Will I get around to writing the third part to this? Yeah, eventually. Perhaps. But it will be posted here. :/
Summary
Kirsty is finally welcomed to the Labyrinth, and comes to learn the truth of her destiny within this place she had once run from, and the Leader of Cenobites himself.
Rated: M
Genre: Horror/Romance
Characters: Kirsty/Pinhead
Time to Play
In the depths of the Labyrinth, many thousands of souls writhed and screamed in pure agony, crying out for mercy, or simply in pure ecstasy. They were there from their own Freudian dealings, and the knowledge of that made them suffer more so, something which pleased their tormentors.
The Lament Configuration box, though innocent-looking in the form of an intricate three dimensional puzzle, was a path to ultimate sensation to all those who would solve it...or perhaps damnation, depending on the point of view. It was a path to that very world. Utopia or Dystopia; either was what lay in wait for the eager and waiting soul who would be brave enough to tinker with this tempting if harmless-looking work of art.
Pain, pleasure...Heaven, Hell...rapture, agony; those was what awaited them, along with a race of mutilated creatures known as the Cenobites; former humans who were just as eager to show their caller the true meaning of pleasure and pain on arrival to their realm - and this cold and dismal world was certainly not for the faint of heart.
Grotesque pieces of human flesh and bone hung up on sickening yet exquisite display for all to see on many wooden rotating pillars which dripped of blood. Rusting chains dangled from the unseen ceilings above, swinging around freely and clinking noisily against the other in an uneven metallic rhythm. The vapid and uneven corridors went on forever, in between an avenue of stone walls decorated with much torturous ornamentation and what appeared to be thick branches of dead wood which clung to the walls like the Ivy plant on Earth.
While this place held nothing but fear, suffering, regret and pain to some, it was home to many...including the Cenobites. Especially more so to their stern and stoic Leader, the one named Xipe Totec...the Prince of Pain.
Given the unflattering moniker of 'Pinhead' by the supplicants, thanks to many pins that were driven into his pale and scarred cranium, Xipe walked in a slow yet steady pace down those dark corridors, amongst the chains and the creaking, rotating pillars taking in all that was practically from his own handiwork. A dark smile evident for all to see was spread across his countenance, for his journey was not a lone one.
His expression was worthy to that, in human terms, as '...the cat that had gotten the cream.'
Walking alongside that of the Dark Prince of her own volition, her hand firmly gripping his eagerly and her deeply brown eyes which were misted slightly with tears scanning the new world around her - drinking the sights of the Labyrinth - was the one known as Kirsty Cotton, once the greatest nemesis...but no longer she was.
Only minutes before she had unlocked the Lament Configuration, and for the final time it would seem. It would appear to be that finally, the once so stubborn and defiant Kirsty Cotton had now accepted her fate and had willingly given herself to this realm, and to him, finally admitting the world she had known for just three decades no longer held a place for her.
Xipe had been right; she did belong to this world, and with him especially. She had done since the first time she clapped eyes on the puzzle box, on him.
Every trace of innocence and sweet radiance her soul once possessed had now gone. Only dark desires were now all that was left of Kirsty Cotton.
Xipe had known. He had known all this time. He had told her this day was coming, and now it was upon her. She wanted this, and she wouldn't have it any other way for she wanted him just as badly as he wanted her.
Now, they were together and life within the walls of this realm was set to become much more interesting.
Kirsty did not know of what lay ahead of her, of the final destiny she had yet to fulfil. Even Xipe himself did not know. Only Leviathan, the God of hunger, flesh and desire - a deity the Cenobites served - knew of Kirsty Cotton's fate.
But now, they were about to discover what was to come of her...together.
On their journey to consult with the diamond God, Xipe Totec and his newest companion passed many of the others belonging to that of this heavily mutilated race through the never ending corridors with Xipe briefly acknowledging them with a slight courteous bow of his head, while they gaped at the sight of the human female known as Kirsty Cotton walking alongside him without struggle or defiance.
Every occupant of this dark and cold world was very familiar with Kirsty Cotton. Even the younger and less experienced Cenobites knew of this stunning creature. Her name was infamous throughout the whole of the Labyrinth, famous for her defiance and bargaining rather bravely with the Prince on more than one occasion. And yet here she was - at long last - exploring her new territory with their Lord and leader.
