Disclaimer: I don't own any POTC characters, only my OCs.
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Here we go!
Chapter 3: The Queen's Pets
It was so clear, so very clear, a loud, piercing sound, stabbing through the cold wind, through the cold night, a twanging trailing noise twisting through the white gale. It crashed against walls, loud, brittle, a dragging wail in the icy storm, a horrible cry, rage against icy black. Sound pitched, moaning, baying.
I couldn't think.
A howl.
A howl.
No one spoke.
No one even breathed.
For a second, the world seemed to freeze, everything stopping, everything ceasing, the wind deafening over as the howl echoed away into the icy whirl, fading against the golden-washed walls-
And then, another howl joined into the chorus.
A louder, nearer howl.
A howl.
A howl.
My stomach dived.
Oh God.
Will's whisper was a breath of fading warmth.
"What is that?"
Another yowl screamed in the distance.
My heart stopped.
Hellhounds.
With a gasp, a cold, frigid gasp, I swirled around, through the snow, through the black wind, away from Hel and towards Balder, the sword stinging, burning bright in my hand; he was still there, at the other end of the room, golden and dark, blue eyes flaring bright at the goddess still standing tall and icy on the long dining table-
One more icy, tearing howl.
I practically screamed.
"I thought you said you handled them!"
Blue eyes, bright, twisted blue eyes flickered towards me.
Will's breath grew short.
Damn i-
And then, like a flick of switch, the darkness, the creeping, twisted, the haunting bitterness flashed out of his eyes, out of his twisting lips-
And he returned back to normal.
Normal, laughing, grinning Balder.
Normal Balder.
The sword burned in my hand.
Will's icy fingers dug weakly into mine.
Black, black hair whipped.
Normal Balder.
He grinned.
"Woah, Woah…" he raised up his bow, both hands pulling up in false defence, the glee, the hilarity jumping back into his bronze features, his blue eyes laughing again, completely ignoring his still, silent sister as he mocked me with a cheeky, bold grin, the usual Balder grin, "I never said anything about handling them-"
"But that was your job!" There was another howl, a howl on top of a howl, loud and clear, brittle and sharp, a stab down the spine, a knife through the gut, Will's fingers so cold, too cold, "You were supposed to get rid of the hounds, while I rescued Will-"
"And I did get rid of them-"
"Then what the fuck is that?"
"Well, momentarily."
Another howl bayed through the glacial night.
Ice bit into skin.
Will's fingers shuddered.
Something burned in my throat.
"Moment-you were supposed to kill them!"
"Well, you didn't say that-"
"I didn't say…" I trailed off, my voice aching, my hand burning, and then I dropped the sword, back down to my side, Will's fingers too cold, my mind racing as rage crashed through my veins, hot and alive, "I told you to get rid of them!"
He jabbed his bow in my direction.
"Yes! Exactly! Get rid of them. Not kill-"
"Of course I meant kill them, you freaking idiot!"
"How was I supposed to know that? Next time, make it clear, me dame- you can't blame me for thinking that getting rid of them simply means locking them up in the cellar-"
"YOU LOCKED THEM UP IN THE CELLAR?"
"Yes….I-I mean, nooooooo," he shook his head, dragging, accent thick, his face screwed up in an obvious, dramatic lie, taking a step back, away from me, waving his bow as if in defence, "I absolutely did not lock them up in the cellar-"
"You're the worst god in the entire universe, you-"
"Oi! Give me a break, would'cha? It's been 4000 years-"
A howl screamed through the ice.
Loud.
Clear.
Near.
Too near.
My mouth went dry.
Oh God.
Hel's voice was ice.
"You better run."
It came out nowhere, out of absolutely no where that for a moment, I wasn't sure that she was even there anymore, a whisper, a play of the icy wind, chilling my heart, stopping it forever-
But she was there.
Always there.
Though no longer on the table.
Oh God.
She was in a chair now, one of the tall black thrones, those Gothic, creepy thrones, sitting at the head of the long, golden-washed table, poised, upright, her skin so pale, so very dead. Black hair, black as the icy world outside, black as hell, shivered about her pretty face, her pallid, ghastly face, her rotting, putrid dress flowed perfectly about the icy throne, the flesh of the dead splayed out against black rock. Pretty, perfect hands folded together atop the black table, among the swishing dead petals and frosted food, crops of snow cresting upon her fetid shoulders. The bone crown gleamed, cold firelight washing over twisted white knobs and bloody veins. A red dot, black and new, spotted through the icy tops of her livid shoulders.
