Gate Guardians

Chapter 2 ~ A Touch of Hellfire

Chapter 2 ~ A Touch of Hellfire

Lilliana remained silent, ignoring the jibes and taunts thrown her way in an ever growing number of attempts to make her interact with the Reapers leading her through the Seven Circles of Hell. Lilliana's gaze dropped to the floor as they passed over the symbol dictating that a portal to Purgatory lay in the darkness beyond. The Angel amongst Demons frowned at the symbol. She knew what it meant, but the symbol here was slightly changed to the one seen in Heaven. Instead of warning of trouble beyond, it held teased those trapped here with hope. Lilliana sneered. She knew this place was cruel... but that surely was unnecessary.

"Knock, knock, Kuza!" Francesca called in an eerily cheerful sing-song voice.

"An Angel wishes passage into Tartarus!" Ricky chuckled darkly behind her.

"Oh, the poor thing looks confused!" Chris laughed and sent a sly wink Lilliana's way. "Shall we explain, precious?"

Lilliana glowered up at him. "Do not call me that."

"Well, what would you have us call you?" The Reaper behind her, Ricky, snickered. "Pet? Pigeon? Sweet-cheeks? Newbie?"

"How about Mistress seeing as I'm in charge of your sector?" Lilliana narrowed her eyes and smirked wickedly back at Ricky when he paused for a moment... but her moment of victory was short lived.

"Not yet you're not." Chris stated firmly and a sound like hyenas laughing floated past the other Reapers lips.

Lilliana looked towards a dark figure as it melded out of the shadows denoting Purgatory, a dark chuckle rumbling through the room. "You called?"

"Kuza..." Chris swung his arm to indicate to Lilliana. "Angel." He looked blankly at Lilliana. "Angel..." he pointed over his shoulder to the approaching Demon. "Kuza."

"Surely the little bird has a name?" Kuza smirked, looking her over. "Finally let out of your cage then I see? Silas's pretty little bird." Lilliana remained silent and Kuza's smiled turned curiously malicious as he stared at her. "Do you not sing, little bird?"

"I would know why the Judge of Souls spends his time taunting young Angels and nicknaming the Seventh Circle of Hell 'Tartarus'." Lilliana raised an eyebrow at Kuza, glancing nervously to the side as she noticed Ricky step behind her.

"Every realm has their little games and," he looked her over appreciatively, appraising her figure, smirking when he met her eyes again. "Pet names."

"Not too fond of those, are you precious?" Chris smiled wickedly when she turned her glare on him again. "Ooh! I do believe I found a way to get you to bite!"

"Your overly sexual demeanours might make things easier for you above ground," Lilliana held Kuza's gaze as she spoke, leaning back on one foot and placing her hand on her hip. "But you'll find those from Above a little harder work than that."

Kuza's eyes flashed with a dark kind of approval at her words and he chuckled. "We shall see, young one. We shall see." He glanced at the others who'd congregated further towards the alter at the other end of the vast space. "If you'll excuse me, little bird, I believe my fellow Reapers would like a word with me..."

Lilliana waved him away. "Go for your lives... not like I can go anywhere."

"True." Kuza chuckled as he walked away, winking at her cheekily. "Don't miss us too much, sweet thing."

Lilliana rolled her eyes and scoffed at his open flirting. Points for trying, but no. As the Demons murmured amongst themselves, Lilliana wondered a little ways away from them to look into one of the pits; her nose wrinkling at the stench of burning flesh as she drew closer. She leant forward slightly, peering over the edge...