Kirsty, though she was sure that Xipe was taking her to some place in particular but unsure as to where exactly, was beginning to feel the familiar twinges of awkwardness and hesitancy in her belly. The pinned Cenobite walking beside her had not uttered a single word since she had taken his hand and walked through the portal with him, leaving her world behind and entering into his. Surely since he has much to show her of his home - such sights to show her, as he had eloquently put it years before - he'd be regaling her, telling her what was what and maybe even filling her in on what she was set to become.
But no, nothing. Not a single word.
Clearing her throat Kirsty briefly glanced up to his face, seeing how his eyes appeared glued to the distance ahead. Opening her mouth, Kirsty mustered up enough courage to speak.
"Erm, this is gonna sound odd...but..." Kirsty said, a little chuckle coming at the end and watching as Xipe turned his dark and rather sensuous gaze to her. She felt as small and fragile as a mouse under his powerful and lingering stare. Embarrassment suddenly overcame her and she lowered her head to avoid looking into those deeply gorgeous onyx eyes.
"What is it? You have questions?" Xipe inquired, his deeply authoritative voice throwing her completely off guard.
"...Oh it's nothing, forget it." she mumbled shyly, running a hand slowly through her hair and still avoiding the rather oddly handsome Cenobite's seductive gaze at all costs...and pondering rather on why she never, in all the years she had known of his existence, thought him to be handsome before.
Xipe's hairless eyebrow knotted at her coyness. "Now come, Kirsty, any questions you may have you must feel free to ask. After all, you will soon become a resident of the Labyrinth. So, please, what is it you wish to know?"
Kirsty ceased walking, and turned to look into his intricately adorned face again. She smiled up to him rather shyly, feeling her cheeks burning the longer she stared up to him. "Um, so...do you...do you have a name?" she murmured tentatively. "In all the time I've known you, I never learnt of your name. I mean surely no one here calls you Pinhead?"
A familiar smirk began to weave its way through Xipe's pallid lips, and Kirsty felt his hand squeezing hers. She took this for a good sign. She didn't want to get on his bad side on her first day here, that was for sure. But looking to him now, she could see that he appeared surprisingly amused.
"I go by many names, my sweet Kirsty..." he told her. "Pinhead being the unflattering term given to me by the many ungrateful human souls here, for obvious reasons. In my former human life, my name was Elliot James Spencer, but on arrival to the Labyrinth and following my rebirth, my Lord and God Leviathan bestowed me with the name of Xipe Totec. Originated from the Flayed God of Aztec mythology. I have been referred to by that name since."
Kirsty nodded, intrigued by the origin of his chosen name. "I see. Xipe. Unusual name. So, what do I call you then? Xipe? Elliot...Pinhead?"
Xipe appeared somewhat amused again. "You may call me Xipe, if you wish."
Kirsty let loose a giggle. "Okay then. Xipe." she said, still gazing into those eyes. Such eyes that were like the most twinkly diamonds she had ever seen.
The two remained like this for several seconds, just gazing intently into each others' eyes until Xipe decided to be the first to break it off. "Is that all, Kirsty, or do you have more questions?"
A small smile curled up her ruby lips and she lowered her gaze once more. A sudden surge of courage coursed through her and she found herself lifting a hand to stroke the pins that were embedded deeply into his skull.
"Why do you look like this?...Mutilated, I mean?"
"Sadomasochism, Kirsty. We are dedicated to the craft, eager to explore and apply every aspect of it."
"Your piercings and mutilations...they're all applied so uniquely to each individual."
Xipe's eyebrow once again arched, and his head cocked to the side before he lowered his own gaze to the floor. "Our God made us all what we are for reasons that are unknown to us. Leviathan has His reasons for making us what we appear to be, and we choose not to ask questions. It is better that way. We learn to live with our mutilations over time, and during that course, they become like that of a second limb, no different to an arm or a leg. They simply make us what we are."
