1
Demon



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Fiery lakes of lava cast an eerie light across the dark clouds above as a stifling breeze breathed through the sharp blades of grass. The wind picked up and wailed loudly against the looming walls surrounding the prison.

Amidst the rising torrent a lone figure walked steadfastly toward the massive gates barring the way out. The wind turned on the man, attempting to push him back toward his confines. He ignored the frail obstruction as he walked steadily on to his exit. Enraged, the wind wailed louder still, trying to get the attentions of the Watch, but the tower was empty, and the guards gone.

"Is something wrong?" the prisoner whispered as a smile crept up his handsome face. "You may have my soul, but that isn't enough bind me any longer." He raised his pale green eyes to the rumbling sky. "Wait for me, Death! It won't be much longer." With a snap of his wrist the mighty gates burst loudly from their hinges and fell forward, giving him passage.

Freed, he stepped beyond his prison and the wind ceased its howling as it swept quickly passed him.


---
Death forced his obsidian black eyes open and he stared ahead, not focused on his surroundings. One foot was balanced perfectly on the tip of a church steeple while his other leg was tucked under him. His long blond hair and black cloak fluttered wildly in the strong breeze as he listened to the trashing wind with one pointed ear cocked upward. Frowning deeply he drew his energy back from the surrounding forest and lowered his leg, still balancing easily on his left foot.

Turning his attention to the church's roof, he extended his hand before him and whispered inaudibly. A few moments later a spirit rose through the roof and stared at him, blinking in wonder. Death gestured to his right where a brilliant tunnel split the sky in two.

"Come. It is time to face judgment," Death said softly.

The spirit priest turned his staring gaze to the tunnel and nodded slowly. Then he stepped across the air and walked into the tunnel, continuing along its course until the blinding light hid the spirit from view.

Death waved his gloved fingers across the air before the tunnel and suddenly it vanished from view, leaving only an afterimage in its wake. "Have peace," he intoned.

The breeze brushed against his pale face and then turned around and pulled the other way. Death turned his fathomless eyes to the sky. Raising his index fingers and thumbs, he pressed them together to make a diamond shape and concentrated on forming a new tunnel. "Afterlife," he said as he stepped into the opening, and the tunnel closed behind him.

Swirling waves of white light danced across his black apparel as he walked along the tunnel, his lithe form stepping assuredly toward an unseen exit. Finally the tunnel opened up to a similarly white corridor. Dismissing the opening without looking back he focused his cold gaze on the door at the end of the flawless hall. His black boots were soundless as he walked toward the door, and while his cloak flowed behind him, it was also silent as it billowed in the air his swift movements created.

He reached the door and turned the knob, walking into the office beyond. The room contrasted greatly from the stark white corridor; it was enveloped in a dark atmosphere. The only source of light came from a small desk lamp sitting at the edge of the cherry wood desk, on which were several massive piles of files. Several shelves full of books were lined up along the walls, the only decor in the room aside from the desk. The man sitting behind the desk had his hand perched delicately mid-signature, while his violet eyes gazed inquiringly on Death, curious about his sudden appearance.

"Did you come here to report?" the man asked dryly, already certain that wasn't the reason.

Death shook his head, ignoring the long bangs that fell into his eyes at the movement. He hesitated for a moment before answering. "Something is wrong, Inactoi," he said, his voice smooth as water.

The man called Inactoi blinked slowly. "Do you know what?"

"No," Death answered softly. "But I feel a strange foreboding."

The other man leaned forward, dropping his pen as he cupped his hands and gazed at Death thoughtfully. "Have you spoken with anyone else?"

"No," the Reaper repeated.

"Miyoko didn't have anything to do with this feeling?"

Death would have scowled had he been anyone else. "Certainly not," he said curtly.

Inactoi nodded as curtly. "Very well, I will bring this to the attention of the council. Hopefully we can find the reason for your—"

"Inactoi!" Both men turned to the door as it burst open, revealing a man in shimmering robes and a lopsided halo. "Inactoi!" the man gasped. "It's awful! Terrible! An emergency!"

