Pathway to Hell
Chapter 6 In which we learn Lucifer has a heart
AN: Okay this chapter is kind of bitty it jumps from everyone's POV and is quite strange I know what I'm doing now so I'm not sure how many more chapter's I'm gonna get out of it deffo not as many as Innocence but what can I do! Thank you everyone for your reviews I LOVE them!
John's spirit was weakening slowly the life and resilience the man had once held diminished, Satan was making sure of that.
John didn't know what to expect they seemed to be travelling through the endless planes of Hell.
In his life John had only experienced these once, when he entered the portal to stop Gaia from interfering with the balance by killing Lucifer.
There were many levels in Hell some hidden, so deep only Satan himself knew they existed and of course the souls he trapped there.
When John used water to transport himself to Hell he was sent to the surface, just behind the thin vale that separated it from Earth. It was a reflection of his world only in Hell. Everything that existed on earth would be rotten and decayed.
Then there was these endless planes they travelled through now. It was like walking through a desert, lost, no water just scorching heat. This was the second level where demons entered through the portal. Hell was so complicated even more complicated than Heaven. Satan liked to confuse the unfortunate souls that made there way down here, stop them from ever escaping eternal torment.
As of yet John had not been ripped apart in screaming brutal agony… But he had a feeling he would be experiencing that pain as soon as they reached their final destination.
His mind remained on the brief encounter with Gaia, she was trying to save him… Maybe she shouldn't be after all he was a lost cause. He had sold his soul to Satan and even though he had been tricked into doing it he had signed the contract using free will.
Suddenly Lucifer stopped letting go of John.
"Luceria…" He whispered softly.
"What? What about her?" John asked shocked at Satan's sudden outburst.
"She's in trouble… Balthazar…"
He turned to John sneering evilly at him.
"Looks like I must leave you a little earlier that I thought… Well I'm not leaving you alone…" Lucifer shook his head thinking for a while.
"See you soon." He said disappearing.
John breathed a sigh of relief he was free from Lucifer if only for a little while but he was wrong… He found himself back on the surface. The decaying buildings of LA surrounded him the stench of rotting flesh combing his nostrils. Several soldier demons stalked towards him saliva dripping from their mouths as they made there way hungrily towards the demon hunter they had wanted so long for…
"Balthazar…" Lucifer growled.
Luceria was kneeling on the floor covered in blood.
He quickly made his way towards her catching her slender form before she could hit the ground.
"My dear child…" He whispered soothingly brushing some stray hair from her mangled face.
"Balthazar" He repeated this time with more anger.
"Master…" Balthazar said hesitantly unsure of why Lucifer was angry.
"I though you wished her dead…"
"NO! Do not assume anything Balthazar. You think I would wish pain on my child? LOOK AT HER!" He screamed laying her gently down before grabbing Balthazar around the neck.
"LOOK AT HER!" He repeated this time only inches away from the trembling half breed's face.
"Master… I didn't think"
"NO! You didn't. How dare you, she is your master Balthazar! She is more powerful then you will ever know and she is my DAUGHTER"
"If she is so powerful why didn't she stop me?" Balthazar growled.
He was greeted with a clump of flames which quickly engulfed him.
"MASTER NOOOOOO!" He screamed in agony as he was deported rather painfully back to Hell.
Lucifer grinned in delight at the tortured screams of Balthazar however he quickly overcame that moving silently towards his daughter's side.
"My dear child… Why would you let this happen?" He asked softly to the poor girls ear.
She looked dreadful. The entire left side of her face was torn open, her back was slashed painfully also Lucifer could tell she had many broken bones in both her arms.
"Don't worry Luceria, Balthazar will pay for his crimes against you"
He lifted Luceria's body gently into his strong arms making towards the nearest 'hospital'. He did not posses the power to heal the girl after all he was Satan creator of chaos.
No the poor human would have to heal like any other it was a shame about her face though no doubt that ghastly looking wound would leave a permanent scar…
The eternal flames of fury surrounded my kneeling form.
My body was in perfect shape no scars, no broken bones.
The temperature was otherworldly hot yet I didn't seem to notice not one bead of sweat formed I was immune to it's effects.
I was clothed in a black silken gown my feat were bare exposed to the scorching sands of Hell.
