So, I gave into my desires and decided to write a sequel to my Shiori story. (Read Shiori, Angel of Darkness before reading this one!)...and I figured I'd leave you guys with a little something while I'm away at basic. I don't leave until the 1st so if I get the time, I'll write the second chapter. If not, well...you guys are just gonna have to wait a few months muwhahahaha! lmao...this is usually the part where I'd say, "I own nothing but my oc" but this chapter ONLY has original characters in it.. so...yeah, enjoy :)
Cries of pain rang throughout the devastating lands. Blood curdling screams echoed across fields of eternal fire. Distorted creatures hackled evilly as they tortured and demeaned the souls of the damned.
"Crying won't end your suffering!" bellowed one of the monsters over the crackling flames.
Humans and demons alike were all subjected to the severe torture. Hell had no favorites. Hell didn't offer any special treatment to any of the damned souls. It offered nothing but endless torture….for all eternity.
A large castle sat above the demonic hell flames, unaffected by the nightmarish landscape. A man with a pointed beard and long yellow kimono stood watching the scene from the window. He groaned with deep disappointment.
"Every day, it's always the same morbid scene," he thought. "I don't know why I ever expect to see any different. This truly is a gruesome place."
He fondled with a piece of parchment in his hand. Every so often, he'd glance down at it with hungry eyes. He tried to ignore the deafening sound of the tortured souls outside the domain, but it was to no avail. No matter where he was in the fortress, he could always hear the wallows of the dead. But there was one sound in particular that he'd love to hear. He looked back down at the parchment again and longingly stroked it.
"8 years ago…," he thought. "Is when this all started."
"King Enma," said a voice from behind him.
A scaly, humanoid man stood before the king. He had long grey hair and soulless black eyes. There was absolutely no life to the creature what so ever. Enma eyed the man carefully before turning away. He waited for him to speak again.
"It is time for this afternoon's judgment ceremony, King Enma," said the creature, nonchalantly.
"I know what time it is," he sharply answered. "I'll be there momentarily."
The creature nodded before turning to exit, but stopped.
"Is something wrong, My King?" he asked.
Enma turned away from the window and stormed passed his servant. Nozomu trailed behind him, trying to understand why he was so upset. Enma stopped just short of the exit and looked down at the parchment again. He angrily clenched it in his fist.
"It's only been 8 years….yet it feels like it's been so much longer," he said. "Time goes painfully slow in this dreadful place."
"To what are you referring, My King?" asked Nozomu.
Enma released the parchment from his hand and watched as it floated to the floor. He motioned for Nozomu to pick it up. The servant obeyed and scooped up the piece of parchment. He examined it closely. It was a painting of a young woman with a sheathed sword on her hip. She was standing at a side profile, but her head was facing the viewer. She had piercing eyes that matched her purple haori. Her dark wavy hair was swooped over her shoulder in a low ponytail. Her right hand rested on the handle of her sword, it was as if she were ready to draw at any moment.
"This is a portrait of the Princess Shiori of the Netherworld," Nozomu blandly stated.
He nodded, "The Angel of Darkness…."
"That's right," Nozomu said. "8 years ago, is when she defeated you in battle."
"8 years ago…..she was cast down into Hell," Enma said staring back out the window. "She was brought here to suffer for all eternity—but she escaped. Both she and her Father escaped my lands."
He snatched the portrait back from Nozomu, "8 years ago….she challenged me to a duel, and won."
Enma once again glanced down at the parchment of paper. He stared down at Shiori's elegant face in hatred. Yet, he refused to rip up the portrait.
"That girl…has since been a thorn in my side," he spat. "To know that she still wonders the Land of the Living…makes me cringe!"
"You feel pretty strongly about her,"
Enma calmly closed his eyes, "You can't possibly imagine."
"Yes, that's right," said Nozomu nodding as he understood. "I remember now. Her lover, Sesshomaru…I believe, killed The Hell Lord of the East and purified some of our damned souls. And you went after her in revenge."
It was never revenge that Enma was after. He was deeply angered that these souls escaped Hell's grasp. He was angered that Sesshomaru purified the damned souls of Hell, allowing them to be free. Why should they be allowed to leave, while he was forced to stay in such a place? Enma didn't like being in Hell any more than the souls of the damned. But there was no getting out of his duty….just as there was no getting out of Hell. Or at least there wasn't, until she came along. Somehow, Shiori escaped her fate. Her very existence ruined everything for Enma.
"I underestimated them both," he said. "I never expected Sesshomaru to defeat Shishinki in battle….just as I didn't expect Shiori to defeat me. If our battle had gone on longer, that wench would've killed me. I, the Grand Master of Hell, couldn't allow such a thing. Retreating was the only resort…..but that sword of hers, there was something….strange about it.."
Enma always swore that he'd get revenge on the girl. She made a complete fool out of him and his accursed lands. He wanted more than anything to watch her, and everyone she loved, suffer in Hell. Enma wanted to completely destroy her essence. He often fantasized about torturing her for all eternity. But he hadn't been able to do so. Enma thought about the duel he had with her 8 years ago.
"If I win, you will return to the land of the Damned and you will never plague Lord Sesshomaru ever again," she calmly said.
"And if I win, you will return with me and be my bride in Hell," Enma said. "Shiori, you will replace the lord who was slain and forever be a tormentor to the damned…..as well as being tormented yourself."
Never in a thousand years, did he believe she'd win that battle. He'd heard rumors of her power, but he brushed them off. Enma was still in shock years after the battle. It was something he never got over. Enma hated Shiori deeply, and yet…..he couldn't stop thinking about her.
"Why should that foolish woman be allowed to freely walk the Earth, while I must stay here in torment?"
For the past 8 years, he'd done nothing but plan his next big attack on her. She did, after all, leave herself right open. She only secured the safety of her lover, Sesshomaru, not once did she secure her own safety. Not that Enma was prepared to abide by those terms anyway. He was prepared to do whatever it took to defeat her this time.
"My King, why not just return to the Netherworld and wage war?" asked Nozomu. "Take over their lands."
"I already have things in motion," Enma casually answered. "And what I have in my sights…are must bigger than just taking over the Netherworld from Isao and Shiori. No, what I have in store is much grander. She will suffer in Hell for all eternity, and this time…she won't escape. I have to stay here for all eternity, so do you. It's time I tied up all the loose ends. My vengeful plan is in action…"