The red moon of Abyzou gave off a malice wave of energy; time was lost in this new era of constant darkness mixed with crimson light that this female demon moon loved to cast. Because of this demon moon the human life would never bear no newborns, for she was infertile and only bore envy on all human life. The evil moon shined bright on to Providence and Azriel, they had made their way out of the city of Rome and by the signs they saw they were entering the town of Fiumicino. Still by the way the darkness engulfed the town it gave off a sense of true terror. The sounds of hounds howling and unholy birds fluttering in air, made the two feel a little unsettled.
"Let's try to find a place with something to eat?" said Azriel with hasten voice.
"I think that easier said than done," replied Providence sticking close to him, she could feel the town was damned.
Nothing good was going to come of them moving forward but Azriel was right they need to eat and drink something, she already felt hungry and held her stomach under her robe. So, they pushed on into the streets, which each step they reach closer into the dark center of town, houses and building cast shadows all over, making the area darker and sense of not knowing the darkness gave. This made them walk a little faster, and their steps could be heard echoing the streets, yet for some reason there was no one around.
All of sudden, sound of scratching could be heard from behind them, they paused still with every moment that passed more and more scratching sound began to spread through evil dank air. Azriel grabbed providence and pushed her behind him, they could not see into the darkness behind them.
"Something must be following us…" Azriel said in a low voice.
While they look at the end of the road that they have already traveled howling began to start up, at first one but then more howls could be heard filling the constant night air. This gave way to sound of repeating clawing of the ground that made a dreadful noise, like branches scratch away at window in a stormy night.
"We have to…"
Before he could finish what he wanted to see, he began to see around six wild giant dogs beginning to move in their direction with great speed, the dog move frantically forward running into each other, while other jumped what was left of cars and other debris of the abandon town. With a quick movement Azriel grab Providence by her right arm and pulled her to start running to the coast of the town. Providence could not fully run because her ankle still hurt for when she last twisted it, so she ran with a limping motion. They could both hear the pack of craze dogs gain on them, they did not have much time, so Azriel look side to side for any building that they could enter to give them some sort of shelter from these wild beasts.
Providence looked to her left down the street, and saw an Italian Restaurant that had dim lights on, she pulled Azriel shirt to show him the restaurant. He looked at the restaurant with eyes, that glimmered if have seen something miraculous unfolding in front of them. Azriel with bigger strides pulled providence a long, for the dogs were not far from them, he could hear the mad beast plowing through everything.
Providence and Azriel reach the restaurant doors and to their blessing was open, they fell in as Azriel slam the doors shot using his feet in one quick motion, causing a great bang to be heard inside. Now both on the floor they were immersed in silence, waiting to hear the dogs but for some reason no sound came from outside. Both looked at each other with wonder and then a few minutes passed they began to smile, realizing that they had dodge an unholy danger.
"Excuse me… Would you want bar or a table."
They both looked up and saw a tall slim beautiful man in a black tuxedo, gesturing with his right arm to enter. Both shocked they looked at each other in amazement, to see someone who would not want to cause them harm. Azriel rose tall holding on to the book under his right arm and with his left hand extended to providence to help her up, as she rose her hood fell back revealing her beautiful face and clear eyes. She stood up brushing down the robe, and began to fix her hair, Azriel looked in awe at her simple movement giving him a sense of someone still innocent.
"Will take a table, please," Azriel said with a puzzled look.
"Yes sir, come this way."
The slim man showed them in, and to their surprise the restaurant was fill with splendid people all sitting down with great class and manners. They walked to a table close to the center back that was empty, just their luck it was the last table for two in the restaurant. They both sat down in slow manner, as if stuck in sweet dream; looking around all the people were all of kind nationality, they were well dressed and extremely beautiful.
"The waitress will be with you in moment…" said the slim man as he bowed showing respect.
Providence adjusted herself in the nice half circle chair, it was made of a fine clothe that felt smooth as she gently touched the side of the chair. While Azriel looked around with a stun face place The Book on his right side of the chair, his face could be easily read by Providence as she looked at him firmly and spoke.
