Hellboy: Destiny and Heartstrings
Chapter 2: Whispers in the Dark
A.N: Okay, slight rewrite and a shout out to all the loyal reviewers, favors and followers. Thank you so so much for sticking with this even though I have an issue with keeping my updates regular and I promise to do better. Chapter 2 is up and it seems we have an idea of who our villain is. I admit when I did research for her I found her creepy as hell. If you have any questions about her and are too lazy to Google it just PM me and I'll answer any questions you have on Lilith or about the fic. Also a special shout out to aThank you for the faves, reviews and the follows. I do not own Hellboy, just Jane he is owned by Dark horse . As always Love it, Share it, Review it, Follow it and Fave it. Until next time, see you later.
"You will bring the end child, you will rule by the key'sss ssside and bring upon an age like no other. The beasssst will bring hisss kin to the mortal plain and you will continue the blood line of ssssin. It wassss prophesssied long before you were born." The voice is Jane's ear made her sit straight up and scream. It couldn't be….it just couldn't. She reached over to her lamp and turned it on, banishing the dark away. In the corner of the room, sitting on the chair her gray cat Tubby lifted his sleepy head up looking up at her as if saying 'What the hell is wrong with you?'
She panted slightly and rested a hand on her forehead. She turned on her bed and planted her feet on the floor.
"It's just a dream…..just a dream." Jane chanted running her pale hands through her hair. She stood up and walked over to the bathroom down the hall. She shut the door and leaned against it. She stumbled to the sink and looked at herself in the mirror. Her dark black hair disheveled, dark bags under her jade green eyes.
"She's not there….she can't hurt me. She's not real." Jane whispered to herself in the mirror. She turned one of the faucet handle and ran her hands through the warm water. She splashed the water onto her face and sighed and opened her eyes. She looked at her hands and gave out another scream. They were coated in blood. The faucet was running with fresh, crimson blood.
"Do not be sssso sssure of that my little one. I have alwaysss been here and I am very real." The voice hissed once again. "You will bring the end of the world. Jussst assss you brought the end of your 'family'."
"Don't talk about them like that. I didn't end them you did. Whatever you did that night-"
"Wasss all for you. All I've done wasss for you precciouss child." The raspy voice whispered as the lights flickered off.
"You can't make me. I won't be your puppet." Jane hissed. Then Jane gasped and a blood covered hand made its way to her mouth, touching her lips slightly. She had hissed. Just like an animal. The voice gave a small chuckle before speaking again.
"Yesss embraccce your ancessstry. Embracccce me child. Your anger will causssse you to become the thing you dessssspisssse."
"No. You have no power over me you-"
"I, my dear am your future. You will never be rid of me. You will bring the end and you will bring fear to my name. Everything you are and all you will become isss becaussse of me."
"What do you even want with me?"
"Have I not made it clear? You will bring the end and I will mold you into the ruler you ssshall become."
"But I don't want that!" Jane cried out, "I-I don't want to bring 'the end'! I-I just want to be-"
"Normal?" the voice scoffed, "You will never be normal. You were made to fulfill what I have failed to. A bargain with SSSSatan is not eassssy to make ssso I sssuggessst you make your peaccce with what you are and what you will become."
Jane clutched the cross around her neck as the devil's name was said. Her heart rate quickened as two bony hands set themselves on her shoulders from behind her.
"Look at yoursssself. Embraccce it, accccept it. You cannot hide from your dessstiny."Two hands made their way to her cheeks and tilted her face towards the mirror. Jane gasped as her eyes glowed a hellish red. Her hands rushed to her face and cradled it. Pain ran through her body and she let out a cry. Her skin began to feel much too tight for her body and she tried her best to use her biokinetic powers to stop the pain but it didn't seem to help.
"You will clear the accursssed lightsss in the sssky. The ssssun, ssstars and moon will hide from your groom'sss presssencce. The heavensss will burn, cccitiessss will fall and humansss will be nothing but a bad dream. You will have a kingdom both here and in hell." The voice hissed tapping on the bathroom window. The moonlight shined into the room getting a snarl from the voice.
