the end."

The elevator carried the group down another level. The screams grew louder and louder. Joshua's body was shaking from the sounds of the torment. 

The elevator stopped at the floor where the screams were coming from. "And this is the torture chamber. Guess what we do in here?"

He didn't see any souls being tortured. All there was in this room was a dark corridor with several metal doors. But the screams echoed out of the stone walls. "Can we skip this part of the tour, please?" he begged.

"That's fine. We'll move onto torture chamber B. Way more exciting." Lu looked back at the young human. The boy's eyes pleaded for him to keep skipping. "Oh alright. I guess we can skip that too. And we can skip torture chamber C because that's being remodeled."

The elevator lowered them into the next series of floors. They saw a large factory for crafting and testing torture devices. They followed that up with a refinery for metallurgy projects and rocking mining. Next was everyone's favorite chamber, the sauna room. Then came the main lobby where all the demons walked around, talking and trading with one another.

Joshua was awestruck by what was constructed within the tower. It was all unlike anything that his mother read to him from the Bible. Yet he couldn't shake his teachings from the reality that was surrounding him. Was the scripture wrong? Partly true? These questions and more spiraled in his head.

"Um, Lu," he spoke up, "I was taught that Hell was like a prison. So, where do you keep your worst prisoners?"

Just as he asked that, the elevator made its final stop. The doors slid open to darkness. It was dark and cold like the mouth of a cave. Only a single light shined at the end of the chamber, where a single soldier demon sat behind a desk. 

"This," Lu explained, stepping out of the elevator, "this is where we keep the worst of the worst."

The party all exited at once and followed Lu down the dark corridor. Joshua's eyes adapted to the darkness. He could make out a number of cell doors embedded in the walls. He could barely see what were inside the cells but the shadowy outlines could make out different monstrosities that lurked in the dark. Joshua was definitely happy that he wasn't on the other side.

Lu lectured on, "I brought you down here to show you what happens when Father almighty wants some things to be completely forgotten. But most importantly to teach a very important lesson: don't screw with the Devil."

He came to a stop in front of a dark room. The others mimicked the same pattern. Joshua noticed that all the demons, even the timid Scrugs, were staring that one jail cell. In their benevolent eyes they all shared the same fiery hatred for whatever was kept inside. 

Joshua summoned the courage and stepped forward, hoping for a better look. He approached the metals bars, each marked with a series of symbols he never saw. Something, or someone, was definitely meant to be kept there. 

His eyes adjusted once more. There was an outline in the shadows. There was no monster or beast, not even a hostile scavenger. The outline looked much like a man. But it couldn't be a man. Its head was shaped oddly. For a moment Joshua thought he was staring at the shadow of a goat. 

What were those long things that extended towards the back, he wondered. Are those his ears? His horns?

The figure sat against the stone wall. It was holding something in its left hand. With enough light gifted from down the hall it looked like something red, like an apple. Joshua's eyes widen when he saw the prisoner's hands. They, like the room it was in, were dark. Yet he could make out they had some mix of grey and navy blue coloring to them.

He could also see the prisoner's fingernails were elongated. Its thumb nail, so gnarled and decayed, slowly pealed away the skin of the fruit. 

The figure did not look up. It concentrated at pealing the apple bit by bit, oblivious to the company outside its cell — or perhaps it was ignoring them.

"Who's in this cell?" Joshua whispered to the devil.

Lu leaned forward to the barred doors. He made sure the prisoner could hear him. "A lowly, forgotten, little worm placed preciously where he needs to be, under my foot."

The figure stopped pealing. Its hidden head tilted towards Lucifer and the gang. Joshua felt a cold shiver run through his spine. He couldn't see its eyes, or its face, but he could tell it was looking right at them. He felt the prisoner give them the coldest glare unseen by his human eyes. 

The prisoner then continued to peal away the apple. Its head looked away from the company. Lu gave his young intern a nudge away from the cell. "Come along," he ordered, "there's much to show you."

The gang all made their way back to the elevator. Joshua tried to resist looking back at the figure but failed. The last thing he saw before getting back to the elevator was its name that was engraved on a wooden plaque: Mephistopheles.

Inside his prison, the prisoner couldn't shake off the devil's words. A worm, he called him. Pathetic! Forgotten!

SPLAT!

The apple he was carving crushed under his vengeful grasp. The moist juices ran between his fingers. He could mock him. Oh yes he could, for now. It won't be long before he would get out. He had everything he needed. Just one thing he valued. Time. Time was all he needed, and the devil gave him plenty. 

As he sat in the darkness, he thought about his revenge and how he was going to extract it. Starting with the two brats that put him there in the first place.

Lu, Joshua, and the group toured the rest of Inferno Tower. They walked around each of the levels, giving their intern a thorough walkthrough of the facilities. Next was their art collection. While Joshua liked art, viewing the graphic depictions of demons slewing souls, graffiti of demons bathing in painted blood, and murals of melting skeletons wasn't something he wanted to look at.

Joshua decided to wander off on his own. The others continued gawking at their twisted art. The boy soon found himself in a strange hallway where torches were the only light source. The hallway was vast and empty. No painting, no statues, no furniture. Bare as a desert with the exception of a large glass window that stretched from one end of the hall to the next. 

He tried peeking behind the glass. It was empty too. Only shadows engulfed most of the room. Was this a room to keep something in, like with the man in the cells below, Joshua wondered. He tried tapping on the glass to test this theory.

"Whoa there, lil' feller!" A voice cried out.

Joshua jumped and turned to face the caller. Standing next to him was a slime-green scaled demon dressed in dirty, blue overalls. His eyes were like a snake's, yellow and sinister. Three horns poked through his dark fedora on top of his bald head. What surprised the boy the most was that this demon was threatening him, but he was smiling. Rather friendly looking, despite his rotten, sharp teeth.

"You don't wanna be tapping on that dar glass." the demon gave a friendly warning, "dey don't like that."

"They?" Joshua asked.

