Pandora’s POV

„Are we interrupting something?” I asked with a cocked eyebrow as I watched Gates rock back and forth, obviously drunk out of his head as he hovered over the shattered bottle and the spilled liquor. His hand was deep in his hair and his eyes on whiskey which was now staining the marble floor.

I heard the familiar tune of Silversun Pickups’ Rusted Wheel resonating throughout the room, which necessarily wasn’t the song I’d chose for a party. Even if he was hitting it up by himself. The whole vibe about this was just... off. The Great Depression was nothing compared to what it felt like standing here.

He sighed deeply, before his eyes tried focusing on us. Exactly - tried. It was obvious his vision was blurred and he could hardly tell who was standing in front of him. So now the devil is an alcoholic, good to know. „No...” He mused softly, before forcing a make-believe smile on his lips, „No... The more, the merrier, right?” His smile vanished as soon as his eyes trailed to the arm chair on his left. Gates swayed his way towards the fireplace and flunked down in the chair, before taking another bottle from the metallic tray standing neatly on the small table next to him. Me and Shads shared a look of confusion. „Come... Come and join me,” He waved us over as he poured a glass for himself, surprisingly pouring more liquor in the glass than on the tray. Judging by his state, I actually was stunned by his accomplishment.

„Gates, it’s ten in the morning...” Shads pulled his eyebrows together as we both watched him pour another two glasses.

„And...?” He put the bottle down on the tray and took a glass, „I know Dora loves this shit,” Dora? What the hell was wrong with him? Had he completely lost it? Honestly... „Come, have a drink with me... for old time sake...”

I turned to Shads with a puzzled expression. What on Earth was going on here? His shoulders twitched in reply to my withheld question. Gates has never been an early drinker, nor a heavy one. Basically because he couldn’t get drunk thanks to his ungodly metabolism. Shit must’ve really hit the fan if he’s shitfaced this early in the day. And how could even the devil get drunk? How much had he really need to drink? I inspected the room in search of the mountain of bottles and not even a second later I found it. Right beside the desk. At least a dozen empty glass creations.

„Don’t make me beg you,” He slurred, falling back in the leather armchair, „’Cause I fucking hate begging. Maybe even more than I hate my father.”

„So this is what it’s all about?” Shads started towards him and sat down in the arm chair beside the table. „I thought you were over it...”

„Nope,” He popped the ‘p’, raising the glass to his mouth, before his eyes connected with me in a sudden realization. „Hell, where are my manners...” He pushed himself up from the seat, nearly falling back down, but surprisingly managing to hold himself up straight, „Dora, sit down.”

„I think I’m good, Gates,” I replied, folding my arms. Had he completely lost his marbles? Since when did Synyster fucking Gates offer a seat to one of his former minions? Since never, so what gives?

„You sure?” He arched his dark eyebrow pointing to the chair. There had to be a catch...

„Yup,” I nodded, pursing my lips for a short moment, „I’m good.”

„Okay,” he whispered softly as he fell back in the armchair. I stepped closer, reaching for the glass and before I knew it, he had pulled me in his lap, nearly making me spill the liquor. I stared at Shads with wide eyes mouthing a strong three word combination – what the fuck. His glass clinked against mine. „Cheers.”

„So... this depressive solitary drinking is because you remembered you hate your father?” Shads eyes fell on Gates hand which was resting on my thigh now. Quite frankly I was too perplexed to punch the guy, although maybe I should’ve. Maybe that would get him out of this... odd state.

„Not quite,” He downed the contents of his glass, before he leaned in a very strange way to refill it. „Someone particular reminded me of it.”

„What did Teek do?” I shifted in his lap so I’d be facing him. Fucking hell, he really reeked of booze. When he spoke it felt like I was breathing aeriform liquor. Pop a spearmint, dude.

„Who said it was Teek?” He was about to put down the bottle, but then he stopped. His eyes shifted between the glass and the Laphroaig bottle in his hand, before he decided to ditch the glass and simply drink from the neck.