"B-but I-I d-don't want t-to-" Jane gasped as the pain ceased.
"You have no choiccce!" The voice snarled causing Jane to jump, "You will do asssss I command. You will follow my plan and if you do not. Inssstead of ruling your kingdom you will burn in it."
Jane's eyes widened and she turned and faced the person who turned her life into a living hell. Her skin was as pale as that of a ghost. Her dark raven hair reached the floor and was tangled and seemed to bob and shift like the heads of a hundred snakes. Her blood red lips were twisted back in a wicked smile, with sharp ivory fangs bared. Her body cloaked in a dark black gown that flowed to the floor. But what shook Jane the most was her acid green eyes. They gleamed in the darkness, staring Jane down. Daring her to defy her.
"W-who are you? Why me?" Jane asked timidly and the woman gave a cackling laugh that sent shivers up and down Jane's spine.
"I have many namesss child. Night Ssspirit, Queen of Demonsss, Mate of Sssamael, The firssst Mother, Chief of Witchesss, The Traveler of Mirrorsss, Patron of the Dark Moon, Ruler of the Night, Dessstroyer of Children, Sssseducer of Men, The Firsssst Demon, The sssscourge of God but you may call me….Lilith. Assssss for the reasssson you were chossssen you are the child of mine and the betrayer."
"The betrayer?" Jane asked and Lilith grinned,
"Eve. The one who sssent your Earth to itsss demissse. Your preccciousss father was a desssscccendent of Eve and Adam. While your mother, isss one of my few children. She hasss tried to hide her blood line in a preccciousss church. Little did ssshe know sshe sssealed the fate of man. Your ssstupid father fell for him and they bore two other children. Then they conccceived you. You had more demon blood in your body then your own mother!" At the last sentence she cackled some more, "I knew that if you grew you would be raisssed as any daughter of Eve. Sssubmissssive, obedient, a ssslave. Believing God would sssave you when you are mine. I thought tragedy would bring my grandchild out and turn you into my sssucccessssor."
"But your plan didn't work." Jane smiled triumphantly pointing a finger to her chest, "I'm not like you."
Lilith growled, "You think ssso? Explain the gift I bessstowed upon you, the one you usssed on thossse three boysss."
Jane tensed at the memory. Her eyes widened and a soft gasp escaped her pink lips. No, this…..monster couldn't have given her, her power. Jane had to be dreaming. She just had to be. This had to be a nightmare.
"You, like me detessst human children. You followed in my footssstepss when you were but a sssmall babe. Dessstroying 2 livesss and sssscarring another. Death followsss wherever you go sssuch assss it ssshould."
"Why me? Why not Gabriella or Ezekiel?" Jane felt like slime for begging for her dead siblings' pain over her own. How could she want Gabby or Zeke to have the loneliness and misery she endured now. But she had to know. What made her so special? Her brother and sister came from the same 'blood line', so why did Jane have to be the chosen one for this demon. For this role of evil that this villain wanted.
"Your brother pah!" Lilith spat, "The male ssspeccciesss have only one ussseful purpossse and that issss for bed. Asss disssgusted that a child of mine would choossse your imbecccile father for a mate I had to sspare for he would continue my blood line and if not for that sssmall matter he would've be dessstroyed. Asss for your sssissster Gabriella, ssshe held little promissse. Even if sssshe wasss my champion, my child and your mother bathed her in holy water from the time of her birth until ssshe reached the age of 3 the only time I can directly interfere in a child'sss life. I would not fail with you."
"So I'm your last choice. The plan B huh?" Jane snapped and Lilith shook her head, cradling Jane's face in her taloned hands.
"Jane you are exactly what wasss needed for my bargain. You are ssstrong while your sssissster wasss weak. Ssshe was ssssubssservient to all who asssked it of her. Even before I could act upon her life it wasss cccertain that wasss who ssshe would become. But I could not fail the massster."
Jane broke out of the demon's grip horrified, "Who's he? And what was your bargain with him?" Jane demanded and Lilith just smiled wickedly.
