An Invitation?

The sky was a very dark gray, one would even say almost black; it was cloudy and unlike the surface, the only light during the dark hours of the realm was from the lamps and the inside of the establishments on the street.

It never rained here. At least--not water, it didn't.

Tonight it was ash and the temperature was often chilly during the evenings, but it seemed that along with the ash...gentle wind brought in slightly lower digits than normal.

Shuddering, the demi-god stood at the end of the pavement. He was supposed to be expecting an escort at around this late hour--at least, according to the letter he held. His dark gray eyes nervously skimming back and forth across the writing, almost thinking that if he kept rereading it: the text would change. Just making sure he didn't read it wrong and make himself look like a fool.

He sighed. Starting to think that it would have been best to have just stayed in the bar with Darius. And he was considering it before he made his way down the block, if it weren't for Cyrus' warning.

Don't ignore the council's requests.

However, the dark-haired one was really considering it now. It had probably been half an hour and he saw no signs of movement in the silent streets. Ash had already decorated his hair and accumulated itself into the crooks and folds of his outfit.

His outfit.

Sucking in a breath through his teeth, he realized that he would be meeting the council in his working uniform. It was a black vest on top of a white dress shirt, a black bowtie as well and although that didn't sound bad...well...

His incredibly short shorts said otherwise.

Maybe if it weren't for the fact that the bar owner thought it would have been a clever idea to try out something besides the regular slacks and suspenders, he would have been fine.

I should have changed...

Now more than ever, he was compelled to run back to the bar. It was most likely that he would be sent back out by Cyrus himself--"kicked out" would be a better term...Darius had even agreed with the seriousness of the situation as well. It wasn't stated on the letter, but if it came from the demonic council: it would be of utmost importance.

Uri groaned.

It could be that he could attempt to make it quick, it would be inconsiderate of him to show up in his work uniform. For hell's sake, what if he ended up speaking to the higher princes. The thought of embarrassing himself made him roll up the paper into a cylinder and he hit himself with it against the side of his head. "You idiot." he scolded himself lightly.

He paused for a second, unrolling the already crinkled letter.

Wouldn't it already be embarrassing for getting called and escorted to confront him about his hidden identity? Well, it didn't state it on the letter--he had no idea what he was getting summoned for. But what else would it be?

Oh heavens, they're going to execute me...aren't they-

A sudden light had appeared and grew slowly brighter as it made its way down the empty street in the direction of the demi-god. A sleek black car, an expensive one at that--a Duesenberg--it was rare to see one of such luxuriousness and in these streets. One would be expected to be seen around the main streets instead.

To much of Uri's dismay, it slowed and came to a stop in front of him.

The driver came out and bowed slightly before him. "Uri Elger, pleased to make your acquaintance," the demon uttered and made his way to open the back door for the demi-god.

The gray-eyed one blinked at the driver's courtesy, taking a moment before stepping inside the vehicle. "Lucifer has requested your presence to speak about some important matters with you Mr. Elger. He asked me to escort you to his palace," the demon continued to speak as he closed both car doors and began to drive away from the corner in which Uri had stood previously.

Shit, guess I'm meeting the council like this after all...

Shifting nervously in the back of the car, he shook his head as it whirled with many thoughts. He glanced towards the driver, then to the window and back again. "Pardon sir-" The driver's eyes drifted upward to the mirror, momentarily catching the demi-god's soft but worried expression in the reflection. "Yes?" the driver replied, his gaze landing back to the dark empty road. "Did you say Lucifer himself requested?"

"But of course, Mr. Elger." Uri continued to shift uncomfortably in his seat, he felt off--most likely due to his unfamiliarity with lavish things. It was like something clawed at him to step out of the car, he felt like an intruder; unbelonging. Even with the mention of his surname, he couldn't help but feel like they had the wrong guy. He couldn't believe he was riding a luxury car and on his way to Satan himself; the King of Hell. "I'll be meeting with the council, correct?" The driver nodded. "Precisely."

The affirmation only made Uri's brows furrow in worry even more, he pursed his lips and brought a curled hand to his chin, his sharp black nails lightly scratching his tan skin as his head continued to go through different possibilities. They looped back and forth, each time causing the dark-haired one's heart to quicken with anxiety.

Looking outside the vehicle's window, he would have wished for an earlier time to be escorted to meet the Demonic Council. Maybe if more people would have been crowding Main Street, he would have had a better time finding something to get distracted by. Or perhaps witness something, anything that could actually get his mind off of the ongoing thoughts. Unfortunately for him, the car kept driving past the dark streets, only a few demons were spotted--nothing exciting, it was beyond boring. It was Main Street, clearly, there would be more people--if it weren't for the Silent Eve events going on in the Bell District. The demi-god had thought about attending the events or maybe just visiting the district since that was where everyone was going lately, they weren't as loud and draining as the other events usually held in the Ise District. Besides, the bar had very few customers coming in because of the events this week. A little break didn't hurt.

Turning away from Main Street, his mind fogged again. The different possibilities. The looping thoughts, going back and forth. He couldn't help but ponder and consider each occurring idea. But with the nature of the societies of Heaven and Hell, their deal with hybrids such as Uri, only one possibility made sense to him. Heavens, I am going to get executed. I should have left Hell when I had the chance-

His heavy pondering was cut short as the driver stopped the car in front of a wide staircase that presented before them. An enormous double door presented itself at the top; the entrance of Satan's palace.

In the corner of Uri's eyes, a butler approached the parked vehicle. Suddenly turning to him as the door was opened and a white-gloved hand was offered to the demi-god, assisting him in exiting. He probably would have let out a nervous chuckle at the butler's gesture if he wasn't so caught up in the sheer size and magnificence of the building.

He looked back, a bit surprised that he managed to spend so much time in his own head that he didn't notice the large black gate that had opened to let the car in. So distracted by his own thoughts, it was a bit amusing to know that he didn't realize the moment the car entered the king's property.

The butler led the hybrid up the entrance stairs, two of Satan's other butlers opened the magnificent doors. It felt so alien to Uri. It was like he was being treated like a prince or even a full god.