Symphony of the Abyss [Descendants]

CHAPTER 6: Souls soiled by sin

The Fairy grabbed her by the shoulders <with Hades? Are you crazy?><But...at least we have a place here...a roof...> Jane tried to retort<I'd rather find a cave> said the BeastBen turned around <Eh...where did Hades go?>Everyone turned around, he had leaned on the fallen wreck but he was no longer there <he flew to take possession of Evie's house, rest assured> shouted the Beast<Yes...I don't think it makes sense> said Ben<And why?> asked Belle<There are a lot of houses and villas even bigger and more beautiful, no offense, than Evie's that are probably empty now since everyone is in the castle so...why go there only now?><Even the desire to play a prank is enough for Hades to make him choose one thing> said the BeastMal searched the plane and the hold, it really seemed like he was gone.<So? What do we do?> asked EvieBelle approached the forest <it scares me><Even the Sun is going down> said EvieThe Beast approached the plane <We'll have to make do for tonight. Tomorrow we'll set off...there should be a map...> he climbed onto the wreckage and they followed him.<I'll help you> said Ben lifting Mal by the waist.The Beast pulled Belle up, Evie and Jane pulled the Fairy trying to get her up. <Mom...you could also give yourself a push> said Jane with a red face<I'm not touching us> her legs were flailing in the air exactly in the space between the floor and the roof of the hold.<I'll help you girls> Ben jumped down and pushed the Fairy from underneath and they finally managed to pull her up<The zombies should have a hard time getting up at least> said Evie catching her breath lying on two blue seats that had survived and miraculously intact. There were nine seats still intact, a place to sleep was available.The Beast had recovered a somewhat dated map of the area <There are no safe places from here to Evie's house><Then we should do it all in a hurry> said the FairyBelle pointed to a point on the map <here was a motorcycle shop...we should be able to get one...it's on the road><It seems perfect to me> said Ben <they must have some emergency cans of gasoline>They began to follow the route on the map, time was their tyrant, the night was advantageous only for the zombies with the color they found themselves in risking ending up in their mouths, black the night and gray them...impossible to distinguish them.They would have to take the motorcycles and load them with gasoline as quickly as possible, thanks to them they would have made up for lost time but they would have had to wake up as soon as the first ray of sunlight peeked out from the sea.<What are you doing here?> rather than the Sun it was Hades who peeked out from the plane.<What are you doing here!> the Beast shouted at him, the Fairy moved away from the seats.Hades didn't answer, he approached them who, in response, pressed themselves against the wall. He didn't pay attention and placed the logs of wood he had under his arm forming a bonfire. His hand, with the palm facing up, entered among the wood. Ben squeezed Mal's wrist. A blue flame came out of his palm, the wood began to crackle burned by the flames, then he got up and went to settle into the last two seats closest to the exit lying on the backrests with his back leaning against the steel wall of the plane, all this without saying a word.<What do we do?> Jane spoke softly even though it was her idea to stay with Hades before he disappeared and came back.<I don't know but stay still...> the Beast had tendons tighter than a guitar string.Hades moved his head outward, his eyes fixed on the dark forest <I can hear you even if you are still. There is food in that box> he pointed his index finger at a huge brown box in the overhead bin.<Am I wrong or it wasn't there before> said Belle<It must be poisoned stuff, I know of a curse, if you eat the food of Hades you will remain prisoners> the Fairy trembled with fear<This does not come from the afterlife you can rest assured, go ahead and starve if you prefer><You're not going to kick us out?> asked Mal with a piping soundHades' bright green eyes shone in the dim light of the campfire <Why should I? You can stay for all I care but... he must not speak to me or I will throw you all off the cliff> he threatened them still pointing at the Beast.<Dear...seal your mouth is okay?> said Belle putting her hand on his chest, the Beast nodded.Evie took down the box, meat, beans and also protein bars <I think we're good><Thank goodness> said Belle <I already thought I'd have to fast for days>Ben grabbed a box of beef jerky <isn't this the one the airline has as a reserve?><Where do you think I got that> Ade replied from a distance still staring in the total darkness. I wonder what he saw.They opened the cans of beans and filled them with meat, in the box they also found some plastic cutlery and bottles of water. They shared them all, Mal took another one out of the box a can of beans, took a piece of meat and stood up.<Here, you must be hungry> she said, holding out the food to Hades who only moved one eye to look at her.<I don't feel like it> and went back to looking at the forest.<Ungrateful> the Beast whispered, the god's movement was very fast, he turned his gaze towards them even before he had finished that sentence. The blood in Mal's veins froze. Her green eyes burned like hell flames, draining the king's courage and he began to sweat. Perhaps the fear in her eyes was enough for Hades to go back to looking at the forest as if nothing had happened.The dinner managed to calm both his hunger and his anxiety and they resumed the discussion of what to do the next morning.While the fire was slowly turning from blue to red, a light appeared in the distance in the forest.<What is it?> Ben stood up, craning his neck towards the night.<Two men> Hades said and fell silent, squinting.<They're...humans! We have to bring them here> Belle shouted<I'm not going out> Mal began<For that matter, neither am I> Ben beganThey decided to wait for them, they created a torch with fire to attract them, Hades frowned, he didn't seem particularly happy.The closer the lights got the more hope they had of being able to save themselves, those people had been so good at hiding from the zombies for so long that they could help them by the next morning.When they reached them they were exhausted, they had been running for hours.<Thank you so much> one of the two said as he finished eating the can of beans that was left.<How did you manage to escape?