Living Hell

Chapter 30: Journey Back

I awoke, not gasping for air like usual, but my heart hammered loudly in my chest. I flicked my eyes around to see the others still asleep.

Sighing softly, I sat up. Obviously I wasn't getting anymore sleep than that.

In fact, I couldn't sleep after a vision like that... It was going to come to that and soon. If we didn't stop Lucifer and Jake tonight everything would be ruined. The world would be destroyed, and the afterlife of those who would die.

Life as everyone who knew it would be dead...completely. The thought had me shuddering and inching closer to the warm fire.

Despite my false/not false visions of Jake and who I now knew as Lysander this vision was true. It had been clearer and I had been sucked in far too much. I still tasted fear on my tongue.

I watched the flames flicker restlessly as they ate at the wood. It was like the fire itself was restless for things to be over with and back in order.

I stayed near the flames until it felt as though I was on fire too and then I stood up, scanning the cave space. My eyes came to rest on Taline's bag and I walked over to find out what all he had packed, perhaps something to make as breakfast.

I pulled open the bag and found potatoes, carrots, meat, and a few other vegetables as well as apples. I slowly stood up, got a spit and pot as well as water in the pot and dumped all the vegetables and meat into it. Water, vegetables and meat and water in the pot, I placed it over the fire.

While I waited for the stew boil, I grabbed bowls of Lysander's and water from Taline's sack as well. I set everything down, by the fire and waited for everyone to awaken.

It was no surprise to me when Lysander was the next to wake up. I heard him groan from the shadows further into the cave and soon I was faced with his rippling body. He rolled his shoulder followed by another groan.

His hair was disheveled and his feathers ruffled, but he paid no heed to that, myself, or the food I was cooking. Instead, he staggered out of the cave and into the dawning light of day.

I would have followed him, perhaps, if Slick hadn't woken up next followed by everyone else because he was so loud with his awakening and demanding food.

I gave everyone in the cave an apple to start off with and then once the stew was finished, served that up as well.

Lysander hadn't returned so I figured I'd bring him a bowl. I poured stew into a bowl and began walking out.

"Aye, Rave where you goin'?" Slick's voice echoed in the cave loudly, making me wince.

"Where do you think?" I said sharply.

"It can't be to give Lucifer's son something to eat, can it? It seems as though you've gone soft... You wouldn't do that for me," he muttered.

"Slick, you're a pig. That's why," I retorted.

"Actually, sweetie, I'm a goat. Half goat at that." His voice carried an air of suggestiveness to it.

I made a disgusted sound in the back of my throat and stalked out.

Typical Slick.

Though it was nice to see he was so at ease and more decent... But I hoped he wouldn't go back to the bastard he had been.

Shoving those thoughts aside, I stepped into the day light of the Beyond, thankful the Sins realms sunlight didn't cause me to bubble up with boils and looked around.

Lysander was no where in sight.

I sighed. Time to go looking.

I took to my wings with the same ease I had before the terrible event with Lucifer and began making my way down the lake.