Chapter Sixteen- "Past Sins"

Raziel's eyes flashed open. His first night back in the Underworld was ever restless. Instead of dreaming, memories returned to him. Horrific memories. He had slaughtered humans and demons by the thousands. There was a knock at his door. He opened it to find Jenxier, freshly dead. His friend's corpse dissolved and reformed into a fleshy, frog-like creature. Raziel reached for his axe, but it wasn't to be found. He backed up to his dresser, which opened. Vittur fell out, and quickly shared Jenxier's fate. Through the window, Raziel could see that Alexis and Eznezio were just as fortunate. What are they doing here? He asked. Alexis hadn't died so soon, had she? The frogs opened there mouths, revealing large, serrated teeth. They gnashed into Raziel's flesh, black smoke spurting out of his being. The last thing he saw was a mouth closing over his eyes.

The End

Chapter Fifteen- "The Curse"

            Raziel woke up. Alexis still slept next to him. So placid. He looked outside of the room’s window and jumped. The gangsters that stole Samael were talking to a nurse, no doubt asking where Alexis’s room was. Raziel cursed. He got out of his chair and tried to wake Alexis up.

            “Hey! Wake up! Alexis!” It was of no use. The gangsters were already through the door. “What are you doing here!?” Raziel yelled.

            One of them laughed. “We’re here for the girl. Looks like we’ll have to take you as well.” Raziel was at the man’s throat in a moment. He reached to his back, and realized that he did not have his axe with him, for blending purposes. One of the gangsters did something, Raziel couldn’t tell what, and all went black.

            I’m in a castle. How the hell did I get here? Raziel wondered. He looked about, at the stone walls, the tapestries. That design looks German. How do I know that? He inspected the tapestry further but could not figure out why it was familiar. “Guess I shouldn’t worry about that. Where’s Alexis?” He said aloud. He went to the door and turned the knob, it did not open. He felt a flash of uneasiness and resumed demon form for a moment. “What…? It has been a few days already, hasn’t it?” He did not have much time. The most pressing matter at the moment, though, was the fact that he was cut off from anything other than this small room.

            “These hinges… They’re old and rusty. Should be easy to break.” He said as he examined the door further. One scan around the room found him what he needed; a stool by a writing desk. He broke a leg off of the chair, and put it between the hinges and the door. A little leverage the hinges came right off, causing the door to almost fall on Raziel. Stepping through the threshold, he found himself in a hallway leading to a large dining room. So it seems that it’s a real castle… Why here? What are those punks up to? He wondered. Passing into the dining hall, Raziel noticed that the placed were set with napkins, plates, and silverware; but there was no food at all. Not even scraps. Possibly there was a banquet to be had soon. He entered the kitchen and immediately heard a muffled sound. Opening a small door by a cupboard, he was greeted by an equally small flight of stairs, and the sounds grew louder. Halfway down the flight, he could tell that the sounds were people’s voices. Drawing closer, he picked up the words.

            “She’s perfect. We just need to wait for the Night of Samhain, and the Curse shall be ours!” One said.

            “You sure she’s a virgin? With girls her age…” Another began.

            “No, no, no, it’s certain. The tests prove it.” Said yet another.

            “Tests? Is this Alexis? What are they doing to her?” Raziel muttered, unable to see the events around the corner at the bottom of the stairs. He heard Alexis mutter and the people gasp, but all quickly settled.

            “Do we have to wait for Samhain? What’s so important about then?” The second one asked.

            “It’s the night when the dead may walk among the living. Easier than normal, anyway. If we don’t enact the Curse then, we cannot hope to have enough control.” The third replied. Raziel took a chance and peaked around the corner. Alexis was on a stone table with a pentagram drawn under her in red. Around her stood the gangsters, in more black magic-esque attire. Raziel recognized some of their faces. He slipped back behind the corner.

            Curse… Samhain… What are they talking about? It sounds… so familiar? Could this be part of my forgotten past? Curses, why did I have to forget!? He thought to himself.

            “And what of Samael?” A forth asked.

            “He is also important to the ritual. The only way to properly sacrifice the girl is with his magic. Otherwise, she’ll just die and it will all be a waste.”

