Chapter 4:
The cold night poured in around Faust as he clutched the child closely to his heart. He stood, surrounded by the faces of blood thirsty monsters who would, if given the chance, take the life of the small innocent that their leader had chosen. An inner conflict unraveled in his mind.
It was true. In his search for that one secret, that would bring his beloved, dearest, his most prized back to him, he had taken the lives of many. So why was he now, when her resurrection was irrefutable and undeniable if only he would allow this child to die, having reservations. He did not know. He could not, no matter how hard he tried, understand the reason. He just knew, deep down, in places where the insanity that had taken control of his life had never touched, that it was wrong. Plain and simple. It was evil.
But really, had not everything he had done since her death been, evil? Due to his obsession, his undying love and devotion, his inability to fully grasp that, she was, infact, dead, he had lost something that should have meant more to him than seeing that beautiful face glow with life. He had lost his soul.
Yes, he had refused to sell it to Mephistopheles, but, there is more than one way to damn yourself to Hell; and Faust, in his declared love, had done them all.
But, he stopped dwelling on such depressing notions, for, he was snapped out of his stupor by something odd, ands, though not necessarily out of place, not wanted. At least, not by him.
Something warm was flowing on Faust's arm. He knew, before he looked down to inspect, what it was. The smell and feel gave it away. When the first drop hit his skin, he knew, Jennianna, the accursed wench, had stabbed the child while he was victim to his thoughts.
Faust's eyes focused down on the child, who was staring up at him with frightened eyes, and, emerging from her skull, was the decorated dagger.
" Say goodbye to the necromancer, child." Jennianna's voice whispered maliciously just before she sized the girl and through her roughly onto the alter.
Before Faust could react, the vampires attacked the girl, whilst some remained standing, stock still, in a circle. He could hear low murmurs from their lips. A spell! They were using her to cast a spell!
As the hungry vampires finished their meal, Faust watched them join those forming the circle, leaving only him and Jennianna by the alter. The chanting got louder, and Faust found himself unable to move as darkness quickly claimed him. The last thing he saw was the circle of vampires, their malevolent figures blending into the shadows; and the last thing he heard was the scream of a child who's life he had aided to rob.
Giggling. That was the first thing he heard. Then music. The noises of a crowd soon followed. Close behind came the smells of tree and perfume. He was aware of warmth covering him, and perfume. The strong smell of perfume. It wasn't offensive, just very intrusive, very close. The sweet fragrance of lavender and strawberries.
Slowly, almost groggily, Faust opened his eyes. He stared face to face with the blue eyes of a blonde haired woman. She smiled, almost playfully; he frowned. This wasn't his Eliza.
" Good morning, sweet." She smiled.
" Who are you?" Faust asked pointedly as he glared at her. He wanted to know why this woman was on top of him.
" I was just keeping you warm, as Mephisto asked me to do. You don't have to be so rude." The woman pouted," Oh, and my name is Adeela. What is yours?"
" Faust." He answered somewhat hesitantly, " Where am I?"
" Why, my dear Faust, your on the Blocksberg. I hear you were recently in England. It must feel good to be back home in Germany." She said in a frivolous fashion as she twisted a small lock of hair between her fingers flirtatiously
" England?" He asked questioningly, when the memories came back to him. Jennianna, the child, the dagger, he… he fainted? Impossible! In a flash, he was on his feet, causing Adeela to slip off his chest onto the ground.
" Hey!" She yelled, very much offended.
" Erbarmlich." Faust apologized half heartedly.
" Lüge." She murmured, knowing he did not mean it.
" Where is Mephistopheles?" He asked, somewhat rushed.
" Your close to him, are you not?" She asked, seeming to forget her offence.
" Frau! Where is Mephisto!? Erzählen Sie mich!" He demanded, gripping her shoulders and giving her a good shake.
" He's over there, the tall one with red hair. You see him? He is standing by his cousin Azazel. You see?" She asked him again, whilst pointing.
" Yes, Dank." He thanked her, and headed off towards the devil, not noticing she had grabbed his hand and was following him.
" Hm?" Mephistopheles discontinued conversation with Azazel when he noticed Faust heading towards him, a mixture of panic and anger scrawled across his face. He noticed that Adeela, the young girl he had asked to keep Faust warm through the previous night, was with him. Infact, they were holding hands. He smirked. What a shame for the poor necromancer, if only he could get over his deceased wife, young Adeela would be a good mate for him. Of course, he would bear the title of a pedophile, but none the less.
Mephisto chuckled. The simple distresses of man amused him so.
" Ah! Faust, my dear doctor! I see you've woken." Mephistopheles greeted warmly with a huge grin. " You met Adeela, I presume?" It was then that Faust realized the girl was standing beside him, holding his hand even. Quickly, he snatched his numb limb from her.