A tear of blood trailed down her temple.
Icy orbs stared at Balder.
Fuck.
When had she moved off the table?
Another howl, baying, wailing, somewhere beyond the wall behind Balder.
Icy wind screamed.
When had she moved?
Her voice was like stab through the heart.
An icy, dead stab.
"Normally, I would withdraw my darlings upon arrival of any sibling," she could only see Balder, and only him, her dark hair shivering in the icy gale, a pale shadow against the ravaged hole in the wall to the outside, icy Underworld, "But in your case, little brother, I shall make an exception."
Balder's wink was a blaze of blue against bronze.
Cheeky.
Bold.
"I wouldn't have it any other way."
And then, with a shake of bright, golden curls, Balder nodded towards me, a simple, quick nod, the brightness, the glee dimming in his face slightly, twisting, turning, the bright smile crooking into something a little more rigid. His head bobbed in my direction, jaw tightening slightly, his blue, blue eyes fixed upon his creepy sister. It was just a nod, a simple, uncharacteristic nod, plain and silent-
But it didn't take an idiot to guess what he meant.
It was so obvious.
Get over here.
Now.
For once, I didn't argue.
Without so much as a word, I held on to the burning, bright sword, grabbed Will's frigid hand and began to drag him, moving quickly, half-dragging, half-running, an eye still fixed on the silent, icy Hel, ears pricked for any other sounds-
A chorus of howls.
Loud.
Near.
Angry.
Shit.
I moved faster.
Behind me, Will was still so weak, so limp, his body moving heavily, sluggishly, his feet sliding against the gold-washed gravel; but I pulled him, persistent, sliding by the roaring, icy fireplace, the horrible fireplace, breaching the length of the doomed painting above to the other side of the room. The blade's heat still surged within me, keeping me warm, keeping me alive, giving me strength as I pushed against the howling icy wind, the thin layer of snow crunching beneath our boots, Will's fingers so weak, so heavy, his weight pulling us down-
And then Balder reached out and pulled us over towards him, grabbing the sleeve of my black robe and pulling me, dark, warm fingers digging into snow-covered black, dragging us both along the edge of the table and right towards him.
Towards the end of the black table.
Directly opposite Hel.
Right into her sight.
Oh God.
His breath was hot and fiery.
"We need to get out of here," it was whisper, and for a rare moment, a completely rare moment, Balder's smile left his face, the wrinkles creasing away into sternness, into wiriness, golden curls still and silent in the whipping white cold; he pulled me towards him, close, a breath apart, Will's hand slipping behind me as he struggled to stand on his own two feet, his body slack and weak, his feet shuffling through the snow behind me. I couldn't see him, not now, but I could feel his hand, his icy fingers, his body slacking back, struggling to stand still, to stand strong-
But so weak.
So very weak.
The blade burned by my side, bright and hot.
Balder's eyes were tight.
Damn.
I let go of Will's hand.
Just for a second.
"You think?" I whispered back, hasty, impatient, the annoyance and frustration still spitting forth as I looked up at his unfamiliar eyes, my newly-freed hand pushing away his clutching hot fingers. Hair whipped across my own, cold face.
My palm still felt so cold from Will's icy touch.
Howls screamed through the world.
Near.
Balder's lips crooked into a half-smile.
His eyes shone a little bit.
Familiar again.
"You still mad at me, dame?"
"Of course I'm still mad!" I was still whispering, keeping my voice low, as low as his, so, so soft in the howling icy gale, glaring right up into Balder's lighting eyes, face screwed up in a tight frown, "Why is it that you can never, ever do as I say?"
His smile lit up even more.
All over again.
"Because I'm the god of freedom! The god of wild and liberty-"
"No, you're not!"
"Yes, I am."
"Idiot. You're the god of happiness, and light-"
"Ergo, freedom."
"Don't ergo me-"
"Ergo. Ergo ergo ergo ergo ergo ergo ergo ergo ergo ergo-"
There was a crash of wood, in the distance, and then a sharp yap of deep barks.
Near.
Too near.
Shit.
With a gasp, I whipped my head back, back towards Will, my fingers, my hand suddenly longing for his touch again; he was there, right behind me, slumped down on one of those black throne chairs, dark hair array, messy, wild, his black coat billowing in the icy cold, shoulders frosted with sprinkles of thin snow. His head was sideways, leaning against the carvings of tortured souls on the black back of the chair, his beautiful eyes, his dark eyes shut tight, close to the world. Skin stung, pale and icy, deathly white, his entire body slumped against the chair, as if in total defeat-
And so quiet.