Kirsty found herself closing the distance separating her and Xipe, their bodies becoming almost one with the closeness. "I see." she murmured, her hand making its way to his chest and the fingers running along each deeply bloody wound, exploring the depths of them. "They no longer frighten me any more, Xipe." she countered bravely. "You no longer frighten me. I can see now. You are beautiful." Whilst one hand remained rested on his chest, her other free hand journeyed to his head and she gently ran her palm along the tips of his pins.
"We are merely dedicated to our craft. It is an expansion of sensation. Here, pain and pleasure walk hand in hand. Those who summon us, like your uncle, wish to go to further heights than what their own realm can take them to. Many wish to flee us, fearing what they do not understand, and some welcome our ways with open arms."
"Oh..." Kirsty was taken aback by Xipe's explanation of his work. She had never thought of it in that way before. "I see."
Xipe bestowed a radiant smile on the human girl before him, a smile rather alien to his inhuman face. "Yes. And in time, my Kirsty, you will understand more of our world and our ways. I promise you, it will be quite exquisite." he said before taking an unconscious step back and once again gripping her hand in his. "Come, Kirsty, we must not keep Leviathan waiting."
Clearing her throat, Kirsty nodded and allowed for him to lead her in the direction of where the God Leviathan resided. Everything appeared to be somewhat clearer to her now, except for one thing; the Cenobite Prince himself.
Despite the long, lingering sweet kiss she had just shared back on Earth with the pin-headed Cenobite walking beside her, Kirsty was not certain to how Xipe fitted in at all with the new life that lay just over the horizon. That was if he was to be involved at all.
Was he to be the one who would transform her, if she was to become like him?
Would he be the one to train her?
If she was destined for a barrage of horrific tortures to be inflicted on her succulent flesh like that of Frank or Trevor, would he be the one who bestows it onto her?
Kirsty, quite frankly, just didn't care of her final fate. She reasoned whatever was going to happen to her, she was ready for it. She welcomed it. As long as it was to be with him, and only him. It had to be him and no one else.
Xipe Totec could sense those very motions swimming around the broken girl's fragile mind, could actually hear her speak out those words as if she were saying them aloud, and a slight smile curled up his ashen lips.
'Ah, my sweet Kirsty, how far you have come...how very brave and eager. But you still have a long way to go...' the Cenobite thought to himself, just as they neared the very locality of Leviathan Himself.
Kirsty recognised the multi-faceted diamond shaped entity before her. She had been there before, barely fifteen years previously. She shuddered, both in fear and anticipation, remembering the first time she laid eyes on the Idol.
Still monstrously gargantuan and suspended in mid air, rotating ever slowly on its axis as always, the same old deeply dark continuous hum rang throughout the maze in which the couple were stood amongst, and its misty dark beams continued to strobe all around as the mysterious being slowly spun.
Leviathan floated completely unsupported at the very end of a single catwalk, a great view of the Labyrinth and beyond surrounded Him, but Kirsty's eyes were so ever drawn to the powerful behemoth before her. So much so that she failed to assume the kneeling position like that of her companion.
"Kirsty...you must kneel." Xipe suddenly spoke, breaking Kirsty free of her whirling thoughts. Dominance laced his cavernous voice, but there lay a hint of amusement in his potent gaze when she turned to lock eyes with his. She didn't know what to make of that.
"Oh, s-sorry." she conveyed earnestly, at once dropping to her knees and following Xipe's example of lowering her gaze to the stone floor beneath them.
"My Lord..." Xipe called out to the otherworldly being, his leather-bound arms sweeping over his chest in a typical cross gesture. "I have brought the one named Kirsty Cotton. She opened the box of her own free will and has finally accepted her fate. She wishes to join us and appears before us now. What say you?"
Kirsty kept her eyes glued to the floor at all times, resisting the urge to lift her head and quivering with expectation as she waited for the diamond God to finally speak.
Eventually, He did...and a mixture of surprise, fear and awe surged through her soul.
"EXCELLENT, MY SON..." the Behemoth replied, speaking in, to Kirsty's surprise, her own tongue. "YOU SERVE ME WELL. I FORESEEN THIS DAY FOR MANY A DECADE, EVEN BEFORE SHE CAME TO BEING..."
Xipe's hairless brow puckered ever so slightly at the God's words. "My Lord...?"
