Inauguration

Agnes was startled awake by the PA system beeping. It was early in the morning, most of the demons were still asleep. The speaker in the corner of Agnes' room crackled to life, Delores' voice booming from within.

"Emergency demon meeting at the Lake of Fire. I repeat, Emergency demon meeting at the lake of Fire, immediately."

Agnes rolled her eyes before rolling over in her bed to go back to sleep.

"The meeting is mandatory, all demons must be in attendance." The speaker continued.

"What the fuck is so important that we need to get up this early?" Agnes asked herself as she sat up on the edge of the bed, scratching the side of her hair where a few roaches had been nesting in the night. She figured if it was important enough to wake everyone at the butt-crack of dawn, then they shouldn't have an issue with her showing up in her nighty. She threw on her orange cardigan and her bunny slippers, and shuffled off down the hall.

Outside by the lake, Agnes could see a podium set up in front of rows and rows of chairs. Standing behind the podium, was Delores. Agnes knew something big was happening, but she wasn't sure she really needed to be a part of whatever it was. As she sat in one of the seats near the back, she pulled a cigarette from her cardigan pocket and lit it, taking a long drag. She exhaled slowly, watching the other demons file in around her. Finally, after what felt to Agnes like a century, Delores tapped the microphone and began to speak.

"Thank you all for coming on such short notice. We have a big announcement to make. Most of you know me, my name is Delores, I have been appointed as the new Right Hand of The Boss."

"Where's Abaddon?" Someone yelled from within the crowd.

"Abaddon is no longer with us. He has taken a permanent leave of absence." Dee smirked to herself. "In fact, there has been a total overhaul of management. May I introduce to you, your new Boss, Veronica!" Dee stepped aside to allow Veronica up to the podium. There were audible gasps from the crowd as Veronica's new appearance came into view. Vee had expected some applause, but as she stood there waiting, no one clapped. 

"Good morning, demons. Thank you all for joining me this morning. I will be taking over the roll of The Boss. Please hold your applause until the end." Still, no one clapped. 

"Where's Hades?" A different crowd member shouted.

"Hades, like Abaddon, is on permanent leave. He will not be returning." She was mildly annoyed that her leadership was in question. "I have appointed a new cabinet, may I introduce to you, Delores, my Right hand." Dee came to stand next to her behind the podium. "Charlie, our Minister of Mischief and Mayhem" Charlie stood, walking up to the stage. "And of course, Barbara, our—"

"No fucking way." a voice came from the back of the crowd. Agnes stood and began walking toward the front, grumbling to herself the entire way. When she arrived at the podium, she snatched the microphone from Vee and looked out to the crowd.

"Who here wants Veronica to be our new Boss?" Agnes raised her hand up to indicate a show of hands who approve the idea. Not a single hand raised in the audience. "And, show of hands, who doesn't want Vee as the new Boss?" Suddenly, every single demon hand in the audience shot up at the same time. Agnes turned to look at Vee. "Looks like you're out, babe."

"You don't get to decide this! It's not a democracy!" Vee began to screech, as she looked out over the crowd of demons. "This isn't how it works! You have to kill the current Boss, to become The Boss! That's how it works!" Vee was still screeching out at the crowd when Agnes turned and gave Vee a hip check, sending her off balance in her stilettos. She stumbled, tripping over her own feet, and fell head-first into the Lake of Fire.

All the demons in the audience rose from their seats, trying to catch a glimpse of what had happened. Murmurs spread through the crowd like wild fire. Agnes turned and stepped up to the podium. As she did, her skin began to darken, turning a deep shade of crimson. Horns burst from her forehead. Her eyes flashed vibrant yellow.

"Well, i looks like I'm The Boss now. Does anyone have a problem with that?" She spoke into the microphone, addressing the crowd. Not a single demon stood to challenge her.

"Great, let's all get back to work." She turned and shuffled her bunny slippers off the stage. "If I wasn't already dead, this place would be the death of me."