So very quiet.
Will.
My heart screamed.
Will.
With a flurry, I turned back to Balder, gripping my sword, digging into it's heat-
Wait.
If I gave the sword to Will-
It's heat-
It's strength-
No.
No, I can't.
Not if I want to protect him.
Not if I want to defend him against those hounds…
No.
No.
I just have to get him out of here.
Dark brown eyes opened slightly, staring right at me.
Will.
My breath came out in a whispered fog.
"We need to get out of here."
Balder's grin pulled a sarcastic twist.
Howls chorused into the night.
"Right. Now, if only we had an escape route-"
"We did have an escape route, you idiot!" I snarled, voice still so low, still whispering, my eyes forever flicking over my shoulder, towards Will's still, icy form, my stomach gnawing, my heart tugging, my entire body urging to rush over to him, to hold him, to keep him safe and warm, anger tearing through my soul, "You were supposed to make sure the way was clear, that the hounds were out of the way-"
"They were! They were in the cellar-"
"Right. Because putting a pack of wild, giant hounds of hell behind a wooden door was such a great idea-"
"It's your fault, dame. You didn't specify!"
"I didn't need to specify, you fucking-"
And then, the door exploded.
It was the door nearest to us, the door from which Balder had come in with, a million shards of black wood, splinters big and sharp, exploding across the icy whirl, a blast of wooden chips and metal hinges. Sound screamed, a loud bang, a mighty explosion as the door gave, absolutely and completely, tearing across the room in a million fragments, boom echoing, punch to the gut. Splinters soar, crashing against gravel and glass, caught in the icy gale-
And then, it pounced through.
A monster.
A demon.
Oh God.
It was a dog, a big black dog as high as my waist, as long as a lion, a dark, huge beast, a monster out of this world; it was big, so big, a giant black beast crashing through the door, humongous, powerful. Sleek coat glistened, dark as night, dark as hell, an unbelievable black completely untainted, completely and utterly black, a horrible sheen of darkness, of whispering shadows. Paws moved, giant, perfect, claws of fiery black crunching down on thin snow, crushing the whirling ice; they were as big as my hands, bigger even, mighty foots pawing through the shattered splinters, claws razor sharp. Above, its legs were powerful, beautifully powerful, long, thick legs of glistening black fur, sweating, heaving, giant muscles of brute force taking each and every slow step. It's body was long, thick and long, a spanning, black back and a wide stomach, all rippling with glossy black fur, chest heaving in every painful, icy breath. Its tail was down, razor sharp, a long dark tail like a whip, biting black; it swung behind, between its massive, powerful hind legs, its tip sharp, fur black as hell. Paws moved, silent, deathly, crushing splinters.
My heart stopped.
Oh God.
It's neck was powerful, so very powerful, thick muscles bulging beneath black, black fur, riveting, twisting, black as hell outside, thick around as my waist; it's chest was broad, thick and black, and above, high above the ground, high above it's crushing, black claws, its face was short, muscles strained and tight about its stout head. It's jaw line was short, its snout square and firm and up above, among the rippling black fur, it's short ears were flat back, angry, furious. It's snout was ripped with muscles, no whiskers, just strained, tight black, its black nose as large as a fist; it's mouth was open, and hanging through, gleaming bright against the icy gold-wash, its teeth were sharp, horrible and bloody. White, gleaming incisors tore down and up, a mouth of terrible sharp teeth, fangs of glistening white stained with dried blood; a tongue licked, a bloody red tongue, saliva dripping, greedy and hungry, between the white daggers, bloodcurdling teeth gnashing together. They were horrible, menacing, dreadful, dreadful fangs, hot, rotten breath panting in between, foul and brutal, a sickening lurch to the stomach, drool dripping liquid hot to the snow, melting away ice at touch. Eyes, red, blasted eyes stared silently, glaring bloody; just red, completely red, no pupils, no no whites, just red, a deep, torching, fiery red, embers of scorching flames, twisting, screaming fires, a peek into the very depths of hell-
Rygor's eye.
They were the same things.
They were just like Rygor's eye.
Bloody, hellion eyes.
Hellhound.
A deep, black growl throttled through the room.
A horrible growl.
Hellhound.
I screamed.
