I love my Jason so! XD He pumps out these stories for me like lightening! *squeal* I hope you guys enjoy them as much as I have! =D
Blackheart pulled himself from the floor to sit back on his knees groggily. He brought a hand to his temple as memory of recent events flooded his waking mind, and he was assailed by horrible pain. Not mere physical pain, but pain of the heart, mind, and soul.
1000 lifetimes of evil deeds flooded into him, and the terror and pain of all the victims of those 1000 lifetimes swarmed Blackhearts mind. He felt himself slipping back into the comatose state he had been in before, after that cursed ghost rider had used it's penance stare on him.
By sheer force of his centuries old will he fought off that over-whelming guilt enough to stand one thought against it, balling his fists as he rocked back, his mouth opening wide as he screamed, veins standing out on his forehead from the effort.
''Those were not my sins!!''
It was the only defense he had, but it was enough to quiet the voices, and Blackheart felt the souls within him separate, leaving him so they could feel their pain separately somewhere in the Nether.
He sat gasping for breath for a moment before his mind began to clear enough for him to make out where he was. Cold black stone supported him, and flames flickered in his peripheral vision.
Cold dread worked it's way into him as he saw a pair of polished black shoes and khaki pants before him, following the length of a black cane up to see his father leaning to look down at him, a small smile and a raised eyebrow marking his amusement at Blackheart';s trials.
''Have fun up there?''
Blackheart launched to his feet with a growl, wiping saliva from his face and dusting himself off quickly, trying to regain his composure. The Devil's son merely glared wordlessly at his father, unsure what Satan planned next, but knowing it would not be pleasant.
The Devil tsked at his son, shaking his head ever so slightly.
''Son, you would do well to remember the lessons I taught you when you were younger, so things would not come to this.''
Blackheart felt his heart race, and he scowled at Satan, trying not to show his fear. Fear was weakness, and in Hell, weakness meant pain.
''I learned well, everything I did was similar to what you yourself have done, after all, you once stormed Heaven, right?''
Satan's amused expression remained in place, but his voice dripped with a venom that make Blackheart feel fear as only his father could inspire in him.
''Yet to turn on me, knowing me? They say God is forgiving... when has such ever been said of me?''
Blackheart gulped, his mind racing to try to find a way out of this situation but finding none.
''I- I only wished to change the world above, to make it a mirror of the one you have created here... I intended to invite you to it once it was...''
Satan's smile slipped away and he waved his hand at his son. Blackheart stopped talking. Not that he wished to... he simply could no longer speak.
''You try me like this? I am known as the Lord of Lies, and apparently I am also Father of Fools.''
Satan frowned and Blackheart felt his composure slipping as his fear gripped him, unable to speak and knowing there was nowhere in Hell he could go to escape his father.
''Fool to defy me. Fool to think you could outrun my hand...''
Satan paused a moment, lost in thought as he scratched his chin and stared into the distance. Blackheart trembled at what that sinister contemplation might mean...
''That has given me an idea of what to do with you. I shall send you to Menilis, demon of the 3rd circle of Hell. He shall administer you your punishment. I have better things to do than waste more time on my ungrateful little spawn.''
Blackheart's eyes shot wide with indignation. Menilis? The demon was of low rank, certainly not fit to administer any violence upon Blackheart, who had until recently sat at the Devil's right hand.
Before he could even shake his head in protest, however, Blackheart felt the nausea of transport and found himself somewhere else within the bowels of the Underworld. He found he had regained his voice as he screamed his frustration, his father having dumped him in Menilis' realm as if he was nothing more than a sack of dirty laundry.
His gaze traveled around his location to reveal that he was within the audience chamber of a vast stone castle with spartan decoration. Pane-less windows stood high on the walls shining firelight into the large chamber illuminating a throne carved of bones upon which sat a tall thin demon, pale but more or less human in appearance with long straight jet black hair and a goatee.
Blackheart snarled at the unmoving figure in this seat.
