Hellraiser: Beyond the Gates of Hell

Disclaimer: Well, well, well... My first Hellraiser fic. Look at that. It's about time I did one of these. Remember this, readers: I take CONSTRUCTIVE criticism, but not flamers. So kindly step away if you feel such an urge. This story is going to be written for the fun in it, but I have done as much research as one can. Clive Barker owns all things flesh and blood in Hellraiser, but I own the plot and the few characters he DIDN'T make. Well, since I got the okay, I want to dedicate this fic to laura 101 and Blue Kitsune. They're real hardcore Hellraiser romance fans! Gotta love that!

"The flesh endures the storms of the present alone, the mind those of the past and future as well as the present."

-Epicurus

"Do not bite at the bait of pleasure, till you know there is no hook beneath it."

-Thomas Jefferson

By: VampireQueenAkasha

We have such sights to show you...

Chapter Seven: Sweet Science

Alice didn't want to be in the library that morning, but she felt that she had to.

Learning about the Cenobites would help to give her a little bit of a fighting advantage over them. After all, they were not going to tell her about themselves or their secrets on their own terms. She had to dig for them deep herself.

But finding things about them were very difficult given she had nothing to really start with. So she decided to talk to the librarian despite her instincts not to do so.

The woman was old; she was wearing thin glasses set against her wrinkled features. She was wearing a thin, ruffled blouse and a tan skirt. When Alice approached her, she placed a book down that she was reading and looked up.

"Can I help you, dear?" she asked.

"Yeah. Where do you keep books on Demonology?"

The librarian stood up and gestured down a darkened row. "Right there."

Alice smiled and nodded once. "Thank you."

She walked into the designated aisle of books and began to look around for whatever she could use to her benefit. There were so many books that it would take her forever to look through them all to find what she'd need. She pulled out a first book.

DEMONS IN MYTH: An Encyclopedia of Demonic Entities.

Hm. It sounded promising. Alice opened it up and began to page through it. It looked to be an encyclopedia regarding various demon types throughout the ages and religions. Alice had no idea what these demons were called, and thankfully, there were pictures in this book to help her along in case she saw something familiar.

And finally, she found something.

There was a hieroglyphic image of what she could guess was what wanted her. Looking at the name, she read it out loud to herself.

"Cenobites?"

Main Entry: Ce·no·bite

Variant(s): Also coe·no·bite (se-nə-bīt)

Function: Noun

Etymology: Late Latin coenobita, from coenobium monastery, from Late Greek koinobion, ultimately from Greek koin- coen- + bios life. The term cenobite is a word meaning "a member of a communal religious order". They are also referred to as Hierophants.

Date: 15th Century

The Cenobites are rumored to be extra dimensional beings that can breech the very line between reality only through a schism in time and space, which is opened and closed using certain unearthly artifacts. The most common form for these artifacts is that of an innocuous-looking Chinese-style puzzle box called the Lament Configuration created by late Phillip LeMarchand in the 17th century.

The Cenobites are known to have all have horrific mutilations for reasons unknown.

The religious aspects of their origins and motivations are ambiguous, there is no overt reference or iconography linking the Cenobites to any traditional Abrah Eastern depiction of damnation, demonic nature, or Infernal origin, leaving the most likely interpretation to be that to an outside observer, the bizarre and unpleasant properties of the Cenobites' native plane of existence would likely be interpreted to be Hell or "hellish". In fact, the Cenobites originally exhibited amoral personalities-neither demonstrably malicious or beneficent-displaying a depraved indifference or lack of empathy towards their victims.

The philosophical motivations of the Cenobites have changed with time and medium. According to rumor, they manifest as devoted followers of a supernatural hedoism with unorthodox definitions of pleasure; although vaguely described, this form of pleasure endorsed by the Cenobites involved two distinct forms: the expansion of sensation to an extremely painful point of sensory overload, and enduring excruciating pain through incessant tortures that transcend traditional laws of physics. They exhibited no discernible morality or immorality, merely the unwavering devotion to their craft.

