Izzy sat at the large oak desk in the middle of Lucian's office, sorting through stacks of paperwork. Who knew Hell had so much bureaucracy? The documents ranged from soul transfer forms to reaper duty rosters. As she flipped through them, she couldn't help but wonder how many people were assigned to manage all this. The sheer volume was overwhelming.
She paused, staring at one particular paper detailing the different classifications of demons. "If you encounter a Class 3 apparition," she read aloud, "do not engage directly. Well, no kidding."
Just then, the office door swung open, and Lucian strolled in, looking unusually alert. His dark hair fell loosely around his shoulders, and his eyes gleamed with a mix of irritation and amusement.
"Enjoying your reading?" he asked, nodding toward the scattered documents.
Izzy rolled her eyes. "Oh, yes, because learning how many forms are needed to authorize a soul retrieval is so fascinating."
Lucian smirked. "Think of it as training. You need to understand the processes here if you're going to survive… and keep up."
She crossed her arms, a hint of defiance in her eyes. "I'm keeping up just fine, thank you."
"Good," he replied, his voice suddenly serious. "Because we've got visitors—ones that aren't supposed to be here."
Before she could ask what he meant, the entire room seemed to grow colder. The air was thick with a dark energy that pressed against her skin like a physical force. She shivered involuntarily as Lucian's expression darkened.
The door creaked open again, but this time it wasn't by Lucian's doing. Two figures stepped into the room. The first was tall and gaunt, with pale skin and an unsettling grin that made Izzy's stomach churn. The other was a shorter, stockier figure, his eyes glowing a faint crimson.
"Well, well," the tall one said in a voice that was as oily as it was cold. "If it isn't Lucian, the top reaper himself. And who's this? A little human girl pretending to be useful?"
Izzy glared at the newcomers. "I'm not just pretending."
Lucian placed a hand on her shoulder, subtly signaling for her to stay back. "What brings you two here, Silas?" he asked, addressing the tall one.
Silas's smile widened, revealing teeth that were disturbingly sharp. "We heard you had taken a human as your assistant. We simply had to see if the rumors were true."
The shorter figure snorted. "A human among reapers. What a joke."
Lucian's grip tightened on Izzy's shoulder, but his voice remained calm. "She's none of your concern. State your business and be on your way."
"Oh, but she is our concern," Silas said, his grin fading slightly as his eyes fixed on Izzy. "You see, some of us are… concerned about how far the standards have fallen in this realm. Letting humans walk among us is not only foolish but dangerous."
Izzy's pulse quickened. It was clear that these two didn't come here just for a chat. They were here to test her, to make her feel small and powerless.
"Shouldn't you be more concerned about doing your own job?" she retorted, her voice steady despite the rising fear inside her.
The shorter demon laughed—a harsh, grating sound. "Oh, this one has some fire in her, doesn't she?"
Lucian's expression was impassive, but his voice carried a dangerous edge. "Enough. She's under my protection, and if you have a problem with that, then you have a problem with me."
Silas's grin returned, though it didn't reach his eyes. "We'll see how long you can protect her, then." He turned to leave, and his companion followed. "Good luck, human. You'll need it."
As the two demons exited the room, the oppressive energy lifted, leaving Izzy feeling slightly lightheaded. She let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding.
"Who were they?" she asked, her voice tinged with lingering adrenaline.
"Troublemakers," Lucian replied, his tone dismissive. "Silas and Kade are low-level reapers who think they're more important than they are. Ignore them."
Izzy frowned. "They didn't seem like the kind of guys who would just go away if you ignore them."
"They're not," Lucian admitted. "Which is why you'll need to be more cautious from now on. Some reapers don't like the idea of a human in our ranks. You'll be tested."
"I'm ready," she said, standing a little straighter.
Lucian gave her a small, approving nod. "Good. Then let's get back to work."
---
Meanwhile, in an Uncharted Depth of Hell…
Silas and Kade walked down a darkened corridor, the air thick with a sulfuric stench. They arrived at a massive door adorned with ancient runes, and Silas knocked lightly, the sound echoing ominously.
A voice boomed from the other side. "Enter."
The door creaked open, revealing a shadowy figure seated on a throne of bone. His eyes glowed with a malevolent fire as he looked down at the two reapers. "Did you confirm the rumors?"
Silas bowed his head. "Yes, my lord. Lucian indeed has a human as his assistant. A girl."
The figure's eyes narrowed. "Interesting. And does she pose a threat?"
"She's inexperienced," Kade spoke up. "But there's something about her… a resilience. She's not like other humans."
The shadowy figure chuckled darkly. "We'll see how long that resilience lasts. Keep a close eye on her, and report back with anything… interesting."
"As you command," Silas and Kade replied in unison before departing.
---
Back at the Reaper's Office…
Izzy sat back down at her desk, still shaken from the encounter but determined to brush it off. She had already come to accept that Hell was full of threats. These two reapers were just another hurdle she'd have to overcome.
As she tried to refocus on the paperwork in front of her, Lucian placed a steaming cup of coffee on her desk. "Thought you might need this."
She looked up at him, a grateful smile tugging at her lips. "Thanks."
Lucian took a seat across from her, his gaze piercing. "Listen, Izzy. You need to be aware that not everyone here will be as… welcoming as I am. The moment you step out of line, they'll pounce."
"I know," she said quietly. "But I'm not going anywhere."
"Good," he replied, his tone softening. "Because if you're going to stay, you'll need to be stronger than you've ever been before."
Izzy met his eyes, a fire igniting in her own. "I'm not afraid."
For a moment, Lucian's expression was unreadable, but then a rare, genuine smile spread across his face. "You're a curious human, Izzy. Let's hope that curiosity doesn't get you killed."