'Perhaps' he thought,' I should lay off the morphine.' Of course, if he were to do so, the pain of his self induced surgeries would undoubtedly drive him to suicide, if he didn't slip into a coma first.
" You have taken good care of our beloved patron of death?" Mephistopheles asked Adeela good humouredly.
" Mephistopheles!" Faust demanded, once again slipping out of a contemplative stupor. " How did I get here?"
" why, I found you laying inside Jennianna's little chapel, if you will, unconscious. I had previously promised to attend this Walpurgis Night, and as you all know. I never break my word." Mephisto said this somewhat slyly as he wrapped an arm around Adeela's slender waist, trailing fingers down to her thighs. Faust was utterly disgusted by this filthy display, Adeela, however, seemed to practically be inviting the accursed beast to take advantage of her.
" That does not explain why I am here, Teufel." Faust spat. He would not ask what had happened to the child, he already knew, and he hated that he did.
" What's the matter, sweet Johann? Jealous?" Mephisto smirked as he released Adeela. Instead, he moved behind Faust and wrapped his pale arms about the mans waist. " If you'd rather I give you my attention I'd be perfectly alright with that." Mephisto whispered seductively as he nipped on Faust's ear. As had often, Faust was enraged. He'd have called forth legions of skeletons to aid him, but there were none here. Only the dead bodies of a few birds; hardly the creatures to destroy the devil.
" Let. Go. Of. Me. Jetzt!" Faust growled through clenched teeth, fully aware that he was the servant, not Mephisto. But, truthfully, could he be blamed for his anger? First the young Adeela was strewn over him, now he had the very male devil licking his ear and holding him firmly about the waist. No, he could not be held accountable fro his wrath, it, amazingly, was perfectly justifiable.
" Why should I?" Mephisto asked in a defiant, yet distracted, tone as he tugged lightly on Faust's ear with his teeth. " I think IO like this." He purred, before drawing blood from the blonde's ear.
Faust did not flinch. He could not feel the light pain due to the morphine. However, the anger inside him was welling up, and a deep urge to break their pact filled him. Till he saw Adeela's giggling face, which reminded him so much of Eliza. His sweet, dear, dead Eliza. Then he remembered, that this, devil, held the key to him getting her back. He must endure. He must.
" Mephisto. Playing with your little humans again?" came the amused voice of a black haired woman. She was clad in a short gray skirt, a long sleeved white shirt with black squares on the sleeves, and thigh high boots. The sleeves fell off at her shoulders, revealing a small scar set perfectly on the curve of her arm. Her amused smirk and black eyes focused on Faust, who was fighting to keep from lashing out at the red haired man who's chin was resting on his shoulder.
" Ohh.. He's handsome." She purred and licked her lips in a predatory fashion. " Very much so. Though….. he does look a bit tired."
" I'm right here." Faust growled lowly. He was barely withstanding having this beast hang on him, he didn't need its cousin there. Though, in the poor doctors brooding, he never realized what this woman must be if she was the cousin to Mephistopheles.
" He is, isn't he? You know, he's madly in love with his dear wife. Aeliza, was her name? Poor fellow, she died some years back." Mephistopheles stated in a contemplative, sinister voice.
" I see…" she replied.
" Ah! Faustus! This is Azazel, a much beloved cousin of mine." Mephisto grinned, " One of the more well known of the fallen."
" ahh… yes…. That reminds me. Your little girl is crying for you again." Azazel commented in a bored, dull tone.
" again? Can that woman not stand her solitude for even a moment." Mephistopheles complained, letting go of Faust in the process.
" Little girl?" Faust asked, relieved to have been released form Mephisto's embrace.
" Yes. She is a verry, very lonelyt girl who sold me her soul if I would, amazingly, become her friend." Mephisto said contemplatively. " You know, I think I'll send you to her instead."
" What?!" Faust demanded.
" I don't need to repeat myself. Now, keep her company. Make her happy. And, try not to faint this time." Mephistopheles smirk grew as the familiar black fog began to engulf Faust. He became aware of only a desperate longing and clawing passion, till he at last stood inside an extremely immaculate room.
" Mephistopheles!" An innocent, child-like voice cried out in joy. Faust turned to see a young girl with dirty blonde hair.
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Hallo! How are you? I'm in a fairly pleasant mood, but, hey, who wouldn't be? I recently had my birthday and I even made a cape/cloak thing that Chantal insists on wearing.
Sorry Chantal, your not Nicky.
Anyway, thank you for reading chapter 4 of the story, I hope you enjoyed it greatly, and I hope you will read all future chapters and review them all. But, onto more pressing issues.
I don not own the Shaman King characters that are mentioned and or present in this chapter. Namely, Faust and Eliza. I wrote this for my own entertainment and am receiving no money for this so I am insisting that you do not sue me. Thank you my beloved avid readers! And have a nice day!