Interesting enough, there was also a picture of the puzzle box that Alice had come across from her mother's lock box. Alice began to scour for books regarding the Cenobites. Now that she had a basic idea, there had to be something that she could do to stop them.

So she raced all through the library in a mad search for any information that would be useful to her. Her searches led her to a book entitled: THE MIND IS A LABYRINTH. There was a complex drawing of what looked like an Escher painting with a bit of an eerie feel to it and chains donning the binding. Alice turned the book in her hands for study and noticed that the author had but one name printed there. Tiffany.

Alice curiously opened the book and observed the book's contents. There were written pages regarding psychology and how it tied together with puzzles and your mind. It was interesting, but not what Alice was looking for. She started to close the book when a picture flashed by through the pages that caught her attention. She returned to the page that had caught her eye and discovered a bizarre, almost child's representation of what looked like the grid - faced Cenobite leader.

So this author knew something about them.

Alice turned the book around to find some kind of contact information if there was any at all. There was an email address there. . Hah. What a bizarre email address, but Alice had to use whatever she could get. She checked out whatever books she needed and quickly hurried home, onto her computer to speak with this LabyrinthLady. Thankfully, there were no signs of the Cenobites anywhere and the curtains were even drawn open, so they must not have been inside the house at the current time.

After logging in and typing in the address, she contemplated on what to tell her. Something that sounded good and not at all weird. While she leaned back in her chair to gather her thoughts, Alice soon felt a bit thirsty and walked into the kitchen to get a drink. When she returned, she started typing. Her email address was . Hm. Who was she to assume that LabyrinthLady's email was strange and off the wall.

Hi.

I have recently acquired your book. It inspired me and I need your help

regarding the situations that you say you have experienced.

Please email back. I am eager to speak with you as soon as

possible.

Alice cringed at the message. She sounded a little too desperate there. But whatever; if it got the woman's attention, then she'd work with that. She even added a smiley emoticon for good measure. Pressing SEND, Alice leaned back in her chair to wait for a message back. Her computer would alert her of a message if one would come in. Alice just hoped that this big, bad famous author would give her the time of day.

So she waited.

And waited.

And waited.

Alice had gotten up from her chair a few times; she paced back and forth in the living room, laid down on the couch, tossing a small rubber ball into the air. She tossed the ball into a wall across from her and it came back, hitting her square in the nose. Alice grunted sharply and held her nose with a frustrated curse.

Time seemed to pass entirely too long and she moved from the couch to the chair, a newspaper sprawled on her stomach. She had almost given up on this all together until she heard a small beeping sound from her computer, announcing a new message. Alice stumbled from her chair and she quickly clicked on the indicating tab, opening up a message from LabyrinthLady.

LabyrinthLady1987: Hello stranger. Thank you for reading my book and taking the time to appreciate it. What would you like to know?

Alice grinned and she quickly started typing, reading her own message aloud as she did. "Put me on live chat." And with that, she clicked SEND. After waiting a few moments, the alert for live chat invite was immediately indicated. So now the two women could speak to one another easily. Alice started typing up her message.

AliceCat300: Sorry for sounding too desperate. It's been a stressful week.

LabyrinthLady1987: LOL. No problem. I have those all the time. I've just gotten back from the store. What is the emergency?

Alice pondered curiously and warily. How could she go about explaining this kind of thing anyway? She started typing again.

AliceCat300: I want to know more about these demons from your book. Who are they? what do they want? How can you make them go away?

She hit SEND. There was a long wait before she was responded to.

LabyrinthLady1987: Who are you?

Alice frowned at the sudden change in temperature. She waited for a brief moment before answering.

AliceCat300: Why is that so important for you to know? Look, let's just say I need your help with this and leave it at that.

LabyrinthLady1987: How can I be so sure that this is not a joke email? Are you trying to make fun of me? Are you one of those little kids who gets their kicks out of teasing older women?

Alice laughed inwardly and shook her head, typing in her response.

AliceCat300: What? No! I just need your help, alright? I'm not one of those losers! Please, just tell me what you know.

LabyrinthLady1987: Alright. I'll meet you halfway if you answer a question for me.

