Chapter 4 (Part 1/2)
It was freezing. That was the first thing Nick was aware of. His eyes were heavy and he felt extremely tired. He tried to raise his hand to rub the sleep from his eyes, but he couldn't move. His eyes flew open in a panicked frenzy. Why couldn't he move? Where the heaven was he? He could hear tortured groans in the distance, but there was nothing but blackness above a blackish blue surface he seemed to be stuck in.
"What's going on? Where am I?!" he struggled to move, but it was no use.
He shut his eyes trying to calm himself. The last thing he remembered was chanting in a ballroom. That's right….they trapped the Dark Lord but he freed himself. The Dark Lord lunged at Sabrina, but Lilith stopped him. They needed to find a stronger prison. Then….
"Nice to see you finally woke," a voice said. Nick opened his eyes to see a young woman standing a few feet away. She wore a flowing red dress and atop her dark brown hair was a golden crown. "I was beginning to worry you died."
"Who are you?" Nick asked.
"Nicholas, really? You don't recognize me?"
He stared at her until it hit him. "Lilith?" She nodded. "How...how long have I been here?"
"Not long."
"Where am I?"
"The frozen lake of Judecca. The deepest realm of Hell. You have to forgive me to keeping you here. We couldn't risk the Dark Lord waking before you. Which he will do soon. At that point, things will be very difficult for you."
"Because being half stuck in a frozen lake isn't enough."
Nick rolled his head to the side. He suddenly realized that Lilith wasn't alone. A man stood behind her. He wore black pants that were held up by a pair of suspenders. His white dress shirt was rolled up at the sleeves to his elbows. His black tie was nearly as dark as the hair on his head and the beard on his face. He knew the man. He couldn't remember from where….but he knew him.
Lilith followed Nick's gaze. "I see you've spotted my companion," she said. She motioned for the man to come forward. "Nicholas, I believe you know Edward Spellman."
"E….Edward? You're Edward Spellman? But….how?"
"Edward here has been in limbo for 16 years. I knew I would need some assistance with keeping the Dark Lord imprisoned, so I brought the greatest conjurer and binder to ever exist here to help me." She nodded at Edward and he moved toward Nick.
"I'm sorry, boy," Edward said as he pulled something from his pocket. As he got closer, Nick realized it was a knife. "This is going to hurt."
Nick instinctively struggled as Edward pulled down his collar and began carving a symbol into his shoulder. He screamed out in pain and in his head he heard an animalistic growl. Blood dripped slowly from his would. Before he could register what had happened, Edward was carving into his other shoulder. The pain was blinding. Nick was sure he would pass out any second now.
"Please," he begged, "Stop. No more. No more."
"It's has to be done, I'm afraid," Lilith said. She nodded at Edward again and Nick could heard something scraping against the frozen lake.
"What...what is that?"
"Please, don't struggle. It'll only cause more pain," Edward said gently. It was odd the man would speak so softly to him while he cut into him like a Thanksgiving turkey.
Something cold and heavy slipped under Nick's arms, then around his upper body. He looked down to see they were chains. Suddenly, he was yanked from the ice and it seemed colder. His body shook violently and Edward was at his side quickly, trying to hold him still.
"Madam Satan, must we continue? The boy may not be able to handle it," Edward said.
"Yes, Mr. Spellman. We must continue or the Dark Lord will be free of his confines. He's waking. I can sense it. Hurry now, do the rest."
Edward pulled up Nick's shirt and flipped him over. He carved another symbol into the young warlock's back. He tore Nick's pant legs and carved symbols on both his calves.
Nick was in so much pain, he didn't even realize he was crying. Suddenly, he felt the symbols carved into him begin to burn. It felt as if his whole body was on fire. He screamed in agony, unsure if the pain would cease. As the symbols burned on the outside, he felt a stirring within him. It was as if something was clawing at his innards.
"Stop! Make it stop! Please!" He yelled.
Free me! Something growled in his head.
After what seemed like an eternity, the burning died down and the screaming within his head silenced. It took a moment for his head to lear, but when it did Nick realized what Edward had done.
"They're runes," Nick said weakly as he painfully rolled onto his back. "Warding runes to keep him in me."
"Yes, they are," Lilith replied as if Nick hadn't just been tortured inside and out. "We had to….brand you to ensure they weren't removed."
Nick stared up into the abyss above him. He didn't know why he expected stars or the moon, but he did. He expected to hear the chimes in the distance and the meow of a car. He closed his eyes and waited for her voice asking if he was ok. He waited for her hand to fall on his chest and her lips against his own.
The thought of her calmed him. Stay strong, he thought he heard her say. He knew it wasn't her. It was his own subconscious willing him to press on, but he had a stronger desire to continue when she asked him. Don't give up, Nick. Stay strong. For me.
You are weak, boy, a voice whispered in his head.