I didn't know why- I just had to, letting it rip from my lips, right out of my soul, and before I could even think, before I could even breathe, I leaped away from Balder's safety and right in front of Will, muscles screaming, sword snapping up into the icy storm, blood crying at the sight of the monster-
Because it was terrifying.
Absolutely terrifying.
It stood a little ways from where the door had once been, crushing down on snow and black splinters, pawing slowly into the room, the growl humming through its black, black throat; it was so silent, so very silent for such a huge beast, its ears flat, its tail straight, its entire muscular body rippling like shadows, whispery, black shadows. Snow melted beneath drool, sizzling like on fire, red eyes, horrible, horrible flaming eyes staring through the whipping snow, right at us as it slowly walked through the broken wood, never blinking, never stirring. Teeth glistened, wet and hungry.
Breath panted, hot and foul.
It's paw made not a sound.
Oh God.
Red eyes glared, bloody and cruel.
Oh God.
I couldn't breathe.
Behind me, Will had staggered out of his seat, his breath hot and furious against the naked skin of my neck, panting, violent, so utterly rapid; I couldn't see him, not really, but I knew he was scared, terrified out of his wits, bloody petrified-
Because that was exactly what I was.
I was horrified.
Completely and utterly horrified.
Hellhound.
The world froze.
Oh God.
In my hand, the blade was giving me strength, burning quick, burning bright, a star in a cold, cold world, pointed straight, light, ready, fingers digging into the fiery gold, the red ruby staring up into the ceiling, furious and raging, the silver blade a dash of light against the glistening black of the beast's coat; I held it before me, protecting me, protecting us, my body shielding Will as much as I could, but my arm was already quivering, shuddering, trembling.
Terrified right out of my mind.
Hellhound.
I had seen them before, seen the hellhounds from distances, far away, marching across the gates from the safety of jagged rocks and branching mountains, but never this close, never in the same room, never within a pouncing chance of torture and blood-
I felt so sick.
So very sick.
My mind was racing, racing and racing and racing, but I could do was stand there, still, mute, frozen between the monster and Will, my heart stopped in horror, my mouth so very dry-
And then, Balder's voice came out in a jovial grin.
"Hello, puppy!"
A black lip lifted, snarling, white fangs glistening.
The growl tore through my soul.
Oh God.
"Awww….he remembers me!"
My throat was on fire.
"Balder, shut up-"
"Well, you have to admit. They are sort of cute."
Will's breath was so hot.
"Cute?" I hissed, never once taking my eyes off the creature, off its fiery, hellion eyes, its screaming, flaming eyes, its black paws crushing everything underneath them as it skulked forward, breathing, black nostrils flaring, its foul breath thick and foggy in the icy gale, a monster, a horrible devil right before my eyes, coming straight towards us, "It's going to kill us-"
"Maybe. But it's still sort of adorable-"
And then another one, a black, horrible monster, a silent hellhound prowled in behind the first, smaller but just as horrible, terrible, terrible black.
The same, horrible fiery eyes.
Oh God.
I pushed back against Will.
Oh fucking hell.
"See? Gorgeous!"
It came out as a furious scream.
"BALDER! DO-"
And then, one of them lunged at us, at Will and I, teeth gnashing, black fur glistening, bloody eyes narrowed and cruel-
I screamed, pulling back, crashing against Will, gripping the sword, swinging, too slow, too, too slow-
And then, it pulled back, back away from us, a lunge that never succeeded.
A lunge that was never meant to succeed.
A tease.
A mock.
Playing with the food.
My entire body screamed.
Will grabbed my robe.
Food.
Balder chuckled.
"Ooh. Playful."
I could barely speak.
"Balder," it was a whisper, my eyes caught by the red orbs, the horrible red orbs, the very depths of hell staring right at me, hungry, famished, "Do something."
The smaller one licked its lips.
Food.
I couldn't breathe.
Balder sighed.
"Oh, all right," he heaved, and then reached back a bronze, muscular hand and hooked his bow to his quiver, the click of leather loud and clear against the rumbling growls, and then he turned around, back to the table. I didn't dare look, not for a moment, focusing all attention on those horrible eyes, those gnashing, gleaming teeth, my stomach sick, my body trembling, concentrating on Will's meek hold of my robe behind, making sure that he never, not once, ever let go-
Balder's voice cut, fire through ice.
"Here we go!"