"Well hellhounds of kurs,"

"Hellhounds are real?" Joshua had heard of them before. Mostly from fiction novels that this mother never allowed him to read, but never imagined they could be real. Then again he was in a realm where souls burn. Anything could be real.

"Dey sure are!" the strange demon replied, "Dem dogs are a beauty, I tell ya what. Meanest sons-a-guns too. Seen one fight off twenty scavengers, not get a single mark on it."

The demon then took Joshua's hand, shaking it crazily. "Well shoot, I've gone an forget me mannerisms again. Da name's Botis, by the way. I'm da trainer for dees beasties, just like my pappy before me and his pappy before him."

"How do you train them?" Josh asked, wiping off the grease left on his hand.

"Oh it sure ain't easy. Dey the most dangerous ting in da Inferno next to scavengers. But once you develop a connection wit dem, dey can be sweeter than pumpkin pie. Dat reminds me."

Botis the trainer smacked his fist onto a large button that was placed at the side of a wall. A small alarm sounded and the center of the enclosure opened up. Upon hearing the alarm, Lu and the others that were with him appeared by Josh and Botis' sides. They all eagerly watched behind the glass barrier.

"Did we miss it? Did we miss it?" Lilith hollered. The succubus pulled out her cellphone and started recording a video.

"Miss what?" Joshua asked.

"Botis, buddy." Lucifer said, "You gotta let me know when you're starting one of these. You know we like a good show."

"What show?"

Something was coming up on in the enclosure's floor. It was a large steer chained to a small post that rose from the trapdoor below. The animal stood still, tranquil in its surrounding.

Joshua asked, "What's with the cow?"

"Feeding." all the demons answered.

"The cow?"

The trainer laughed, "You sures are funny, lil' feller."

Joshua gulped hard. A loud dog howl echoed in the distance. He now understood what was going to be fed.

The cow continued standing still, unaware to the encroaching danger. Joshua and the other watched as five sets of evil, red eyes beamed through the darkness. The eyes appeared to be hovering a few feet off the ground; but this only indicated that whatever these hellhouds were, they were all bigger than the steer. They all crept closer and closer to the oblivious steer. They all heard the hounds monstrous growls but could not see their full bodies. Probably for the best.

Joshua quickly shut his eyes and plugged his ears with his fingers, trying to censor out what came next. Yet he still heard the muffled sounds of dogs barking and agonizing screams of the steer that only lasted a couple seconds then silence. He then heard the juicy sounds of meat ripping apart and bones being crushed. 

In his head he pictured the gruesome attack. The alpha had already bit down on the bull's neck while the others tore into its belly. They each took turns ravaging the organs. He picture two of the hellhounds fighting over a piece of leg, or maybe a rib cage. It was hard to tell but he definitely heard two of them fighting about something.

The vile sounds ended. The barking was fading off into the distance, back into the shadows. The boy opened one eye to see the devastation left. He gasped when he saw the steer and the hellhounds were gone. Nothing of the steer remained. All that was left in the center were large, blood stained paw prints — five times the size of any ordinary earth dogs.

All the demons then cheered from the bloody carnage. It appears what Joshua's mother and the scriptures said about them were starting to look correct. 

"Well that was fun," the devil said, "Who's hungry?"

Joshua Wordsworth's first day as an intern for the devil had come to a close. Not long was he sent home, which he was mighty thankful for. Any more time he spent down in the Inferno he would have been driven insane. This realm was never meant for mortals, at least none alive. 

The devil had sensed the boy's unease all through the tour. This concerned him. It was easy for Rosemary, Regan, and their mother; yet this one mortal boy caused difficulty.

Inside his gigantic office Lu futzed around with his aid, Legion, to keep him company. All of the sorcerer's six eyes watched as Lu paced back and forth, contemplating what went wrong during their lengthy tour.

"I don't get it, Legion," the devil whined, "I've shown this kid a piece of our world and yet he's so... so..."

"Unsettled." the ancient demon added.

"Exactly!" Lu dropped to his chair. 

"To be fair, my lord, our world isn't quite for outsiders." Legion exclaimed, "Especially those that have been debased by religious ideologies. Did you show him something in our realm that made him truly uncomfortable?"

"Well... there was an incident earlier today."

                                                               ***

A few hours ago, Lu took his temporary intern to the Mines of Suffering, where the condemned must forever work and suffer for their sins. Chisel the rocks slowly. Shape them into brinks. Ship them on carts for transportation. Day in and day out, a continuous loop. Sometimes there were reasons why they had to work, such as building new settlements for new demons and building monuments for old devils. Sometimes they were no reasons for the to work other than just to overwork them. 

The souls. Tired, malnourished, and frail. They were also hairless, wore rugged rags, and covered in dirt and soot that no one could tell them apart. They worked endlessly. While they didn't have to endure vicious tortures like other souls, they were still slaves to the demons and their sins.

The lesson the devil wanted Joshua to learn was that as king he was above everyone. The strong empower over the weak. The way and life of demons. Demons won't show any cruelty towards their own kind, at least not any more, but they won't show mercy towards the souls. Relentlessly beaten, tossed around like bean bags, kicked into hellfire pits just for laughs.

This part of the tour disturbed Joshua the most. It was very much like the preachers and his mother had warned about the Inferno. The damned forever punished for their sins against God—or what they were misled to believe they were sins. 

                                                                 ***

"Wait," Legion interrupted, "I thought we agreed not to show the boy the mines."

His king stuttered, "Yeah, well... you see. We did but... we got a little, um, sidetracked." 

"Oh I'm sure." The sorcerer was not convinced.

"Okay, back to the story."

                                                               ***

As they were walking along the trail, Joshua noticed one of the souls being threatened by a gluttonous demon.

"You worthless scat-maggot!" the demon cursed, "Look at the mess ya gotta yourself into!"

"I'm sorry, sir," the helpless soul wept. "I didn't mean to. It won't happen again."

"Yur damn right it won't!" the demon raised his fist high. In his scaly clutch was a spiky bullwhip, ready to cleave off what flesh was still on the soul.

