"Who are you, for real," asked Zion, staring at Ahsid.

Kayla smacked him lightly on the head while Ahsid rolled her eyes.

"How are you guys taking so long to prep up?"

Zion sighed, and opened the door wider to let the two in.

He wore a beautiful red ornate aristocrat's coat, contrasted with a blue velvet collar, cuffs and lapels.

"Zion, you look wonderful," gushed Ahsid.

He coloured up. "Hey guys, come on out... These pretty ladies are making me feel suffocated."

"Here we are,"groaned Janeth and Dumos.

While Janeth wore a cavalier vest jacket with gold brocade, Dumos looked dapper in a elegant double breasted white vest with a stand up collar and wide sweeping lapels, red in colour.

"Speechless, Ahsid?"

"You... I.. This.."

Who would have thought that these guys could make Ahsid choke on her words? It was partly her fault as she had assumed that their regular clothes were their real feel.

"Where's Dane?"

"I am done," he whispered, appearing in front of the group.

Ahsid coughed violently. Here he stood in all his glory, a black ensemble on him- a box coat made of rough cotton with big tippets on the shoulders, his face returned to that quaint brightness and the tip of his hair a gossamer red.

Could this really be the same Dane who had returned to the Coetus, distressed and distant, a few minutes ago?

"Dane...I think you are the most handsome man I have ever seen,"said Ahsid, smiling widely.

He looked up and blushed. Zion gasped. Never had he seen his friend so nervous.

"You... I...Thank you," stammered Dane, wondering why he suddenly felt so shy, awkward and red.

"Oh my, Dane, were you blushing?"

"What? No!"

"Did I get the ever stoic, hardcore and total badass Dane to feel a feeling as a blush?"

"No... It's.. Um, it's the cold."

"I am sweating pints here," interjected Dumos, chuckling at their exchange.

Dane groaned and asked,"Are you really going to wear that?"

He was desperate to get away Ahsid's attention from himself.

Who would have thought that she would look so grand in a gown when all she did was run around in T-shirts and jeans?

Moreover, did she really consider him to be hardcore and so strong?

It broke his heart as he felt guilty about the secrets that he was hiding.

Ahsid snorted. "Do you not like it?"

"I am afraid that those pesky demons might want to make a move on you. You must stay by my side."

Ahsid and Kayla burst out laughing.

"Kayla, Dane just now smoothly insulted all the demons," said Janeth aghast.

"So? Insult the Wieders back then. I would not frankly stoop so low like you too."

"Excuse me," said Dane, realizing that Kayla had turned the tables back on him.

Noah cut off their blabbing and coaxed the others out of the room. Janeth was insistent that he style Ahsid's hair but they were already late, so they headed out of the Coetus.

"So, how do we go to Hell?"

"Normally, only demons are allowed to access the Portal through Hell along with one non demonic partner but since we are one too many, we go the traditional way."

Dumos led the group to the forest where he lit a small fire.

"Ignitis Hellion!" and he walked straight into it, disappearing into the orange hues.

Soon, only Dane and Ahsid were left.

"After you. Just say Ignitis Hellion and walk through, keeping your head cool."

Ahsid sighed but did not show her nervousness.

As she stepped through the fire, she did not feel anything, rather she felt good. A warm fuzzy feeling embraced her body as the flames danced around her gown. Within seconds, the scenes around her began to change rapidly and when she blinked her eyes open, she saw Hell in its finest glory.

There were huge red chandeliers hanging on the rough, jagged ceilings of rock. Balloons and streamers tried to soften the nightmarish aura of the black hills and mounds which dotted the landscape. At every corner, there were billboards made of bones stating directions to the party hall.

Hell, in all, was actually bright. Not the unholy drab and dreary place that Ahsid had imagined. There didn't seem to be many people around, but not far away, she could hear the sweet strains of music.

"Oh my! Lucifer has really outdone himself with all the decorations,"squealed Zion.

