Eerie silence ruled the Inferno Dominion, interrupted by small bubbling coming from the lava pools dotting the space. The space before the bridge was empty. There was no one before the education halls or in the long hallways, either. It felt as if the place was deserted.

Samael, cloaked, with his hand folded behind his back, strolled past the education halls. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a broken column at the base of the staircase. A frown appeared on his face. "My column."

He walked to it, and with sadness in his eyes, stared at it for a few moments. The Shadows worked so hard on creating it. So much effort and time wasted. He sighed.

A soft sound of whispers came from one of the smaller halls. It was barely audible and he could only hear it because of his enlightened senses.

He followed the sound and came to the Hall for Forging. He stepped inside.

Two Shadows were there, whispering to each other by the lava pit. From the words he caught, they were discussing his appearance in the Reformatory. "There's talk about revolt against Satan."

Revolt, huh? Samael thought.

"What did Belial say?"

"He said Inferno is not his domain, and he doesn't want to get involved."

"He took the Shadows in."

"He said that was different."

That guy didn't want to get involved? Samael found it surprising. He had always assumed Belial would gladly accept authority over both planes. Apparently not. Belial was competent enough for the role, even though, in Samael's opinion, his moral compass was somewhat lacking.

Loud stomping and boasting echoed through the hall.

A Shadow put a finger to his muzzle. They exchanged gazes and busied themselves. One at the pit, the other at the anvil.

Samael moved to the entrance.

A group of Shadows, their voices loud, marched towards the hall. With their chests puffed and faces lifted, they stepped into the hall. The one in the front stomped towards the forgers. He shoved the tool that was on the stone platform beside the pit so that it fell into the pit. "What are you two doing, slacking?"

The Shadows exchanged gazes, subtly rolling their eyes. One of them said. "The armour is almost ready."

The leader of the group gave them a contemptuous look. "You better be done with it by evening or else..."

"Or else what?" Samael muttered, though nobody could hear him because he was cloaked. He didn't like the way that Shadow spoke, but since he decided to leave the Shadows to solve their own problems, that prevented him from getting involved. However, when the leader of the group strutted back to his group, he stretched out his leg before him.

The leader of the group stumbled. He dived headfirst, hitting the hard rocky ground just before the group's feet.

Soft stifled chuckles could be heard. They weren't coming from the forgers, whose lips twitched in a suppressed smile, but from the group itself.

Samael nodded to himself, pleased. He cast the last look at the forgers, then left. He had seen enough. The Shadows had apparently started working to improving their situation in after their indecisiveness. All he could do now was wait, trusting they would be able to remove Satan from his position as leader of the Inferno.

As Samael cut through the fabric of creation, he, for the last time, glanced at the reddish glow of Inferno's lava pools. Change was coming not only for the Fifth Heaven, but also for the Inferno.

He stepped through the portal into the room he had in their mountain dwelling in the Fifth Heaven. They still didn't give it a name, something that he requested they think about at the last meeting they had a day before.

As he walked out of his room, he could hear the sound of banging coming from one of the rooms at the end of the long hallway, where the forging room was, mixed with the sound of picks against the rock as Shadows were enlarging their dwelling, carving out more rooms.

Ayinel's voice, cheerful and out-of-place amid the industrious buzz, floated down the hallway. The angel seemed at ease, moving from group to group in a leisurely stroll as if he were on the Third Heaven's promenade, a place frequented by some of the high-ranking angels to bask in the admiration of their lower-ranking colleagues. Mitzy was a frequent stroller there.

Samael folded his hands behind his back, the light blue fabric of his long sleeves flowing as he walked towards the angel. "I thought you already left."

"No, I'm still here."

"I see that. I could also see you were fascinated with the Watchers."

"So?"

Samael shrugged.

Ayinel wrinkled his nose. "If I'd been foolish enough to follow them, I'd never be allowed back into the Fifth Heaven, and you know it."

Angel socialising with the fallen angels was considering misconduct. There were angels – Mitzy – who draw enjoyment from causing trouble for others. He would happily report Ayinel's socialisation with the Watchers and try to present the misconduct as a bigger crime than it was. And even if he didn't succeed, Ayinel would have lost the authority to leave the Second and Third Heaven. While socialising with Samael, who, despite his exile, was still recognised as a servant of God, and was in God's good grace, with his powers intact, was only frowned upon. As Samael observed the angel, he thought that maybe that was not a good thing.

"Though Shadows know them quite well, surprisingly." Ayinel lifted his eyebrows at Samael. "I can't believe you sent them to learn from the Watchers."

"What am I supposed to do? Teach them myself?" Samael gave the angel the look before he passed him as he went to the main hall. He could hear Ayinel's steps behind him. "I think you should go to the Second Heaven to see if there is any news."

"I planned to, but then the Watchers came."

"They have left, so..."

Ayinel sighed. "I'm leaving. I'm leaving."

"Finally," Samael said, even though he didn't mind Ayinel's presence, which the angel must have known since he only shook his head at him as he passed him on his way out of the dwelling.

Samael had expected the angel to appear at his doorstep within days, but a week passed, then a month. According to Gaap's reports, whispers of rebellion grew into loud requests, then yells, and finally erupted into violent action. Meanwhile, the Shadows in the Fifth Heaven worked tirelessly to improve their dwelling. The halls and hallways now gleamed with gold ornaments adorning the ceilings and upper walls. The main hall had been extended, and numerous rooms were added, one, on the Shadow's request, even for Ayinel. But the angel remained absent.

Something must have happened, but what Samael didn't know. He talked about this with Beelzebub as they sat in the main hall. The only conclusion they came to was that Ayinel was forbidden to leave the Second Heaven.

"The calamity must be happening soon, and they don't want that information to leave Heaven," Samael speculated. "I don't know... maybe it's time to return to the Inferno, even though we have made protective measures. Since the rebellion is in full swing, we could either stay in the sealing spaces in Inferno or go to Reformatory. What do you think, Beel?"

"Maybe have a meeting about it and ask other Shadows what they want?"

"Okay, we'll do that. We'll have a meeting in the evening."

"Yes, my lord."

Then, just before the evening, an hour before the scheduled meeting, when Samael was on his way to the main hall, thinking about the options that were at their disposal, his musing was interrupted by the soft sound of footsteps coming closer.

He directed his gaze forwards to see Gaap, escorted by Beelzebub, approaching. Beelzebub's copy looked uneasy, worry written on his wrinkled forehead.

"Gaap?" Samael said as they meet in the middle of the hallway. "What is it?"

"My lord." Gaap made a small bow. "Archangel Gabriel has requested to see you."

Samael frowned. Gabriel? "What does he want?"

"He didn't say. He looked serious."

Samael thought for a few seconds before he decided the meeting was more important than whatever Gabriel had to say. He waved his hand dismissively. "He can wait a few hours."

Gaap shifted uncomfortably. "My lord, with what is happening in the Inferno, I don't recommend it."

Samael could see Gaap's point. With the rebellion in full swing... He sighed. "If I must."