And then, with a swish flick of dusky muscles, he tossed a huge, fleshy roast beef towards the two hounds, right at the feet, gravy flicking through the icy wind, the pound of meat crashing to the floor with a loud thud. It landed, near to the smaller hound, near its feet, a diversion, a distraction, a bargaining chip-
Which they duly ignored.
They just kept glaring, right at us, the growls trembling right through our souls, their muscles rippling, their chests heaving, snarling white teeth flashing in the gold-wash, eyes burning, scorching with flames. Paws crunched forward, silent as hell.
Coming closer.
And closer.
And closer.
My breath whispered out in foggy ice.
"Guess they like their food fresh."
Balder's voice was a grin.
"And raw."
And then, ice shattered through the world.
"You have lost again, brother."
My spine prickled.
It was Hel.
Fuck.
In light of all things, I had completely forgotten about her, in the swirling cold, I risked one glance away, away from the hellion beast's, back towards the goddess; she was still there, at the head of the table, completely opposite from us, dark, dark hair swaying, skin sickly and dead. Putrid, livid dress flapped against the wind, torn against the icy gale, her crown of bones gleaming bright and haunting, twisted and sick. Black blood trailed down her right temple.
Eyes stared, dead ice.
Completely cold.
Hel.
Will's head turned as well, back at the queen, dark hair wild.
The hot blade shivered in my grip.
Growls trembled.
Hel.
Balder didn't even bother to turn back.
"Once again, sister, you underestimate me," he said simply enough, still staring at the hound, golden curls laughing, a dark grin splaying across his handsome face.
I swirled back towards the approaching hounds.
The horrible monsters.
Damn it.
Hel's voice was ice.
Smooth, pure ice.
"There is no way out, Balder," I didn't want to look at them, at any of them, my attention, my very existence focused on two hounds before us, the two snarling hell beasts, fingers gripping the sword, ready to attack if they so much as flinched, breath shivering, body trembling, Will's icy fingers digging desperately into my robe, "You will go back, into your cell, and rot away the rest of your existence, to the ends of eternity. Your rebellion will go unpunished, but you must return-"
There was something dark in his voice.
"Really."
Red eyes glared, fires of hell.
Will's breath was hot and panicked.
My heart was screaming.
Hold on.
Her voice came like the breath of winter.
The breath of the dead.
"The world needs us, little brother. You know that. This planet, this earth cannot function without us. You have, and will always be a threat to that-"
His voice came in a sudden, horrible snap.
Growls tore.
"They never needed us. Not after creation, and you know that."
Red eyes glared, burning flames.
"Humans will always need us. They are nothing without their worshiping belief, in us or in Fate-"
Black fur glistened, dark, dark, whispering shadows.
"False belief."
Will's breath burned.
"Strong belief, and you are a promise against that, against our survival, against the humans' sanity-"
Ice screamed.
"A promise I intend to keep."
No one spoke.
Not a word.
Red eyes burned.
And then, two words, icy, icy dead words.
Terrible words.
"Very well."
The hounds bayed.
Oh God.
With a twist of powerful muscles, the two hell hounds knocked their heads up the ceiling and howled, loud and clear, so very terrifying, stabs of horror plunging into my heart as the sound screamed throughout the entire room, a warning, a horrible, horrible wail-
And then, they turned back to us.
Burning, scorching eyes.
Oh God.
I couldn't breathe.
They both began moving now, faster, prowling towards us, sharp daggers gnashing, red eyes flaming, monsters heading right towards us, their food, their entertainment, claws razor sharp against gold-washed gravel, eyes hungry, ravenous, ready to charge, to sink their bloody teeth into our flesh, to rip us all apart-
And then, Balder was by our sides.
His smile was back, a thick, cheeky golden smile, spread across his dusky skin, cheekbones flaring, golden curls laughing, blue eyes bright and alive-
And happy.
Too happy.
Black paws marched, dark beasts moving in, coming closer.
Will's fingers dug deeply, pathetic, cold.
Sword burned.
Oh God.
I couldn't stop trembling.
Balder grinned.
"As I said before, pretty," he beamed, nodding back at Will, as if the two hounds weren't closing in on us, coming in for a patient, silent kill, dread and horror pulling at my heart as I gripped the blade, fighting back the urge to scream and cry, to fall to my knees, to completely give up, warm breath hot and strong against my neck, "Now. We've got to rescue a face like that, eh?"
Fiery eyes neared.
Black bodies heaved.
Will.
My voice came out in a sob.