"Apparently we're too late," Inactoi said blandly. "Pull yourself together, Leaf. Explain yourself."

Leaf took a moment to calm himself. Then he sniffed indignantly. "You should feel grateful that I took the time to come here in person and inform you."

"I might be," Inactoi answered shortly, "should your consideration actually gain me the information more quickly. However, considering you have not explained a single thing, aside from there being an emergency, I feel no gratitude."

Leaf sniffed again as he straightened his golden halo above his head. "An emergency council meeting has been called to order. Something must be done."

"About what?" Inactoi snapped darkly.

"About the escape, of course! Didn't you hear me?"

"No," Death said in a deadly voice. "You haven't mentioned anything of an escape."

Leaf hesitated, looking nervously at Death. Finally he peeled his green eyes from him and turned back to Inactoi. "Yes, someone has actually escaped from Hell!"

Inactoi drew a sharp breath. "You're certain?"

Leaf nodded vigorously, almost looking excited at the prospect. "And the council must decide what to do about it!"

"Naturally," Inactoi said, reaching beneath the desk and pulling out his briefcase. "Death, I want you to go on break. When you're finished, return to my office. I'll need to speak with you as soon as I come back." He looked up, focusing his eyes on the Reaper intently. "Got it?" He opened the compartment.

Death nodded, his face a mask. "I understand."

"Good," Inactoi flicked his eyes across the contents of his briefcase and snapped it shut after nodding in satisfaction. "I'll hurry, if I can."


---
As Inactoi pulled open the double doors leading into the bright council room, deafening noise met his ears. Alarmed voices shouted over each other as heated words flew across the massive chamber. No one was yet seated around the long table, and large groups of people were clumped together as they shared in each other's panic.

He closed the doors loudly, causing the frenzy to halt. All eyes fell on him as he made his way along the table toward his seat. He avoided eye contact, as he was hardly in the mood to deal with their questions. He was annoyed. Very annoyed. As Representative of the Dead it was his responsibility to know when something like this happened, yet he had been the last informed. Not that he could really blame anyone, since they lacked the experience — after all, no one had ever escaped from Hell in the past. Still, it didn't give people the right to panic so much. He certainly wasn't.

He slid into his leather chair and set his briefcase on the table, unsnapping it and glancing through the papers inside. Nothing he had would be relevant to the issue at hand. His eyes brushed over a particularly thick file, but he dismissed it. Glancing around, he saw a large stack at the table's head, a few seats down. He got up and grabbed the top page, moving his eyes along the contents. His eyes narrowed as he scanned it, and then he returned to his seat where he reread the document.

While everyone else had worked up the courage to continue their conversations, occasionally glancing warily in Inactoi's direction, no one approached him though they would naturally assume he knew more than they. Inactoi smiled. Being Death's superior had its advantages, even if Death wasn't one of them.

The door burst open again and Inactoi watched Chairman Johnston walk briskly around the other end of the table, listening to Leaf Jennings blather away behind him. Leaf was the council secretary, and while he had potentially the most annoying personality in the eternities, he also had his uses. He could read anything and retain its information indefinitely. He could recall any report or file in its entirety and repeat it word for word. In life Leaf has the greatest photogenic mind of his age, and with his death he had actually put it to use. Unfortunately, due to his skills, Leaf had more arrogance than the vaulted council room could reasonably hold.

He turned his eyes to Chairman Johnston. In contrast with Leaf Jennings, the chairman was a steadfast and sensible man with the calm intellect and modesty the council so desperately needed. He kept things in order in a way that would put Leaf's brilliant organizing to shame. It was said that in life Johnston had been a profound business man, and somehow his eminent honesty put him ahead of the rest. That reputation proceeded him in the Afterlife. He was nominated for council chairman only two hundred years after his passing.

As the two men reached the end of the table, the chairman turned around and waited for the room to quiet. While he was a revered leader, it was still not quite as easy to silence the room as when Inactoi entered. Close association with Death definitely had its advantages, Inactoi mused again.

