Ethan's hands still trembled as he left the containment room. The image of the demon kneeling before him—its glowing red eyes burning with some unknowable depth—was seared into his mind. He had done it. He had bound the creature. But now, standing in the cold, metallic hallway beside Agent Monroe, the weight of what he'd just experienced settled heavily on his shoulders.
"You did well in there," Monroe said, walking briskly ahead of him. Her tone was approving, but Ethan sensed there was more to come. "But binding a lesser demon is child's play compared to what lies ahead."
Ethan nodded, still trying to process everything. The fact that he had just commanded an actual demon hadn't fully sunk in. "What do you mean by 'what lies ahead'? There are… more powerful ones?"
Monroe shot him a sidelong glance, her expression unreadable. "A lot more powerful. What you just faced was at the bottom of the hierarchy."
She led him into another room, this one larger and far more advanced. Rows of monitors lined the walls, each one displaying surveillance footage of containment chambers just like the one Ethan had been in. Some held creatures similar to the one he had bound—others were darker, their forms more nebulous, their power radiating even through the grainy screen.
"The demon you bound today," Monroe continued, tapping a button that brought up a profile on one of the monitors, "was a Thrall. Basic foot soldiers. Low intelligence, primal instincts. They're the easiest to control because they have no real agenda beyond destruction."
She turned to face him, her expression serious now. "But as you go higher up the ranks, things get more complicated. Demons are not just chaotic monsters—they have their own society, a hierarchy as old as time itself. Each rank you encounter will require a stronger will, a deeper understanding of the binding process, and a greater risk."
Ethan felt a cold knot forming in his stomach. "How many ranks are there?"
Monroe gestured to the screen, and a detailed diagram appeared, showing the different tiers of demons. The hierarchy was shaped like a pyramid, with Thralls at the base and the higher ranks ascending toward a peak.
"There are six major ranks in the demon hierarchy," she explained, pointing to the diagram. "Each one more powerful—and more dangerous—than the last."
Ethan studied the chart, his eyes drawn to the topmost ranks. The names alone sent a chill down his spine.
1. Thralls: The lowest rank. Mindless, vicious, but easy to bind. They follow simple commands and are often used for brute force or menial tasks.
2. Lurkers: More intelligent than Thralls, Lurkers are stealthy and cunning, often used for espionage and sabotage. They can slip into the shadows, moving unseen, and require a sharper mind to control.
3. Furies: Demons of rage and destruction, Furies are volatile and difficult to bind. They are used in high-risk combat operations but must be carefully monitored as they can turn on their handlers if the bond weakens.
4. Dominions: Mid-level demons that possess significant power and intelligence. They have their own agendas and ambitions, making them extremely dangerous to bind. Only experienced agents are authorized to summon them.
5. Archons: One of the highest ranks in the hierarchy. Archons are ancient, powerful beings who once held sway over entire realms in the demon world. Binding them is almost impossible without extensive preparation, and even then, the cost can be high. They are often used for high-level assassinations or critical national security threats.
6. Abyssal Lords: The rulers of the demon realm. There are only a few known Abyssal Lords, and they are forces of nature—beings that embody chaos, destruction, and fear. Binding one is the ultimate test of a summoner's skill, but the risks are catastrophic. It's said that no one can truly control an Abyssal Lord, only bargain with it, and even then, the price for failure is soul-crushing—literally."
Ethan's gaze lingered on the topmost tier, Abyssal Lords. Even the thought of encountering something like that made his pulse quicken with fear. "Has anyone… ever bound one of those?"
Monroe's lips pressed into a thin line. "There have been attempts. Some succeeded, for a time. But even a brief slip in focus, a momentary lapse in willpower, and the consequences are devastating. Entire cities have disappeared in the wake of a failed summoning. The Bureau has learned to tread carefully around demons of that level."
Ethan felt the weight of her words settle heavily on him. If a Thrall required all his focus to control, what would it take to bind something as powerful as an Abyssal Lord? The idea of even attempting it seemed insane.
"Of course," Monroe said, breaking his thoughts, "you won't be anywhere near that level for a long time. For now, your focus is on the lower tiers—Thralls, Lurkers, maybe Furies once you're ready. Each mission you go on will require different types of demons, but remember this: the higher you climb in the hierarchy, the more the demon fights you. They know they're being used. The stronger ones can turn the tables if you're not careful."
Ethan frowned. "What do you mean, 'turn the tables'?"
Monroe's expression darkened. "Demons don't just accept being bound. They're constantly testing you, looking for weaknesses. If your bond slips for even a second, they can reverse the link. You become the one trapped, enslaved to their will. That's how some of our agents have… disappeared. We call it 'The Reversal.'"
Ethan's stomach twisted at the thought. The binding ritual was dangerous enough, but the idea that a demon could take control of him was terrifying.
Monroe seemed to sense his unease. "That's why the Bureau puts such emphasis on training. You'll learn to strengthen your will, to keep your focus no matter what. The demons will try to tempt you, scare you, manipulate you. The higher ranks, especially, are masters at it. They'll whisper things into your mind, show you visions of things you desire—or fear."
"So how do you resist them?" Ethan asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Monroe smiled, though there was no warmth in it. "You'll learn. It takes discipline, mental fortitude. You'll be taught techniques to strengthen your mind, to build barriers against their influence. But the truth is, it's never easy. Even the best of us struggle."
Ethan swallowed hard. "And if I fail?"
Monroe met his gaze, her eyes cold and unwavering. "If you fail, the demon takes control. And then it's not just your life at risk. It's everyone around you."
The room fell into an uncomfortable silence, the gravity of her words sinking in. Ethan had never imagined that something like this could exist—that demons weren't just chaotic beings, but part of an organized structure, each with their own ambitions and desires. It was a dark mirror of human society, but with far more terrifying consequences.
"So," Monroe said, breaking the tension, "are you still in? You still want this job?"
Ethan thought back to the Thrall he had bound earlier, the surge of power he had felt, the thrill of knowing he had control over something so dangerous. It had terrified him, but also, in a strange way, exhilarated him. The demons were powerful, and that power was now within his grasp.
"I'm in," he said, his voice steady.
Monroe's expression softened slightly, a hint of approval in her eyes. "Good. Your training continues tomorrow. We'll begin your mental conditioning, and if you're ready, we might even introduce you to a Lurker. But remember this, Cole—there's no room for hesitation in this line of work. These creatures will sense it, and they'll exploit it."
Ethan nodded, his resolve hardening. He knew the path ahead wouldn't be easy, but he had made his choice. He had stepped into a world few even knew existed, a world of shadows and monsters. And now, he was determined to master it.
Because failure wasn't an option.