Joshua ran off the trail and towards the demon. "No!" he cried, placing himself between the demon and the soul. "Stop! Leave that man alone."

The demon turned, "What's this? Outta the way, boy! There's a punishment needed."

"Why?" Joshua defended, "What good would beating a helpless man do?"

"Actually I'm a woman." the soul squeaked. "I understand the confusion. Doesn't really matter. Please don't mind me."

"There a problem here?" Lu said, approaching the company. His sinister sneer was spread along his face.

"My lord," the tormentor gasped, "This boy with you?"

"He is." the king answered. "Now my question. Is there a problem here?"

"This sniveling soul spilled water meant for our real workers. Our fellow demons."

"I'm sorry!" The soul pleaded. Salty tears poured out of its eyes. "I'm very sorry. Please forgive me."

"Easy, easy," Lu said, his voice very calm. He then knelt down the soul, who shook at his very presence. "I'm sure it was just an accident." His hands grasped around the soul's very bony hands. 

"Wow!" Lu exclaimed, "Oh my father, your hands. So soft. You moisturize?"

The soul gave a nervous chuckle. A weak smile started to form. "Thank you, my lord. I am really sorry about earlier. I promise it won't happen again."

"I know it won't." Lu's scarlet eyes lit up like a hungry fire. There was a series of cracking sounds like someone breaking twigs. Joshua's jaw dropped when he heard the soul scream in agony.

Lu finally released his tight grip. The bones in the soul's hands were contorted into different angles, it could barely move a single finger.

Lu stood up and patted his demon worker on the back, "Take it deeper into the mines. I'm sure it'll learn its lesson there."

"With pleasure, my king." his demonic henchman gave a nasty cackled. He then grabbed the soul and dragged it away as it helplessly kicked and screamed. The other souls ignored their kin's cries as they hurried their work.

"Another lesson to learn, Joshie," Lu said to his shocked intern. "Let the meek know who's in charge. Never show pity for them." 

                                                               ***

"Oh yes." the ancient demon said, "I don't know how one wouldn't feel uncomfortable from witnessing that."

"I know right." Lu exclaimed. His proud demeanor then vanished, "Wait - that was sarcasm, wasn't it?"

"Indeed it was."

"Then what's your counsel then?" Lu asked, slinking back into this chair. "What do you think is the best path to take?"

"Try to show the boy a different light in our world of darkness. Show him that we are not always savages but decent enough species. We only act as so to please this realm. As we know Hell cannot survive without the torment of others.

Lu allowed his adviser's words to sink in. He then jolted from his chair and proclaimed, "You're absolutely right, Legion."

"As always, my lord."

"I should show the boy a lighter side. And I know just the place to show him that light."

"I hope you're not taking the boy to Babylon."

"Noooo, of course not." the devil said with his fingers crossed behind his back.

Dis, city of demons. A festering hive of scum and villainy. The hellish streets were covered in dust and littered paper. Its inhabitants scurried from one sin-filled building to the next. No different from Detroit. And at the heart of this rustic city was its popular attraction, Babylon. A place where hard working demons can come in and relax, enjoying the festivities of its nightly raves and live entertainment.

Lu, Joshua, and the gang — consisting once again of Lilith, Scrugs, Balthazar, Ghuul, and Moloch — stood out side the popular resort, studying its marvelous structure. It was a very moldy looking building, crooked as the city it nested within. It looked like four different buildings were poorly stacked on top of each other. But the one thing that caught Joshua's eye was a neon sign flashing 'Live Girls & Guys'.

"You're taking me to a strip club?" Joshua gasped.

"It's not a strip club," the devil coughed, "It's a... well... it's like a Hooters restaurants."

"Yeah, it's totally family friendly." Ghuul added, "They do kid's birthday parties too."

"What am I suppose to learn here?" Joshua asked. He was started to get a little irritated with the devil and his demons' antics.

"What every good boss should do," Lu said, "First, check to see how their businesses are holding up. Second, and most importantly, get to know their employees. I own the joint now, and I've gotten familiar with some of the hardest working folks this side of the Inferno."

Lu, Joshua, and the others all entered into the popular clubhouse, where they were greeted by an employee at the front. It was another succubus much like Lilith, but her skin tone was mint green, and her eyes and hair were greedy jade. Her black leather top matched her skin-tight shorts. Her smile was paired perfectly with her luscious personality.

"Welcome to Babylon." she greeted. Her voice was very soothing and flirtatious. "My name is Sitri. I am here to serve your greatest desires."

"Hello, my dear." the devil gave a sneer. "Table for seven, if you please."

"Very well, my lord." The waitress replied. Her gaze then focused on Moloch like a hungry predator. Her deadly smile curled all around. 

Moloch's chapped lips also made a flirty grin. His brows bounced about the more he thought about this sexy little creature. Sitri strutted her way towards the hulking behemoth and wrapped herself inside his large, muscular arms.

"Well hello to you, my favorite customer." She winked at him. Her fingers crawled along his pecs like a flirting daddy long-legs. "Been a while since you dropped by. I was beginning to feel lonely."

Moloch held the waitress close to him. His large hand gave her a couple pats on her rump, which the green succubus greatly enjoyed. The rest of the company chuckled as they watched their friend get lucky. All but Joshua were amused.

He did not know this stranger but he knew Moloch was the father of his friend. From what he knew he was married with twenty-three other children. The ideal that this huge demon was flirting with this employee felt it was disrespecting a sacred bond that he was taught. He then figured that all demons probably cheat on their wives at some point.

Sitri then led the group deep to the building. Inside the clubhouse it was alive with color. Not just from the employees but also the flashing strobe lights and color-coated dance stage. The interior clean, polished, unlike its exterior. There was a large stage where dancing incubi and succubi entertained a cheering crowd. Catchy techno music blast through the surrounding sound system which made the employees on stage dance wildly on the poles.

