Hell [Sequel]

Prologue

A crack of ominous, blood red lightning flashed across the sky, a crack in a clouded, stormy window that concealed any blue sky as far as any eye could see. My tail swished back and forth, impatient with my back leaning against the overturned roof of an old, derailed train car. Each sweep of the howling wind caused a cacophony of dead branches clattering together in applause. It sounded like bones cracking, which resurfaced a memory in the depths of my mind. I chuckled to myself as I remembered.

I'll be back out there soon.

Quickly my state of pleasure deteriorated back to annoyance as I swept the clearing once again with no sign of the one I needed to meet with.

How is that visehj always late? I scoffed. Where else does she have to be?

Finally a flicker of magenta out of the corner of my eye made me sigh in pure annoyance. Without looking I swore angrily,

"What the yza took you so long?"

I heard a snort of defiance from the newcomer. "I don't see you rounding up souls to keep the only gateway back open, visehj."

A low growl rose from the back of my throat. "It'll stay open just fine for the next month without more souls. We need to keep a decent supply for when we actually need them, as you know! It's hard enough to get them without drawing loads of attention."

"Well now it'll last two or three more."

"Moving on," I hissed with an aggressive snap that made her stiffen. I shifted my jacket over my shoulders as I sat up straight with a flick of my tail. "I assume, since you apparently weren't bothered with assuring, that he's ready?"

She rolled her eyes. "As ready as that worrywort can be. His one skill is naming everything that could go wrong with anything."

"Just make sure he knows that we are more powerful than those lowlifes by far," I said. I hid my frustration for the young spirit at the statement. He's known he was a ritualistic since he entered Limbo, how is he still as incompetent as the defects?

"I'm sure he does," she retorted. "He's just too much of an idiot to realize that's a good thing."

"At least he knows what to do," I seethed, annoyed with her doubt.

She crossed her arms. "And what about the deal?"

"Hm?"

I'd been spreading my wings to fly away when she'd spoken. I paused, meeting her gaze once more.

"The deal," her expression hardened, not a trace of a grin on her face. "You're still giving her to me, yes?"

"Oh, don't worry." I gave her a reassuring smile, crossing my fingers behind my back as I spoke.

"You'll get your half of the deal."

-=+=-

"It's finally time."

"Beware, world."

"I have friends this time around."

-=+=-

And so it has begun.

484 words