"What the problem?"
"I don't know this seem really off," Azriel responded placing the expensive silverware all on his right side.
"Yeah I know this is weird but remember you said we need to eat and just our luck we actually found a place in this falling world."
"Yeah your right, I must be over thinking this, maybe…"
"Hello my name is Emma, can I offer you something to drink, before we get started?" interrupted a tall young blond girl with a fit black dress on.
"May I have some water," said Providence looking up to her right side where the beautiful waitress stood.
"We don't serve water here, only alcoholic beverages," said the young girl.
"Aah ok… I guess bring me some wine," said Providence confuse by what she heard.
"Red or white miss?"
"Red…"
"And for you, sir?"
"I'll have some beer, your choice," Azriel said while looking in his wallet that had moist bills in it.
"That would be of no need here, everything is on the house," said the beautiful girl with a smiling grin.
"….Thank you Emma…" said Azriel a little stunned.
"I will bring your drink in a quick moment, here is the menu. Today special is Steak Pizzaiola, made by our guest chef from Naples." Emma said this bowed and quickly went to the bar that was in the back.
The sound of busy restaurant, made Providence feel a little bit normal again, she looked at the menu and gently relax her shoulder as she took the rich fragrance that the kitchen gave off. She closed her eyes and finally a little peace came on to her, this feeling was amplified by the gentle piano music that was being played. Could this be a dream she thought, could the nightmare finally be over or was the nightmare all in her mind.
"You ok?" said Azriel looking a little bit paranoid.
"I'm finally have a sense peace."
"I guess you're right, I gotta chill, I guess our luck is getting better. Still, we have to find out what is going on in the outside world and why this place is not even affected."
"Let's enjoy the dinner and then worry about the rest," said Providence while opening her beautiful eyes to Azriel as to tell him to stop thinking.
Within instant Emma came gliding back with their drinks, she placed a bottle of Musigny Grand Gru on the table, with big wine cup then gently placed a giant mug of rich black beer for Azriel. His eyes were wide open and amaze at the size of the glass that by his calculation had to hold up two liters.
"Let me open the bottle for you," said Emma with a gentle smile while taking the fancy bottle and un corked it.
Azriel notice while Emma poured the wine in to the glass, that Providence was stuck in trance while she was observing the bottle, Azriel had to gently tap her leg with his to snap her back to reality. Jumping up Providence reaches for the cup and her hand began to shake a little as she held the cup in her right hand.
"Is this a bottle of Domaine Georges & Christophe Roumier Musigny Grand Cru 1990…?" murmured Providence as she moves the wine gently side to side in the great glass.
"You are correct; you know your wine" said Emma while winking with her right eye.
"How can this be..."
"We only serve the best for our guest, so then, may I take your order." Emma said while get back to her job mode.
"I'm famish, I'll take the house special, Steak Pizzaiola," said Azriel staring at Providence who still held the wine close to her eyes. "Make that two, right Providence?"
Providence nodded like she was hypnotize to the way the wine moved in her cup. Emma retrieved the menu with her left-hand revealing anarchy symbol tattoo on the inside of her wrist, the two did not pay no mind to it. Emma left with the menu and tray under her right arm, she seemed to skip to the kitchen, that was filled with sounds of plates being stacked and food be served.
"Hey Providence, why are you so in awe with that wine. Is it good?"
"There are barely four hundred made a year, and it worth up twelve thousand dollars…"
Azriel was enjoying his black beer, but when her that number she said he began drown in the thick beer… Cleaning his mouth with the napkin, he looked straight to Providence with amazement.
"How do you know all that?"