"There's no way out," I shook my head, body shuddering, sword trembling, the heat still alive but not good enough, not good enough to get rid of the fear, the downright, horrified fear, my entire body refusing to turn back to Hel again, black shadows moving closer and closer, taking their time, silent as night, "The only way is through that door…but those hounds-"
"Or out the window."
That stopped me.
For a moment, I frowned, puzzled, confused wherether I had really heard it, wherether my sanity was finally leaving me, the black hounds approaching slowly, devils on the prowl, Will's body cold and icy against my back, dismal and weak-
And then, Balder nodded back, a simple, golden flick towards the windows behind him.
The large Gothic windows.
The large, jagged hole.
The hole.
The hole.
Synapses snapped in my brain.
My heart screamed.
The hole.
The giant hole Hel made.
My gaze flickered towards it, panting, heart stomping, glaring over at the giant hole in the wall, in the windows, a big, jagged hole where a black throne had been thrown through, cracked rocks and splintered black stone ripping away to reveal the icy blizzard outside, letting in the whipping, falling snow. It was large, from knee-length to ceiling, wide enough, tall enough…
My mind raced.
The hole.
I glared at Balder, eyes wide, sword shivering hot.
Will gasped.
"Are…Are you crazy?" I gasped, staring at him, at his grinning lips, his laughing hair, risking a short glance back towards the approaching beasts, dark monsters melting out of the shadows, teeth gleaming bloody and pale, "We're forty stories up! We'll kill ourselves!"
Growls rumbled through the room.
Dark, lingering growls.
Oh God.
Balder grinned like a child.
"But, Joey. You're already dead."
Oh.
Right.
I blinked, just for a second, and then I jumped into action; with my free hand, I reached behind and grab Will's digging fingers, his icy fingers and pulled him, lifting the sword, holding on to both of them with my life; adrenaline soared, hot and fiery as I lunged forward, dragging Will behind me, his limp, useless weight, pulling him as I surged ahead before Balder, cutting across him and the path of the hounds, towards the windows. The black beasts were near, but not too near to reach out and take us, not even near enough to cut down Will-
But I wasn't risking it.
I had to move.
Move fast.
Will was so weak.
His fingers were cold, so very cold, and a quick glance behind revealed his pale face, his ghastly face, looking at me with terrified eyes, those dark brown eyes stirred black, stirred limp. Dark hair flew wildly, his legs still not strong enough, knees buckling over, his every strength, his every existence depended on me, to get him out of here, to get him safe, somewhere warm and nice to recover, to come back to life-
And I had to protect him.
I wasn't going to lose him again.
Not again.
With a quick whirl, I pushed him forward, before me, through the icy wind, putting the sword and myself between him and the black hounds, shoving forward, towards the gaping black hole-
Balder.
With a gasp, I turned back around, short hair tearing, black robe rustling, sword slicing through the cold, furious bright, mind racing, adrenaline screaming-
And Balder was still there, against the table, back to Hel, eyes flickering between the prowling dark, fire-eyed hounds and us, golden curls shivering. Gold arrows glistened against his back, naked chest heaving with each panted breath. His bow stuck against his quiver, flat against his back.
His hands hung free.
Defenceless.
Useless.
Balder.
Red eyes burned.
My breath was ice.
"What about you?" I hissed, eyes rapid between the approaching black devils and Balder's own blue eyes, his laughing, free eyes, golden curls giggling, laughing in the wind.
Red eyes neared, burning closer, ever so closer.
Too close.
White daggers gnashed together.
Oh God.
Balder grinned.
Without so much as a word and a glance back at the horrid hounds, he reached down to his belt, bronze fingers trailing, fiddling, searching-
Until he found his flute.
His wooden, gold-engraved flute.
Oh.
With a devilish smile, a beaming, golden smile, Balder held up his flute, up against his chest-
And then, his fingers moved, strong and firm, familiar, practiced, sliding over the wooden holes and the graceful, delicate gold engravings, tapping here and there-
Swish.
A long, sharp golden blade cut out from the bottom, right through the wood, as long as my forearm, stabbing to the ground. It was wondrously sharp, smooth and elegant, beautiful and bright, a stab of light in a cold, cold world. Blade licked clean, glowing with life.
A sword from a flute.
Right.
That.
With a Cheshire grin, Balder tossed the blade-flute up into the air, the wood and metal twisting around-
And he caught it smoothly, upside down now, the metal blade sticking up into the air, the body of the flute now nothing more then a hilt. Golden light stabbed through the ice.
