- Lucifer -
Everyone was given various dishes and drinks. No one was hungry so the portions were small. Lao had a large piece of meat covered in gray skin while Yvere had a pint of foul-smelling blood.
Lucifer stood up and requested to speak to Anubis while Death continued talking with Osiris.
'Why would you start the conversation with Anubis?' Death wondered.
The two walked to a separate room of the palace. Lucifer made the excuse that he didn't want to ruin everyone's meals with what he wanted to talk about.
["Did something happen that I should be aware of?"] Lucifer quietly asked.
"We can speak in the human tongue. I only use the other language because Ra prefers not needing translations." Anubis's voice grew deeper.
"I need to discuss with your lord. I assume there wouldn't be any problems if I give you the message?" Anubis gave a warning glare.
Lucifer hated many aspects of the politics in the northern territories. He especially hated rankings determining a conversation, and Satan being referred to as his "Lord" or any other form of superior.
"I don't know what you want to talk about with him, but I can tell you he isn't interested unless you want to play a game. He's not interested in the specific politics of the territories." Lucifer's tone was eerily calm.
"Just give him my message. He hasn't been responding to Osiris's calls. I know if it's you he'll actually pick up."
Lucifer pinched the bridge of his nose.
'What is wrong with this mission? What's next? A meteor hitting us?'
"Don't lie to me." His red irises got brighter. "You already called Satan and he said no to whatever you asked of him. You want me to convince him and you don't want Death to know."
Anubis glared and leaned over Lucifer.
"Look fallen-"
Lucifer pushed his hand against Anubis's lower jaw.
"I've always appreciated our working relationship. So how about you act like Hades and be respectful before you make an enemy."
Lucifer's tone wasn't threatening. In fact, it was rather cordial. His expression was calm and even his hand was only lightly touching Anubis. However, in that seemingly peaceful interaction, Anubis understood what Lucifer was actually saying.
'You dare threaten me and I will put a burning hole through your jaw.' Lucifer thought.
"I'll humor you and give him your message if you agree to this being a favor." Lucifer smiled.
Lucifer lowered his hand back to his side. "Favors" in this world have a more powerful meaning depending on the strength of the two participating. What Lucifer was asking for wasn't simple.
"Fine then. Give him our message." Anubis agreed.
Anubis proceeded to explain to Lucifer what he wanted to tell Satan. Lucifer's expression stayed the same throughout. He couldn't believe what he was being told.
- Death -
"Yes. Yes. No. I'll have to ask Mary." Death was giving bored responses to the many questions Osiris had for him.
"I really wish I could work in Purgatory." Osiris smiled. "Duat is great, but I feel like my skills would be more useful to you or Satan."
"Satan is difficult to work with." Death sighed. "On top of that, he has his own set of skills that make him perfectly sufficient as Hell's warden. Lucifer's able to be here now because of Satan's control over Hell." Death was actually interested in the conversation now.
He wanted to talk more until he heard retching next to him. Lao and Yvere were consuming their meals, both trying to hold down the disgusting dishes. Eventually, Yvere turned her head to the side, bringing the pint with her, and vomited into the container.
Lao went to cheer and immediately had to hold back puke. The two ran off to find a bathroom.
"To think you would be friends with such, um, eccentric lessers," Osiris said. "Oh! Sorry, eccentric, um, humans." Osiris corrected.
Death knew Osiris meant no disrespect by his statement. As boring as he found the conversations he still preferred them to talking with Michael.
["Can you tell me what's going on with the golden-haired one?"] Osiris asked Death.
Peter looked over at Osiris who smiled when their eyes met. He knew that Osiris knew he spoke the language.
["Not my place. Lucifer will say the same."] Death responded.
Osiris turned his gaze to Heinrich.
"Is there something you're worried about young man?" Osiris asked Heinrich, his pupils starting to glow white again.
Heinrich kept quiet. He didn't want to lie and he didn't want to say what was on his mind. Unfortunately, Osiris was persistent.
"I can sense doubts in you. Perhaps you're worried about your balance?"
["Lord Osiris please leave him be."] Peter said. ["We've had a rather difficult journey here which has lead to some doubts. I would prefer if they weren't picked at."]
Ra looked annoyed by Peter's statement. He wasn't pleased with a supposed lesser talking in such a way to one of his own.
["Let Osiris work if he wants to. Who are you to deny his curiosity?"] Ra said.
Death didn't like the air in the room. Peter was justified in his statement, but, in Ra's eyes, out of line. He laughed which caught everyone's attention.
["Why ruin this mood with work? I don't get to see all of you enough so why don't we talk among each other?"]
