Author's Note: So we are back to soulless!Italy. It took me a while to get started with what I wanted, but I managed to pull it off. I am enjoying where this season is heading so far. And we have Faust back. I can't wait to see where soulless!Italy's storyline goes from here. But I already have next week planned in my head. For now, enjoy this week's match.


Match Five: Inferno:

The northern part of Italy is being covered up by fog. Feliciano walks around like it's nothing. He stepped out of the house with a cold smirk on his face. The man started to look for some new thrills. The brothels, bars, and nightclubs were starting to bore him. He wanted something more… Exciting.

That's where the doctor came in.

Feliciano was about to head out for the night when his phone rang.

"Yeah?" he asked.

"Feliciano, old friend," a familiar German voice said on the other line. The Italian man didn't have any emotion on his face.

"Johann," he said. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Are you out looking for a thrill again?" the doctor asked.

"Heh," the Italian man said. "You know me so well. What do you have?"

"Have you heard of the Red Wonderland Room?" Faust said. Feliciano raised his eyebrow.

"Oh? I can't say that I have," he said.

"Excellent," Faust said. "Meet me in front of the Bacchus Hotel." The Italian man smirked to himself.

"Heh," was all he said. Feliciano hung up his phone. He shoved it into his pocket and kept walking.

But he knows that he is not alone tonight.

Feliciano glanced over his shoulder. The old him would've run away terrified in the dark. Hell, he wouldn't have been out here in the dark and empty streets in the first place. But that part of him was gone. Gone and probably dead. But Ludwig refused to believe that.

"We will get you back, I promise," he said as he grabbed the Italian man by the shoulders. Feliciano had a dull look in his eyes.

"No," he said. The Italian man shoved him off. Ludwig gave him a stunned look.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"Goodbye, Ludwig," Feliciano said before turning and walking away.

"Feliciano!" the German man yelled after him. The door closed behind his friend.

Since then, something has been following the Italian man. The old him would've run away scared. The old him would've screamed and waved the white flag of surrender. But tonight…

"I know you are here, Bella," Feliciano said aloud. The Italian man turned around.

"Why don't you show me your lovely face?" he asked. Feliciano looked around in the darkness. Why doesn't she come out and play? (He thinks it's a she. He's never gotten a good look at… who or whatever was following him.) Feliciano shrugged. He guessed not tonight either. The Italian man continued his walk.

The Bacchus Hotel had been closed down for years. It made for a perfect front for many illegal things. Many illegal things. Faust stood outside waiting. He held up his phone when he spotted the Italian man across the street.

"Hey!" he shouted. Feliciano looked up and made his way to the closed-down club. Johann gave him a hungry smirk.

"Good evening," he said. The Italian man had a stoic look on his face.

"Is this going to be worth my while?" he asked. Dr. Faust smirked at him.

"Why yes," he said. He turned to the door.

"Right this way," he said. Johann pushed open the doors. Not like anyone was going to pay attention to two men walking into an abandoned hotel. If they did, they weren't going to say anything. Feliciano still looked over his shoulder. He could feel her watching him from across the street. The man tried to mentally will her to follow him. Sadly, it didn't work.

Oh well.

Feliciano followed Faust into the building.


The Italian man felt pumping under his feet. So far, nothing seemed to excite him.

"Why am I here, Johann?" Feliciano asked. "This better be worth my while." The doctor looked over his shoulder.

"There is someone I want you to meet," he said. The Italian man didn't reply. Faust paused and turned around. He held out his arms.

"Behold!" he said. Feliciano looked around.

"What am I looking at?" he asked.

"Patience," the doctor said. He turned and waved his hand in a circle in the air. Flames started to flare up. Not just regular ones either. These were blacker than night. Feliciano stared with a dull look on his face. The flames all started to connect to each other. A giant door formed out of nowhere. Faust reached into his coat and pulled out a key. He chuckled to himself as he unlocked the door.

"After you," she said. Faust pulled open the door. Feliciano didn't respond as he walked inside. The doctor followed behind.

The door disappeared behind them.


Now, it was quiet. Not even footsteps filled the room. Feliciano trailed ahead in a darkened narrow hallway. He could see a faint light in the distance. The Italian man glanced over his shoulder. Faust kept close behind but said nothing. The walls began to vibrate around them. Just a little bit farther…

"Stop," Faust said. Feliciano stopped in his tracks and turned around.

"Are we going through another portal?" he asked. Faust smirked as he shook his head.

"Wait right here," he said. The doctor put up his hands and waved them back as if drawing back a curtain. A hazy purple light filled the darkness.