"Take a guesssss child. You will find out soon enough." The monster hissed, "For now, know where you ssstand and lisssten well to my Whisssperss in the Dark." With that Lilith roared and lunged at Jane and the woman closed her eyes and braced herself for pain.
Jane woke with a start and looked at her room. She sat up and searched around in her room for any sign of the woman in her nightmare. Jane let out a sigh and sat up slowly running her hands through her ebony hair. A nightmare, it was just a nightmare. That's what Jane wanted to believe. But she just couldn't, something about the woman seemed real. Memories of her childhood with her family flashed back into her mind. The voice was very much the same, but she could've made it all up right? But why would she? She wanted nothing more than to forget about the voice….about Lilith. It didn't make sense for all of this to rise back up now. A large breath escaped her pale lips as she brought her hands back to her lap. Where was this coming from? Why now? With her left hand she held onto her silver cross praying for protection. But 'Lilith's' words kept ringing in her ears. 'Sssubmissssive, obedient, a ssslave. Believing God would sssave you when you are mine' Jane gave an involuntarily shiver at the memory. She had killed people, she had no family, no friends, no one who loved her. Maybe she was destined for hell after all. What else was she good for? Jane realized she was shaking and tried her best to stop, to no avail.
What was she going to do? That God forsaken nightmare was burned into her brain. There was no use trying to forget it. Her nerves were shot and memories of her past surged through her brain. Willing herself to calm down she let out a sigh,
"Mom if you really did love me…..help me. Please." Jane prayed silently a few tears silently rolling down her face. "I can't do this alone. Please…please." A sob shook through her body and she held herself as she cried.
Hellboy wasn't sure how he felt when he woke up. He barley remembered the night before and what he did just made him pissed. He remembered fighting Froggie in Central Park and the damn thing did something to his arm. That he killed it just before he passed out. Remembering the burns, he glanced down to his left hand only to find it perfectly fine. He turned it around and clenched his fist and shrugged. He typically healed quickly, maybe the burn wasn't as bad as he had thought.
So here he was now, trying to find his gun and his coat as if his life depended on it and figure out where the hell he was. It wasn't the Bureau that was for sure. It was way too cozy looking for him to be there. Hellboy sat up on the beaten tan leather couch and looked around and spotted a charcoal colored cat in the corner of the room laying down sleeping. Its lazy amber eyes opened and looked up at the bright crimson man on his couch. It wasn't one of Hellboy's cats but it helped having a friendly face around.
"Hey kitty" Hellboy smiled and beckoned the feline over to him. The cat in reply just tilted its head to the side as if he was saying "Are you crazy? I'm not moving!"
"That won't work." A voice not far away nearly made the big red man tense slightly in surprise. He turned his head and his eyes nearly popped out of his head. There in the doorway of the living room was a woman, a beautiful woman at that. The woman's pale green eyes locked with Hellboy's before she looked back at the cat.
"Tubby makes Garfield look athletic. Don't expect anything from him unless you got food on you." The woman's voice sounded angelic to Hellboy's ears and he didn't take his eyes away from her, "My other cat, Maggie is friendlier but right now she's at the vet so, no kitty time for you."
"Noted." Hellboy nodded then stood to face her, "So mind tellin' me where I am?"
The woman tensed slightly before she gave a weak smile.
"I kinda found you K.O'd in Central Park." The woman laughed nervously placing her hands over her bare arms, "You were pretty beaten up, I couldn't just leave you out there."
"Uh….thanks I guess. Most people wouldn't think of letting me in their home." Hellboy replied and she smirked,
"I did but I had to take precautionary measures first."
"So let me guess, you got my gun and coat huh?" Hellboy asked and the smile that that lit up on her face made him a little less bothered that she took his Samaritan.
"Smart boy. But don't worry you'll get it back once you answer some questions of mine." Hellboy arched a brow at this.
"Questions?"
