Arcane Souls: Chapter XVIII

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Chapter XVIII2

She was alone now. It was so odd that even after her family basically had abandoned her, after Vince had been hospitalized, and even when he died; it was odd that she only felt truly alone after Chris had disappeared. 3

Tera rubbed her tired eyes, eyes that hadn’t seen sleep in a week or more. So many questions filled her head, and even more were waiting for her to dwell upon them. She felt hollow, filled only with bundled emotions that she couldn’t even identify any more.4

Those creatures. She thought as she stared at the television screen. They had....wings. Tera thought back to the creatures that attacked her and Chris, and the one that actually saved her. They had...white wings. She thought, collecting her memories.5

White wings. 6

Tera paused for a moment as the room blacked out and she focused her entire self upon a memory. Vince said that. She thought. Before he died Vince had a message for Chris... She paused. Tell Chris...to find his white wings. 7

Tera hadn’t been there the night Vince was thrown off the pier, she hadn’t felt the courage he had in that split second. She blamed her self and even Chris in a way, but she was beginning to think that maybe Vince did what he did on purpose. To save Chris.8

But...why did he say that about wings? It troubled her, the comment he made and the appearance of the creatures. Angels. For Chris to find his white wings? Tera thought as he stood up and brushed her skirt off. She sighed. You saved Chris on purpose...sacrificed yourself, didn’t you? Tear walked back the vacant hallway to a room that had been empty for a long while. Vince’s room.9

Why did you leave me here alone? Tera thought as she placed her soft hand on the dark blue walls. A tear ran down her face. If you could just tell me what happened, tell me why you’re gone.. She brought her hands up to her face as she broke down. “Tell me why?” She gasped between tears. “...Why..”10

“Why?” Chris asked as Remphael sped up his walking speed. 11

“Because, I can’t very well go flying around everywhere.” Remphael said. “...Especially with a high ranking demon...watching us.”12

Chris paused. “You mean you can still sense it?”13

Remphael nodded. “Yes. We are not out of Necropolis yet–and neither is the demon. I can feel it’s aura.”14

“I see.” Chris sighed. “This sucks, we have to go to the kingdom of Hell and we can’t even fly there because some freak is following us.”15

“Besides.” Remphael said. “It would be foolish to try and fly though this darkness, the guide tower’s light is not enough to fly around haphazardly.”16

“Yeah, yeah. I got it.” Chris sighed. “How much longer until we get to Hell any way? Do you have to open a gate again?”17

“No.” Remphael said. “I only had to open the gate on Earth because the Netherworld does not lead straight to it as it does to Heaven and Hell. We can reach Gehenna by traversing along this road.”18

“Ok.” Chris said. “But how long will that take?”19

“If We do not run into any trouble...” Remphael paused. “It should only take eight hours, not including resting.”20

Chris stopped walking. “Eight hours!?” 21

Remphael turned around. “Yes. What’s the matter?”22

“Eight hours!? That’s forever!” Chris complained.23

“The longer you cry about it, the longer it will take to arrive.” Remphael said bluntly.24

Chris paused for a moment, remembering a time when a friend had told him something very similar. He wondered how Tera was doing–if she was alright.25

“Fine.” Chris said. “Then let’s get going, I hate this place...”26

“At least we agree on that.” Remphael said as he turned to face the long, dark road. “This area is far from pleasant.”27

As Chris followed closely behind Remphael, he could still feel a twinge at the back of his neck. A feeling like he was being watched, followed. He figured it was because of the ‘aura’ Remphael talked about, but he didn’t like the idea that a demon could be following him. Not many people would argue with him on that matter.28

“He is strong.” The demoness said as she watched Chris from afar. Her raven was still perched on her shoulder. She wore a long black gown that clung around her hips and chest, enhancing her seductive curves. Her dark lips cocked to the side as she grinned. “But no matter how strong he is, his power is. The question remains: Is he truly the child we’ve searched for?”29

The woman’s raven crowed softly and then pruned it’s feathers. The woman sighed and tossed her hair behind her. “And that angel with him must be Lord Remphael of High Thrones. Despicable angels, thinking everything belongs to them.” The woman paused. “But they will not take the boy away before we discover if he truly is him. The last king of Gehenna.”30

The raven’s stone-cold eyes trailed Chris as he hopped in front of Remphael, causing another awkward confrontation. They would find their way to Gehenna, and it would seem much quicker than Chris had thought. The demoness followed behind the two men, her intuitive raven still clung to her slender shoulder.31

The dark roads that lead to the kingdom of Gehenna were lined with vindictive spirits and moaning ghouls. Remphael had to stay close to Chris in order to keep them at bay, especially since Chris’s powerful aura was drawing the ghouls in like flies. Remphael was still very uneasy, about the spirits and about the demon he knew was following them.32

“It could just be a messenger from Mastema...” Remphael said out loud.33

“What?” Chris asked, obviously much more laid back than Remphael was.34

“It is...Nothing.” Remphael said as he picked up his pace. “Nothing at all.”35

Chris sighed as he tried to keep up with Remphael. The dark streets and run-down buildings of the Netherworld felt familiar to him–if that’s possible. He thought it was odd, that people can feel nostalgic from places and people they had never seen before. Never heard of before.36

Chris had lived in the same house all his life. He couldn’t remember his parents, but his aunt said they had died in a car accident. Aunt Grace.. He thought, still feeling a pent anger in his chest, quelled by a twinge of sadness. He wouldn’t let her down, he couldn’t.37

Too many sacrifices had to be made, just so he could be walking down the dark roads. He knew that, he knew he had to see this duke no matter what. For his Aunt Grace, and for Tera and Vince.38

Vince. Chris smiled. He only had one real memory of Vince because he always seemed so shy and meek. Still, he felt as though he had been the best of friends with Vince–and all they had done was talk for one night.39