"Ladies. Gentlemen. Please calm down and take your seats," Johnston said in a loud voice.

The hum died down and was replaced with shuffling feet and ruffling papers as the council members took their seats. After five minutes of noise a complete silence reigned in the massive room.

Johnston nodded in satisfaction and finally took his seat. "Thank you. I see a few vacant seats. Hopefully those will be filled as we take roll call. In the meantime I call this meeting to order. Mister Jennings, if you would?" He turned to the secretary expectantly.

Leaf cleared his throat and turned his haughty green eyes to the members of council. "Upon hearing your name please answer with a simple 'here' and I will mark your name." Without glancing at the paper securely held in his hand, he began, "Abert, Jacob H. Representative of the Heavenly Choir."

"Here," a deep voice boomed from the back of the table.

Inactoi sighed quietly. Roll call would take at least thirty minutes with over three hundred names to read. Besides that it was only protocol. Couldn't they drop it in the case of an emergency? As he listened with half an ear to the names called, waiting for his turn to reply, he scanned the report once more, looking for anything he had missed. As hurriedly as the report had been written, he doubted if it held all the information he would want. But it was better than nothing, Inactoi knew.

"Corubec, Yinae. Representative of the Mortal Realm."

"I'm here!" a nasal-voiced woman whined shrilly from across the table and five seats down. "And this had better be important! I have better things to do with my time."

"Calm down, Miss Corubec. All will be explained in due time," Johnston chided softly.

The woman huffed, sticking out her lip to pout. To further demonstrate her impatience she raised a manicured nail and flipped her limp brown hair over her shoulder and huffed again.

"Please continue, Mister Jennings," the chairman encouraged.

Leaf went on, naming people Inactoi scarcely knew personally. He had handled their cases as they came to the Afterlife but had little else to do with them afterward, which seemed to be perfectly acceptable to them. He didn't particularly mind either.

"Fi'Obii, Kahrah. Head of Afterlife Local Affairs."

"Present," a cool female voice said from a few chairs down, bringing Inactoi's thoughts back to the here and now. She raised a delicate hand to brush aside her sleek black curls as she met Leaf's eyes evenly. Kahrah was a council member Inactoi was grateful to know. She was as calm as Johnston, and just as sensible. She also had the ability to keep on track and steer others in the direction she wanted them to go. Others referred to her as an angelic manipulator. Inactoi once heard rumors that she was a queen in mortality. All nonsense aside it was almost believable.

Leaf droned on while each council member waited his or her turn to respond. As soon as every individual had a chance to speak up, they drifted into a half conscious state or reflected on the rumors that had circulated before the meeting commenced.

"Hachek, Inactoi. Representative for Newly Deceased Individuals."

"Here," Inactoi said, not bothering to raise his head from its resting place on his palm. He had dismissed the report by now, certain that he could repeat it almost as perfectly as Leaf undoubtedly could.

Johnston nodded his head in greeting, which Inactoi returned with a wry smile.

Leaf continued on, reading the endless list of names representing various organizations of the Afterlife.

"Miyoko. Representative of the Immortals."

There was no response.

"Miyoko?" Leaf sought out the vacant seat. "Where is he?"

"Away on business. No one could contact him," Kahrah Fi'Obii spoke up.

Leaf grumbled under his breath before continuing. After a few more M's an unexpected name slipped through Leaf's lips and the entire room perked up. "Mokashin, Charles W. Special Guest."

"Here," a nervous voice spoke up.

Mutterings broke out along the extensive table as Inactoi rested his gaze on the man who had spoken. He was a dark complected man with dark hair and expressive eyes set deep into a rugged face. He looked almost ridiculous in his suit and tie, yet he carried himself with dignity. Still, for all his confidence, he almost cowered under the sudden suspicions emanated among the room's occupants. Charles Mokashin shouldn't have been there. The council never had special guests invited to meetings of such importance, yet here he was even still.

"Excellent." Leaf marked his roll and tried to read the next name when several voices rose up in protest.

"What's he doing here?"

