A Devil with an Angel's Heart

Chapter 27, Part 2

||Avdol

They had been smoothly sailing along the river for some time now. Due to all the fog it was hard to tell how long it had been since they set sail and how far they'd come, their watches had stopped working. The black water of the river gently sloshed as the ferry glided through the waves and the black flag depicting a red demon skull, the imperial flag of hell, flattered in the wind. As the ship was very old and not motorised there weren't any other sounds, than the wind and river. An occasional sob or cry of despair cut through the air. Sometimes the rattling of chains or the deep, guttural growl of a monster could be heard here and there. Otherwise it was eerily still...and cold. At the port it had still been warm but now that they no longer were on land the warmth had disappeared. They all had hustled together for warmth, their hands shaking, shivering from the cold, their teeth chattering. Even Iggy had curled up in the Egyptian's lap. The dead no longer needed any warmth. They couldn't feel the cold but surely were missing the warmth they used to feel. The air had started to smell like smoke, burned flesh, and death. It truly was the realm of death. Even Kate, who travelled this way many times before, seemed tense. Her guard was up, and she was no longer sitting around. Instead she had gotten up, walked around the helm for a bit, her eyes glinting though the fog, scanning their surroundings as far as it was possible, then climbed atop the mast. There she was standing now, looking out for any threats. She had explained before, the dead souls were longing for life and the monsters in these waters loved to eat souls and once they tasted a living soul, that was still full of energy and memories.... still warm,... there was no stopping them, they'd devour them all and still not be sated. Kate had put her jacket back on due to the cold. She had taken it off on Tennille's ship. It seemed so long ago. Now she looked like the warrior she had always been described as. Her sword strapped to her back, hair tied in a ponytail (she had thrown the flowers into the black water and they'd withered away once they floated to the surface), leather wrapped around her calves and hands for protection. Her ponytail and clothes rustled in the wind. She stood tall and still like a statue as she looked out into the vast nothingness of the fog. Like this, time went by, second by second, minute by minute as they only listened to the sound of the ship gliding through the water and their own heartbeats. For an hour, maybe longer, no one said a word, no one made a sound. Avdol had lost all sense of direction and time when Kate started moving again. The sound of the rope being pulled caught everyone's attention, cutting though the silence like a razor-sharp blade and brought movement into the mass of souls on the ferry. Kate used the rope to let herself down and landed securely back on deck, her feet firmly meeting the ground. She walked towards them, confidence in her step. It was scary to see that Kate's breath was the only one visible, even though all these souls were on board. The souls knew better than to get too close to Kate and made way for her, parting in the middle and forming a way. They sensed that Kate was a powerful being, the magic ran strongly through her blood and the pact marks resonated with the love of her devils and their strength and power. The marks had started glowing through the fog, as she stepped foot onto the ferry, signalling she was getting closer to her demons, their connection growing even more powerful. Then she had put on her jacket, having demonstrated power, but not wanting to risk them becoming a target on her back. "We're getting close. Get ready to change ships. The Antichrist will be waiting and I can't wait to get into warmer territory." Kate explained ripping Avdol from his thoughts. "How do you know that? We can barely see what's in front of me!" commented Mr. Joestar. "I don't see that we're getting closer. I feel it. It's getting warmer." explained the teenager. Avdol decided he would have to ask her more about this and these pact marks later. Obviously they demonstrated power, but there must be more to it, they could not only be signs that a pact has been formed. There were different kinds of pacts after all. Oh, there were so many things he wanted to learn and ask. Being in hell was the perfect opportunity, but unfortunately they were only journeying through. He'd definitely have to come back after they had defeated Dio. In case they lost, he'd be dead anyway and no longer in need of all this information. Surely he'd be able to sate his curiosity in the after life... Though, should he land in heaven, it was unlikely to learn about the good sides of hell. "Don't worry, not all of hell is like this, Jiji.", Kate chuckled after seeing Mr. Joestar look around unsure of what to do. "See the light that's coming closer? That's the gateway to the underworld. So, try not to fall into the water, it would burn the flesh off your bones in an instant." explained Kate. Avdol looked from the fiery light down at the black