Well... That took a while. I got a few problems... This month was shit. Plain and simple. But if you read it then that means I managed to post it... Hope you all will enjoy this.
Chapter 27
"End of Hope"
"...But before we continue, does any of you want a drink?"
Lucifugus asked his companions before Emissary could go further with his story. Pen just shook his head.
"Thank you My Lord, but I don't really need one." Healer politely declined
"I would definitely like one Lord Lucifugus..." Emissary though seemed more than happy to accept this proposition "Will help me telling the next part."
On that answer Lucifugus looked below his desk again and picked out a much smaller bottle from the box and gave it carefully to Emissary who proceeded to quickly open it and gulp down it's aromatic content.
"Fah... That's a nice one." Emissary seemed very content, he even started to smile "I guess only the best are served to Supreme ones."
Lucifugus though didn't listen and just drank some of his own drink. He himself never noticed any difference... At this point all the tastes just blended with each other. Nothing tasted better or worse. At least it took his mind away for the reality he was in... If only a little. Healer seemed to be worried when he started drinking again though. Probably expected him to throw it at the wall again.
"Eh..." Lucifugus scratched back of his head "So continue. How did that fight go after this?"
Emissary drank some more of his drink and proceeded
"Not much happened after that really. Once Lucifero saved Lord Beelzebub a portal has opened behind them. Most likely Beelzebub and Lucifero realized that they wont win against him in such a fight so they quickly retreated, with tails between their legs." Emissary smiled, probably witnessing that moment before his very eyes "We never saw them again. My Lord though..."
In the past
Their base was now a complete ruin. Their location was compromised. They had to move. As far away from here as possible before they were swarmed by Lucifero's army. Quickly the Devils around proceeded to salvage whatever they could from the ruins, many of them were visibly ashamed of not being able to help their lord in this fight. Emissary though felt instinctively that they wouldn't be able to do much either way, but... This lack of action on their part really did reminded him of that pathetic Devil from the Blind Canyon. Disgrace... Complete disgrace.
Although he couldn't help, but notice their Lord's lack of movement, he seemed to be holding something in his hands as he stood where he previously stopped fighting 2 lords and as Emissary flew up he saw what it was in his pale palms, last remains of his gloves from that 'angel' he met in World above. One of the few parts that remained. Driven by strange feeling of compassion Emissary quickly flew up to him. Shame slowly taking over his mind.
"I'm sorry my Lord that we failed to-"
"Get all the parts." Lord of the Flies cut him off with a very stern and quiet voice.
"Wh..." This caught Emissary off guard "Excuse my-"
"GET ALL THE PARTS!" Lord of the Flies screamed at him this time
The volume of his voice caused every Devil around to stop their work and Emissary's ears hurt a little as the full volume hit him like a mountain. One look at him was all they needed and quickly spread out looking for remains of those gloves. Emissary though was left stunned. He could see and feel the anger and contempt his master now had in his eyes. It was like a raging storm ravaging once peaceful land without mercy.
"My Lord..." Emissary's voice was quiet and careful "With all due respect..."
Emissary continued talking, but it was hard. It felt as if one wrong word would spell his death. He had to tread carefully. It was painful... Having to be careful... around him.
"I...I don't believe there is much..." He looked again at the remaining parts... almost nothing was left and few that were started to be scattered by the wind which his lord couldn't stop "if anything else left. Maybe... maybe we can give you new ones or-"
Emissary looked at his Lord again. His eyes were terrifying, he could feel the bloodlust emanating from them. It was like being locked in a cage with an animal that wasn't fed in many years. Like being in a cage dangling right above the nest of those mana sucking worms where one movement would cause it to fall into the pit. Emissary had no words and no strength to move from his spot, his wings slowly lost their strength as well causing him to slowly fall. Finally his Lord spoke again.
"Get the parts..." His voice was calmer, more somber, but also full of grief "Please..."
Lord of the Flies just looked down at the parts in his hands again. It looked like he was about to break apart now. Despite his victory it felt so hollow now. Emissary couldn't say or do anything else. He just flew away to help others in their search.
Present
"That was the first sign." Emissary was now looking at the floor while holding his bottle by it's tip "But at that point it was too late to stop what was coming."
Emissary quickly took another gulp from his bottle. His eyes. Both Pen and Healer could see it. That deep fear in his eyes. As if that moment never ended for him and he was still there, before his Master, looking into his eyes, seeing his unstable form. But despite that Healer still asked her question she had in her mind.
"What was coming?" She was afraid to know though
"The purge..." Lucifugus answered her question, not letting Emissary finish
Both Pen's and Healer's attention was now on him.
