Hell On Earth
Chapter 4

“-as clear as the full moon in the black sky, in the foreseeable future...”
Demons have never, and will never learn.
Monsieur Dunstan stowed the ruby pocket watch into his shirt sleeve and watched as the sky, blood red, played host to the setting sun
3
2
1, and the yellow circle in the sky was gone
Inside the castle, a red flash had left the room empty

“Dunstan! How hast thou been?” Bloody Mary begged, holding his shoulder with one of her bejeweled hands.
Dunstan pushed her away, melted through the gate, walked through the black flames on the other side, and headed down a path
Bloody Mary stared at the bat-like figure now airborne, heading to the deepest part of the underworld
She grasped one of the cold, solid iron bars of the gate, and turned to the others, beckoning with her hand
The six of them spread massive raven wings, the wings of Frankenstein’s monster dwarfing the others’, and went in Dunstan’s wake until they were in earshot of the highest tower in the castle
And then they stopped, and hid behind the dead evergreens

“Black is the new green, in hell,” said Eurydice, baring her canine teeth as she laughed.

“Stop this fucking noise,” croaked Ganymede, inching closer to the window.

“Antecest is deceased. There are no more male heirs. Whoever he chooses will become the new Count.” Dunstan stood before the heath, a striking figure on a background of fire and wood.

“And what of the Countess?”

“Dead, I poisoned her as you instructed.”

“Good, good. I think now, company,” growled the devil, as he brought down the entire tower wall, exposing the six demon guards, who at their revelation, fell to his feet.

“Mary, I hear you’ve been waiting.”

“Waiting for what, my lord?” she asked, daring to look up at the horned face of her master.

“To destroy. You are to lead the attack on Ilyria. Slaughter any living man, woman, and child in your way. Burn every last cottage, house, and castle. No one walks alive.” he said to her. The six spread their wings once again, and took flight.

“And what of me, my lord?” asked Dunstan.

“You are to counter the attack, lead Ilyria’s home army to victory and thus win the support of the people. Do that after, breaking the news that Colinvert is dead.”

“My lord, the six are vicious. I will have a fool’s chance in hell of saving Ilyria, and if she goes, what am I to salvage?”

“You are a fool Dunstan, and this is hell. I think that you have a very, good chance. Now, leave.”

Lucifer screamed the last sentence, a piercing cry that could be heard throughout the underworld.
Dunstan at once felt the burden grow on his shoulders.
He could not bear to stay any longer, and he left
Left to tell the people their leader had died, and to assemble the troops for the last battle Ilyria would ever face
The last battle, since no one would be alive for any more.