Skin, Wings, Fangs, Scales

CHAPTER XV: Here Lies

An aggravating scenery unfolded before Moon Byul's eyes. As opposed to the image she had meticulously crafted in her head, hell was... Cold. And dark, too. It was a seemingly endless realm that spread in and through a black void, yet filled with uncertainty. Below her feet, the ground wailed, like a warning that it could fall apart anytime at a slight slip.

“Fall and the ground will eat you.”

Moon Byul jumped back, startled by the sudden appearance of a faceless entity. How was she not able to detect this creature? It took her seconds to realize that it had no scent, no sound of breathing, only a hazy image. And a voice, clear and resonant.

Yongsun's brows furrowed when the gumiho grasped her arm. It was already annoying as it was, with hell being a tragic realm of red. She looked at the spirit before her and shook Moon Byul's hand off.

“Seeing the two of you brings me excitement,” the creature proclaimed. Noticing Yongsun's inquisitive gaze, it continued, “The name is Charon.. Abaddon.. Grim Reaper.. I have many, just like you.” He glanced at Moon Byul, with the face of an old man, his skin draped with a robe of rust-like color.

“So this is hell..?” Moon Byul raised a brow, scanning the plane. “It's not what I expected..” Who would have thought hell would be damp?

“Hell is what is most inconvenient for you,” Charon revealed. “Is that not right, Duchess?”

Yongsun's expression turned grim. Her senses were heightened, her skin growing warm with the infernal temperature. The harsh, sharp cries of the abandoned souls prowled at her ears, and the scarlet blaze of the ceiling made her pupils shake uncontrollably.

“May I?” Charon's eyes darted towards the book in Yongsun's left hand.

The ringing in Yongsun's ears grew louder, compelling her to follow the entity's mouth instead. Then Charon raised his palm, and upon closing it, the book turned to ashes.

“You are here for something, yes?” Charon stretched out his arms, and born from nothingness was an oar, wide and sturdy. Digging the oar into the cold ground, Moon Byul watched him lean on it, like a cane.

“We seek answers,” Moon Byul responded. She gulped, hearing distant howls and the sound of flowing water.

“I wish to find my father..” Yongsun stated. Her father, Count Roșu, was somewhere in hell. He had the words she wanted to hear.

“Very well,” Charon turned to his right, giving way to the sight of a river. His boat came to surface, appearing to be big enough for the three of them. “I will take you to where you need to go.”

Moon Byul stared into the distance, the expanding darkness daunting her. Her golden eyes struggled to find light, and seeing the dark waters made her pale.

Yongsun stepped forward, eager to finish business. Her fingers trembled, from the rising heat and the river of blood that welcomed her.

As Charon paddled, Moon Byul kept her eyes on Yongsun. The vampire's face, for all she knew, was something that kept her sane. Watching Yongsun distracted her from the taunting murmurs beneath the boat. How was there monkshood in the river? She did not care to know. And she had noticed, Yongsun's blue orbs was nearly turning crimson amidst the dark.

Yongsun clenched her fist in an effort to stop the tremors. Her head pulsated, as if it was to split open. Everything was red, warm. On the river bank was red, dry soil, wherefore columns of red rock rose and arched. From these structures emerged burnt carcasses that wailed and reached out with their scorched arms. The souls within shrieked, like molten lava washed over them. For the first time in her existence, Yongsun realized she was sweating.