Читать книгу GATES OF DIVINITY - TOI BLASIER - Страница 16

Lucifer exits the tunnel he used to travel to the Circle of Tears, the environment was as gloomy as a dark and stormy day. It felt as though it was constantly night-time, with the only illumination brought on from flashes of lightning that would streak across the sky. The darkness around him was not enough to bar his sight from the visage of the Great Worm awaiting him. This monstrosity of an annelid laid around this landscape, guarding all it surveyed, from any unwanted beings. The calvaria of cartilage of its three heads maintained the shape of a canine, except it is devoid of any orifices besides its gaping maw. Each of its mouths contained a pair of upper and lower mandibles that it would use to sweep in any victims into certain oblivion as its acidic saliva would immediately begin the digestive process. Its dog-like upper body was made of a musculature only held up by legs, as large as tree trunks, with pachyderm-like feet. Their feet were just as deadly as it’s mouths, the four front toes were retractable tentacles that would extend to grasp any trespassers into its paw and awaiting them would be its dewclaw that would strike as such as a scorpion’s tail. With that puncture, a poison would disable anyone in the Great Worm’s grips, making any number of foes virtually unable to overcome this gigantic guard. And supporting its massive body is a seemingly endless worm body, with numerous pores that appeared to breathe like gills but were the Great Worm’s means of sight and smell. And from each of its heads were rows of spines, like a caterpillar, running the entire length of its body. The three parallel lines of hair began at the top of its heads, the middle down the center of its body and the two others lined the opposite sides. Climbing over the worm’s body would also be improbable as the numerable pores would detect anyone nearby and the spines natural defense mechanism would release a toxic vapor, eliminating the attempt to enter the Circle of Tears. If by chance all these pernicious opposition were avoided, the Great Worm’s enormous tail would thrash about causing massive tremors, throwing anyone off-balance. Its heads would swing back and forth, crushing whoever is in its path. The Great Worm is in its place, not to stop just anyone from getting in or out but is in servitude to the archangel Samael to keep Beelzebub confined to the third circle.

As Lucifer closed in on the Great Worm, it instinctively begins to execute an assault on the oncoming visitor. A loud roar in trifecta filled the air as its body moved like a fleshy tidal wave, darting like a serpent to strike, rearing its three heads back and its legs up to lunge forward to slam down with all its might. Lucifer knew he must react quickly and raised his hand to halt the beast. He followed that up with a stern command, “CEASE, CREATURE! AND RECOGNIZE THE ONE MORNINGSTAR!” The Great Worm stops its movement towards Lucifer as his booming voice was unmistakable as the Lord of Hell. Using its feet to slow down the impending confrontation, digging them into the ground beneath it. Dust and debris flew up around Lucifer as he stood unaffected by the much larger adversary in front of him. The Great Worm settled its three heads calmly, bowed and surrendered itself to Lucifer. The worm moves aside, allowing Lucifer passage into the third circle. Passing it by, Lucifer gives a disgusted sneer to the Great Worm, repulsed that this thing would deny him entry into his own domain. Leaving the demoralized hell beast in his wake, Lucifer followed the Acheron River where he saw endless bodies of souls lying in the slush being rained upon. He was heading towards Oblurott Estates, but Hell’s Kitchen was his destination. It was there that he felt he would get his answers.

As he continued forward, he felt exhilarated and excited. He was certain that this time, despite all the prophecies, he would come out victorious in his endgame. He had already sent Lilith to find Asteroth.