"Did he get a special invitation from Hell?

"Maybe he's the escaped demon!"

Chairman Johnston rapped the table loudly with his knuckles. "That's quite enough," he called sternly. "All questions will be properly examined in due course. Please continue, Leaf."

The secretary sniffed indignantly and went along his list. Inactoi heard no other names as his eyes remained set on Charles Mokashin. His presence was disconcerting, even more for him than any other members of council. While they knew Charles resided in Limbo on account of his life actions, and had to wait to face permanent sentence (which many assumed would take him down to Hell), he had personally dealt with the man's case. He knew his file by heart. Only one century previous it had been big news because of one specific incident that nearly plunged the Afterlife into chaos. Yes, Inactoi's own suspicions were high with Mokashin's invitation. And it meant little if anything good.

Somewhere along the way Leaf was done. Inactoi broke away from his thoughts and focused on the meeting. Several other council members seemed to awaken from trances as well.

"Thank you, Mister Jennings," Johnston said, smiling as he watched Leaf stack his papers. The smile quickly disappeared as his eyes moved along the table. "Today, ladies and gentlemen, something very grave has happened. I'm sure many of you have heard rumor of an escape. I am here to confirm that these rumors are true." Dramatic gasps rippled through the room as the murmurings resumed. "Please," the chairman said, raising his hands for silence, "I have more. It is also my duty to inform you that none of the rumors as to who are accurate. Worse, they aren't even close."

"Worse?" Kahrah Fi'Obii asked, her voice subtle though her eyes were afraid.

"I'm afraid so." Johnston sighed heavily. "The demon who has escaped the confines of Hell is Rishay Hiané Mokashin."

Instead of audible gasping the room fell into stunned silence. Then suddenly, as if awakened from some horrible nightmare, chairs fall backward and panic erupted. Several women screamed, while others yelled that it wasn't possible. Men shouted angrily; some at Johnston, others at Charles, and still others at Inactoi. The last of these remained still, focused on the father whose demon son had escaped Hell's clutches. The man was pale, his clenched fists visibly shaking as his mouth worked as if searching for words. Finally Charles looked up and stared back at Inactoi, his eyes searching for any hint of a joke. He shook his head helplessly. Inactoi felt little sympathy for his plight. Charles Mokashin had only done this to himself.

The chairman rapped the table multiple times before the room regained some semblance of order. Still he couldn't capture the attentions of all and he sat back in his seat, muttering softly.

Feeling for Johnston, Inactoi stood slowly and grabbed a glass of water from the council member's place to his right. Without hesitation he threw the glass down on the table and watched it shatter, shards of glass flying everywhere. Someone screamed and slowly people turned to locate the source of the noise. As their eyes fell on Inactoi, everyone halted and stared.

"That's enough," Inactoi said darkly, meeting gazes as he stared around the table. "Sit down and shut up while Chairman Johnston addresses the issue. If you do not, I will call Death in here to keep order." It was a good threat. The idea of the Grim Reaper in the council room made everyone take his or her seat and stay still. Only after everyone had done so did Inactoi nod in satisfaction and take his own. He faced the chairman and waited expectantly.

"Thank you, Mister Hachek," Johnston said, throwing him an appreciative smile. "Now that we've gotten over our surprise, we must evaluate the situation and come to some sort of solution to this problem." Muted whispers broke out, but the chairman spoke over them. "I know there are suddenly many people in this room held in question, but our purpose is to address the issue, not point fingers. I ask that we all remain calm. Anyone who becomes too heated or too panicked," his eyes swept the room pointedly, "will be asked to leave until they can gain control of themselves. Now," he patted the pile of papers before him, "these will be passed down the table and everyone will take a report. This is a basic overview of what we know about the escape. It isn't much, but I ask each of you to review it carefully. As it is passed down I will summarize its contents."

The large pile slowly worked its way to Inactoi, and he slid it by him disinterestedly, listening to the chairman.

