My mind eased into the soothing blackness that seemed to be the best cure for the painful memories. The gravestone mocking me as it faded back into the deepest pit I dug for it. Burying it as deep as possible. Deeper than the coffin that I watched float down into the mud and dirt. Deeper than the grief and anger. Deeper than the impossibility of forgiveness.
"Kasey..." I turned my head, the figure floating beside me sending me waves of grief again. The fire sparking to life again. I sobbed, my hand reaching for the familiar figure that watched me with a soft look.
"I'm so..s..so sorry..." The broad arms encircled me, the soothing voice sliding into my mind.
"I know..I know.."
The tears fell down my cheeks like raindrops from a cloud. The gentle hug holding me tightened. "Dad—"
"But it's still your fault." The arms suddenly grew cold and hard. Their grip fading from a gentle touch, to arms of cold steel. I froze, my blood running cold as I realized how trapped I really was. "You left me. You watched me die. You. Killed. Me." The slithering snake of regret wrapped around my legs, its body tying mine into a cocoon.
I squeezed my eyes shut, the figure before me no longer holding me, but circling me, whispering.
"All your fault...It's all your fault. You did this. You deserve to die. You killed me. You, all you.."
I gasped as the arms on my shoulders shook me violently, my eyes flying open as I sat up. My body drenched in a cool sweat.
"Kasey.." I flinched and looked at the girl before me, my mind slowly refocusing.
"Latifa..." I looked away, rubbing a hand on my head as I took uneven breaths. "Where...Where am I..?"
"You're back in the mansion, Samael's mansion."
"What about...What about Apophis..?" I mumbled slowly, my gaze looking down at my shaking hands.
"Oh, don't worry about him anymore. Samael should be executing him soon so he can't hurt you anymore." Latifa wandered over to a wardrobe, my eyes finally taking in the details. "You are safe now. He'll never touch you again."
"What do you mean by execute..?" I asked slowly, my mind reeling, processing.
"Oh, right, um..." She quickly gathered some items to make my outfit for the day and walked back over to the bed. Spreading out the clothes at the foot of the bed, she finally paused and looked at me. "Well, you know, if you die in hell, you'll be stuck here. Right?"
"Yes..." I nodded slowly, my body automatically moving as I got up to change.
"You would be basically chained to the world of hell. Well, same goes for the demon lords. They are chained to hell and therefore, even if they tried, they can't ever fully leave. BUT, if that chain just so happens to break...then their soul would be lost. Its like having a chained dog. You chain them up to keep them from escaping. Same here. If you forget to chain them, they will be sucked up and will cease to exist."
I slowly eased on my daily outfit, my eyes wandering to the gashing scar that had healed after Apophis gave me the transfusion. "I don't think I understand...He's an immortal, they can't die."
"You cannot kill him, that is true, BUT, it is still possible to let his soul slip into the abyss of the universe. Think of it like a whirlpool. Once you are sucked into it, there is no leaving." Latifa walked towards the door on the left side of the room, my bed positioned to the far right. I quickly started after her. "And so, by the end of the ritual, that snake will be lost to the sea of the universe." She paused and smiled at me. "So you don't have to worry about him anymore."
"Wait, I don't want him to die." I stood beside Latifa, trying to meet her eyes as she opened the wide door before us. "He didn't hurt me."
Latifa sighed and rolled her eyes, the door opening softly as she stepped into the cold familiar hallway. "He's doomed you to be stuck in hell unless we draw out his blood. You cannot leave hell until that demon's blood is out of you. He did not save you. He has cursed you."
"He did it to save my life!" I strolled after her as we walked down the hall, a small snake like creature sliding around her shoulders. Its skull head looking at me as it relaxed around her shoulders.
"Hello Sorscha. Do you feel better now?" Latifa gently ran a finger over the beasts head, its soft purr seeming almost like a normal cats.
"Latifa, you have to stop them! He saved my life!" I grabbed her arm, making her turn towards me. "You have to stop them!"
She looked at me with a confused and suprised look. A spark of sadness quickly fading into the cool eyes. She turned away, "I cannot interfere." She pulled away and continued walking. "How about some food? You are hungry aren't you?"
"Latifa! There is only one thing I want right now and that is–"The howl of pain sprang around the room, my head instantly drawn to the door it had come from.
"Kasey, don't do it.." Latifa reached out to grab me, which was answer enough. He was in there.
I darted before she could drag me away, my feet hitting the hard floor as I ran. I threw myself on the door, quickly working the knob and swinging it open.