"I work in the summer on my family vineyard… or I used to work…"
Providence eyes began to be still as if truth that she will never work with her family again crept in her mind and how her parent had died saving her from the flame of the unholy city. While in sad daze she began to smell the wine, that bath her in its thick aroma, she took a sip and let it sit under her tongue and she began to remember how her father taught how taste a good wine, as she swallowed the special wine her eyes filled with tears. Azriel notice what was going and kept to himself by drinking rich dark beer that felt great, for he had not drank anything for a couple of days. His tongue gently removed the foam from his parch lips and he too began to think of how he had ended up Vatican City for spiritual retreat but all that happen to him made him think, what was really going to do now that the world was in such chaos, it was so unreal to him. His gaze fell deep into the thick beer, as if looking for answer to why was evil unchecked but the more he drank his mind began to become clouded and he glance up to Providence who now was on her third cup not knowing how much time he was thinking he began to finish the last of the beer.
"Should I bring another?" Emma said appearing out of nowhere in unnatural way.
Azriel handed her the giant mug and nodded his head while he noticed that they stop playing the grand piano and a band started to put together their instrument, within moment the restaurant was filled with jazz music, it gave more life to the restaurant, now all the people were sitting and chatting away as if not a care in the world. His mind fell into a haze as he began to feel the effect of the thick beer, giving him a slight buzz and warm feeling in his empty stomach. Before no time Emma was back with his beer in the house specials, they both stop what they were think and began to look at the amazing food that was place in front of them. Emma left, and silence fell upon them; as they both began to eat the Steak Pizzaiola. The meat was mouthwatering good; each plate serving was the size for two grown men so they had plenty to eat. It took them fifteen minutes before they had to stop eating, they were full and felt happy.
"Now that you guys are done eating, I hope you will stay a little longer and enjoy the music with some more drinks," Emma said approaching them, she gently retrieved the plates and looked at the almost empty wine bottle. "Would you like another one?"
"Can I please?" Providence said with cheerful voice.
"In this establishment we aim to please, so far I know you know your wine but are you a heavy drinker?" Emma said in playful matter.
"Bring it on, this time something stronger… Surprise me…" Providence said with cocky tone.
"What you desire you shall have…"
Within a few moments Emma was back and she place a bottle on the table that was filled with brown liquid and had a silver buck head on the bottle. Providence looked at it with questionable glare, she knew almost everything about wine but she never seen a bottle like this. Azriel looked on sipping away at his second beer, he was content now with a full stomach, he could enjoy his drink to the fullest.
"What is this?" Providence said with a curious gaze.
"Well there young one, this is a special Scotch whisky, The Delmore 62, there are only twelve bottles of this expression. This come from our private stock, only for the special guest… and I think your special," Emma said while leaning close to Providence and seductively setting two whisky glasses on the table. "Let's see what you made off in this second round, I suggest that your gentlemen friend here help you out in this round."
"Who me…?" Azriel murmured as he drank his last of his beer.
"Yes, you would want this rare beauty to get to drunk and someone here take advantage of her," Emma replied leaning now over Azriel expose her cleavage to him.
"Don't worry about me, only worry that you keep the drinks coming." Providence blurted out, not trying to back down from this challenge.
"I got full stomach now, I'll drink some of that whisky with you, only if you can share," Azriel jumped in with a wide smile.
Emma took the gigantic mug placed on her tray and gentle poured the Scotch into the glass but as Providence reach for Emma took the cup and drank it slowly, showing of the pleasure she felt as she slowly down the half-filled glass. Placing the glass on the side of her face, she closed her eyes as feeling the last drop go down her throat in a seductive way.
"Damn… That's some good scotch," she smoothly said as she placed the glass down and pour the two glass and slid them to each of them. "Know let see how far you can get their young one."
Emma gently touched Providence before she left, this gave Providence a weird feeling but that feeling disappear as the music became to be played louder and gradually change from jazz to a soft rock. The restaurant's worker gracefully moved some table aside as people began to stand, and dance while drinking away like it was partying, the restaurant seem to be like two side coin, the first side classy and now it was like neighborhood tavern be woken up from its slumber.
Providence and Azriel looked on and let the energy of this lively restaurant take over, they looked at each other smiling as if the outside world was nothing but a distant memory. They both reaching for their whisky glass, and gradually took a drink of brown rare scotch; each look at each other with luminous face.