"As I said before, Rishay Hiané Mokashin has escaped from the Lowest Level of Hell. Said demon escaped this morning while the Watch was called to an emergency meeting by this very council." Several voices spoke up harshly, drowned out by still others. Johnston ignored them. "No, we cannot confirm who on this council called that meeting to order, or if we were only framed, but we do know that the meeting was uncalled for and it provided the demon just enough time to blow down the gates and easily walk away. As to how he managed to get from there to his home world Earth remains a mystery even now.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this means that Mokashin has an ally. Possibly someone on this council. I assure you that we will uproot this traitor and deal with him accordingly. However, this meeting is not about possible treachery. It is about securing the demon before he causes any serious damage. You all recall the incident one century ago. I do not wish to repeat it. We still suffer now from its repercussions. Let us make sure and deal with this situation in a timely and cooperative manner. We need ideas. We need options. We need calm and sensible decisions. I ask that you only speak if you can remain calm. Please, speak your piece, but do not panic."

As Johnston took his seat the room remained still. Everyone mediated on his words, each person hoping someone else would come up with an answer. A figure scooted back his chair and all heads turned to see Charles Mokashin shakily get to his feet.

"Tell me it's a joke," he whispered hoarsely. "Tell me there's been some mistake."

"There is no mistake, Mister Mokashin," Johnston answered somberly. "After countless centuries the first to escape from Hell is your adoptive son."

"But, how? And why?" Charles whispered more to himself than anyone else.

"Please sit down, Mister Mokashin. I think we'd all like the same answers, but the only way to get them is to capture the demon. I asked you here because you knew him in life. If you have any suggestions or ideas, please give them."

Charles shook his head and sat quickly in his chair.

The double doors at the far end of the table clicked as the knobs turned. After a few seconds, in which everyone stared in surprised, a small head peeked through the crack and smiled brightly. Then the rest of the child's body appeared and the small boy bounced cheerily into the chamber, waving a gloved hand as one long, pointed ear twitched contentedly. "Hello. So sorry to be late. Things crop up so when you're busy." The boy blinked his big blue eyes.

"Just so long as you arrive at the meetings when you can, Adviser. We understand you have important business elsewhere as well," Chairman Johnston said, smiling with evident relief.

Ter N'Avea chuckled and pulled himself up onto his seat at the other end of the table, one pointed ear twitching absently. "Well, then. Please continue." His ear twitched absently as he smoothed out his gray tunic and glanced curiously at the report resting on the polished table.

Inactoi frowned, thinking back on roll call. The council's adviser would have been mentioned after Charles Mokashin, which meant he had zoned out at the time. So the adviser hadn't been here before now? No wonder things had gotten out of hand.

"We have asked Hell to conduct an investigation of their own, and we're taking precautions in case the demon tries to kill any mortal," Johnston explained to the room.

"They're all dead." Charles moaned quietly, gazing at the table, terror in his brown eyes.

"Calm yourself, Mokashin," Inactoi spoke then, keeping his tone unconcerned. The council didn't need further motivation to panic.

"Easy for you to say! You weren't there last time. You were here, safe in the Afterlife," Charles snapped, turning his gaze on Inactoi and glaring angrily. It seemed he had finally found his voice.

Inactoi watched him nonchalantly. "You'll get no pity from me, Mokashin."

"That's right, you helped cause the problem," another council member, Gary Reed Thompson of the Watch accused.

"Well, you were supposed to keep the demon locked up." Charles slammed his fist on the table. "I know I'm mostly to blame, but don't lay it all on me."

"Please, gentlemen," Johnston said sternly. "Now isn't the time for quarreling. As I was saying, Hell is also involved. The Hellions are just as concerned with the escape as anyone. I have invited them to this meeting. They are even now waiting outside the doors for admittance. I wanted to warn everyone before they came in so you are prepared."

"Yes, and they seemed a tad antsy," Ter N'Avea spoke up, sounding amused. "Perhaps you ought to admit them before they return to their home?"

"Mister Thompson, will you open the doors and invite our guests in?"

The council member got up nervously and walked to the doors, opening one and speaking in low tones. Then he returned to his seat, looking slightly pale.