The employees were strictly one of two species of demons: the very humanoid succubi and incubi. The succubi Joshua was already familiar with, having been associated with Lilith before. The incubi were much like their colorful sisters. Very near human with the exception of their hair, skin, and eyes a multitude of colors from a demonic rainbow. The only difference was the whole population were made of males, just as their counterparts, the succubi, were made of females. And unlike their female counterparts, the males were topless, wearing only skin-tight, black leather shorts as their clothing.

It did not matter the gender or sexual preference, these two species kept a wild crowd under their control with the help of their pheromones they secretly emitted. Yet there was some type of mist in the air that helped shine on the pheromones, making them sparkle like a night lit sky.

Once Sitri had the group placed at a large, rounded table. She wrote down everyone's orders. A double bourbon for Lu, a couple beers for Balthazar and Ghuul, a dry martini for Lilith, a strawberry milkshake for Scrugs, and a glass of water for Joshua Wordsworth.

She then went to Moloch for his order. But instead of standing like she did with the others, she plopped herself down into his lap. Her small form made her look like a doll compared to the muscle bound demon.

"What about you, big boy?" Sitri flirted again. "Wanna taste of the appetizer? Or would you rather have the whole dish?"

"Careful ma'am." Balthazar teased, "He's a happy, married demon."

Moloch's dark eyes darted at his friend. A low-sounding growl bellowed out of him. He was not amused by the comment, and neither was Joshua. 

Sitri's hand moved Moloch's head back to her enchanting gaze, which seemed to calm him back down, "Oh I'm sure the missus won't mind at all." she said.

"Wonder what the rest can get, eh love?" Lilith joined in, also giving her colorful kin a flirtatious wink.

Sitri tittered, "Sorry but this one's got me all to himself."

Moloch stood up from his spot and walked off, carrying the green succubus in his biceps. The two never took their loving gazes off each other. Their smiles complimented each other too. 

Joshua felt like his was going to barf from all this grown demon, lovey-dovey, adultery. "Is there a bathroom around here?"

"Down that way," Lu pointed to the other end of the building. Joshua jumped from his seat and made his way there. He didn't really have to go to the bathroom but he needed a minute to separate himself from the others.

Joshua wandered around the large clubhouse. He noticed there was definitely more than just a dance studio. There were also slot machines, a large dance floor for partying demons, and an arcade area for more entertainment. Maybe that arcade is for the aforementioned kids, Joshua pondered. Perhaps he could hang out there for a bit until their food arrived.

Before Joshua could make his way towards the arcade he saw someone exit out of one of the bathrooms. There was a boy too. A demon child. But this demon child looked familiar. Black hair, orange hoodie, and a pointed, serpentine tail. 

The boy looked like Dominic, a friend of his and Rosemary's. Finally a familiar face, and someone around his age. But what was he doing here? Certainly not old enough to be a customer. He watched as his friend entered into another room with an open door.

Joshua rushed over to see what his friend was doing. At the entrance of the doorway he watched as the other boy took a seat at desk inside what looked to be a large dressing room, likely used by the employees. Dominic then picked up a pencil from his bag and started writing away on some paper. On his desk were also some textbooks for different courses. From what Joshua could tell they weren't about subjects dealing with torturing souls or learning spells. These textbooks looked much like the textbooks he has at his school.

Joshua worked the courage to enter the dressing room. "Dominic?" he asked the boy.

Dominic's dark eyes, much like his father's eyes, glanced up briefly. "Oh hey Josh." he gave a friendly greeting. "What're you doing down here?"

"I'm doing an intern thing with Lu, as part of a school project." Joshua explained, watching as his friend focused on his work.

"That's cool."

"What about you? Why are you here?"

"My mom works here." Dominic answered as he wrote on his assignments. "I'm allowed to do some homework here as long as I'm not distracting the employees. It's better working on it here than at my house where it's too noisy to concentrate. You know, twenty-two other siblings and all."

"Oh, your mom's here?" Joshua started feeling funny in his stomach. It was a gut-wrenching, guilty feeling. He feared Dominic doesn't know about his father being present and has captured the attention of an employee. Unless... 

"Which one is your mom?" he stuttered nervously, hoping his friend's answer might give him some ease. It beat having to break his heart.

Dominic briefly glanced up at the doorway. "The one dancing with my dad."

Josh looked back. Directly where the dance floor was located the monstrous Moloch and the seductive Sitri tangoed to the music. Things started to become clear to Josh now.

"She mostly takes orders and serves them," Dominic continued, "but once and a while she'll have to do some music numbers with the other workers. Yet she does "special offers" for only my father and no one else."

"Wow." Joshua sighed, feeling relieved. "I didn't know you're mom's a... uh..."

"Waitress." Dominic finished for him. "Sometimes showgirl."

"Right." Joshua now felt guilty for having judged his friend's parents so harshly.

Dominic noticed his human friend's discomfort. He stopped writing and calmly explained. "Look, I know what you're thinking. I get it. My parents don't really have the most glamorous jobs in the whole universe. My dad tortures people and my mom entertains them. But they're still my parents. They do everything they can to provide a better life for me and my siblings. Isn't that something all parents strive to do?"

"It hasn't been easy, but they're still together and have been that way for, like, over a thousand years now. And I appreciate everything they've done for us. After all they're my parents, and I love them."

Joshua thought about what the demon boy had said. His words helped make a smile on his face. Perhaps there was more than he had been taught.

Just then Sitri entered the dressing room alone, carrying a plateful of food. She still carried that same pleasant smile that she had before. 

"Hey sugar." she said, walking the food over to her thirteenth born child. "Figured you might be getting hungry, so I spared you a couple of burgers and fries."

"Thanks mom." Dominic said, happily taking one of the burgers off the plate.

Sitri then leaned in on his desk, examining his homework. "Whatcha working on?" she politely asked.

"Just some algebra. It's hard but I can handle it."

"That's good. Oh, one more thing. Liza can't come in later so they needed me to fill in for her shift, which means I'll be working overtime tonight."