            Raziel’s face twisted in anger. They were going to kill her? Why did they break her and leave her if they needed her for this? He had so many questions, which only added to his fury. He calmed himself and brought logic to mind. If they had to use Samael, then he was likely in the castle. The only matter was to find him.

            “Now, we can’t afford for anyone else to die. Terasus was an unfortunate loss, but he was a fool and left the girl when she could be so useful. All of you be careful. One more loss and all of our effort will be for naught.” The third said. Raziel began up the stairs but one creaked, loudly. Hissing came from the room.

            “Someone’s here!”

            Raziel ran.

            Hiding in a closet, Raziel peered out. One of the gangsters was searching around the room, a good few feet from the closet. He had changed. His skin was a more pale blue, his teeth were fangs. “A Caransareli!” Raziel gasped. He knew of these beings and knew it was wise to avoid them. A wave of pain shot threw him and he regained demon form for a moment. The Caransareli began to move towards the closet. Raziel had to quickly think of a way to dispatch this one without alerting the others. It had it’s hand on the closet door when Raziel’s hand shot out and grabbed its mouth, preventing it from shrieking. Raziel was careful to make sure it wouldn’t bite him. “Where do you have Samael?” He asked. The Caransareli pointed to a door at the other end of the room. Raziel snapped its neck and headed toward the door.

            Through the door was a flight of stairs that led to the top of a tower. In the room at the top was a chair, and chained in it was Samael. Plebnus hung from the back of the chair by his tail. “Ah, Raziel. I was wondering when you’d show up.” Samael said.

            “We need to hurry, they have Alexis.”

            “Oh, that girl you were with? That is problematic. Well, it is for you. I’ll help you, if you get me out of this infernal chair.”

            Raziel traced the chains until he found the lock. “Now how will I unlock this?”

            “One of those guys has the key…”

            “No, I’ve figured out a faster way.” Raziel put his finger to the lock, and channeled his energy into regaining demon form for an instant. His claws were large and strong enough to destroy it.

            “Ingenious.” Samael commented.

            “Now release me!” Plebnus requested. Raziel pulled at the nail through the gremlin’s tail until it came loose.

            “That must have hurt something wicked.” The demon said.

            “Nah, that part of my tail’s mostly thin membrane and cartelage.”

            “Shall we go?” Samael asked.

            Back down the stairs, they ran into two more of the Caransareli. Samael crushed one’s head with his mighty hand, but not before the other one let out a screech. Raziel punched it with a deafening crack of bone. “The others will come. We must go get Alexis.” He said.

            She still lay on the altar, as peaceful and beautiful as ever. Raziel shook her and called her name. He eyes shot open. “Where am I? Richard? What happened?”

            He hugged her tight. “You were beaten and kidnapped; I’m here to save you. Can you walk?”

            Alexis attempted to move, but didn’t achieve more than a few inches. “No…” Raziel helped her up and allowed her to uses him as a crutch. She was very weak.

            “But Raziel, won’t you need to fight?” Samael wondered. Raziel hadn’t considered this.

            “Allow me,” said Plebnus. His form changed to that of a dapper young gentleman. “I shall aid her.”

            Raziel handed her over to Plebnus. “Thank you.” He said to the gremlin.

            Up the stairs once more, they faced the remaining Caransareli. One of them hissed. Samael charged and knocked one on the ground and pounded its face with his fists. Raziel took to a more agile mode of combat.

            “A-are those vampires?” Alexis muttered to Plebnus.

            “They’ve probably inspired your people’s legends. They are the Caransareli, nasty beasts that have taken up permanent residence on Earth and cause all sorts of trouble.”

            Alexis wondered what he meant by “your people”, but was too weak to ask. Now, only one Caransareli remained alive.

            “No! Our plans! You have destroyed us!” It screeched.

            “Why are you doing this!?” Raziel asked, holding it up by its hood.

            It chuckled. “You really want to know? We want power and an army. We plan to take over Earth. To do that, we plan to use the Black Curse, which must be activated on the night of Samhain to bring control to an army of undead. A virgin must be sacrificed, hence the girl, and one with power equivalent to Samael’s must be present. Such a procedure takes a lot of energy.”

            “Then why did you bring me?” Raziel wondered.

            “You looked like you would make a nice meal.”

            “Typical. Now how do we get out of this blessed castle?”

