Cursed to the Abyss

9. Atrox

Hello readers! So the chapter name above is pronounced in a more 'spanish-y' type of  way. (ah-trox) is the best way I can describe it through words. 

Also, I know I said this was going to be that 'special chapter', sadly, I'm currently still working on it since its rather long. This chapter however is one of the shortest in word count. This chapter is mainly for the introduction of Atrox, and a little bit of a history preview of how he came to be and of course how Zara interacts with him. 

I think you're going to love it, well because of how much I LOVEEE ZARA !!

As soon as we were settled our own personal cage, Abysmal's monster began circling around, a predator hunting its prey. I followed the flames escaping his back and shoulders, admiring the beauty of how the two colors of purple and blue blended.

"Zarakel Xiphias Zafeirou," the monster recited with his deep animalistic voice, "I admire your work," he continued to speak in the language of latin. I continued to look at his physique and structure in veneration but was puzzled by the words that came out of his mouth.

"That's a first for you, complimenting me, Abysmal," I acknowledged, speaking in latin. The flames around his body began to intensify, elevating the size to a couple of inches in length. He began to growl as he opened his mouth, in a way he wanted to eat me alive.

"I'm in no association with that vexatious soul," he roared in latin, "I'm merely a component to his vessel."

"Vessel...," I repeated, "So if you're not Abysmal, who are you?" The monster leaned in closer to me, sliding his tongue across his large extended teeth. Is this what he meant? I thought, By 'bring him back'?

"Someone much more feared...barbaric...destructive," he said, asserting his dominance, by towering over me, "Atrox."

"Atrox," I repeated once more, "How is it that your separate existence is not known?" I kept my eyes on his piercing glowing ones.

He laughed, "You're acting quite comfortable around my presence."

"Should I not?" I continued, "After all, I'm sure not even you would dare kill himself." Despite the fact I was linked to this beast, it wasn't the only thing that made me 'comfortable' around him. His dark presence, his smell, the flames, all together was rather a comforting combination, in a twisted way. This amalgamation would appear to be a threat to any typical creature, but I found the beauty within the darkness.

"Though that answer is true, there is only a level of authenticity I detect," he responded, sniffing in the air hovering around me while closing his eyes, "There is a lot of darkness in you Zarakel, I can smell it." I shivered at the thought because despite my lack of innocence as an immortal being, I expected my human form to be pure, sinless. If that was not the case, I had numerous events in my past to be guilty of. Was my adoration for the creature's presence a component to that 'darkness' as well?

"Comforting?" I responded to his statement about the darkness within me, refusing to delve deeper in that conversation.

"Comforting? Decidedly no. I'd use the term, exquisite," he smirked.

"You said you admire my work, so if you're not Abysmal how do you know me?" I asked, curiously.

"Mmm Abysmal had a trip down Macedonia Greece to see why there was an abundance of souls passing through us. When he had altered his form to me, I saw how you brutally massacred all the people. Feasting on the souls of those begging, weeping for you not to. You couldn't even contain your hunger, enough that you ate the flesh of your victims and found a portal to numerous realms to succumb to that hunger. No remorse, no guilt and no shame, now that Zarakel is a darkness quite like no other," he paused. I had little to no memory of my vicious attacks among the many realms. It was mostly a blur. I remember snapshots of the victims I ate but not a coherent memory of how it proceeded.

"So you see what Abysmal does?" I asked.

"I see what he lets me see. Essentially, as he shifts his form to me, the pendant allows me to see what's before me," he responded.

"So when Abysmal remains in his true form, you are locked away in his mind, unable to see any of his memories," I paused, "Because of this pendant?"

"Smart," he said, "I'm a curse Zarakel, a curse made for Abysmal."

"If you really were a curse, how come he can control it? Wouldn't a curse be out of an individual's control? Torturing them for all of their existence?" I asked.

"Because that bastard cheated!" he growled, "An original witch made a pendant to cage me like an animal!"

"The pendant is what controls you," I mumbled in english, thinking to myself. This is what Abysmal asked for me to do earlier. In order to 'bring him back', I needed the pendant.

"One last question," I paused looking at him, squinting my eyes, "Why are you willingly answering all of my questions? Certainly a violent and dangerous beast like yourself, doesn't go around telling his story."

He looked at me, lifting his lips in a smirk, "I've grown quite fond of you, Zarakel."

"Now what you just said is clear deception," I responded.

"Oh really? Tell me then, why am I answering all of your questions," he said waiting for me to answer.

"I think a creature who has murderous tendencies can't stand the thought of letting a victim, even myself, get away. I think that you're trying to tell your story by getting me comfortable, relaxed even, to the point I find you consoling. I think that the fact that you 'admire' my work is more of a threat to you because you'd feel the need to be feared more than I'am. So to conclude," I paused, "You're answering my questions so that you can kill me."

"Impressive," he gave a slow clap, "Anymore questions?"

"Yeah," I said. To be honest, I had about a hundred questions on my mind about him, he was unique. "Why you?"

"Elaborate," he said.

"You said you're a curse made for Abysmal, right?" I continued, "So why do you take this form? Why do you have this personality? Why you?"

"I'm everything Abysmal hates," he responded.

"That's it? You were created from simply what he hates?" I asked, "I had this curse because it was a representation for what I am, everything alive, dies. There must be something deeper, much more personal."

"Think about it, Zarakel. I'm violent, wreckless..." he paused.

"Out of control. Abysmal likes to be in control of what he does and despite his mischievousness, he follows the rules of life and order," I said thinking out loud.

"Mmm hmm," he confirmed.

"Based on both of your personalities, you act rather serious while he acts playful, snarky even" I questioned where I was going with this.

"Made from something personal," he continued.

"If you were made by everything Abysmal hates," I paused and he leaned in anticipating my response, "You're everything Abysmal hates about himself. You're the very mind of Abysmal 4,000 years ago, during the event in which you rebelled against the Olympian council. They made you the perception of a monster the day you attempted to murder them and after his first love died."

"Made me the perception of a monster," he quoted, "You phrased it as so you don't see me as such."

"Everyone has different definitions of how they perceive a monster," I said simply.

"Yes, but I've always been associated with that term," he continued, for once acting curiously, "So what makes yours different?"

"Oh perfect I've got your curiosity," I said smiling mischievously, "Can't let you revel in the full satisfaction of my death, I'm taking that to the grave."

Like I said, it was a really really short chapter, butttt hopefully it was very 'educational' in terms of how this new character came to be. I hope you like how I pieced it together and perhaps figure out how he ends up breaking his curse...or if he will ;)

Stay safe everyone and happy reading !