Chapter 15 : A Day in the Life of Sephiroth
Although a place thought to be hotter than any other realm, the underworld was surprisingly cold. The blue flames that burned around the walls provided no heat as the wandering souls made their way to their own personal torment.
The cavern they were in was huge, every step they took echoed along the walls. The walkway in the center of the cavern was suspended by and unknown force thousands of meters in the air. Down below was dark abyss that never seemed to end, the darkness that shadowed the bottom just swallowed everything thing that entered like a black hole.
Sephiroth opened his eyes. Something pinged in his mind waking him out of his sleep. The coldness in the area took his attention, shivers ran up his spine, a feeling he had almost forgotten.
Trying to ignore his senses the ex-Soldier crawled to his feet. The time before he fell a sleep was unknown and Sephiroth tried to understand where he was. The fight with Cloud and the ship had ended badly, that much he could remember. But after that there were only pictures in his mind that didn't make sense.
The wound. The one that Cloud had given him. Sephiroth looked down to see it but found nothing, his clothing was unscratched and in perfect condition along with the rest of his body.
"What is going on?" He asked not realizing he said it out loud. His attention spread to the dark area around him. He was placed on top of a small rocky platform, suspended high in the air. Across from him was the long walkway, along it people trudged slowly along its path taking no notice of him.
"It can't be." He whispered in his breath. On the platform a few loose rocks were spread about, Sephiroth leaned down to pick one up only to find his hand pass straight through the solid matter.
"No.." He tried again and again each time failing to take hold of the stone. "No, no, no.."
Each time he tried the stone laid perfectly still, Sephiroth grew panicky dropping to his knees and trying to at least punch the rock. After trying countless times he cried out in anger, his voice sending a thunderous echo through the cavern.
"Him." He stood up breathing heavily. "He did this. How could he?" The ex- general clenched his fists, his teeth grinding against each other. "How dare he! That pitiful creature did this! I hate him." He spun round towards the walkway. "I hate him!" He repeated, his voice becoming louder and louder until he was shouting at his voices limit. "I hate him!"
The last one thundered down the cavern once again. Sephiroth stood still clenching his fists, his blood heating in his veins as he stared in to space.
His attention finally fixed on the traveling souls once again. He watched them walking in single file towards the end of the cavern.
Without hesitating Sephiroth spread his single wing and leapt the distance from the platform to the walkway with out effort. As soon as he landed he began a quick pace along path. He didn't care about the few that stood in his way as he threw them a side, off the walkway and into the abyss below.
_______________________
"Next."
The short, stubby demon looked away from his book and saw the dark coated figure walk forwards. He ran his finger down his list to the next entry and frowned.
"You're not next."
Sephiroth stared in disgust at the creature that was sat upon a tall chair in front of him, with an old looking single desk in front. It didn't look very threatening, it's thick blue skin and chubby appearance made it seem more of a joke than anything else.
"I am now." He replied coldly.
"Look here, we have rules to follow. You are to remain in line until it is your turn understand?"
Sephiroth looked back at the last person he passed on his way here. A chubby looking man was stood behind him, his origin was unknown to the ex- general but then again he didn't care.
"Would this be the next one?" He raised his eyebrow trying to look sincere.
"Yes now let him pass." The small demon demanded.
Sephiroth nodded and took one step to the side, he bowed his head as a butler would when his master entered the house. "Very well."
The chubby looking man snorted un amused at Sephiroth and began to walk forwards. Sephiroth could see in to him and he could tell the dark, sick life this man had led, which would explain why he was here.
The man stopped in front of the desk looking quite nervous. The blue demon sighed and ran his finger down the list again up until he heard a 'swishing' sound and then a soft thud. He looked up to see the dark coated man sheathing his sword and the chubby one laying in two piles to the side.
Sephiroth stepped forward and grinned. "I believe I am next."
The demon stood up on the chair and stared down at the ex-Soldier. "Who do you think you are? Unless you get back in line you'll be in more trouble then you dare dream."
Sephiroth let out a single laugh and jump into the air landing on the desk. He leaned down and picked up the blue demon, he grinned happy that he could actually touch these creatures. "Are you going to make good on that threat?"
The demon swallowed hard as Sephiroth's grip tightened. "Y-you b-b-better stop t-this."
"Oh? And why is that?"
Behind them a blue swirl of flames erupted and a figure appeared in the middle as they died down. "What going on here? You think I have all day to just torment these jokes? Oh.."
