The bathroom door slammed open, being kicked aside by an uncaring, rowdy demon.

  Azazel strolled inside like he owned the place, which in fairness, he partially did. He downed the rest of his champagne glass and then shattered it into the nearby garbage can, not a single shard flying out. The few other men that were around, washing their hands, arranging their ties in the mirror, or just waiting on the others, immediately noticed him. They seemed to freeze, with some of them quickly drying off their hands.

  “Well…?” He began with a cock of his eyebrow. “Get the fuck out.” He then said, with a wide sweeping motion of his arms toward the door.

  Everyone almost jumped over each other as they clammored out of the room through the door. As soon as they were all out, Azazel slammed the door shut behind them. He kicked the lock down to the floor, and sighed, satisfied with himself.

  “Ahh… peace and quiet. I don’t remember auctions being this fucking tiresome before…” He muttered to himself as he went up to the large mirror on the wall. The demon inspected himself, vainly cleaning his suit of dust or wrinkles while humming a light tune to himself. Azazel was in a joyful mood as he washed his hands and slicked back his wild hair in the mirror. But the mood did not last long as cough and a wretch came from one of the stalls. His eyes glazed over into a still, deathly glare as he looked down towards the rest of the bathroom.

  “Motherfuck…” He mumbled as he made his way over, his black heels clacking against the marble floor.

  Another violent heave indicated to him which stall was still occupied, and he paused for a moment before giving the door a thud with his fist.

  “O-occupied...” A weary voice came from within.

  This guy… are you for real?

  “Yeah, I know, it’s why I knocked?” Azazel said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

  “Occu-hurk-pied…” The voice came again.

  Azazel sighed, rolled his eyes, and shook his head. He then turned on his heels and just leaned back against the door, holding himself up.

  “What’s the matter, bud? Had too much fun in the champagne section?” Azazel asked.

  “N-no… please go away…”

  “Was it the cadavers? Must be your first time attending one of these auctions. What happened? Girls no longer enough of a thrill for you? Or boys if you swing that way I don’t really care… Wanted a taste of that occult? Probably heard from a friend or something…” Azazel talked to himself. His face scrunched up as he had a slight realization. “Hey, who invited you again? You didn’t just sneak in did you? Are you one of Cain’s men? The fucker never shows up… not like he can anyway. Always sends gifts and stuff to sell-”

  “Can you FUCK OFF?” The man inside the stall shouted. “Can you let me puke my guts out in peace please?”

  “Alright, alright, relax…”

  What’s got you so sick anyway… you wouldn’t happen to be the idiot that ran down the hall earlier, hoho? The kid that got in with Katherine? Azazel thought silently, his emerald eyes lighting up like a Christmas tree. Let's make sure its him…

  “Say, even if you’re new here or you just walked into the wrong hall, you gonna try and snag anything?” He said. “There’s some great products this year. Someone’s selling some genuine Thalesai-Piranha scales, that’s sure to sell for a nice and expensive price. The meat market is also great today, there’s this one cute-looking girl with scars I saw some folks excited about…”

  “Krghh…” The sound came from the stall. A mixture of disgust and great irritation, that only helped confirm the demon’s suspicion.

  Hah, Gotcha. Damn, imagine my luck. He thought with a smirk that quickly faded. Or yours… Damn you Mephisto ruining all my fun.

  “You okay in there? Still puking or you changed tunes? You know, I got some meds for Pale Shadow headaches if you want some.” The demon smiled, pulling out a bottle of pills. “Catch.” He said after he’d already tossed it over the stall door. “Don’t worry, they’re sugary, actually taste quite nice.”

  And they won’t do much anyway, now your mind’s been infected. Be it now, be it later, you’re as good as dead.

  “T-thanks I suppose?” The more lively voice came from inside. “How… how’d you know that’s what happened though?”

  Argh… fuck. Probably shouldn’t have said that, hmm.