"That's at least how we called it at the time once we heard of this." Lucifugus sounded far more uneased now
"It was something bad right?" Pen asked as if the name Purge wasn't good enough clue
"It was..." Lucifugus nodded "But before we get to that I'll tell my perspective on what happened once they left the battlefield. I was there in the palace when they came back. I knew something went wrong when I saw how angry Lucifero was... When I tried to ask him what happened he just said "Leave me the fuck alone!" and quickly went to his chambers and shut his door so hard I would swear the palace started to shake."
Lucifugus seemed to be very frustrated at that memory
"You weren't worried about him My Lord?" Pen asked him
For what reason he asks? It's pointless.
"Of course I was, but I knew better than make him even more angry..." Although maybe that was wrong "Besides at the time I thought it was about something stupid. Like this being a trap or a really good diversion. Something that just made Lucifero annoyed... I could never imagine there being a Devil capable of fighting both of them at once."
Then Lucifugus got quiet for a moment and then drank more from his bottle, almost emptying it. He must have realized something.
Something bad.
"...And I could have stopped it..." Lucifugus said it out loud in a small, quiet voice that had a strength of a bullet of magic that could pierce the doors of their world
It was not meant to be said out loud. Healer and Emissary could tell that all the while Pen just got onto his shoulder.
"Everything okay My Lord?" Pen patted him
"No... Fuck no!"
Lucifugus swatted Pen from his shoulder making him fall down to the desk, but before he hit the ground Emissary caught him with his hand. Lucifugus got up from his chair.
"What is it Lord Lucifugus?" Emissary asked as he put Pen down.
"..."
No answer.
There is no answer!
"My Lord. Something new is weighing you down." Healer tried to convince him "You can tell us about it like with other problems of yours."
His body seemed to relax a little, seems like it kind of worked.
"That was the moment Lucifero started deteriorating!" there was pure despair in his voice now
Why are you telling them this!?
"I'm sorry?" Healer was quite shocked to hear that
"THAT WAS THE MOMENT HE STARTED GETTING WORSE!" he screamed now "He started to change! He locked himself in that FUCKING chamber for 2 days, never left, didn't talk to anyone, was alone with his own fucking self! AND I DID NOTHING!"
Lucifugus was getting more and more angry.
AS HE SHOULD!
"My Lord, it's not your-"
"IT IS! Now I fucking realized! It was that fucking moment when everything started to fall apart! And I... I COULD HAVE STOPPED IT!"
Lucifugus grabben his horns and fell on his chair. It looked as if he was about to pass out. As if he was just struck with terrible illness. Like he was about to rip out his horns from his skull.
"If I just... got in there." He finally let go of them and his hands were now limp "Ignore that fucking order! If I tried as much as fucking knocking!"
*knock* *knock* *knock*
Lucifugus knocked few times on the desk as if to make a point. Everyone quickly moved away from the spot he was knocking on.
"I could have... I could have... stopped this."
*knock* *knock* *KNOCK* *KNOCK*
"It was right there, the moment I could have been of some worth AND I DID NOTHING!" His knocks became louder and heavier
*KNOCK* *KNOCK* *KNOCK* *KNOCK*
*CRASH*
And finally the desk gave out and part of it was now broken. Lucifugus put a hand over his face after that. It was a deep shame. His breath became ragged as if he was fighting endlessly for centuries without break.
"And now... I'm here..." He waved his other hand around the Workshop, refusing to look at it "All because I did nothing."
"To be fair Lord Lucifugus..." Emissary started talking, seemingly unbothered by his outburst "A being doesn't change drastically over course of few nights..."
Lucifugus just looked at him with a stare that could possibly kill any lesser Devil. But not him.
"Whatever Lucifero is now, is most likely who he already was." Emissary looked Lucifugus in the eye "Way before he met my Lord let me tell you that."
Lucifugus's rage was clearly visible
"Or maybe not..." Emissary shrugged and looked away "What do I know?"
Emissary came back to drinking. Lucifugus followed suit and emptied his bottle. This time though he placed it on the desk instead of throwing it at the wall. Healer this time tried to get on his shoulder. The one where he protected her.
"My Lord whatever happened with Lucifero, I'm sure it wasn't your fault..." Healer tried to be as composed as possible... despite what just occured "Not entirely at least. Just like you told me with what happened to Warmonger. You can't blame yourself like this..."
"Then who do I have to blame?" Lucifugus's voice was breaking "I blamed that fucker for countless years... and now I start to realize I had my part in it. Fuck!"