The doors creaked as scaly, clawed fingers pushed them open. The two creatures of Hell stepped lithely into the room. Tall, slender, and nearly humanoid, their scaly skin was dark red; sleek and shiny in the room's generous light. Narrowed, glowing yellow eyes glared at the chairman from underneath stiff-looking purple hair, while pointed red ears protruded on either side of their heads. They were clad entirely in crimson colored uniform, which, it was rumored, was that color for purposes of torture. Inactoi smirked. No one had gone out of his way to prove the theory.

"Thank you for coming, Security," Chairman Johnston welcomed as the two Hellions walked past the silent council members, their eyes resting on two empty seats to the left of Inactoi. They sat and nodded at him. He returned their quiet greeting with a grim smile while the room seemed to involuntarily shudder. The air in the room seemed somehow colder. "I'm a little curious," the chairman asked the Hellions, "did the demon ever hint of an escape attempt?"

"No," one Hellion hissed through sharp teeth. "Even though we've always enjoyed the most fascinating conversations during our ... sessions ... he never said anything of escape. Strange, I would have thought he might leave some kind of clue. He does enjoy a good riddle." The creature grinned and the room shuddered again.

"Might you have helped him escape? You seem to like him," Charles accused bravely.

"Humans are very suspicious creatures, aren't they?" the second Hellion hissed.

The first gazed at Charles unblinkingly for a moment. "Rishay-akhe has been a fascinating prisoner from the moment he arrived one hundred years ago, more intriguing than any other. Pray tell, human, why would we allow our favorite victim to escape from us? No, we did not let him go."

"He's our pet," the second Hellion added, making a noise which somewhat resembled a laugh. It came across more like fingernails against a chalkboard.

"That's a little wrong," Kahrah commented quietly.

"So far we know the demon escaped to the Earth," Leaf said, consulting his notes. "We know he somehow used the Council's name to distract the Watch, thus escaping unnoticed. He never hinted to anyone his intent, a rather uncharacteristic move on his part. His motives are, as yet, unknown. Now, the questions we should ask — because he escaped so easily, can we really hold him if we capture him again? And most importantly, how do we capture him?"

"There isn't anything we can do... He's too powerful," Charles whispered, shaking his head hopelessly.

"Oh, pull yourself together," Leaf snapped. "This isn't about you. It's never about you."

Charles Mokashin scowled. "I'm dead already, that thing can't doing anything else to me. I'm concerned for the mortals whose peace is about to shatter."

"We all are, which is why we'd like to come up with some way to stop the demon. Please, gentlemen, concentrate," Johnston said. "You may not be used to the setting of a Council, Mister Mokashin, but we like things kept in order. Mister Jennings, you should know better."

The two men flushed and grew silent.

"I have a thought," Kahrah spoke then, her eyes on Inactoi, who watched her inquiringly.

"Yes?" the chairman asked, his own gaze resting on Inactoi.

"What about the man who took Rishay to Hell the first time?" she said quietly.

A heavy silence filled the room, and everyone pondered the possibility.

Inactoi frowned, his violet eyes taking in everyone's expressions. "Do you realize what you're suggesting?" How could they not? Surely they remembered what happened last time.

"It wouldn't work," Charles added. "He's too fickle and he never obeys the rules."

"You shouldn't believe everything you hear, Charles," Leaf retorted.

"What are we suggesting, Inactoi?" Kahrah asked.

"It wouldn't work. Rishay's dead this time," Gary Reed Thompson interrupted. "Plus, we have no way to contain him once he's caught."

"We can deal with that while he's being captured," Johnston remarked, brushing that aside. "Inactoi, are you opposed to this suggestion?"

"Yes," Inactoi confirmed darkly. "It's a foolish move."

"Why?" Yinae Corubec asked in her whiny voice. "Seems to me it's the only option we have."

"It's only one suggestion, woman," Charles snapped.

Yinae huffed but fell silent.

"Why is it foolish?" Ter's child-like voice spoke from the other end of the table. “Tell us, Inactoi."

