The Devil’s Intern Part 6

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.