~~ Todd ~~
"They're doing fine. Don't worry." Todd stretched. In reality, he didn't move at all. This place was just a mental projection, a way for him to keep up with what was going on while his body healed.
"I hope so. Do you know why we're here?" a familiar voice asked. Here in this half-world, Lucifer looked different. He was… darker, it was as if his darker half had merged with the lighter one, but instead of it balancing out, the dark had taken control. His voice was a creepy drawl that reminded Todd of the narrator's voice in a million scary movies and try as he might, Todd couldn't shake the fact that here in Lucifer's domain, he lived only as long as he appeased the Vulgate.
"I guess someone wants to talk to us. I've been here already. I told those damned Fates that my people will handle it, but if they keep dragging me around after them, I won't be able to organize anything."
Lucifer snorted. "They care little for the affairs of mortals. They probably told you that you were their last resort…"
"Nah, but they made a big deal of making it seem like that. My friends are out there. I have to help."
"How noble." Lucifer sneered.
A door appeared in front of them, double doors made of some dark wood that looked like it was moving. Very slowly, they opened.
Lucifer and Todd looked at each other.
"Ri-i-ight… Certainly have a flair for drama, don't they." Todd muttered as he entered, taking care not to get so much as a micro-millimeter in front of Lucifer. Only God knew what would happen if Lucifer thought he was competing with him. As the doors slammed shut (slowly), they found themselves in a pit the size of a football field. Along it's perimeter was a wall and perched at the top of that wall were dozens of people who's appearance ranged from majestic to surreal. They all peered down at the two mortals, many feigning boredom, but never taking their eyes away from them. There was one directly in front of them, obviously the boss, who looked grim as death itself.
"These are difficult times, as I'm sure you know. Your assistance is needed in ending this conflict before it gets out of hand." Boss said, not bothering with niceties and just getting straight to the point.
"So it's not out of hand yet." Todd cut in, anger permeating his tone. He felt a weird buzzing somewhere near him and shook his head to clear it so he could defend himself against the self-proclaimed Fates.
"No. It is not. Valzinameku has not realized that he does not yet possess the key. This means that he is still vulnerable. He also has not yet deduced the layout of power in your world, human. He does not know how to act to cause the most damage. It is only a matter of time before he does."
"You're the Fates, just do your thing and fix it so he chokes and dies on a chicken bone or something."
"I fear it is not that simple. We must act through mortals. Our only power in your world is our influence on your kind."
"You bothered me to tell me this? As if I couldn't have figured that out on my own?" Todd snuck a glance at Lucifer, who hadn't said a word since the door appeared. The look on his face made Todd think that Lucifer agreed with him. This meeting was a waste of time.
"While you are in our domain, our power is absolute. We can make you more powerful so that you may carry out our tasks in your world. Or under normal circumstances we could. There is something about your magic that baffles us. We find that we are unable to enhance your abilities without causing more damage than is worth the alteration."
"And when did you try…" Todd asked, determined not to believe any of it.
"Not long ago. You are extremely resistant to alteration. We believe it has something to do with your origins."
"Yeah, you could say it's in my blood." Todd returned with a wry grin. Of course the Fates didn't know about mutants. They thought it was just a different type of magic.
"Indeed." Boss said, completely missing the ironic undertone in Todd's voice. "We have therefore decided that instead of passing final judgment on K'Mas nec Lucifer, we shall give him the means to assist you. His judgment shall be dependant upon his performance in your service."
"You mean… you'll bring Lucifer back to life so he can help us?"
"Yes." Suddenly all the Fates shifted violently. "First, you must prove yourself to us. There are gifts we may give you to enhance your body, but you must show that you are strong enough to use them."
"I don't get it, can't you just tell these kinds of things? What-" a dull ache began to spread from Todd's arm to his chest. "Why the Hell call yourself the Fates if you can't tell what's fated to happen!?" Todd ignored as the ache grew steadily worse.
"Nothing is fated, human. We merely direct the flow of things. We have no control over anything definite. That is for mortals to attend. Farewell human."
"What-"
Then there was nothing but Lucifer, Todd and the rapidly spreading ache. And the darkness. It was always there.
