Hell's Actor-Chapter 44: Divine Comedy

NeRen’s Chilled Dessert was a SilkTube series where the popular girl group interviewed musicians, actors, athletes, and all sorts of celebrities.

But unlike a talk show, there wasn’t a live audience, and the recording took place in a tiny kitchen.

"So, I will have to make a dessert with them?"

"Yes."

"Do I get to choose the dessert?"

"Maybe? I don’t really know." Hyerin shook her shoulders. "It has a very cozy and relaxed atmosphere, so they might allow it."

"Let me guess, they do it to stay relevant?"

The damned fangirl squirmed in her seat.

"A little? But from what I have seen, they really seem to like doing it." She was making lively gestures as if she were their PR agent. "They have been uploading for a year now, and most of the time, it involves serious discussion. They really like interviewing, I think."

"And you want me to accept, because you want to meet them, correct?"

"Yes..." She looked at him with a shy smile and sparkling eyes. "Will you do it, please? I am not asking for much, am I? If it wasn’t a good show, I wouldn’t stress it. But you will like it, I promise."

Averie was not convinced. In all honesty, he only wanted to relax in his bed until another project came up. On top of that, there was the matter of Lucifer’s gift.

"It will be a good way to promote BSPH," Hyerin continued. "If we record on Monday, the interview will be up before the finale of the drama."

"I’m not being paid enough by the drama for this."

"If we are going to work in this industry on our own, then we need connections. It will be good to have big celebrities owe you, you know?" She latched onto his arm. "And, and they adore you."

But Averie had made up his mind.

He couldn’t be moved unless some truly inspiring words were to be uttered. And Hyerin knew those exact words.

She gave him a cautious glance.

"Even Peter Kang has done more promotion for the show than you."

Those words lit a fire in Averie’s stone-cold heart.

’I am doing less... than Peter? I am less useful than that buffoon?’

"Call them. I will be there."

***

It was evening.

Averie was researching about the tattoo on his chest.

He had a hard time looking up the exact details, but he finally had an answer.

’Dante’s Purgatorio.’

Born in the year 1265 in the Republic of Florence, Dante Alighieri was a writer, poet, and philosopher.

Shortly before his death, he completed his most influential work—one of the most important poems in the history of Europe—Comedia.

It was only later that the adjective Divina was added. So it came to be—Divina Commedia or Divine Comedy.

Divided into three parts—Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso—Divine Comedy described Dante’s journey through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven.

Although Inferno was the most known of the three, the other two remained equally fascinating.

In Dante’s Purgatorio, it was mentioned that the letter P was carved seven times on the head of Dante by an angel as the poet began his journey up Mount Purgatory.

Each P—short for Peccatum, Latin for sin—represented one of the seven deadly sins.

And every time he absolved himself of a sin, one of the letters would be wiped from his head by an angel.

’So, is this my sin?’

Averie frowned.

He was confused.

’Shouldn’t I have all seven of them then? I am sinful through and through. Hell, I haven’t even been to Purgatory.’

Averie had heard about Dante from Lucifer himself.

The Devil was sophisticated. He had read the Divine Comedy and had found it very entertaining.

So, when Dante died and entered Hell, Lucifer invited him to his chamber to keep him company over wine. The pair had supposedly talked for hours about philosophy and Italian politics.

Why would anyone want to talk about Italian politics in Hell was beyond Averie.

But in the end, Dante wished to see Purgatory and Heaven for himself. So after serving his time, the poet departed for his next destination.

He wasn’t the first great figure who had kept Lucifer company. In fact, writers, musicians, and tacticians alike had spent years talking with the Devil.

’I was the last one. Has he found someone new yet?’

Suddenly, Hyerin’s voice came from the living room.

"It’s starting, Averie."

With a quick glance at the tattoo reflected in the mirror, Averie walked out of the bathroom.

***

The warden of hell had invited all his servants and his favorite residents of Hell to his private bar. He had designed it himself, and he was proud of it.

It was so lavish that no one would dare to think that it was placed in the middle of the burning lake in Hell.

His butler served devilled eggs, and the bartender served every kind of cocktail.

Charlene, the girl who Lucifer loved to torture, was also present.

Suddenly, the large TV on the wall began playing the opening sequence of Binsfeld’s Seven Princes of Hell.

The sixth episode of BSPH was the reason why they had gathered.

Lucifer hadn’t missed a single episode. He was impressed by Averie’s ability to deliver such great performances right after being released.

The warden stirred his drink and grinned.

"I hope you like my special gift."

***

It was early morning.

Sarah was loading her bags in the back of a black SUV.

She was instructed by Asmodeus to take refuge for a while. So, she was leaving for her mother’s hometown.

"Do I need to go?" She looked disappointed. "Is it going to be that dangerous?"

Asmodeus simply nodded.

He had made up his mind to take care of an important matter today, and nothing could alter that resolution.

Sarah climbed into the back of the car and rolled down the window.

"I will call later," she said.

For what reason, Asmodeus could not understand. But as the car sped away, fading from his sight, he looked somewhat... unsettled.

With a shake of his head, he gestured his subordinates to follow her.

A dozen men climbed into an escort of three vehicles and followed Sarah’s car. They were to observe her from a distance and make sure no harm came to her.

"Gather every man available to us," Asmodeus commanded the rest of his subordinates. "Prepare for war."

Leviathan had touched one of his prostitutes, and Asmodeus saw it as a violation punishable by exile or even death.

Meanwhile, in the basement of Mammon’s bar, Satan and Leviathan had gathered. They were discussing a horrid conspiracy.

"Let’s barge in through the front door and riddle everything with holes," Satan suggested.

But Mammon persuaded him against it.

Not only would such a method be difficult and dangerous, but it would also require all the manpower available to them.

"His men will be there. In a siege like this, the defenders have the advantage. And with such a large force, that half-brother of ours will see us coming from a mile away. What makes you think he won’t escape or call for reinforcements?"

Satan scoffed. "We will make it quick."

Mammon shook his head. "Gathering that kind of manpower will attract Lucifer’s attention. It could result in a three-against-four situation, which is disadvantageous to us."

For a moment, he looked pensive.

"We need to ambush him."

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