The demons smiled proudly to themselves, happy at the amazed expressions on the faces of their comrades.

Dane rolled his eyes, completely ignoring the quaint beauty, and trudged forward.

"Hey, Ahsid, how's Hell?"

"Outlandish, I think. Where are all the dark fires burning, the souls screaming and all that?"

Dumos laughed. "Its a day off for everyone. The souls have been sent to Elysium for the entire duration while we demons can help with the preparations. Thanatos, or the Grim Reaper has been out delivering invitations to all the Coetus and other creatures."

Ahsid could not believe her ears.

The Grim Reaper akin to a postman?

Even though she tried hard to not laugh, a chuckle escaped her lips.

"What,"groaned Dumos.

"Nothing," started Ahsid, but caught Zion's eye who looked at her mischievously.

He knew exactly what was going on in her mind!

"Cerberus," cried out a voice and a small dog with blackish red skin and a collar attached ran out from the huge ivory gate, jumping on Janeth.

Laughing, Janeth spun the little boy around, nuzzling him near his neck.

"Aww, my little baby. My sweet boy, how are you?"

Cerberus barked happily, his tail wagging nineteen to the dozen. He then jumped down and made his way towards Dane who was quietly standing to the back.

"Hey, Junior,"he whispered as he bent down on his knees, gently stroking the dog under his chin. It was a really beautiful sight.

"Dumos Vincent, mé lícaþ þé tó métanne,"said a voice.

"Thanatos, the pleasure's all mine."

Ahsid had expected someone with a scythe, looking ferocious but this boy seemed to be just a little older than all of them. He had short black hair which entirely covered his left eye and a cloth of black feathers hid his lower face. He wore bright black clothes and gloves on his hands.

But the most startling feature of all was the Jesus cross that hung around his neck, white with a purplish glow.

Thanatos a.k.a the Grim Reaper stared at her, his right eye piercing through her soul.

"Hwæt hātest þū?"

"I am so sorry but I do not understand what you speak."

Thanatos simply turned to Dumos.

Sighing, he translated,"He asks your name."

"Ahsid!"

"Ān Spræc is nǣfre genōg-" and with that the boy turned away and left.

"Saukerl,"said Kayla, annoyed.

"Somebody tell me what just happened, "said Zion, who looked as confused as Ahsid.

"He does not like to speak in any language other than old English, you know, the Anglo Saxon kind?"

"The nerve of him to say that," said Kayla once more,"who is he to say that knowing one language isn't enough?"

Ahsid was even more confused. Noah gave her a sympathetic look which made her feel dumb.

"Let's go. You demons can tell me later what all the fuss is about,"said Ahsid.

Passive aggressive that she was, it did not make sense for her to uselessly get pissed off and get into an argument.

Have you ever seen a medieval palace?

The place where the party was to be held was exactly like that. Pushing open a huge ivory gate, the little group walked into a massive ballroom with the quintessential delicacies piled up at the far corner. White crystal chandeliers spiraled down from the arching sky-blue ceiling, illuminating the glimmering grey walls and a floor so polished it looked like an iced-over lake.

Demons, fae and werewolves swarmed all around, catching up with each other and guzzling up the treats.

With his most charismatic smile, Zion walked up to two demon girls nearest to them and with an elaborate bow, introduced himself.

"Well, that's taken care of," chuckled Dumos, as Noah headed to the treats section, searching for the infamous green tea which was one of the finest available in Hell.

"Come with me, Ahsid. Lucifer wanted me to introduce you first."

Dane quietly stood beside Ahsid, deciding to go with the duo as Janeth and Kayla disappeared into the crowd.

"Bro, do you have to come with us?"

Dane nodded in affirmative.

"Lucifer will kill you if he sees you in black."

Dane shrugged.

Sighing, Dumos led the two away from the majestic fanfare playing out behind them, right to the real depths of Hell, the Hell which Ahsid had never seen...