"You heard me. One of them involves you and the mutant version of Kermit you were fighting yesterday so if you want your stuff back you're going to have to answer my questions first." She grinned even more and Hellboy felt a small smile tug on his own lips.
He was half tempted to argue with her. To just search the place and find his gun and go. But he didn't. He couldn't. The shine in her green eyes told him to let her have her fun. Sure he was annoyed she had taken his stuff, but the way she looked at him….it made things….seem almost okay. Like he had nothing to worry about.
"Alright then. But I've got a question of my own that you gotta answer first." Hellboy said and Jane crossed her arms over her chest.
"Shoot."
"Who are you?" he asked and the woman smiled a little more,
"I'm Jane."
"Do you want a cup of coffee?" Jane asked as she made her way to the kitchen. The crimson man followed and nodded and Jane smiled. She walked over to the coffee maker and pressed a bottom to start the brew.
"So….question number one is," Jane stated as she turned to face her guest, "What's your name?"
He paused for a second, looking her over then answered, "Hellboy." Jane blinked a little surprised. That was one answer she wasn't expecting.
"Well, Hellboy, why exactly were you fighting Froggie back in the park?" Jane asked and Hellboy smirked,
"Unfortunately, it's part of my job description." This reply got Jane to raise a brow. Personally, there was no job that could possibly pay enough for her to be hunting down monstrosities like that. But she though thought better of voicing her opinion on the matter.
"Your job?"
"Yeah, not the most glamorous job in the world but hey it's a livin'." He shrugged and sat down at her dining room table.
"Okay then. New question then. What exactly is your job?" Jane asked and Hellboy smirked,
"Now that I can't tell ya." Jane pouted her lips and was silent for a little bit before smiling mischievously.
"Can I at least guess then?" Jane asked, her jade eyes gleaming and Hellboy grinned.
"Alright, ya can try but you're not gonna get too far." He stated matter-of-factly and she smirked. This 'Hellboy' clearly knew nothing about Jane, once she put her mind to something there was no force on Earth that could stop her from achieving her goal.
"Challenge accepted….so let me think." Jane said tapping her fingernails on her chin. "Big gun, big fist and fights monsters…..Hmm…..Paranormal exterminator?" Jane guessed and Hellboy began barking with laughter. Jane blinked unaware of what was so funny.
"Y-ya know what? That's practically it!" Hellboy chuckled, catching his breath. "For all sakes and purposes, I'm a paranormal exterminator."
Jane raised a brow as a shocked look crossed her features, "Really?"
"Pretty much." Hellboy laughed. Jane blinked once again and shook her head and sighed,
"Well….stranger things have happened in the world." Jane replied with a shrug as the coffee machine gave a soft beep signaling to the woman that the pot she was brewing was done. The young woman turned back to the machine and pulled out the freshly brewed pot and grabbed to coffee mugs from one of the cabinets.
"Do you want cream or sugar?" Jane asked turning back to the crimson man in her kitchen.
"Just a little sugar. But nothin' too sweet." Hellboy answered and Jane gave a nod picking up one of the packets of sugar and poured the fresh coffee into one of the mugs. There was an uncomfortable silence for both parties and the two of them until Jane spoke up again several minutes later, "So being paranormal exterminator. Must be a tough if every job you have ends up with you finding yourself passed out the next morning."
Hellboy nodded, "Ya have no idea. And that was one of my easier jobs." Jane looked at him in surprise, setting his cup of coffee in front of them.
"Damn. It better offer good health insurance." Jane joked causing the demon to laugh. Jane grinned, she loved listening to his laugh. It was thick, hearty and it seemed contagious. It made her forget about the event from last night. Almost
"Well now that ya know 'bout me, ya mind me askin' you some questions?" Hellboy asked and Jane shrugged.
"Well that only seems fair." Jane replied taking a sip of her own coffee as she sat down at the table across from him. "Ask away."
