After a few hours of traveling Cole gave the last halt signal a few miles from the front gate. The putrid smell was that of scores upon scores of corpses despite the absolute beauty and of the surrounding area. The joyful laughter of children could be heard and the joyful songs of all those whose soul is forever bound beyond that gate. Animals sat peacefully with one another but one thing stood out to the trio, the overwhelming sense of death and pure hatred loomed over the bright cheery place like a thunderous cloud over a great city. The guards outside the gate knelt towards each other blindfolded with their swords in an eternal position of offerance as if offering everyone exiting to slice their heads.
Aslalo "huh? This is so unlike the lore about this place?"
Cole "What do you mean?"
Aslalo "Where is the fire and brimstone? The sulfer and suffering and the screams of those who have sinned? This place is absolutely beautiful."
Chester "Don't be deceived this is limbo the first layer. The city of babylon goes down nine more layers. The entrance is always enticing but once you enter there is little to no exits without being spotted."
Cole "Aslalo do you not see it? The cries of everyone here? The children are stuck repeating their last breaths in a way that sounds of laughter. The guards there are crying tears of blood and their souls are faint but it's like they just want to die but can't. I don't think they have eaten or drank water for at least thirty years!"
Aslalo "No the guards are completely fine? They are standing firm and proper in their duties. The children are running around and playing with a small ball."
Chester and Cole "It's a head."
Aslalo "I'm sorry but you two are clearly deranged, they are playing with a colorful ball."
Chester "As I thought…"
Aslalo "What?"
Chester "Those with an angel program can't see past the illusion of limbo. You are going to be deceived into going there thinking you are following after your greatest desire. It's called the bewitchment of the false heaven."
Cole "Ooooo-o fancy name. Take five after your break, go and gather information. I want locations, demonic presence and find all weak points. I will be trying to get in contact with Delton to see if there is any otherwise important information such as what the target looks like and where the location is, hopefully I get something useful."
Chester and Aslalo split off into their own directions the moment Cole gave the go sign. Aslalo surveyed the skies with the help of the Chafer family birds in the form of a hawk with white and yellow lightning streaks through the feathers. The Chafer family has a long lineage with thunder and the pressure waves it creates and as such through the subtle changes in the caws they can almost talk to the birds and hear information on enemy locations. Chester went through the forest since he was a native disabling most of the traps and mapping out the different entrances and to what level they may have needed, while the two did their jobs diligently, Cole stressed over his role as leader. What would happen if they fail? Why did delton tell him he had no choice but to go? What was he to find out or do? Surely someone else would be better than him to be here? Were they just bullying him? Torturing him because he was a demon? What did he do to deserve such a thing? Taking a deep breath he ordered Angelos to make the call and within one ring Delton picked up.
Delton "Hello? Cole? Did you make it to hell yet?"
Cole "We are outside the gate. Aslalo is providing surveillance and Chester is scouting right now."
Delton "Good…good…The prince's name is Asmodeus, she is a medium build, slightly old but young looking woman. He is about average height. His known abilities are hounds and the great beast known as Cerberus, a three headed dog. Whatever you do, do not engage with the dogs. Once a hell hound has your scent they all will have it and they will follow you back to their master. Sources say as of right now she is sleeping in her castle on the third layer. Once captured pull the flare on your bags and you will be extracted by one of the heavenly hosts. Got that?"
Cole "Um yeah. Hey, what is the chance we will live?"
Delton "I sent you because you lacked fear of death…What's making you so afraid now?"
Cole "Something is just looming over me. I guess it's just out of my element."
Delton "Trust yourself and trust the God ai is looking after you. If you plan correctly the mission should go off without a hitch. You have aslalo and regrettably a demon with you right? You'll be fine lit…Cole. Delton out."
Back in deltons office, Sabrina sat lazily on a chair near his desk drinking a bottle of red wine.
Sabrina "When are you going to tell him?"
Delton "When God says so."
Sabrina "He probably already knows? Might as well tell him the truth."
Delton "A time will come when he wakes up truly but as of now, God said no. there's nothing we can do."
Sabrina "I wasn't talking about that. I was talking about her."
Delton "ARE YOU INSANE? That is way too traumatic for him."
Sabrina "Aww you do care."
Delton "Well of course he is our little brother. I love all my siblings, even our sister, I just hate how she disrespects father like she owns the place."
Sabrina "Awww you are adorable. Caring and jealous, you really are like dad huh?"
Delton "Oh shut up!"