"It's okay mom. I understand. You do what you gotta."

His mother smiled brighter, "Thanks, sugar." She leaned forward and kissed her son's forehead. "How did we get so blessed to have you?"

Dominic's mother walked away, proceeding back to her job as a waitress and hard working mom. Joshua said goodbye to his friend and headed back to his table. Get to know the employees, or at least learn something about an employee. Just one of Lu's teachings. Joshua figured that perhaps he could learn a thing or two from the devil. 

Lu, Joshua, and the rest of Lu's gang all sat inside a large room with an oval shaped table. 

"Welcome to the meeting room." the devil proclaimed to his intern. "Here is where we discuss different methods of torturing souls. No worries, there's no gore or violence. Just talk."

"Yeah," Balthazar added, "Talk about gore and violence." The others laughed at his comment, including Joshua. 

Joshua seemed to be adapting well to his demonic company. His business was kept mostly in the upper portions of Inferno Tower, which he was glad to be part of. No torturing, no screaming, no sort of abuse against souls. He didn't even have to look a poor soul wandering around the towel, with the exception for one or two used as a servants.

While Lu rambled on during the meeting, Joshua did as he normally would: doodle in his journal. Ghuul peeked over the boy's shoulder with his lazy eye. "Hey kid." he whispered. "Whatcha working on?"

"Just some doodles."

Ghuul caught a glimpse of the boy's artwork. Superheroes battling supervillains, monsters on top of skyscrappers, UFO's hovering in space. Typical drawings for a boy his age, yet there was much more attention to detail with every pencil mark he made.

"Say, you got some serious talent." Ghuul added.

"You think so?"

"Kid, you should do some serious business with this."

"I don't think my mom would approve." Joshua said hesitantly. The thought of his mother's disapproval worried him. He knew that she preferred that his talents was put to use serving God as an educator or a priest.

"And what does your pops think?"

Joshua frowned. "I don't think his opinion matters anymore." he muttered to himself.

"May we keep all eyes and ears on me, please?" Lu demanded. All eyes were now focused on him. "Now as you all know we gotta come up with new methods of torture. Some techniques are still good, others are a little dated. But we don't want them too broken. Otherwise you know what becomes of them."

"What happens?" Joshua asked.

"Scavengers." The hulking Moloch growled.

"Filthy, festering diseases that kill and eat everything." the devil explained.

Lilith shuttered. "Yeeek! Scavengers. Every time I think about them, I need to shower in holy water."

"Don't even joke about that." Balthazar said. "I'd take the scavengers over what holy water could do any day."

"Yes, yes, we know the damage scavengers and holy water can do," Lu interrupted, "but now we need some new methods to punish all those damned down here. Any ideas." The room was silent. "Come on, there are no stupid ideas."

"How about we boil them in hot sauce?" The short bat-looking demon Scrugs suggested to the group.

"That's a stupid idea." his boss retorted. "Next?"

"We could bring back the prongs?" Ghuul said.

"We haven't used those since the Crusades," Lu then turned his gaze over to Joshua. A nasty smile formulated back onto his lips. "Intern, what about you? Got any fresh ideas?"

All demonic eyes were on Josh now. Joshua started getting nervous. His throat was becoming dry and lumpy. He had to think of something fast. One idea popped into his head, yet he wasn't sure if these dark beings would approve. "Uh, just one," he muttered, "Can we get TubeFlix in here?"

The devil pressed a button on a remote while a large projector screen lowered behind him. He then proceeded to take his seat in his large chair, which dwarfed all the other chairs around him. 

The remote slid over to Joshua's spot. After examining the remote, he pressed the button that read 'TUBEFLIX'. The screen showed a wide variety of shows and movies for everyone's viewing pleasure. Joshua flipped through the alphabetized catalog of titles until he found the show that remembered watching through much of his childhood.

The title showed a bright background of disgusting sunshine and happiness. The few kids featuring on the cover were despicably happy. The most heinous image was the adult man, cosplayed as a superhero, who stood at the center of the cover box. The man's costume, which was just low budget body armor of a forgotten movie set, was painted bright blue like the fake sky background. His mask covered most of his face, probably to hide his shame. On his back was a cape that looked like a regular bath towel. But the one feature that drew everyone's attention was the large cross that was painted on the "hero's" chest.

"Captain Christian and the Holy Helpers?" Lu read the title. His face scrunched up in confusion. "What is this crap?"

"Something my mom had me watch when I was younger." Joshua said.

"That explains it," Moloch growled again.

Joshua pressed play and the show began. It opened with the titular hero talking about a certain dead carpenter and how much he loved everyone. Joshua overheard his demonic cohorts make a few jokes about the character, unaware of the real horror that awaited them all.

As the episode continued, the protagonist would confront a child, talking to each about their problems. The hero and the child would then say a prayer and the problem was magically fixed. The phrase 'what are we watching' was tossed around much each member of the room. The demons slumped over the desk, dazed and petrified by what they were watching. Joshua, on the other hand, sat perfectly normal, unfazed by the show's campy nature. 

All the demons breathed a sigh of relief when the credits finally rolled. "Oh thank god it's over," Lilith gasped.

"That's just the first episode." Joshua said.

"THERE'S MORE?!?" All the demons screamed. 

The show continued onto the second episode. Each episode was the same scenario. A kid has problems, Captain Christian comes in and talks, they pray, problems solved. Once in a while he would have to battle monsters and costumed baddies, but the fights were so poorly choreographed the hero might have sneezed and won the fight.

It was torturous. The demons could barely hang on to their sanity. Both Ghuul and Balthazar wept on Lilith's shoulders as Lilith lightly panted their heads. Scrugs tied himself a noose out of paperclips around his neck. Even the mighty Moloch, who was the toughest of the group, couldn't stand it. His head smacked into the desk so many times that a crater was beginning to form.

The devil himself look completely lobotomized. His mouth gaped open for a fly to buzz right in. His scarlet eyes blank of life. He wished that he was repeatedly cast out of Heaven so that it would spare him having to watch more of this fiendish show.

