He appeared at the door of his father's office. He did not always show up unannounced, as he had done on his recent visits to the throne room. Under normal circumstances, he was polite and respectful to his father and his title. He knocked on the door and entered the office. The Devil sat behind his large desk, with Belios and Bearus on the other side. A smile appeared on the faces of the three as they saw Jon enter. It was immediately obvious to Jonathan that the atmosphere had changed in a very positive way since the family dinner the day before.
"Good morning Jon, is there anything we can do for you?"
Lucifer added cheerfully, to which the Antichrist replied:
"Good morning Dad, B&B. Not much, actually. Yes, I have unfortunately found a new pile of shit, but fortunately solving it will not be too labor-intensive. At least not for us. Morax and his people, that's another story. But I think we can provide him with a whole bunch of volunteers in the near future."
He sat down on a third chair at the desk that had been provided and reserved for him as Crown Prince and spoke:
"I've been going through the files Morax brought yesterday. We have a problem there."
A wrinkle appeared on the Devil's forehead and he asked cautiously:
"What kind of problem?"
"Since I was born, people have been systematically marked that their destination is hell. It doesn't matter what they do in life. Even if they were proverbially eligible to be elevated to sainthood, so to speak. The marker ensures that they will end up here no matter what. If there are nearly fifty cases within a fifty-mile radius of Baton Rouge, try to imagine how many there will be if this problem is global. Is it local? Is it global? No idea, that's a job for Morax to figure out."
Belios asked:
"Are you sure it's been around since you were born?"
"Either it's a big, gigantic, astronomical coincidence, Uncle B, or yes, it's connected to the birth of the Antichrist."
Lucifer's brown eyes looked deep into his own green ones:
"How exactly does it work?"
"Have you ever seen or read Pinocchio, Dad?"
"I even read it to you as a bedtime story once, Hell spawn."
The latter brought a broad smile to Jon's face and his heart leaped. The previous evening seemed to have done wonders for their relationship. Lucifer, surrounded by his granddaughters, had also reopened the door to repair their own bond. They weren't there yet, but they were well on their way. He said:
"To make a long story short, kids pull a bad-boy prank and automatically become targets to be condemned to a fate they absolutely do not deserve. In this situation, teenagers play a stupid game, come into contact with a witch or warlock, and before they know it, their final destination is hell, no escape."
Belios had a stern expression on his face:
"Why didn't we see this before?"
"Because we play by the rules, Uncle B, others apparently don't. A soul that has the right marker, that soul is automatically processed to the right circle, the right cell, and the right punishment, end of story. No extra checks. Hell, we don't even have random checks because it's worked flawlessly for thousands of years. As far as I know, no one has ever intentionally given out markers to innocent people, guaranteeing them a place in Hell."
Lucifer had been listening intently to the conversation between his generals and his son and said:
"When it comes to you, my son, the Antichrist, I don't believe in coincidence. Someone set this misery in motion shortly after your birth. And this leaves us with two questions. The first question is, for what purpose was this whole circus set in motion? The second question is, how many innocent souls are destined for hell, and the superlative of that, how many of them have already arrived in the last thirty years who do not belong here!"