Sabrina laughed drunkenly at her older brother but deep down she too was worried but she had her drinks to calm her nerves while all her brother had was himself and her. Sorrow was felt in the room despite the laughter, shared drinks, and jokes. They knowingly sent a Younger less experienced brother into the very pit of death and despair all because they too were fearful of the place. They prayed that he wouldn't remain stuck inside the pit but it was up to Cole to make such decisions, hopefully they prayed, he made the right ones. On the other hand Cole was filled with a new confidence from the blessing of his higher ups, he called Aslalo and Chester back to their rally point and explained their mission, target, and using the information they received, their plan of attack.
Cole "...Got it? Okay, oh and before we go… Aslalo I need you to do something."
Aslalo "What?"
Cole "Take blu-sky with me."
Aslalo "Hell no! I will not delude myself with drugs. Do you know what you are asking me to do?"
Cole "Yes and I will help you overcome the withdrawals but I have a special low dose. It keeps my demonic program from acting up but it isn't high enough to stop my angel program from working. In you it shouldn't turn you into a junkie although you may have a slight power decrease. If you don't you'll be spotted."
Aslalo "There has to be another way."
Cole "The plan is for me to use my demon form and act as if you are my drugged up slave and Chester is just helping me to bring you down. We can't have you be drugged up slave without the druging ya know?"
Aslalo "THERE HA-"
Chester quickly shoved two pills into Aslalo's mouth as he dragged him into the bushes while kicking Cole into a shrub nearby just as a ghost child walked by stopping suddenly to stare at the bushes before picking up her ball and continued playing.
Chester "You almost got us caught, idiot. You really need to learn how to have a bit of fun on a mission and to stop arguing with higher ranked personnel."
Aslalo "I'm sorry I'm not demonic scum like the both of you."
Chester "What DID you say to me?"
Aslalo "You heard me…De-mon-ic scum. I only tolerate you because I can't lose my position and Cole I swear when we get back I am demanding a blessed match."
Cole "Fine. Now the both of you stop arguing. You were doing so well, I don't know what's happened to you two."
Aslalo "You forced me to take drugs bastard!"
Cole "What part of we are on a top secret, top priority mission are you still not getting? Everything we do to you is just another part of that. Now stop bitching and let's go."
Aslalo "F--uu~ck Yyy~ouuu…"
Cole "Great he's a light weight at that…What are we gonna do now?"
Chester "I dunno? We just gotta keep pushing on."
Cole "I know that but I didn't plan on him being a baby back bitch."
Chester "Hahaha yeooo you right, you right."
Cole "Riiight."
Aslalo "You~a~bAbY butt FacE."
Cole "Yes yes darling let's go, come on into the rabbit hole we go."
Aslalo "Rrr~abb~it h~o~l~e~y"
Cole dragged Aslalo by his arm into a pit hole Chester mapped to the third circle as quickly as possible, the opening closing up as soon as all three entered, the hole opening up into a dark cave lined with torches that lit as they walked almost as if it was alive and ominously calling them further into the cave. Once at the gate a deep hunger overcame Cole and Chester, a slight feeling of drunkenness overcame them when they opened the door. Once inside they could see those who were sent there being trapped in a thick green fog.
Chester "Don't breathe it in. once you do, you'll be drugged. This is a compound in blu-sky."
Cole quickly ripped off Aslalo's shirt and fashioned two thick bandanas for his subordinates.
Cole "Cover your and Aslalo's face, I'll be fine I've built a bit of a resistance to these drugs by now."
Cole and Chester Continued to drag Aslalo through the muck and mud of the third layer of this odd dimension they found themselves in. After about an hour or so of walking they were approached by a merchant whose eyes lit up as soon as they met with Chesters and him returning the gesture.
Melidas "Chester! It's been a while old friend!"
Chester "Hey Mel! It's definitely been a while! How's the kids?"
Melidas "Oh you know delicious as always…I have a few parts with me for trade. I'll even throw in a youngin's eye for free."
Chester "Nah I'm fine as of now man, but hey would you happen to have a map?"
Cole "Um excuse me…what do you mean delicious?"
Chester "Oh Mel, this is my mentor Cole, Cole this is Mel. He's a merchant that sells spare child parts. Some doctors use it for surgery others typically like himself eats them unfortunately. It's an old belief that the parts of the youth provide magical properties depending on what you eat. The eye's giving visions and views of heaven."
Melidas "BUT IT'S TRUEEE. I've lived over ten thousand years eating childrens hearts hehehe."
