The Demon’s Bride

On the other side in Hell, Esther was shocked to see how Michael's face turned into Lucifer's face. Confused she even try to rub her eyes again to make sure she wasn't seeing things wrong. "Can someone explain to me what the hell is going on?"

"I am taking control of Heaven at this moment," Lucifer replied while waving his hand to Malphas who quickly make a dash as if knowing what his master had ordered him to do by the small signal. 

"What do you mean?" Controlling Heaven?! "What about your body on the bed?"

"That is Michael's," answered Lucifer. "We are short at people you see. Michael had almost died after he break the rules set on him where he should never let his anger control him. It's the effect of his punishment that caused him to be in slumber."

"That's why they cannot find a trace of the curse," whispered Esther who then glared at Lucifer. "If this was all your plan, then you should have helped Elise and Ian before any harm can go on their way!" 

"Excuse me, I think you are having a misunderstanding, Esther," said Uriel who raised his hand with a smile to pacify the situation. "Satan also knew about this. But as you know our opponent is Apollyon. His talent is to read people's actions a few steps ahead of themselves. We cannot alert him, therefore the accusation that was made by Heaven was simply an act to lower Apollyon's guard."

Esther was taken aback by the revelation and pressed her hand over her forehead, "That is a smart move and all but you haven't told this to Elise or Ian! You should know how important it is to tell us."

Lucifer who was beside Esther begin to laugh and rolled his eyes as he looked at the demoness, "Do you truly think my nephew wouldn't be able to differentiate my body and Michael's body? No matter how much Michael had transformed into me, I and Ian have a blood connection. We immediately know each other from our scent. To begin with you and Beelzebub should have known this as well. Especially that Beelzebub who is a high demon but why does he seem to be as oblivious as you?" 

Heaven who was silent then fixed the ribbon covering his eyes before saying, "I think it's his curse that is currently affecting him." 

"Curse?" Esther questioned but all of a sudden, Lucifer brought one finger over his lips to stop her from talking.

"It's time," Lucifer announced. Both Uriel and Heaven nodded at once as they walked away from the corridor toward the right side, making their way toward the large open hall. "Bring Satan's blood here. We have to prevent that damn curse Apollyon had put to himself."

Esther saw how the men was quick on their feet, running back and forward in order to bring a jar of blood. Whispering a spell, Lucifer had started a magic spell using the floor underneath them. "What is going on?"

"This," came the voice of Malphas who then bring forward a large oval mirror on his hands to show Esther an image. Inside the mirror, Esther can see how Elise was trying to defeat Apollyon who had went into a demented transformation. "Apollyon had put a curse upon himself. It is a very dangerous curse where if the person who had used the magic used their power in their enhanced state, they would lose a year of their life every second as a compensation."

"But the side effect of the resurrection magic should be very effective on stopping him now," Esther answered, "How can he still use that much power on himself?"

"Because he has two body," Lucifer who had written the spell spoke. "The person who had performed the taboo magic was none other than Ernest. The magic will only stay effect on Ernest's soul but as Apollyon is the one using the body, he isn't affected by it."

"That's very advantageous for him," whispered Esther. Not wanting to stand around she then said, "Is there anything I could help with?" 

"Yes," Lucifer answer before pointing at the window far from them. Esther hadn't turned her back to see what he was pointing at but could already hear the havoc that occurred below the castle. "If you can, please take care of those foolish demons. They have been baited by Apollyon into thinking that they could receive a second chance to live again if they could take down the castle."

Uriel then walked away from the spell, "We will also assist you."

With a nod of her head, Esther quickly made her way downward. On her way running down the staircase, she wondered about Beelzebub who she had pushed off to a safer place as she thought it would protect him. Now, she was worried if he would be alright. When Esther had arrived at the bottom of the staircase, she then saw Leviathan who stood straight with his golden eyes narrowed as he stared at the outside side of the castle's gate. 

"Are you not going to help Elise instead?" Esther questioned as she knew how much of a worrywart Leviathan is to his precious daughter.

"I want to but I have to end this business as well," Leviathan glared at the angel who stood amongst the rebellious demons, the angel was none other than Redrick or Camael, the person whom Leviathan had learned to had assisted in his wife's death. "I trust that my son in law will oblige by his promise when he had married my daughter. To never make her cry or let a scar on her skin. If she does, I will be the one dragging him back from the stomach of the Abyss."

Esther sighed when watching the gate slowly opening and the soldiers of the castle preparing to defend the heart of Hell. 

"I trust if it is those two, they would be alright. Don't let your anger control you," she advised before joining the fierce war that broke outside the castle.