"I'm tired," he responded aloud
"We know," Edward said. "But the worse has yet to come. We need to prepare you."
Nothing can prepare you. You will die.
"I can't. I won't," Nick said aloud again.
"Nicholas?" Lilith called as she stepped toward him.
Suddenly, Nick felt like he was flung back into the depths of his own body. His eyes flew open and his body jerked forward, but it wasn't Nick. The Dark Lord quickly took hold of him. Edward quickly began to chant.
"Nicholas," Lilith called firmly. It sounded like she was far away. But she couldn't have been. She had just been inches away from him "Nicholas, hear my voice. Listen to my words. You need to get in control."
Nick tried to say something, but the sound that escaped his lips was more of a screech. Edward began to chant louder.
"You have to take control, Nick, or he will. If he does he will kill you from the inside out. Now focus!"
Nick felt like he was crawling back into his own body. His vision slowly came into focus and his body began to relax. Lilith was beside him now, stroking his hair. He turned away quickly, not wanting to be comforted. He only wanted one person, but that was impossible.
"The Dark Lord isn't fully awake. But he is aware of where he is. I would like to not have to keep you here in this lake, but if I have to. I promised Sabrina I would take care of you. That I shall. However, you have to understand that while I promised to care for you, I cannot say the same for the being inside of you. We will keep him in his confines." Lilith grabbed Nick's face, forcing him to look at her. "By any and all means. Is that understood?" Nick nodded. "Good." She pushed his face to the side forcefully and stood. "Edward, please help him clean up."
Edward nodded and pulled at the chains, they tightened around Nick, burning as they pressed into his skin. "Come on now, boy," Edward said. "I need you to stand."
Nick stumbled to his feet. His legs were still weak from going from the extreme cold of the lake to the burning of the wards. He followed Edward like a dog on a leash. The walk through the frozen lake, they passed other bodies sticking out of the ice. Some blue and frozen, their bodies covered in ice. Every now and then he would see a shadow approach one of the human popsicle. He wouldn't see what happened next, but the blood curdling scream that followed didn't paint a pretty picture.
A red light began to glow in the distance and in it a castle began to form. They were approaching Satan's lair. It was eerily beautiful. It reminded Nick of the Notre Dame Cathedral, except made of obsidian and instead of saints, there were statues of demons. In the entrance, the floor depicted the scene of Lucifer's fall from Heaven. The False God held the severed wings of the angel once called Morningstar.
"A feast will be prepared for you tonight," Lilith announced. "You will need to keep your strength if you plan to trap the Dark Lord for all eternity."
Edward led Nick across the foyer and down a series of halls until they reached a room. With nothing more than a sink and mirror. Edward removed the chains and placed Nick at the sink. In one hand, he placed a brush with a white foam. In the other a blade.
"Um….did you bring me here to shave?" Nick asked.
"I did," Edward said simply.
Nick shrugged and applied the shaving cream on his face. He looked over at Edward as if to ask if this was really all he needed to do. Edward just nodded again . Nick raised the blade, but suddenly felt some tried to press it against his face, but it was easier said than done. Suddenly the blade was at his jugular.
Shit, he thought to himself. The Dark Lord was using him like a puppet. The blade pressed into his neck and Nick was sure this was it. The Dark Lord was going to slit his throat. In the blink of an eye, Nick's body was on fire again. He dropped the blade into the sink as his knees gave out. His head slammed against the sink before he fell face first into the floor.
His body convulsed until the Dark Lord went back to sleep within him. Nick laid on the cool floor, his eyes glazed. He spit out the saliva in his mouth before he choked on it. He felt like he was living out a scene in a madhouse, but instead of doing electroshock to get the demons out of him, they were doing it to keep him in.
Edward rolled Nick onto his back and wiped his face down with a clean piece of cloth. "My apologies, boy. This test will one we go through every week," he said.
"Test?" Nick managed to get out.
"Yes. It's to measure the the Dark Lord's power and….influence over you. He'll want to kill you to escape his binds. But we can't let that happen. Listen to me. You must control him. The outcome of this test will determine your punishments."
"I don't understand."
Edward looked to the door and then back at Nick. "The more control you have, the more freedom she will allow you," he said in a whisper. "The less control you have, the more….devious the punishment. Do not give in. To either of them. Do you understand, boy?" Even though he didn't really understand, he nodded as if he did. "I'm going to put the chains back on. Don't struggle. They get tighter as you do."
Edward helped Nick to a sitting position and started wrapping the chains around him.
"Mr. Spellman….how are you here?" Nick asked.
"I am and I'm not. When I died, my soul went to limbo and I stayed there until Lilith found me. She told me about you and what you did for my daughter. She granted me this form in exchange for servitude."
"Are you saying you're Lilith's slave?"
"No, not Lilith's. Yours."