            “If I tell you, will you let me live?”

            After a pause, “yes,” is what Raziel replied. He released the beast.

            “Down that hall, to the left, and through the large, wooden doors.” He then smiled and disappeared in a cloud of black smoke.

            Once they stepped through the door, their surroundings changed and they were back outside of the hospital.

            “So, what do we do now?” Samael asked.

            “We check Alexis back into the hospital, and then I take you back to the Underworld.” Raziel replied.

            “Sounds like a plan. Whether it’s good or bad? I don’t know.”

            Once Alexis was safe, back in the hospital bed, Raziel wrote her a note and laid it on the bedside table.

To Be Continued...

Chapter Fourteen- "Closure, and the Approach Thereof"

            “Seran…Seran!” Yelled a voice from somewhere down the hall. Seran moved toward it, but the hall began to twist, the floor becoming a wall, then ceiling, then wall again. As she walked, she naturally rotated with it, staying on the cobbled path. “Seran…” Came the voice again. She attempted to respond, but her mouth would not open. Rounding a corner, she came to a room with expensive-looking furniture and a roaring fire. She knelt by the fire and gazed at its beautiful oranges and reds for a moment. “Seran…” She turned around to see her father kneeling before her. Blood began to spout from his neck, as if he were stabbed. He fell over, his head rolling across the floor. Where he had once knelt, Seran’s mother stood. “Seran… Now we can be together… Live in civilization…” The woman said.

            Seran bolted upright in her tent. It was only a dream. She left her tent and went toward the woods, passing the assassins’ tent. The piercing cold chilled her to the bone, comforting her from the horridness of her dream. “Mother… Father…” Se said into the night air, watching her breath fly up in a cloud.

ΘΘΘ

            Raziel had been waiting for twelve hours, never once leaving the hospital. He felt personally responsible for Alexis’s injuries. He had not gotten word yet on her condition. Eznezio had other business to attend to, and had only spent three hours at the hospital. Finally a doctor came in to retrieve Raziel. “She’s in rough shape, but we should be able to get her back into shape.” The doctor said as they moved toward the recovery room. Raziel was greatly relieved to see Alexis’s peaceful face sleeping, not dead or unconscious. “What’s your relation to her?” The doctor asked.

            “Just a friend.” Raziel replied.

ΘΘΘ

Vittur grabbed the keys. He unlocked the cell door and ran. Leaving Tartarus was the first thing he had to do before anything else. Guards tried to stop him, but he quickly dispatched them. Finally, just a short distance to the spiral staircase, Vittur slowed. That was a mistake. A menacing Dreikopf reared its ugly heads. In canine fashion, it prepared to chase Vittur. I absolutely HATE these dog-beasts! Just the one, Cerberus, is enough! Vittur thought angrily, already sprinting for his life. Whatever he tried, Vittur could not shake the Dreikopf, only stall his doom.

ΘΘΘ

Pashkur and Lisa waited at Obsidian Terminal for his sister, Naretta. “The train should be here any minute.” Pashkur said. The train that Naretta was riding on was the newest and fastest Necromancy-powered train, nicknamed the “Scream Engine”, it could travel at two-hundred miles per hour. Its shape caused noises, when at high speeds, which gave birth to its name.

“I think I can see the Necromancic smoke from it.” Lisa said, looking into the distance.

“It’s been years since I’ve seen my sister. I wonder how she’s changed.” Pashkur said thoughtfully.

“However she’s changed, she’ll still be your sister. There’s some kind of unbreakable bond between siblings, no matter how far they drift apart, no matter how different their decisions are.” She replied.

“You really think so?”

“I like to think I know so.”

The first car of the train was now fully in view. Then the second, then the third. It was almost upon the station.

“Wow, it does move fast!” Lisa exclaimed. The scream-like sound could be heard now. It was almost terrible enough to hurt one’s ears. Almost.

The brakes of the Scream Engine screeched louder than its speed did. The train came to a stop just in time to be lined up with the platform. The door opened, and many passengers exited.

“Mind the gap.” Lisa muttered with a chuckle. Finally, Naretta exited the car. A dark purple dress graced her lovely form. Her luminescent blue eyes settled on her brother and she moved toward him.

“I’ve missed you, big brother.” She said, embracing him.