Jon lit a cigarette and said:
"I had a talk with Rae Rae about Michael and his weasels. Specifically about the fact that the so-called trap he set for me was not typical of those idiots. That trap was set before this last meeting even took place. This is something that was set in motion even before it became clear that I would indeed be endowed with all the powers that would enable me to become the Antichrist. They don't have the patience or the brain cells to set up something so complex so far in advance. It seems safe to assume that Michael knows nothing about this either. Rae Rae and I are more or less in agreement that Gabriel has gone rogue. She is the only one close enough to Grandpa, probably the one best informed in Heaven by her daily proximity to the throne and God, and she is certainly cold and calculated enough to pull something like this off without involving anyone in Heaven in her plans. However, she has always been loyal to Grandpa. That is why this behavior is so strange to explain. You know just as me how cold and calculating she ca be. So the only thing I can come up with is that from the moment she knew mom was pregnant with me and thus the Antichrist was on his way she build in an extra layer to force Michael's hatred for you in overdrive. She knows very well that I'm half human and thus have the full free will humans got. So the change that I would say no existed even before my birth. If I refused my role as the literal Antichrist and Michael did not take action she could force his hand by revealing that you were stealing souls meant for Heaven by letting your Demons or black followers put markers on innocent people. Michael would go mental and even grandpa would not be able to stop the carnage because it would be done under the guise of an massive rescue operation even though Michael does not give a shit about those souls. A damn clever and complicated false flag operation. In addition, she must be working with at least one demon here in Hell, because the markers are distributed with extreme precision and extreme specificity. Grampa and Grampa's hands are tied in large part because they know that one or more of the Angels in my group are being used by Michael as spies. The three of you have the same problem. Michael would never in a million years be able to get spies to infiltrate both camps. Gabriel, on the other hand? Piece of cake in Heaven. Here in Hell, with the help of one of the Archdemons or the Elders? Yeah, I can definitely see her doing that. Worse, while we are trying to solve this mess and find out what Demon Gabriel is using, that Demon should not be exposed. It must look like we are fumbling around in the dark."
Lucifer leaned back, thought for a moment, then said carefully:
"This shit is getting more and more complicated. Any idea how you want to play this, Jon?"
"Yes, by pretending to be unaware of any wrongdoing. Those witches and warlocks need to disappear as soon as possible, that's out of the question. But I don't want to use my people, I want to use the hunters. It has to look like you're at least a major part of the decision, so I can't use my own group. I will call Astaroth into my office and order her to pick up the witches and warlocks identified by Morax and his people because their supposedly stupid behavior threatens to derail our preparations for the Apocalypse. That I agree with you in choosing them and their people to do the job because I am pissed off and want it done violently. A little drama and some yelling when I give Astaroth her orders and soon the story starts circulating that I am pissed off because I discovered something that goes against my preparations for the Apocalypse and therefore I am losing precious time which makes me seethe. When this story reaches Gabriel, and it will, she will not look for anything behind this course of action. It is another typical example of my notorious temperament that I cannot control. That I always resort to violence first. And those idiots that placed the markers deserve a little violence themselves for condemning innocent people to hell".
The three nodded and Jon went on:
"I mentioned this to Morax yesterday. He and his people will continue to go through the files. But instead of the files within a hundred miles of Baton Rouge, it will be all the files since I was born. He now has five people working on the project. All the original files remain in the archive, as they always have. But he will make a copy of the infected files. This copy has to be moved to a new department. New, comprehensive, and heavy security. No one in there except those we have personally designated. That's where we'll be able to get a picture of how deep the problem goes. The markers will also help us identify who is working with Gabriel. I suggest that Morax add every soul that has already arrived here through this deception. We will immediately remove them from their current cells and set up a new cell block within this new station, which will not look like a prison, but more like a motel, where these souls can move around. Free from all the normal influences of hell. They should be told why they are in Hell and that we are doing our best to get them all to their proper destination as soon as possible. These souls are innocent Dad; they must get to heaven somehow."
He made his cigarette disappear and added:
"I can't think of a next step at this point. You?"
His father said:
"No, this seems pretty complete to me as a first step. The brain cells that Michael, Uriel, and Sandalphon lack, Gabriel has in abundance! So caution is advised!"
Jon stood up:
"Okay, then I'll put this sideshow on display. Belios, please bring Astaroth and Morax, Bearus, you bring Liz's little brother, Tim Bush, to my office. The door of my office will remain open for my conversation with Astaroth, any curious little Demon is welcome to eavesdrop. It will also make sure that Tim is up to temperature when you bring him in."
After the two demons left the office, Jonathan said with a gentle smile:
"Thanks, Dad, for last night. The girls had a great time and are on clouds that they have a grandpa who cares about them. They could not stop talking about you. The little ones think you are the sweetest grandpa and the three young ladies are sure they have the coolest wicked grandpa ever. You made Elise very happy and I enjoyed spending time with you again, just like father and son, nothing else. So let's do it again soon, yeah."