Fiery golden light.
Red eyes burned.
Right.
Balder winked.
"I'm right behind you."
I opened my mouth, to say something, anything, body sick and taut, eyes watching as the beasts neared, closer and closer, licking lips with bloody tongues, eyes watching, burning windows into the very soul of hell. Throat burned, fiery and flaming.
My heart screamed.
"We'll wait-"
"No," He shook his head, golden curls laughing, and then bobbed the blade-flute in his hand, sword gleaming like a sliver of the sun, bright and beautiful, a complete match with his glowing, bright smile, "Go. Don't wait. Head for The Styx. I'll come."
Icy wind slashed.
"But-"
There wasn't time.
The first hound pounced, alive and furious, a raging monster of teeth and claws, jumping up, aiming for Balder's neck, a golden blade slicing through the icy wind-
And I didn't have anymore time.
Not a second.
Without another glance, I turned and ran, pushing away all sound, all other thoughts, mind screaming, blood fuming as I raced down the length of the room, towards the giant hole, sword burning in my grasp. Howls screamed behind me, screeching yelps, thunderous roars, growls shuddering down to my very soul, squeezing my heart away, Balder yelling a fast, fierce laugh; but I didn't look back.
Not a glance.
Not a blink.
Not without paralysing me, terrifying the life right out of me-
A pained beastly scream tore into the night.
Run, Joey.
Ice whirled, tearing against skin.
Run.
Will was already there, standing by the hole, leaning against the nearest black, clear window, staring out into the abyss beyond; he was slumped there, against the cracking gravel, head leaned against the carving black, dark hair whipped, caught away in the rushing icy wind, skin white as the snow. White fingers, pale ghostly fingers gripped along the edges of the hole, eyes dark out against the falling pale.
A howl ripped through the world.
Run, Joey.
Icy fires roared.
Run.
My lungs screamed.
It didn't take long, and within panted, icy seconds, I was there, skidding to a stop before Will, right in front of the hole, my black robe whipping, my short hair tearing, my ears, my mind trying to ignore everything, every horrible thing and focus all on Will. My mouth was so dry, my heart squeezing away as the blade burned furious in my hand, ice clawing through my skin; to my left, the hole was huge, giant, a gaping, torn gap, a crack into the gold-washed room. Jagged rock poked up, crumbling and cracked, splinters of glass and black rock stabbing from the bottom and from the top, the rough giant crack breaking all the way to the ceiling. Cold ice rushed in, bitter, icy snow, white and furious, and outside, the world was a blinding white, pale against black, the vision of the Underworld faded back against the bitter gale. Shadows twisted in the distance, dark shadows against liquid black skies, plains of ice and black stretching far away, darkness crouching at every corner-
But the snow was too thick to see.
Too white.
Too white.
Too much.
I didn't dare look down.
Will's face was white.
"I can't."
It was whisper, a desperate, weak whisper and all I wanted to do was hug him, to hold him, to protect him until the ends of days, to make sure nothing bad ever happened to him, ever again, not even once….
Will.
I dug Balder's blade back into my robes, into the sheath, letting the warmth trail from my hands, the fire, the strength leaving me all again.
Wounded screams pierced through the icy room.
My stomach twisted.
I grabbed Will's hand.
Will.
I had to focus on him, and only on him.
Howls cried, baying high and horrible.
I squeezed his fingers.
Will.
"We have to," I cried, staring at him, right into those dark eyes, those terrified, cold eyes, shouting over the rushing snow, throat choked and burnt, "It's the only way out-"
His voice was a ruined whisper.
"We'll die."
Balder laughed into the night.
Snow burned my cheeks.
Will.
His eyes were so dark.
"Technically, we're already dead-"
I could barely him.
A murmur, a pained, miserable whisper over the gnashing ice.
Howls screamed.
"But it'll…it'll hurt-"
Ice stabbed daggers.
Cries bayed.
Will.
"No, no, no, " I shook my head and grabbed his other hand, his icy, cold, weak hand, holding on to him as I pulled closer to his slumped form, looking at him, only at him, at his wild hair, his pretty face, his dark, dark eyes, ignoring everything, ignoring the world, "Will, we're dead. We can't…. nothing really hurts here. Not really. Nothing can cause us pain…nothing but the daemons. And those hell hounds-"
His skin was too white.
"It's too high…"
Balder laughed.