“I’ve missed you too. There’s someone I’d like you to meet. This is Lisa, she’s in my band.”

Naretta pushed her red hair out of her eyes. “Nice to meet you, I’m Naretta.” She said with a smile.

“Nice to meet you too.”

           

ΘΘΘ

Raziel sat in the chair by Alexis’s bed. She seemed so serene, lying there with her eyes closed, the machines beeping, her form steadily rising and falling with each breath. A stark contrast to her state only thirteen hours before, battered and bleeding on a sidewalk, almost killed by what may or may have not been gang members. So much had gone wrong. Samael kidnapped… Alexis hurt… Raziel hated not having been able to stop this. He felt inadequate, like he had been given these tasks without the proper means to accomplish them. Raziel cursed. No matter what obstacles laid themselves before him, he knew he had to press on. His friends, and possibly the fate of the Underworld, depended on him.

ΘΘΘ

Trudging up an eternally frozen mountain is not amusing. Trudging up an eternally frozen mountain with no sense of destination was even less amusing. Still the assassins and Seran continued on.

“How much further do you think we have to go?” Nexus asked.

“Don’t know. Just keep moving.” Seran replied.

“For all we know, this guy has already left Darkwing Mountain. How can we be sure we’re not wasting time?” Jenxier asked.

“There is something Vlad did not tell you.” Nexus responded. “This man has been apprehended by the Wardens of Thurnal. There is no way he has escaped them. If their fighting prowess wasn’t enough, their thirty-foot thick walls of Sikander metal are. That stuff’s indestructible.”

“Why… Why wouldn’t Vlad tell me that?” Jenxier asked.

“No telling. He keeps a great many secrets from a great many people. I doubt anyone but he knows all of his plans.”

Seran put out her hand to stop them. “Look.” Ahead of them, down the slope, was a rectangular black structure.

“The Prison of Thurnal. Didn’t think we’d get to it so quickly.” Nexus grinned.

ΘΘΘ

Vittur was now on the Dreikopf’s middle neck. “Let’s see you rend my limbs now!” He shouted. Unsheathing his claws, his took a swipe across the beast’s leathery skin. The penetration wasn’t deep, but crimson liquid began to seep out. The thing howled in anguish. A few more hacks and that head had fallen off. This is going to be easy. Vittur thought. Then things got tricky. The Dreikopf began to roll on its back, intending to crush the demon. “Oh no you don’t!” Vittur yelled as he jumped to gain higher ground on the Dreikopf. A stab with the claws, and another head was down. One head to go. When a Dreikopf loses two of its three heads, it becomes very defensive. It rolled again and leapt into a menacing stance. Snarling, it rushed Vittur, who quickly jumped out of the way. Necromancic blasts flew into the side of its head. It turned around and rushed again, intending to bite. With a swift jump, Vittur landed again on its back and successfully lopped off its head. As its corpse laid on the ground, and blood pooled, Vittur noticed something odd. “Underworld inhabitants don’t bleed. Our energy goes up in black wisps… Why did this beast bleed? Why!?”

To Be Continued…

Chapter Thirteen- "Losing Samael"

            “What is it I am needed for?” Samael asked, after a pause. Raziel cleared his throat.

“Balance is thrown out,” he began, “it appears as if a rogue sect is slowly toppling the parliament.” Samael sighed.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve dealt with politics. Last time I did, it landed me here.” Samael said at length.

“Are you going to get us out of here? We’ve been here so long…” Plebnus stopped himself before he could remember terrible memories.

“Yes, we are getting you out.” Eznezio said. “We’ve just got to figure how to work the lock…” He turned toward a strange device in the corner. It had many holes, dials, lights, and gears.

“Are you sure that’s a lock? Looks like a bloody torture device to me.” Raziel said.

“That ‘bloody torture device’ has kept Plebnus and I from leaving this place for four-thousand years, give or take. Many have tried to set us free, all have died trying. At least, we think they died.” Samael replied.

“This thing kills those who fail to unlock it!?” Raziel panicked.

“Yes. It releases a cloud of gas, then they disappear, we assume they’ve been disintegrated.”

“So, no worries.” Eznezio said, starting with the device.

Bless my life. I hope to Lucifer that this goes well. Raziel thought.

