The two flew in silence for a while before Shobek decided to get her mind on something else, "The place we are going to is going to look much nicer than what you have seen so far. Each person there isn't evil, but not all of them are entirely good. They are constantly replaying their lives over and over. Though they don't know that. This is why talking to them is strictly forbidden. They won't take notice of you unless you make contact first. So no matter what, don't touch anyone or talk to anyone."
Kasey frowned, "they are reliving their lives?"
Shobek hesitated, "more like they are repeating scenarios of their lives. They repeat the same scenario until they finally do something different, then they move to the next scene. Depending on how they handle the scenarios, they can move on to heaven or move into their next phase of hell. the scenarios they repeat are ones they had wished they handled differently. Although very rarely do the people ever move on. Most are there for eternity until their soul eventually just dies."
"Souls die?" Kasey tilted her head, watching the water below them ripple with the wind.
"Yes. Hell is poisonous. A human will eventually become corrupted and turn into lesser demons or will just corrode into nothingness. Like those in Limbo. Eventually, their soul's energy just gives out. Like a light bulb. It flickers and dies."
"That's so sad..." Kasey leaned against Shobek's neck and gently ran her hand over his scales.
"Yes... It is." Shobek grew quiet again as he watched the water below. "only those born in hell or those of divine beginnings can survive in hell."
Kasey perked up, "born?"
He smiled, "not like what you think... Only those living can make a living thing. But we can...make...a demon. As I mentioned before, dark energy particles form their own demon in time, but they can be collected and formed to make a specific demon too."
"oh." Kasey laid back down before instantly sitting back up again, "wait, so I can become pregnant?"
Shobek went silent for a moment, thinking hard about her question, "well... I'm not entirely sure, but it probably could be done...Though I doubt it would be as simple as sleeping with someone. It would require a lot of research. Remember, you are the first living human whose been in hell for this long and has survived. The research in such a case has yet to be done."
Kasey's nose scrunched up slightly and shivered, "the idea of it is kinda freaky to think about."
Shobek chuckled, "It's probably as unlikely to happen as you having sex with someone."
Kasey gasped, hitting Shobeks back, "what the hell is that supposed to mean? You think I couldn't get any??"
Shobek laughed, "no, no, I mean it's as unlikely as you permitting someone to have sex with you. If you asked I would certainly oblige, so you have no problems with getting someone. It's just you allowing such things to happen would be a rarity."
"I think I'd like to get off," Kasey said with a scowl.
"Not enjoying riding me?" Shobek asked cheekily.
She gasped again, hitting Shobeks back repeatedly as a blush covered her face, "you dog!!"
A strong laugh resonated throughout the dragon's body, "not quite dear, it's pronounced 'dragon'."
"Perverted DRAGON," Kasey corrected before crossing her arms and huffing.
Shobek laughed again, "you're the one who refused to be carried! You insisted on going for a Ride!"
"Not like that you perverted, no-good dragon!!" Kasey exclaimed.
The dragon again laughed underneath Kasey, his body shaking with the motions. Kasey couldn't help but let a bashful smile slip over her face. He may be rough around the edges, but he's not so bad once you get to know him...
By the time Shobek was ready to land, Kasey had fallen asleep. With careful claws, shobek scooped Kasey off his back and held her close to him in his arms as he let himself slowly descend in front of a modern-looking house. The gray bricks are complimented with black accent colors and a white roof with white furniture on the deck. A young man slowly stepped out of the house with a husky in tow. His brown hair was a mess as if he just woke up from bed. He wore pajamas as well as a blue robe. The man slowly rubbed his eyes as he peered at the dragon that just landed in his yard. A heavy Boston accent calling out to the big beast.
"What in the seven realms are ya' doing out here, my friend? You'ra long way from home."
Shobek turned into his human form and readjusted his grip on Kasey as he walked up to Belasco. All his dragon attributes faded into smoke as he met his friend's gaze. "I'd like to ask for your help..."
Belasco's brown eyes looked at the sleeping girl in his friend's arms and frowned. "So it's true? You'ra fugitive righ now. This be the damsel in distress?"
"Can we please talk inside? And after I put her into a bed...?"
Belasco yawned and looked over the sleeping women skeptically before looking back up at his friend and sighing, "alrigh. Follow me."
Belasco led Shobek inside as he walked through the living room to the staircase that lead upstairs. Quickly walked down the hall to the second door on the left that opened into the guest bedroom. "Remembah, the firs dooyr on the left is the bathroom. Ya can use this one for her. The door across the hall is my gamin room and the door straight down is my room. You can have the couch if ya can't sleep together."
"Thank you." Shobek watched his friend sleepily scratch his head before heading back downstairs to the living room, the husky, which had been following close behind Shobek, trotted after its owner after realizing Shobek was too busy to give it attention. Gingerly, Kasey was laid on the black sheets and the white blanket was pulled over her. After confirming she was comfortable, Shobek headed down to the living room to talk, with Belasco, who was making himself a pot of coffee.
"Would ya like some, my friend?" Belasco asked as he poured himself a fresh cup of coffee. His white mug read in black letters, 'My friend's a powerful idiot.'
Shobek read the mug and gave Belasco a small smile, "that's not referring to me, is it?"