"Kasey!!" I didn't glance back at the pale face as I darted down the hall.
The moldy, dank prison cells were covering the walls on the left and right. The echoes of my feet growing quicker as the metallic smells hit my nose. The door at the end of the hall was getting closer, the darkness getting bigger, and the scent getting stronger..
The door was simple wood blanks held together by black metal. Rust growing around the lock and all of the bolts that tried to hold the rotting door together. The metallic stench flooding my lungs like a waterfall. I heard chains clink together and then a soft hiss like a snake. I reached for the door, but jumped back when I heard the crack of the whip. A groan of pain making me freeze as I stood still, a cold hand reaching around my heart as I stood before the rotting door. The stench of death seeping off of it as I stared at my hand that remained outstretched for the handle. I couldn't stop the memories that hit me. The stench of blood dragging back into the past. The fear and grief twisting me up into a knot of uneasiness. The similar whispers from my dream streaming into my mind.
A slither ran up my spine, an electric current zapping my muscles into tense caution. "What do we have here?"
I turned quickly, the sudden hand clamping over my mouth as I started to scream. He pushed me back against the wet stone, his eyes catlike and a electric yellow. His smile was slow and deliberate, the pale sea-green hair a soft opacity against his human skin tones. If I didn't know any better, I would think he was a normal boy with contacts and dyed hair.
"Aren't you gorgeous?.." He pinned me onto the wall, one hand beside my head, the other still covering my mouth. He slowly took me in, his eyes traveling over my auburn air before going down my body.
I raised my hand to push him off, but he didn't budge, his eyes continuing their trip over my body. I knew I was wearing clothes, but I might as well of not of been. I pushed off the wall, shoving him a step back. His eyes finally met mine again and he simply grinned.
"Feisty, are we? I like that..." He took a step closer, and I took the small step back, my back touching the door. "You haven't made a sound.. You aren't supposed to be here are you?"
I averted my eyes, the feeling I was getting off him telling me not to speak or move.
"Feisty and naughty, eh?" His eyes narrowed and his grin grew, "I wonder if the Lord will let me have you for the night.."
I shot my eyes to his, my anger flashing slightly, a hot warmth touching my fingertips before I let my feelings fall back into the subdued darkness I preferred to hide them in. Another crack sounded with a sharp cry and the boys eyes shot to the door.
He reached past me and grabbed the handle, his eyes mocking me, "Shall we see what you are hiding from? Or...who, you're hiding from?"
The door slammed open and he pushed me into the damp cell, my hands and knees catching my fall. "M'lord, you have a visitor."
I looked up, the fear gripping me as I took in the grizzly scene. Cahtora stood in front of me, halfway turned to face me. A long whip hanging from her hand, and the cool eyes looking at me with disgust. I looked past her and felt my body turn cold. Apophis was on his knees. his arms outstretched from the chains that attached to either wall to the side of him. His shirtless torso was littered with cuts and bruises, and a puddle of blood was already soaking into the pants he wore.
"Kasey?" I flinched and looked up at the demon lord, he had been leaning on the wall, arms crossed. But now he was straight up, watching me with shock. He glanced at Apophis and he started moving towards me. "Kasey—"
I scrambled back, "stay away from me!!" I felt like my lungs were going to burst. He stopped at my words. My panic screaming at me from the inside, clawing at my instincts.
His eyes darkened, "Vetis," his attention turning to the man behind me.
"Yes m'lord?" He bowed, his eyes catching mine as I looked at him.
"Take her to her room.. And make sure she doesn't do something stupid." Samael turned back to his prisoners, his eyes a burning fire.
"And if she does try something?" Vetis looked at Samael, a glint in his eyes sending the terror in me rising.
"I don't care what you do with her. Just don't let her escape her room. Or get injured."
"Wait—" I tried to dodge the heavy grip on my arm.
"As you wish, m'lord.." His eyes sparkled slightly as he pulled me onto my feet and into the cell hallway. My eyes looking back with pulses of dread shivering throughout my body. My eyes catching the familiar blue Egyptian eyes as they watched me before letting the pain cloud his vision.
"Apophis—!" I lunged for the door, but my restrainer only dragged me away with more force, a hand covering my mouth again as he pulled me down the hall.
Vetis whispered against my ear as he pushed me ahead of him down the hall, "Don't worry...I'll be gentle.." His chuckle sending me warnings and fear. A small voice whispering in the back of my mind.
He is going to die because of you. All because you exist.
I went numb. The flames inside me disappearing. Leaving me as a cold, empty shell. Leaving me as nothing. Just as I should have always been..