Rogue Adventures - A Tale from Neverbeen Universe

1

Darkness. It engulfed them completely as they trudged through the deepest of jungles. Two pale moons were up by now, tingeing the cloudy night sky in dark shades of blue and green. But it was not enough to see more than shadows amongst shadows. The air was hot and humid.

"I wish I still had Trébol's dagger," Gene Hoffman mused aloud as he stumbled through the gnarled thicket. The heavenly steel would at least have given off enough light to perceive where he was going. He was reminded of the horrible forest they had crossed at the beginning of their adventure. Despite the heat he shuddered.

"What happened to it anyway?" Raphael Raven asked, vaulting over an uprooted mangrove. Gene awkwardly climbed after him.

"Eh... I lost it back in the past," Gene admitted and tried to close up on the Daemon, who had no problems seeing in the dark. He didn't want to get lost here.

"So it's just as gone as the Timechrystal. Pity," Raphael concluded and took Gene's hand as the human struggled forward blindly with his arms outstretched. Gene sighed, relieved, and let himself be navigated through the jungle. He still occasionally stumbled over roots, but he felt much safer when Raphael's warm hand lay in his and he led the way.

"Eh...why are we walking this hell again?" Gene wondered.

"Strictly speaking, the sixth Pandemonium is only a part of Hell. But I get you," Raphael answered, "Since we can't stay at Lucifer's castle – well, actually, we could, but the 'Old Grump' wouldn't want us to – we have to find a place for us. But don't mind. There are seven Pandemoniae, so we should be able to do just that. You didn't like the sand desert nor the ice desert, so I thought we'd try something different. And here we are." He probably made a wide gesture but Gene didn't see it in the deepening darkness. "I must admit, I like it here. There are volcanoes and this jungle to explore, and the darkness agrees with me. The views are beautiful," Raphael grinned.

"I can't see a thing," Gene huffed and peered into the nothingness. He wiped beads of sweat off his brow and sighed.

"Sorry," his lover said. "Let's camp on that monticule. You'll be able to see more out in the open and with a campfire," he promised and led Gene up the rise. Raphael was right. As soon as the flames cackled and cracked Gene felt much more comfortable. He could only see a small perimeter but the fire gave off a soothing light which calmed his frazzled nerves. And when Raphael cooked one of his hyper-delicious meals everything was okay again. Even the thought of not being able to return to Thisside was not as scary anymore.

'Do you miss Earth much?' Raphael linked their minds.

"I haven't had the time to miss my family. Just, everything had happened so fast," Gene admitted and sighed. "But now that you speak of it, I do."

Raphael's mental presence surrounded him like a hug. "I'm sorry we have to stay on the Otherside. I don't even know why I still exist. When I gave my soul to save your life that should've been it. I'm not of the reincarnating kind."

Gene's heart clenched at the thought of almost losing Raphael for good. He grabbed the older man's hand and squeezed it. "Don't you scare me like that ever again. I really thought I'd lost you," his voice quivered and a heavy lump formed in his throat.

But the Daemon slightly smiled and kissed him. 'But you wished me back,' he telepathically whispered. Gene sighed into the kiss, relieved. They were together again, alive and kicking – well, not exactly alive, but it felt just like they were. Gene could get used to being undead. And he was just glad that Raphael was with him. He would go anywhere as long as they stayed together, even stay in this Pandemonium of darkness.

"Tell me about this place," he was curious. Gene was sure Raphael had followed his thoughts.

Raphael nodded. "Alright. As I already mentioned, this Pandemonium is a world of volcanoes and jungles; it is a world of eternal night. Its new sovereign lives in the pyramid city at the foot of the highest volcano. I don't know his name, but he must be a mighty creature to defeat the former sovereign Hades."

"Hades?" Gene interjected, "Funny. My father found a kitten and named it Hades."

Raphael grinned craftily. "I doubt this Pandemonium used to be ruled by a kitten," he snickered. Gene chuckled and comfortably leaned against a rock. "Probably not," he agreed.

"Anyhow," Raphael continued, "I thought you might want to see that pyramid city. So let's explore this world together and decide if this is a place for us."

Gene agreed. Two months had passed since the incidents concerning the Timechrystal and Gene's involuntary trip to the past. But their adventure wasn't over yet. In fact, this was just the beginning.