Nathan walked out of the tiny house where the demon had sent him after his death. Oh, the house was lovely, but it wasn’t his, you know, even if it was full of pictures of him, even if some of his favourite objects were there, even if his blanket was on the bed. Still, it was the house of a stranger.

Outside, the street was clean and neat, the houses had adorable well-kept little gardens. The passers-by didn’t seem to notice him. In fact, they were all showing a worried look on there face and all were more or less running to a large building, the top of which was hidden in the crimson red clouds. The demon had said it was the place where all the big decisions were made, like who will take this house, or which dead one will be promoted.

Nathan grabbed one of the passers-by by the arm.

- What happened? Why are you all heading to the Central Tower?

The ghost stared at him wide-eyes.

- You didn’t hear? Lucifer has called a meeting! Everyone must be there, he said.

And he disappeared in the crowd. Nathan didn’t understand but he hadn’t very much choice, and he followed his dead fellow. By the time he arrived at the crossroads, there were so many people out that the ground was impossible to see. Nathan jostled as far as the gates, then, showing his brand new badge to the guard in faction, he penetrated in the most spectacular hall he ever saw.

More high than the Eiffel Tower, maybe even more than the Empire State Building, the ceiling was mostly invisible because of the clouds which had gathered together like a flock of scared sheep. Nathan hoped they wouldn’t start to rain.

The walls were made of a strange material, almost like smoke but in a dense way. A thick smoke, so thick that it had become solid and tangible. They were mainly black, even if there were some red slivers, here or there. Nathan wanted to touch them to check the texture, but the crowd moved forward and he hadn’t the liberty to escape.

In fact, he lost the will at the moment he entered in the following room. As for the hall, “room” wasn’t the adequate word to describe where he was. How many stadiums could be placed in here? A lot, Nathan thought; he couldn’t even figure out to what extent it was. The masses of dead were waiting, eager for information, some of them angry or frustrated. Maybe they had to stop what they were doing to come to this meeting.

The new ghost was curious. Lucifer, King of Hell. He had heard about him when he was a kid, a lot more as a grown-up. The Prince of the Darkness. Some said that he was beautiful, others that he was a beast. Nathan didn’t know but he was about to discover it.

Dead people were still arriving in the room, which seemed to become even larger to create more space. Everyone was fidgeting with impatience.

- Hello hello!

The words exploded above them. The voice was soft but powerful, like a warm river sweeping you away, without regard for your opinion. At the same time, a face drew itself on the red clouds. If it seemed human at first sight, the eyes definitely weren’t. A shiver ran along Nathan’s back. The pupil covered all of the orbe, with no white left, and glowed with cleverness and something that reminded him a bit of a predator, a sleepy lion, calm but alert.

Nathan swallowed hard.

- I bet you all are wondering why I call this meeting. Don’t worry, it isn’t for punishment or anything of the sort. In fact, I want to congratulate you on the wonderful job you’re doing, it’s a blessing to have you all with me.

The face smiled.

- I will not make you waste your precious time, so I’ll be as quick as I can. As for the reason of the meeting, my dear Father had started again to do crap, so I’m requested to help above and you’re all requested to do, well… my job, because I won’t be able to do it. Some of you already know how it’s done, so I’m not afraid to entrust you with such a matter. I don’t know how long I’ll be gone, but I’m sure of that one thing: humanity will be in good hands while I’m gone.

Some dead cheered his speech, others applauded. A few seemed as lost as Nathan. The face began to dissolve in the clouds but, with a sudden surge, it became clear again.

- I almost forgot! Welcome to our newbies! Ladies Daemons, I confide them to you, take good care of them and form them. Bye-bye my darling deads, see you as soon as possible!

Then, he finally vanished.

The crowd scattered.

- Newbies! cried a cracked voice behind him. Newbies, round me, please!

As a flock of obedient sheep, Nathan and his companions just as lost as him gathered around a tall middle-aged demon. His blond hair, combed in thick spikes, was erected high above his rather small head. He seemed nice, thought Nathan.

- Hi everyone, I’m Lady John Smith, dead since the seventies - I mean the 1700s’ seventies, not the 1900s’, duh - and Daemon since, well, the same time. I’ll be in charge of you for the next ten-ish years, so don’t be stupid and hope that I’ll like you.

A hand raised in the group, put up by a skinny teen. The demon permitted him to speak.

- You’re a male.

The tone was quite affirmative. The demon shrugged.

- Why, yes. Is it relevant?

- So you cannot be a Lady, said the bold one.

Their attributed demon smiled - the sort of smile you don’t want to see on your grandma’s face.

- Why not?

Perceiving the movement of surprise which surged in his group, he carried on :

- At the beginning of time, the Daemons’ caste was a female one. When Our Lord Lucifer came down from Heaven, he decided that there was too much work for not enough people, so he began to accept some males in the order, and now it’s kind of fifty-fifty because of the exponential growth of humanity. Way too many humans, if you want my opinion, he added with a frown of disgust. Anyways, come come, we have a lot to see, and so little time!

Without waiting for a reply, Lady Smith turned around. Nathan shrugged and followed the curious man. He couldn’t say that he understood much, but Hell seemed nice, on second thoughts. All around them, similar groups had formed. Nathan noticed a sort of chimaera some feet away, and a blue ghost not much farther. Was he really wearing a corset? He supposed he just better get used to it, this place appeared to be quite strange.