  “I uh… saw you running screaming down the hall. Lots of people did actually. I just assumed, given you ran from that direction that you might have actually seen the damn thing.”

  “Know a lot about… pale shadows?”

  “More than most I’d say. Vicious things really, but actually getting to see one face to face might be worse than getting ripped apart by its claws… At least you seem to be doing alright…”

  “That’s… reassuring…”

  “Y’know, the first time I ever saw one was way back when and it was truly a sight to behold. Still think about it sometimes. Took us days to catch it, I lost like twenty goons.” A pang of sadness crawled across his face in the form of a pout as he recalled that memory. “Good goons too... But it was worth it, seeing it in all its glory like that. The sheer cataclysmic force of a soul unleashed, it really highlighted to me just how fragile this thing we call existence is.”

  “My existence feels real fucking fragile right now man…” The reply came from the stall.

  “Hraaahhah!” Azazel snorted. “Haaa, you’re funny kid. I like ya, let’s chat some more next time.” The demon grinned, checking his watch. “I do hafta go. Maybe I’ll catch you later in the garden, yeah?”

  Azazel heard a soft ‘What garden?’ as he left. He was satisfied with this little diversion, taking another quick glance at himself in the mirror. He quickly spun around, noticing a flock of hair still out of place. Following a flair of his open palm, he let his lengthy, coarse black tongue drool from his mouth and gave his hand a long, sloppy lick. He then arranged the errant strands before he unlocked the door and made his way outside, casually strolling by quite a line of awaiting guests.

  “Aaahhh…” Constantine let out a satisfied sigh after indulging in the water he had been given. The mildly chill rivulets running down his throat were a welcome breath of fresh air and a good way to calm down after his earlier trial. He had been walking for a while since, exploring the labyrinthine tunnels he was in. But his advancement was robotic, almost zombie-like. Even though his mind had seemingly recovered, his whole body was still shivering and trembling as he walked. Thus Constantine decided to take a small break. He ate some of the food he found in Insect’s pouch, gaining some much needed strength.

  Baby steps… Baby steps… He thought. But where the fuck am I? How do I find my way here? Asmodeus doesn't seem like the kind of guy to have maps hanging on the walls…

  The moment he said that, he heard some commotion in the distance, further into the dim tunnel. He rose, taking one last swig of water before he carried on.

  Follow the noise I guess!

  He flexed his fingers around his dagger and gun as he walked slowly and carefully, trying to regain the confidence in his muscles. The deeper he went, the brighter and louder it seemed to get until Constantine found the tunnel he was in giving way to a massive corridor, much wider and taller. It was like a small abandoned road merging back into an eight-lane highway. This was a highway filled with chaos. Prisoners of all manners ran all over the place, getting into fights with flesh golems with hoof, hand and claw. After the solitude he found himself in for the past hours, this sudden pandemonium was almost overwhelming.

  “WE GETTIN’ OUT TODAY BOOOOOOYS!” One of the prisoners yelled before throwing a flaming bottle into a security golem. Flames exploded onto its flesh, rapidly overcoming it and causing a rank smell to seep into the air. “WOOOOOO!” His buddies called out as they ran over kicking the flaming body before proceeding.

  “What’s happening, friend?” Constantine called out trying to be jovial. “What’s going on?”

  One of the prisoners turned without hesitation, talking to him as if Constantine was an old friend that he’d spent years with in the prison. “We getting out son! Didn’t ya hear? The locks all blew skyhigh! The doors are wide open! We’re going to see the fucking SUN again! Ya better get the FUCK out before the Lord comes out to do cleanup, HAHA!” The prisoner screamed with excitement before he rushed back to his posse.