„Who else could it be?” Shads implied. It seemed like he was warming the glass in his hand for this whole time. I don’t believe he had even taken a sip.

„Fine... It was Teek...” He confessed, tilting his head against the back of the chair. „It’s just... She’s so fucking naive- she doesn’t know anything besides the shit that they forced down her throat... She... She...”

„She what?” I frowned, suddenly getting all defensive. She was an angel for fuck sake! That’s how they were. They hadn’t seen evil, they hadn’t seen dark – they knew only the warmth of God. I think... Wasn’t quite sure. Nevertheless, he couldn’t blame Teek for what he was doing to himself right now. It didn’t look like Teek was the one to enforce all the booze upon him. It was his goddamn choice.

„She thinks I’m evil... that I’m some kinda monster...” He muttered.

„And you think you’re not?” My eyebrow shot up as I left his lap in an instant. After all the things he had done, he still thought he was... good? At this point I could say thanks to Gates, ‘cause I really needed this drink. There’s no way I could handle his bullshit being sober. He thinks he’s not a monster... Although - not gonna lie – he had some good qualities about him, but the actions of the past century... or twelve, didn’t quite let him fall under the label of a saint.

„I had never wanted for anyone to suffer...” His browns locked with mine. It appeared he was pleading for me to trust him. To believe in him... „I... I...” His eyes trailed away, fixing on some object in the room, „I wanted equality.”

I opened my mouth and shut it. No comment. He was clearly insane and was drowning in his own madness. He wanted equality yet he acted like an authorative figure. He punished everyone who dared to disobey him, Hell was his playground and he considered each of the fallen as pawns in his little game. He was no better thanGod.

„Uhmm, sorry to intrude,” My eyes shot to the doorway to see little Johnny Christ bowing humbly. Need I say more? „The generals are here.”

„Generals...” I mused shifting my attention to Gates, before fixing it back on Johnny. „Here?”

He nodded curtly, before addressing Gates once more, „Should I bring them to the conference room?”

„Please do,” Gates approved, „But do watch Wormwood.”

„Of course,” Johnny nodded before leaving the room. Wormwood? Since when that unholy junkey was one of the generals? He should’ve ceased to exist a long fucking time ago. You have to understand my hatred for this specific individual – he was in fact a junkey, only... He got his high thanks to the angelic blood. Yeah, I know – fucking disgusting. He killed angels only to drink their blood, which in result enhanced both his agility and strength, but left him out of his fucking mind. He lost every trail of fear when he was under the influence, making him the most dangerous being in the universe.

„Fuck...” Gates breathed, narrowing his eyes on something in front of him.

„Is this the meeting where you supposedly deny the proposition?” Shads straightened in his chair.

„Yeah...” Syn sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. „And I’m fucking shitfaced... They’re gonna rip me a new asshole...”

He had been serious when he said he didn’t want a war... He truly was against it. I’m sorry, but this little bit of information just blew my mind. For the whole time I thought he was pulling my leg, because well, since when had Gates refused a good fight with God? Since never. „Hold up,” I emptied my glass in one, before putting it back on the table and ripping the bottle of liquor out of his hands and taking a couple of long chugs, wincing right after as I felt the whiskey kiss the insides of my throat with a burning desire, „Nobody’s gonna rip you a new one...” I wiped my mouth with the surface of my palm. „Not without my fucking permission.”

Syn rolled his eyes and snorted, „How can you be so sure?” He pulled a pack of cigarettes from the inside pocket of his jacket, before lighting one up, „They want a war – I don’t. That’s four generals and four of their commanders against... me.” He looked sober by the minute, or maybe just I was starting to get a bit intoxicated.

„Dude...” Matt frowned and stood up, „You’re the ruler of Hell, the prince of darkness...”

„So?”

„Soooo...” I chimed in with a wide grin playing on my lips, „We’re going with you.” He rolled his eyes again as he took a deep drag. Seriously? He just rolled his fucking eyes on me? Twice if I might add?

„We are?” Matt arched his brow at me.