ΘΘΘ

            The assassins and Seran had trudged through the snow for half an hour before anyone spoke.

“So, Seran. Are there any special strategies needed against the Darkwings?” Jenxier asked. Seran shook her head. “Then why are they so hard to fight?”

“Big. Strong.” Was Seran’s quick reply. Nexus could barely hear them, he was far ahead and scanning the horizon. He saw a large, dark from move.

“Darkwing!” He yelled. The winged creature swooped and attempted to pick up Seran. Jenxier pulled out the sword given him by Ulbrecht, Seran readied her bow, and Nexus’ back bled as his chains came out. The Darkwing flew back down for another try. Nexus’ chains missed, as did Seran’s arrow. Jenxier managed a shallow cut on its leathery-skinned foot. Seran shot three more arrows, one of which got it on the back. It hissed and turned back around. It caught Jenxier this time, carrying him high into the air. The demon’s position made it difficult for him to attack. Nexus was able to launch two chains upward and catch the Darkwing on the back of its legs. He heaved with all his might, bringing the beast down to the frozen ground. Seran pulled a large dagger from her belt and stabbed the thing between its eyes.

“Dead.” She said. Jenxier pushed himself free of its grip. The chains slithered into Nexus’ bloody black. “Take feathers. Good use.” Seran said.

ΘΘΘ

            The guard awoke and saw Vittur reaching for the keys. He dashed and picked up the keys. “Cursed inmate. Where’d the other one go?” The guard asked.

“Thomas- the cur- left without holding his end of our escape deal. He ran, leaving the keys where I could reach”

“So you were trying to escape. I suppose this calls for an execution!” The guard said this as if the idea excited him.

“No, no. How about we strike a deal? If you let me out, I will capture Thomas and return him here. I will also give you a large sum of Tokens, when I have them.”

“I know better than to trust a criminal.” Vittur decided that words were going to take him nowhere. A flash of green from his palm and the guard was unconscious again, and the keys were within reach.

ΘΘΘ

            The device was mostly unlocked. Eznezio used some of the tools on his chains to unlock it. Raziel attempted but could understand. Parts went left, parts went right. Things were pushed in, things were pushed out. At last, it was fully unlocked. Samael let out a sigh of relief. “I forgot what it feels like to be free.” He said. Back in the warehouse, everything was as it had been before. A horrible sight was seen upon exiting the building. Alexis lay on the ground battered and bloodied. Five violent-looking men stood leaning against the wall, smoking cigarettes.

“So, there were people here with her. You guys are on our turf. We’d say ‘scram,’ but I think we need to beat some sense into you.” Said one as the others laughed. A furious fist fight broke out. Raziel discovered that Kapernicon’s potion had not only changed his appearance but his strength as well. It was taxing just to fight one of the men. One man stood on Eznezio’s chest while holding Raziel in a headlock while two others dragged Samael and Plebnus (Who now looked like a rat) into a nearby van. The men released the demons and sped off in their van.

“Alexis, Alexis! Are you okay?” Raziel knelt next to her.

“So… much… pain…” She said through gasps.

“Do you know where the nearest hospital is?” Raziel asked Eznezio.

“Yes. Leave the bike, get her in my car!”

Raziel in tears, they went as quickly as they could to St. Palmette Hospital.

To Be Continued...

Chapter Twelve- "Finding Samael"

            The car skidded to a stop in front of the old warehouse. Alexis’s bike stopped beside it a few seconds later. “This is where Sammy is?” Raziel asked.

“Yeah. Not as simple as it looks, though.” Eznezio replied.

“Why is your friend in a warehouse?” Alexis asked. “This is mighty fishy.”

“It’s terribly hard to explain.” Raziel replied. He whispered to Eznezio, “is it safe to bring her?” The other demon glanced at the redheaded girl.

“Probably best to leave her out here. ‘Be a lookout.’” Eznezio replied. As Raziel informed Alexis of her duty, Eznezio checked the chains and metal trinkets that adorned his pants. Good, everything’s here. He thought.