Sephiroth looked down at the new comer. His hair was a blaze of blue flames the same colour as his skin. Apart from that he look fairly normal compared to the demon at least. "Who are you?"
"Me?" He pointed to himself. "Who do you think? You in the underworld and you talking to the boss."
Sephiroth smiled widely, he threw the small demon away and jumped down gracefully. "Hades."
"Smart guy huh?" Hades circled the unknown man curiously. "I don't know you though, just from looking at you makes me feel there's something much darker about you than the rest of these pathetic low life's.
"Perhaps, but I don't really care." He crossed his arms and stared at Hades. "I want out. Now."
Hades laughed at Sephiroth's demand. "My aren't we pushy, been a while since anyone dared speak to me that way." He stopped in front of Sephiroth and looked him over.
"Don't keep me waiting, I have matters to attend too."
Hades laughed and patted Sephiroth's shoulder. "Well well don't we all but you see there's a slight problem with letting you go." He leaned closer to the ex-Soldiers ear. "Your dead!"
Sephiroth smiled and tilted his head. "I'm sure the god of the underworld can change such a minor detail."
Hades stopped back. "True, true but why should I do that? You see, your mine now, and you are in no position to be making any threats."
Sephiroth's face changed to a more disapproving look as his considered his options. "Very well, I'm sure you have needs. Perhaps I could help you and you could help me?"
"A trade huh?" Hades rubbed his chin intrigued a little, he began to circle the black winged man again. "It would be a shame to let such spirit go to waist, and maybe... maybe there is something I could use you for." He clicked his fingers and the two disappeared from the entrance.
Sephiroth immediately move to his attack stance unsure what was going on. When his vision became clear again he realized he was in some sort of library. The walls were covered in book, each looking old and tattered.
Hades walked by him and picked out a book, it was a large one that looked especially old. The pages were brown and ripped, some weren't even attached to the spine anymore. He placed the book on a stand in the middle of the room and opened it.
"Ah now lets see here."
"What is that?" Sephiroth moved in closer curious to what the dark god was reading.
"This a book of prophecies, all the major turning point in the universe are predicted here."
"Fate, I wouldn't think the god of the underworld to be so gullible."
Hades looked over his shoulder and grinned at him. "Is that so, then perhaps I should just send you back and forget this?"
Sephiroth crossed his arms and stayed silent, his look of amusement dropped.
"As I thought." He returned to the book. "You see the problem with prophecies is that they are so vague, in most cases they could mean two totally different things."
"Your point been?"
Hades picked up the book and turned round. "There is one passage though that catches my attention. The part about a key bearer and his role in stopping the heartless."
"The heartless? This key bearer is supposed to be some kind of savior I take it."
"Correct. It is unclear who this person is, or how he will effect the out come." He snapped the book closed. "But I don't like it. I want to be sure about what happens here."
Sephiroth smiled slightly. "Which means this, key bearer will have to... disappear."
"Exactly." He pointed at the dark man a grinned. "Which is where you come in. You will find this one, and take him out of the picture."
"And in return?"
Hades smiled at him. "You will be returned to flesh and blood."
Sephiroth matched Hades smile and nodded. "Then it is a deal. When is this individual supposed to appear?"
"That is the unclear part, you must wait for him to show. It could be tomorrow, it could be a year from now." Hades stretched out his arm and opened a rift similar to the ones Sephiroth could use, except this one felt much more powerful. "Like I said, prophecies aren't always clear."
Sephiroth walked up to the rift, he turned his head slightly.
"Just walk through." He answered before been asked. "Once through you will be returned to the mortal realm, from there do as you wish until your goal appears."
Sephiroth stepped forward but stopped as Hades spoke again.
"Oh and one last thing." He smiled. "Should you fail..."
Sephiroth smiled back ever colder. "I won't."
___________________________
The rift closed and Sephiroth stood in a street. It was night and the street lamps were providing the only light, the sky looked unfamiliar and the stars did not match any he knew.
'No matter.'
He stepped forward into an open area, a small cafe was to the side and a large door to the other. In front of him was a double set of stairs, they led up to some sort of shop and another path that circled around. A small sign to his right said Travers Town.
"Well, it looks like I have some time to kill."
___________________________
Well that's all for now, a smaller chapter I know. I see the vote is for me to go on with this story so I will, I have already decided on how the ending is going to be. Thank you for all the reviews, I'm surprised I'm already nearing the end of the 60's.