"They're doing fine. Don't worry." Todd stretched. In reality, he didn't move at all. This place was just a mental projection, a way for him to keep up with what was going on while his body healed.
"I hope so. Do you know why we're here?" a familiar voice asked. Here in this half-world, Lucifer looked different. He was… darker, it was as if his darker half had merged with the lighter one, but instead of it balancing out, the dark had taken control. His voice was a creepy drawl that reminded Todd of the narrator's voice in a million scary movies and try as he might, Todd couldn't shake the fact that here in Lucifer's domain, he lived only as long as he appeased the Vulgate.
"I guess someone wants to talk to us. I've been here already. I told those damned Fates that my people will handle it, but if they keep dragging me around after them, I won't be able to organize anything."
Lucifer snorted. "They care little for the affairs of mortals. They probably told you that you were their last resort…"
"Nah, but they made a big deal of making it seem like that. My friends are out there. I have to help."
"How noble." Lucifer sneered.
A door appeared in front of them, double doors made of some dark wood that looked like it was moving. Very slowly, they opened.
Lucifer and Todd looked at each other.
"Ri-i-ight… Certainly have a flair for drama, don't they." Todd muttered as he entered, taking care not to get so much as a micro-millimeter in front of Lucifer. Only God knew what would happen if Lucifer thought he was competing with him. As the doors slammed shut (slowly), they found themselves in a pit the size of a football field. Along it's perimeter was a wall and perched at the top of that wall were dozens of people who's appearance ranged from majestic to surreal. They all peered down at the two mortals, many feigning boredom, but never taking their eyes away from them. There was one directly in front of them, obviously the boss, who looked grim as death itself.
"These are difficult times, as I'm sure you know. Your assistance is needed in ending this conflict before it gets out of hand." Boss said, not bothering with niceties and just getting straight to the point.
"So it's not out of hand yet." Todd cut in, anger permeating his tone. He felt a weird buzzing somewhere near him and shook his head to clear it so he could defend himself against the self-proclaimed Fates.
"No. It is not. Valzinameku has not realized that he does not yet possess the key. This means that he is still vulnerable. He also has not yet deduced the layout of power in your world, human. He does not know how to act to cause the most damage. It is only a matter of time before he does."
"You're the Fates, just do your thing and fix it so he chokes and dies on a chicken bone or something."
"I fear it is not that simple. We must act through mortals. Our only power in your world is our influence on your kind."
"You bothered me to tell me this? As if I couldn't have figured that out on my own?" Todd snuck a glance at Lucifer, who hadn't said a word since the door appeared. The look on his face made Todd think that Lucifer agreed with him. This meeting was a waste of time.
"While you are in our domain, our power is absolute. We can make you more powerful so that you may carry out our tasks in your world. Or under normal circumstances we could. There is something about your magic that baffles us. We find that we are unable to enhance your abilities without causing more damage than is worth the alteration."
"And when did you try…" Todd asked, determined not to believe any of it.
"Not long ago. You are extremely resistant to alteration. We believe it has something to do with your origins."
"Yeah, you could say it's in my blood." Todd returned with a wry grin. Of course the Fates didn't know about mutants. They thought it was just a different type of magic.
"Indeed." Boss said, completely missing the ironic undertone in Todd's voice. "We have therefore decided that instead of passing final judgment on K'Mas nec Lucifer, we shall give him the means to assist you. His judgment shall be dependant upon his performance in your service."
"You mean… you'll bring Lucifer back to life so he can help us?"
"Yes." Suddenly all the Fates shifted violently. "First, you must prove yourself to us. There are gifts we may give you to enhance your body, but you must show that you are strong enough to use them."
"I don't get it, can't you just tell these kinds of things? What-" a dull ache began to spread from Todd's arm to his chest. "Why the Hell call yourself the Fates if you can't tell what's fated to happen!?" Todd ignored as the ache grew steadily worse.
"Nothing is fated, human. We merely direct the flow of things. We have no control over anything definite. That is for mortals to attend. Farewell human."
"What-"
Then there was nothing but Lucifer, Todd and the rapidly spreading ache. And the darkness. It was always there.