52

'Show cards,' said the Assistant with an unpleasant smile.

Kuro sighed and lay them out. 'You win. Again.'

'That's eight lives. One more game will cost you your last. Are you really foolish enough to gamble that away too?'

Kuro paused and looked at Lucien, who was engrossed in playing. The notes were getting faster and faster, and his hair was sparking as he played so swiftly his fingers seemed to fly across the keyboard.

'Yes,' he nodded, shuffling the cards carefully. 'My last game. I'll play better than I've ever played before. If I win, I get the lives you took back; and if I lose...'

'Your swansong,' smiled the Assistant. 'Right before Lucien's. Very well; my pleasure. Deal them out.'

The world seemed to slow down as Kuro gathered his hand. He could feel his heart sink with every card he touched, and for the first time in his life, he felt truly terrified.

He had never had a dream, nor any big aspirations; and he now realised it was because he had already always had everything he wanted. Safety, comfort, love... and now, it seemed like they were all at stake. If he went down, so would Grace and Lucien. He had to win this. For his last remaining life. For the ones that made his life worth living. He closed his eyes and remembered...

No salvation for the damned...

God? He left this place a long, long time ago. Prayers hold no meaning here...

I'd say God be with you, but He isn't!

At this point, he really hoped he had been wrong all this time.

'Your move,' smirked the Assistant.

What if he was?

Kuro gripped the cards and felt words form in his heart as it reached out to the only One who could save them. God, I've never prayed to you in my life before, but if you're listening now, please, let me win this game. Even the best players need a little luck on their side.

Lucien anxiously played the last and most complex notes of the portal piece. His fingers grew numb and stiff as he struggled to move them fast enough without error. The feeling was intense, and there was too much at stake. His heart slowly sank into an abyss of dread.

What if he failed?

He sighed. Look, God, I know I hardly ever pray... but I've always believed. I've never asked You for anything. But today, I beg You: let this work.

The townspeople cowered at the incoming shadows of the terrifying storm and the dark forces within it — hundreds upon hundreds.

'Oh Lord, though we may be sinners, save us now,' muttered Mrs. Sauer.

'AMEN!' bellowed Azel and the townspeople together, as they braced themselves for what might be their last battle.

Grace struggled with the relentless banshee, terrified, but its grip only grew tighter and tighter until she began to choke and felt her vision slowly blur. Was this the end?

No...

'God,' she managed to whisper as her eyes closed. 'Please... be with me... with us...'

Suddenly, the banshee screamed and let go of her, jumping up and down in agony. Grace leapt back and looked around, wondering what the reason was. Then she noticed a skinny rat, its teeth sunk at the banshee's ankle – Squeaks!

'You!' she exclaimed in surprise and gratitude, but before she could do anything further, the banshee had shaken off the rat and pinched him in its fingertips.

'Looks like I'm about to breathe my last,' trembled Squeaks, squirming in the banshee's grip. 'But at least I did my part, Grace. For the first time in my tragic life, I have no regrets. Just, please never forget me, will you?'

'No!' cried Grace in horror, tears escaping her eyes as she sprang forward to save him, but she didn't need to.

A mournful howl sounded, and then a fierce growling. The mysterious dog had showed up and bitten the banshee's throat!

It then raised Squeaks gently upon its back and pranced near Grace, wagging its tail.

Grace shed tears of joy and relief as she patted them both, before she hurriedly undid the first jar. A ghost girl emerged out of it, merged with the flower within, and then they both vanished and turned into a ball of light that rapidly soared above them.

'It's working!' said Squeaks eagerly. 'You freed her!'

'I did?' said Grace, still a bit puzzled. 'Well, let's hope this works the way I hoped...'

She hurriedly began to undo the rest of the jars, until she reached the last one and rushed outside with Squeaks and the dog behind her.

'There's so much lightening,' she heard Azel say in surprise when she returned. 'Could it be...'

Drip. A raindrop fell on Grace's skin.

They both stared at it in shock. Rain in Hell?!

Drip-Drip! Drop!

Everyone stopped where they were and looked up in awe, except the Assistant, who realised, to his horror, that he had lost the game.

'Ace of spades! You sneaky little—'

'Guess I got my lives back, after all,' said Kuro smugly. 'And you mind your own business – wait, what's wrong with you?!'

The Assistant gasped and leapt up as he looked at Grace, and then at the banshees, who had stopped fighting, and were looking instead at the horde of lights soaring towards them.

'No! NO!!' he yelled. 'This can't be!!'

'Oh, but it is!' said Squeaks, stepping forward. 'Your reign is over, Devil's Assistant. Your life force has been compromised! And you know what? I'm not sorry for my innocent childhood mistake!'

The Assistant's eyes widened in fury, but he did not react; he was watching as the lights hit the banshees one by one and they turned back into beautiful women. One hit the mysterious dog as well.

'Everyone you ever wronged is now here, watching your doom, Assistant,' said a new, gruff voice, and everyone looked in surprise as they saw that the mysterious skeletal dog had turned furry and whole again, and it was the one who had spoken.

'You can talk?!' said Kuro.