Peter took the hint and motioned to the others in the group to stand up.
["We greatly appreciate the hospitality. I think it would best if we left all of you to discuss higher ranking things."] Peter said.
Death sighed in his mind.
'It's good that Lucifer wasn't here to see that. I hope whatever he's talking about with Anubis isn't important.'
- Lucifer and the team -
Eventually, the four that left met up with Lucifer.
"What's going on? Where are Lao and Yvere?"
"Throwin' up somewhere." Peter shrugged. "Osiris almost fully activated his magic on Heinrich. I asked him to stop which seems to have offended Ra. Death was quick to mend the situation."
Lucifer only responded with a "Hmm."
Peter was now more worried about what Lucifer and Anubis had talked about. Ra's behavior would have normally resulted in Lucifer getting mad.
"What did ya and Anubis talk about?" Peter asked.
"I'll let you know when I call Satan," Lucifer responded.
Hearing that caused Peter's worry to go into overdrive. He had rarely ever heard Lucifer talk about calling Satan unless the circumstances were severe.
"Let's just go grab the uništi," Lucifer said. "We need to get ready to move. Death will be held down by questions for a few hours, which gives me time to do this."
The others weren't as worried as Peter. They had very limited interactions with Satan and while they didn't have a good impression of him, they didn't see him in the same way Peter did.
The team traveled through the palace, asking the guards if they saw two people running holding their mouths. The guards pointed them in a direction where they eventually found the two on the floor, hunched over a toilet.
"Yeah?" Yvere said wiping her mouth.
"Luce is makin' a call to Satan. We're goin' to go gather the uništi and get ready to move." Peter brought the two up to speed.
Yvere just nodded her head, while Lao got up immediately. He understood the situation. He lifted Yvere up and the team went to the stables where the three uništi were.
Lucifer took a breath in through his nose and exhaled out of his mouth. He did this three times before finally calling Satan.
"It's me," Lucifer said.
"Hey Me, good to hear from you again." Satan chuckled.
Lucifer closed his eyes and laid his head in his hand.
"I assume you've received a call from Osiris somewhat recently?"
"Now isn't that a good guess?" Satan responded. "Good for you figuring that one out. I do sincerely hope he didn't try to convince you to convince me. I would be veeeeeerrrry disappointed in you if he did."
Lucifer rubbed the back of his neck as he cracked it. His frustration was palpable.
"Not convinced no," Lucifer grumbled. "Anubis approached me with a modified version of the message. I had him agree to owing me a favor before making this call."
Clapping could be heard from the other side.
"That's my fallen." Satan applauded. "Well, let's hear it."
"He was approached by the unknown. He said he's contacted Hel, Yama, Hades, and Milu. They've been in talks about an alliance, with you as a center point."
Peter and Lao practically froze when they heard the news. They were the oldest and had the best understanding of what this kind of alliance would be for. They were both ready to argue.
"Nah, still not feeling it," Satan responded.
The casual response led to Lao and Peter making a large exhale of relief. For once Satan's mannerisms made them feel better.
"Whatever they're planning, which we both know what that is, isn't fun. If I was looking for that kind of action I would have started the alliance myself. Feel free to tell them I said no, and that I won't be answering any of their calls, bye." Satan ended the call.
Peter would have been happy if not for the look on Lucifer's face. It was clear that this small victory didn't change the larger issue at hand.
"When it rains it pours I suppose. What are ya goin' to tell Death?" Peter asked.
"I have no idea," Lucifer mumbled.
- Death -
After long conversations with Ra and the underworld deities Death was finally able to get away. Before he could leave Osiris pulled him into another room.
"I need to speak with you about the alliance." He whispered.
"Not this again Osiris." Death whispered back. "I can't help you, and Satan won't help you. I have my own problems to worry about with my current mission."
"This could mean wonderful things for humans though." Osiris insisted. "All of us in the alliance respect you and your wishes. We would do everything we could to fix the problems humans face."
"I don't agree with this style of doing things." Death pushed back.
As Osiris went to speak Death added "Anymore."
"If you want to help me you would join me in the three realms instead of staying here. I trust you to do the right thing, but I can't help but feel like you only want me for my strength and not to actually help me."
Osiris looked defeated. He looked up at Death and his pupils started to shine once more. His face twisted in pain.
"How can you argue such things with me when your balance is so one-sided?"
"My past is my past. How I fix it is up to me. It was good seeing you again." Death said, leaving the room.
Osiris covered his eyes. He had never used his magic on Death before out of respect.
'How can one's sins be that heavy?'