Infernos (ManxMan)

Prologue

^Blaine

My name is Blaine.

I was raised by my parents in the slums, and I grew up a liar, a cheater, and a thief with no regrets. I had no friends, and more enemies than I could count.

Well, I guess that's a lie. I had one friend, but I don't know where she is or if she even made it past her fifteen birthday.

If I was alive, I'd be about twenty years old, I think. I wouldn't know; time is strange here.

Let's see. I was alone at the time, and one of my many enemies had slit my throat in my sleep. They didn't cut deep enough for an instant kill, but close enough that I would suffer as I died.

And now, I am dead, and looking into the eyes of a demon.

"Blaine, you have been sentenced to the Seventh Circle of Hell. Do you know why you are here?"

What an awful voice. I've heard nasty voices in my time, but this was by far the nastiest thing I have ever heard. It rattled in her - at least I think it was a her, it's hard to tell - chest, and came out in a slow thick mess.

I shrugged. "I've done so much messed up stuff in my life, I'm sure it's for any one of those."

She stared at me with lifeless black eyes. "As long as you know why you're here. You do know why you're here, but you don't want to say it with your own tongue. But don't worry; we all know. Plus, you'll have all of eternity to wallow in shame."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Just get on with the torturing."

I looked around to actually see what this "Hell" looked like. There was black stone everywhere, onyx I believe, with thin red cracks that ran through the floor like veins. Behind me was an endless line of spectral beings, shadows with dimly lit features. It was as though their appearances were slowly being sucked away, and I'm sure I looked the same. There was no weight in my body, and when I looked at my hands they were practically translucent.

The demon opened her mouth to speak again, but paused and tilted her head as if she were listening to something that wasn't audible to me.

"Yes, sir," she muttered to herself. She turned back to me. "This is your lucky day. Good luck."

Before I could ask what in the heck she was talking about, my stomach dropped and the next thing I knew I was standing in a throne room of sorts.

"Blaine."

Now that was an impressive voice. It was deep and rich, like dark chocolate, and echoed around the walls, so loud it threatened to split my head open, if possible. This humongous room was made of the same onyx as outside, but fires were carelessly placed in random spots as decoration. I watched in wonder as they flickered and changed from one vibrant color to the next.

"Do you know who I am?"

I glanced up and nodded. "You're Satan, right?"

I couldn't exactly see him; actually, I couldn't see him at all. I saw the outline of a throne but his body was entirely cloaked in darkness, his face invisible. I could see the handles of the chair, where screaming faces were delicately etched on the ends.

I couldn't help but be curious about his face. It's not every day you get to meet the Devil, right?

He chuckled, and I winced at the volume. "I am. I've been watching you for quite a while, Blaine."

Stalker, much?

"Trust me Blaine, I am no stalker." Oops. How was I supposed to know Satan can read minds? Satan continued. "I can read minds, Blaine, but you said that aloud."

"Fuck me," I muttered.

I could hear the exasperation in his - loud - voice. "I have no desire to at the moment, Blaine. Let me finish before I decide to just throw you in the Pit and choose someone else."

"Yes sir." I shut up. I didn't know what the "Pit" was, but it didn't sound nice, and I'm not an idiot.

"I'm going to give you an opportunity, Blaine, and I suggest you take it." I heard a sound come from the throne, as though he were wearing leather gloves and had clasped his hands together. "There are children of mine on Earth, and I need you to find them for me."

I blinked. "Um, what?"

"Did you not hear me the first time?" He growled. It would be kind of impossible not to, but I stayed quiet. "I need you to find my bastards and bring them to me."

I nodded quickly. "Uh, yes sir. Okay. Where are they?"

I could practically smell his irritation. I wanted to laugh but I didn't dare; I guess my mother was right, I annoyed everyone, even the Devil himself.

"If I knew that, I wouldn't need you, hmm? Anyways, find them, drag them back here, and I will lessen your sentence. Fair trade?"

I shrugged. "Meh, why not. How do I know if I find them?"

Two things came flying in my direction and I scrambled back to avoid getting socked in the head by either.

"Pick them up," he ordered. I obeyed. The first was an amulet of sorts, made of onyx. On one side there was an etching of a crow's talon, and it glowed briefly in my hand before dimming. "That's an amulet I had made to locate them. The closer you get to one of those bastards the brighter it glows red. When you come face to face with one, it will glow blue. If you encounter an enemy, it will glow green. Use that to find them."

The second was a small drawstring bag, and I peeked. Inside were seven separate bracelets, all made of the same black stone and inscribed with small diamonds. I latched the bag onto my pants so I wouldn't lose them later. He told me to give all of his children one of the bracelets, but not tell them it was from him. I wondered why.

I tentatively put the amulet around my neck and searched in the shadows for his face. "Thanks, I guess. Is there anything you can tell me about them that I might need to know? And you will lessen my torture right?"

"I said I would, didn't I?" He snapped. I couldn't help but cower. He sighed. "They're all very quick to anger, so don't piss them off."

"What happens if I piss them off?" I couldn't help but inquire.

"They'll definitely tear you to pieces." He snapped his fingers, and I felt my stomach begin to drop again. "Oh, I forgot to mention that the necklace brings gifts! Oh well. Good luck!" He said with too much cheer, but before I could say anything I was no longer in the throne room.

I was back on Earth, and naked.

First chapter is up :)) stay tuned for the next one! How do you like Blaine so far?