"This is really smooth, can barely taste the alcohol," said Azriel.
"I know right…? This is my first-time drinking scotch… and I like it!" stated Providence with delight.
Both of them now leaned back, enjoy each drink of their first glass. Azriel notice then that the light from the restaurant were all giving off by black thin candles that were place all over the establishment, he thought it was weird he didn't notice it before but it must have been because of the hunger pain he was feeling. Providence on the other hand did not pay no mind of her surround and began to take off the black hooded cloak reveal her your fit body. She gently pulled down lose white shirt over her tight blue jeans, letting out a sigh…
"Now I feel much better, the wine has me fluster a little," Providence mumbled with relief.
"I hope you can hold your liquor miss…"
Providence flash cold stare to him, and told him to pour her another drink, Azriel looked at her with amazement to see this young girl drink so much…
"Where did you learn how to drink?" Azriel asked.
"I've been drinking wine since I was a little girl…"
"But you're still a little girl…" Azriel said smiling to her.
"I'm eighteen, and my dad always taught me that there is nothing worse than a lady who can't hold her own," Providence said while taking a sip of her second glass.
"Your dad knew what he was talking about," chuckled Azriel.
Providence looked into the scotch as if trying to remember her father but something was wrong she couldn't remember what had happened to him, she was daze for a moment and she thought to herself what was she thinking about just now, the only thing that came to her was a slight buzz feeling gradually rising. Shaking her head, a little she asked Azriel where was he from.
"I'm from Alabama, United States."
"What are you doing here in Italy?"
Azriel paused for a second as if searching for something he lost in his mind. "I think the alcohol is getting to me, I can't think straight." He said in amuse way.
"Me too… I feel like I'm forgetting something important… But it will probably come back to me ha ha ha," she said with an intoxicated laugh.
"Yeah… You are right it will probably come back to me too, Providence you know what?"
"What…?" she mumbled while taking another drink from the glass.
"I like you; you don't stress about the big things, you just go with the flow." Azriel said while standing up. "I'm going head to the bathroom, be back in a sec."
Azriel wobble to the back searching for the bathroom, as he made his way back he walked pass the kitchen and saw the bathroom down a long hall to the left-hand side. With a few minutes he appeared out of the bathroom feeling a little refresh, walking back he notice a massive walk-in fridge that was open. Not remembering why, he didn't notice it before, he glanced to his left as he passed the fridge. He stopped dead in his track with his eyes wide open in terror, he saw rows of naked bodies hung on hooks, some with no legs and no arm, other stack on each side of the wall, among them were naked body of small children, that were hung upside down being drained of their blood in big buckets. His sight was stuck in shock as if not fully embrace the reality of what he seeing, his brown eyes looked at the horror that was in front of him. As he looked down the long fridge he saw a big fat man pushing a naked dead baby into meat grinder, all sudden the big man turned showing off his blood cover white shirt and stare at Azriel for a moment then spoke in a gentle manner:
"Hello there, I'm the guest chef here… How stupid of me… I guess I forgot to shut the door behind me, can you please shut the door, I would want all this meat to go to waste…"
Still shock Azriel reacted in robotic way and slowly close the door of horrors he had seen.
"Thank you… ha ha ha! the chef said with a jolly chuckle that could be heard from a distant as the fridge door closed tightly.
Azriel stood for long moment, and all the horrible thing of this world that he forgot came colliding in his mind, grabbing his head with both hands, the reality of what he just came rising from his stomach, he quickly ran to the bathroom and began puking in the toilet. He hugged the toilet and was stock in horror but it all disappeared when he remembered that Providence was still out there alone, realizing this he stood up walked out of the toilet stall looked in the mirror and slapped himself in the face with both hands. They had to get out of here, without causing anybody to take notice, he took one last look in the mirror that was covered with dim candle light make his face look darker than what it really was.
Meanwhile, Providence was enjoying her fourth cup and taping her feet to the beat of the music, she gradually looked to the back and saw Azriel walk in a fast pace toward her. She looked on with great big smile and yelled out:
"You made out alive, ha ha ha! Thought you fell in."