"MY SON, KIRSTY COTTON IS THE CHOSEN ONE..." Leviathan elaborated. "THE VERY BEING WHO SHALL RULE OVER THE LABYRINTH, TO LEAD OUR REALM INTO A NEW AGE, ALONGSIDE THAT OF HER CONSORT - THE LEADER OF CENOBITES. YOU, MY SON!"
The very minute those earth shattering words left the behemoth, neither Kirsty or Xipe knew who was in more shock out of the two of them. Kirsty could no longer keep her gaze locked to the ground and found her head suddenly snapping upwards, staring to Leviathan questioningly, her jaw slacken and hanging open wide. Turning ever so slowly, she looked to Xipe whose eyes looked set to pop from their sockets.
Choosing his words ever so carefully, the Prince spoke once again to his Lord and creator. "But, my Lord, I do not understand..." he started. "I always believed Kirsty Cotton was the greatest nemesis. News of her upcoming reign over the Labyrinth has...deeply astounded me. I merely believed she would simply become my consort..."
"YES, INDEED YOU WERE RIGHT, MY SON. SHE IS YOURS FOR ALL ETERNITY. BUT IT'S NOT AS SIMPLE AS THAT. DID YOU EVER STOP TO CONSIDER WHY YOU DESIRED HER? WHY YOU SIMPLY HAD TO HAVE HER? WHY YOU RELENTLESSLY PURSUED HER...?"
Xipe's eyes widened once more, picking up the rest of Leviathan's speech. "...Why Frank Cotton purchased the box...why she ended up under the care of Doctor Phillip Channard...why she married Trevor Gooden..." Once again, his eyes widened, and he inhaled a deep intake of breath. "Those were not coincidences, were they?"
"INDEED, EXCELLENT OBSERVATION MY SON." Leviathan praised. "KIRSTY COTTON WAS, FROM THE MOMENT OF CONCEPTION, DESTINED TO BECOME THE QUEEN OF THE LABYRINTH. THOSE WERE THE DESIRES YOU YOURSELF SENSED WHEN SHE SUMMONED YOU MANY YEARS AGO. THE MEETING BETWEEN THE TWO OF YOU WAS NO MERE ACCIDENT...AND WHERE HER LIFE TOOK HER FOLLOWING YOUR MEETING. YOU ARE SOULMATES...ALWAYS MEANT TO BE, NO MATTER WHAT. THE LAMENT WORKS IN SUCH A MYSTERIOUS WAY IN TERMS OF DESTINY AND NOW, MY SON, KIRSTY IS TO SET HER OWN DESTINY IN MOTION. SHE STILL HAS A LONG WAY TO GO, BUT I BELIEVE SHE IS READY FOR THE FIRST INITIAL TRANSFORMATION."
Kirsty felt the sudden urge to void both her bladder and stomach contents at Leviathan's revelation. The enormity of the situation abruptly swept over her and it dawned on her quite quickly. It was like lightning had struck her; she was to be married to Xipe Totec, and be a Queen, and it was all there for the taking. All she had to do was reach out and take it.
Instead, her body gave way to trembling quakes and her eyes overfilled with tears. Using the edge of her sleeve to wipe away the narrow streaks of tears that were streaming down her cheeks, Kirsty tried ever so hard to hide her new found fear and uncertainty to the best of her ability, but it was quite futile. There was no hiding of anything from either Leviathan, or her soon-to-be Cenobitic husband.
All of a sudden, she felt a hand rest tenderly on her shoulder, feeling the cold flesh on the palm brushing against hers. Just as it gripped her shoulder, Kirsty looked up into the face of the owner of the oddly comforting touch, seeing Xipe staring down to her, a wave of assurance flooding his pierced visage, though his eyes remaining calm and empty. It somehow soothed her, and her own hand made to eventually and slowly shroud over his tenderly.
"Come now, Kirsty..." His voice was soothing but also commanding. "You must not fear your own destiny. This is yours, it always has been. I promise you, once you fulfil it, it will be quite exquisite. Everything you ever wanted will be yours for the taking, and every question you longed for answers to will be vindicated. The pitiful life you once led will be but a distant memory when you finally become one of us."
