Gerry stood calmly with his hands clasped behind his back. As he looked out at the morning sky he took a deep breath and savored the smell of victory. For now, Charlotte was his, and the æther had responded accordingly. His throne was positioned at the center of it all, was drinking in the power, and was setting up defenses.

He hadn’t thought of it before, but thrones were intelligent things. Aside from the vast library of knowledge stored within, it also had the ability to accomplish tasks. All Gerry had to do was establish guidelines, left and right limits, and simply allow the throne to work.

Some of the preprogramed commands from the former Infernal Lord were still loaded into the throne. He wouldn’t have been able to develop his own complex ætherial coding, so Gerry simply tweaked it to fit his own situation. In doing so, he was sure he’d asserted more control on the city in a day than the Divine had been able to since they defeated the Infernal incursion.

It wasn’t a moment too soon. Charlotte was not the jewel of a city it used to be. It still looked like the bombed out husk straight from post WW2 Europe, and wasn’t exactly a selling point for what he needed to do next. Still, Gerry had assigned priority to the airport in the throne’s queue, and it hadn’t disappointed. What would have taken months to fix had only taken a few hours, and now the private plane on final approach would have no trouble landing.

“How about our unwanted guests?” Gerry turned to Gaius.

The general, Brock, Jezebel, Jeb, and a few legionnaires were awaiting the jet’s arrival. The American military, which had declared a no fly zone over Charlotte, had tried to intervene when the jet started making its approach. Gaius had been tasked with handling it.

“We took out one of the choppers with a Stinger missile we pulled off the ambushed convoy. The others turned and made a beeline back for the base before we could engage. As per your orders, we made it look like some local human faction had gotten a hold of military-grade weapons. They won’t be expecting Infernal influence.”

“Good.” Gerry was manipulating the æther overhead so any satellites looking at the area were getting nothing but static. He was sure people at the Pentagon were scratching their heads trying to figure out what was going on. “What about the sorcerers?” He moved onto the next item of business.

“The man you released gathered the remaining locals to tell them of his meeting with you. He exploded right on time. Vicky’s people have recovered and catalogued the bodies. It wasn’t everyone that was resisting you, but well over half. We won’t have to worry about them any time soon.”

Gerry nodded. Since the Divine left, the local magical factions had started to make a play to regain control of the city. They’d faltered when Gerry took out the Divine garrison, and he carried that momentum through with his suicide bomber. Now, his reign was weakly opposed at best. Things were looking up.

The jet touched down smoothly. The roar of the engines reversing filled the air, but it never had to apply the brakes. It made a smooth turn at the end of the runway and headed toward the private hangars where the group waited. Gerry took another deep breath and smiled. What happened here today was another big step of his plan moving forward. The Remnents were a key source of power in this realm. Without them, taking the fight to Heaven would be nearly impossible. The Infernals needed their assistance. The man on the plane was a powerful Remnant, and as Brock’s grandfather, and grandson of the Primordial itself, he held critical sway it determining his group’s allegiance. Or at least that was how Gerry hoped it played out.

The plane pulled to a stop in front of them and began to power down. The door slid open and a staircase unfolded so two people could walk down. First came Vicky, who was grinning liked she’d won the lottery. Gerry took that as a good sign. Behind her was a powerfully built man who emanated power.

“Gramps!” Gerry had hoped for something a little more impressive, but Brock broke rank and ran to his grandfather.

“Bacchus!” The older Remnant smiled and opened his arms. Brock was physically bigger than Prometheus, but the older man didn’t budge when Brock hit him at a run. The two held their embrace for several seconds, and exchanged a few exaggerated pounds on the back before breaking apart. Gerry saw Brock wipe a tear of joy away before turning and leading Prometheus to Gerry.

“Gramps this is Gerry, Gerry, my grandfather, Prometheus.” While Brock made the introductions, Gerry and Prometheus sized each other up.

It was natural for men of their power to make snap judgments based on first impression because sometimes a first impression was all you got before the other guy tried to kill you. For that reason, both men relied on their intuition, and heeded their guts’ advice.

Gerry’s gut was telling him that Prometheus was amused by all of this. He’d obviously met Infernals before, and he seemed to respect Gerry, but not the mission Gerry was setting out to do. Prometheus probably had a few millennia on Gerry in the age department, so Gerry couldn’t hold it against him for his thoughts on Gerry’s plan. He’d likely seen something like it before.