"We are going…" Azriel said in a dark tone, as he reached for The Book and afterward grab the black robe that Providence placed behind her chair. Moving her forward out of the chair.
"I don't want to leave just yet!" Snapped back Providence
Azriel paid no mind to what she said and grabbed by her right upper arm forcing her up with great haste, making her spill her glass on the table.
"Look what you made me do, what the hell is the matter!"
"I tell you when we are outside, if you hear what I tell you and still want to come on, you are more than welcome…" Azriel firmly pulled her to the direction of the front door.
"Ok Ok but jeez don't pull me like a rag doll," Providence mutter back as she pulled her arm away from his grasp, and then slowly began to wobble to front of the restaurant.
Providence and Azriel walk through a multitude of people dance and drinking with joy, nobody paid no mind to them as they left. When Azriel near the door his memories became crystal clear and he remember the beast that were out in the dark world that for moment forgot the existed. Providence was singing and dancing in the reception of the restaurant, while Azriel open door look out into the darkness into the crimson light, for few minutes he looked with caution to see if anything was out in the darkness. Seeing that coast was clear he turned and reach for providence but suddenly what appeared to be out thin air Emma was there with both hands behind her back.
"You guys leaving already, but the fun hasn't started yet…"
"Yeah the old man wants to have alone time with me," Providence said in a joking drunk matter…
"Your funny young girl and your extremely beautiful, like something pure too bad I wish I had alone time with you…" Emma whispered in Providence left ear and gently backed off. "I have something for you… Another bottle of that red wine you liked."
Emma pulled the bottle from behind her back and handed it a tipsy Providence. Providence embraced the bottler like a girl getting her favorite doll for Christmas, Azriel looked on with caution and began to reach for Providence to hurry her up.
"Hold your horse, I'm going…" Providence said this and gave Emma a kiss in each side of her beautiful white cheeks and thank her with a hug.
"I'm off to see what this old man wants…" Providence wave with her left hand while cradling the bottle with her right.
"Oh, by the way the chef told me to ask you if house special was to your liking," Emma said in a smiling glare.
"It was to die for…" blurted our Providence as she spun around in a jolly state.
Azriel looked at Emma and nodded his head agreement, he rubbed his mouth with his left hand try not to puke until he was outside.
"Great… We are always open all day every day and the house always pays, and If you can come again you will be sure to have a great time," Emma stated as she gently touched her tight body and seductive way.
"Yeah thank you, let's go Providence, "Azriel said while holding the door open for Providence.
Providence went skipping out with not a care in the world followed by extremely troubled Azriel, closing the door behind them brought silence of dead world rush to the them both. Yet Providence happy state began to fade as she looked back to the darkened world, realizing that they still were in a nightmare she looked back Azriel with a questioning face. Azriel not knowing what to say or even tell her what he saw but he knew he had too because this was world that did not give off a lot of information and once they found out something they should least tell each other. Providence looked around in the dark street and remember the wild dogs and began to panic.
"Relax, I have something to tell you but first we have to find some kind of shelter so we can rest a little." Azriel said while guiding Providence down the side of the road, sticking close to the building and not walking in the open like they did before.
Azriel went passed an old van with tinted window and to his luck the passenger side window was broken enough to so he could slip his arm in and open the door, he looked in to see if it was safe… All was clear. He signaled Providence who was standing at the side of the van frantically looking all around, as her memories came to her slowly because she still had alcohol in her system. Providence jumped in quickly into the van, and Azriel slowly shut the door and cover the broken window with the black robe so that nobody could see in.
Providence began to breathe in irregular way, seeing that her reality was still a nightmare she looked to Azriel eyes cautiously said "What happen back there that we had to leave so suddenly?"
Azriel looked all around back of the old van and found a few cardboard pizza boxes and he began to quickly place them all over the front of the windshield just to block anyone looking in through the front. He tried to dodge her question but he knew deep down he had to tell her, for them to survive they had to be honest with themselves and any information that was out here in this darkness was most need.
