CODEX Part 3: Between Heaven and Hell

Beelzebub was with Mehrdir. He grabbed him and ordered him to come along right before Zoe left for Essex. Actually, Mehrdir couldn’t even hear her because the place they got to was somewhere surrounded by an energy barrier.

The greed demon looked to the right and left and took in the surroundings. He expected some nasty place covered in bloody or rotten corpses but there was nothing.

“Where are we going?” He asked the gluttony prince.

It was empty; he couldn’t believe just how empty the place was.

“Somewhere,”

That word only annoyed the lower demon. He narrowed his eyes at the back of Beelzebub’s head and scrunched his nose like the scumbag sassy demon he was.

Mehrdir was standing next to the second most influential prince in Hell yet he couldn't retain his own huge pride that was getting stepped on lately.

At last, they entered a forest which left Mehrdir awestruck; he wasn't aware there was something like that in the vicinity.

It was weird because the void suddenly became something out of nowhere; actually, the lower demon was surprised how Beelzebub knew the way suspiciously well, taking the right turns even if there was nothing to turn because it was blank space. Having nothing but white space around you, one would get lost or insane.

The forest looked really different from what Mehrdir has seen before in the Middle World. Most trees were tall and green; the weed was green as well and it smelled natural and there were rays of light falling through the branches.

That wasn’t the case wherever they were: the trees were indeed tall but most of them were willows; there was no light but something was shining above and the weed was yellow and smelled of benzene.

As they continued to walk, he realized that some branches started to move. It’s been maybe an hour into the forest and he was sure the light was coming from the same place; it wasn’t a sun; actually, it was like an office.

A few more minutes passed by, a few more trees appeared or disappeared out of nowhere. Mehrdir knew he had to keep close to the older demon or he will get lost.

"We're in a labyrinth," The greed demon stated out loud,"What are we doing here?"

"It's for Zoe," Beelzebub muttered sternly.

Mehrdir rolled his eyes, "You said that a while ago and blackmailed me into coming with you," He mumbled but the prince wasn't stupid. He heard the lower demon well.

"Then shut up and keep your level hidden,"

Mehrdir nodded but that didn’t mean he liked it.

They walked for a few more hours when Beelzebub walked out of the labyrinth. Right there, at the finish point, was a gate but Beelzebub's attention shifted on the sign above the gate; it was shining brightly so it was hard to miss, even for Mehrdir.

“That is an angel sign,” The younger demon stated. He was genuinely curious how Beelzebub knew about that place and what was that place, “Is this angel territory?” Mehrdir asked glancing around warily.

“That doesn’t matter. What matters should be inside,”

Mehrdir raised an eyebrow and followed the prince inside. Once they stepped through the gate, Mehrdir felt his back sting. He winced but didn’t comment; after all, he’s been through much worse.

Beelzebub stopped in front of a door; if anything, the place looked like a vacation house from Earth. Mehrdir walked next to his former master and frowned when he saw what was wrong. The door was wide open, for everyone to notice.

"It looks like someone broke the lock," Mehrdir watched too many detective movies with Ezekiel but they weren’t for nothing.

He was able to enter swiftly like a true detective however, Beelzebub wasn’t sharing the same view. He stared at him with cold eyes and judged him with every fiber.

"What was inside?" Mehrdir asked when he finally got a good look around.

Inside was nothing. Beelzebub hummed and entered the room, as well, his eyes blank; he wasn’t in good mood. The prince clicked his tongue as he surveyed the room; it was only one and it smelled like chloroform.

"They’re gone. The Leftovers are gone," The response only attracted more questions.

"Leftover souls?" Mehrdir tilted his head in confusion.

Beelzebub shook his head, "Angels thrown from Heaven and demons thrown from Hell,” He started while walking around the room, “Dangerous beings with no loyalty and no pride. They are called the anomalies, outsiders, leftovers. Any way you put it, they have no place in this world. Gabriel locked them in here. One angel and one demon were keeping an eye on them,"The gluttony prince explained.

"But no one is here,” Mehrdir repeated, Beelzebub's mood falling into worse, "It's Lucifer, isn't it?"

Beelzebub licked his lip and rubbed his neck, "Only three demons knew about them: me, Lucifer and Belial,"

Mehrdir frowned, "Belial doesn't have the right to interfere in the prophecy," The lower demon added quickly.

Beelzebub chuckled and turned to the demon, "But he can manipulate. He manipulated Lucifer into going against God. He can manipulate a little human into fighting for the worst side,"

"What about the angels?"

The redhead glared at the greed demon and walked closer with an offended expression, "Do I look like I can't handle this? Do I look like I need help from angels?!" He was offended for real and it was a scary sight.

Thankfully, Mehrdir got saved by none other than an angel. Beelzebub's face seemed to get whiter than it was; it was hard to figure if he was mad or not. His face was blank yet he tensed when he felt the majestic appearance.