Belasco smiled and held up a black mug with white lettering, 'i'm the powerful idiot.' "Suits you quite well, don' ya think?"
Shobek sighed and nodded, "Yes. Especially recently." Shobek took the cup from Belasco and filled it up halfway before turning back to his friend who was leaning back against the countertop, sipping on his.
"So, should I go ahead and assume ya want me to harbor you two felons?"
Shobek watched Belasco carefully before taking a sip of the coffee, "do you mind?"
"No. As long as we set some ground rules with her, I see no problem in helping my love-sick friend." Belasco smiled warmly at Shobek who let out a sigh of relief.
"Thank you, Belasco." Shobek set his mug down on the counter and finally turned his eyes to the husky who had been eyeing him for some time, hoping for some attention. "It's good to see you too, Ananta."
The husky instantly perked up and jumped up on Shobek, who obliged the dog's silent request for some pats.
"I see she's still attached as ever." Belasco smiled with a chuckle.
"Seems so... I thought she would have forgotten me." Shobek squatted down and gave the husky the belly rubs it had started to beg for.
"Doesn't seem like she won't ever forget those belly rubs.."
Shobek chuckled, "I guess not."
Belasco yawned and sipped his coffee again before looking at the time, "well, I suppose I'll go play some games since I'm up. And I am sure you are tired. You can drop the window shades if you'd like. It's the same button over there by the steps."
Shobek nodded to Belasco as his friend downed the rest of his coffee and put the mug in the sink. "Thank you again, Belasco."
"Never say I don't do anythin for you, friend," Belasco replied as he headed up the black floating steps to the upper floor. His footsteps fell quite shortly after the sound of a door closing.
Shobek finally let his exhaustion show as he walked over to the white couch, his body collapsing on the soft fabric. His mind quickly drifted off to a dream world.
Kasey opened her eyes to a dark room with the smell of death. A tall man with black hair that fell to the middle of his back stared at her from the corner of the room. Kasey slowly looked around and slowly met his cobalt eyes. "So you are the mysterious human girl... tell me, what's your name?"
Kasey's body froze up as the tall lingering figure floated closer to her. his body towering over her. "W.....Who are you??"
"Silly girl...that's not what I asked...." A chair suddenly appeared beneath Kasey and the towering figure pushed her down into it, his hand slowly wrapping around her throat as he squeezed gently. "What's your name, girl?"
"You...first..!" Kasey sputtered out as his hand grew tighter.
"Foolish girl... Whether you tell me your name or not, I have my ways of finding out." The figure bared his teeth at her before moving closer and whispering in her ear. "I am the one that is hunting you. Not even that incompetent Belial can compare to me. So watch your back, human girl..."
Pain coursed through Kasey's body as his hand grew tighter, her body no longer responsive as she felt his claws digging into her neck. Something snapped, it was a familiar yet distant snap. And then she was dead.
Kasey's eyes sprang open, her breathing labored and out of rhythm as her body shook violently. A queasy feeling ricocheted throughout her body. Her body was uncoordinated as she struggled to open her mouth to talk.
Finally able to find her voice she screamed out the first thing she could. Something that brought her comfort and protection. Someone who could protect her."Shobek!! Shobek!! SHOBEK!!" Kasey screamed, her eyes scanning the room wildly as she stood up from the bed shakily, her arms suddenly erupting with pink fire as the bedroom door swung open. Shobek ran over to her and grabbed her face gently.
"Hey, hey hey... I'm right here.. You're okay... You're okay... See? I'm right here.." Shobek soothed Kasey down until the fire went out, her eyes becoming focused again as she took in everything once again. It wasn't the dark room with the smell of death, but it was definitely unfamiliar. But she was still with Shobek. She was still safe. "Are you alright?"
Kasey slowly nodded, taking in a deep breath. "There was....there was a man. He... he..." The violent image flashed through her head again, "I'm...gonna throw up..."
Shobek said no more as he quickly picked her up and took her to the bathroom.
A couple of minutes passed before Kasey was able to calm herself down enough to recount the nightmare. Shobek's face grew darker and darker until she finished.
"It...was so real...I...really thought I died..." Kasey's eyes grew distant as she relived it for another time.
Shobek sat down beside Kasey on the bathroom floor and pulled her to him, his hand gently rubbing her shoulder as she snuggled into his embrace. "It was just a dream...But if it ever happens again, never tell him your name..."
Kasey nodded before pausing and looking up at him, "why not....?" Dread was already filling Kasey before Shobek could even open his mouth to answer.
"Because a name has a powerful pull to it. Giving a strong being your name can give them the ability to bind you, so they can track you." Shobek's voice grew softer, "but it was probably just a dream... Maybe even your intuition.."
Kasey's body began to tremble in fear again. "And...if it's not a dream...?"
Shobek watched Kasey before shaking his head slightly, his eyes growing softer, "it was simply your intuition warning you... You have nothing to fear... It's going to be alright... I'm here to protect you....remember..?"
Even though it was clearly a lie, Kasey nodded, pushing the 'what-ifs' to the back of her mind. It was too terrifying to think of right now. Kasey snuggled herself back into Shobek and closed her eyes. Shobek watched before looking at the cracked door to the person standing outside in the hall. His look told Belasco all he needed to know.
Ose has officially joined the game.