"Providence I need you to look at me and tell me that you are not going to freak out what I said… I mean remember there are things out there that we do not want know we are here…" He said gently grabbing both her hands.
Providence adjusted herself in the drive seat, let go of his hands and gently place her hand on the wheel. "Go head I'm ready…"
"Well… um…" Azriel felt himself puke a little in his mouth thinking about what he saw and swallowed hard for Providence sake. "When I came out the bathroom I walk past a walk-in fridge and there was the chef in there with dead bodies hang all over the fridge and…"
Providence eyes began to open wide as realizing the horror what she had ate, with quick reaction she began to puke out wine and flesh out of her system on the drive side floor, tears formed while she started puking wine. Azriel gently touched her back while with his right hand lifting a little of the pizza box in front to see ahead.
"Fuck! Fuck! Why? Began to scream freaking out hit the steering wheel of the car.
Azriel with quick haste try to held her down but she began to go mad and hit with all her force and one blow hit the center of the steering wheel sounding the horn of the van that gave way to a Mexican funny like sound. Providence suddenly was engulfed with a silence and calmness because she knew she had fucked up, she slowly turned to Azriel with teary eyes as if saying sorry.
He held tight for a min to see if anything or anybody heard. They listen close and did not move as if Medusa herself had cast her cursed sight on both of them. A long moment of silence passed as if eternity for them.
"I guess it all…" Before Azriel could finish the sentence the right side the van was slam hard buy something with brute force, causing them to scream as the van dip on its' both left wheels. Then van settle back down and then hard scratches that start to bend Azriel door. He pressed against the door try to make sure it didn't give way; all sudden howling began to fill the night air. Now the Providence side was being rammed.
"Oh shit… What are we going to do!" Screamed Providence trying to hold her door shut.
"See if this van has the keys somewhere…" yelled back Azriel as tried to hold his door in place. He grabbed The Book with his left arm and held it really tight while his right arm tried to hold the door from collapsing.
Providence began search all around her but time was not on their side she began to hold the door for smashing in with her strong legs as she looked at Azriel who was praying loud and making sure the beast could not enter, he turned to look at Providence and with a sad look as if this was the end but his eyes looked down on Providence, seeing her beautiful young face he took a deep breath and said to himself this is not the end.
"Come on Providence we made this far; we are not giving up!"
This gave Providence second wind, and while pressing hard with her legs her hands began frantically search under the drive seat, mumbling curses words in Italian she felt something familiar, and looked to Azriel with wide eyes!
"I found them!" as she pulled out a pair of keys with a Mexico flag key chain. "Porca Troia! Now let's see if this piece of shit works!"
She fiddled with the keys placing it and turned it, to their surprise the engine fire up with roar as if this old van had a tune engine. Providence stuck in shock because all technology seemed to have been stop all together, since there were no cars nothing working.
"Push it, I'll steer!" Azriel said while swiping frantically the pizza box out of the way.
Providence no question trusted him and press with her left hand on the gas and working the clutch with her right hand all while the door was being ripped opened her legs were now in the air, Azriel pulled her in as the van moved with a quickness north down the street. Azriel driving was perfect as he dodging bodies that were piled in stacks in his way, the dogs began chasing but could not keep up and slowly began to feed on the remain of the flesh of dead all around them.
Providence adjusted herself to the driver seat and gently place her hands on his as to tell him that she can take over. Providence looked at him with her light greyish eyes as if thanking him for not giving up on her. Azriel took a deep breath and let go of the wheel and kick off what was left off his door. The wind that blew in was cold but to them it was like they had been set free for the first time in their life, as if reaching a point that death was touching them to escape without scratch.
They head north, not know what was held for them… Not knowing what was in store for them but they look at each other and knew that they made a great team. The van stormed out damned town into the unknown darkness but from a distance in the air an owl with grey eyes looked on and followed them an omen that they were not alone that the great Athena had given her blessing on these unlikely champions.