  “Interesting.” Constantine said plainly. Alright Constantine, think. All this chaos, the prisoners being freed like this, keeping the guards busy… this is too convenient, it can’t be a coincidence. He analyzed the situation. Now, I don’t see any signs of Wrath or Evan, but they could have already passed this way…? I need to find out more…

  From the safety of his tunnel Constantine waited for an opportunity amidst the chaos. That opportunity came in the form of a small goblin creature in the distance being chased by a flesh golem with a flayed wolf-like head and physique. Just as the lupine golem reached its long arm out on the verge of grabbing the screaming being, a blinding red flash cut across the corridor.

  “Gyyaaah!” The short creature screamed, bracing itself for what it thought was about to be a violent death. The squelcheous sounds of flesh being sliced cleanly open did not come from him, but instead from behind him. “W-what in the name of Saint Prumart the Third?” His high-pitched squeal went.

  “You alright little guy?” Constantine said, cleaning some blood and guts off of his face and from his spear. Retracting it back into its dagger form seemed to hide most of it.

  “W-who you calling li-” The creature started with a fervent rancor, but seeing the wolf’s decapitated head roll into view, still gushing blood from its neck, made him pause. He cracked his neck, leaning to see the eviscerated body bloodily thumping to the floor behind them. “Uhm… Nevermind. T-thanks. Who t’fuck are ya?”

  Constantine opened his mouth to answer, but another fiery explosion occurred in close proximity. “Alright, maybe we should cover in that hall over there.”

  “Agreed, chum.” The creature said with a nod.

  The two put some distance between them and the main corridor, hiding in an offshoot hallway. The doors were all blasted open, and it seemed like all the prisoners here already left.

  “So, ya ain’t from around here are ya topsider?” His companion’s shrill voice called out once they were safe. “Ya ain’t one of… her men are ya?”

  “The name’s Constantine, and no, I have no idea who you’re talking about. You mean Asmodeus?”

  “DON’T! Just say his name like that you dolt!” He shouted, clearly freaked out. “Demon names have power, don’t ya know? What kind of bloomin’ idiot are ya?”

  “Sorry, sorry… I’m still getting the hang of some of this stuff. To be honest, I don’t even have the slightest idea what you are.”

  Constantine looked closely at his newfound companion. The being was very short, his head barely coming up above Constantine’s knees but seemed somewhat thin and lanky despite his size. His blue-ish skin was accentuated by dozens of patches of darker scales all over him. The only other things of note were the long rags he wore over his whole body and the shark-like fin that protruded from his back, slightly below his neck. “You some sort of shark-goblin?”

  “How dare you call me a shark-goblin! I’m an imp, you absolute todgemonger. A prestigious water-imp no less! And m’name’s Wildfin…” Wildfin shouted, but paused as he considered what he was just told some more. “Shark-goblin does sound pretty cool actually… Anyway, thanks for saving me. I got separated from my group, I was hoping I could meet them in the vault but its fuckin' WILD out there.”

  “An imp…? Bhah.” Constantine let out a chuckle.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “Nothing, just realized what I’ve been compared to.” Constantine smiled with sadness in his eyes. “Anyway, I can’t really linger Fin, I need you to help me out.” He said, kneeling to be more even in height with the imp.

  “Why would I?” Wildfin jumped.

  “Cause, I just saved your life? You owe me.”

  “Damn… you’re right.”

  “Don’t worry, I just need some information, a bit of guidance to get a lay of this place. I’m looking for three prisoners in particular. Do you know someone named Wrath? They got three sets of wings and a really sharp-toothed grin? Big glowing yellow eyes? Bright red hair? They’re really noticeable. Scary until you get to know them.”

  Wildfin scratched the underside of his arm and looked at him with dull eyes. “Look ya, I know a lotta folks down here, even some of the freaky fellers but I ain’t seen anyone even close to that. I guess… there’s that Crownbringer fella, the freaky red-headed demon locked way deep in Haeresis, but I don’t remember them having wings?”

  “Hae-…-resis, what’s that?”

  “Name of the layers dumbass. We’re about halfway in Furia, the fifth. Haeresis is the sixth, and also the snake’s domain, and ya have to be right proper mad to wanna go down there.”

