Unity

Chapter 11 - The Devil

Trist's POV:

Stepping into the room, I immediately noticed its abnormality. We'd blindly walked into a room we knew nothing about, and I watched as everyone's footsteps staggered in front of me. I felt my knees go weak, and an odd, suffocating feeling wrapped around my neck like a starved python.

As a heavy sensation began growing in my head, I realised the issue.

There's definitely something in the air.

"Oi. Degranté, April, Darkblood. Nari!" I yelled, listening as my voice echoed inside my head. They didn't seem to have registered my words, and I took a deep breath, immediately regretting my actions as the headache turned from an uncomfortable throb to an incessant pounding. It was a deep, ceaseless pulsation, and my eyes quickly became unfocused on what was before me.

Do not fear.
Gale's voice was loud, resounding from left to right, like a metronome. It hurt like hell.

Before I could regain my focus, I felt my knees hit the stone ground, my head soon following.

.o0o.

I could feel the pull of rope around my wrists, rubbing my skin raw. It's a rough feeling; it hurts. My body is bare, my clothing long gone.

A cold shiver runs through me as I bleakly open my eyes.

Darkness. That's all I can see. Everything in front of me is pitch black. Did that gas alter my eyesight, or my senses in some way?

I look down into the endless void below. There was no visible floor or ceiling to this room, it seemed. Shakily taking a breath, I struggled against the ropes around my wrists, however they merely grew tighter. I was suspended in the air, my feet dangling aimlessly.

Well, what now...?

The pain in my wrists was dulled, somehow. It wasn't excruciatingly painful, as it should've been. My whole body weight was supported by the ropes around my wrists; yet the sting was dull, just from the chafing of the rope. It was odd, not feeling pain.

What the hell was going on?

I hung in silence for what seemed like several minutes, before I heard the sound of footsteps, like the sound of the brazen women in the darkest of corners, their heels clacking, hips swaying; an intoxicating sound. The constant click of what I assumed were shoes against cold tile sent shivers running through my body.

"Who's there?" I questioned with a growl, and a sinister, cheeky chuckle returned my call. That voice...

There was no mistaking it. Gale.

"Look at you, Tristiel. Tied up like a lamb in a slaughterhouse. How does that feel?" Gale droned mockingly, and I glared down at him. It seems I wasn't that far from the ground, as he was about a metre below me, sauntering towards my helpless form.

He wore a mask, alabaster in colour, which stood out from the black surrounds almost eerily. It was in the shape of a large bird's skull, yet looked as delicate as porcelain. With his thumb, he took hold of the pointed beak, lifting it from his face with an odd sense of care.

As he came into view, I took a look at his features. He looked like a normal human being, with short, spiky black hair, however the whites of his eyes were a chilling black, honey golden pupils iridescent in the darkness. He wore no shirt, his upper body and abdomen lithe yet toned. Curled, ram-like horns grew from the side of his head, and I noticed that his pupils and ears were just like mine; slitted and pointy. His neck adorned a thick, black leather collar with a singular silver buckle, the odd garment wrapped tightly around his neck. I gave a shudder as I spied the long, thin tail trailing behind him like a whip, swaying with every languid step.