Title: Of Heaven & Hell
Author: Leviathan
Status: WiP
Category: Action/Adventure/Suspense/Drama (I could go on but I'm not going to)
Summary: A year after the Great War a new demonic shadow is cast upon the people of Gaea, resulting in an all out Holy War.
Warnings: Deals with mature themes, some parts may be disturbing to more sensitive readers, some profanity and gracious Van-Whumping. (That poor boy)

Disclaimers: Don't own them, wish I did. I'm not getting any money for this, once again wish I did. Oh, who cares I do this for the fun of it.

Personal Disclaimers: The characters Uteri Osaka and the Ghost Riders are of my own creation please do not use these characters without full permission of the author AKA me!

Authors Note: This is my first Esca fic and unfortunately I haven't seen the whole series yet but I've read a ton of summaries so I have a pretty good idea but if I make a plot mistake please bear with me and point it out. I'm just going to warn you that I'm known to have bouts of writer's block.

Of Heaven & Hell
By Leviathan


Prologue:

" Are you sure that this woman knows where she is going?" Gailen asked the man in front of him. It seemed that they had been walking around this cavern for hours.

The mustached man turned giving the smaller man a harsh glare. " Uteri says that it's here, so it's here."

Gailen couldn't help but shudder as he looked around the cave walls. At times it seemed as though the walls themselves were breathing, watching your every move... just waiting to snatch you up, just like the land dragons used in the rite of passage for the kings of Fanelia.

The leader of their troop was Uteri Osaka, also known as the demon's soldier. She was a master at black magic as well as took a serious interest in the occult. Uteri was also known to be a bit mentally unstable, but a genius nonetheless. No one under her command ever questioned her actions to her face for fear of her wrath. She had marched her men all over the g*dd*am planet looking for what she called 'the ultimate prize'. It had been four months without a trace of the thing. Unfortunately none of the men under her rule knew what 'the ultimate prize' was. Some said it was the largest amount of wealth ever placed in one spot, others said it was some of the most powerful weapons known to man, more powerful than the legendary Escaflowne. But what ever it was, it was obviously important.

Uteri suddenly stopped raising her arm signaling her men to do the same. Her long gray hair fluttered in the cold wind that blew through the dark cave. Wordlessly she gestured to two of her men to light the torches on both sides of the cavern.

The light gave way to a new image. Before them stood a vertical gigantic stone ring. In front of the ring was a podium-like rock. Uteri's eyes lit up in excitement.

Gailen stared at the rock with a bewildered gaze. " This is what we've been looking for!" he yelled walking up to the monument. " This f*cking piece of stone!"

" This 'f*cking piece of stone' as you so colourfully put it is the key to absolute power!" Uteri snapped. " Gentlemen, behold... the Devil's Oracle..."

Thaysis another of Osaka's pack spoke his mind, " The Devil's Oracle? The portal to hell? I thought that only existed in fairy tales."

" No it's real, but it's not exactly what the books say it is." Uteri then grasped the red gem that sat in the center of her choker necklace. The gem was cut in the shape of a head with horns. She took the gem over to the stone stand. Engraved in the stone was an imprint identical to the red stone's shape. Uteri's smile became wider as she put the item in the imprint... it fit perfectly. The stone gleamed a bright red matching that of Uteri's eyes.

The sound of gears turning alerted the others to the motion of the ring. It spun in its space like demonic Ferris wheel before slowing down. The center of the ring suddenly caught fire revealing a pair of cold red eyes.

" Who dares summon me!" a deep intimidating voice came from fire.

The men cowered away in fear as the eyes swept the room.

" I did," Uteri proclaimed showing no fear, " Me, Uteri Osaka," she stated proudly.

The eyes gave her a questioning gaze. " Why have you called me?"

" I need your help."

" For what purpose?" the voice growled, obviously growing tired of the incomplete answers.

" Revenge... I want those who destroyed the Zaibach Empire to suffer... I want power..." she breathed heavily as a wave of ecstasy ran through her at the thought of revenge. Unknown to many Uteri once served the Zaibach as one of their Captains. She led the squadron known as the Ghost Riders. And though she was known as the demon's soldier she had never lived up to becoming as feared an opponent as Lord Dilandau once was. Now was the time to prove herself as a superior being.

"Revenge..." the being echoed, amused at the thought. " Not one of the most noble causes."

" If I was looking for a noble cause why would I come to you?" Uteri sneered.

The eyes seemed to almost soften and a low guttural laugh shook the cave walls. " I like the way you think Uteri Osaka. I have decided to help you in your quest after all."

Uteri turned to her men with the look of a kid on Christmas day. " Go set up camp at the front of the cave."

Her pack gazed back at their leader unsure of what they had gotten themselves into.

" Well don't just stand there GO!"

With that the men scuttled out of the area as if the devil himself was on their heels... but for all they knew he was...

Once the cave was empty the being that peered through the ring and addressed the young captain. " Now listen carefully Uteri Osaka... for my help does not come free. I have the power to grant you any wish your heart could desire."

" Any wish?" the young woman breathed.

" Well... almost any wish, my powers do have some limitations."

Uteri gave the ring a bitter scowl, " What kind of limitations?"

" I am unable to kill any being, but I can revive any being. I am also unable to make some one fall in love with some one else or control someone's thoughts. I am also unable to change past events... other than that... your wish is my command."

The Captain couldn't help but smile, " What if I wished for a guaranteed victory?"

" You would never be able to pay me for that wish," he replied.

Deciding to accept the answer as a dead end... for now anyway she continued to gain information on this pact. " Speaking of which... what is the price for a wish?"

" I will grant you one wish for every soul that is given to me."

Uteri swallowed hard at the statement, sure it was true she wanted power and revenge, but she wasn't too sure she was ready to sell her soul to the devil just yet. But then again... that's what her followers were for.

" Are you willing to pay the price?" the voice roared.

A placid stare lit up her eyes; " ... You've got yourself a deal."