Black bird 🖋️

Chapter five

"Wake," said a man dressed in metal chained armor, head to toe, as he slammed a large spear to the ground. Hester groaned as she sat up, her neck in pain from how she slept.

The stone wall that kept her trapped in the darkened room opened, little light peering inward. Hester stood slowly and rolled her neck, trying to remove any pain.

The man glared at her, and she took the hint, hurrying up as se exited the room. The man walked behind her as he herded her towards a stone staircase. Hester walked up a couple steps, stopping to look up. The staircase spiraled and went up – from what Hester could tell – at least a hundred stories.

The man poked her in the back with the non-sharp part of the spear. Hester continued to walk up the steep staircase, pieces cracking with each of their steps.

The staircase began to move upward, causing Hester to lose her balance and almost fall of the side. The stairs stops harshly, and Hester and the guard were now standing in front of a door. The large wooden door was held shut by a wooden board; the board was connected to a rope which went to the other side on a pully system.

The guard walk over to the rope and wrapped his hands firmly around them, pulling down as hard as he could. The board began to lift out of its holder and up. The guard tied the string around a small metal mooring.

The guard walked to the middle of the doors and knocked three times. The door swung open, a creaking sound coming from its rusted hinges. The guard walked in, and Hester followed.

Inside the walls was a courtyard with bright green grass and bushes in the shapes of animals ranging from beetles and spiders to lions and snakes. Some of the sculptures looked as if they were alive and would pounce as Hester with any sudden move.

As the two walked further into the courtyard she felt her feet begin to sink into the pavement which quickly became quicksand. She tried to pull herself out, but it only made her sink further in.

The guard grabbed her wrist, pulling her out. Hester tapped her foot on the pavement where she had sunk, it was hard again. Hester finally looked up and paid attention to her surroundings. There was smoke coming from past the sculptors to the right which rose into the air like a bird as it pranced in a funnel shape.

To her left laid a large manor-like castle. It was two stories tall, the tower on the east wing was three. Each stone is a different shade of brown and grey. There was erosion visible in the stone walls adding a more historical feel to it. One large rectangle window on each wall. A black spiked metal fence stands beside it, guarding it from intruders. Venu-flytraps outline the entrance, some over growing the fence. The door was made of dark mahogany with a brass handle with the letter L engraved into it in cursive.

Hester stares at the handle, curiosity of what may lie ahead floods over her. She reaches her hand out, the handle glows redder every time she gets closer. She wraps her hand around it and twists the handle. The brass handle burns her hand, still glowing a deep red as she removes her hand, an L burned into her palm.

The door opens from the inside, revealing Lucifer in a grey and blue stripped pajama set, holding a stuffed bear. Patches of blackened fur appear on the stuffies body. One of its marble eyes is missing, the other one barely hanging on. Its left arm is also missing, leaving a hole of white cotton with spiders.

"What do you want?" Lucifer asks. He eyes Hester, giving her a rude glare. "You asked for her," The guard says. Lucifer sighs, "I suppose I did."

Lucifer shoos the guard away and walks into his house, gesturing for Hester to follow. Hester steps in, a wave of warmth flooding over her, clashing with the cold outside breeze.

The floors are made of stained oak wood. There are stairs beside the entrance, also made of wood. Hester thought it was strange that it was made of wood considering how much fire was in the realm.

Hester ran her hand over the silk wooden railing as she walk further into the house. "Tea?" Lucifer asked as a loud whistle blows from a kettle on the stove. Hester makes her way into the kitchen, Lucifer stands beside the kettle, dipping his hand in the flame.

"No, thank you," Hester replies, pulling out a chair from the dining table. She sits on the green wool cushion that rests atop the dark wooden chair and lays her elbows on the table, fiddling with her hair.

Lucifer removes the bronze kettle from the stove, pouring It into a white mug with a broken handle. The clay is engraved with an image of God sending an angel to damnation. Hester shivers and removes her eyes from the cup. Lucifer notices and puts the cup in front of Hester, the image facing her.

He drops a couple of hot stone balls into the cup, causing the water to boil over. Lucifer sits at a chair across from Hester, wrapping his hands around the mug.

"I have a proposition for you," he says with a sly smirk. Hester looks up, intrigued. "You like humans, yes?" he waits for a response from Hester, but she doesn't give him one, trying to figure out what he's playing at.

He takes a sip of his scolding tea which turns to steam when it hits his tongue. "How would you like to be one?"

"What's the catch?" Hester asks. She had taught her whole life never to make a deal with the devil. Even though she was doomed to stay here for eternity she didn't want to disappoint her family even further.

"There is no catch. Well, you'd never be able to see your family again, nor your sister. But you'd be so happy, just think about it." Hester looks down at her lap, shame riddling over her. Her body shakes and tear drops from her right eye. "So, it's a deal?"

"Deal."