„Of course we are. And don’t you both make those faces. He—„ I cut myself off as I pointed to Shads, „—is your second in command and I--,” My thumbs pointed to my amazing persona, „—am your commander. If anyone’s gonna rip you a new asshole, it’s gonna be us.”

„Hel-hello?” A familiar high-pitched voice sounded from the hallway, before her lean body appeared in the doorway. It looked like she just woke up, but yet she looked cute as Hell. „Oh... Pandora... I didn’t know I would find you here... What is going on here?”

„Goodmorning, buttercup,” I shot her a fake smile, starting to get a bit angry with all her recent MIA acts. My arms crossed over my leather jacket, before I spoke, „I see you didn’t like the room Priest provided you with.”

„Oh—I—„

„She came here for the books,” Gates cut her off with an irritated look to his face as he stood up. Well that’s the most pathetic attempt at a lie I had ever heard in my entire life.

„That’s true,” Teek smiled back at him. What’s going on between those two? Teek’s eyes fixed on me. „But what are you doing here?”

„I—„

„Gates, what the fuck is keeping you—„ Oh hell. My hands tightened into fists as I saw the tall man creep up on Teek. Wormwood just couldn’t fucking stay in his goddamn place now could he? „Why hello there.”

„H-hi,” Teek managed to squeak out right as Wormwood rested his muscled arm on the door-stand above her head and inhaled her scent with a ecstatic smile on his face. Confusion was mixing with fear on Teek’s face as she stepped forward.

„Gates, man... I didn’t know you had your own angel,” His eyes remained glued on Tempest, before Syn decided to take the matter in his own hands and litteraly take her by hand. A small chuckle escaped Wormwood’s lips. „Shit, man, why the long face?”

„Nox minatos den icodeveres sum deversis.” Gates hissed. Hell, Colligorian? I had only heard him speak the language to a couple of fallens, but I’m pretty sure ‘deversis’ meant wife and that sounded like a full blown threat to me. Judging by Woodworm’s face I had been right. His smirk dissappeared and his jaw clenched, before he disappeared after a five second long glare.

Without another word Gates started off the hallway with Matt by his side. Teek rushed to my side and whispered in my ear, „what did he say?”

My stare followed the devil outside the room, „I’m not sure, but I’m pretty certain he just called you his wife.” Although ‘deversis’ didn’t translate dirrectly to wife, more of a mistress, but without all of the negative rep.

Huh, so... we bring Teek along? I looked at the angel who looked just as confused as I felt. „What language was that?”

„Colligorian,” I replied as we started to move towards the hallway, „the language of the fallen.”

„He invented a whole new language?” Teek’s eyebrows shot up high as we took a right towards the conference room. Or so I thought – I didn’t know this place, if I recall corectly this was only my second or... third time being here, but judging by all the voices – we were on the right track.

„Yeah, well... he was bored.” I shrugged right before we reached the black glass double door which conveniently enough was open. „Okay, Teek, whatever happens – do not say a word.” I said as my eyes trailed over the massive table in the middle of the room. Just then I noticed both Vengeance and J.C. standing by each side of the door. My eyes slid over each of the fallen sitting at the table with their commanders by their side. Gates had taken his place at the end of the table with Matt standing on his right. As soon as Syn’s eyes landed on us, he pointed to the empty chair right next to him. What was he doing? Why was he allowing Teek to attend this meeting led alone sit in the chair which was intended for the actual betrothed of his?

„Pandora?” Teek whispered back at me as I frowned, looking at the blue throne-like chair. I looked at Syn to see him sent me a pointed look, before he nodded curtly.

I took a deep breath, „You sit next to Gates.”

What the Hell was he doing? Did he realize what would go down when they see an angel sitting beside the devil? That stupid asshole.

As soon as Teek had sat down, I took my place next to her. Usually I would’ve stood besides Gates, but as we all know – now he is fucking ‘reveres’ which is the equivalent to ‘married’ so I had to protect his betrothed if something ought to happen. And trust me, something was about to happen.

All the eyes shot to Teek, but nobody said a word, which was even worse than if there would’ve been a witty remark or two.