ΘΘΘ

            Darkwings are nasty creatures. More vicious than Nightdwellers, and they are always on the hunt. The only way to avoid them is to stay away from Mount Darkwing all together. The namesakes of these creatures are their large wings, which billow Darkness much like smoke. The assassins’ conditions were not helped by the fact that Mount Darkwing was one of the coldest peaks in the Underworld, and snow isn’t only on Earth. Fortunatly, they found one of the Mount’s nomadic tribes, the chief of which was happy to help them. “You wish go farther up? Grasp bad man and take away?” Chief Ulbrecht asked, arms around one of his wives.

“Yes. Would you be so kind as to let us borrow some furs?” The Chief motioned for servants to lay clothing in front of the assassins. “Thank you, sir. We will return them as soon as we can, provided we can find you again.”

“No. You keep. Take foods also, keep warm. My daughter, Seran, go too.” Ulbrecht motioned for his eldest daughter to step forward. “She good fighter. Help fight Darkwings.” Nexus chuckled.

“Do we get to use the girl to keep warm?” He whispered to Jenxier.

ΘΘΘ

            “Are we going to leave here? Are others coming to stay? Are we going to die?” Samael knew something to that affect was going to happen.

“I hope we either die or get out of here.” Plebnus responded.

ΘΘΘ

            Stepping onto the rusty floor, Raziel’s nostrils were pervaded by a strange sent. “What’s that smell?” He asked.

“You’d probably rather not know. It does mean we may run into some bad people.” Eznezio replied. The two walked behind a pile of crates to a rusted door, which Eznezio opened with ease. Inside, there was a stone that seemed to have purple glowing veins. “Put your hand on it. It will take us to Samael.” Raziel complied. The next thing he knew, he and Eznezio stood in a stone dungeon. A large man and a Gremlin were in the corner.

“Samael?” Raziel asked.

“Yes?” Replied the large man.

“Your assistance is needed in the Underworld. Will you come?” Samael considered for a long moment.

“…Yes.”

To Be Continued…

Chapter Eleven- "Get Up 'n' Go"

            Raziel awoke in the soft, displeasing bed. After his eyes adjusted, he glanced at the small box with glowing numerals. Too different from his native timekeeping, it could not be deciphered. At least, he thought to himself, it’s about time that Eznezio’s done with his errand.

ΘΘΘ

            Jenxier paced in the room given him by Vlad. He wondered feverishly why the master would want the King of Dis dead. Additionally, he questioned the use of the other agent and not Nexus and himself. There was a knock at the door. “Come in.” Jenxier said. Nexus entered, wearing more armor than usual. “What’s with the defenses? You going somewhere?” Jenxier asked. Nexus chuckled.

“No, we’re going on a mission for Dracul.  A prisoner has escaped from Tartarus; we are to track him down and recruit him.”

“Then why the get up?”

“He was last seen on Mount Darkwing.”

ΘΘΘ

            Vittur pictured what he would impose on Thomas as he reached for the keys. His arms were a good two and a half inches too short.  A new thought entered his head: The guard would be waking up soon.

ΘΘΘ

            Raziel headed for the suite door and lurched to one side, catching himself on the small kitchen’s counter. A vision was upon him.

           

            The one he had forgotten stood before him. “This won’t hurt a bit- well you won’t remember it hurting, now will you?” The mind wipe.

“I know this has to be done, but does it have to be done to me?” Raziel heard himself saying.

“Yes.”

            Back in the hotel room, Raziel regained his balance and shook his head. Was the forgotten one doing this? Was it a side effect of Kapernicon’s potion? Raziel didn’t have the time to wonder. Shaking his head once more, he left the room.

            In the casino once again, Raziel and Alexis found Eznezio. “Ezra, can you help us now?”

“Yes, Richard, I can. Do either of you have wheels?”
“Yeah, I have a motorcycle.” Alexis replied.

“Good. You can just follow me to the location.”

ΘΘΘ

            Dark Shard was the main attraction in the Coliseum. Tricia watched Kirk from backstage.

Pinnacle of peace

Mountain of mourning

My soul is scorning

Fire in my heart

Fire in my mind

Fire in my spirit

You better fear it

Black gold

Silver waste

All these things

In bad taste

THE DARKNESS WILL CONSUME YOU

ΘΘΘ

            Eznezio’s car was a sporty black hot rod with painted flames. Alexis’s motorcycle was dark blue with black seats. She always kept a spare helmet, just in case. “This is gonna be a wild ride. Try to keep up.” Eznezio teased.