Lucifer travelled through the Oblurott Estates, the muddy fields that were used for burying of souls to strengthen their hellish vegetation, used to feed the herds of spawn and livestock that would end up on the tables to devour. Lucifer could smell the burning of a thousand ovens and slaughterhouses, the crackling flesh and breaking bone. Lucifer passed by a group of “Weepheads”, a special type of damned in this circle, that were crying fountains of tears to refill The Sea of Tears, which would feed into the Grand Canals when boat travel was required. Lucifer arrived at Hell’s Kitchen, Oblurott’s grandest and most prestigious of banquet halls. Thousands of demons would often clamor for scraps whilst the Oblurott elite gather to feast, glutting themselves on the creations and products of torturers. The interior of the halls was decorated with several tables to serve the highest of regard from the third circle. Chandeliers adorned the ceiling, at some time in the distant past were lit up and beautiful but over the time in Hell’s Kitchen, being unused and untended, they hung like sinners from a bridge. In drastic difference, the preparation rooms of the kitchen appeared like a violent torture chamber than a room that a meal would be prepared. Aged, crusted blood stained the walls and floors and attracted flies and their larvae. As he entered and saw but one person inside, however, he could hear the screams of agony coming forth from the back of the building where the souls were being pushed back into the Acheron River with pitch forks. Lucifer paid it no mind and approached the sole individual in the room. The individual began to respond with “Greetings, I am…” Lucifer immediately interrupted him. “I don’t care who you are. I want you to tell me where to find Beelzebub.” Ciacco paused for a moment and before he could utter another word, Lucifer threatened to throw his wretched soul into the river if he did not answer right away. Ciacco responded immediately “I have heard he spends his time at the Glabretch Estates.” “I hope for your sake you are right, because if he is not, I will be back to remove your eyes and limbs and toss you into the river to float upon it like excrement.” he said menacingly. There was no time to waste and Lucifer departed Hell’s Kitchen at once.

Lucifer boards the All Sorrows outside Hell’s Kitchen, the free city built on a flotilla of barges that allows travel on the Ruins of Grand Canal. An ambitious project of the expansive canal was meant to link the Acheron and its downward tributaries to the marshes and lakes of the upper Third Circle. A sabotage by The Branded ruined the plans and the Grand Canal as well as the City of Scarreach. The waters of the canal were mucky and filled with sludge. Despite the disgusting appearance of the liquid, it seemed like creatures were moving below the surface, with ripples and bubbles showing their location. Lucifer peered off to the shore and noticed some figures in the distance. They appeared to be fishermen, but every so often a disembodied soul would desperately reach for them to escape the water but would be violently kicked back in by the piscator. After an intermission stop at the midway port of Gall, the All Sorrows continued its path and into port at the Ruined City of Scarreach. Lucifer stepped off All Sorrows and reminisced how Scarreach used to be a glorious city of the Third Circle. The city and its structures have been decaying for eons. The canal project would have revolutionized aquatic trade and travel to Scarreach but since its collapse the city has been in ruins and deteriorating since then. Lucifer saw the shadow creatures crawling through the openings of the ruins, the hauntings that take up space but have no explanation of their existence, even to Lucifer. They are constantly searching for something that will never be. They fall beyond any realm, not soul nor creature, their existence can only be described as a supernatural lie. Just beyond the ruined city lied the Glabretch Estates where he hoped to find Beelzebub. Without hesitation he began to make his way there.

