Mermaid

Chapter 3: Into the Underworld

Fatal acts are done and unknown destinies are unveiled…

He was on fire. His entire body was a column of flames licking at his skin. This was a new feeling. It was beautiful and scary all at the same time. But it was a part of him, nonetheless. And he was where he belonged…at least where he should belong, anyways. Once the fire finally died down, the figure next to him started pacing down these wide caves. He noticed demons of all shades and sizes talking amongst themselves, their glares making him feel unwelcome here. He simply shrugged it off and stared at the floor as he walked.

The young firestarter had been following Phoenix. Unlike him, the demon was walking with such confidence and character… It was something he had lost recently, but finally found again as of tonight. He'd always been one to take charge. He was the kind of demon who could do more mental and emotional harm than physical, even with his hell-given abilities. And demons, if nothing else, respected him for that. His ice blue eyes shot back and forth, ready to torch anyone who even looked at him wrong. All the scared young man behind him did was walk with his head down.

"You walk with your head up around here," Phoenix calmly stated, not even sparing him a glance.

"Sorry," the young man quickly replied. He noticed that he was getting muck all over his Air Forces - why he decided to bring them down to God knows where, he would never know.

The two paced down a hallway, which had become a hall with grime-filled tiles. The firestarter noticed a room next to him, the door missing. Inside, a demon was hanging from his wrists, the chains in fierce knots. A femme fatal demon was carving and slicing his flesh, and had apparently been up to it for a while. The young man stood in place as he heard the muffled howls from the tortured demon.

"You shouldn't have crossed us, falling for a witch," the merciless she-demon snorted, spitting on his face at the last word. "Don't worry about your little bitch; she's been taken care of quite well." She noticed the firestarter standing in the frame. She simply gave him a wink of the eye and plunged her blade through the demon's bloodied chest. He watched the demon as he went up in a fiery blaze, leaving the chains to be swung back and forth from his vanquish.

Devin Blaze – he always preferred to be called Blaze for some reason - was now breathing heavily. This was a side to this world he was only now discovering. All he had the strength to do was glare at this demon and the space where her victim died.

"Welcome to the Underworld, baby," the demon greeted. Blaze left the threshold to see Phoenix standing in his path.

"Phoenix, I…," he began, but he was at an utter loss for words.

"I know. It's creepy," Phoenix picked up. Blaze then dropped his head, trying not to get emotional.

"How does it feel," he asked, staring at the ground. The mentor demon frowned at his student. "When you kill…when you take a life…how does it feel?"

Blaze always had a desperate need for answers. Whenever he found out that didn't know something, he'd be on the Internet the next second, or his nose would be deep within a book with a possible answer. And because this was all too new to him, he needed to know. If he was really going to follow him, he needed to know. Phoenix pointed his head down the hall. The two continued on their path.

"My first kill," Phoenix smiled, remembering that memory quite fondly. "It wasn't that bad, actually." Blaze shot his head up in utter disgust.

"I mean, I guess the humor in it kinda took away from the 'oh my God, I just killed somebody' feeling. She was trying to get away, but she tripped over a garbage can lid. It's a 'you had to be there' moment." Blaze dropped his head back to the floor.

"But, it's kill or be killed down here. And you get so caught up in the adrenaline that it clouds over your thinking. But you think a lot. So with you being a whiny virgin who's not even old enough to drink," Phoenix stated - Blaze pouted at his superior - "I'm willing to bet that you just may throw up when it comes down to it."

"I won't throw up," he defended himself.

"Oh, really?" Phoenix questioned. The firestarter kept his gaze locked with the demon's.

"We'll see." They were now in a cavern deep within the shadows of the Underworld. They both heard quiet sobs coming from a broken woman cradling herself in the corner. In the middle of the room, a warlock was pulling a tight black tee over his cut abs.

"Oh please, shut up. I wasn't that bad," the satisfied warlock simply said. Those last words caused a wave of cries to echo around the spacious room. He turned around to see Phoenix and Blaze standing in the room.

"Kane, must you always have it so dark in here?" Phoenix asked. Kane grinned at the two.

"You know I like it with the lights off." He started towards the duo, studying Phoenix's protégé; his hazel hair was in an army cut, a white t-shirt hugging his torso, and was standing with baby blue tight fit jeans. Blaze had the puppy boy face, his big brown eyes studying the woman with such intent. His now fierce gaze switched to the man in front of him, standing with such a cocky attitude, it made him sick.

"So…what, are you trying to be Underworld's Next Top Model or something," Kane snickered. The firestarter frowned at his clothes, then back at the warlock.

"Look better than you," he retorted. Kane raised his eyebrows at him. The warlock was clad in gray worn out jeans and combat boots. He ran his pale hand through his short brown locks, his emerald eyes locked on the kid. The woman's sobs were now in a low moan, trying to hold herself together.

"Ooh…good one," Phoenix sarcastically joked, rolling his eyes at the two.

"Whatever." Kane turned his attention to the demon. "You kill her?"

"Of course I killed her," Phoenix proudly answered, "she goes to that stupid nightclub every other night." Kane half heartily chuckled at his little quip.

"So, what's with him," the warlock curiously asked. "Is this about the fish bitch that got away?"

"No, it isn't," Phoenix fiercely hissed, which finally silenced the witch in the corner.

"Fish bitch," Blaze repeated questionably.

