Meeting Yonder (BxB)

Two (François)

My head is pounding as I finally come to. My heart races. I groan, sitting up.

    I blink my eyes open, being immediately met with confusion. None of these surroundings are familiar to me.

     “Where am I?” I begin to murmur.

     I thought I was dead. …I mean, that much was clear to me.

     I got stabbed, I think to myself, rubbing my eyes with exhaustion. I was bleeding. Everything became blurry. Then it all went black.

    I mean, how did that not equate to death?

    I sigh, trying to figure out what's going on. “I could've passed out,” I murmur to myself. No… That's not very likely, my mind replies to my own words.

     For my kind and others that are similar—-demons, vampires, werewolves and other shifters, elves, witches, harpies, goblins, tieflings, etc.--exposure to Xuviphas is almost immediately a death sentence.

    So, unfortunately—-as much as I don't want it to be true—-there's almost no way that I’m not dead right now.

    Lucky me.

    Whichever Fate thought this would be a funny conclusion to my story… To my life—-is a fucking idiot, I think.

    I stand up, rubbing my aching head before brushing the dust off me.

     I try to get a grasp on my surroundings. This isn't Tartarus. Nor is it Elysium.

     It's just plain darkness.

      I sigh, the cool air nipping at my face.

      There's always the chance that it is indeed Xuviphas itself, but… That wouldn't be pleasant for me. Having my soul stuck in Xisuthros’s prison for all eternity? No thank you. That sounds horrific.

      “Come on,” I mutter to myself. “...it can't be that hard to figure out where your soul landed.”

      Realizing my sense of sight isn't helping make this any easier for me, I close my eyes once more, taking a deep breath. Guess I'll just have to rely on my other senses to figure this out.

      I focus on what I can hear—-which is… Well, nothing. Absolutely nothing.

     No screams of terror and agony, reliving some of the worst moments of their lives… So, it's not Xuviphas.

     I can't tell whether I should be relieved or more frightened, taking into account the fact that I have no idea where the hell I am.

      I open my eyes once more. “So, it seems the only way I'll figure out what's going on is by exploring… Fuck my life.” I groan again.

     I wish things could just be simple and I could be on my happy little way home from the performance in Paris, but it seems the universe won't even grant me that. It's not even really too much to ask for, is it?

    I sigh, before cautiously heading forward through the gravel and stone before me.

    My wings are almost prepared to push out—-a siren trait that got me into this stupid mess in the first place.

      Gods, I hate being a siren sometimes.

      As I continue on, there's a gentle—-but somewhat eerie—-voice behind me. “It seems that you've awakened. That will make everything a whole lot easier, Mr. Bellerose.”