Inactoi watched Ter for a moment, and then he sighed heavily. "We're playing right into the demon's hands. Rishay's hatred for Death runs more deeply than I think anyone realizes. The events that occurred one hundred years ago—"

"Are no longer relevant." Jacob Abert slammed his fist on the table from his place far down the table. "We're talking about here and now." Several voices murmured their agreement, while others shouted protests.

"No," Inactoi's voice was deadly. "Rishay still lives in the past. Anyone subjected to the guilt inflicted in Hell holds onto the past for a very long time. This demon's insanity allowed him to escape. He wants revenge. Send Death to retrieve this demon, and Rishay wins. He will hurt him by any means possible." Inactoi pulled his briefcase onto the table and, opening it, shifted through the many papers inside. Finally he pulled forth the inch-thick file. He stood and tossed the stack into the center of the table. "The demon's file — I carry it with me because it is still relevant. This didn't begin today. It began at least one hundred years ago, and it's no less important to the both of them now. Mark my words, and mark them well, all of you." He paused, and swept his gaze along the table. "If you send Death, you begin a spiral at the end of which brings only pain, and in the end the consequences will rest on your heads." He sat back down, his expression grim.

After a moment of silence Charles spoke, "I hate to admit it, but I believe this is our only option. Besides, it's better to let Death take the brunt of this, rather than all of mankind. We must restrain Rishay quickly, before he hurts anyone else."

Inactoi's violet eyes flicked to Charles, and he glared coldly. "The brunt of it?"

"I doubt very much if Death would refuse the job, anyway," Kahrah added in an attempt to save Charles.

"Of course not," Leaf chuckled. "Anything's better than his current job, eh?"

"It seems most agree that it's the best course of action at this point — who here sides with Mister Hachek?" Johnston asked.

No one spoke. Inactoi frowned as he realized that they assumed Death was their only hope.

"Now it comes to you, Ter N'Avea. What do you advise?" Johnston focused his gaze on the child adviser.

Ter's ear twitched and a wry smile played at his mouth. After a moment he sighed and looked around the table. "Well, since those who started this mess aren't available..." He paused contemplatively while everyone in the room looked at him blankly, wondering who had started everything. "I believe the wisest course of action would be to send Death to Earth. After all, there are other things of import right now he must be there for." He smiled brightly. "So, since it's our only presented option... Who should tell Death?"

Inactoi shook his head. "This is madness, Ter. I know you are wise, and everything you say has some hidden meaning, but I believe you're wrong about this."

Ter cocked his head to the side. "Am I?"

"Your disapproval is noted, Inactoi Hachek," the chairman interrupted, "however, you are outvoted, and, unless you can think of anything better, it seems our only choice. If we had more time we would try to heed your warning, but time is something we don't have now. We must send Death to Earth."

Inactoi sighed, nodding slowly. "Very well." He stood. "I shall adhere to your decision, and I volunteer to inform Death of his task."

"Is that wise?" Gary asked. "Will you really tell Death?"

Inactoi's eyes were cold as he looked at the Watcher. "I am a man of my word, Mister Thompson. I will adhere to the decision of the Council." He grabbed Rishay's file from the table and shoved it into his suitcase. "If you will excuse me, I need to attend to a few things." He bowed his head to the Chairman, the Hellions, and Ter, before leaving the room.

He was only a short way down the corridor when he heard someone called after him. Turning around, he spotted Ter coming toward him, a cheerful smile on his young face.

"Don't worry my friend, everything will be just fine. Wait and see!" the childlike adviser said. "Have heart." He stopped before him.

"That's easy for someone like you to say," Inactoi returned, a frown on his face.

"Inactoi," Ter patted his shoulder lightly, "dealing with Death has never been simple, and things could go terribly wrong, but that aside, everything looks bright." His ear twitched contentedly. "Be cheerful. Good luck." And he turned from him, gracefully hurrying away.

Inactoi smiled, despite himself. "This bodes ill." His hand went absently for his black tie, tugging it out of habit.


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