''I don't know what my father told you, but he was wrong, you work for me now.''
As he said this, Blackheart stalked dangerously towards the throne, summoning his dark powers into his fists. Or at least trying to. Blackheart stopped in surprise as he realized he could not employ his gifts, taking a step back reflexively when Menilis chuckled at him, the sudden noise from the unmoving figure as if a statue had spoken.
''Poor child, your powers will not work here, you stand in my circle of Hell. As to your offer for work, I politely decline.''
Blackheart felt sweat bead on his forehead and struggled to maintain his mien of aggression while changing tact, no longer able to threaten the demon, and beginning to realize the demon could actually harm him. That fact cut him to the core; a lowly demon capable of harming Blaheart, prince of darkness...
''Reconsider. Join me, and together we can overthrow my father, take over Hell, and then spread our combined might throughout the mortal world.''
Menilis rested his face upon his hand, elbow propped upon one arm of his throne, his composure that of a bored man.
''I have no need of the world above, and do not wish for the rest of Hell, I find my portion large enough.''
Blackheart stepped forward as he yelled at the demon.
''Satan is a failure, he did not succeed in taking heaven, the only reason he rules Hell is through the mercy of God, how could you feel loyalty to such a waste of power as he represents?!''
Menilis regarded him with solid black unblinking eyes for a moment, a small smile etched in his features.
''Ironic then that you failed to take the mortal world, a place much less defended than Heaven I might add... and stand here now by the will of the one you now claim weak. What does that say of your loyalties?''
Blackheart snarled at Menilis, baring his teeth.
''You know nothing of power, you insignificant little...''
Blackheart's words were cut off and he gasped as he felt himself pulled bodily forward by an unseen force, his limbs not reacting to his own wishes, as if he were paralyzed. He slid this way all the way across the room until he stood just before Menilis' throne , the taller demon leaning forward until his face was scant inches from Blackheart's own.
''Knowledge. Knowledge is power, and I have much knowledge, and you very little. For instance, I know why your father sent you to me.''
Blackheart felt the first tendrils of real fear creep into his spine as Menilis spoke. Fear of the unknown. He pushed it down, telling himself he had seen everything there was to see in Hell.
''Because he is a fool. There is no torture you can administer to me that I have not felt many times at Satan's hand over the years. The rigors of Hell meant nothing to me.''
Menilis simply shook his head slowly from side tyo side, the smile staying in place.
''Oh, young man, you have yet to know me. There are tortures you have yet to feel, and I will break you before you leave my castle.''
Menilis stood as he said this, making his way from the room and turning his back on Blackheart. Blackheart clenched his fists as he angrily shouted after the lesser demon.
''Your threats are idle, you have nothing I have not already seen!''
Menilis did not respond, simply kept walking until he rounded a corner and left the chamber, as if dismissing the young prince, as if Blackheart were no longer important enough for him to care.
Blackheart fumed at being ignored in such a way. He screamed with hellish fury, his face twisting in fanged rage, but there was no one to cower, none to fear him here. Blackheart thought to chase after Menilis and attack the demon, but his feet did not move on the action. Despite his anger, he knew Menelis was stronger than him right now.
Instead, he focused his energy on looking for a way out. His gaze went to the open windows high above, but he figured it would be simpler to simply find a door.
After walking down a twisting set of corridors, he found a door that looked to face the right direction and he opened it, his heart leaping for joy to see that it was in fact an exit, a boiling lava flow beyond evidence of passage to the lands outside of Menilis' castle.
He grinned at how easy it had been and stepped through the portal. And froze midway, his leg half in and half out of the door, unable to move. Blackheart gasped in frustration but could not move his body, stuck fast. He looked out ahead of himself, seeing that freedom was only a half-step away, and yet he could not move closer to it.
In a rage Blackheart retreated from the door, yelling his fury and striking the walls violently. He looked up as he panted and saw Menilis walking by from another corridor. When the demon saw he was being observed he stopped for a moment and raised an eyebrow at the young lord.
