First Encounter
I didn’t know if my mind was rewinding itself or I was just passing by a déjà-vu, but the last thing I lived at was in front of me, again… Me trying to help you, to save you, hearing your soft and anxious voice crying my name: “Valien!”. That strange car getting closer, the stretching noise that freezing our bodies and yelling. My hands pushing you out the imminent crash and crescent flames.
And then. Nothing.
I woke up, my vision clouded, red tinting my surroundings. A mixed warmth-cold breeze brushing my skin, every corner and thing my eyes could see blurred in my sight.
“Shit… Nathan!”. My heart started to pound so I touched my chest, both surprised and worried. Panting, I searched for you. “W-why…? Where is the fire? The car that just- NATHAN!”.
Half-alive, half-death, my heartbeat raced as a pair of tears felled down my cheeks.
Finally, my vision cleared. I realized wasn’t at that ‘pass n’ gas store’ anymore. I saw a lot of neon signs flickered all around. And towering buildings looming over me.
“Where am I?!” Said as sobbed. I wanted to find you, no matter where, no matter how.
At least the ‘rewinding’ had come to an end.
A human-alike figure got closer to me, their laugh grower with each step until they were towering me. I squinted up, burying my feelings. They got a final settled shape into something that was nearly human. Nearly… Had horns and red skin. He grinned at me, baring sharp teeth. His movements made me notice that I was on the floor.
“Well, well. Looks like today is my lucky day!” He chuckled with a devious darken gaze “What’s wrong, little guy? You lost?”.
I stood up trying to ignore him or the fact that he has an obvious ‘demon’ costume. I thought that he might be somewhat dressed for this Halloween event of the U. A deep sigh escaped from me as I looked around the area, still hoping to find you, Nathan.
“Don’t be a dick! I know what you’re trying” He said as grabbing my shoulder to pull me closer “I can tell by your smell that you’re new here” his breath almost touched my face “But you don’t look like any of us. Not a fallen human or angel” he chuckled, letting me go “Maybe just a damn fresh weirdo… But I found it so fucking interesting. Things like you can’t be seen nowadays” his gaze darkened
“What are you yapping that much?! Did you drink more than you can handle?” I pushed him off and walked away. “How did I even get here and where is the ‘pass n’ gas store’?” I muttered, more to myself than to him.
He approached to grab my arms tight and started to laugh “Don’t act that fool. You come with me right now”.
I didn’t want to use it, but he left me no choice, I kicked him away. The skin on my face cracked and my eyes felt cooler second by second.
“Leave unless you want to die” I warned him.
My tooth started to hurt, and my mouth started to burn until my lips ached as something sharp pressed against them.
I saw him widening the eyes so I thought this would be enough to get rid of him, but I was wrong. Instead of fear or running away, he just showed a playful smirk. “Holy shit, ha, ha. What do we have here, huh?” he started to get closer to me again.
Without hesitation, he cupped my chin before throwing me to the right side. Still gazing me intrigued and amused, he continued.
“A vampire! Oh, this just got even better, anyone could pay me a lot for you” he said “You creatures are so rare yet almost like a fabled, precious ore. And that’s why you seemed so human before” He mumbled the last sentence while smirking.
I staggered to my feet “How do you… know?” I asked slowly and returning to my ‘human form’. I got up from the ground.
He laughed shaking his head “You just fucked up yourself over again” he approached me “Fresh meat in hell, and a vampire! I’ll, cash in” his voice switch to a deep, dark one “You’ll come with me and make me filthy rich”.
Before he could lay a hand on me again, I bit his forearm. The warmth of his blood flowing almost touched my lips. I quickly stopped spitting it out. “W-what?! How is it even possible? What’s a real demon doing here?!”
He seemed a bit concerned, yet he chuckled amused “You’re not so clever, huh? We are in hell, my fabled vampire, I thought I recently named the place to you” he snickered.
I felt myself cold and inner shivering for a second. Am I dead? Well, dead again?! How come?!
As soon as I finished my thoughts that demon walked to me and tried to lift me, which I protested wounded him on his guts using my fingers, tearing them into the skin. He collapsed, helplessly knelt and groaned in pain, covering the wound and cursing me.