„Congratulations on Pandora being back by your side,” Amon spoke. He was one of the original fallen angels. A devilishly handsome bastard, who happened to be the marquis of Hell ruling over forty of the infernal legions. If Gates or Matt miraculously disappeared, Amon would be the next one in claim for the throne. „So I guess it’s all settled.”

„I have indeed decided,” Gates straightened in his throne-like chair. The suspense was real. Everyone was anxiously waiting for Syn’s verdict, which didn’t come as quick as expected, letting me evaluate each and everyone of the fallen. There was a certain hierarchy here... We all knew Gates was the prince of darkness, then came Amon with his seven feet tall commander who was known for his cruelty... Then – Asmodeus, who was sitting right across from him – the single fallen who was titled an archdemon. An amazingly evil brute, who trusted his commander a bit too much if you ask me - the pixie like female demon standing on his left. Asmodeus was evil, but I couldn’t say he was my least favorite person. No. My least favorite person was the person who shouldn’t be here at all – Belial. The same asshole, who tried hitting on Teek when we were at Johnny’s. It was no surprise his commander was the fallen angel Lilith. After she had leaked some important information, there was actually no other person to turn to. She was lucky Gates didn’t rip her to pieces. And last and certainly the least- Woodworm with his one-eyed commander.

„Well?” Belial raised his eyebrow. Oh please let me kill him... Please, please, please... Pretty please with a cherry on top?

„I’m not going to participate in this war.” His voice was cold.

Belial blinked a couple of times, before his eyebrows pulled into a frown and he leaned forward, his eyes squinting on an invisible point in the middle of the table. „So you’re saying... you’re not with us...”

„Gates,” A dark chuckle ripped out from Asmodeus insides, „You have always been one hilarious son of a bitch—„

„I’m not joking.” Gates glared at Asmodeus.

Suddenly Asmodeus straightened up from his lazy lounging, squinting his eyes at Syn, „Come again?”

„You do understand you’re with us or you’re against us, right?” Amon questioned.

An amused smirk appeared on Syn’s face. „Let me get this right – so you’re going to go against me, lose most if not all of the legions I put in your ruling and then go against God with a non-existing army...” Gates started laughing, „Well... Good luck with that.”

A hand landed on the table with a loud thud, „It’s because of the angel!” Wormwood pointed out to Teek. Chill, girl, chill. Sit still in your throne, don’t even acknowledge him. That’s right. Easy.

„For once maybe the junkey is right,” Belial frowned, „why is there an angel in the throne of your deversis?”

„That’s none of your fucking concern,” Gates hissed angrily.

„Our prince is getting hitched and it’s none of our concern?” Amon put a hand on his chest, before a bit too theatrical offense mirrored on his face.

„It is our fucking concern, Gates.” Belial snapped.

„She’s a pureblood,” Lilith piped in. My eyes instantly squinted on her. See, I could handle all the bickering between the generals, but if a good-for-nothing commander also gets the magical idea that she has a right to express her integral opinion, which was wrong by the way... it just pisses me off. Dearly. „I’ve seen her fucking marks! They glow!”

„Really...” Amon glued her eyes on Teek, „Well, shall we take a look then?”

He was about to reach out towards her, before I stepped in front of the throne, between Teek and Amon. I fucking knew this was going to happen. Why couldn’t he just hide Teek in some light filled corner and give her a bloody book since that was why she came here, instead of dragging her here... What was he trying to prove?

„Move.” He barked, standing up, his hand resting on the dagger which was attached to his belt.

„You’re getting to her only over my dead body.” I hissed.

A smile grew on his lips, „We can arrange that,” He was already drawing the dagger and I knew he could’ve killed me if I gave him the chance – which I didn’t. Within a second he was on his knees and his dagger was in my hand, the blade drawing blood from his own neck. His commander hadn’t even managed to reach for his weapon. What good is being seven feet when you’re as slow as a snail?

„So...” Gates spoke up, „If I let my commander here kill the single person who rules over forty of my legions, who do you think would win? The rest of you together have twenty legions at best. You really think you would win?”

Notes