Gerry was sure of that. As far as he knew, this was the first time the Veil was failing between worlds since Eden’s conquest.

“It’s a pleasure to meet than man who facilitated my rescue,” Prometheus extended his hand and Gerry shook it.

Surprisingly, there was no macho-power contest of who could squeeze the others hand harder. The Remnant’s handshake was firm and powerful, but he wasn’t trying to prove anything. Gerry took that to mean a tacit acceptance of Gerry’s authority.

“It is an honored to meet such a revered member of your family, Prometheus.”

“Please,” Prometheus waved away the formality. “No one has called me Prometheus in a long time. Please call me Pete. It will draw less-questioning glances when there are more than just us present.”

“Very well, Pete. Would you please come with us? We’ll take you back to our headquarters so we can talk.” Gerry waved to the caravan of stolen military vehicles.

Pete looked around at the scarred cityscape and nodded. “Lead the way.”

Despite the favorable introduction, the ride passed mostly in silence. Pete spent most of his time looking out the window. Vicky quickly brought Gerry up to date on the old god’s incarceration and it all made sense. If Gerry hadn’t been outside in a literal eon, he would have been intrigued by what he saw as well. Coming back to Earth from Hell with an upgraded mind to help cope with the twenty-first century was difficult enough. He couldn’t imagine what Pete was thinking.

“I like what you’ve done with the place.” Pete spoke his first words as they passed the demolished Bank of America Corporate Center. Satan had nearly cleaved the building in two, and the top half had slid down to demolish the smaller buildings around it.

“You could chalk this up to a domestic dispute between the former tenants, but they’re gone now.” Gerry hoped Pete got the joke, but the Remnant didn’t laugh. “I took it from the people who seized control after they were finished with their brotherly spat.”

Pete just nodded as the convoy pulled into an underground parking garage. Gerry had set the throne to clearing the wreckage and setting up a secure place to establish a new demesne. Two legionnaires in stolen military gear were guarding the area from just inside the cleared opening. They nodded and waved the vehicles past when they saw Gaius in the front seat of the lead vehicle. Pete didn’t even glance in their direction, but he did shiver when the passed through the first layers of warding.

“Impressive,” Pete actually seemed genuinely fascinated as they went through layer after layer of warding. With all of the city’s æther, even a diminished amount, Gerry was able to set up formidable defenses quickly. It wasn’t as good as his former demesne, but the location more than made up for that.

With the utter destruction above ground it didn’t make any sense to set up shop there because it would draw way to much attention. Even if Gerry was able to cloak his new HQ, eventually they would have to move because rebuilding would make its presence known. That left the underground, and what better place than a parking ramp with a little adjustment.

The ramp was smack dab in the center of the city, so it was a perfect collection point. It went down five layers, but a little ætherial manipulation made it seem to anyone and everyone that it had only ever been four. With the natural protection of the Earth from human snooping, and warding to keep the Divine and magical community out, Gerry had the best of both worlds. He’d even allowed the Army Corps of Engineers to come through and verify that the four layer garage was stable and ready for use when the city got back on its feet. Once that was done, Coop had Jeb buy the company. So, on top of being the ætherial warlord of Charlotte, Gerry was also the parking king of downtown. He didn’t think much of it, but Vicky thought it was a pretty big deal.

All that was left for Gerry to do what manipulate the æther of the fifth level as he pleased. With quadruple the amount of space as the former penthouse demesne, Gerry didn’t have any idea how to fill it. He came from a time where a little went a long way. He’d put in his oversized bedroom, throne room, and master bathroom with a ætherial-built pump and sewage system that drew from the groundwater and snaked into the sewer so no one would ever be able to trace it to him on city plans. He had his war room, where he’d re-created the fine, wooden table and chairs in the colonial style of his youth. The table currently had a map of the battered city growing out of its center. Aside from the necessities, Gerry had allowed his underlings to provide input.