Although a place thought to be hotter than any other realm, the underworld was surprisingly cold. The blue flames that burned around the walls provided no heat as the wandering souls made their way to their own personal torment.
The cavern they were in was huge, every step they took echoed along the walls. The walkway in the center of the cavern was suspended by and unknown force thousands of meters in the air. Down below was dark abyss that never seemed to end, the darkness that shadowed the bottom just swallowed everything thing that entered like a black hole.
Sephiroth opened his eyes. Something pinged in his mind waking him out of his sleep. The coldness in the area took his attention, shivers ran up his spine, a feeling he had almost forgotten.
Trying to ignore his senses the ex-Soldier crawled to his feet. The time before he fell a sleep was unknown and Sephiroth tried to understand where he was. The fight with Cloud and the ship had ended badly, that much he could remember. But after that there were only pictures in his mind that didn't make sense.
The wound. The one that Cloud had given him. Sephiroth looked down to see it but found nothing, his clothing was unscratched and in perfect condition along with the rest of his body.
"What is going on?" He asked not realizing he said it out loud. His attention spread to the dark area around him. He was placed on top of a small rocky platform, suspended high in the air. Across from him was the long walkway, along it people trudged slowly along its path taking no notice of him.
"It can't be." He whispered in his breath. On the platform a few loose rocks were spread about, Sephiroth leaned down to pick one up only to find his hand pass straight through the solid matter.
"No.." He tried again and again each time failing to take hold of the stone. "No, no, no.."
Each time he tried the stone laid perfectly still, Sephiroth grew panicky dropping to his knees and trying to at least punch the rock. After trying countless times he cried out in anger, his voice sending a thunderous echo through the cavern.
"Him." He stood up breathing heavily. "He did this. How could he?" The ex- general clenched his fists, his teeth grinding against each other. "How dare he! That pitiful creature did this! I hate him." He spun round towards the walkway. "I hate him!" He repeated, his voice becoming louder and louder until he was shouting at his voices limit. "I hate him!"
The last one thundered down the cavern once again. Sephiroth stood still clenching his fists, his blood heating in his veins as he stared in to space.
His attention finally fixed on the traveling souls once again. He watched them walking in single file towards the end of the cavern.
Without hesitating Sephiroth spread his single wing and leapt the distance from the platform to the walkway with out effort. As soon as he landed he began a quick pace along path. He didn't care about the few that stood in his way as he threw them a side, off the walkway and into the abyss below.
_______________________
"Next."
The short, stubby demon looked away from his book and saw the dark coated figure walk forwards. He ran his finger down his list to the next entry and frowned.
"You're not next."
Sephiroth stared in disgust at the creature that was sat upon a tall chair in front of him, with an old looking single desk in front. It didn't look very threatening, it's thick blue skin and chubby appearance made it seem more of a joke than anything else.
"I am now." He replied coldly.
"Look here, we have rules to follow. You are to remain in line until it is your turn understand?"
Sephiroth looked back at the last person he passed on his way here. A chubby looking man was stood behind him, his origin was unknown to the ex- general but then again he didn't care.
"Would this be the next one?" He raised his eyebrow trying to look sincere.
"Yes now let him pass." The small demon demanded.
Sephiroth nodded and took one step to the side, he bowed his head as a butler would when his master entered the house. "Very well."
The chubby looking man snorted un amused at Sephiroth and began to walk forwards. Sephiroth could see in to him and he could tell the dark, sick life this man had led, which would explain why he was here.
The man stopped in front of the desk looking quite nervous. The blue demon sighed and ran his finger down the list again up until he heard a 'swishing' sound and then a soft thud. He looked up to see the dark coated man sheathing his sword and the chubby one laying in two piles to the side.
Sephiroth stepped forward and grinned. "I believe I am next."
The demon stood up on the chair and stared down at the ex-Soldier. "Who do you think you are? Unless you get back in line you'll be in more trouble then you dare dream."
Sephiroth let out a single laugh and jump into the air landing on the desk. He leaned down and picked up the blue demon, he grinned happy that he could actually touch these creatures. "Are you going to make good on that threat?"
The demon swallowed hard as Sephiroth's grip tightened. "Y-you b-b-better stop t-this."
"Oh? And why is that?"
Behind them a blue swirl of flames erupted and a figure appeared in the middle as they died down. "What going on here? You think I have all day to just torment these jokes? Oh.."