Another feeling of assurance swept over her, and she could sense the courage she had worked so hard to build returning to her once again, though she still felt the tell-tale signs of nausea and anticipation lingering in her soul. Something she attempted again to hide from her consort to be.
But it was futile.
Xipe must have been able to see right through her. He could read her like a book, and he knew her so well. The Cenobite smiled down to her once again and lowered his head down, aiming for her face which his icy cold hands cupped eagerly. She allowed him to place his pallid lips to hers, welcoming a kiss under the presence of Leviathan which continued to circle over head.
Another sweet kiss from the Dark Prince of Pain. The Cenobite in her embrace never ceased to surprise her. Not for a second.
A minute of their contrasting pale and ruby mouths melding and sliding together was long enough to pacify Kirsty, and Xipe eventually prised his lips away from hers. The Cenobite rested his forehead to hers as much was permitted considering the pins, and whispered into her ear; "You have nothing to fear, Kirsty..." he murmured, speaking of her upcoming transformation. "Your rebirth will be quite remarkable, just as the caterpillar enters into the pupa only to emerge as bold and beautiful as before - as the Butterfly it was destined to become."
As Xipe spoke, Kirsty failed to notice a golden chamber rising mere couple of feet behind her, a chamber which was, also like the Lament Configuration box and even Leviathan Himself, patterned with the same old intricacies and designs. When it had finally emerged from the depths below, Kirsty whirled around and her eyes fell upon it for the first time.
She gasped, remembering it also from fifteen years previously. She had saved her old friend Tiffany from stumbling into it and she had a fair idea of what it truly was.
"Is this...? Is it...? Will this...change...?"
Kirsty need not have elaborated. Xipe knew as to what she was inquiring. He nodded his head to her, confirming what she was thinking. "Indeed." he said simply.
The dark-haired woman destined for such a wondrous if too big a fate swallowed extremely hard, and found herself being pushed backwards, in the direction of the chamber which doors were now roaring open for her to step into. Just as her feet first touched the floor of the chamber, a sudden wave of panic consumed her, and her hand searched for his - reaching out to grab a hold of, looking for a form of comfort and assurance.
Their arms were now outstretched, their hands firmly clutching each other's. Kirsty's misty eyes firmly locked onto his pools of slickness as she made an eternally damned confession that would rock the very boundaries of the Labyrinth.
"I...I love you."
It was something that was never uttered before, and certainly never to him. Never in the many years Xipe served the Labyrinth had he heard such a confession. Even she was surprised by her own admission. He did not know of how to respond, so he decided to smile as warmly as possibly as allowed and once again squeezed her hand encouragingly.
But before he could finally muster up the courage to say the actual words that were just spoken to him, slithery tentacles shot out from the darkness of the chamber and wrapped around Kirsty's wrists, neck, and legs, and then dragged her into the darkness.
Her hand was yanked rather cruelly and brutally from his, and Xipe had no choice but to move away. He felt no pity or remorse for Kirsty's predicament, but he understood all too well what she was going through. He went through it himself, many years before.
Kirsty's heart-rending screams filled the Labyrinth and beyond as she felt many what felt like tubes and needles being driven into her form.
She could not see a thing, as she was shrouded in darkness. It was like being in a coffin, and she didn't know of what was more terrifying; the claustrophobia or the searing pain and tortures of her flesh she was undergoing.
Kirsty began to feel blades and knives slice into her clothing before they were forcibly torn from her body, only for something heavy, cold and leather to be slapped into their place.
Some of her hair was being burnt off, just to the centre of her head, and almost immediately several hot spiked beams were rammed into her skull...three, she counted.
The pain was excruciating, and she did not know how much more her body could possibly take.
Suddenly, just as she felt the torture had finally ended after what felt like an eternity of her flesh and soul being torn apart and sewn back together numerous times, there was a unbearable pain in her chest, just where her heart was throbbing and pumping. The pain felt akin to a powerful punch and it knocked the wind out of her. She could not see of what this was, but she felt it digging deeper into her chest, deeper...and deeper...and deeper still...until...
Kirsty screamed until her throat was raw, feeling something grip a tight hold of her very heart. There was an audible squishing sound and the feel of something warm exiting the wound in her chest, something warm and bleeding.