  Crownbringer? Wrath’s new nickname? And that must be where they’re keeping her then? And damn, five layers down? Why did Asmodeus teleport me so far? He must be trying to keep me and the rest separated as much as possible.Constantine pondered to himself before he talked once again:

  “Right, right. What about some guys, Evan, and Mephisto? Ring any bells? One’s missing an arm and the other looks like he never had an orgasm in his life.”

  “HAH, he really does, doesn't he?” Wildfin broke into laughter. “He really does look like his balls are always in a vice and he’s just kinda given up. And Evan, everyone knows him. Poor fucker’s gotten into more trouble with the snake than anyone I can remember.”

  Constantine’s eyes lit up with excitement. He grabbed Wildfin by the shoulders and shouted: “Really? You know them?”

  “Of course I know them, everyone knows those two whackos. Mephy’s even the reason we all got let loose! Why didn’t ya start by asking about them?”

  “You know what, fair point! But that's amazing! Do you know where they went, if I could find them somehow?”

  Wildfin seemed hesitant at first, but after some internal consideration he turned with a sigh. “Look, I can’t really tell ya where Mephy went for reasons, but last I saw Evan he was leaving the vault and heading towards Haeresis.”

  So Mephisto didn’t go with him? They split up then? Seems odd, but perhaps they have some plan? Evan probably is going down to rescue Wrath I imagine? Maybe I can meet him there!

  “Wildfin, listen to me very carefully, I need you to take me to this Crownbringer demon, understand?”

  “Are ya straight mogged in the head?” Wildfin jumped, shaking every bone in his upper body. “Absolutely not.”

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  “Wildfin, I really need you to.” Constantine said firmly. “It’s the only way I can save my friends’ lives.”

  “Didn’t I tell you like twenty times? No! The damn snake! That’s her layer! She’s bound to be there hunting escaped prisoners like you and me. And if not her, surely her underlings!” Wildfin said, squealing with pleading eyes. But Constatine just silently stared at him with a resolute expression. “Some of them are even worse than her!” Wildfin kept protesting. “Ya really shouldn’t even think… about… it…” He gulped. “Ya did save my life didn’t ya…?” He finally said with a sigh. “And you said you wanna save your friends’... Evan right? He was nice to me, I liked him…”

  Constantine just nodded.

  “Fine. I’ll do it for that half-eaten sandwich he gave me once.” Wildfin continued. “I know there’s a passage through some of the tunnels that’ll take us straight down into Haeresis without going around, but ya’re on your own there! I don’t even want to step foot in that place ya hear?”

  “You have my promise, just take me there and tell me where I have to go. You’re free to go after that.”

  “Fuck me…” Wildfin grumbled before he turned and walked away. “This way.”

  Constantine followed his newfound companion into the depths of Dudael. The tunnels of Furia were a lot more lively now that the prisoners had all been freed from their cages, but still the hidden paths Wildfin took them through were a lot more abandoned. Most of the prisoners they ran into barely gave them a second thought, as they were too preoccupied with getting to higher levels. The few threats they encountered were the occasional wolf-like flesh golems that were easily dispatched, and the odd prisoner that thought his chances of escape would improve if they picked a fight with Constantine. Fortunately for them, Constantine managed to scare them off without roughing them too hard. Few starving, unarmed, exhausted men and demons want a fight once a spear gets pointed their way a couple times.

  I must admit… Constantine thought as the two of them made their way down another narrow flight of stairs in near-pitch darkness. I expected a bit more… resistance? Not a lot of heavy guards down here… Perhaps Asmodeus is consolidating the upper layers? I feel bad for all these poor doomed fucker if thats what awaits them up there…

  “Uh oh.” Wildfin’s voice broke his concentration.