Sephiroth looked down at the new comer. His hair was a blaze of blue flames the same colour as his skin. Apart from that he look fairly normal compared to the demon at least. "Who are you?"
"Me?" He pointed to himself. "Who do you think? You in the underworld and you talking to the boss."
Sephiroth smiled widely, he threw the small demon away and jumped down gracefully. "Hades."
"Smart guy huh?" Hades circled the unknown man curiously. "I don't know you though, just from looking at you makes me feel there's something much darker about you than the rest of these pathetic low life's.
"Perhaps, but I don't really care." He crossed his arms and stared at Hades. "I want out. Now."
Hades laughed at Sephiroth's demand. "My aren't we pushy, been a while since anyone dared speak to me that way." He stopped in front of Sephiroth and looked him over.
"Don't keep me waiting, I have matters to attend too."
Hades laughed and patted Sephiroth's shoulder. "Well well don't we all but you see there's a slight problem with letting you go." He leaned closer to the ex-Soldiers ear. "Your dead!"
Sephiroth smiled and tilted his head. "I'm sure the god of the underworld can change such a minor detail."
Hades stopped back. "True, true but why should I do that? You see, your mine now, and you are in no position to be making any threats."
Sephiroth's face changed to a more disapproving look as his considered his options. "Very well, I'm sure you have needs. Perhaps I could help you and you could help me?"
"A trade huh?" Hades rubbed his chin intrigued a little, he began to circle the black winged man again. "It would be a shame to let such spirit go to waist, and maybe... maybe there is something I could use you for." He clicked his fingers and the two disappeared from the entrance.
Sephiroth immediately move to his attack stance unsure what was going on. When his vision became clear again he realized he was in some sort of library. The walls were covered in book, each looking old and tattered.
Hades walked by him and picked out a book, it was a large one that looked especially old. The pages were brown and ripped, some weren't even attached to the spine anymore. He placed the book on a stand in the middle of the room and opened it.
"Ah now lets see here."
"What is that?" Sephiroth moved in closer curious to what the dark god was reading.
"This a book of prophecies, all the major turning point in the universe are predicted here."
"Fate, I wouldn't think the god of the underworld to be so gullible."
Hades looked over his shoulder and grinned at him. "Is that so, then perhaps I should just send you back and forget this?"
Sephiroth crossed his arms and stayed silent, his look of amusement dropped.
"As I thought." He returned to the book. "You see the problem with prophecies is that they are so vague, in most cases they could mean two totally different things."
"Your point been?"
Hades picked up the book and turned round. "There is one passage though that catches my attention. The part about a key bearer and his role in stopping the heartless."
"The heartless? This key bearer is supposed to be some kind of savior I take it."
"Correct. It is unclear who this person is, or how he will effect the out come." He snapped the book closed. "But I don't like it. I want to be sure about what happens here."
Sephiroth smiled slightly. "Which means this, key bearer will have to... disappear."
"Exactly." He pointed at the dark man a grinned. "Which is where you come in. You will find this one, and take him out of the picture."
"And in return?"
Hades smiled at him. "You will be returned to flesh and blood."
Sephiroth matched Hades smile and nodded. "Then it is a deal. When is this individual supposed to appear?"
"That is the unclear part, you must wait for him to show. It could be tomorrow, it could be a year from now." Hades stretched out his arm and opened a rift similar to the ones Sephiroth could use, except this one felt much more powerful. "Like I said, prophecies aren't always clear."
Sephiroth walked up to the rift, he turned his head slightly.
"Just walk through." He answered before been asked. "Once through you will be returned to the mortal realm, from there do as you wish until your goal appears."
Sephiroth stepped forward but stopped as Hades spoke again.
"Oh and one last thing." He smiled. "Should you fail..."
Sephiroth smiled back ever colder. "I won't."
___________________________
The rift closed and Sephiroth stood in a street. It was night and the street lamps were providing the only light, the sky looked unfamiliar and the stars did not match any he knew.
'No matter.'
He stepped forward into an open area, a small cafe was to the side and a large door to the other. In front of him was a double set of stairs, they led up to some sort of shop and another path that circled around. A small sign to his right said Travers Town.
"Well, it looks like I have some time to kill."
___________________________
Well that's all for now, a smaller chapter I know. I see the vote is for me to go on with this story so I will, I have already decided on how the ending is going to be. Thank you for all the reviews, I'm surprised I'm already nearing the end of the 60's.