Ice screamed.
Will.
I squeezed his fingers.
"We'll be alright."
Dark eyes flashed.
Will.
For a moment, the world froze, my eyes on him, his eyes on me, my being, my soul falling away into the depths of his beautiful orbs, in his perfect, perfect soul, my eyes trailing over his hair, his shoulders, his chin, his cheeks, his lips, one of his cold, straggly fingers slipping away from mine and reaching up to my face, icy cold grazing weakly against my cheek, brushing my hair, shivering against the locks, his breath so warm, so hot, so very wonderful and perfect…
"OI!" it was shout, a bright, great shout, and I couldn't help but snap out of it, tearing from his gaze, from his struggling, trembling fingers and over my shoulders, back towards insanity; it was Balder, now pressed near towards the fire place, fair curls laughing, muscles flexing, the blade of his sword-flute glistening with dripping black blood, dark trailing to his bronze fingers. One of the hounds was missing, hidden somewhere behind the black table, but the smaller one, flat eyes and burning eyes was still active, growling, drool dripping, pawing black and dark towards Balder, its eyes like orbs of hell. Howls tore from a distance, not too far away.
A shadow slunk in from the gaping black doorway.
Red eyes burned.
Another hellhound.
Balder's eyes flashed, blue and alive.
"GO!" he hollered, grinning like an idiot, and then, with a twisted laugh, he plunged against the smaller hound, bronze and gold cutting through the air, his sword gleaming bright and beautiful, bloody and hungry, furious red snarls tearing through the night-
And my body screamed.
Go.
With a loud gasp, I turned back to Will, hands cold, fingers icy, dark eyes watching terrified and lost, his skin so very pale….
Will.
Without so much as a thought, I pried my hands free from his icy weak grip, stretched up, tip-toed, and grabbed the sides of his face, bringing it down towards me. His eyes widened, shocked, and then, I planted a single, simple kiss against his icy forehead.
Fire stung against ice.
Will.
Breath burned against his ice brow.
"Do you trust me?"
He pulled back, just slightly, our skins burning against one another as his dark, dark horrified eyes stared right down into mine, swirling with horror and blood, lips tight and bitter. Skin pulled, white and ghastly.
Dark hair tore.
Brown eyes screamed.
He nodded.
Will.
I pushed him out the hole.
It was horrifying second, a paralysing second, but somehow, some way, the synapses snapped, the switch flipped, and I was shoving him out of the window, pushing him away from me and out into the empty darkness, the horrible whipping snow, his body falling away from my grip as he plummeted down, plunging, collapsing through black and ice, disappearing into the fog of snow as he screamed into the night, a horrible, horrible scream…
Oh God.
My heart wailed.
Oh God.
The scream was terrible, so very terrible, ripping through me, through my very soul-
But it was right thing to do.
I had to do it.
I had to.
Balder laughed.
Ice screamed.
Oh God.
For a moment, I was frozen, paralysed, completely dead, my ears listening, stomach flinching as Will's scream echoed into the blackness, trailing away, down, down, down, my throat burning as I gripped the cracking rubbles, staring out into the storm, the world nothing more than a blanket of clawing, icy snow, looking for him, searching for him-
But I couldn't see him.
Not a wink.
A howl screeched into the wind.
Will.
Hel's voice was a stab in the back.
An icy, terrible stab.
Oh God
"You should go after him," she was still there, on the black throne, at the head of the table, a wondrous pale beauty looking at me and only at me, still and silent in the murder and blood at the other end of the room, black hair whipping, pale skin gleaming. Her rotten dress fluttered, wild and cold in the snow, flakes of white dotting her putrid dress, her delicate hands folded upon the black table, among the fresh food and dead petals. Red lips bit, dark and bloody, the bone crown bleeding against the side of her face, dripping black onto her shoulders.
Her eyes were frost.
Hel.
My fingers clenched.
Snow whipped.
Balder laughed.
Monster.
Something burned in my heart.
Demon.
Her bloody lips smiled.
"Someone needs to protect him."
Her teeth glinted, sharp and beastly.
Devil.
I jumped into the dark.
+ End Of Chapter +
Well, there it was. Chapter 3. Considerably shorter then most of my chapters, but fun as hell to write! Will try to update soon so look out for it! Please also review this fanfic, telling me what you think about it. I seriously adore all your reviews and if you want to insult…I'm a big girl. I can take it!
Thanks for everything and see you soon!
XOXO