Cole "What…What did you just say."
Melidas "Hmm? What's this? You smell odd."
Chester "Nah Mel, he's just a new demon. He hasn't came into it yet."
Melidas "No boy, this one smells of compassion and love. I can sense his anger boiling."
Chester "Cole cool it. Remember where we are. Mel please excuse my friend here, I got something good for ya if you do over look this."
Melidas "Hmm maybe depends on what it is."
Chester "How's bout a vial of virgins blood? I'll give ya two in exchange for that map."
Melidas "A VIRGIN! VIRGIN! VIRGIN! VIRGIN BLOOD! Are you sure? That has to be valued at seventy gold!"
Chester "Yeah and it's from a prestigious bloodline too an angel borne family blessed by the gods!"
Melidas "Don't tease me boy. I am already in agreement. What map do you need? I have many."
Chester "I need a map of this place and of asmodeus' castle. It has to be detailed, every nook and cranny please."
Melidas "Oh… that make's sense boy. That won't come cheap…Is the blonde one the one you speak of?"
Chester "Yeah. Apparently he's the next heir of the chafer family. Untouched by the world, eating of the finest foods and drinking the purest water in all of the land."
Melidas "What you are requesting is a bit too much for two vials but I'll do it for a pint and a pint of his. Yes yes! Two pints, one of the half borne and one of the virgin!"
Chester "Half borne? We only have two demons and an angel. A halfborne is just a myth."
Melidas "Not a myth! Not a myth! Legend. A myth implies a lie. Legend is unseen until now. Yes yes. Rare but possible, he stands in the flesh in front of my eyes!"
Chester "Cole? He's a halfborne…Impossible."
Melidas "Possible! He stands here in my eye! That's why I need his blood. Yes! His blood! If I have his blood Queen jody will make me the richest in all the land."
Cole "Jody? Mel.."
Melidas "My name is MELIDAS BOY!"
Cole "Um okay…Melidas. This queen Jody, what does she look like?"
Melidas "The queen is most fair, yes most fair in all the land, hair silver as the moon, yes pale white. Her skin the color of fine almonds but soft as the mud below our feet. Her eyes hotter than the inferno of a furnace but one has since been touched by the sky. Yes, yes eyes of an inferno! Body most subtle, the tempest of beauty she is. Voice of crashing waves but calming as ocean breezes…"
As the old decrepit man described Jody more and more Cole began to fill with confusion and torment. His head began to hurt as his heart cried out in agony. The tears rushed forth from the finest amethyst gems as he clenched his chest and fell to the ground.
Cole "She is alive…All these years…She is alive. Jody, YOU ARE ALIVE!"
Chester "Cole you knew the queen?"
Cole "She was my best friend…I didn't appreciate her despite her obsession for me but she is alive."
Melidas "Yes! The halfborne! He comes forth, he is. Give me my pints. I've given you the value of ten thousand talents. Give me my items, many need my goods."
Chester "Cole? That's up to you."
Cole "I'll only agree if you tell me where the queen resides."
Melidas "Fine, favor for a friend. The bottom, the lowest one can go. Yes, yes away from the eyes of the most high SHE resides! Now pay my due, so I may go."
Cole "Fine two pints not a drop more."
Cole rolls up his sleeve and presents the arm of Aslalo for Melidas to stick their arms and drain a pint of their blood. Out of the line coming from Cole, a purple mist came first, then a clear fluid like water then his darkened red blood came flowing out to the surprise of Chester gold and silver specks was mixed in. From Aslalo blue mist spurted forth, following a clear liquid then his darkened red blood mixed with shimmering gold flecks came flooding out.
Chester "Wow…You guys' grace is just fantastic. It's unlike anything I've ever seen before."
Cole "Huh? Grace? What is that?"
Chester "In hell we demons can see the soul of a person in hell. The blood normally has a copper like color but you two shine with gold and you Cole shine with gold and silver. I've never seen such a thing before. You must be the halfborne."
Melidas "YES! Worth many talents. I shall be a rich man. I shall eat my fill and drink myself into a permanent intoxication. I shall have all the pleasures I desire."
Melidas handed Chester the map of the castle with a slight grumble and mumbled happily as he walked off with his payment. Due to the blood loss Aslalo began to come to find himself covered head to toe in mud and muck. He stumbled and wobbled to feet to see a distressed Cole being consoled by Chester, still being confused and in a daze, Aslalo waddled over to Cole to try and figure something out but was stopped before he could take a step.