Then Pen jumped on his other shoulder
"My Lord. Even if you did cause it... We don't care!" Pen was smiling really brightly and opened his arms as if he wanted to embrace him
Annoying pest
"We don't hate you because of it!" Pen's eyes were pure... too pure for any Devil "We like you! I like you My Lord! Let's just enjoy the finale of this story together!"
Pen definitely knew what he wanted... although...
"This story so far wasn't enjoyable at all." Lucifugus had to admit and he knew it was bout to get worse
This story was awakening so many wrong things. Every part of it just made him feel more and more dirty with himself. It was as if the shadow of that damn Fly Lord was taking them over. Or maybe shadow of that Nameless Lord... Who can tell anymore?
"Yeah. Filled with strange revelations, outbursts" Emissary added his piece "But hey... Best stories are those that affect you in some capacity."
He drank more
"Geh... But I guess little Pen is right. I should finish the story... The next part though I believe you already know Lord Lucifugus."
Yes, he knew. After those 2 days...
"Lucifero finally went out of his chambers when he heard the news about Lord of the Flies..." Lucifugus started
"Slaughtering big chunk of our troops and skinning them..." Emissary continued as he spun the bottle and it's sweet remains in his hand
"And made a pair of gloves out of them." Lucifugus and Emissary said in unison
It was hard to tell if Pen and Healer were even surprised at this point given what already happened in this story.
"The gloves he lost..." Healer already knew
"He decided to create new ones..." It was clear it wasn't easy for Emissary "Out of our troops. He went on a rampage not long after we departed. He started killing Devils left and right until he had enough skin to make himself new gloves with last remaining parts of his old ones. Wouldn't be that bad if only controlled ones got caught, but in that meatgrinder one of ours got caught as well."
In the past
Emissary could only watch as his Lord was skinning him. The screams were unbearable, but he couldn't move his arms to cover his ears. He only watched as the High one was slowly skinned by their Lord who was careful not to touch his own fingers. He was a strong one. A Devil that at one point actually managed to beat him once... Now he was reduced to a screaming mess. His face greatly reminded him of that Supreme Devil from Rotting Mountains. There was no sign of intelligence there, no mind, only void. An animal who's instincts demand to scream in terror as it goes through horrible pain. Should Emissary feel bad though? Is it the same Devil he knew? Or should he feel sorry for whatever being that was born the moment their Lord caught him... Emissary couldn't tell. Only watched. Finally the screaming stopped and the body fell to the ground. The expression of pain and fear forever imprinted on that Devil's face.
"You were right!" His Lord spoke to him, still holding the skin of their comrade in his hands.
"This material is far more fitting for the likes of me." He looked into the sky where the doors were forever locked "A gift of an angel... was something too good for our kind, but by combining our skin with the last remains of holy gift I will show the possible salvation of our species! This skin shall be purified just like our race will be once we win!"
He spoke with great passion, a passion that frightened Emissary. And he couldn't shake off the feeling that this is his fault. Every other High one behind though. He could feel their terror. Their disgust... Their anger... He couldn't say he didn't understand... No... He felt the same.
Present
"Seems like I'm not the only one who can't stop blaming himself." Lucifugus pointed out to Emissary
"I watched one of my man skinned alive by my Master because of what I told him, because of this idea I planted inside him." Emissary said with great spite and venom "Then again... I have no idea if he would do the same if I didn't say anything. Just like with you and Lucifero. You did nothing, but would you really change anything by doing something? Or would you just blame yourself from the very start? No one can know. What's done is done."
Emissary finished his musing and finished his bottle as well, but he instead threw it behind him, breaking it. There was lots of cleaning in the near future and Lucifugus did not look forward to it.
Why would you be the one doing it?
"Because who the fuck else would want to-"
Lucifugus stopped himself as he realized he said it out loud. This time everyone looked at Lucifugus, they all seemed to be very weirded out. Lucifugus felt a bit uncomfortable now.
"My Lord..." Healer broke the uncomfortable silence "I can't help, but notice your-"
"Later Healer!" Lucifugus quickly cut her off "For now let's hear the end of this story."
Like hell he was going to explain this shit.
There is nothing to explain.
"(Shut the fuck up for a moment!)" This time he made sure he said it in his mind only "Just continue Emissary."
"Okay." He nodded "That purge was a disaster. After this event many of our loyalists decided to leave us, fearing they will be the next ones to be skinned. I couldn't blame them for it. I was afraid as well. Most of them decided though not to turn to Lucifero's army, at least not right away, my Master made sure that those with clear minds were without question firmly believing in our goals. But that still didn't change the fact that our numbers became far smaller. With less leaders to guide controlled groups we had to make bigger companies which were far harder to control and maintain. Eventually your side started to employ much more successful ambushes, the ones with clear mind were getting either captured or slaughtered, leaving many controlled groups without a leader and it didn't help that some DID turned to Lucifero. Exposing many of our tactics. Soon enough we were on the verge of collapse. All because of those damn gloves. Even our spies started bringing less and less informations. Some were even caught. It looked extremely dire, until..."
