DUSK ➣ STEPHEN STRANGE

1 - NO TIME TO THINK

BROTHER AND SISTER were going through infinity hallways of their father's demesne. The celling was made of dirty bones with bloody red skin and if you're squeamish then you'd better not look up. The walls were built with gray brick many years ago, but now all you can see is thick, dark green mold.

Finally, they reached a huge premise like the opening to a cave. In the middle stood a huge throne of black gold and other precious things from all across the universe. The path was made of cold, black stone and everything surrounding it was lava — the only thing giving light to this dark place.

"Ah. Daimon, Satana. My children," started the man sitting ominously on the throne, voice creaking like an old door being pushed to its limits. "I have a mission for you and I know you won't let me down."

Satana took a step forward and got down on one knee, "We're listening, father."

Satan smiled while looking at his daughter, but it soon faded as he looked at Daimon, still standing. His sister looked at him sullenly and hissed, "Get. Down. Now." Daimon stood for another few seconds before giving in and getting down on one knee, "We're listening."

"I need one rather unique artifact. It's called the Eye of Agamotto. For you, my children, it shouldn't be hard. It's present owner is a weak sorcerer, you can find him in a place named New York. Bring it to me. Make me proud of you," Satan said with an evil grin. His red face was radiating confidence and impudence while he watched as his children walked away.

As soon as they reached the exit gates of hell, Ana stopped her brother, "You doubt."

"No," he answered simply, annoyance laced in his voice.

"It wasn't a question, brother. You doubt our father. I can see it." Satana squinted and grabbed Daimon's hand, "Don't. For your own safety."

He looked at his sister in surprise and spoke in disbelief, "You can't be serious. How- how can you serve him after everything he has done to us? To our family? To you, Ana?!"

"He's too strong. If we don't obey him he will kill us!" she hissed and was about to enter the gates but this time Daimon was the one to stop her, "He won't be so strong if we stop doing his missions. We can defeat him, Ana. You and I, together," he looked into her eyes but she pursed her lips and let go, "I can't risk it."

When she entered the gates, everything went dark before the sparks of blue flashlights started appearing. She was standing on Earth. As soon as she took her first few steps, an angry Daimon appeared next to her and turned to her, "Are you really so selfish, sister? Are you really afraid of risking your life? Or the lives of every innocent person our father is about to kill? After everything we have been through?"

For a moment, Satana couldn't understand what her brother was talking about but she soon realized and pushed him away, "I never meant that I can't risk my life, brother," she hissed becoming offended and moving closer to him, "If you're not going to help me with completing our father's mission then I'll do it myself."

Daimon looked at his sister, breathing heavily. The city around them was cloaked by the dark night and the stars were hidden behind clouds, leaving it difficult to see, "If- if we just stop for a moment and think, we can make a plan to trick our father," he said, running his hand through his blonde hair.

Ana inhaled deeply and looked down, "We've got no time to think, brother," she looked back up, made eye contact with her interlocutor and sighed, "I'm not going to go against our father. You know what happened last time we didn't listen to him."