''It is a beautiful view, no? Did you think you could just walk out? Your father is right, you are stupid.''
After his off-hand comment Menilis continued walking to wherever else in the castle his destination lye. Blackheart shook with ill-contained anger and he wished more than he ever had to inflict pain on this demon.
But he could not, and any attempt to harm Menilis may cause the elder demon to show him what punishment his father had sent him for. Blacheart almost wished Menilis would just get on with it. Almost.
Some time passed this way, with Blackheart traveling the castle looking for a real exit and not finding one before he finally gave up, finally turned his desperation on his tormentor.
Blackheart stalked into Menilis' throne room, seeing that the demon had returned to sitting and was watching him with those cold black eyes. Blackheart stomped over to stand directly in front of him, determined to end this one way or the other.
''Release me.''
Menilis gave him that half smile once more, an expression of joy that somehow just made his face look more cold.
''I do not hold you. I have not once laid a finger to you.''
Black heart screamed as he waved a hand in front of Menilis angrily.
''I'm not interested in word games, remove your powers from the exits, or else!''
Menilis seemed more amused by this outburst than the one previous.
''Or else what? Will you whine me to death?''
Blackheart lunged forward and swung his fist mightily, straining already in preparation for Menilis to use his powers to try to stop him, his plan to bludgeon through the force and strike Menilis anyways with his momentum.
Menelis casually raised a hand and caught the fist. Blackheart gasped at the sudden pain as those fingers bore down on his hand, and he grabbed his own wrist, grunting in pain as Menilis' fist tightened over his own like a vice.
Menilis sighed. ''I suppose I needed to get around to this eventually. Very well, I shall break you now, then.''
Blackheart screamed his rage into Menilis's face, trying to lean forward and bite the older demon with his fangs, but Menilis' other hand came around and slapped his face aside, the impact stunning Blackheart for a moment as Menilis pushed his head down to one side of the throne.
Once Blackheart was thusly off balance, Menilis pulled on his waist, pulling Blackheart neatly over his knee. Menilis released his grip on Blackheart's hand and grabbed a handful of the young prince's hair as he secured the violent son of Satan by throwing one long leg over Blacheart's.
Blackheart saw red and being physically over-powered by a lesser demon only increased his frustration.
''What the hell are you doing? I'll kill you!''
Menilis only chuckled in reply as his free hand arced down a landed a powerful slap on Blackheart's ass. Blackheart bucked at the unexpected pain. He grit his teeth against it, wondering at the unique feeling of the slap. He could not recall ever feeling pain quite this way before. His face became livid with rage as he screamed his fury.
''You will not treat the prince of Hell this way! You little shit! You worthless pile of nothing!''
Menelis ignored his rant, though, and continued to deliver strong swats that began to make Blackheart squirm uncomfortably with the feeling of them. Blackheart roared as he struck Menilis' leg and shoulder with his hands, clawing at the other demon. Menilis' limbs were like steel though, and Blackheart only hurt his hands striking the older demon. Also, he still could not move his head forward or back, Menilis' grip in his hair like an iron clamp, unmoving.
''Release me now, or you shall know no end of pain!''
Blackheart turned his head slightly to the side, all that Menelis would allow, and gazed back at his tormentor as he said this. Menilis simply cocked an eyebrow and ripped Blackheart's pants down, exposing his ass as he watched.
''Has role reversal ever worked for you in the past?''
Blackheart bucked as that hand came down on his unprotected rear, and he marveled at the increase of pain given. He should not be feeling it like this. Something was making this simple slap hurt more than it rightly should. Blackheart snarled as he twisted around within Menilis's grip, seething at being humiliated like this over the lap of some lowly demon.
''You wont have this advantage forever! Ill get my powers back st some point, and you will suffer like you have never known!''
Spittle flew from Blackhearts lips as he screamed his rage at Menilis, his face flushed red with anger and sham,e as the solid slaps continued. Menilis only chuckled again.
