The light left Jermaine's eyes, slowly but surely, like a bulb during a power outage. As his elders stood before him, the pool of lava behind him, he knew what was to occur.

He was to be exiled from the Nine Hells and sent to the mortal planes for his treason.

As Archdevil Dispater approached, his fears were confirmed. He grabbed Jermaine by the collar, his eyes stared into his soul.

"I'm impressed," he said. "You've managed not only to swindle the entirety of Dis out of their gold, but you also managed to steal Asmodeus' Ruby Rod and live to tell the tale. But, I cannot allow someone as treasonous as you to stay here."

Jermaine smirked, hiding his fear. "You tryin' to flatter me?"

Dispater chuckled momentarily but returned to his stern composure once more. "Quite the opposite. Every action has a consequence."

Jermaine heard the ding of a tuning fork, a rift appearing behind him.

"Farewell, Jermaine. Let's hope we don't have anyone like you around here again."

Dispater pushed Jermaine through the rift. A strong wind pulled him through an ethereal tunnel, it felt as if every bone in his body was twisting, distorting.

And then, he landed. The wind was much calmer here.

He rose, observing an unfamiliar territory. Looking up, he saw an endless azure expanse. A strange ball of light was in the sky, painful to gaze upon.

It was nothing like home.