On the way to the dark forest, they met some Damnata being tortured by a group of imps. Matthew rushed forward with no words. He drew his swords and slaughtered the imps with no hesitation or mercy.

Avariel also drew her sword, but didn’t have a chance to join the battle. Matthew was too fast and disposed of all of the demons in an instant.

With no regard for the thanks the Damnata gave them, Matthew pressed on his way.

"He’s angry." Ffyr commented to Avariel while the angel sheathed her sword.

"Sorry." Avariel apologised. "I didn’t mean to anger him."

"He’s not angry at you. It’s about everything. Being trapped here." Ffyr explained.

The Silva Suicidiorum was now very close. From the distance they could already see it. A mass of black trees with no foliage with huge half bird half women creatures flying over them.

"It’s huge." Avariel lamented.

"Finding your sister won’t be easy." Mathew agreed.

"Do you have any plan on finding her, or we’ll have to look after each tree?" Ffyr asked the angel.

"I’m sorry. I haven’t thought about it." Avariel apologised.

Matthew took out a flask of water and drank it, offering a sip to the angel.

"Thank you." She said, taking the flask and sitting down on a rock. "You don’t need to stay with me anymore. I can find my way from here. I won’t bother you anymore." Avariel added.

"I kind of want to see the forest now." Matthew said, sitting by her side.

"You don’t need to worry." Ffyr said, taking her other side. "It’s not like we have better things to do."

"Why did you decide to help me?" Avariel asked.

"Because Ffyr wanted to." Matthew shrugged, taking his flask back and storing it in his inventory.

"Because he’s a good person." Ffyr corrected Matthew.

"I promise you both. I’ll try to bring you help when I go back to Elysium." Avariel said, looking at both of them. "Even if I have to plead at the Pearly Gates myself."

"Thank you." Matthew said, getting up with no hope in his voice. E dared not to hope.

That’s when they heard a horn blast in the distance.

"What’s going on?" Avariel jumped to her feet.

"That’s a war horn." Ffyr explained.

"War?" Avariel asked.

"Violentia is ruled by Aym. But those under him are not all loyal. It is the nature of demons to betray and fight." Matthew explained and climbed up a hill that oversaw a large plain.

There about two thousand demons were gathered. Divided in two armies staring at each other.

The army on the left was led by a male cambion with large bat wings mounted on a black furred dog the size of a horse.

The army on the right was led by an erinyes, a woman with pale skin and black bird wings. She was mounted on the shoulder of a cyclops.

Both their armies were composed of imps and other lesser demons.

"Should we do something?" Avariel asked, holding her sword on her waist.

"Do what? They’re the ones fighting." Matthew shrugged.

Both armies clashed in a frenzy of claws, swords and blood. There was no strategy there. They were only two masses of demons brawling with each other. Fireballs flew with no direction and exploded through the field.

"We should press on." Ffyr said. "This is none of our business."

Matthew nodded in agreement and jumped down the hill in the direction of the dark forest.

Avariel followed soon after. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Upon nearing the forest of the suicides, a pair of hell harpies attacked them screeching a high pitched scream that sounded like metal scraping on metal.

Ffyr acted first. She sent a blade of air that cut one of the wings of one of the harpies making it fall to the ground.

The other harpy tried to plunge its claws on the angel’s chest. However, Avariel was faster. She drew her sword in a single motion and decapitated her attacker leaving behind her blade a trail of gilded fire.

Matthew slowly walked toward the first harpy and, with no ceremony, cut the creature’s throat.

"Are these harpies intelligent?" Avariel asked, looking at her victim burning in holy flames that coated her sword.

"I don’t know. But it doesn’t matter here." Matthew said while cleaning his sword on the feathers of the harpy he slew before storing it in his inventory.

"Come. Let’s find your sister." Ffyr said, pulling Avariel by the hand.

Avariel just followed the fairy without sheathing her blade.

Up close they could now see that the dark trunks of the trees had the shapes of people. Some women, mostly men.

Now and then they saw eyes open beneath the dark barks, but that would soon close when the light of Avariel’s halo shined close to them.

"I wonder why they fear holy light." Ffyr commented. "I understand demons hating it. It harms them. But why do the Damnata fear it?"

"They’re not ready." Avariel said while looking at each tree, trying to find her sister’s face.

"Not ready for what?" Matthew asked just keeping an eye out for the harpies that circled the skies above them.

"For salvation." Avariel answered. "Have you ever wondered what keeps the Damnata in hell? Why don’t they just try to find a way out? There are plenty of gates around connecting the hells. Leaving Violentia to less harsh places like the Limbo would be something that all of them should try. Why don’t they?

"I assumed they couldn’t." Matthew answered.

"They just won’t. The Damanata imprison themselves. When seeing the holy, those who are not ready to forgive themselves for their sins are taken by fear. Salvation itself scared them." Avariel explained.

"It makes no sense." Ffyr commented while examining one tree who was bleeding from a wound a harpy left behind while munching on his bark.

"For those without sin, it doesn’t." Avariel said, looking at Matthew.

"Why are you looking at me?" Matthew asked.

"Why do you stay in Violentia?" Avariel asked.

"What?" Matthew’s tone got defensive.

"You’re as powerful as a greater demon. You’re not dead to fear the holy light. You’re certainly free to walk around hell. Why didn’t you leave this arid place?"

"Because I’m waiting for Faralynn." He defended himself.

"But she can find us anywhere. She just needs the help of a powerful Somniomancer." Ffyr joined the inquisition.

"What sin do you think you carry that you need to punish yourself?" Avariel asked him.

"Why did you take home in the same place you experienced the worst day of your life?" Ffyr added.

"Enough. I’m not here to be judged." Matthew got angry.

"Then why don’t we travel to Limbo after this?" Ffyr asked him.

"Limbo is the least demonic of all hells. It’s the closest one to heaven. Get away from the fire and brimstone." Avariel said.

"I can’t." Matthew simply said.

"Why?" Avariel asked him.

"Because I’m a demon." Matthew said.

"You’re not. You have a demon soul, but you’re still much human." Avariel protested.

"Why do you think you deserve living here?" Ffyr asked, holding his face with both hands. "Why do you think you’re a demon?"

"Every 7 months, angels and archangels and even some Gratificata march the hells taking the Damnata who are ready to Elysium. Even some demons sometimes relinquish their demonic nature and come with us." Avariel said. "There’s something you’re letting hold you back."

Gratificata were the equivalent of the Damnata in heaven.

"Tell me Matt." Ffyr asked him, looking him in the eyes. "What is it?"

Matthew took a deep breath and found a rock to sit down on. He looked at the floor and held his hands together.

"I’m scared of what I can do if I lose control." Matthew said. "When I lose control here, I kill demons. I slay monsters. If I lose control in the Limbo... That’s why I decided to stay. To live somewhere familiar. A place I can control."

"In 2 years, Matt, you haven’t harmed any Damnata. Even the demons, you’ve only hurt with cause." Ffyr defended him against himself. "You’ve always been in control."

"And that takes everything I have." Matthew said, looking up at Ffyr.

Suddenly, interrupting the moment, they all heard battle noises coming in their direction. They then heard the screams of the trees and the fluther of wings from the hell harpies flying away.

They could smell the burning wood with hints of burning flesh.

The three of them armed themselves and waited.

It is then that, coming in their direction, they saw the erinyes, who were commanding one of the armies they watched before, running towards them. She pushed on the tree branches, branking them and taking a scream from the trunks when blood began to pour.

The demoness stopped when she met them. For a second she didn’t react, but a sound behind her made her look back and then at them again.

"You have to help me." She pleaded. "I’ll give you anything!"