Lazarus Peirsaly

1. In the End Comes Beginning

It hurts. I can't move. I can't hear. I want to scream. Was I ever capable of screaming? I can't remember. Where am I? Who am I? Why does it hurt so badly? I open my mouth to scream, yet no sound comes out. Pain permeates throughout my body. Why does this have to happen to me?

"Hehe, I've enjoyed your torment long enough. Rejoice and praise me, your savior." A sultry voice cuts through the ringing in my ears. The pain stops and my ears function once again, the sound of a snap echoing throughout wherever the hell I am.

I feel my muscles relax and immediately sit up, taking in my surroundings. It seems I was sleeping on an odd stone altar illuminated by candles. Darkness surrounds the altar, making it impossible to gauge anything else. A red-skinned lady stands before me. Four curled black horns grace her head, accompanied by long curly black hair. Her eyes are red with black slits, similar to that of a cat. A black dress hugs her body, reminiscent of a succubus. Judging by her elaborate getup and the lack of memories, I must have gotten drunk and gone home with a cosplayer or something. Though I can't remember a damn thing... Could it be I've been kidnapped? It's kind of flattering, at least I'm wanted by someone. Even if that someone is a crazy cosplayer.

"Is that brain inside your skull just for decoration? Or perhaps you are simply an idiot? I don't appreciate such crass remarks made about me, and especially won't tolerate being compared to a filthy succubus." The odd lady glares at me, gritting her teeth as if stopping herself from throttling me. I suppose we are close if we're together like this, so it wouldn't hurt to speak to her... Hopefully, her anger issues aren't too intense.

"Please stop thinking such stupid things, idiotic wretch. I can read your mind. You died. Quite amusingly, at that. We are in a realm I oversee, and I snatched up your soul before it could drift away into the sights of another entity. This whole reincarnation garbage is reserved for gods, so it seems my powers weren't good enough and caused you to lose your memories... Hehe, that makes things much more interesting."

"I'm dead? That seems impossible, considering I'm sitting here talking and thinking. But I can't remember anything about myself... Did you drug me, perverted cosplaying kidnapper?"

"Ah, the stupidity of humans is always delightful to see. And refer to me by my name, Lurinyo. If you think or say something idiotic once more, I will gladly let you experience eons of torment in mere seconds. But if you do not believe me, then I must show you." She snaps as an odd purple ball manifests at the tip of her fingertip. With the ball hovering with her, she runs a finger up my cheek.

"That's a cool light trick and all, but please stop that, I don't like being tou-" As soon as her fingertip reaches my forehead, the ball is absorbed into my mind. The short memory of my ceiling fan falling off, both crushing and dicing me fills my mind. I don't know what state my body was in because of how fast I must have died, but I can very clearly make out my eyeball popping out and blood splattering around me. Maybe I was lucky that it hit my head so I died fast? No, it would've been better not to die at all... Oh, then I suppose the perv- I mean, Lurinyo was telling the truth.

"Of course I was. What would I have to gain from lying to a dead woman?"

"Well, you're a demon, so it isn't far-fetched."

"So you think all demons are the same? Typical disgusting humans. And why aren't you more bothered by this? You are dead, you know." Her glare returns, looking at me as if I were trash. Kind of ho- No, she can read my mind, I can't think such things.

"Everyone dies. I just died earlier than some others, no big deal. So, why did you capture my soul or whatever? I would've preferred not to be in the hands of some demon after death."

"Ah yes, finally I can get into my enjoyment. But I suppose I should introduce myself first, no? I am Lurinyo, a demon as you humans call us. I have been watching over humanity for some time to quench my boredom. I do love seeing how you weaklings scurry about and function. Observing your realm for so long has given me quite an expanse of knowledge. The food chain, nature, human civilization... It all interests me. But what interests me more are those who do not fit into anything."