Chapter 4

“Yes, sire. I didn’t want to admit it, but now I must. You were right about me. I have been arrogant. Let me do this to make up for all of that. To show you that I can be trusted. I wouldn’t allow Dante to know who I am. Don’t you see, sire. I could watch over him and report back to you, keep you updated on his every move.”

“Well,” Satan’s hologram said while pacing and rubbing his pointed chin. “I do need someone…” He turned quickly to Dismas. “But you’re not to interfere. He must do this on his own, otherwise it won’t be a true test. You understand that, don’t you?”

“Yes, sire. Completely.”

“One more thing,” Satan said. “You will be there alone. Nothing to protect you, and if by some chanceyou meet with disaster, you will be thrust back into Hell and spend the rest of eternity in the Lake of Fire. It is something to think about.”

“I understand, sire, but remember that I have lived on Earth before.”

“Not in this era. It is new, different. Don’t act too quickly.”