> Evie asked<We ran like crazy> the other repliedThey settled in for the night as best they could but didn't dare ask Hades if they could sit on free seats since he was perched on the backs.Mal sat down next to Ben, resting her head on his shoulder.They managed to fall asleep and the sleep was calm and deep like the bottom of the sea, after so much anxiety they could finally calm down.But the calm didn't last long. Mal was awakened by a dull bang coming from the bottom of the wreckage open towards the forest.She strained her ears, her breathing began to labor while her heart accelerated. She expected to hear the growls and gurgles of those beings instead she heard Belle's voice thanking her.She opened her eyes and pulled herself up from the seat. Ade, completely bare-chested, had taken by the hand a Belle sitting on the ground wearing Ade's black leather jacket completely closed. The Fairy behind her was trying to pull herself up on the plane.As Belle pulled herself up, Mal got out of her seat, being careful not to wake Ben.<What are you doing here?> she whispered while Belle was hugging Ade like a dog looking for love."What did I miss?"<Oh Mal> Belle rushed to her and hugged her <if you knew what happened> Hades helped lift the Fairy up.<What happened?><Sit down> the Fairy said to her.Mal helped Belle sit on the seat, the Fairy took the other one and she leaned on the armrest. Belle hugged her jacket in terror, Hades sat where he was before.<So?> Mal askedThe Fairy sighed before starting to tell...<Belle and I couldn't sleep and so we were talking to each other for a bit. At a certain point those men woke up and asked us if we wanted to go down to the hold with them to look for something useful like food. Naively we followed them thinking that looking for something was more useful than chatting so we followed them><So good that you do not contemplate evil> Ade commented quicklyThe Fairy passed over us and continued <as soon as we set foot on the ground they took us and brought us to the side of the plane and there...> he swallowed before continuing <they threw Belle to the ground and... they ripped off her clothes tying her to the ground with plastic ties, I don't know how we did it but they were there that... that, you understand. He had pulled down his pants, Belle's screams were muffled by the handkerchief they had put in his mouth, he was about to get closer, the others occupied my view to reserve me the same treatment, their hands tightened around my neck almost suffocating me, when the hands around my body and my mouth disappeared. He managed to see Ade again had appeared behind the man who was now lying unconscious on the ground. I don't know what he had done but they were all on the ground. He took off his jacket and covered Belle>Belle raised her face to Mal <don't get the wrong idea...he never looked at me. While he was putting his jacket on me he looked ahead, towards the horizon, only when I was covered did he look into my eyes, he was a gentleman><Yes it's true. Then he took a knife from his boot and touching the ground without ever looking at Belle and without ever touching her he cut the straps.>"They really want to point out that he didn't see Belle as mother nature made her...if the Beast found out...it's better to specify" Mal thought to herself while the Fairy continues.<Once they were all cut he stood up and turned his back to her <settle down> he said. I helped Belle to settle down and close her jacket, while we were getting ready one of them stood up and charged towards us... I saw him get up and fly towards the cliff falling with a scream, I admit I was scared when the scream stopped suddenly><And the others?><They ran away. Like cowards><Gray souls...> commented Ade <too cowardly to be bad and too selfish to be good><Gray...souls?> Mal became curious, it seemed like she was talking about a world as distant and ancient as time.<I can look into people's souls. Every soul is born transparent, getting dirty and living takes on a unique color for each person. Life, passions, mind, sins, gestures and spirit, everything is contained there> it was the first time she explained something in detail.Mal hugged Belle <please...> the queen cried <don't tell anyone don't...don't..><I won't say anything, don't worry, but how will you explain the fact that...you have no clothes? >The Fairy stood up <let's go look in the hold to see if any of our luggage survived><I'll come with you> Mal said<Wait we have to look for a torch>A blue flame floated next to them, glowing faintly. It turned above their heads, following their slightest movements.Mal turned to Hades who, still indifferent, was looking towards the forest. Without another word they went down to the hold and looked for some luggage, luckily the Fairy's was still intact, she took a short blue dress and brought it upstairs.It was too big for Belle <maybe with a little adjustment...> the Fairy took out her wand, a transparent thread sewed the dress, shrinking it to her size.<I'd say it's perfect> she said looking at him<Yes...but how will you explain the change of clothes?> Mal askedBelle adjusted the fabric <the long dress was uncomfortable, that's not a lie> then she took the black jacket and raised it towards its owner who slowly turned his face outwards to look at her.<Thank you> whispered Belle while Ade gently grabbed the fabric, he hinted a bow with his head before putting what was his back.<Now, finally, I'd say we can sleep> said the Fairy <for today I just want to sleep>Yes, set him on the seats, Ben hadn't moved at all, happy Mal cautiously passed him getting back in her place.<Where did you go?><To get some air, go back to sleep><I'm going to the bathroom first> he said getting up.When he returned he also took a trip to the hold in search of his luggage and when he returned he had a big smile on his face.<I found a blanket and some of my thermal shirts>Mal took the blanket and put it on <This is more than enough I think><Wait, Ade> he looked at him with annoyed eyes, the complete opposite of the look he had had for Belle before <here maybe it can be useful to you><I'm not cold> she replied coldly<If you don't want it because of the cold do it for public decorum><Which?> his tone had alternated<So as not to go around bare-chested here>The green eyes shone in the dark, hell flames seemed to dance inside but Ben didn't move, Ade reached out and took it. Ben watched him as he put it on, he had been rather condescending.Ben sat down next to Mal <done>Mal looked at him with wide eyes <what is it?><If you did it because of the cold, good. But if you did it for "public decorum"> he said making quotation marks with his hands <you only made the situation worse, I mean look at him> in fact that shirt was so tight that it did nothing but accentuate the muscles.Ben slowly opened his mouth <at least he has something on> he retorted before closing his eyes <goodnight>Finally they managed to rest all night, they slept peacefully managing to regain their lost energy.