the hell's mirror

The Cathedral was quiet, save for the faint echo of footsteps across the marble floors. The mirrors singing on their pedestals, reflected every flicker of movement as if they were alive, watching. The room glowed faintly, mirrors glimmering into the various Circles of Hell. Gem walked amongst them, her reflection warped and distorted, but her gaze remained fixed on the surface, her thoughts far away.

Her niece stood near the cathedral entrance, arms crossed, observing her aunt with a mixture of curiosity and frustration.

"Aunty Gem," she called, her voice light with youthful curiosity. "You've told me about the Princes of Hell, but… what's it really like in each Ring? Why do some demons act so… strange?"

Gem didn't turn from the Pride Mirror. "Strange, huh?" she muttered, almost to herself. "Well, nearly everything in Hell is legal. You'd be surprised how few demons follow any sort of authority." She paused, then added with a chuckle, "I'm not even sure who has the final say half the time."

Her niece raised an eyebrow, glancing around the Cathedral. "So, what, demons can just do whatever they want? No rules?"

Gem's lips curled slightly in a wry smile. "That's the beauty of Hell, sweetheart. Chaos reigns. Authority is… fragmented." She turned to face her niece, crossing her arms as her expression darkened a little. "That's why I stay out of it. I don't need to play those games."

Her niece's eyes narrowed, and she took a step closer. "But… you could. You're a demon. You've got power, right? You're an Overlord, aren't you?"

Gem's eyes flicked to the floor for a moment before meeting her niece's gaze with an intensity that made the younger demon take a step back.

"I'm not an Overlord." Gem's voice was firm, more authoritative than usual. "I don't want anything to do with those politics, and especially not with Lucifer or anyone else in that twisted hierarchy."

Her niece blinked in surprise, a hint of disbelief in her heterochromia eyes. "You're saying Lucifer doesn't have any say in Hell? With all those other royals running around?" She smirked, clearly trying to lighten the mood. "Sounds like Lucifer's just another guy in a family of royals, huh? Doesn't have much power if you ask me."

Gem's expression darkened, her gaze turning back to the Pride Mirror, almost as though she were seeing something in it that the niece couldn't.

"Lucifer has his own family, yes. And he's not like the others. He's been around long enough to know how to play the game. But he also understands things that many others don't." She paused, her tone softening just a little. "I met him when coming here. Wasn't what I expected. Certainly not as intimidating as people say."

Her niece cocked her head, intrigued. "You met Lucifer?"

Gem nodded, her voice quieter now, tinged with a rare bit of nostalgia. "I taught his daughter ballet for a time. He wasn't like the stories people tell. The Bible's just an outdated textbook, after all." She sighed, her eyes glinting with distant memory. "When I met him, he was understanding. Not as rebellious or defiant as they say. Not like some tyrant or cruel ruler, either. Just… a father."

The niece's eyes widened in surprise, clearly not expecting this revelation. "Wait, Lucifer has a daughter? And you taught her ballet?"

Gem smirked, her posture relaxing a little. "Yes, he does. And yes, I did. It was… an interesting experience." She almost looked amused, though her smile didn't quite reach her eyes. "Lucifer might be many things, but he knows family. That's more than I can say for most of the other royals around here."

Her niece stood there for a moment, digesting this information. "So, Lucifer isn't like the Bible says. He's just... misunderstood?" She half-smiled. "I guess that makes him less of a rebellious angel and more of a... normal dad."

Gem let out a soft chuckle, shaking her head. "I wouldn't call him normal. He's far from it. But he's not the devilish tyrant some people make him out to be. He's complicated, like everyone in Hell. Just… not the kind of demon I want to be involved with."

Her niece, however, wasn't convinced. "But why not? You're powerful, you have a whole Cathedral to yourself, and you—"

"No," Gem interrupted, her tone sharp but not unkind. She took a step toward her niece, the Mirror's reflection flickering behind her. "You don't get it. I'm not part of that world. I'm not part of their politics, their games, their power struggles." She glanced at the Pride Mirror, where the faint outlines of the pentagram-made cities could be seen. "I've seen what it does to people—demons, sinners, whatever. The pursuit of power, the constant need to prove yourself... it never ends well. And I'm not about to throw myself back into it."

The niece bit her lip, considering Gem's words. "But don't you ever wonder what it would be like? To be a part of it all? To have that kind of power?" She paused, glancing over at the Pride Mirror herself even if her nose barely reached over the mirror's border. "I mean, there are so many Rings, so many Princes, so much potential for… well, everything. You've got to be curious."

Gem's gaze softened, but her expression remained firm. "I've seen the cost of it, sweetie. And it's not worth it. Believe me." She sighed deeply, rubbing her temples. "I died before I even had the chance to make a real choice. I'm not about to let Hell decide my fate again, not after everything I've already lost."

Her niece nodded slowly, taking in the weight of her aunt's words. The younger demon seemed torn, a mix of understanding and confusion on her face. "I guess it's just hard to imagine Hell without all that power. It seems like everyone's after it."

"That's because most demons are too caught up in the idea of it," Gem replied, her tone a bit softer now. "But there's more to Hell than just power. There's family, there's survival, and—" She paused, a flicker of something more vulnerable crossing her face before it disappeared again. "There's peace if you can find it."

Her niece stepped forward, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. "So, what you're saying is… I should stay away from the Rings. Not become a Princess or anything like that?"

Gem's eyes narrowed slightly, a smile playing at the corner of her lips. "I didn't say that. Just don't get too caught up in it. It's a dangerous game, and not everyone who plays comes out unscathed."

Her niece looked at her momentarily, then sighed, dropping the playful attitude. "I get it. But still… I've got to know more about the Circles. About Hell. About Lucifer. You've got your reasons for staying out of it, but I need to understand it myself."

Gem gave her a long, appraising look. She knew her niece was restless, searching for answers, just as she had been before her death. "I understand. Just remember this—Hell's not what you think. It's not a place for games. It's a place for survival. And if you ever decide to enter that world… you'd better be prepared for it."

The niece nodded solemnly, her curiosity far from quenched but her respect for her aunt's wisdom growing. "I'll be careful."

Gem turned back toward the Mirror, her reflection shimmering in the glass. "You'd better be. Because once you're in the game, there's no going back."

In the silence that followed, distant whispers echoed through the Cathedral, as if the walls were listening to their conversation, waiting for the next move.