The permission from their master granted, Vincent and Hellena did not go out into the Cities of the Lost. Instead, they sat together in the Great Hall, going over the signs and signals with the new recruit. Hellena and William agreed not to tell Vincent about their deception; that she had told their master she had started to teach William their language when she was instead being comforted about her death.
The three demons had pulled the heavy onyx benches from the wall, sitting around a sunken firepit in a circle to allow William to see their hands from both angles. The newest demon fidgeted on his seat uncomfortably, worried about how difficult the new language would be to learn.
"We will teach you your full name, of course, but we mostly just use our first letters. It's easier this way, and much faster." Vincent explained, cracking his knuckles. "So with most of us, it would be tedious to use our whole names, we've got fairly long names. I use "V", which would look like this."
Vincent held up his first two fingers, forming a 'v'.
William mirrored his trainer, feeling a little silly holding his fingers up. "Just this?"
"Yes. You're actually just one more. Add the ring finger, and you've got "W" for "William". Hellena held up her three fingers, and William repeated the gesture. "Mine is just like this." She pointed her first and second fingers together.
The newest demon repeated her movements, and then ran through the three names he knew. "V. W. And H."
"Excellent. Edward and Adam are both easy to do. For Edward, you cover your thumb with your fingers. Adam is the same, but now move your thumb to the side; keep your fingers curled down." Vincent showed the transition from E to A, going back and forth between the two. William frowned; his hands were not co-operating with what he wanted them to do.
"You'll get it. Try all five of us now," Hellena encouraged. She remembered how difficult it had been when she was learning, and tried to be sympathetic to the demon who had gone out of his way to be so understanding with her. William completed the names after some difficulty, and Hellena gave a smile.
"You're doing well, William. The only other name we use is Master Lucifer. We shorten it to "Master" and "L". Vincent faced his fists together, thumbs up, bringing one above the other in a slight curve, before holding his fingers up in an "L" shape. He repeated the signals slower, seeing the new recruit's confusion.
Hellena moved, standing behind William. She reached around, moving his hands for him. "Just like…that! No, put your thumbs up, and then we move like this. Okay, try it on your own."
Vincent put his hands down flat against his bench. –I've never seen Hellena actually try so hard with one of us. But William does have that gentleness about him, he wouldn't have to work much to win anyone over.–
Taking her seat back at her own bench, Hellena frowned. "What else should we start off with? Simple things. It's been so long since I've learned that I don't remember how we started, and I've never taught anyone."
Vincent nodded. "I taught you places after I taught you names. "Great Hall", "City of the Lost", "UnderKingdom", "Aether", the main places we go."
Hellena raised her hands, preparing to continue her lesson with the other demons. Her intentions were interrupted as their master and the ally entered the Great Hall, and their attention was diverted elsewhere. She stood with William and Vincent, each bowing to their master. "Greetings, Master Lucifer."
"Good afternoon men, Hellena. How have your lessons been going?" Lucifer smiled; his company of demons had expanded, and William already had proven to be a perfect fit.
"We're doing quite well. We've already perfected our names and we were about to move into our places. Is there anything you would like us to assist you with, before we continue?" Vincent politely inquired, ensuring that his master needed nothing before he continued to teach.
"No, thank you, Vincent. Michael and I were working on understanding his new powers better, but we decided to take a break to see how your training was going. We will leave you to your work. I expect great things from you, William." Lucifer winked at his newest recruit, who nodded frantically, eager to please.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Michael looked at his feet as he walked next to Lucifer, feeling out of place. He missed the camaraderie that he had shared with his Brothers, something that seemed so natural here in Lucifer's realm. The Fallen man and his demons had lived together in their realm for centuries, and they had a flawless understanding of one another. He had suggested taking a break from their training, as he had wanted to see how William's training was going. Michael followed, having nowhere else to go.
–I hope Lucifer pushes my training, I don't want to be here long. I want to go home to Ravenna. I want to prove to her that I am everything she needs me to be.– Misery clouded his thoughts as he recalled why he was cast out of a second realm.
The pair of Fallen men entered the Great Hall, seeing three of the demons gesturing, signing words in their language. –They seem so content here. Perhaps the Ruler was wrong in my creation, and I was meant to live here among the demons instead.– He pushed the Ruler from his mind. Michael didn't want to think about such a man.
The demons noticed their master, and quickly shifted their attention to him, which seemed to please Lucifer. –But he doesn't revel in it long like the Ruler did. He let us bow for ages if the mood struck Him.– Irritated with himself, Michael shoved the Ruler away from his thoughts a second time. The Ruler did not deserve his thoughts, and had not earned the privilege of the space in his mind.
"...I expect great things from you, William." Lucifer's words drew Michael back to his surroundings.
Michael turned to Lucifer, who had begun to walk toward the demons to pass into the chamber where the ritual had taken place. "They seem happy. You treat them well."
"Of course. It matters to me that they are content. We came from the Kingdom; were you content working for the Ruler?"
"No, we were never respected." The connection between the two Rulers was immediate to Michael. "I understand - the Ruler never treated us well, so you made it a priority to make sure your demons are appreciated, understood…happy."
"Exactly. That's what the three of them are working on now - part of the equity here. Our dear Adam does not hear and does not speak, but we found a way. William is learning how to use our language, and that means Adam is respected and included, regardless of his inabilities."
"The Ruler would have never…," Michael trailed off, the rest of his sentence not needing to be said.
Red smoke enveloped the pair of Fallen men as the three demons appeared next to them, blades drawn at the unknown man who had appeared in the room. Vincent's deeply-ingrained military training burst forth, and he took command. "Raise your hands! On your knees! You have invaded the home of Master Lucifer, and will pay for your crimes!"
Lucifer and Michael stepped back from the fray, allowing the former commander to deal with the intrusion. Hellena kicked the back of the man's knee, the spiked heel making contact. The man buckled, dropping to the ground. He raised his hands, quavering at the blades that were pointed at him.
"Please! Wait! I'm just here for my Brother!"
–I know that voice!– Michael stepped forward, toward the dissipating red fog. "Zerachiel?"