Impure: The Protectors of Astromica

10

"Someone, help me! Please!", a desperate voice screamed, "I don't belong here! I just want to go home."
The only light in the pitch-dark room was the blinking of an overhead light loosely attached to the ceiling. The air was thick and moist, and water dripped from the ceiling like a light, indoor shower.
Reese Nightfare dry-swallowed and sighed with exhaustion. His arms were chained to the wall above his head, and he was forced to stand without a way to rest his legs. He couldn't feel his calves or his feet, which were bound to give out any second. The humidity made him sweat profusely, and the 24 hours he had been there felt like 100 days. He swayed there in a puddle of his own bodily fluids, screaming raspy words filled with agony.
"Help!", he shouted again. His voice echoed around the concrete room, but faded to silence before it could produce results. He flexed his muscles and attempted to transform but he hadn't been able to shift since waking in the room a few hours ago. He remembered drinking with Lily, and being approached by a man. He could recall up until that but everything else was hazy.
Suddenly, a black door to the left of him swung open. There was silence, and then loud footsteps barreling closer to Reese.
"No! Stay away from me!", screamed Reese. He turned his head away in terror and closed his eyes.
"I'm afraid I can't do that, shifter.", said a deep and sinister voice, "You are a marvel, the first of your kind."
Reese tensed up as he felt the entities breath on the side of his face.
"A perfect mix. A perfect hybrid. Perfect, perfect...", the voice trailed off. Reese felt it pull away slowly and heard more footsteps in the dark.
Suddenly, Reese was blinded by a bright overhead light. He groaned at the flash and squeezed his eyes shut.
"Open your eyes, boy."
Reese opened his eyes and slowly looked up to see a dark-haired man with a snake tattoo standing in the doorway. It wasn't the same boy that approached him at the bar, or it was and he just looked slightly different. Even though he looked different, the snake tattoo and the smile painted across the mans face was similar enough that Reese could tell it was the same person. He tilted his head and squinted.
"Who are you? What are you?"
"My name? I am the Cyril.", he replied, "What is your name, shifter?"
"I...Reese, my name is R-Reese.", he stuttered. He averted his eyes as the man approached him once again.
"Well...now that we've done introductions. Reese, I need something from you. I need you to tell me where the hybrid demon is."
Reese looked in The Cyril's direction and furrowed his brow, "What are you talking about? What hybrid?"
"The demon with elemental abilities...where is he?"
"I don't know what-"
"Hybrids are very rare. When two creatures of different species procreate, there is less than a 1% chance of the offspring coming out non-deformed. I have heard whispers of the boy with torn and battered wings with scales and feathers. He lives on the Angelic Lookout tower without a hope of ever flying like either of his parents...", the Cyril trailed off while staring up at the ceiling. He quickly snapped his attention back to Reese and smiled, "But the man I seek has evolved past this deformity. A creature with the abilities of both a demon and an elemental. Please, tell me where to find him."
"I don't-I've never heard of anyone who could do that. I-I've only ever heard stories about hybrids that existed long ago but I have been alive 20 years and I've never seen one."
"They have hidden him...I see.", the Cyril began pacing the room back and forth. "Smart. Very, smart. To deter attempts...to deter..."
"D-do you know his name?"
"His name? I know his house. I know his...house. A demon family...what is his name...", the Cyril pressed his forehead into his palms and rubbed his hands down his face frustratedly.
"I don't know many demon houses...I only know the royals."
"Royals!", he lifted his head from his hands, "Yes...royals. Let's see...blood...love...reflection...pride..."
"V-Vain?"
"Vain?", the Cyril stopped pacing and lifted his eyes from the ground.
He turned on his heel and ran up to Reese. He pushed his finger into the wall right above his head.
"Vains!", he shouted, digging his index finger deep into the cement.
Reese cowered in fear as the Cyril aggressively said the name over and over. He spit more and more as he yelled and almost completely covered Reese's face in saliva. Reese couldn't tell whether he was angry or just losing his shit completely, but he was frightened nonetheless.
"His first name.", the Cyril stopped suddenly and wiped the spit carefully from Reese's chin. His face relaxed back into a charming but terrifying smile. Reese's skin crawled at the way the man appeared to switch emotions in an instant.