''You think there will be anything left of you that will seek vengeance on me? I will cow you in ways that will act as a vice upon your actions even when I am not present, fool child.''
Menilis' words chilled Blackheart as the pain and tempo of the slapping increased, causing him to yell out in genuine pain.
''What have you done?! Why does this feel this way?!''
Meilis did not respond to this though, only kept spanking his reddening ass with that cursed half-smile upon his face. Blackheart writhed and twisted as the hand came down. He did not know what had been done, and this made him more fearful of how much he could now feel.
He screamed angrily in attempts to overwhelm the yells of pain each strike would have elicited anyways, but as Menilis tirelessly swatted him, those screams of rage began to transform into screams of agony.
Blackheart hated Menelis, but still felt ashamed that the demon could hear him yell in such a way. Blackheart flushed crimson in frustrated humiliation as he felt his eyes water. No. No, I must not cry from this!
This was what Menilis had meant about breaking him. Blackheart knew that now, and he trembled in terror as he thought how much of this he would endure before Menilis found him humiliatred enough.
Menilis was a demon that thrived on sadism as they all did, and there would certainly be no mercy here. Blackheart thrashed around futilely and managed a few more screams of anger before his tears began to flow, and he looked back over his shoulder to see Menilis continueing to strike his incredibly tender cheeks in rhythm,.
One cheek, then the other, then both, sometimes the same tender area several times, eliciting screams of pain from Blackheart.
Menilis glanced at his face ans smiled wider and Blackheart lowered his head to hide his tearful shame as he screamed.
''I hate you! I hate you, I will kill you!''
Menils laughed, a deep sound that sent shivers of dread down Blackheart's spine.
''Back to this again, little boy? I must not be hitting you hard enough.''
As he said this the slaps increased and power and Blackheart bucked forward in back screaming in agony, twisting left and right in futile attempts to turn away from that painful hand. Blackheart looked back in panic and saw his ass was a bright red, and he could feel the heat radiating off of it as Menilis continued to spank him.
''Let me go! Please! Let me go!''
Menilis laughed louder at Blackhearts pleas and the young prince began to sob at how low he had sunk. Only the weak begged for mercy. He squealed and sobbed loudly, yelping as each swat landed, his body beset by convulsions.
He had long since lost control of his ability to stop tensing before each swat, and it only seemed to make the slaps sting more. Menilis had increased his pace, yet it felt as if he had slowed, the span of time between each pain stretching out to eternities.
Blackheart arched his back as he was struck, tears running rivers down his face as his feet locked rigid to the floor with the pain. He squinted his eyes against it for a moment before another swat caused him to cry out and he looked back once more.
Blackheart wished he had kept his vision forward. The look of joy in Menilis' usually emotion-void face frightened him as nothing ever had. He shoukld have expected as much. He should be used to this.
But he wasn't, and he didn't know why. Blackheart sobbed as he thought of the only real reason that might be. It was because he was weak, as his father before him had been... Blackheart lifted his head as much as Menilis' grip allowed and screamed mightily, fighting his own growing self-hate.
''No! My father is the weak one! He will pay along with you for this!''
Menilis laughed again and slapped Blackheart along the soft under-curve of the ass, eliciting a yelp of pain.
''Your father has a great big book written about his legendary exploits that has been around for centuries and still held in both mortal and immortal regard. You have nothing, and if you are remembered, it will be as that boy who squealed like a stuck pig when I spanked him.''
Blackheart howled in misery when Menilis said this, his breath hitching as he tried to sob violently between each shout of pain. Likely all of Hell would know of this, and that knowledge crushed him.
Blackheart finally gave up his struggles to be free, going limp in defeat as Menilis continued to spank him, his body jerking occasionally with the swats as he gave subdued moans and yelps to each slap. Blackheart looked behind him dejectedly and saw the light in Menilis' eyes, and realized that this could be his fate for a long time.
A very long time indeed....