Nick was getting used to being flat on his face. As he coughed, dirty flew into the air and onto his face. He was too tired to care. Time moved slowly in Hell and Nick felt pain in every second that passed. His body ached from the inside and out. Neither Lilith or the Dark Lord would allow the other to win. They were playing a game to see who could be more cruel and Nick was their pawn. He could feel the stubble on his face scrape against the ground with each excruciating breath he took. His breathing had become so labored, his entire body moved each time he in and exhaled.
He was surprised that Lilith didn't stick him back into that damn forsaken lake. He was glad she didn't though. He had come face to face with the demon of Judecca and he shuddered at the thought of having to face it again.
Nick? Her voice was soft, yet eager. Nick, where are you?
Nick shut his eyes tightly. "Stop," he begged.
It's me. Her voice was like a song. Beautiful and majestic.
"Go away."
But Nick, it's me. Her voice was so close now, in his ear.
He covered his ears"Leave me alone."
It's Sabrina. I'm here now, Nick. I'm right here with you.
"GET OUT!"
Pitiful, weak boy. The voice wasn't soft inviting anymore. It was rough, vengeful. How daughter fell for you, I'll never know.
"There's a lot about Sabrina you will never know."
Your love for her makes you weak.
Nick laughed. "That's where you're wrong. My love for her is keeping me alive. It's stronger than your hate and desire for revenge."
Ha. Do you truly believe that?
"You're still trapped inside of me aren't you?" Nick groan in pain as his body arched back. The Dark Lord strained against him, inflicting punishment on his organs. "Someone's mad."
Mock me now boy. Once I'm free, you'll come to regret it.
"The only thing I regret right now is not having more onions."
She's probably already forgotten about you and returned to the mortal. Nick's body tensed a little. He couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy. The Dark Lord laughed. See, you're weak. This is why we don't love. It distracts us.
"Even if she did go back to Harvey, at least she would be happy. That's all that matters."
And I thought I was the master of lies. You forget, I know you.
"It's not a lie. You don't know anything. Especially not about love."
When I am free, I will drag your worthless corpse to her rip your heart you desperately want to give to her out right in front of her. Hear me, Nicholas Scratch, Sabrina Spellman will be the death of you.
The silence that followed was worse than the Dark Lord in his ear. It reminded him how truly alone he was. His faced relaxed and moved his arms to his side. He could Sabrina's green eyes. Her blonde hair tied back by a black ribbon. Her red lips pulled back into a smile as she kissed his temple. He could practically feel her arms around him and her head on his shoulder. His whole body began to relax.
This Sabrina didn't haunt his dreams. She didn't torture him. This Sabrina kept him sane. This was the Sabrina he stayed alive for. The one he would get home to.
Nick took a few deep breaths before raising the blade. His hand shook as he brought it his face, pressing it against his skin. He could hear the scrape of his facial hair getting cut. He let out a sigh of relief, feeling more in control now. "It only took 6 months, but I'm finally getting a shave without the Dark Lord trying to slit my throat."
"Very good, Nicholas," Edward said.
Nick raised a brow. "Did you just call me Nicholas?" He asked.
"It is your name, is it not?"
"It is. You just always call me 'boy'." Nick turned back to the mirror, continuing his shave with steadier hands. He stared at the man reflecting back at him in the mirror. He didn't even recognize himself. His hair looking like a wild animal took refuge in it. There were dark circles around his eyes and his face looked a lot thinner. He touched his clean shaven face to be sure that he really was seeing himself in the mirror.
You're still handsome, she said. He thought he saw her standing beside in the mirror now.
"I look like shit," he replied.
You're my shit though.
"I don't know how much more I can take, babe."
You can't give up. You need to stay strong.
"It's getting so hard, though."
You can do it though. I know you can.
Nick could see Edward in the corner of his eye. Edward had become accustomed to Nick's conversations with himself. We all do what is needed to survive, Edward once told the warlock. Sabrina was Nick's teather to the real world. She was what anchored him, keep him from slipping into madness.
During his time in Hell, his only true companion was Edward. He was never too far from the young warlock should he need extra protections when he wasn't being tortured by the Dark Lord or Lilith. Edward worked with Nick to strengthen his binding skills as often as he could.
"Can I ask you something, Mr. Spellman?" Nick asked. "Why did you stay in limbo?"
Edward contemplated his answer. "When the plane was going down and I knew my time on Earth was coming to an end, I knew the False God would not allow my Diana through the Gates of Heaven. She walked beside me on the Path of Night. He rejected her."
Nick turned to face Edward when he realized what he was trying to do. "You're trying to cross into mortal limbo."
Edward nodded. "I've been searching for a way to get her for almost 17 years now."
"But, you have to know by now there's no way."
Edward laughed. "Nicholas, when you truly love someone, there is always a way back to each other."