I gazed around. Some other demon surrounding noticed the scene with diverse expressions, few of them with displeasure and the majority with some kind of interest.
I didn’t want to increase that requirement of amusing to them, so I looked down at my now victim, giving him one last look with some hatred and then walked away from the place.
As he didn’t seem to have had enough, he stood up trembling and reached out to pull my cloak to stop me.
“Don’t dare to humiliate me like this and just go, little freak!” I saw him spatting blood onto the ground and how he squeezed my cloak, almost ripping a piece of it “You are the perfect ticket to make a stand-out from this shitty life. I will not make this a more notorious scene, you’ll just come with me.”
He stood up trembling a bit, then pulled me to him trying to wrap my body with one arm.
But I struck the final blow, avoiding transforming again, I slashed deep horizontally from his left hip, reaching the other. This kind of threatening ended.
I sighed, deciding to stare defiantly at every other demon around me, hoping that no one was left with an enthusiasm getting closer. And so it was, everyone got back to their business.
Well… I was indeed in hell. And, if what the demon said was true I had to be careful.
I couldn’t be getting to defend myself again, just because someone would find out what I am… And so, if all of the habitants here knew about vampires, no matter how much, I’d be in a big trouble. Can’t afford to draw attention.
I walked for a while, keeping my head down and trying to not eye-contact anybody. My mind raced, recapping my options and if somehow there was a way out. How was I supposed to research or find someone who can help if my mere existence was something that attracts dangerous attention?... a TERRIBLE one as I ended up learning before.
I arrived at a kind of busy place, like the entrance to a shopping mall but with the difference that it had a sign above the door showing that it was a bar.
Maybe I can find some help in there. I think up for myself. Although this idea might be unsafe for me it’s the first (almost the best) option I’ve had.
Inside, demons crowded around tables, all laughing, flirting, kissing, and even fighting among themselves while drinking. None of them looked useful for my intentions to get out of this place. I sighed as sitting in a near and lonely couch.
“Hey, pretty doll!” a light, smooth and nice male voice approached.
I avoided look at him, thing he surely noticed but keep up approaching to the couch “Well, well, you must be new ’round here, because I ain’t seen this sugar-kinda-sweet body and side face. Trust me, I’d remember” ended with a cheerful, flirty chuckle.
I considered let him talk and then go away, but something about him stood out to me, suddenly, the idea of get to know him echoed in my head, perhaps he had some contacts because he seems like the ‘popular’ one around the bar. So, I cleared my throat and side-eyed him. “You may be supposing right…” I warily tried to look at.
”Oh? So, Mister Mysterious does talk” he criticized with a playful voice “And here I was thinkin’ you were just gonna brood in silence like a moody teen in a bad vampire flick” leaned searching for my eyes, I barely spotted a strange, white fluffy form where a chest would go before eye-gazed with him, he gave me a small smile “Hmm? What’s the deal, doll face? You eyein’ me ’cause ya like what ya see? He questioned as squeezing the fluffy on him.
I showed a grimace in response.
“Or…” he answered “’Cause ya think I can getcha with the cool kids?” he chuckled “Spoiler alert… I AM the cool kids”.
“Oh my, another yapping demon” I protested in a mutter.
“Oh, what, you got a problem with a little conversation? Hate to break it for ya, but silence don’t do any favours in a place like this”.
“Although, you seem different from the last one” I breathe a bit and sighed “In fact, you’re almost as weird as me” said as trying to smile “You don’t have horns or red skin like most of others, you might be a human before, huh?”.
I noticed that his confidence faded just a bit, he continues while eye narrowing and crossing his arms… his, upper ones as I just saw “Almost as weird as you, ya said? Guess that can make sense” tapped a claw against his arm “Yeah, REAL sharp observation, Sherlock. I was human once. Lotta us here were…” he gestured those last words vaguely to himself “Now I’m, this. Funny how hell’s gotta way of givin’ ya a whole new look… sometimes outside, sometimes inside”.