Jezebel wanted spare bedrooms for entertainment purposes, so several guest rooms were built, and she was allowed to design them. Jeb suggested a wine cellar and movie theater. Gerry had no need for such entertainment, but he knew the value of throwing his lieutenants a bone once and a while, so he made the upgrades. Gaius thought more tactically. The only way in and out was through the elevator. Gerry had masked the button for the fifth floor, and only allowed it to materialize for those who met an approved list of ætherial signatures. To make Gaius happy, Gerry carved several tunnels leading from the rooms to different parts of the city, as well as a main tunnel that led to a demolished club that Vicky owned. Vicky was the only Soulless allowed to know about it. If anyone else found out they would pay with their life, and Vicky might lose an inch or two of her tongue for blabbing.

Lono would have wanted a big kitchen, so Gerry installed that in memory of the gluttonous Infernal. When all was said and done, Gerry had the best piece of real-estate that no one would ever hear of, and he was fine with that.

They parked the stolen military vehicles at the entrance to the elevator, and everyone packed inside. Gerry made the space swell so everyone could fit comfortably, or at least that was what he wanted them to think. He really wanted space to maneuver if things went sideways. Thankfully, nothing did, and they reached the demesne in peace.

“Impressive,” Pete repeated as they stepped into the foyer area. Gerry could tell the old god liked the decorating, but he could also sense hesitation in him. If Gerry was a betting man, he’d wager it was from spending a thousand years imprisoned in a cave.

“Thank you, and please have a seat.” The legionnaires disarmed and left to entertain themselves while Gerry and his lieutenants led the remnants to the war room.

Pete only gave the map a quick glance as he plopped down in a chair. It groaned slightly under the unexpected weight, but it held. Gerry made a note of that. Pete was a big guy, not as big as Brock, but Brock’s frame didn’t elicit the same response as he took a seat. That meant something.

“I would like to start by thanking you for rescuing me from my imprisonment,” Pete began before Gerry could even get settled. “I am eternally grateful, and in your debt,” Gerry couldn’t help but grin when those words came out of Pete’s mouth, “but I know what you are planning, and I know it won’t work.”

The smile on Gerry’s face faltered before he could regain control. He knew Pete saw it, so he didn’t try to hide it. “I’m not sure you understand the situation, Pete.” Gerry put a little iron in his tone, and Brock perked up a bit. “This isn’t like anything tried before. The Veil between the realms is collapsing. I helped make that happen. Cities all over are swinging in favor of Infernal over Divine.” A TV, which took up a good portion of the wall, flashed on and showed the destruction in New York City. In addition, there was chaos in London, Paris, Berlin, Moscow, Beijing, and a slew of smaller cities and capitols. The Infernals were pushing hard to take advantage of the rift between realms, and they were gaining ground for the first time in recorded history. They were playing offense not defense, and the momentum was palpable.

Pete watched it all calmly, and Gerry could see he didn’t have the old god convinced. “I give it a few days before the Divine Host counterattacks,” Pete surmised. “I’ve fought against these guys. I’ve seen Michael at work, and he isn’t going to cede territory to you so easily without a plan. I bet right now the Infernal Lords in charge of those armies are drunk on victory. They’re going to overextend themselves, stretch their supply lines too far from their ætherial power sources, and that is when the Divine will hit back in force. You might retain some of the smaller cities and capitols, but you won’t hold the major military, industrial, economic, and cultural centers.”

“We could if we had help,” Gerry could sense he wasn’t going to win an argument head on with Pete, so he played into the hand Pete said the Infernals were being dealt. “If we had your people by our side then we could hold against the counterattack, and then we’ve got a stalemate.”

“No you don’t,” Pete stated so matter-of-factly that it caught Gerry by surprise.

“Of course we do,” Gerry countered.

“No you don’t,” Pete said more forcefully and sighed. “In all of this strategizing you all are forgetting the most crucial piece on the board.” Pete raised a finger and pointed up. “God! If God wants to get involved this is all over.”

“He hasn’t involved himself before,” Gerry tried to parry the Remnants statement, but he could hear the uncertainty in his own argument.

“But like you said, this hasn’t happened before. The Infernals haven’t pushed so far into Eden before. The Veil between realms hasn’t been broken. My people joining your fight will only bring God into the fray, and then he will punish all of us.”

“The Infernal Lords will stand united against him: Satan, Lucifer, Beelzebub, Belial, Abaddon, Leviathan, Lilith, Cain, Moloch, Azazel, Frigg, and Asmodeus along with all their Duxes and legions will stop God.” Gerry had been so full of righteousness at the beginning of his pitch, but he heard it peter out as he finished. At those last two words, ‘stop God’ he realized how foolish it all sounded, and he knew Pete saw that.

