Heaven Was Opened
"Follow me," he said, "and you will never want for anything."
She had sensed him coming. How couldn't she? His reiatsu was powerful enough to prickle and spark against her skin and linger on her tongue, even at a distance. She'd sensed him coming but had been unable to do a thing to escape him. She'd been quick, had whirled around and sent her whip-like zanpakutou whistling through the air, but to no avail.
Now he had her. His arm was around her shoulders, his voice in her ear, her bare feet planted in the sand, and his reiatsu resting heavy like the entire weight of the ocean on her small frame.
She was terrified.
"Follow me," he spoke again, "and you will never be hungry."
If she'd had a heart, it would have been pounding with desperate fervor in the space that her Hollow hole now claimed. She could sense the presence of two others like him there, apparently standing behind him, probably enjoying her humiliation. To be captured like this, so swiftly and so easily and by a Shinigami, and to be rendered immobile by an invisible force – well, it was disgusting and infuriating. Embarrassing and shameful. Uncontrollable and horrifying.
He held her captive, yet oddly enough his voice was not aggressive. It was seductive rather than commanding, thick and sweet like caramel. It was as potently deep as a quietly steady river.
She was listening.
"Follow me," again, "and you will hold the position of power you crave."
She let out a breath, easy and cool. What felt like a star of hungry coveting rose in her chest, radiating warm excitement throughout the rest of her and making her shiver. "The position of power you crave." She would never have believed any promise that fell from a Soul Reaper's lips (especially one so outrageous as that), were it not for the Arrancar reiatsu tickling her pesquisa, faint under the Shinigami's looming presence, not quite strong enough to accurately determine a number but sufficient enough to discern a group of them. Followers, maybe? Disciples, or something like that? Others that had been lured and baited by his words?
Well, it was easy to listen to his voice, to lose herself momentarily and dare to wade in the visions he offered, reflections of what she could be. He was in the presence of multiple Arrancar, and yet there was no trace of fear, angst, or anxiety in his voice.
She was intrigued.
"Follow me," he said with an audible smile and the silent satisfaction of a challenger who knows he has his opponent beat, "and I will take away your pain."
The mere reference to that pain was enough to exacerbate the ache in her chest. Her breathing hitched as her Hollow hole throbbed with pain and despair and bitter rage. How did this Shinigami know about the thing that plagued her the very most, she and all other Hollows? If he knew, maybe they all knew. Maybe they even sympathized and pitied her weakness. She could feel the bile rising in her throat at the thought of it.
But oh, if she could get rid of that goddamn pain…
He had other Arrancar with him…
And his voice was easy to listen to, very easy…
"All I ask for is your loyalty and obedience."
Yes, it was easy. It would be easy, to submerse herself in him and let herself be flooded with everything she wanted and drown the pain. He harbored no fear, after all. Maybe she shouldn't, either.
Yes, it was easy.
So easy…