"Apparently, a mermaid helped vanquish his brother." Blaze looked up to Phoenix. A solemn look was shown on his face. "Which reminds me: we need to chat whenever you get the chance. Aurora thinks there may be more in store for not only us, but for her as well," Kane stated. Phoenix nodded, his mind still lingering on his brother.

Blaze could see the man he had come to know for so long was determined to do something. But what it was, he had no idea.

"I'm sorry," the firestarter offered.

"I don't need your pity, thanks." He began to pace around the room. "This is bigger than her... this is bigger than Nomed. Hell, this is bigger than the Source's throne. This is about the rebirth of the Underworld."

"Yes," Kane grinned, "and that explains why Mr. Homecoming is here."

"He's a firestarter," Phoenix sneered. The warlock's smile quickly faded, as he glared at Blaze. At that point, the young man felt odd. That was only the second time anyone had ever called him that. Obviously, it meant someone who started fires. But it couldn't be much more than that, right? He now had high expectations of himself, that he was meant for something more. But what?

"There's only thirteen…twelve of them left," Kane stated, remembering the firestarter who was killed by her own sister just several years ago; a tragedy, indeed.

"I know. Here's one of them." Blaze stared at the warlock, sensing his view towards him might change. Surprisingly, he stuck out his hand to him.

"The name's Kane," he finally greeted. Blaze kept his solemn face and took his cold, rough hand.

"Devin…Devin Blaze," he introduced. Kane snickered at his surname.

"Blaze…it fits you." He took his hand back and slowly walked towards the witch in the corner. "Well then…let's prove it."

He leaned over and hauled her up by her dark midnight locks. The defenseless witch cried out as the filthy blanket covering her fell back to the floor, exposing her nude body. The squeamish firestarter threw his hand over his mouth, glaring at the inhuman damage. She had various bloody ribbons of four running down her legs and waist, her face an array of bruises and cuts, and her contorted expression only making the image just unbearable to look at. And yet he just couldn't look away.

"Kill her," Kane simply ordered, as if there was nothing to it, as if it was as natural as telling someone your name.

"Kane," Phoenix warned. "Don't."

"Trust me; the sweets of this corn are long gone. Now burn the cob," Kane playfully paraphrased. Blaze simply shook his head, still glaring at the woman.

"No," he finally answered. Kane's face of pleasure turned into a face of disappointment.

"Just set the bitch on fire. There's nothing to it," he went on. He heard the witch whimper at him.

"Shut up," the firestarter whispered.

"DO IT!" Kane's face was now of pure rage. "What? You scared now, little man?"

"I said shut up," Blaze repeated. He didn't realize it, but a small flicker went up in front of him.

"You can't even start a fire? Fine…that's okay. Just run home to mommy, 'kay kiddo?" the warlock sneered. The young man locked his eyes shut.

It's okay, Blaze thought, he doesn't know. A globe of fire had grown into itself, unknown to its creator.

He's almost there, Phoenix thought, just a little more.

"Or is she already six feet under by now?" Kane finished.

That did it.

"I SAID SHUT UP," Blaze roared, his tears and anger choking his voice. The fire was pushed into the witch held all this time. Blaze finally opened his eyes to see the woman finally finding peace with her lover as she was consumed by his very own flames. Kane let go of her moist locks as she finally imploded. The trio simply stood there in sheer amazement.

Blaze felt the tears and pain – was it tears and pain? - choke his throat as he doubled over. Before he knew it, he released his bowels and vomited on the deceased witch's scorch mark.

"Aw, sick." Kane applauded, patting the firestarter on his back.

Phoenix merely shook his head, his emotions a mix of amazement…and fear. "Told you so."

(-o-)

Phoenix had dropped Blaze off in his cavern for a while. This matter was very important to him and it was something that had to be kept between him and Kane. Phoenix had returned to Kane's "layer" of sorts. The warlock had been waiting for his good friend for a while.

"So…what is it?" the impatient demon questioned. Kane took in a deep breath through his pointed nose, not knowing how to word all of this.

"She's our end," Kane simply said. Phoenix shot him a quizzical look.

"What do you mean, "she's" our end'?"

"The Sea Gods…they have plans for her. The mermaid isn't like other mermaids. She's…different, special," Kane explained as he began to pace around the cave. "Supposedly, she has a 'higher calling' on land. They need her. They gotta know about our plans. You know as well as I do that since the Triad was finally vanquished, things are getting very quiet around here. And they're getting suspicious. You could only go so long without any major demon activity above ground."

Phoenix held a solemn face. "So, what are you saying? That there's a chance that…we may fail…?" Kane looked to the floor, unable to keep a steady gaze with the cold eyed demon. Phoenix shook his head in fear. "This can't be happening. We've worked too damn hard for that half breed to come and screw it all up!" He was practically livid. His face had become a light crimson.

"I didn't say we were going to lose. She's just someone to take seriously," Kane began, stepping over the vomit covered scorch mark. "Come on, you said it yourself; the Underworld's in a renaissance. New breeds are being formed, we're makings factions by the dozens, and we have a firestarter," Kane reassured. He walked towards him and threw his arm around his friend's shoulder. "With you here…we can't lose."

Phoenix's cold eyes were fixed on the wall, thinking about his plan. Going for the throne would be too common. Every demon would be after him. It'd be mayhem. They needed to create an environment with no dictators, whatsoever. Every being down here was equal. And all of them would rise to power or none of them would. Phoenix nodded at his faction partner, knowing that this would be war.

"We won't."