  “What’s wro-oh.” Constantine began before he saw what lay before them. They reached another narrow stairway that led down, but this one was filled with water. It was overflowing, almost spilling over into the tunnel they were in. “Well that’s not great. I’m not all that good at swimming.”

  “Is that so?”

  “I can hold my breath pretty well, but I’m like a deflated rubber duck in the water. Why is there water here anyway?”

  “Water pipe musta broke.” Wildfin theorized. “My guess is the tunnels also got blocked. I’m gonna go check it out, gimme a minute.”

  Constantine nodded. He watched as Fin leapt quite gracefully into the water and disappeared into the murkness below. I sure am glad I rescued this water-imp instead of anyone else. Constantine chuckled to himself.

  Some time later, he remerged, shaking his head. “Bad news pal. The whole tunnel’s blocked by rubble. I can squeeze my way through, but its way too big for ya.”

  “Is this the only way to get to Haeresis?”

  “No, but its definitely the fastest. If you want you’d have to go all the way back and around which could take some hours.”

  “I can’t afford to lose that time.” Constantine said calmly. He reached into his holster, pulling out his dagger.

  “Hee! Don’t stab me, it’s not my fault!” Wildfin shrieked.

  “R-relax man.” Constantine said, mildly concerned. “I’m giving this to you for now.” He then said, flipping and catching the dagger by the tip of the blade.

  “To me? Why?”

  “Just trust me. Take this and go through the tunnel where we need to go. When you’re out, toss it high into the air.”

  “Anyone ever told ya ya’re a weird one?”

  “Many people, now go.”

  Wildfin jumped back in the water after a quick gulp. The imp advanced through it with ease, and even the blocked tunnel posed little threat to him. He squeezed his naturally slick body through the crevices, popping out the other side.

  “Here goes…” He said, tossing Constantine’s holy knife in the air.

  Wildfin did not know what to expect, but it certainly wasn’t an entire person magically materializing in the air in front of him in an instant after he’d let go of the blade. He didn’t even have time to scream, as scarlet energies emanated through the air and through the walls, like a bolt of red lightning shooting from where Constantine was, to where he now floated. Time seemed to catch up to the present time, and both of them fell on the ground, Constantine having a somewhat more graceful landing than himself.

  “GYAAH! What in the name of Mirgal and Tirgal’s great TITS?!” Wildfin shrieked. “Ya can’t just show up like that ya with no warning!”

  Constantine didn’t say anything. He instead lifted a finger, as if to ask for some time. Wildfin stared at him confused. He watched him let out a deep breath, slowly. Constantine let his lungs fill up with fresh air once again, satisfied.

  “It gets easier and easier each time. I can hold my breath longer and longer, travel greater and greater distances.” He said with a smirk, twirling the dagger’s hilt around his fingers. “Thank you for the help Fin.”

  “Y-yeah, let's say ya’re welcome.” Wildfin grinned awkwardly as he was helped up. “Well pal, this is it.” He gloomily added, pointing forward into the tunnel.

  “That Crownbringer demon, that way yeah?”

  “Just a few minutes walk that way, then you’ll give into a massive gateway. They’re in there.”

  “In there… I guess this is when we part ways then?” Constantine said, turning around.

  “Don’t. I’ve already had a tearful departure earlier today. I can’t handle another one!”

  “Alright then, thank you Wildfin. I hope I’ll see ya again some day.” Constantine smiled, and offered his closed fist.

  “That’s better. Our companionship was brief, but I enjoyed it. D-don’t die out there yeah?” He said, knocking his fist with tears in his eyes.

  “Heh, not anytime soon…” Constantine chuckled as he spun around and walked away. He turned his head over his shoulder and caught a final glimpse of Fin, who nodded back at him before he too, swam away back through the collapsed pathway.