"Gabriel,” His tone sounded normal; his voice wasn’t higher than usually so he was still calm, “Talk about the angel and the angel shall come,”

"Beelzebub. I know what you're doing,"

Mehrdir took a step back and watched the two interact. It was interesting: one was an archangel while the other was the commander of Hell; that was quite a meeting.

"And what am I doing? Enlighten me, please," He emphasized the last word.

The archangel narrowed his eyes at the demon prince, "You're making a commotion in Hell,"

Beelzebub raised an eyebrow and sucked his cheeks in. Oh, he was getting annoyed, "Me? The one making a commotion is me? Are you sure you have the right information? I am only protecting my investment!" He yelled.

"Zoe Lestrade is not an investment."

"But Hell is. Besides, Heaven doesn't have the right to meddle in our business. Zoe and Jasper are ours,"

The angel wasn’t impressed. He didn’t care how powerful or mad was Beelzebub. Gabriel glanced at the greed demon and cracked a smile. Mehrdir narrowed his eyes in suspicion.

"Are they?” The angel asked while still having Mehrdir in his peripheral vision, “From my view, Zoe's been trying very hard to keep her soul and her friends’ souls clean. She doesn’t seem to accept the idea of spending an eternity in Hell."

Mehrdir bit his lip and glanced at Beelzebub. His level of annoyance was growing with every second around the angel but surprisingly, the prince didn’t make a scene. He blinked at the angel and partially smirked; it was a really small movement on the corner of his lips, but it was there.

“Is that all?”

Gabriel’s glance bloomed into a full stare making Mehrdir uncomfortable. He wasn’t used to spend time around angels; truthfully, he hated them more than anything.

"Someone unlocked the doors but the leftovers aren't stupid. From what I know, they might have made a deal with a demon," The archangel started.

"Who?" Beezebub already knew the answer since he suddenly started to focus on the door. Mehrdir had his own ideas.

"I can't tell you that,”Beelzebub scoffed, “This is Heaven's problem as much as it is Hell's,”

The demon glared at Gabriel, "This is no one's problem but mine. The leftovers are out because my inheritor is a threat,"

Gabriel’s attention moved on Mehrdir again.

“Mehrdir,” The angel started, “You and Zoe have a very interesting yet abnormal relationship, don’t you?” Beelzebub watched at the angel moved in front of the demon, “You wouldn’t do anything to hurt her, would you? She’s already cursed so why would you add fuel to the fire?”

Mehrdir’s dark eyes were staring deep into the blue eyes of the archangel. They seemed magical yet more evil than a demon’s.

“You’re wrong,” The demon finally spoke, “Zoe is the only commander who made it so far. She may act like she doesn’t like it but she knows there is no other way,”

The angel leaned in and smirked, “What if it is?” Mehrdir’s eyes widened. Beelzebub glared at Gabriel’s blonde hair and took a few steps closer but the archangel continued, “If Zoe wants, there is still a place for her-“ He moved closer to Mehrdir’s ear, “-in Heaven,” He whispered.

Mehrdir blocked; for the first time in his life, he blocked.

“What do you-“He couldn’t ask because Beelzebub pulled him away.

“This conversation is over. Go get busy with your leftovers while I will hunt mine,”

He left while dragging a confused demon behind.

"What was that?" Mehrdir asked on the way back to their domain.

"What was what?" The red head was acting dumb after how he acted earlier.

"I'm not stupid. Zoe's soul is not a gamble. Her place was in Hell from the moment she was born,"

"Is that what you decided or what it’s been decided?"

Mehrdir could feel himself getting angrier.

"Are you fucking serious? She's been through a lot and she chose you! She chose to fight for her father!"

Beelzebub looked to the side, "I'm not her father," He mumbled.

"Fine, whatever you say. But don't forget she chose you, out of everyone she always chose to stay by your side. We don't have feelings but we have pride. You owe her, Beelzebub,"

The read head closed his eyes and sighed. He couldn't believe how much courage Mehrdir got and it was all because he gave him too much freedom.

The higher demon stopped which forced Mehrdir to stop as well. They were in the white empty space when Beelzebub turned around with yellow eyes and the veins on his face swollen. He grabbed the lower demon by his neck and brought him closer.

"Last time I checked, I was the big bad demon and you were nothing. Nothing changed, Mehrdir. She is mine and so are you. Your soul is in my hands," The greed demon gulped. He didn't expect the prince to get murderer on him, "Know your place if you don't want to end up like the leftovers," That was really bad.

"Y-yes sir," He barely spoke out. Beelzebub stared at him for a few more second before he let the demon free, “But what about Zoe and Heaven?” The shorter demon tensed when he saw Beelzebub’s hand move. He had a bad mouth and didn’t know when to stop, he admitted but it was about Zoe; that was an important subject for both of them.

“Let me think about that. Your role is to stay by her side and keep her safe,”

Mehrdir nodded.

The rest of the way was silent. None of them spoke. They had enough to think about, mostly Beelzebub. He had Lucifer on one plate and now, the shehehreeyoht.