21 Chapter 21 - Trapped

I woke up in darkness, nothing new I thought to myself, my whole life has always been about wallowing in the shadows but this blackness is different because I feel that it is empty, all that is here is nothingness. And then I panicked, I was looking for a light, sound or whatever that would fill the emptiness in this place. I felt that time and space did not exist in here. I was floating, I think, I couldn't see, hear, smell or even taste anything. I doubted if I was even breathing and my mind was trying to process all this to no avail. I felt as if I was on the edge of madness or perhaps I was already mad. Perhaps all of these are by-products of my insanity.

Then there was the droning noise, a low buzz that seemed to come from within my body, and that freaked me out. I tried to think how I got here and all I could remember is Mephisto lying on the ground and Michael in the act of delivering the killing blow and then everything went dark and I woke up here. The buzz seemed to grow louder and it was then that I realized that I wasn't alone in this void. A presence made itself known, somehow I could feel it around me. A faint whisper amplified by the silence. At first it sounded incoherent but as I focus on the sound, I started to hear words.

'This is my home, why are you here?'

'This is the place where the world is silent.'

The voice made me fear for my life, that is if I am even alive. There was something insidious about it, the presence and I could feel its intention, it wanted to bring death to the world.

I tried to communicate with it and realized that I couldn't speak, it's as if I was transported to the same place where Mephisto showed and convinced me he was the devil. But this time was different, I could feel the presence in my head and knew that I could talk to it, the knowledge of this fact made no sense to me yet I tried anyway.

*Who are you?*

At first there was no answer and then I could feel the presence, it was astonished and I knew that it was the first time someone had ever spoken to it. And it answered, the voices (for they were voices now) began ringing in my head.

'I herald the coming of the end. Through me, the cycle of life ends. I take the young, the old, the sick and the frail, the healthy and the robust, the rich and the poor, the powerful and the weak, nothing escapes my grasp. I am the beginning of the end.''

*Death?*

'Yes, yes, that is my name.' The voice was musing in silent wonder. I could sense its curiosity. 'Who are you? And why are you here?'

Baffling questions to which I had no answer. *I don't know, I don't even know if this is real.* If this is a dream then it's quite extraordinary even for me and I've had fucked up dreams before but nothing like this one.

Then the voice was silent for a time. I could feel it though, it was prodding my mind for information and there was nothing I could to to stop it. I felt it tear through my memories like flash cards, searching for something, something that would explain all of this.

It was sifting through memories, in no particular order. My trip to the beach with my grandparents, my first taste of alcohol, the first time I smoked, and other things. Memories of Neo, the drinking, the constant reading, the weaving of stories in my head and finally, Caroline King. It was the meeting at the fan cafe and she was listening to my story about Borgia and Machiavelli, her eyes were beaming at me.

The presence paused at this memory. 'What is this?' I heard it in my head, its voice uncertain as if it was witnessing a miracle. Now it was confused and angry. The silent droning in the background now became a piercing shriek and I could feel as if my very soul was shattering. And then, the presence and me both screamed.

Mephisto

Lucifer was standing in front of the thing that was wearing Dante's body. He held Lightbringer to me and when I took it I felt the weight of the sword straining my whole body.

"I want you to be ready when I bring him out." said Lucifer. When I looked at him questioningly, he continued. "I bring back Dante from the void he's in and I want you and Asmodeus to be ready."

Asmodeus nodded, smiling as if this was nothing more than a walk in the park.

Then Lucifer held Dante's face in his hands. The creature struggled violently, trying to break free but Asmodeus held on. Lucifer's eyes started to glow with hellfire, the symbolic power of the fallen, the eyes of fire that burned not the body but the soul.

I could see the thing grow limp and it was hypnotized by the depths of Lucifer's eyes.

"That's it, listen to my voice pale king, you have to sleep." He whispered to the creature. "You have been called unjustly and unceremoniously. Hear my voice and sleep."

Then it started to close its eyes, Dante's limbs dropped to his sides and he fell into Lucifer's arms, the latter's eyes returned to its former hue.

I was about to ask him what he needed me to do with his sword when Dante's eyes opened once more. This time Lucifer held him down. I could see Dante, his shade reappearing and disappearing in his body. I sensed then that the two, Dante and the presence were vying for control of the body.

Lucifer beckoned to me. "I want you to stab him. The other one."

I nodded and waited. Two versions of Dante, the pale king and my ward.

I waited and when the other one reappeared, I stabbed at it. Lightbringer covered in hellfire pierced through it and I sensed its anger then, a rage driven by the will to consume.

And then as if the connection has been cut, the presence disappeared. Lucifer held out his hand and I gave him back his sword. Asmodeus made the chains disappear in thin air. Dante had returned to normal, a harmless boy who loved books, alcohol and cigarettes.