The credits rolled again. "That's the end of the first season." Joshua muttered, "Only seven more to go."

"NO MORE!" Lu popped back to life. "No more. I can't take it. This is sick. This is evil!" 

His lips curled up. "I love it! This this just what we need."

The third day for Internship Week was on the way, and Joshua was off to learn about the next lesson as the devil's intern: serving as commander-in-chief for a whole army. Lucifer led Joshua to this training facility located outside Inferno Tower, all the way down its crooked road. There Joshua met those that guard the damned, the Doomsguard. Like any army the demons—young and old—signed on to be soldiers for the Inferno. Their motto, 'Dum inferno exsurgit, dicendo'. Latin translation: "When Hell rises, we raise it."

Lu left Joshua under the care of one of the young demon soldiers of the outpost. "No worries. I'll treat him like my kid brother." Those his exact words to his king as he led Joshua through the wreck rooms. "Welcome to the Doomsguard, kid. Outpost 13."

The soldiers were young. Their ages varied different centuries but they all looked and sounded like they were in their twenties. Like Babylon and the Tower, he saw a different assortment of demons. Some looked reptilian, some looked like goats or satyrs, and some were the humanoid incubi and succubi. There were even a couple that were hybrids like his friend Dominic, part demon and part succubi or incubi.

Joshua got to know several of the young recruits. At first they joked about eating him—which made Joshua very nervous—but they liked his company. They even introduced him to the personal friend of the guard: the FyreBlast-23. An automatic assault rifle, flamethrower, and grenade launcher all in one. Each clip loaded with a .300 Winchester Magnum bullet casing, powerful enough to tear a scavenger and soul to meaty pieces.

The pleasantries and jokes ended quickly when a loud whistle signaled them all to attention. In rows of two they stood. Joshua stood among them too. The recruits hoped the kid would meet their drill instructor, a demon that was harsh but laid back, yet someone worse arrived.

CLUNK! CLUNK! CLUNK!

Another succubus marched inside the barracks. This one had skin was light blue like the ocean. Her hair, or what's left, trimmed short to the skin. She wore a pitch black tank top and dark camo pants. Large, thick dark sunglasses, that looked like an eclipsed sun, hid her savage eyes. Her face was stern, not at all friendly like Lilith or Sitri.

All of the Inferno knew her by name and reputation: General Belial. The first succubus to reach the rank of general, and to become the supreme commander of the Doomsguard. A rumor floated that she yanked the wings off an archangel once with her bare hands, long ago during the Heaven-Hell War. Didn't even scorch her.

CLUNK! CLUNK! CLUNK!

The metallic peg that replaced her left leg tapped across the cold floor with each step. As she walked down the rows the recruits tried their hardest to stand still and not flinch when she darted them. They dared not breathe or sweat with the general present. Punishment from her was similar to how the condemned souls were treated.

"This is for all you new faces here in my beloved guard." she hollered. Joshua made himself not jump when the general spoke, "My name is General Belial. Yet the only thing I want to hear out of your pie holes is 'ma'am' or 'general'. Is that clear?"

"Yes ma'am." the recruits uttered in unison. 

"Bullcrap! Make it sound convincing!"

"YES MA'AM!" they all shouted louder.

"Unfortunately your drill instructor is out sick today. But lucky for you maggots, I volunteered to give you some serious P.T. We're gonna P.T. until your legs pop right off. Doesn't that sound good?"

"YES MA'AM!"

"We are the Doomsguard. Nothing in the Inferno gets in or out without our say so. We are born from hellfire and we crap hot coal. We shoot for kills and for thrills. We're lean, mean, killing machines that smashed open the gates of Heaven and march through the fields of Eden. And we did so as one superior unit.

"I don't care what you are or who you were. I don't look down on purebloods, half-breeds, succubi, or incubi. I don't care if you're endowed with magical abilities or not. I don't care if you were born from Hell or reborn from a soul. To me, you're all equally worthless, and you'll all receive the same amount of treatment. Do you maggots understand me?"

They answered. "YES MA'AM!"

She cocked her head to the left. "You!" Her eyes locked with one of the recruits.

"Yes ma'am!" he answered. The recruit looked a lot like Moloch. Not in physique or appearance, but he had his horns, red skin, and dark eyes. 

"You're one of Moloch's boys, ain't ya?" the general moved a couple feet closer to Moloch's eldest son.

"Yes ma'am!" he answered again.

"Are you the scrawny little maggot that died at childbirth?"

"No ma'am! That was one of my younger brothers. And he's not dead now, ma'am!"

"Your daddy was a war hero. He ever talk about the war?"

"Just once, ma'am."

"Good. Then he wasn't lying about it. Now you better live up to his reputation, or he's gonna wish you'd died so he wouldn't be embarrassed by your existence!"

Moloch's son gave the general his final answer. "YES MA'AM!" 

The succubus general carried on. She waltzed a few feet down the line until she sized up to another recruit. This one looked like a toad with his pudgy body and blank, round eyes. 

"What's your excuse?" Belial asked him.

"Excuse for what, sir?" her next victim responded.

Belial's hand slapped around the recruit's meaty throat. "SIR?" she berated. "YOUR MOTHER IS A SIR! Do I look masculine to you, soldier?"

"No, ma'am!" the recruit choked. "Just a slip-up."

"Slip-ups getcha killed, private!"

"Sorry."

"Sorry what?"

"Sorry, general."

"Oh, so I'm a sorry general now, that it?"

"No ma'am!"

Acknowledging his mistake, the general released her grasp. The toad-like recruit cough some fresh air back into his lungs but remained at attention. General Belial continued her onslaught. "Tell me, why did you join my beloved guard?"

"To shoot scavengers, ma'am!"

"Scavengers were souls once. Do you have sympathy for them?"

"No ma'am!"

"Were you a soul once?"

"No ma'am!"

