halo 'n horns [klance au]

38. The Trials

a/n: the music for this chap is a little intense, but it's from my fav movie and i just had to put it in. also i suggest that you all watch moulin rouge (especially u, dean) bc it's absolutely beautiful <3 welcome to the angst peak, my dears. love u all!

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CoOnpAcUsAASaIq.jpg

Keith

"Congratulations, you two. I'm so proud of you."

I blinked, staring up at the ceiling of some room. It was made of rough rock, so I assumed that I was still in the Underworld, but it was not a room I recognized.

"We'll make sure to visit, Father."

I tried to sit up so that I could hear the people who were talking, but I couldn't move. I felt frozen, like my body had been put on pause. After a few moments, though, I discovered that I could move my head.

I slowly turned to the left, where I saw Father and the Twins talking in the doorway. The Twins looked radiantly happy and even Father was wearing a smile.

"I expect no less."

Shiro turned to look at me, his eyes kind. "What about Keith?"

Father turned too, pity in his eyes. "It's too bad he didn't pass," he dismissed airily. "But you two will have plenty of fun up in the Midworld."

What? What was going on? I didn't pass? There was no way- I couldn't even remember the trials!

The Twins passed and I didn't? I watched in horror as the Twins shook Dad's hand in turn and then vanished. I felt anger bubbling up in my chest. I wanted to go up too! What the hell was going on?

Dad sighed and walked towards me, sorrowful pity in his eyes. "I'm sorry, Keith. You just didn't make it," he said apologetically. "You can't always get what you want."

Suddenly, he froze. He blinked once and his eyes were yellow- shining brightly like Kuron's. "Identify it, your highness," my father rasped in a voice that wasn't his own.

Identify what? I tried to think of the seven deadly sins, tried to think of what this trial was. "You can't always get what you want," my father hissed again, eyes narrowing.

What I want? Wanting? It struck me. Covetousness.

"Very good, your highness." My father vanished.

And with it, the room that I was in. In an instant, I was standing. I stumbled back a bit, off-kilter, as I regained my senses. Now, I was standing in front of a large, oak door. From the looks of the rest of the hallway, I was still in the Underworld, but I'd never seen this door before.

Hesitantly, I pushed it open. Inside, my eyes were met with a gorgeous room. The lighting was magenta, bathing everything in its dark pink glow but I couldn't see any light sources. The walls and ceiling were draped in fine, silk fabrics that hung down around me.

Slowly, I began walking forward, pushing through the silks. It was then that I noticed that I was shirtless. That was immediately a warning sign, but also a bit strange. As I pushed past another sheet of pink silk, I caught a glimpse of something. A... bedpost?

With shaking hands, I pushed back the last sheet.

My eyes were met with something that I'm would have stopped my heart. A mahogany king-sized bed, surrounded by a canopy of thin, sheer fabric. The magenta lighting cast shadows over the bed, but I could make out a figure on the mattress, sitting up. I felt their eyes on me.