"Meet your new plaything," the doctor said. Feliciano took a look inside. A small spark of light jumped in his eyes.

A woman was hanging by her wrists from the ceiling. Her long red hair covered up most of her pale, naked torso. She had her head down. The woman looked barely alive. Feliciano let his eyes trail down her body. Faust came up beside him.

"Magnificent, isn't she?" he asked.

"Who is this?" Feliciano asked.

"Ah, this is the Witch of Inferno," the doctor said. "The one who possesses her will have all of their desires granted." The Italian man looked at him.

"Is that right?" he asked.

"Yes," Faust purred in his ear. Feliciano couldn't take his eyes off of her. Something about her looked familiar. He reached out to the invisible glass in front of him. Some of the woman's hair started to float around her.

"Would you like to meet her?" Faust asked in a breathy tone. Feliciano took a step back.

"I don't understand," he said. The doctor looked up.

"Understand what?" he asked.

"Why this? Why do I deserve such a present?" Feliciano asked. He shrugged as he spoke.

"No real reason," Faust said with a grin. "You're my favorite customer." He placed his hand on the glass. The barrier vanished into thin air. Faust patted him on the back.

"Have fun," he whispered in the Italian man's ear. Faust turned and walked off. Feliciano turned and his companion was gone.

"Heh," was all he said. He turned back to the hanging woman. Now, a hazy pink light was glowing in her chest. Her hair started to float around her. The Italian man walked over to her. He reached out and stroked her cheek. The woman froze. Feliciano moved around in front of her.

"Hello, Bella," he said. She didn't speak. The Italian man got a better look at her face. Something about her eyes looked so familiar.

"What is your name?" he asked. She didn't answer. Feliciano got a better look at her eyes. Empty green pits stared back at him. Still, he saw something inside of her.

"Oh," he said. "I see." A little smile spread across his face.

"I think I shall give you a name," Feliciano said. The woman slightly lifted her head. The Italian man took a moment to think.

"Let's see…" He ran his fingers down her soft cheek. Feliciano gently brushed aside her hair from her face. She looked like a pale angel. Her lips seemed to beg for a kiss. The Italian man slowly leaned in close but paused.

"I have just the name," he whispered. Feliciano could see his reflection in her eyes.

"Diana."

The woman seemed to come to life. The chains fell from her wrist. She dropped into his arms. Feliciano leaned in and kissed her on the lips. The whole time, Diana didn't move. Her hair started floating up around her. The light in her chest grew brighter. Warmth wrapped around Feliciano like a blanket. This woman… Something about her stirred something inside of him.

I have to have more of this.

The Italian man slowly pulled away. By now, he got a better look at her body. The faint scars on her flesh started to vanish. Her hair started to float back down. So this was the Witch of Inferno. She could grant any desire that he had?

Feliciano grabbed Diana by the cheeks.

"Show me all of your secrets," he purred. She leaned back her head as she reached up to touch his cheek. Feliciano felt his body go stiff.

He began to see things that he couldn't describe. So many lights floated by around him. Feliciano could see time moving forward and backward. The world isn't meant to go on forever. Everything around humans was going to die. They will struggle to survive, but the rot of the world will come to wipe them out. Even the ones he used to care about would lay a husk in ruins.

The old him would've cried and freaked out by this. But Feliciano had a hunch that this was happening. He started to see it around him. Part of him wondered if the others could see it too.

That wasn't the only thing that she showed him.

Feliciano could see how and when people were going to do. The accidents, murders, suicides, and old ages seemed to blend together. He saw the lights of people walking around in his country. Some were brighter than the sun. Some were about to go out. They stood out from the stars and the streetlights. He couldn't see his own. Feliciano found himself in front of black glass. There was no light from his body.

He had an idea of why.

"Oh, I see," Feliciano said.

Diana drew back her hand. The Italian man began to feel reality returning around him. He looked up at the black ceiling.

"Okay, Doc," Feliciano said. "I got her. I'm ready to go now." He turned his head to see a giant door opening.

"Thank you," the Italian man said. He picked up Diana and carried her off with him.

Faust was waiting outside for them. He perked up and held out his arms when Feliciano walked up to him with Diana.

"So, how did you enjoy your new toy?" the doctor asked. The Italian man gave him a cold smile.

"What else can this Bella do?" he asked. The doctor smirked at him.

"Come along and you shall see," Faust said. He snickered as he walked away into the night. Feliciano smirked to himself as well.

"Indeed," he said to himself. The Italian man carried Diana with him as he followed behind.