“What an ‘inner’ talk you just spit off to me” I advised with a light chuckle.
I wasn’t sure what to think about him, yet, but one thing was clear, he wasn’t a boring type.
He raised a brow and then laugh softly “Inner talk? Babe, that was just me talkin’. If I ever got real deep, you’d either cry or need a bunch of drinks… Or both”.
“Well, thanks for the earlier info, tho… Now I get why our bodies are ‘distinctly weird’ from other demons” said as creating some space on the couch for him.
He eyed the now empty space on the couch “Oh, so now I’m invited?” hesitated for just a second, then grinned “Ya getting’ soft on me already, loner, doll face?” he almost giggled.
“You’re indeed too chatty for my taste. But I could give it a try” I added patting the couch.
“Guess you’re a real risk-taker, huh?” he said flopping down dramatically and stretching his long legs. Then he gave me a flirty smirk and leaned back crossing his upper arms. “So, what’s the deal, tough guy? You just lettin’ any loudmouth take up your personal space, or am I just, special?
“So chatty and also teasing” I protested sarcastic with a little smile “So sorry to burn down your happiness but, it’s nothing special, nor you are being so. I’m just looking for help, woke up dizzy and confused as fuck… I don’t know how I ended up in hell”
“Well, babe” he laughed “Y’know, dying”
“No, I mean” I rolled my eyes as I cutted him off “I know that I died but-” stopped, almost confessing what could put me in a bad situation “Uh… yes, I died, but I was not expecting it. A bit weird to be honest.”
“Sweetheart, nobody expects to wake up here. Kinda the whole point.” He said tilting his head as he let out a low chuckle “One second you’re livin’ it up and the next… Bam! Fire, brimstone and all-you-can-handle existential dread!” leaned back resting an arm over the couch.
I cleared my head to start lying “Well. Everything was so normal, and fine, I was attending a Halloween party with my friends, just snacking and talking with them, seeing other people having fun and dressed up with all kinds of costumes-”
“Uh…” his sharp eyes flicked over me, and so I sensed a bit of hesitation “Somehin’ tells me your little trip down here wasn’t exactly standard” he fully gazed me with a look of longing “I mean, c’mon, you’re gonna with a Halloween party to this? He laughed amused “That’s totally a helluva leap, sugar. Either you’re lyin’ through those pretty and sharp teeth, or someone up there-or down here, really screwed ya over” said while tapping his finger against his thigh, waiting for a reaction or response.
“At least say ya were sacrificin’ someone or some shit.”
He was acting so clever, or I might be caught on my lying, maybe both.
I shook my head denying and smiled “Not lying nor making an weir story for you to keep us closer” I hissed quickly and as confident as I could, adding a giggling “I don’t know how is the standard way to trip to hell so I can assure you it’s the truth, and so, that’s why I’m so puzzled by ended here. I need help to understand and or solve this mess of mine”.
“Hm, sure” he narrowed the eyes tapping a claw against his chin, I surely didn’t convince him “Y’know, for someone not lyin’, you’re really quick to shut me down” a smirk crept wider, he rested his elbow on his knee “Alright, I’ll bite. You need help? Fine. But first, lemme give ya some free advice, doll face. If you’re gonna lie landed on the ‘big liars’ nest, at least make it entertaining”.
I blinked twice a bit freeze by being uncovered “What do you mean by entertaining?”
“Well, your kinda-cover story? Bland. No spice. No drama. C’mon, make up some murder mystery party, maybe a tragic betrayal, a forbidden love affair. You shoulda sell it!” with a dramatic sigh he leaned back again, folding his arms behind his head “Lucky you, I’m a sucker for a good puzzle. So, tell me, newbie, What kinda mess we’re really talkin’ about?”
“Well, you see. Is… is there a way to get out? Like-” as I spoke, every flowing idea seemed so silly, childish and even fanciful to keep.
I was dead, again. But maybe this time, fully, totally dead, like not returning. Maybe vampires aren’t that immortals... But that doesn’t mean we had to end up in, hell, like, it’s not the statement I remembered.
I deeply sighed and got out of words, even toughs. Which that demon noticed and instantly started to be giggling.