“I’ll try.” Alexis replied. The engines started.

To Be Continued…

Chapter Ten -"Bad Things"

“Do you have a place to stay?” Alexis asked.

“Not right now. Probably just get a hotel.” Raziel replied as they walked past the neon signs of the kingdom of sin.

I would invite him over… But I don’t know him… Those girls in the movies always do… No, I can’t do it. He’ll just have to have the hotel. She thought to herself. “So, you think that Ezra guy can really help us?”

“Should. He’s always been reliable before.” What the blazes am I going to do for twenty-four hours? How can I discover more without Eznezio? Ugh… bless me!

ΘΘΘ

            “You got the plan?” Vittur asked.

“I think so… I have a fit and while the guard tends to me I up the flames and you throw a piece of your cot through the bars which should knock him out… Right?” Thomas asked.

“Yeah, yeah. Then you take the keys and unlock my cell. Then we run like mad out of this hellhole.”

“Yeah. I forgot that part…” Yeah, forgot.

ΘΘΘ

            “Lisa, you got the new song down?” Pashkur asked.

“Yeah… It’s actually good. Didn’t know you could write.” She replied, strumming her bass.

“Took me ever since our forming to write that. I may be able to write, but not quickly.” Pashkur replied with a smirk.

“Your sister’s gonna be in town tomorrow, right?”

“Yeah. For the concert. Why?”

“I’d like to meet her. Don’t really have any girl friends.”

“That’s because you don’t need any girl friends. You’re almost one of the guys.”

“Shut up.” She replied sarcastically. Both laughed.

ΘΘΘ

            Jenxier cursed repeatedly in his head. He heard footsteps coming toward the dead king’s chamber. They’ll think I did this. Bless my freakin’ life. He thought. There was one way out, the window. Peering out the opening, he saw a line of guards below. He cursed again. Costume. Was all Jenxier could think. The bed sheets! He removed the cloths and ripped eye holes. He placed it over himself, Halloween ghost style. He then leapt through the window.

ΘΘΘ

            “A shift. I sense a shift. A shift in what? Or is it more of a wrinkle? A fluxuation?  Excellent. Simply excellent.” The deep voice laughed. “Ready yourself, Plebnus. Something is at hand.”

“Yes, master,” the Gremlin replied. “Yes, Samael.”

ΘΘΘ

            Raziel sat on the couch in his hotel room. He was brooding over the frustrating events. Twenty-four hours lost. That was a fourteenth of his time. What could Eznezio be doing? He wondered. He looked across the room at the box that had the word “Shonubo” on it. He’d heard of these things before. What are they called…? Televisions, that’s it. Raziel picked up the small device with buttons and pressed one. The television sprang to life and began displaying images of a cartoon duck trying to outsmart a cartoon dog. “This is what Earthlings entertain themselves with? It’s garbage.” He wondered if that Alexis girl would be helpful. Probably not. Earthlings were never known for works the caliber of demons. Still, there was the possibility. Raziel laughed to himself. Maybe she can distract people with seduction.

ΘΘΘ

            Jenxier landed in front of the line of guards. “Good day, gentleman!” He said as he dashed for the crowd, holding the bed sheet in place.

“Seize him! He killed the king!” A guard yelled from the window. Jenxier continued to curse. He meshed into the crowd just before the guards caught him, but the people of Dis knew better than to hinder the efforts of guards. He made his path nonlinear, losing the guards at times. He finally made it to the city’s gate, four guards hot on his tail. Jenxier dashed into the desert and leapt behind a rock. He threw up his bed sheet and used a blast of necromancy to send it flying away. The guards ran after the sheet, and once they were out of sight, Jenxier took off back towards the Underworld proper.

ΘΘΘ

            Thomas began to shake and scream. His flames grew by two inches. A guard came in and said, “what in Lucifer’s name is your problem?” Something flew in from the other cell and knocked the guard out cold. Thomas grabbed the keys and ran.

“Hey, what about me?!” Vittur asked.

“Find your own way out. I’ve things to do!”

“At least give me the keys!”

“Here, catch.” Thomas tossed the keys to where they were five feet from the door of Vittur’s cell.

“I hope your existence ends!”