The longer Chris stared ahead at the dark roads, the longer he dwelled on his past, and the more pieces of forgotten memories came flooding back.40

Most people find it hard to remember things that happened when they were very young, and Chris was one of those people. The nostalgic feelings that he was experiencing, however, started to make him remember a time when he was only nine years old.41

There was a park in town, next to the elementary school. His aunt used to take him there to play, and Tera’s parents usually brought her as well. He had always remembered it as being just him and Tera that played together so long ago, but now he remembered that Vince had been there as well.42

Vince was younger than Tera, and Chris could remember him being very sick then. That’s why he didn’t play with his sister or with Chris very often. When they played at the park and ran up and down the hills, Tera was always up front with Chris–and Vince always fumbled in vain to try and catch up.43

Chris found it odd that he would remember something like that, especially as he followed Remphael down darkened streets lined with death. But the memories kept coming, memories of Vince. 44

One day, when he was only ten years old, Chris could remember being alone with Vince. Tera was with her mother for the day, and Chris’s aunt watched Vince for the day. Vince was still pretty young, but he and Chris went outside to play–without telling his Aunt Grace.45

They ran out in the back yard and played tag, but Vince was so slow and clumsy, he fell down and smacked his knee on a rock. Vince didn’t cry though, he just sat up and rubbed his knee even though it was bleeding.46

Chris could remember that Vince’s knee was hurt pretty bad. If it had been him, he’d have been crying. But when Chris asked if Vince wanted to quit playing he shook his head.47

“I like playing together with you.” Vince had said, his childish face creasing into a big smile. “So I don’t wanna stop playing...at least not until my mom gets home.”48

He smiled the same way the night at the pier. Chris thought. He was beginning to remember memories of Vince, and they started to make his chest hurt. Why? Chris thought. He stopped walking, letting Remphael walk further from him. 49

Memories of a little boy started to flood Chris’s mind. For some odd reason, he started to cry, and he dropped to his knees and sobbed. He cried in the middle of the darkened street, his mind overflowing with memories and emotions he couldn’t quite place. A feeling of overwhelming loss and pain, a feeling of anguish.50

Remphael turned around to see Chris on his knees, crying uncontrollably. “What the hell’s wrong!?” He yelled as he ran back to the younger boy.51

Chris didn’t answer, he didn’t even act like he could see Remphael. He was consumed by pain. Remphael looked angry at first, but then his face quickly changed to concern. 52

“...Chris..” Remphael muttered as he knelt next to him. “What’s wrong?” Chris didn’t answer with anything, he continued to cry–as if he had slipped away.53

Remphael placed his hand on Chris’s shoulder and his eyes widened. This aura... He thought as he put his other hand on Chris. His worst fear had come true, some type of spirit had found it’s way to Chris. Had burrowed deep inside his heart. ...What spirit would have so much power?54

Remphael held Chris close to him, and then lifted him up in his arms. By now, Chris had fainted–exhausted by his mind. Remphael decided the best thing to do, would be to find the Archduke and get help–but before he could do anything, a dark figure appeared in the middle of the darkened roadway, a figure with piercing blue eyes. 55

“...You.” Remphael muttered as his wings extended from his back. “Stay back demon!” he yelled. 56

The figure began to walk closer to Remphael and the light from the guide tower illuminated her face and body. Remphael knew for sure then, that the demonic aura stemmed from her.57

“Calm down.” The demoness said as she approached Remphael, who was standing in a defensive stance. He caught a glimpse of her horns and the dark raven on her shoulder.58

“Who are you.” Remphael said. “Tell me, or I will kill you.” 59

The demoness laughed in spite of her self, startling her raven. “You’re a cutie!” She exclaimed, catching Remphael off guard. The woman slipped a stray hair from her eyes. 60

“This is him then.” The woman said. “The one who hold the fate of Heaven and Hell in his hands.”61

Remphael raised his eyebrow. “I’m asking you one last time. Who are you?”62

The woman sighed. “Calm down.” she said. “I don’t want to hurt him, in fact–I have orders to do the exact opposite. I was supposed to protect him, from angels, other demons, and ghouls...” She paused. “But it appears that I have failed.”63

Remphael shook his head. “What are you talking about?”64

The woman came closer and placed her slender hand on Chris’s forehead, Remphael tried to step back but couldn’t do to the way he was standing.65

“It’s a ghoul...” The woman said sadly. “It’s possessed his body for some odd reason, and it’s feeding off his emotions. His fear and sadness. His anger. That’s why he collapsed.”66

“Then you have been watching.” Remphael said.67

“You’re a bit slow honey.” the woman replied as she pushed Chris’s hair out of his eyes. “He is rather cute isn’t he?” She asked.68

“What?” Remphael asked, blushing slightly. “What do you want!?”69

The woman giggled. “My, defensive are we?” She asked. “Follow me. The sooner we get him to the palace the better. We can exercise the ghoul from his body there, and let him rest.” She paused. “He can’t very well see the duke in this state.”70

“...Then you’re working for the Duke?” Remphael asked, his tensions slightly alleviated. 71

“...You could say that. Regardless, I think you know the sooner we get him help, the better off he’ll be.” The woman suddenly sprung two large, black-feathered wings from her back. “I can take you to the palace.”72

Remphael paused, he looked down at Chris’s sleeping face–one still wrought with anguish and pain. “It appears I have no choice.” he said staring the woman in her pale face. She nodded and started to flap her wings.73

“Donna.” The woman said as both her and Remphael took to the dark sky. “You can call me Donna.”74

Remphael took a deep breath and followed the dark-winged demoness. Donna... He thought, obviously untrusting. He looked down at Chris again and felt a twinge in his heart. You better be telling the truth. For your sake.75