"What about you? What do you do for a livin'?" Hellboy asked and Jane blushed a bit in embarrassment,
"I'm a cleaning lady…and a waitress. Not exactly the classiest job in the world but hey…..it pays the bills." Jane answered with a frown before taking a sip of her black coffee. She looked away from her guest feeling self conscious. 'Here he is with an amazing job with adventure, while I'm just a little cleaning lady. Wow, he must think you're amazing.' Jane thought sarcastically and slightly bitter, rubbing one of her hands over her forearm subconsciously. Hellboy noticed her sudden shyness and feeling slightly guilty opened his mouth again,
"Alright your turn."
"Hmm?" Jane hummed confused before Hellboy elaborated,
"I asked ya a question. Now it's your turn to ask one." Hellboy explained and Jane smiled once again.
"Okay then…." Jane trailed off trying her best to think of another question, "What's your favorite…..type of candy bar?"
"Baby Ruths." Hellboy answered with a sly grin, "Candy bar seriously?"
"Hey I came up blank okay? I didn't know what else to say!" Jane said defensively, "It's your turn anyway so ask something already!" Hellboy chuckled at the woman's antics before taking another sip of his coffee.
"If ya don't mind me askin'….why ain't ya afraid of me?" Hellboy asked and Jane looked the demon in the eyes. Jade clashed with gold and Jane gave a soft smile,
"Because there isn't anything to be afraid of." Jane told him. This caused Hellboy to raise a brow.
"How-"
"I have what some people might call a sixth sense. Developed it actually but whenever something's wrong…..I get a feeling you know?" Jane explained while Hellboy frowned,
"Like a psychic?"
"Oh hell no. With psychics the info always comes too little too-"
"Damn late." Hellboy finished and Jane grinned,
"Exactly. But anyways I get feeling when something bad is going to happen and with you…..I don't feel like anything bad will happen, just good." Jane continued and Hellboy gave a soft smile of his own. "I guess that makes it my turn huh?"
"'Fraid so doll." Hellboy smirked and Jane stuck her tongue out at the demon playfully.
"Would you care to stay for breakfast?" Jane asked and Hellboy looked at her a bit surprised.
"I don't wanna be a bother."
"No it's fine.
"Really I shouldn't-"
"Please? It's just breakfast." Jane pleaded her green eyes wide as she batted her eyelashes looking as innocent as possible. Hellboy studied the woman for several minutes before giving a defeated sigh,
"I've fought trolls, witches and vampires. Hell I've even beaten mutant monkeys but I can't say no to you? What the hell is wrong with me?" Hellboy smirked, his eyes had a mischievous glint to them and Jane gave soft giggle.
"Nothing. I'm just insanely adorable." Jane said with a wink. Hellboy in reply rolled his eyes before he stood up,
"Ya got a place I could smoke 'round 'ere?" Hellboy asked, looking down at Jane. The ebony haired beauty pointed with her thumb to the door behind her,
"The terrace down the hall. Ash tray should be on the balcony. Has a lovely view of the empty building next door." Jane directed, sarcasm dripping from her voice as she took another sip of her coffee.
"You smoke?"
"No, but an old friend of mine does. Did. I had it before I moved and I just put it there just in case." Jane said, "I'll get breakfast ready while you're out there, okay?"
Hellboy nodded and lumbered down the hall. Jane smiled and pulled out a mixing bowl from one of her other cabinets and pulled out ingredients for pancakes. 'Hope he doesn't mind.' Jane thought as she began putting ingredients into the bowl and started on the batter.
Hellboy took a drag of his cigar as he thinking of what took place back in the kitchen. She had smiled at him. Jane, a beautiful young woman had smiled at him. A demon with a face of a broken gargoyle.
'Don't think too much into it. She's probably just being a good civilian.' The demon thought bitterly as a ring of smoke escaped his red lips. But she didn't have to bring him home, she didn't have to offer him coffee. Hellboy wouldn't have blamed Jane if he had just left him in the park. But she didn't, and for some reason that gave the demon hope. He sighed leaning his back thinking once again.
He smiled remembering of the time in the kitchen. The conversation made the red man feel normal, something extraordinary difficult for him. Maybe they could be friends, maybe he could normal. Even if it was just with her…..just for a little while.