He just watched me struggling, a devious smirk grows as my silence stretched.
With a snicker, he tilted his head back and let out a full-on laugh
“Oh, babe! You’re adorable! A way out ya said? Ha! That’s rich. Think there’s an exit sign somewhere?” chuckled “Maybe some stairs leading a way back to the land of livin’?” wiped a fake tear from his eye, still chuckling “Look, newbie, I hate to be that one breakin’ it to ya… Uh, actually, scratch that. I LOVE bein’ the one who break it. But hell ain’t exactly got a return policy”
With a lazy grin he continued “So. Tell me, doll face. You just askin’ outta pure curiosity? Or actually plannin’ of bein’ the first dumbass to pull of the impossible?” ended smiling at me with a sympathetic look.
I swallowed out of inertia so quickly I tried not to make it more obvious, making up a confident eye contact with him. Was I really thinking this? The way out -if there was one- sounded a lot like a myth to him, and that might be a double danger sign to my situation.
I forced a smile “Well. First dumbass you said? Sound like a challenge to me. Not saying that I have a plan, nor loving the idea of spending my recent eternity in a place with… questionable warm” I side-eyed him for a second, then, I tried to sound serious “And so, if there was a way… you’d know indeed, wouldn’t you?”
His smile didn’t fade, but there was some flicker of something else behind. Interest, amusement, maybe just curiosity, the kind that got people into trouble. “Sweetheart, now you’re thinkin like a real sinner” he stretched and tilted his head with a ‘knowing’ grin, leaned in, lowering his playful tone a bit “Y’know, not plenty of folks ask for a way out, and if someone does and try to reach an answer… well, either end dead-er, or worse. Askin’ for a way to cheat the system… it’s a whole can of worms, lemme tell… you couldn’t like the result” wiggled his fingers playfully and dramatically “Ooh, spooky, right?
I chuckled pretending to be offended “Are you just messing with me?”
He denied with rolled eyes and then, with a flick of his writs, his tone dropped into something ‘serious’ “If I knew somethin’ -and that’s a big if- why the hell would I spill it to ya?” He smiled at me almost like flirting with me “Ain’t like you slipped me a drink first”.
“So… you do have a way out, or at least know someone who has the way out.” I returned the smile while crossing my arms.
I barely noticed his smirk and playfully personality twitched, just a bit but enough. He let out a short chuckle as he got comfy against the couch.
“Tch- damn. Sure, ya know how to switch a funny conversation, huh? Cute.” he waved a hand dismissively “Listen, doll face, if I did know someone who has way information than me, ya think I’d still be sittin’ pretty right here? Nah, I’d be long gone”.
He tapped against his thigh, a little too rhythmically for a few seconds until stilled them. His grin stayed, but there was something a bit… forced about it now, twirling a loose strand of fluff from his chest. “Uh. Lemme give ya another freebie… sometimes, knowin’ shit is way worse than not knowin” He started to be fidgeting with his fingers and glanced to the side, just for a moment before switching into his teasing grin “And. I mean, sure, I know some people. Well, everybody knows people… It’s hell, sweetheart. Connections are kinda the only thing keepin’ ya from bein’ a nobody” he shrugged “Beside of that, you don’t wanna mess with them and then owe favors. Once they got their claws on ya…” trailed off and his teasing smirk faltering again.
And just like that, he snapped back to himself, winking “Well! Don’t let me kill the mood! I might help ya, sugar. Be my guest! Just, don’t expect me to come scoop up what’s left of ya after” he winked and laugh, although it didn’t quite reach a confident or flirty way.
“Don’t worry that much” I said after a tiny laugh “So, I’ve had been warned not to mess with somebody, uh, maybe with a high class or at least powerful. Did I get it wrong?” I tried to review that last information.
“Nah, you got it well, babe” he answered fixing his hair “And as the main danger is cleared now ya better play along in here” said as fidgeting with his shirt “Huh, or maybe come with me, I’ll sure be your hottest-host!” then he held out a hand and give a cute but playful smile to me “Welcome to Pentagram City, doll face!”.