Then she heard familiar drumming sounds; sounds she used to be able to hear if she remained still and silent and stuck her fingers in her ears. Only this time, she could hear it as if it were being held up to her very face...her heart!
The drumming slowly began to dwindle to longer the heart had been absent from her body, until it finally stopped, and she heard something wet fall to the floor.
Kirsty Cotton was now without a heart. How was she still surviving?
No matter, it was what was happening now that was taking Kirsty's attention the most. The huge wound in her chest where her heart had been forcibly removed was left open and even held in place with her new leather-bound outfit.
After what appeared to feel like a lifetime trapped in this Cenobitic transformation chamber, Kirsty felt her life flash before her; her conception, growing in the womb as a foetus, being born, her tender childhood years, and the carefree life she had led before her devious uncle had violently taken her innocence.
Being held down and raped by Uncle Frank at the age of ten...a memory she had fought so hard to suppress. Her most painful memory...
Then the more unpleasant memories flash her by; her mother's death, Julia, the Box, the Cenobites, her father dead and stripped of his skin, Channard, Tiffany, Kyle, mental Institutes, Trevor...
She let out one guttural moan, and pleasure suddenly overtook her. Everything had now slotted into place now, like the missing piece of a jigsaw.
She knew who she was now, and she welcomed her with open arms - just in time for the chamber door to slide open, revealing her lover, her consort; Xipe Totec stood before her, waiting to greet her.
A small group of other Cenobites had gathered for the unveiling of the new Cenobite Queen, and Kirsty could see the differing facial expressions on each of them. Three of whom she instantly recognised; the obese one, the one with chattering teeth and the female with the exposed throat, were taking in her new look with complete awe. Another Cenobite she had never seen before, a female with an exposed skull, was scowling and glaring to her. Her sensuous eyes was littered with smouldering fury and dare Kirsty admit it...jealousy.
Xipe, however, seemed utterly taken aback by his soon-to-be wife's new look, but pleased nonetheless. His arms outstretched, and his hands reached out to take hers, with Kirsty accepting and allowing for him to help her out from the chamber.
Kirsty stepped from the darkness of her rebirth womb, into her new world and into the embrace of the Cenobite she was betrothed to.
"BEHOLD, XILONEN! QUEEN OF THE LABYRINTH! KNEEL BEFORE HER!" Leviathan proclaimed.
The whole congregation dropped to their knees at once, bowing low before their new Queen. The female with the exposed skull took longer to comply to Leviathan's order, but she eventually and rather grudgingly did so, to her ultimate disgust.
Kirsty, now reborn as Xilonen, took in the adoring gazes of the Cenobites around her, amazed by their servitude. Even Xipe was bowing low to her, rather briefly though and he was on his feet within seconds, standing over his intended and gazing to her rather lovingly.
"My darling Xilonen..." he murmured. "Your transition is complete. You are now a true Cenobite. How do you feel?"
Xilonen allowed for a mischievous smirk to curl up her now ghastly dark red lips. She looked him up and down with a hungry stir and her elongated finger nails began to rake across the wounds on his chest teasingly. A surge of desire took over his senses, and he hissed at the touch ever so quietly.
Reaching over, Xilonen suddenly - without warning - leaned into him and let her studded tongue slip slowly across his ear, then gave a teasing nibble.
He gasped, and felt himself stir between his legs.
"Xilonen?!"
Leaning away, Xilonen gazed up to her Lord, master...and soon to be husband, and smiled to him.
"I believe..." she murmured in the huskiest voice Xipe had ever heard, making everyone take notice at once.
Turning ever so slightly and looking to Xipe over her shoulders with half lidded eyes, eyes so much like his now, eyes flooded with unadulterated lust and desire, murmuring before she slithered away with a hungry and with an overly-desired Xipe following close behind attentively...
"It is time to play."
The End...
Oh, and if you're interested at all about Kirsty's Cenobite form and her look, then check out the Hellraiser fan art from OneWingedAngel175 on deviantArt. On my request and design notes, she drew Cenobite Kirsty for this 'verse a few years ago. And it's a very accurate description. :) Also, if you're wondering about the name 'Xilonen', well basically it's the female version of Xipe. I shall be writing a thorough description of Xilonen's Cenobite form in the third and final part.