"You heard that Lucifero wants to fight with him 1 on 1 at the deepest part of the World." Lucifugus finished for him
"..."
Emissary was quiet.
"And that's where Lord of the Flies met his end" Healer finished here
Then Pen started talking.
"I don't know what to feel about it... On one hand I don't like others hurt, on the other... That Lord sounded really scary and... wrong."
It was definitely strange to hear Pen being this conflicted about life of another. Lucifugus though also had the same problem. This Lord of the Flies was clearly insane, but he did try to do something good (for human kind at least). Lucifugus also still couldn't tell if he was or was not some "angelic" being. Considering what kind of power he had. It was all so confusing.
"... Yes." Emissary though started again "Our spies also confirmed that Lucifero was going there alone that day. My Lord was of course ecstatic at this news. Although we all felt that there was something wrong there. I tried to convince him to hold off. For us to gather some more information. But he wouldn't listen."
In the past
"Please My Lord! Give us just a bit more time!"
Emissary was going after him. He tried to speak reason into him for the past hour.
"At least take someone with you!" Emissary grabbed his horns in frustration
"DON'T YOU SEE THAT!?" His lord quickly turned around "This is the best chance we've ever had at finishing this war!"
His Master grabbed him with his arms, now covered by his new gloves. The stench of rotting skin was horrible beyond all measure. He felt like he was about to pass out just from being near them. Seeing that though he quickly let go.
"I...I'm sorry... I just-"
He sat down on the ground before Emissary. He seemed exhausted. Very exhausted... But it was comforting... Like he was looking and hearing his long gone friend... Friend...
"I'm THIS close to finally finishing this!" His Lord almost touched his thumb and pointing finger "All it will take is just go there, beat him and then take control of the other Supremes with Lucifero now under my control... It's so simple. There wont be a more perfect opportunity!"
"And that is my point! It's too perfect! We need to wait for more information!" He flew closer to him and put his hand on his shoulder
"Please..."
He was ready to beg. So many things have been done, so many hardships... He couldn't allow this to end in a failure.
"...I know you are worried..." His Lord touched his hands with his own one "I know I've been... a bad leader for the past few days." He looked down in shame as his body spasmed a few times "But soon we will be free. You all will be free. I can end this all, it's in the grasp of my hand! The day our mission will be finished!"
"What do you mean?" Emissary was now more worried.
"..." A minute passed of silence "Once I come back after this I will say my final order and cut off those hands."
His master said as he showed him his hands, the stench came back again, but he was ready to bear with it. But what was more important was what his master just said. Cut off his hands? He was probably the greatest Devil in Underworld and he wanted to throw that away?
"Why?"
At this question his master just looked down again. It looked as if he was ready to bury his hands in the ground like back then when they first met.
"Do you know how it feels?" he started without looking up "Living every day in fear of your own touch. Being afraid that one wrong move could spell your very end... What I have here is living hell. If there is a chance for me to be free of it then I will take it no matter what!"
He sounded extremely desperate. Emissary really couldn't bear to look at him like this.
"But can't you control this power? I'm sure you can get around this, that it's not as hopeless as you think it is." He tried to comfort himm
But the Lord just shook his head.
"If I concentrate really hard I can control what I do to people I touch, but I cannot tell if it would work on me. If I were to ever touch my body with those..." he looked at them again and quickly buried them "I don't know what would happen, but I do know that it would be terrible. Ever since I met that damn Supreme at the Mountains. He used some strange magic, made my own go out of control... Ever since that day I could never stop it."
Now he understood. Seems like that Forgotten Lord got the last laugh in the end. His shadow was still present, still had effect on all of them and they didn't even know his name. But that also made Emissary think of something else... The gift of...
"Angel..." At that word Lord looked up and looked at Emissary again "My Lord... How can you be so sure that was an Angel?"
Emissary asked him. It was bugging him for a very long time now.
"You saw the visions I gave you. How else can you call that person?" His Lord was very sure of his words "Someone that-"
Then he suddenly stopped. Emissary then felt a chill going around his entire body as he remembered those faces of other humans. His aura almost went out of control, but he managed to stop it from coming out at the last second. And he realized... they weren't afraid. How could humans not be afraid of him.
"My Lord... Those humans..." Emissary spoke carefully, leaning closer to him and whispered "Why were they not afraid of you?"