water running through the river bed. It was seething, the sound of bubbles bursting after reaching the water's surface filled the air. Soon they reached a little island, that turned out to host a volcano. Kate told them to be careful when stepping foot on the ashen lands. The island was rocky, coloured black from all the ash. Avdol spotted some dead trees here and there. At least the fog had lifted a little and they could finally see where they were going again, though the smell of smoke, burned flesh and death still assaulted their nostrils. "Don't worry, it'll get better." assured Kate. "How'd you-" wondered Avdol. "I had the exact same expression when I travelled with the ferry for the first time. But you get used to the smell. I could be worse, actually. All that's left is the metallic stench of blood and it would smell the same as on a battlefield.", for a moment Kate's eyes were unfocused, as if remembering something but she quickly caught herself and pulled Avdol out of the way, so the dead souls could pass. "SO, where will the soul's be transported?" Jotaro surprised Avdol with this question but Kate was happy to oblige. "See that temple-like entrance there by the foot of the volcano? That's where they'll go through. They'll have to follow a slim, long tunnel that reaches deep inside the volcano. After about ten minutes of walking they'll reach The Cave of Judgement. Each soul enters court alone. The sinner's crimes and sins will be listed and accumulated. Mitigating circumstances are taken into consideration, by the way. Each sin and crime costs a certain period of time. In the end, the sinner has to make up for their sins in form of a certain time of service. The sinners are made to work in mines or as slaves. Whatever suits their sins. When they're not working, they're suffering in the fires of hell. There are also punishment-rooms. Demons book them to blow off some steam. They summon up a soul and punish them to their hearts content....Anyway, after the sinner is convicted, they're lead through a door at the end of the cave, which ends in another tunnel, which leads further down and eventually to the fires of hell. There they'll wait until someone summons them. There's no escaping and Dio soon will be walking these tunnels, as well. And down here, he'll have no Stand, no vampiric powers, nothing!" explained Kate while Jotaro nodded along looking as if he was interested of seeing things for himself. "I'll show you some day." Kate promised as though she read the male teen's mind. Avdol and Mr. Joestar watched as one long line of souls walked towards the volcano and disappeared in the entrance, which was guarded by two huge hell hounds. "It's fascinating, isn't it? Just wait till we enter the populated areas...On that note, we should go. The Antichrist is waiting." Kate pointed out. When they turned to follow Kate a commotion suddenly broke out. Kate whirled her head around hearing the screams of one soul that tried to escape and the demons, that kept guard, barking orders to catch the escapee. The hell hounds growled baring their teeth, pulling on their leashes barked. "He's got fighting spirit, I have to give him that. But it's all for naught." growled the woman before she shot off and after the escaping soul. She reached out her hand towards the escapee, almost in reach when someone else hurled themselves at the soul. "Gotcha." a (naked) man growled. "He's..." started Avdol. "Naked." finished Mr. Joestar. "Adam! Long time no see! Still no fan of clothes I see." stated Kate calmly, though as if greeting an old friend. The man held down the soul and looked up at the female. "Ah, hello. It's been a long time, Kate. Are you on your way to the capital?" "Not exactly. I'm only journeying through. I only need a car so my friends and I can go to the Crimson Eagle's Nest. Need to get off this island? I can take you on the Antichrist." offered Kate in return. Adam contemplated it for a second, then shook his head, "Thanks for the offer, but not yet. You earn a lot of money on this island. I only need to stay a little longer and I can take Eve and the kids on their dream holiday. But do send them my love." "I will." Kate smiled while Adam got up, revealing that he wasn't actually completely naked. His crotch was covered with a maple leaf. "Do you think that's the Adam?" wondered Mr. Joestar, "You know, the first man known to earth, the one from the bible? What's he doing in hell?" In the meantime Kate had taken over the recaptured soul. "You just made your punishment more severe." growled the woman warningly, then added, "This place is just like quicksand; the more you struggle the faster and deeper you sink." It didn't take her long to hand over the soul to one of the guards, pet the hell hounds, sneak them a treat and say goodbye to Adam before she returned to their side and lead them towards the Antichrist. "What's the Adam doing in hell?" asked Mr. Joestar blatantly. "God banned him and Eve from the Garden of Eden, Adam feels much more comfortable in hell." explained the woman. Mr. Joestar nodded in response. Then finally they reached the shore from which the Antichrist could be seen.