“You can’t stop God. Satan is a powerful being, as are the other Infernal Lords. I never fought the Prince of Darkness personally, but my relatives died by his hand in the War for Eden. Despite that, and despite all the power those twelve lords can bring to the table it still won’t be enough.” Pete leaned back in his chair. “Satan is under the delusion that because he came close in his rebellion that he will be able to take on a ready and waiting Primordial. The King of Hell’s hubris has stoked his passion for revenge against his maker since his banishment, and he’s pulled the rest of the Infernal Lords with him on that quest.” Pete abandoned leaning back and leaned forward to add seriousness to his next statement. “But now that he is getting close to threatening the real balance God has been willing to accept, I don’t see any reason for him not to squash Satan like a bug. Believe me that’s all he’ll need to do. If Satan get obliterated the rest of the Infernals will scamper back to Hell with their forked tails between their legs. No offense,” Pete shrugged.

Gerry didn’t take any offense. He didn’t completely believe Pete. Lifetimes of Hell’s indoctrination to their mission against Heaven wouldn’t allow that, but the old god’s logic had started to crack Gerry’s conviction. That was saying a lot when his last few centuries of existence had been for the purpose of taking the fight to Heaven. Gerry couldn’t deny that Pete was a reliable source. He’d seen Primordials duke it out, and if he was saying the fight was pointless then he had to lend some credence to those words. That was enough to shake anyone’s beliefs.

Pete resumed leaning back, and despite the news he was delivering, he managed to smile. “Of course, there is still a chance.”

Gerry couldn’t help but give the Remnant credit where credit was due. He’d grabbed Gerry hook line and sinker.

“What chance do we have against God if the King of Hell and all the other Infernal Lords won’t be able to stop him?” Gerry came off a little bitter, but Pete didn’t seem to mind.

“You’re all forgetting another crucial thing.” Pete swept his gaze around the table. “Satan appointed himself King of Hell, but he’s not really the king.”

It took Gerry a second to process what Pete was saying, and then he couldn’t help but sigh. “The primordial that created Hell is long gone. No one has seen it in literally forever. Beelzebub was born of Hell and even he admits he’s never seen or heard from its creator.”

“Have you looked everywhere?” Pete asked.

“Me personally…no, but I’m sure other have.” Gerry felt a little stupid with that answer, and he could see Pete had a point.

“You want me to help you defeat God and all that jazz,” Pete swept his hands to encompass the living map on the table. “This is me helping you. You will not defeat a primordial without another primordial. Since my creator is dead, and God is the one you’re trying to kill, that only leaves one possibility.”

“There are others,” Gerry stated, and saw a flash of surprise on Pete’s face. The Remnant clearly knew there were others. He just didn’t think Gerry knew.

“True,” he tried to play off the surprise, “but their realms are far far away. They aren’t layered like ours are. They don’t want to be found, and someone unfamiliar with their creations is unlikely to find them. You’re more likely to wander aimlessly for eternity or until someone takes mercy on you and ends your suffering.”

“What if Hell’s primordial doesn’t want to be found?” Gerry asked the logical follow up question.

“That’s a risk we have to take.” Pete shrugged matter-of-factly. “Even if it doesn’t want to be found, at least you know the lay of the land. You won’t be lost in oblivion to live out your days confused and alone.” Since it sounded like Pete was talking from personal experience, Gerry had to take his word for it.

“So, we’re settled!” Pete slapped the table. “You’re off to Hell to find the one being in creation that has a chance to take on God.” The Remnant sounded like he was suggesting that Gerry go out for tacos.

Despite the revolutionary claims that had conflicted Gerry’s believe in his life’s purpose, he couldn’t help but agree with the old god. “I guess we’re headed back to Hell.”

“We?” Pete looked confused.

“It’s your idea. You’re coming with me.” Gerry smiled as Pete paled. “Don’t worry. It isn’t as bad as they say.”

Gerry made Pete believe the statement, but the truth was he had no idea what Seere’s old kingdom looked like, and they would be going to Seere’s old kingdom. Something Pete had said triggered a flash of insight in the recesses of Gerry’s mind, and with nothing else to go on, it was as good a place as any to start looking.