I rose to my full height standing tall amidst the nothingness around me.
"John…" I called.
My voice seemed to echo endlessly although there was nothing for the sound waves to bounce off of. It was surreal yet somehow I knew I was standing in a real place.
Maybe this was my one chance to get to him?
I didn't understand was I dead? I remember the immense pain I had felt before blacking out, maybe I had died.
"John…" I called again.
"He isn't here"
I spun around coming face to face with my mother.
"Merisier…" I whispered slowly.
"Hello my beautiful daughter. You somehow managed to separate your mind from your body, at this very moment you are lying unconscious in a hospital bed"
"What"
"You remember Balthazar? What he did"
"Yes." I nodded.
"You lost consciousness your body couldn't take the pain, one of the downsides in being human I suppose. Your father sensed your distress and went to you. He doesn't have your ability to heal thus he took you to a hospital where you remain until you awaken"
"Why am I here?" I asked.
"Your sub-consciousness is still very much aware that John is still down here and you want to save him. Trust me Luceria it would be better if you could. Your father has become obsessed with him he has left Mammon is charge… Not a wise decision after Mammon's recent attempt to break through. I see the pain this is causing you but somehow your father cannot… I apologise for the misery you have endured I know now I should never have sent you to earth, Murphy informed me of everything"
I nodded good old Murphy.
"I need to get to John"
My mother nodded. "You don't have long. Lucifer won't return until you awake but your presence won't go unnoticed Mammon will find you, do you understand"
"Yes, thank you"
I was taken aback as she embraced me. Never in my life had a received a motherly hug. Everyday of my childhood I had dreamed of it but in reality it was one million times better than I had imagined.
"I love you Luceria, please know that"
Then she was gone, and I found myself in a ghastly version of LA. The buildings were in flames, cars stood empty and abandoned in the middle of roads.
I had to be quick stay away from all demons, if I didn't find John soon my only hope was gone.
I didn't have a plan. I didn't know what I'd do when I found him but I needed to see him.
I walked aimlessly for an eternity somehow I felt as I if I was being drawn towards him, like he was calling me to him.
"John" I whispered catching a glimpse of the man I had been searching for.
"Gaia…"
He was surrounded be soldier demons hungry for his flesh.
"Stop." I hissed ordering them back.
They departed sulkily backing slowly away. I knew my cover was blown Mammon knew I was here and soon he would show up tearing John from my grasp.
"John I don't have long Mammon knows I'm here." I said over the roar of hell.
"Are you okay? Lucifer said you were in trouble…"
"It's a VERY long story listen I need to get you out John hurry"
"It's useless Gaia I can't leave now unless you buy my soul back…"
"No John just c'mon we have to GO!" I screamed.
"Gaia I wanna leave this place more than you will ever know"
I sighed deeply.
"Then why don't you try? How can you just give up like this"
John began to answer however he stopped abruptly.
"Gaia what the hell are you wearing?" He asked laughing slightly.
Great John was laughing in HELL! This was messed up what had happened to him begging me to save him?
"JOHN I DON'T HAVE TIME!" I shouted again this time more forcefully.
I grabbed his bruised arm pulling him in a random direction.
I fell to the ground my breathing quickened I felt myself being pulled back into my body.
"Gaia?" John asked questionably.
"John how can I save you? There has to be away!" I pleaded I knew I didn't have much time.
"Find Michael he's the closet thing to God there is now that Gabriel has crossed over." John said quickly sensing something wasn't right.
"Hold on… For me." I said sadly looking deeply into John's chocolate brown eyes.
"I promise."
I opened my eyes wearily my entire body ached. I felt like I was made of lead so weighed down.
"Luceria my dear you awaken…" My father said.
I was surprised to see him there even though Merisier had informed me he would be.
"Why are you here?" I said through my pain.
"Because you are my daughter and no matter what you think I do love you"
"You love me… Is that why you fooled John into selling his soul?" "Luceria it is none of your business." Lucifer replied coldly.
"Is it not? I think you'll find it is my buisness, you used me to get to him! The second I was born you concocted your seedy little plan"
"I'm here because you were going to die! I think you should be grateful! Any way my child I must leave you duty calls"
In an instance my father disappeared leaving me alone in the small hospital room overcome with pain.
I knew I had to find Michael but where was another matter…