  The lights in this tunnel were a pallid pinkish hue, at least, when he advanced further. Back where the roof had collapsed the lights were all but extinguished. Constantine took a moment to contemplate that even here in this hellish place, surrounded by the unfamiliar and bizarre, he was able to encounter someone capable of kindness. A complete stranger, willing to help him out with only mild convincing necessary. That notion made him smile. He looked down at his dagger, checking his reflection in the blade crimson shine. His eyes had recovered some of their determination, their confidence. He smiled, flicking the blade around, stabbing the air before continuing onwards.

  The gateway that Wildfin told him about was soon before him. Constantine entered a large cavernous hall, held up by massive stone pillars. At the end of this hall was a massive entrance about twice his size. As he approached, he saw that the doors were bound in a red velvety material accentuated by decorative stripes of silver and gold. He slid his hand over them, inspecting their forms, before the door slid open on its own.

  “I didn’t expect anything less.” He said out loud as he entered. “Something really is starting to tell me… this might not be where Wrath is after all…” He mumbled with a slight tone of sarcastic irritation..

  A red carpet stretched on through the middle of the room. It seemed to be some sort of art gallery, filled with mirrors. Constantine walked around cautiously, avoiding the columns and pillars that stood tall between displays. As he peered into the mirrors, they began to shift and change, becoming visions of strange beings and people. Some were demonic visages, others were serene otherworldly landscapes.

  “Its beautiful, but damn if I don't wish I could see something boring and normal right now, like a fastfood restaurant.”

  “Once one catches but a glimpse of the cosmic light…” A deep, somber voice came from further in the hall. Constantine quickly turned and dashed closer, dagger at the ready. A towering figure stood in the middle of the hallway, holding an unfortunate soul up by his collar with an iron grip. He let go, and the body collapsed, limp and lifeless to the floor. “...The mind is scarred eternally, and all other lights cease to shine as bright.”

  Constantine scanned his new opponent from head to toe. Before him stood a tall, gangly demon with a gaunt, skeletal appearance. This appearance was given by the man's deathly thin physique, but mainly by his skin, which was coated in a black-like-tar paint on top of which were layered white strips depicting his skeleton. He was bare above the waist, but below it he wore a traditional-looking attire, like a lengthy, ragged, blue tabard in the middle, surrounded by long iron faulds around his waist that reached to his bare ankles. Bound to each of his biceps were a pair of long, leathery straps that seemed to float unnaturally upwards behind the man, as if they were submerged underwater. These straps were marked with black, undecipherable demonic runes, and at the end of them they were adorned by a singular circular bell each.

  As Constantine’s eyes traveled upwards, he was struck most by the demon’s pitch black eyes. The way all light seemed to become a void around them, in his sunken cheeks, combined with the elaborate skull-like makeup, all served to create a truly intimidating look. Lastly, Constantine noticed the demon’s shoulder-length striking red hair. It surrounded his face like an ethereal scarlet veil, broken only by the barely visible crown that lay upon the top of his head. A crown made of teeth, the ring was molars, and the spikes were demon fangs.

  “Oh yeah… you’re definitely not Wrath. She always struck me more as someone that collected ears, not teeth.” Constantine chuckled, a bead of sweat dripping down his forehead. “Though I can see the resemblance, Mr… Crownbringer, I presume?”

  “Spectral one… I’ve been awaiting your arrival.” The man said, stepping forward with a steel gaze in his eyes. “Please, that is an old title, you may call me Cain.”

  “Cain… I heard that name before… at the demon auction! You must be some demon big-shot, huh? How come you’re in prison then? My name is Constantine by the way.”

  “You participated? Rare for a pure human. And worry not, I know your name well.”

  “Well, more like attacked it… I’d rather not get into it, brings back bad memories.”

  Cain chuckled, but his lips did not move in the slightest. “I’ve been looking forward to your arrival for some time now. Come, I wish to discuss things with you before we fight.”