The dog gave him a threatening side‐eye.
'You got a problem with that?'

Kuro stepped back with a silly grin. 'Uh, no, I'm glad?'

'SHUT UP!' exclaimed the Assistant furiously, and he raised his arm to stop the remaining souls from being freed, but Azel sent a lighted chain around it and prevented him from doing so.

'Not so powerful now, are you?' he said coolly.

The Assistant's complexion turned sallow as he shook the chain off frantically and watched the last soul get freed. 'NO! THIS CAN'T BE!' he bellowed desperately. 'GRACE! YOU TOOK MY LIFE AWAY?!! YOU'LL DIE FOR THIS!!'

Grace froze with fear, but Azel stepped in front of her determinedly. 'And I will die protecting her if I have to!'

But he didn't have to. The Assistant began to age horrifically and deteriorate before their eyes, until he was reduced to nothing but a squirming life form.

'VETLA!' boomed Azel, and he was exterminated.

'Is he gone?' asked one of the freed girls with tears in her eyes.

'Yes. Such is the price for stolen immortality,' said Azel grimly.

*  *  *

Lucien finished playing the piece, and a large white portal appeared out of nowhere above the piano. 'I DID IT!' he cried, turning his face upwards as he beamed proudly – before he felt drops of water on his skin and lowered it slowly in amazement. 'It's... raining?!'

'It's the special mercy of God,' smiled Azel, as the rain began to pour over them, and the townspeople began to dance with joy.
'I've just gotten a message from Him. From now on, it will rain in Sheltered Hell, due to the good deeds of the people here. It shall be like Earth – or even Heaven, sometimes.'

'But, isn't it supposed to be a miserable and God-forsaken place?' asked Kuro in surprise.

'God never forsakes anyone, even the damned,' said the angel. 'And right now, He is very pleased with you all – especially with Grace and Lucien. You see, good deeds, and hope, and love, and sacrifice, can change the worst of fates – even Hell.'

'Wow,' grinned Lucien. 'Just when I'm about to leave, things get real good, huh?'

'You're still leaving?' laughed Azel. 'Figured. I was instructed to let you and Grace out by the main gates. You can live the rest of your lives on Earth, and when you die, you can choose Heaven or Hell, as you please.'

'What wouldn't I have given for this earlier,' said Lucien excitedly. 'But now that I've spent this excruciating last one hour on this portal, I may as well go by it, right?'

'I knew you'd say that,' grinned Azel, his sapphire eyes twinkling before he looked at them both rather wistfully. 'As you wish. I'll miss you two very much, but I suppose I must bid you Farewell.'

'Goodbye, Azel,' said Grace, giving him a sudden hug. 'Thanks for everything!'

'No, thank you,' smiled the angel. 'For gracing us with your presence!'

'Ooh, good one!' exclaimed Lucien, thumping him on the back.

Kuro rolled his eyes. 'You've made him just like you!'

'What about him?' said Lucien suddenly, looking at the cat. 'Will he be able to stay with us at all times on Earth?'

'Yes, he will,' said Azel. 'But he can still come here anytime, as he pleases.'

'I approve very much of this new arrangement,' nodded Kuro. 'Maybe I'll come by sometimes to see you...'

'I suppose I may miss you too,' said Lucien, shaking Azel's hand. 'But for now, Farewell! Come on, Grace, are you ready?'

'Let's go already!'

The portal shimmered invitingly as they approached it.

'This is it, human,' whispered Lucien as he held out his hand. 'Are you scared?'

'With you by my side, I can brave any realm,' said Grace, grasping his hand and smiling contently. 'So let's do this!'

They stepped together through the portal, wondering what would happen. Lucien looked back and saw a last glimpse of Hell before it faded away and he found himself floating in dazzling white light and could feel nothing concrete but the warmth of Grace's hand.

God, I hope nothing goes wrong this time...

THUD! The hard stony surface they had fallen on had grazed their elbows upon impact, but they were too busy trying to make sense of where they were. The blaring sound of traffic made them rush over to the side.

'What the hell are you're doing, idiots? Get off the road!' someone yelled at them.

'Oh my God!' said Grace, as she hurriedly walked with Lucien to a narrow patch of grass.

'Human,' said Lucien with mounting excitement, as he looked around at the trees, the sky, the towering buildings of the city... 'We did it! We made it to Earth!!'

'So I guess the summoning didn't go in vain, then,' grinned Grace. 'I did get you to Earth!'

Lucien laughed almost deliriously as he shook her hand. 'You did! You did!! Oh!!! HELLO EARTH!!!'

A passerby stared at them weirdly before walking on, shaking their head.

'You'll have to be careful around here,' giggled Grace. 'You attract so much attention with the way you act alone! And the way you look with those horns and all...'

'Oh, you can tell people I'm... what was that thing you said on the first day? Cosplaying!' said Lucien airily, taking her hand and walking on in carefree joy.

Grace laughed. 'Sounds good! So, what's next?'

'I don't know... maybe some voodoo on your aunt to convince her to let me stay with you?'

'Lucien!?'

'I'll take that as a yes. Let's go!'

THE END