The Devil had gotten a very big warm smile and said:
"On the condition that I get to cook next time, son."
Jon looked doubtful for a moment, got a soft smile and said:
"Of course, Dad, the kitchen is yours."
Half an hour later, he, Belios, and Morax had worked out the logistics of this part of their strategy down to the last detail. He had deliberately left Tim waiting in the hallway in the company of Bearus and, more importantly, Astaroth, the head huntress of Hell. She didn't just look impressive and dangerous. Her contempt for human souls was almost palpable. Letting Tim stew for half an hour in the company of the fearsome General and the terribly dangerous Huntress would bring him up to the perfect temperature when he was led into his office. Next up was the Huntress, and Jonathan's voice could be heard from afar, a sign that he was anything but happy. With a few more well-chosen and placed expletives she was ready for her new task. The boy was next. Bearus played the game perfectly, pulling the boy not too gently by the arm until he was in front of Jon's desk. Without looking up from a file on the desk in front of him, he asked:
"You are Timothy Bush?"
The boy merely nodded meekly. Jon looked up and locked eyes with the boy. The boy had to swallow when he saw the intense green eyes staring back at him. The Antichrist immediately felt compassion for the boy but couldn't possibly show it at the moment. He had died when he was fifteen, and years later he was still fifteen. His soul would never age in hell because it could not find peace. It could only find it in heaven, and Jonathan was determined to get him there.
"Young man, I strongly advise you to find your tongue very quickly, and when I ask you a question, answer truthfully. Am I clear?"
"Yes, sir."
"Much better. My name is Jonathan, my title is Prince, and there are only two people who have a higher rank than me. Here in Hell that is King Lucifer, and in Heaven that is God Himself. Otherwise, no one is above me! I hope you understand the importance of my position in this hierarchy. We are here in Hell, not on Earth, so do not address me as Sir, but with the words that my title demands of you, and that is My Lord. Do you understand?"
The boy nodded eagerly:
"Yes, My Lord, I think so."
"Good, I'm going to be very brief, so keep your damn ears open. Your sister, Liz, has made sure that you will have a chance to go to heaven as soon as possible and leave hell behind. But you're going to have to prove to me that you're worth it. General Belios has been given a new task, and that is to keep an eye on you and report back to me. General Bearus will be your mentor outside of working hours, and he will turn you over to Morax, the head of the archives. You'll be a runner in a new department, at least at first. What does that mean? Simple, when Morax or his people want coffee, you will bring them coffee like lightning, you will fetch files for them and archive files perfectly as they ask it. If they tell you to jump, your only question is how high! Did you get that?"
"Yes, My Lord."
"The second part of your punishment is to face the mistakes you have made in your life. To learn from your actions and to express your sincere regrets. This will be done in your new cell. There you will face all of your actions that have led to your being here in Hell. The quicker you sincerely admit your mistakes, the quicker these images will disappear until only a regular cell remains. When you reach that point, I will come back to talk to you. Is that all clear?"
"Yes, My Lord!"
Jon took the letter Liz had written for her little brother from his inside pocket and placed it on the tabletop:
"Tim, you are a lucky young man to have a sister like Liz. Without her, you would have been stuck here in Hell until the end of time. I work for Hell, but I also work for Heaven. Your sister is a very good friend of my wife and I. She believes in you, Tim, and I trust her absolutely. That is why you are given this opportunity. Damage that trust she has in you and believe me, what you have seen of Hell until now will look like Club Med when I am done with you! I suggest that if you have a few minutes to spare in this new department, you take a moment to ask a demon what happens when someone pisses off the Prince of Hell!"
He pushed the letter to the boy:
"General, take this young man to his new workplace. Tell Morax that I have given him two hours to read his sister's letter, and then he will go to work. You may go."
Bearus gently took the boy with him, and Jon disappeared back to Earth and his next visit.