  “Must we fight really?” Constantine asked, holding his dagger downwards in his fist, as a gesture of goodwill. “I don’t much care about you, I can just step out of the way and let you leave, and you can let me carry on with my busi-”

  “It is foolish of you to assume that I am trapped in prison for any reason other than my own, and that my goals involve escape in any form. I am exiled in this place by my own volition, and no one else's.” Cain interrupted, his voice calm, yet booming like thunder in the night.

  Constantine gulped. “Whatdya want then?”

  “Right now, I desire to discuss with you, Spectre. Now walk with me.” Cain answered, turning half-way.

  “How do I know you won't backstab me?”

  “You dare besmirch my honor with such a ridiculous insinuation, Spectre? Besides, you seem too cautious for a sneak attack to be of any effect right now.”

  Constantine slid the dagger in his right hand slightly more behind him as he walked closer, still keeping a fair distance. “You’re not wrong I guess… Why do you call me that?”

  “Because that’s what you are. You’re a dead man walking, you just haven't caught up yet.”

  “Coming from the Halloween lawn decoration, that’s rich.”

  “Tick tock, Constantine, tick tock.” Cain said, raising his index finger between them.

  “What are you doing?” Constantine asked, confused.

  “Tick tock, tick tock, your friends are waiting. Can you afford to lose against me? Can you afford to waste all this time with your insipid bantering?”

  “Alright fuckface, you wanted to discuss. What do you want?”

  Cain turned away, and began casually walking down the rest of the art gallery. Constantine stood still for a moment, before he turned and followed, carefully keeping his distance. He also noted the dozens of dead bodies on the floor as he walked, and the blood that gave the red carpet an even more intense shine.

  “Seems you were busy while you waited for me…”

  “Fools. I warned them there was no treasure nor escape to be had here, but they did not listen.” Cain nodded. “Tell me Spectre, do you believe in fate?”

  “I don’t know. I don’t think I do anymore, if I even ever did.”

  “After your newfound determination, your newfound confidence in your ability to defy the fate of the one you love, I would expect your answer to be more resolute.”

  “How the fuck you know about that? Damn, can every bastard demon down here mindread?”

  ”Not mindreading, simple intuition.” Cain said.

  “Simple.” Constantine echoed, mockingly. “Sure.”

  “In order to explain why I asked you that, I need to check something about you. Do you know the progenitor God? The Dragon of Light?”

  Constantine furrowed his brow and shook his head.

  “Of course not.” Cain let out a disappointed sigh. “Yaldahboah, as his name still lingers, the Eternal Serpent, forged reality from his own scales. Love and Beauty were brought to a cold and empty nothingness. Each scale, a new light on a celestial canvas. But these lights he created were… displeasing to the yawning Void, the void that always was, and was meant to forever be. The lights shone brightly in the darkness, but in doing so, they created shapes, forms for those dark and terrible things. The first of them were called Silences.”

  “That’s not how I remember the story of genesis going, but I digress.” Constantine’s eyes wandered to the paintings on the walls, which seemed to reflect the beautiful lights and dark terrors that Cain was describing.

  “I’ll keep the story short so that you may understand. There was a great war for creation itself, fought between those elder gods born of the dark, and the new ones born of light. But eventually, all wars must end, no matter how great. When the celestial pact between Life and Death was written, a new dimension was created, safe from the corruption of eternity. A bubble, wherein this universe of yours exists.”

  “And what happened to… whatever was outside that bubble? Where are you going with this?”

  “Darkness, corrupted Gods, the corpse of the serpent itself all remained outside, cast back into the void. But not all wished to remain there. Through your mortal minds, your powers of gifting names, we were granted passage into your world.”

  “We?”

  “Demons. That's what you called us, those first silences that entered your world. It was a primitive crude world, and the fear of the dark still deigned in the hearts of mortals. So we hid in the shadows, watched you all grow, and we grew alongside you. You called us the Thirteen Knights of Hell.”

  ”You are one of them I suppose? That’s what you’re getting at?”

