I Have Friends in Both Places | Thiam

iii.

"I'm sorry," Liam whispered, moving back to the boy. "Why don't you tell me the story, and maybe how you came across Mason."

Corey nodded and sat down, motioning for Liam to sit, too. The ground was cold but burned a bit as Liam sat down. "Do you want me to start with how Hell was made or how I met Mason?"

"How was Hell made?" Liam was curious as he thought to himself. He wracked his brain for anything about the story, but the angels weren't taught much besides the face that Theo Raeken, the king of hell, had been shunned from Heaven after disobeying the orders of the high angels. He took many angels with him who had also rebelled, and we were told the same would happen to us if we ever stepped out of line.

Corey took a deep breath before speaking, his words created perfectly. "Theo Raeken used to be an angel. He was almost as high up as the top three. He was beautiful, and he had so many friends. He was one of the angels who picked souls for bodies, and he sometimes fulfilled missions against the supernatural of the world when things got out of control. This had been a time where there was very rarely evil in the world as there was no one to tempt them. There were no demons. There was no Hell. There was just Heaven and the angels.

"Because of this, the humans soon learned that they could do whatever they wanted. They would still go up. There was nowhere else to go. It turned to chaos, and people died at the hands of others. Theo Raeken was disgusted. Murderers and rapists and the absolutely terrible humans of the world were still granted happiness in the eternal life. It was just disgusting, and Theo wanted better up there. He wanted punishment, but it cost him his grace.

"Theo began telling other angels about how bad it was, about what he felt needed to be done, and angels agreed. They knew that the people getting let into Heaven weren't supposed to be there. They just weren't. So, angels were talking and telling others, and then the council found out, and they were mad. Really, mad doesn't even describe it. They were livid at the thought of anyone going against what they wanted, and they punished him.

"They held a meeting, and the three highest at the time, Jackson, Deucalion, and Gerard agreed to make him fall. He was the first fallen angel. They sent him down with the words, 'since you want to punish so badly, why don't you do it yourself.' Theo didn't know what to do. He didn't know where to start. He just knew he was hurt. So, after a bit a research and testing, he discovered powers he didn't have before. He wasn't under the ruling of God, and he knew how to control souls, so he took people's souls to make us, the demons. Other angels fell after him, and they agreed with him. Together, they created Hell, the place you're in right now, and they punish those who have done wrong. Some are able to go to Heaven after, but some don't deserve any time up there. They're horrible people.

"And so Hell was created, and Theo was king. We don't try to hurt people. Most of us don't even tempt the humans. They do it themselves. They rebel because they want to, and if they're not terrible people, they're treated well down here. We take what Heaven doesn't want, and some of them don't deserve to be down here, so they're treated well. Some are given the options to become demons and work for us, some just sit around and have fun. It's definitely not as nice as Heaven, but it's not as terrible as some think."

Corey took a deep breath after speaking, his eyes changing from hard to soft at the end. A smile slowly made his way to his face. "I'm not going to lie to you. Mason isn't going to Heaven. He isn't. He's meddled with witchcraft and the supernatural. He's gay. No matter how much he tries to change himself, there's always going to be something wrong. He was destined to come down here. So, I was sent to see him, see if he was actually bad or someone they're just going to send after, and I fell in love at first sight. Mason is beautiful and sweet and he's always learning. He's not afraid to stand up for himself, but he also knows when to step back and take a second to think everything out. Mason was everything I had wanted, and I took the chance. I disguised myself, and he fell in love with me too. When he dies, he's going to come down here, and he's going to be treated like a prince because that's what he is. He can be one of our scientists if he wants, or he can just live here."

Liam smiled a bit at how Corey's eyes brightened as he spoke about Mason. The entire time he spoke, a smile sat on his lips, and he fiddled with his hands. He really seemed in love with the boy, and the way they acted when on Earth, he knew it was true. They were in love.

"Well, I think you should tell him what you actually are. He already knows about angels and demons. He was my best friend after all." Liam grinned at the thought of Mason dating a demon while being best friends with an angel, well, fallen angel now.

Corey tilted his head in confusion. "What do you mean he was your best friend?"

"Oh, you didn't know? It's why I got kicked out of Heaven. Mason found a way to see me, and we have been friends for a few years now. The angels found out and sent me to fall for disobeying the rules." Liam pursed his lips and slumped his shoulders, his wings fluttering a bit, but he didn't want to think about those.

Corey's lips parted in shock, and a glare took over his face. "Fucking seriously?"

Liam jerked back at the word and nodded. "Yeah. It probably didn't help that I repeatedly said I didn't care and that I would do it again."

Corey grinned and shook his head. "You're a dumbass."

Liam laughed and shrugged his shoulders, then he watched in confusion as Corey quickly stood up, the grin still on his face.

"My king," Corey yelled out, happily.