AliceCat300: Uh ... sure.

LabyrinthLady1987: You wouldn't be Kirsty Cotton's daughter by any chance, would you?

Alice blinked at the response with shock. What in the hell did she say that would give this strange woman any idea of who she was or who her mother was? Alice was almost unsure of what to say or if she even wanted to finish this conversation.

LabyrinthLady1987: Are you still there?

AliceCat300: How do you know my mother? Who are you?

LabyrinthLady1987: Kirsty Cotton was a good friend of mine and your email address gave it away. She saved me from my own personal demons, I suppose you could say. I owe her my life. I am sorry for her death. It must have been hard for you. Your mother talked about you a lot.

Alice felt her throat go tight. She swallowed the hot lump down before she typed again.

AliceCat300: My mother talked to everyone but me, it seems.

LabyrinthLady1987: I see ... Well, your mother told me what she was planning even long before your birth. The deal that she had made with them was very tricky. Just remember this, Alice, they cannot take you unless you let them. You are truly innocent and they want that. A pure soul mean for heaven to be damned to their hell; to prove that even the most pure and unspoiled desire damnation. Did you open the box?

That was the strangest crap that Alice had ever heard written to her in a long time, but she wasn't about to doubt it either.

AliceCat300: No. I just touched it, that's all. Someone else must have let them out. They are staying inside my basement. They won't leave no matter what I do or say to them. What happens if they decide that I won't go with them?

LabyrinthLady1987: They will never give up, Alice. You have to find a way to beat them at their own game. Once they have their sights set on something, that's it. Just be lucky that they cannot touch you. Not unless you let them. But be careful. He will find every way to get to you, to seduce you with dark promises. Just remember that it is all lies. Everything they tell you is a lie. Solve the puzzle, Alice. Solve it before you are consumed by it like I was.

Alice sat there, pondering the information with dismay. There was nothing that she could do. And as if by a mere strange coincidence, LabyrinthLady answered her.

LabyrinthLady1987: Unless ... Unless you have a fascination with them ...

Alice blinked and frowned angrily. Why was it that everyone assumed she wanted evil beings haunting her every shadow? She started to write something very scathing, but her fingers froze inches over the keyboard before she thought about that. What if she really did want them here? Was it some twisted craving for companionship? No. Was it morbid fascination? Maybe. Now that this woman brought up a point, Alice was left questioning herself.

Maybe I am fucking insane.

O

"She is dancing again ... "

Pinhead and Angelique watched from the as Alice gracefully moved and danced to the rhythm of old ballet music playing on her radio. From the looks of things, she had dug out her old music CD's and the dancing seemed to calm her, relax her from the troubles that she had dealt with.

"Yes," Pinhead replied, his black, empty eyes watching her body's every gesture, every curve and bend as the muscles flexed, the flesh rippling with each sweet movement that she made, "So she has. Pretty ... "

Angelique's voice dripped with cunning and ill-intent. "This boy has done more for her to make her happy. What have you done, Xipe? Nothing. Leviathan will not be pleased with such failure, you know. Give her to me. I will persuade her to join us."

Pinhead glared at her sharply. "She is to come to us of her own choice, Princess, you know of our orders."

"Yes, she is certainly crawling on her hands and knees by now..."

Pinhead cocked his head slightly as Alice stretched her very leg high over her head. He ignored Angelique's sarcasm as he often did. The dance that Alice performed was quite fascinating to watch. "She will be."

I wonder how you will dance in ecstasy when I rip your flesh from your bones ...

There was a loud ringing sound from the phone and both Cenobites watched as Alice eagerly rushed for it. They listened to her conversation. It was with her friend, Katie. Angelique grimaced with disgust at the sounds they made.

"If I were human, I would have the chills right about now..." she sneered.