  “Indeed. I am Cain, Silence of Regret. I am but a vessel of my true self. Trapped in this decaying mortal form, I crave nothing but sweet oblivion. I wish nothing more than for you to kill me.”

  “You could have started with that, you know.” Constantine chuckled. “I regret listening to you waste all that time.”

  “You are a fool, ignorant to the way your very reality works. I am trying to impart knowledge upon you, to judge your worthiness-”

  “I really do not give a shit.”

  “You are a fool. You think there is nothing in this world but that which you can touch and see.” Cain said, angrily.

  “I assure you, that is no longer the case. I used to think that. I… tried to forget what I once knew. I was ignorant and foolish. But I know that there is more to this world, and now I’m no longer afraid to face it.” Constantine said, defiantly.

  “Your connection to death has finally opened your eyes and mind has it not? Hmm, perhaps then I have misjudged you. Perhaps you can change.” Cain said, rubbing his chin. “I watched you, you know. Saw you stare down Asmodeus, and that takes courage.”

  “How did you manage that?”

  “Spectre, I have the gift of clairvoyance. I can see the threads of fate as they are spun.”

  “That’s cool, I can teleport. Much more useful in day to day life I assure you.”

  Cain continued, ignoring Constantine’s comment. ”There are those few in this world that gain the ability to alter the course of fate. Their great actions and deeds bend the very laws of time and destiny, in order to create a new path. Despite my great strength, I am not one of those. My ability to see the face of fate chains me to it, trapped eternally not being able to escape my own predestined choices, being gifted nothing but regret. But you, you might be capable of doing such an unimaginable thing. Your heart and mind are filled with hope. Foolish hope perhaps, but hope nonetheless. That is why I wished to talk to you. That is why I will now ask you to fight me.”

  “Seems a bit unfair to fight someone who already knows how the fight will end.” Constantine said, readying his dagger once again.

  “You have no choice, do you?” Cain said, a slight smirk crawling on the side of his lips.

  “I could just… run back?” Constantine said, tapping the tip of his dagger against his chest.

  “The doors locked the moment you stepped within this place.” Cain said. The demon procured a key from his robes, which he showed Constantine. “This key is but the only way to exit now. Not even your dagger will allow you to traverse these walls.”

  “I’m guessing you’re not going to hand that over if I ask nicely will you?”

  “Hehehe…” Cain laughed. He pressed the key against his left pectoral muscle, over his heart. Constantine watched in awe as the key seemed to melt into the demon’s skin, becoming part of the skeletal design that was painted over his skin.

  “Oh that is… fucked.” Constatine said in disgust.

  “The key is now inside my heart. If you wish to ever see your friends again, you must break your unwritten creed, do that which you have not yet. You must kill me.” Cain said solemnly, as he took a wider stance and clasped his hands together, as if in prayer. “Show me Constantine, if your hope is truly as powerful as you believe it to be.”

  “Something tells me, you’re not gonna just stand there and let me do that, huh?” Constantine said, dejectedly. He did a few quick stretches of his arms and legs, brushing his hair from his eyes.

  Cain laughed heartily. “Now look at who's got some good intuition.”

  The demon’s fingers began to glow with dark crimson powers. Constantine stepped back, ready for an attack, but instead, the demon began to draw a shape in the air. Both of his hands were a mirror of the other, as they formed what Constantine soon realized was an enneagram. Once the shape was complete, a dark shockwave pulsed from around it. A dark arena formed on the ground beneath their feet, mirroring the shape created. The arena expanded and as it touched the walls and pillars of the gallery, they all vanished. Once their massive battlefield was born Cain lifted his finger towards the shape, and erased one of the lines, turning it into black-red mist and creating an octagram instead. The demon then grabbed the shape with both hands, and two eight-sided stars were now firmly in his hand, to be used as weapons.

  “Tick tock.” Cain said with a smile.

  The Tale Of The Prince And The Red Door: Chapter V

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