Emissary asked his Lord, but one look at him was all he needed. He saw it all. The deep shame on his face. The despair in his eyes. The wings covering his upper body and him burying his hands deep in the ground.
"You..." He quickly stopped himself I'm sorry my Lord..." He couldn't tell what he was sorry for
Making him remember this? Questioning what happened? Or maybe... because there is uncomfortable truth behind it all.
"That Angel... Not fear... Such kindness." His Lord's mind seemed to deteriorate even further "How else can you call someone like this!?"
Emissary had no answer. But he had to agree, the way she looked, that smile. It definitely felt like something divine and yet... he felt there was something wrong there.
"I have to go..." Then his Lord stood up
He took his hands out of the ground and tried to stand tall as the Lord he made himself to be. But Emissary could tell, he was shaking, he looked sick, weak... Like a dead Devil walking. No better than the controlled Devils. Then Emissary asked him one last question.
"Once you come back... What will be your final order?"
Emissary asked him. Even with all his doubts... he believed he can come back. But he had to know now. See who his master really is. Just for this one moment. See who was always there... who he served.
"..." silence came back and the anticipation almost made Emissary faint
"Be Good."
Emissary had no answer. He felt as if he was about to break apart. Like bright light was just shed on him and the world around him as he looked at his Lord. The only one worthy of being one... And then he saw his master go away. Go for the last fight. That was the last time Emissary ever saw him, but in the end...
Present
"I saw him for who he truly was..." A sad smile found it's way unto Emisarry's face
Silence. There was nothing anyone could say. Then Pen got down from Lucifugus's shoulder and went up to Emissary and gave him a hug.
"GET AWAY FROM ME!"
But Emissary quickly shook him off. Pen seemed to be hurt.
"And then..." Lucifugus wanted him to finally finish this sad tale
"And then... I heard of my master's defeat." Emissary's body went limp as he said those words "About how Lucifero found a new use of his magic and how you helped him achieve it in secrecy."
Emissary looked at Lucifugus with a glare that could split a rock open.
"I..."
"Do not apologize!" It was both a command and a warning
"I did what I had to do." Lucifugus stood his ground
"I know." Emissary said with spite "Doesn't help much though."
Emissary looked down on the ground
"After I heard the news of it I surrendered the moment our new base was found. Not many of us remained there at that point." His tone became indifferent, empty "We just gave up. And then we were brought in front of Lucifero himself. He commanded us for our "brave and admirable fight", but he had to give us a punishment."
"Taking off your horns and forbidding you from ever growing them back." Lucifugus finished
"Yes..." Emissary nodded "I took that punishment with pride. Even if I questioned that angelic intervention my master talked about I still firmly believed in what we were fighting for! I had my doubts, regrets and losses, but I would never say I wasn't proud of being next to someone like him! He wanted to brand us with eternal shame... Let me tell you Lord Lucifugus. He failed!"
Emissary's voice became far stronger now, far more determined. Lucifugus liked that.
"You preserved despite everything being against you." there was honest admiration in his voice, even if it had some bit of mockery in it "I commend you for it."
"I agree with Our Lord. Your methods were questionable and your leader was... even more so, but you did your best to do something good and protect the world you never were part of. That deserves some praise." Healer's voice was very reassuring
"Maybe... But at the end of the day... It all means nothing." Emissary shook his head "In the end, that war was forgotten. No one cares or bothers to remember. But I will never forget."
"OOH!"
Then Pen suddenly jumped up and raised his hand.
"Yes?" Emissary didn't know if he made the right decision
"Were you ever in that world?"
...
Emissary did not answer for a moment
"I was... When Qliphoth opened. I was there." Emissary didn't exactly know where he was going with it
"Did you meet the Angel?" Pen asked again
That question though seemed to bring down Emissary's mood.
"You could say that."
Now everyone around was interested
"Really now?" Lucifugus was sceptical of this claim
...
But Emissary did not answer again. Seems like this story is especially hard one. Even compared to everything else here. Healer then spoke.
"If you don't want to say it then we will un-"
"No... I... I will..." He cut off Healer "Just this one last story."
"(Seems like it's a very important one.)" Lucifugus thought to himself
"The truth..." the way he said that word was strange, alien... no one knew for sure what was the feeling that ran through him now "That's what I found in that world."
TBC in chapter 28
"The Angel"
I'm very sorry for this taking so long... I had a bad time in March... Some bad times overall. Sickness, death, uncertainty, job and money problems... Some of those are still not fixed and some cannot be fixed... But I try my best. But I still want to make more of this. I will try to make more.