Night had fallen over Hell, casting its signature crimson and black hues over the land. Even with the rivers of molten lava glowing faintly, the darkness felt deep and unnerving. In the castle where Kikidori and Ere'ana now lived, peace had settled after a long day of balancing politics and personal moments. But as always, peace in Hell was fleeting.
A shrill, incessant barking echoed through the halls. Cerberus, the tiny but spirited Chihuahua, was in a frenzy. Ere'ana stirred first, her celestial instincts snapping her awake. She sat up in bed, her golden hair falling around her as she rubbed her eyes. "Cerberus?" she mumbled, concerned. The barking didn't let up.
Beside her, Kikidori groaned, pulling the blanket over his head. "Why is that demon spawn barking in the middle of the night?" he grumbled, his voice muffled.
Ere'ana ignored his complaints and slipped out of bed, her feet light against the cool obsidian floor. She padded through the hallway, following the sound of Cerberus' barks, which grew louder with each step. When she reached the main hall, she saw the little Chihuahua standing stiff-legged, his teeth bared and his tail wagging furiously. His attention was locked on something in the corner.
"Cerberus, what is it?" Ere'ana whispered as she approached cautiously. Her angelic glow softly illuminated the area, revealing... a cat.
A small, black cat with piercing green eyes sat calmly, its tail flicking back and forth as it stared at the barking dog. It didn't seem the least bit intimidated, and if anything, it looked amused.
Ere'ana blinked. "A cat? In Hell? How did you get here?"
Cerberus barked louder, his tiny body trembling with either excitement or frustration. Ere'ana crouched down, trying to calm him. "Cerberus, it's just a cat. Calm down, boy."
Before she could think of what to do next, heavy footsteps echoed down the hallway. Kikidori appeared, his hair tousled and his expression a mix of annoyance and curiosity. He was shirtless, his dark wings drooping slightly from exhaustion. "What's going on?" he asked, his voice groggy. "Why is Cerberus trying to wake the dead—oh, wait, we're in Hell. Never mind."
Ere'ana stood and pointed to the corner. "It's a cat. That's what he's barking at."
Kikidori squinted at the tiny creature and crossed his arms. "A cat? Here? That doesn't make sense. Cats don't belong in Hell."
The cat meowed, its voice echoing unnaturally, sending a chill down Ere'ana's spine. Kikidori frowned, stepping closer. "That's not a normal cat."
Ere'ana tilted her head. "What do you mean?"
Kikidori knelt down, his sharp gaze locking onto the feline. "It's got an aura. It's... different. It might be a spy." He reached out cautiously, but the cat hissed and swatted at his hand. Its claws glinted briefly, sharper than they should have been. Kikidori pulled his hand back and stood, glaring at the creature. "Yep. Definitely not normal."
Cerberus barked even louder, and Ere'ana finally picked him up, cradling him against her chest to calm him. "If it's a spy, who sent it? Heaven wouldn't send a cat, and Hell's demons don't really use animals."
Kikidori shrugged, his expression hardening. "Maybe it's from some rogue faction. Or maybe there's something bigger going on. Either way, we're not keeping it." He turned to Cerberus. "And you, stop barking. You're supposed to be the guardian of Hell's gates, not a toy yapping at a furball."
Cerberus growled softly, clearly not taking kindly to Kikidori's scolding.
The cat, meanwhile, stretched lazily, as if completely unbothered by the commotion it had caused. It locked its glowing green eyes on Kikidori and let out another eerie meow. For a moment, Kikidori swore he saw something flicker in its gaze—an intelligence far beyond that of a regular animal.
Ere'ana frowned. "What should we do with it?"
"Send it back to wherever it came from," Kikidori replied bluntly. He unfurled his wings, preparing to scoop the creature up and toss it outside, but the cat suddenly darted away, moving faster than either of them expected. It disappeared into the shadows of the castle, leaving behind an unsettling silence.
Kikidori groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Great. Now there's a potentially magical cat loose in the castle. Just what I needed."
Ere'ana smiled despite the situation. "Oh, come on. It's just a cat. How much trouble could it cause?"
Kikidori shot her a look. "This is Hell. Everything here causes trouble."
Cerberus wriggled in Ere'ana's arms, clearly wanting to chase after the intruder. Kikidori sighed and gestured toward the hallway. "Fine. Let's go find it before it does something stupid—or worse, starts multiplying."
As they searched the castle, Ere'ana couldn't help but glance at Kikidori with a small smile. "You know," she teased, "for someone who's supposed to be the Prince of Hell, you're awfully jumpy about a little cat."
Kikidori rolled his eyes. "It's not the cat I'm worried about—it's what the cat represents. And don't call me that."
"Call you what? The Prince of Hell?" Ere'ana grinned. "But that's your title now. Lucifer himself gave it to you."
Kikidori muttered under his breath. "Yeah, well, he can keep it. I didn't ask for it."
Ere'ana laughed softly, her voice like music against the oppressive silence of the castle. "You might not have asked for it, but you've earned it. Besides, I think it suits you."
Kikidori stopped walking and turned to her, his expression softening for a moment. "You're the only one who could say that without me getting annoyed."
They shared a quiet moment before Cerberus barked again, his ears perking up as he dashed down another hallway. Kikidori and Ere'ana followed, and as they turned the corner, they saw the cat sitting calmly in the middle of the room. This time, it wasn't alone. A faint, shadowy figure loomed behind it, barely visible in the dim light.
Kikidori's wings flared, and Ere'ana instinctively reached for her staff, her angelic light intensifying. The cat meowed once more, its voice echoing eerily, and the shadowy figure spoke in a low, raspy voice. "Prince of Hell. Archangel. This is only the beginning."
Before either of them could respond, the figure and the cat vanished, leaving behind a faint trace of sulfur and ash.
Ere'ana looked at Kikidori, her expression a mix of concern and determination. "What was that?"
Kikidori's jaw tightened. "Trouble."
Cerberus barked once, as if to agree, and Kikidori sighed. "Guess we're not getting any sleep tonight."
Ere'ana stepped closer to him, her light casting away the remaining shadows. "Whatever it is, we'll face it together."
Kikidori looked at her and smirked, though his eyes betrayed a hint of unease. "Damn right we will."
The End of Chapter 51