Of Hell and Heaven

Prologue: Of Evanora

It began with a dying proclamation, and a baby.

It was late, late enough that the stars were beginning to fade and true light was making strides in replacing them. Seven figures were crowded around three old women, awaiting a peaceful end for the last, as her sisters had not waited for her before departing for their newest journey. Yet, there was an air of anticipation, for each had been called there for one purpose. The last had one final insight to give, and they were running out of time. The first was gently holding her hand, while two, and four tried to hold back tears. Six was impatient, and anxious, for no one wishes to watch a loved one die.

"Father, is there nothing we can do?" Two pleaded, he did not want to watch his children die yet again. "There is nothing to worry about Papa, my sisters are at peace, they are merely waiting for me to join them. It is not like you won't see us again." She tried to joke, but had to stop to try and catch her breath. Indeed, Death was waiting, and was patient enough to give her a little more time to impart one last glimpse before her new life began, it was best not to haggle for more time. "Zack..." The third trailed off, unsure how to comfort his brother. "Kia has lived a long life, she has summoned us for a good reason, let her speak." The first commanded, and after a short pause, the others nodded.

Kia smiled, and turned to look at the seventh. "Actually, it concerns you Evanora." Evanora wiped her eyes on a white sleeve embroidered with gold and gazed at her in shock. "M-Me?" She smiled softly at her dear friend, and nodded. "After searching for glimpses for this whole life, I was finally able to See through the eyes of your soulmate, only a flash mind you, but I remember what I Saw." There was a collective gasp from all, for once the sisters had regained their memories, each had been vigilant for signs of the soul mates of their youngest family members. In the past 65 years, not one of the women had had any inkling of who or where one might be. To receive this news now, was a pleasant shock in the wake of saddened grief.

"Who? Who was it?!" The fifth impatiently asked, though the third quickly reprimanded him. "Ceran, show some restraint! Calm down and listen." Ceran nodded. "Yes Father." Kia laughed, and shook her head at her family's antics. "It's fine Vernel, Ceran is just worried about Eva." The sixth now had tears silently streaking down his face, and choked out, "That's all fine and good, but I'm more worried about you, Kia." She reached with her other hand for him, and grasping his tightly, sighed deeply. "Oh Syrian, I'm fine. It's simply my time. Now Eva, about your soulmate..." Eva nodded, and grew serious. "Yes?" She inquired. "It's easier if I just show you." Eva grabbed her arm, while Syrian and Zack reluctantly let go. In an instant, everything went dark.

Her head was racing, eyes blinking slowly, and her body felt heavier than normal. She felt stronger, and decidedly taller, with longer limbs, and a shifted center of gravity. The first thing that struck her, besides how her eyesight was now superior, was her surroundings. At best Eva could tell she was on a cliff, with a sheer drop off a few yards in front of her. Beyond that, were miles of barren land, with a glittering city in the distance. The most alarming thing though, were the colors she was seeing in, and since Eva was now sure she was no longer in her own body, she could not tell whether these were the real colors of the area, or if these new eyes saw differently.

The cliffs, and even the atmosphere were rust red, tints of sour yellow, with a vibrant red-orange haze. The ground was dark brown laced with black streaks, sand whipping around. The body she was inhabiting sighed, feeling the wind slice through her, howling in her eardrums, carrying wails of fear, pain, and sadness to him, and the scent of smoky cinnamon, with sulfuric blood, a scent all demons shared. The demon she was in, for that was the only explanation for her location and abilities, turned, seeming to recognize this particular demon.

"There you are! Damn, don't you know I've been looking all over? Figures you'd head up here." The other demon shouted across, as he strolled over the sandy ground. Eva felt shock looking at him, from how strange the demon appeared. Black twisted horns sprang from bright scarlet hair that was gently pulled back into a high ponytail. An ebony tattoo that crossed his left eye, of which both were an enchanting emerald, dark magic pulsating from the tattoo, and his general person. Eva was shocked at his height, for though the body she was inhabiting was tall, much taller than she normally was, this demon was easily a head taller. Like most demons he had large bat like wings, though his seemed unusually large, dragging slightly on the ground behind him, and with twisting flame-like markings along the front, that crawled along his arms, though that could merely be from the hazy atmosphere.