Standard disclaimers apply—none of this belongs to me, except for the plot and idea. All characters, except for ones of my own creation, belong to the wonderful and life-saving people who created the show.
Warnings—Swearing, AU, some OOC, homosexuality, supernatural elements, twisted Bible elements in here, though not much
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"The Magic is in me—the Magic is in me. It's in every one of us."
The Secret Garden; Frances Hodgson Burnett
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The city that's born of nerve and steam,
The city that queens the inland sea,
Lay under the sky with a flash and a gleam—
A something wonderful fair to see;
And guests come in by lake and stream
To see another Midsummer Dream.
Colours flashed in the glowing light,
And colour ran on each brilliant street,
And music thrilled through each beaming night
And lightened the fall of ten thousand feet;
And voices ran in a flood-tide strong
That sounded afar like a charmed song.
The hill was proud of the light-lit bay,
And the bay was proud of the lordly hill,
And both were proud of the town that lay
Locked in their embrace fond and still;
And Venice was never as fair as she,
That glowed on the shores of the summer sea.
Her sons come home from far-off lands,
And, beaming, looked on her splendid face;
She welcomed them back as she took their hands
With a mother's love and queenly grace
They felt as they saw her beauty there
None other was half so fond and fair.
—The Khan
A poetic tribute to Hamilton, circa 1890
Falling Into Hell
Part I
Written by Azreal
pippin_elf@yahoo.com
Or (for my alter ego Blight)
horde_king@yahoo.ca
My (Blight's) Web Page
http://www.geocities.com/horde_king/index.html
The stars glittered like diamonds in the night sky as clouds serenely passed overhead, propelled by an invisible wind that I could not see. The breeze that caressed my skin was cool and soothing, stroking my unbound hair like an intimate lover, and ruffling my clothes just so, as I tilted my head back to gaze at the canopy of velvet above me. The twin moons that hung like glass balls from a Christmas tree shimmered bright silver, shadowed only by the dusky clouds being driven across the sky.
Seemingly so far below me, my home town was garnished with brightly coloured ribbons, draperies of gold and silver. Floats pulled by the grand stallions of the local farmers, trussed-up with bells, jewels of all types and sizes and ribbons tied in their manes tramped down the cobblestone streets, their hoofs loudly clapping against the earth as they paraded proudly towards the Palace of Prophets. People danced in the streets, women's gowns swirling about them as they twirled with their partners, dressed in their most formal clothing. Commoner and noble alike capered in the streets and along the walkways, as vendors sold food and drink to satisfy the mass of party-goers.
I smiled to myself at the joy I felt radiating off of the people, my townsmen. The festivities they enjoyed were in honour of King Astaroth and Queen Lilith's child, Princess Lena's, birthday. The future Queen and heir to the throne of Shadowstone, Lena was blonde, blue-eyed, and as healthy as any could hope for at the age of thirteen. The gods must have smiled upon my Lord and Lady, as nearly all-previous heirs to the throne were sickly, and died before the age of thirty summers. Astaroth and his wife were blessed themselves, being forty summers and as spry as though they were but eighteen.
I sighed, sitting down amongst the flowers of the great hill that surrounds the only world I know, the soft grass tickling my bare feet and stroking my arms as it swayed in the wind. My hair still tossed around me, a cloud of chestnut against pale skin and ivory clothes of silk. Birds and other sky creatures soar above me, dark spots against the sky, and in the distance a dragon roared as it hunted for food.
Once again I wondered to myself why I was not within the throng of people celebrating for the Princess. As a patriotic citizen of Shadowstone, I ought to have been among them and being pleased, laughing and sipping wine. As the Princess's closest friend, I ought to have been spending time with her, laughing with her, supping with her. I had been invited to the castle feast, yet…I had turned down the invitation, stating that I had important things to attend to that could not be held off. I know I injured Lady Lena's feelings, and yet…I couldn't accept the invitation.
"But…Eurynome, why?"
"Something just…doesn't feel right, Lena."
"Surely you can forget your responsibilities for one night?"
"Lena…"
"Please, Eurynome."
"No, I…I can't, my Lady."
"It's Gideon, isn't it?"
"What? No!"
"I know you love him, Eury. If it is him…please tell me. I won't be angry."
"Lena, it has nothing to do with Gideon."
"Then what is it?"
"It's…nothing, Lena. Don't worry about it."
"Eury…"
"I must leave."
"Eurynome, wait!!!"
"Goodbye, Princess. I'm sorry."
"Eurynome!!!"