As he drew closer to the Glabretch Estates, his path was obscured by an overgrowth of mold and vegetation. The decline of the buildings matched the stench of rot and decaying flesh. Once he reached the first building, he could see the mass of a figure staring down at him over the ledge of the roof. “Beelzebub.” he whispered under his breath. Lucifer quickly made his way up to the roof and saw that no one was there. “Behind you.” he heard a voice say. Lucifer spun quickly on his heels to be standing face to face with Beelzebub. His long, raven hair shrouded the contours of his face. His eyes had a dull red, luminescence, like his demonic runes tattooed on his body. The paleness of his skin allowed his musculature to be displayed even in the darkest of shadows. His wings bared a resemblance to a dragon, although on a smaller scale, but majestic in comparison to his frame. “My old friend…” Lucifer began to say before being quickly interrupted. “What are you doing here, Lucifer?” “Well, that’s no way to welcome an old friend.” “Who said we were friends? Don’t you think I would have been at the pit to welcome you back if we were “friends”? You’ve got some nerve seeking me out like this, Lucifer.” he said with great contempt. “What’s your problem? Why are you talking to me like this? You are my right hand, remember? You’re in charge when I am not…” Again, Beelzebub interrupts “Does it look like I’m in charge? Look around Lucifer! Did you not see the Great Worm keeping me here?!? I’M NOT IN THIS CIRCLE BY CHOICE!” he shouts. “While you were locked up, it all fell apart. You are right! I am supposed to be in charge in your absence, but your defeat allowed the Heavens to take control. Samael has been running things and he doesn’t work for us.” he explained. “You let us all down when you lost against Michael. Now you think you can just come back, and everything will go back to the way it was? You are delusional! Now leave me be and GET OUT OF HERE!” With that last shouting retort, Beelzebub shoves Lucifer off the roof. In mid-fall, Lucifer spreads his wings and glides back up to the roof. He hovers above Beelzebub for a moment before speaking to him again, but before he can even utter another word, Beelzebub has already leapt into air to tackle Lucifer back on to the floor of the roof. Upon their landing, Beelzebub manages to straddle Lucifer and pound on his chest and head with a double fist. “I TOLD YOU TO LEAVE! WHY WON’T YOU JUST LEAVE ME ALONE?” he screamed at him in anger. Lucifer knew he was in trouble now. Beelzebub was chosen to be his second-in-command for good reason, and it was not for his gentle nature. He had to come up with a plan fast. He knew that even for him, Beelzebub was a force to be reckoned with.

Lucifer smacked his wings against the floor to create a small space between himself and Beelzebub. Enough space to get his legs up and kick Beelzebub high up into the air. Lucifer immediately took advantage of his opponent’s vulnerability. Like a streak of light, Beelzebub was being launched even higher in the air with Lucifer’s lightning-like uppercut. A flash shot out across the sky of Tears upon contact of the strike. A shockwave of pain shot through Beelzebub’s entire body, from the tip of his head and all the way to his toes. A rush of pure agony, and it was a reminder to Beelzebub why he would always be second to Lucifer.

Beelzebub began to fall from up high and Lucifer flew in and caught him and began to lower him back to the roof. “I did not come here for a fight, old friend. I’m here to reenlist your services.” he said calmly. Beelzebub grumbled at that statement. He was still dazed from Lucifer’s strike, but still managed to ask, “Why would I want to work for you again?” “It will be different this time, I promise. We will restore Hell back to the old management and then exact our revenge on Heaven and make them pay!” Beelzebub began to laugh despite the pain in his jaw. “Revenge?” he asked rhetorically. “Did you already forget what happened to you the last time you attacked Heaven?” “It will be different this time. I promise. I have had plenty of time…” “Oh, I’m sure you have!” Beelzebub interrupted. “No, listen to me. I promise, it WILL be different this time. My new plan will not fail. I have considered every detail.” Lucifer continued to explain. Beelzebub groaned. “But the prophecies Lucifer…you are not destined to win.” Lucifer felt his temper rise instantly. “Listen to me, you little twerp, prophecies mean nothing! They are propaganda at best! I will have my revenge! Do you understand?” he began to calm again and said coolly, “If you’re not with me, then I must destroy you.” Lucifer’s last statement was enough to change the expression on Beelzebub’s face from mockery to concern. Lucifer waited patiently for Beelzebub to consider his offer. Beelzebub knew there was only one answer he could give. He knew he was not kidding and that it would be an effortless task for Lucifer to destroy him. “You promise we can win this time?” Beelzebub asked. “I promise.” Lucifer assured him. Beelzebub took a knee, “I am yours to command, my king.”

Lucifer helped him back to his feet, “Now, we have much to do. I have already sent Lilith to reenlist the services of Asteroth, but in the meantime, I think we need to pay a little visit to Samael.”