"W-what?"
"What is his first name?", he said, holding Reese's freckled face gently in his hand.
"I only know Bellamy. He has a sister too...Bianca.", replied Reese, trying not to make eye contact but failing. He wasn't trying to get the twins in trouble, but he was terrified of what the man would do to him. At least the Vains would have each other, they're a strong family, he thought.
"No...no, no sisters.", the Cyril's grip on Reese's face tightened. "The father. Who is the father?"
"B-Ben, I think."
"Good! Good, good...the underworld. I need to go back.", the Cyril exclaimed. He clapped his hands twice and the wall behind him began to smoke. A circle with symbols that represented the Underworld burned into the wall slowly. He turned to watch, as the symbol was now the brightest light in the sealed off room.
"Can I go now? I-I helped you. I want to go home...please.", Reese stuttered out.
"Home?", the Cyril snapped his neck to look at him, "Do you know how valuable you are?"
He grinned at him and got in his face once more. He sniffed his face eagerly and licked the side of his cheek slowly. Reese shriveled away in disgust and tears well in his eyes.
"The shifter who can turn into a dragon...you are vital to me."
"How did you know that?"
"Know that you can turn into a dragon? I can smell it in your blood. Dragons are a descendent of demon-blood. The all-mighty creator's blood runs through you. Hades himself is in you as well as all the dragons on the island, and all demons in the underworld. All of this...is for him. My creator, our creator...", the Cyril stated excitedly, "You are close to being a god, my dear boy!"
He spun in a delighted circle and walked with whimsy toward the satanic circle in the wall.
"Hades? My mom said he was dead or something. What do you mean by "you're doing this for him"? Are you fucking nuts?!", Reese shouted at him, gathering more strength than he thought he had left.
"Dead? No, no. He is hidden away. The Queen locked him away, but he went willingly. The creator is alive and strong.", the Cyril turned back one more time, "I was close to him. Tucked away under the Queens watch. It was an honor to breathe the same air as him. As soon as I saw his majesty down there with me, I knew what he wanted me to do. I always do..."
"What do you want with me?!"
The Cyril paused and shrugged his shoulders, "I'm going to give you to him...as a gift."
Reese stared at him through a curtain of sweaty, red hair. Confusion littered his face as he attempted to process the Cyril's statement.
"What? No. You can't give me to someone. I'm a living being! You have no idea who you're talking to. I am Reese Nightfare, the next Supreme Gévaudan! I am no one's gift!"
"Oh but a perfect one you are. A beautiful red coat and so very handsome, you will be the perfect pet for our master."
"Fuck you! My mother will have your head!Wait until she finds me! You say you have loyalty to Hades? I'm friends with his daughter! She would fucking destroy you!"
The Cyril laughed to himself and then placed his hands on the circle.
"The princess will thank me as well. She serves her father well, still. He will pardon me for anything collateral. Besides, you are not my biggest gift to him...you'll see. I will return tomorrow with meat for you, Reese Nightfare. Please, try to rest well."
As soon as the last syllable left his lips, his body disintegrated into black ash. The demonic-circle dimmed quickly, and the overhead light became the room's only illumination once more.
Reese breathed heavily, suddenly unable to catch his breath. He felt trapped and helpless, something he had never felt before. The man called "The Cyril"could not be reasoned with, and unfortunately talking was Reese's strong suit.
His wrists were numb and his legs gave out a while ago from standing a full 24 hours. His breathing picked up and became more shallow with each breath. He gasped for air as his short breaths became frantic and deep.
Reese knew he was having a panic attack, and tried his best to self soothe. Minutes went by, and he lost himself in thought while trying to catch his breath. The only sound that echoed through the room was the beating of his heart in his chest.
The smell of rainwater and smoke filled his lungs, and he exhaled slowly. He looked up at the ceiling and let his eyes follow water droplets that trickled onto a light puddle to the left of him. The only thing he wanted to do was plunge his face into it and drink. His thirst drove him mad, and his hunger made him feel like a feral animal ready to thrust its teeth into anything moving. He mustered up enough strength to call out once more.
"Mother...please find me."