"One thing is for certain...this fellow can sure yell," thought the Lord of Darkness.

He tilted His horned head, regarding the slight form of the prostrate soul who was scraping and screaming into the sooty soil at His feet. Ash caked eagerly onto the soul's quite imaginary black robes -- it always took a little time for the new occupants of the underworld to break the mental hold of mortal habits.

Lucifer sighed sulfurous fumes.

"Oh, come now, Claude," He said in his best comforting voice, "there are so many OTHER sins on your head. Really now, that sweet girl was truly the least of them."

Frollo moaned into the dust and clutched at his hair.

A pause...then a smile curved the corners of Lucifer's mouth.

"The precious thing about it, Minister Frollo, is that, even here, you haven't realized just how eminently damnable you really are!" He chuffed to Himself and took a few steps nearer to Frollo, who had stopped wailing and opted instead for whimpering while he stared wide-eyed and slack-jawed at Hell's First Resident.

Claude gasped in fear and scrambled backward in a disjointed flailing crab-walk, kicking up dust with back-pedalling feet. Arcing hematite claws curled around Frollo's slight shoulders; the ground fell away, and the scaly face of the Devil blotted out the truly inspiring aerial view of the distant burning landscape.

Inhuman yellow eyes slitted and focussed on the Minister. The massive red chest heaved with an indrawn breath.

The rumbling voice came, low and gentle.

"You have such an affinity for doing so much evil in the name of common good...well DONE, My good and faithful servant."

Lucifer pressed Claude Frollo to his bosom in an encompassing embrace much like a child would hold a beloved rag-doll. The effort of struggle cycled futilely through Frollo's body until it erupted in a high-pitched scream through his mouth. The massive arms and claws abruptly released, Frollo dropped like dead weight. Curling over onto his side in pain and blinking sudden tears away, Claude lay gasping, eyes terror-wide and fixated on the towering Lord of Hell.

"Don't look so horrified, My son. You have made Me proud!"

"You snake! I am not your son! I am a child of God!" It hurt to speak; his voice was a rasp, abrading his throat and lungs. He struggled to stand.

"He's disowned you, Frollo, long ago. Where's your gratitude? This is how you thank me for taking you in and raising you as my own?"

Frollo blanched.

"Liar! Snake!", he spat in desperate fury. "On your belly, serpent!"

Lucifer patiently regarded the small angry robed figure. He crossed His arms, faintly smiled, and waited.

Frollo stood completely upright now, a little wobbly with exertion and pain. He raised his arm and pointed.

"Get thee behind me, SATAN!"

Lucifer did not move.

"In the name of the Lord, I..."

Frollo's head snapped back at a sharp, invisible slap on his face. He reeled, staggering backward, dropping again to his knees. He covered his face with trembling hands.

Shooting Frollo a warning glare, Lucifer uncrossed his arms. "Behave! We won't have talk like that here."

A few quiet moments passed, Frollo's ragged breathing mingling with the sound of wind-blown flames. Frollo did not look up.

"Better. Now come along. We have to discuss how you're going to spend eternity."

Lucifer reached down and covered Frollo's head and shoulders with one massive palm. In an instant, both were gone, replaced by flying grey ash and inferno wind.

(To be continued...)