I had run from her, run from the Princess. I just could not shake the feeling that something was deadly wrong. As the Princess's Alchemist (a sorcerer charged with the protection of the King's daughter) and a member of the Magicians' Guild, I have always relied upon my instincts and feelings. Very rarely did they lead me on a foolish path, and I could not shake the horrid, foreboding feeling that something was most definitely wrong. So, as I always did when I was struck with the sense of wrong-ness, I retreated to the Dragon's Mount to explore and pinpoint the source of the disturbing feeling. I closed my eyes, leaving behind the bright colours of the bay and the city, in favour of the darkness of what lay within my mind.
As usual, my visions started out the same way. Thousands upon thousands of lights danced before my eyes on the canvas of my eyelids, followed by a long corridor with a brightly-lit doorway at the very end of it. I ran, as usual, towards the light, towards my power.
And that is where it all went to the seven hells.
The doorway before me darkened to pitch black, but I kept running. Abruptly, there was a tiny orange light within it that exploded into flames. I gasped and tried to slow down, but I kept moving, speeding up as the flames roared forth, enveloping the frame and reaching out to me like clawing, sparking hands. I screamed as I tried to turn away, but something grasped me so tightly that I felt my body freeze as it was pulled towards the roaring inferno. I struggled vainly, howling in terror as the heat of the blaze scathed my flesh, burning it. The fire devoured me, and the assault on my ears immediately after an instant of pure and complete silence nearly annihilated my eardrums.
There was fire everywhere, people screaming in a thousand voices, horses shrieked in terror as they trampled over the people in the streets, a horrible cacophony of sigh and sound ripping me apart from the inside out. The scent of burnt flesh, the trampled and burnt bodies scattered everywhere, children crying for their parents and vice versa, the howls of warriors as they fought, the clashing of swords and the thump of fresh bodies hitting the ground…all of these sights and sounds, among others equally horrifying, assaulted me.
I collapsed where I was in my vision, eyes wide as I began to tremble. My stomach threatened to purge itself of everything I had eaten that night, and I felt bile rise in my throat. A sudden cold shiver overcame me as I saw the Princess, bleeding profusely from whip-wounds, being raped and beaten. She was screaming so terribly, I felt my ears would shatter if I heard anymore.
Two ocean-blue eyes replaced the scene before me, narrowed and full of hatred. The emotions rolling from those normally gentle eyes were terrifying; uncensored hate, anger, the want for vengeance, and a promise of death. Lena's voice echoed in my mind as she spoke, her tone dripping with rage, hatred, and loathing.
"The time will come when my people will be avenged, and our enemies will suffer for years upon years in the deepest dungeon of the seven hells…"
I covered my ears and closed my eyes, my voice rising as the horror of it all finally overcame me. Lena, pure and kind, reduced to a war-monger and full of hate. It wasn't right, wasn't right. It just wasn't right… I cried out miserably, the cold blue eyes of my Princess burning through my soul.
"NOOO!!!!"
When I awoke from the vision, I found I was falling.
The Earth had split, the ground parting beneath me as the soft grass vanished, replaced by the crisp, cold air whipping around me. Sparks flew into my eyes from the odd, orange flames below me, as ash fell from the sky above. The ground rumbled as it swallowed me whole, and as I continued to fall, it changed…
Stone, dirt…
Wind.
Slime, mud, and filth…
Flames.
Oddly-shaped rock formations…
Earth.
Balconies of rock and bones…
Water.
Buildings of stone on every side…
Gideon…
Large windows with glowing eyes looking out…
My Guardian…
Screeching and howling beasts crawling up the walls…
My friend…
Streets made of skulls…
My love…
Black, defunct carriages drawn by half-dead stallions…
Help me…
Bat-winged children playing with rats and other monstrosities…
Let the little children come to us…for such is the kingdom of the gods…
Demons selling bone-handled blades…
I walked in the valley of the shadow of death…
Gargoyle waterspouts coming alive and snarling…
My gods, why have you forsaken me?
The demons turn to look at me…
Gideon…my love…
Their eyes widen, and their lips part in grand smiles of fangs and forked tongues…
Where are you?
The flapping of wings surrounds me as something grabs me by the waist…
Gideon…
I turn and see him…
They won't let me go…
The demons frown, and snarls cross their features as they start towards us…
Please, save yourself…
His eyes are cold, savage, and heartless toward them…
It's too late for me, my love…
…yet they burn with an inner passion for me, and I know he won't let me go…
I am become Death…
…even if it's too late…
The destroyer of worlds…
To Be Continued…
Questions, comments, flames, praise, whatever you like, send to pippin_elf@yahoo.com or horde_king@yahoo.ca.