Alice continued with her conversation, not seeing the Cenobites close by. "I'm thinking of seeing him tonight, I'm not sure yet," she said, in the phone. She suddenly grinned. "I don't know!" Her face went bright red and Pinhead could tell that this Katie had said something very naughty. "Katie! I am not that kind of woman! ... Oh, I SHOULD be? ... Katie, come on! I have to move slow with this! ... Yeah. Yeah, I do ... No, he said something about an opera ... Haha, I know, right? ... Okay, okay, I'll meet you tomorrow evening at the shop." She rolled her eyes with a laugh. "I won't be late, I promise ... When am I ever late?" She started to hang up before laughing sarcastically at her friend's remark. "Okay, fair enough, Katie, I'm hanging up now!"

Pinhead suddenly appeared at her side and Alice took a few careful steps away from him. "When will you learn, Alice?" he said, "He will lie to you."

Angelique was suddenly standing there as well. "I can see what lurks in his darkest of dark, in his lusting heart, dear girl," she agreed, "Why not let me play with him for a while? I can guarantee that he will forget all about you."

Alice's eyes flared with a fury that was never there before. A hidden fire of anger and passion. She whirled on the demon and for a moment, forgot who it was that she faced. "You keep your disgusting hands away from him, you cheap demon slut!" she raged.

Angelique laughed heartily and even Pinhead joined in with pleasure. It was almost as if they were waiting for her to burst in front of them. A joke. She was just a little joke to them. Alice glowered furiously at the two before she made her way up to the second floor of her house. Their voices rang out around her like a creepy cacophony of madness.

"You have a spirit in you after all, girl!" Angelique hissed, from somewhere in the hallway bathroom.

"Indeed!" Pinhead agreed, from somewhere in the darkness of the halls, "You would make a fine Cenobite!"

Alice called angrily out to them. "Not going to happen!"

Almost as soon as those words left her lips, Pinhead appeared in the room. "How can I put your fragile human mind at ease, Alice?" he purred, "I could give you the information that you desire. There is no need to rely on the blather's of an old lunatic." He smirked broadly at the flustered look on her face. "Did you think I would not know? Did you believe that you could read a few books, solve us that easily? We'd disappear so soon? Not so simple, I'm afraid."

Alice frowned up at him. "Why would I ask you anything?" she snapped, "You'd lie. Only tell me what I want to hear."

"Why should I lie?"

Alice tilted her head in thought before she paced back and forth in the room, thinking of what to ask the creature. Pinhead watched her every movement like a quiet owl, saying nothing. When she stopped pacing, she turned and faced him.

"What do you really want from me, then?" Alice asked, staring at him with harshness, "My mother's deal. I want to know everything."

"I thought it was obvious, Alice," Pinhead answered, "The truth should be quite clear. Can you not see why we're still here?"

Alice wavered somewhat and the demon smiled at her.

"We are still here because it's what you want," he told her, "Look around you, child. Your mundane life is like a twisted vine and you its small, weak little flower. You are becoming choked by it, suffocated. You have wanted to see the sun for so long, but have you ever looked for the light of the moon? It is the nighttime world that you crave, Alice. Freedom from the refrain of living. You have always wanted it, even as a child. We have always known this."

Pinhead was slowly pushing the right buttons with the girl. He could sense it. She looked away from him with shame in those sweet, bitter eyes. So he WAS getting somewhere with her. Perhaps all he had to do was strike that same spot again and again until she crumbled.

"Where you watching me or something?" she asked.

Pinhead chuckled softly. "Hehe. I have had no need to watch you, Alice. You project the truth so clearly in your eyes. Your mind is my open book." He shook his head. "We are not your enemies here, my dear. We are your saviors. Have faith in our ways. Flee from this world and its banal pleasures. Embrace our ways." His words were almost comforting as Alice closed her eyes and tried to tune them out. But her soul seemed to ache for his promises. "You will never be alone again. We are here for you. They have forsaken you. God has forsaken you. But we shall not."

When Alice opened her eyes again, he was standing close to her now. She jolted and felt the doorknob beneath her hands. He smiled at her, his black empty pools of eyes almost glittering with delight at her surprise. He was fascinated with the fear that she had shining in her gaze; it reminded him of Kirsty. Oh how much she was like her mother. Brave yet fearful. Bold yet timid. The apple never fell far from the family tree.

"Do I make you nervous? How delightful."

