As soon as Sora reached the end of the staircase, he was assulted with a horrific scent. The scent of charred wood and flesh mingled with a harsh roar of a campfire. It wasn't what one would assume hell to look like, there wasn't a flash of flame no matter where the eye chose to rest, it was merely dark with the scent of rotting. No matter where one went.
The young man shivered as death came upon him like a wave. There was something about that in the book...He remembered from when he read it the first time.
Marluxia shivered as the wave and stench of death hit him. He could feel the demons struggling for his soul. "No!" He shouted, swinging the only weapon he brought with him around him as he began chanting a protective spell Larxiene had taught him.
Well fuck. Sora didn't know any protective spells...he didn't know any spells period. Well... as Roxas says, when all else fails get angry. Which is exactly what he did. He threw out his right arm, summoning his keyblade, something he had received long ago, and immediately fighting them off. "Stay. Away. From. Me!" He yelled.
After most of them fell to his blade, the rest disappeared into the darkness. His eyes widened as a small ball of light floated softly in front of him. It was a small girl with pure white wings.
"Hello." She said pleasantly, brushing back some of her golden hair. "My name is Namine, it is very pleasing that you got this far young man.."
"Sora ma'am." He responded, marveling at how small she was. She appeared to be no bigger than a pixie, but she looked about as old as Riku and he.
"Well Sora, I've been sent to help you find my ward. But remember, when I come out, I'm only here to heal. And only help as I see fit." Sora scoffed, looking away from the girl, who soon smiled. "And as I see, your wondering what good I am?" She questioned.
When he blushed, she smiled. "Well know this young keyblader, whenever I come out of this," She said pointing to the thin chain around his neck, Riku's chain, "You shall be safe from darkness. After all, one cannot fight him when weary." She smiled. "And we still have a few levels to go."
"Levels?" He questioned looking up at her. "As in the seven levels of hell? Those are real?" The small sprite laughed, nodding her head. "Why yes..yes they are. Sadly our young hero Marluixa," She nodded to the book in his bag. "Only reached the sixth."
"But!" Sora broke her off. "It said he faced the demon that held his love." Namine laughed quietly. "Ahh my naive one." She said fondly looking over at him. "You face him on the sixth. The seventh is the one you seek, but before you reach your love so near, whom you face is whom you fear."
Sora blinked, staring at her. "What do you mean I face who I fear? Clearly the one I fear is the devil."
"Then he will vanquish you." She responded carelessly, climbing onto his shoulder. "Are you sure that is your answer?" Sora paused before answering. In truth he didn't care who was holding him hostage...he was going to get to Riku, no matter what his loss was.
"No...I don't.." He responded, looking up at her. "Well if I don't fear him, who should I fear?" Namine smiled shaking her head. "That is something I cannot tell you little hero...you must find out for yourself."
Sora looked up at her before nodding. "Yes ma'am." The angel smiled fondly at him again, before pointing at a rusty wrought iron gate. "Enter through there to the second level my friend. There you will face another demon inside you." Sora nodded walking over to the gate. However it wouldn't open.
He looked at Namine. "Why won't it open?" He asked looking at her. "Well read the writing." She said, leaning against the side of his neck, reading it as well.
I look flat, but I am deep, Hidden realms I shelter. Lives I take, but food I offer. At times I am beautiful. I can be calm, angry and turbulent. I have no heart, but offer pleasure as well as death. No man can own me, yet I encompass what all men must have. What am I?
Sora stared blankly at the small metal plate in front of him, repeating a few lines before his face brightened. "An ocean!"
And with that the rusty gate opened with a creak, showing more stairs behind. "Before you continue.." Namine started, looking at his bag. "Should you not read ahead to find what your up against?" The younger's eyes widened before sitting against one of the gates, propping the book against his legs.
After defeating these demons Marluxia walked to a gate, answering the question and admitting to the path beyond. As he turned he notice-
Sora jumped looking wildly around. when he blinked, he saw Riku again. Keeping his eyes closed he looked around at the scene in front of him. His angel was kept against the wall, iron shackles chaining him in place. His silver hair was down to a light gray due to grime. His pale skin was mixing with tears as well as blood as he shivered in the shadow of something.
"And if you ever think your are not to fear me, you're wrong!" The man said, his hand ringing out in a slap as Riku flinched, though he didn't say anything, his eyes said it all. They were a mix of fear and anger. "What did I do?" He asked suddenly, though cut off by laughter, "What have you not done my tarnished angel?" He asked, bringing his chin up and pressing their lips together.
And the vision suddenly ended as Sora's eyes flew open. He stood, staring at Namine before shaking his head. "No more reading, I don't care what's coming. He needs me down there. Now." The tiny angel shivered softly, nodding.
"As you wish my dear." She said, sliding into the chain. which gave a nice warm glow and feeling comforting him all he needed as he descended another set of stairs.
Without a soul Call my name and save me from the dark....
My spirit sleeping somewhere cold
Until you find it there and lead
It back home
Ahh fun fun fun...let's pull him in deeper and torture Riku some more~ = D
Oh yeah...and I decided to make Namine something like Sora's guardian angel. Good idea?
Story (c) Me
Characters (c) Squeenix
Bring me to life (c) Evanescence
riddle (c) riddles(dot)com