"I bet you were once a scroungy little soul that got damned down here because he liked fondling little boy pee-pees! You can bet your ass I'll be watching you!"

General Belial moved back down the line. Her march then led her to another recruit. This one a doe satyr with small eyes, pale skin, brown fur, and a pair of small, nubby horns on the back of her head.

The general eyed the small female. Her gaze then concentrated on a tattoo, on her right shoulder. "What is that?" She demanded an answer. Her brows scrunched into her sunglasses.

"A tattoo, ma'am!" the doe answered.

"Are tattoos allowed in my barracks, private?" 

"No ma'am!" 

"Then why the hell do you have one on your skin, private?"

"It's brand new, ma'am!"

"Is it now?" Belial's struck against the fresh tattoo. The doe felt the sting but she dared not flinch in front of the general. "Where should that tattoo be next time?"

"Apologies, ma'am." the recruit gasped. "I'll have it covered next time."

"Damn right you will."

Their conversation ended when Belial marched off again. A couple feet down then she paused. She felt something off in her guard. Her neck curved to the right. There was a gap between two other recruits. If there was one thing she despised it was gaps in her beloved guard.

Her neck tilted down. There's the problem. Joshua Wordsworth, standing in the row and staring at the general. The general whipped off her sunglasses to get a better look at this new face. For the first time Joshua saw the succubus' eyes. Clear blue, like her skin and hair.

General Belial approached the human boy. Her shadow engulfed the boy's small body. "Well, what do we got here?" she said, her tone a little calmer. A grin groomed on her lips. "A human among demons. What brings you down here?"

"I'm here as an intern for-"

"SPEAK UP, KID!" the general snapped. "Or am I talking to a mouse?"

"Internship for the devil, ma'am!" Joshua answered anxiously. His words nearly jumbled together.

"What's your name, son?"

"Joshua Wordsworth."

"What's that around your neck?" A blue finger pointed at the cross that Joshua carried on him.

"My cross, uh ma'am." Joshua answered, trying to avoid being yelled again.

"So you're a Christian?"

"Yes ma'am."

"What kind? Catholic? Protestant? Lutheran?"

"Evangelical."

"Ah, the fun kind."

Josh's eyes couldn't help but stare at the general's leg. Just a stump attached to a long metal shaft that stretched into half her humerus. Josh tried not to stare too long at it, but the general already noticed. 

"What are you eyeballing at, boy?" Her hand slapped against the metal, taunting the poor human boy. "You like this? You got a prosthetic fetish I should know about?"

"Uh, no ma'am." 

Belial's calm demeanor reverted back to her aggressive nature. "You don't think I look pretty with this leg on, kid? You don't think I look attractive?"

Joshua gulped. "Wha? N-no that's not-"

"Oh so you're gay then. That why you don't find me attractive?"

"No! No! I'm not gay-"

"Then why are you in my beloved guard then?"

"I don't know! To do what you tell me to do?" Joshua shouted. It echoed through the barracks.

The general's smile returned. "To do what I tell you to do. I like that answer. Well done, son." 

She turned from him and addressed the recruits. "Take note from this boy, maggots. If you do what I say, when I say it, if you follow my directions and proceed with my training, you will survive. You will live at the end, until the end. We are the Doomsguard! When Hell rises, we raise it!

"Now all of you! Drop and give me twenty!"

The recruits obeyed. The dropped to the icy floors, hands and legs spread out. They all pushed themselves up and down, counting the number of push-ups their general wanted. Joshua even joined in with the recruits.

Belial marched down to the entrance where her king, Lu, watched them all. "How's my intern holding up, Bel?" he asked his loyal general.

"Sir, your intern seems to be doing fine," she answered. "Boy's got brains and guts, and that's good enough for me. If he was really part of my guard, I'd give him a metal."

Day four of Internship Week was nothing too hectic (all things considered). Joshua was sitting inside Lu's office, listening to the boss negotiate a bargain with a potential client. Another lesson that Joshua had to learn was that while there are demons that make deals with most humans, some wish to speak directly to the source. 

While the negotiations seemed to go on forever, Joshua was lucky that he brought his prized notebook along so he draw more action-packed doodles. His little cross was placed comfortably between the pages, serving as a marker for when he wishes to continue his work. His pencil as mighty as a sword obeyed him as he etched out new figures and characters in his ongoing artistic crusade.

The client didn't seem too interesting. Just another young, up-and-coming athlete looking for a way to boost his reputation. He heard from a buddy of where he can summon a demon that can grant him his greatest desires, with a cost of course. The specifics of the cost was not disclosed but the young man found himself within one of Inferno Tower's office spaces; and then he was talking to the man in charge.

"Just sign on the dotted line," the devil persuaded. His smirk sinister as ever. "and your success shall come to you—give or take a few days. But you'll be the biggest MVP this north of the states!"

The client smiled and shrugged, taking the pen and ready to sign the mystic paper contract. When he pressed on the ball-point, he felt a quick pinch like a needle tapped through his thumb. The vial inside pen filled itself with the client's blood. Blood was far more permanent than ink.

The athlete signed the paper and the deal was sealed. He was then transported back to where he had came through the enchanted elevator that transported anyone of Joshua's world to the demon world.

"Another day, another sucker," Lu flinched and then looked back to Joshua, "I mean, another satisfied customer!" He nervously smiled.

BLEEP! BLEEP! Saved by the intercom. Lilith's voiced echoed through, "Boss, you got a call from the President."

Lu pressed the button to answer. "President of what?"

"America."

"Must be asking for another extension on his deal. Hey Joshie, could you run a quick errand for me?"

"Sure," Joshua replied, closing his notebook, "What do you need?"

"I need you to pick up something from the front desk on the ninth floor."

"The n-ninth floor?" Joshua stammered, "W-where all the prisoners are?"

"They're in the secure cages designed by the best." Lu assured. "You'll be just fine. Just don't interact with any of the prisoners. Now hurry along, and don't keep me waiting."