Alice forced her voice to strengthen as she pricked her chin up defiantly. It was difficult. He was a powerful force and a very foreboding one at that. "You can't be the good guys in this. You steal people's souls, torture them, tear them to pieces and just then if they're lucky, you make them your slaves."

"Perhaps the same could be said of all religions."

Alice turned the doorknob and she fell flat onto her side in the hallway. The Cenobite glided passed her, the edges of his cassock brushing her cheek almost sensually. "We will always be here because it is what you want, Alice. You will soon understand ... "

Later than evening, Alice had decided to cancel on her date with Kevin and get some much needed rest. She was glad that he understood because she had missed out on sleep for the past few days. Sleep sounded better than anything in the world right now.

Just as she climbed into bed, Nikoletta appeared at her side and she jumped slightly at the sight of her.

"Christ, you have to stop doing that!" she snapped.

"My apologies ... " Nikoletta replied, not really meaning it at all. She watched the woman snuggle into bed and tilted her head at the sight of the bandage on her palm. "How is that doing?"

Alice frowned at the question and stared down at her own bandaged palm. "Yeah, it's fine, I guess." Just as Nikoletta turned to depart-no doubt simply here to check up on the woman-Alice reached out. "Hang on, wait a second."

Nikoletta stopped and slowly turned. "Yes?"

"Can I ask you something?"

"Certainly."

Alice seemed almost reluctant, but she asked just the same. "You don't seem as bad as the others. So why are you with them?"

Nikoletta slowly smiled at the question. "Alice, I would not think that way about me if I were you," she advised, "I am not as I seem. I follow my orders. That is all."

Alice shrugged her shoulders. "Why?"

"You ask too many questions, child," Nikoletta replied, a very faint hint of amusement on her face, "Why do you want to know these things?"

Alice managed a smile. "I don't know. I just do, I guess."

"Even if I wanted to tell you my secrets, I am not permitted to do so," Nikoletta told her, "It would be a breech in protocol. Humans are not meant to learn our ways unless they have every intention of becoming one of us or are chosen as such."

"Either way, you want me to learn, right?"

Nikoletta seemed quite doubtful and she even considered giving the woman what she wanted to know. Alice could read concern and distrust in the demon's gaze before she nodded her head slowly, trying to persuade herself that this wasn't entirely a bad idea.

"Very well," she replied, "I will give just enough if you give me something in return."

Alice didn't like that so much. "Uh ... "

"Be weary, child. I will trade you information for some information of yours."

"Oh ... "

Nikoletta strolled across the room until she was now standing closer to Alice. The woman was somewhat uncomfortable with the close proximity of the Cenobite, but she knew that the demon would not move should she ask for it.

"I can see the past, present and future, but your intentions are quite smeared, shadowed and blocked by my sight. I can sense your desires, but not your truth," Nikoletta said, "Why is this?"

Alice didn't really know how she should have answered that. "Um ... I don't really know. How can I know something like that?"

Nikoletta smiled and she looked almost satisfied with that answer, even thought Alice had not answered her question. She didn't like that all too much because she still knew more than she let on. "Alright. What is your question?"

"Who are you and what do you want?"

Nikoletta chuckled softly. "Ah, the eternal question that has gone unanswered for you..." She took a deep inhale before she spoke. "We are many things, Alice, but if you wish to know, we are the explorers of further experiences. Pain and pleasure have no end among us. We can be angels or we can be demons, given the circumstances. We want you because you were a gift to us. A promise, perhaps. A pure soul meant for heaven's light, brought to us by choice."

"So ... say - based on theory - I would go with you," Alice said, choosing her words carefully, "Say that based on this theory and not choice as of now, I decide to throw it all away. What would happen to me?"

Nikoletta shrugged her shoulders; such a human gesture almost. "It would be of the will of the Leviathan to decide."

Alice rested her head on her pillow and sighed. Curious she was, but afraid she was greater. Nikoletta was still in the room, she could see her standing there through the corner of her eyes. Why was she still there?

"Alice, you are clearly not happy in this world," the Cenobite continued, "Why do you still hold onto it?"

And with that, she left.