Cole "I can't…We are abandoning the mission."
Aslalo "What? Are you kidding?"
Cole "Oh look sleeping beauty is awake. No, I'm not kidding. The mission is a conflict of interest."
Aslalo "Conflict of interest? What happened in the short time I was out."
Chester "It was about a few hours actually."
Cole "An old friend of mine is apparently queen here. I have to find her and what killed her but Chester thinks we should continue the mission."
Aslalo "ARE YOU SERIOUS? YOU ARE FRIENDS WITH THE DEVIL?"
Cole "She isn't the devil."
Aslalo "It's common knowledge the rulers of hell typically get the lucifer program given to them. Besides, she is probably going to die soon. Humans don't typically hold angel programs that strong for too long before the strain kills them."
Cole "Shut up."
Aslalo "Cole, we need to continue the mission despite your feelings."
Cole "SHUT UP! Take it back."
Aslalo "Take what back? Cole, she is the queen of hell! Are you serious? We have more important things to deal with."
Cole "I said take it back!"
Cole in a blind rage punched Aslalo in his face and proceeded to mount him and continued to punch him until Chester could pull him off.
Chester "Get yourself in control. This place is obviously messing with your head. You ain't seeing shit straight. He has a point mr.this is an order. This entire time you've been nothing but wishy washy, scared not scared. We are knuckle deep in Hell right now. There isn't let's turn around moves at this point and to be honest, how do you expect anyone to follow you into a war acting like a child."
Cole "You wanna be in the ground too?"
Chester "Exactly my point. You run into something bad and boom you switch it up like the tides of the ocean. Pick a side and stick with it. I'm going to that castle. Aslalo, you coming?"
Aslalo "I'm already here..might as well."
Chester "Cole we need a leader, come on before we leave you."
Cole "Fuck you."
Chester "Fine, be like that. You can find the exit yourself then."
Chester and Aslalo split ways with Cole, leaving him standing in the fog to despair over his lost friend. As they parted ways Aslalo turned to say something but was pulled forward by Chester. After ducking and dodging the guards where they can and knocking out the ones they can't, the duo approached the castle slowly. The guards on the outside shuffled around the gates like zombies, the fields surrounding the land was filled with lavender poppies producing a visible fragrance that seemed to keep the guards circling the castle. The river that flowed out and around the castle was the color of wine and gave off a smell similar to chocolate and raspberries with dozens of people desperately drinking like they never had anything like it before. The castle itself was pretty average at least that's what the pair thought at first until they approached and saw it was covered in bodies entangled in the moss and overgrowth constantly screaming in fear from what appeared to be hallucinations as they couldn't see it but from the voices describing bugs tearing at their flesh to ghost and goblins attacking them the duo quickly came to the conclusion that the people tied to the castle were constantly being pumped with some sort of drug. Surveying the area Aslalo and Chester found getting inside was easy, one might even say way too easy almost as if they were let in by the barron himself. Once inside they easily dispatched guard after guard but couldn't find their target. Each enemy they defeated however they could feel themselves loving the thrill of battle more and more, even almost putting themselves into risky positions just to get caught to fight up till Aslalo saw the tail of a rainbow dragon making him dart after it while Chester was distracted with pummeling a guard into submission. Aslalo ran as fast as he could to catch up to what he thought was the vestige of his friend and pet. He chased the image as hard as he could, blasting through guards and bursting through doors and caverns, past chains and signs warning entry further into the castle. Aslalo's heart started to race more and more as he thought he was getting closer but no matter how fast he ran he could never truly catch up to the image of his friend at times he got close at times he was too far. Around the last turn he could see his friend, a glittery rainbow dragon in full view, he darted towards her and just as Aslalo grabbed her he slammed face first into a brick wall. The sounds of bars slamming shut behind him. He was trapped in a cage, the sounds of a lock following shortly after and darkness soon after that.
Asmodeus "Hehehehe little bird, little bird into your cage you go. Fret not however, I will save you from all pain and there shall only be bliss and love. Soon my dogs shall take the traitor and the last one is going to get lost in my dimension."
Aslalo "What? Who is that? What's going on?"
Asmodeus "Hello little bird. My name is Asmodeus, would you like to say your name?"
Aslalo "Damn it. I got captured."
Asmodeus "Well aren't you rude? You're just going to ignore me?"
Aslalo "Yeah? You're a demon. I don't converse with the likes of you trash."
Asmodeus "We will see about that hehehe."