Joshua was afraid but he still obeyed. He walked out of Lu's office, waved at Lilith when he walked by her desk, and entered in the lengthy hallway filled with detailed history. Painted in the walls were all the names of the devils before. Each had a short poem depicting their reign. 

Joshua stopped, gazing up at the horrific but stunning paintwork of each of the seven kings. The first one he saw was that of a demon with a man's body and the head of a dragon. Different hues of red, yellow, and orange wrapped around the body like it was bathing in a pool of fire. The scripture read:

             Satan, the first of our kin 

             To unite the World of Sin

            He sought to conquer the souls up high

            His wrath bled his enemies dry

            Death came sudden on the darkest day

           In his honor, his name, for eternal, we pray

The next one Joshua say he thought it looked disgusting. It depicted of a large, blob-like mass much like a snail or slug with the head and limbs of a fly, or maybe a cockroach. What kind of demon looked like that? In its foreground was mountains of food that the ancient demon seemed to be stuffing into its mandibles. This one read:

          When our King fell in flame

          Beelzebub, The Glutton, took His name

          He left no spoils or waste

         For his gluttonous taste

         He wished to be forever fed

         Until he ate himself dead

The third looked more humanoid compared to the others, with the exception of his massive horns above the brows and lion-like main around his neck. Naked men and women seemed to dangle around his arms like drunken monkeys on tree branches. It read:

          Asmodeus, The Lustful King

         Fathered many bastards—the Lecherous Offspring

         This would sing his claim

         Forever of his self-righteous fame

        The name of every lover, lady and lad

        Boasting about the best he ever gave and had

The fourth one was another humanoid creature with big fangs, hoofed feet, large eyes like an owl, and even a bird's beak for a mouth. Like the second king before him, there was a mountain in the foreground. But this mountain was made of gold. Even the small throne he sat in was gold too. The paint was sure enough to make sure the gold looked genuine—or maybe it was real gold they used. The scripture for this king read:

       Mammon, The Accountant

       Give him all the treasures, he'd rant

       Locked forever in this keep

       Locked forever away in the deep

       Mountains of Silver and Gold

       Forever hidden within his stronghold

Joshua was astound by all the paintings. As he walked further down the hall he saw the fifth king. A rather fat demon with a long mouth and large horns above his ears. This one seemed the least interesting because it depicted him sleeping on a wide bed. Even his scripture seemed dull:

      Malbolgia, had the shortest reign

      By birthright his throne claim

      The sloth would lay in his lair

      Letting others carry his affair

      He'd lie cozily in the Abysmal Deep

      Until killed by his Brother in his sleep

The next one gave Joshua chills. The detailed artistry of dead angels at the feet of this demon. The demon looked to be covered head to toe in armor as black as tar. It was difficult to tell if there was a man or monster underneath; but the piercing gave of its hellish red eyes and fiery, gaping maw was enough to scare anyone. 

It looked as though every one seemed to be afraid of this one. He noticed that some worker demons and a few souls refused to look or glanced away from this one. Its scripture read:

      Baracrus, the one who craved power

      Ruled Inferno the long, dark hour

      Feared by angel and demon alike 

      Slayed enemies through sword and pike

     The cruelty and malice he ordered in each breath

      Finally silenced, the War ended, with his death

Finally he had come to the current king, Lucifer. Not much was depicted other than he looked as he does now, but he wore a crimson armor instead of his red suit. But something in the background caught Joshua's eye. It looked as some monstrous dragon-dinosaur hybrid was shadowed by Lu. Lu's scripture read as it was:

      Our king, Lucifer, once God's angel

      Once was of the Heavens, cast into Hell

      He rules our realm with justly pride

      Yet beware, The Beast, locked inside

      The blood of the First Devil in his vein

      He'll carry with him until his last reign

The Beast. He had remembered the warnings of the Beast from his church sessions. But what did this mean? He had remembered that Rosie once told him that he saw another side to Lu. A side so menacing that it had once frightened her. But she said it, or he, saved her. Yet another tale was told about how it had attack his brother in a predatory rage. Joshua wasn't sure what to believe.

More history was graphed into the walls. A large, black mass crashing into a field of green. A heart forged in a sea of fire. Then there was one where demons were battling against some winged people on top of city in the clouds, and another where demons were dissolving in a large body of water where in the distant background some sort of boat or box was floating on top. The most disturbing Joshua saw was the graphic depiction of a burned man being transfigured into the hideous monster he saw inside Lu's painting.

"Quite marvelous, isn't it?" a low, haunting voice bellowed, forcing Joshua to jump. He turned to find Lu's adviser Legion was also looking upon the artwork. "Such craftsmanship. Such defined detail."

"These were all kings?" Joshua muttered nervously. "They were all devils?"

"Indeed." the ancient one answered. "Some were good kings, others not so much. He was the worst of them." Legion tapped his old staff on the painting of the sixth king, Baracrus. "We had many disagreements, him and I. What was to be done with prisoners of war. What was to be done with souls. His spiteful experiments."

"You served them all?"

"I did. I was also involved in some of the history depicted here."

Joshua looked around the mural some more. Then he spotted something that seemed off from the others. "What's the history behind that one?" he asked, pointing at a corner of the wall.

One of Legion's six eyes blinked at stared in the direction the boy pointed toward. "I believe Lord Lucifer has given you a task, Master Wordsworth." he bellowed. "It would be wise not to procrastinate so long on it."

Joshua hesitantly agreed. He walked away from the old demon sorcerer and entered inside the elevator down the end of the hall. He pressed the button that would ascend him to the ninth floor and the doors close behind.

The mortal boy was gone. Legion was now alone with the ancient history painted all over the hall. His round, hidden head rotated to way Joshua was pointing at earlier. It wasn't anything secret to the demons, but it was not something that a mere mortal needed to know. Legion looked and saw the piece of history he would never forget. A small patch where a cloaked spider-demon, extending a decrepit hand to three individuals with light surrounding them. The light seemed to be attached to the backs of the three figures like wings of bird—or wings of an angel.