Chapter 4 - The Usurpation

A warm, calming sensation washed over my body. Weightless feeling seemed surreal compared to what happened to me recently. -’ ...or did it? What a bad dream to have. ‘ I thought lazily while lounging in a warm liquid. I didn’t remember taking a bath, but the things I remembered were surely a nightmare and I didn’t want to get out of a relaxing bath just yet.

-” Ara, what’s an imp doing here? “ A modulated and quiet female voice exclaimed in a slight surprise, it sounded really nice.

-’ Almost like a voice of a maid from an anime… ‘ I thought, while opening my eyes.

As expected, I found myself in a gargantuan bath that was shrouded in a vapor steaming from the hot water. At the edge of the basin stood a maid. She was tall, elegant and perfectly composed. Her slim face matched perfectly with her dark hair tied into a long pigtails.

She readjusted her glasses. -” How did you get here, small one? “

Somehow I had a really bad feeling, especially in regard to my recent nightmare. -” Um, I am not sure. “ I responded cautiously.

-” Please tell me about yourself then. “ She asked in a calming voice, making me realize that I was panicking for some reason.

Still her composed and attentive manner put me at ease, and I decided to confide to her. -” I think there was some sort of mistake, I was in a place called purgatory and then I spoke with a girl. She was called Deidre, and then I woke up in a very bad place. “ I spoke rapidly, hoping that the events I described were just a part of a dream. -” It...it was hell, they made me work for long hours, whipped me, and I was in some strange body… actually I still am in it! And… and… “

I was at a loss and, for some reason, I felt really uneasy under maid’s scrutinizing gaze. -” Thank you, I understand your circumstances now. “

-” Really? “ I asked in disbelief, surprised by her impassive response.

-” Yes, there was a mistake during the transfer. “ Her professional attitude made me hopeful. -” Don’t worry, I guarantee it won’t happen again. “

-” You can really clear up this whole misunderstanding? “ I asked in disbelief.

-” Most certainly. “ She responded without hesitation.

-’ Woohhhoo, I am getting out of this mess! ‘ I splashed water happily.

She bent forward in a strange, slithering motion, it made me realize that the dress concealed a snake’s tail that she had instead of legs. -” We can’t have imps frolicking in the Palace’s return circle after all. “

-” Wait, wha… “ I tried to voice my objection, while she quickly gestured in the air, making a glowing rune appear.

-” An imp’s place is in the Pit… “ Her words grew distant as I felt my being squeezed into a singularity, and then sent elsewhere…

* * *

With a sudden pop I materialized over the pool of burning tar.

-” Noooooo… “ I barely had time to scream out before falling down into the pit.

A wave of burning agony rushed through my body.

-” Blurgh! “ A mouthful of black substance got into my mouth and piercing sensation enveloped me, inside and out.

I flailed uselessly, kept in place by sticky tar. -’ ARGHHH! “ The pain was overwhelming, and shown no signs of passing or dulling.

With a desperate effort I reached out, but found nothing to use as a support.

After what seemed like eternity of tormenting struggle some sort of force grabbed me and lifted me out of the tar.

With my nerves raw and torment still fresh in my mind, I just laid on the bedrock.

-” You know, I don’t mind you laying there, but your shift started some hours ago. “ A monotonous, husky voice resounded from nearby. -” If your overseer comes down looking for you, taking another swim in the tar would be a nice alternative to what he’s going to do to you… “

-” Aiiiiuuu… “ I groaned in a shrill voice.

I felt so miserable that I just wanted to voice all of the bad things that happened to me recently. -” I don’t care anymore, everything’s unfair since I died! I even worked… cos I got whipped and got nothing for it.“ I wasn’t sure why I clarified the working part.. -” Then an imp tricked me into getting summoned...and I don’t even want to think what the mage made me do... “

Despite all of the misery I couldn’t cry, somehow my body was incapable of it.

-” Sounds like you had some bad luck, even for an imp. “ The voice responded impassively, I could hear a strange sound, like a quill scribbling on the paper. -” Still, you can’t skip work in hell, if you won’t do your due somebody’s will get in trouble...and guess who that somebody will punish in return? “

-” But… but this is unfair, inhuman even. No one should be made to work if they don’t want to… “ A reasoning, much similar to the one I had in previous life came out.

-” Well, if you don’t want to work you need to achieve something first. “ The scribbling continued. -” Like becoming a great demon, or snatching a lot of souls for hell… though I guess you are the one snatched. Huhuhu. “

-” How...How do you know all that? “ I opened my eyes and looked at the person I spoke with.

-” I am the Soul Keeper, Sidsir is my name. “ An unusual imp was sitting on a stone chair, there was a big book placed on the stone pedestal next to it. Sidsir’s form was much different from mine - it was slim, almost humanoid like, with elongated arms and legs. It’s face was heart shaped and feminine, framed by a mane of red hair.

I blinked in surprise.

Despite small and elegant red scales that glimmered in the infernal glow of the pit Sidsir was really human like. All of the imps I met were genderless, but that one bore distinctly feminine vibe. Embarrassed, I quickly turned away my questing gaze, though not before noticing that the imp didn’t have gender as well.

-” Er, nice to meet you, I am… “ I began.

-” ...Keita Shinamoji, not anymore. “ Sidsir interrupted me and continued, as if encouraged by my surprised look. -” I am the Soul Keeper, remember? Its like a boss of your boss… “

I did a double take and asked in shrill voice. -” Really?! “

-” Yes. “ Sidsir said and closed the book, then stood up. -” ...and I am not amused by what’s happening here. First, I will tell you what you need to know, and then I am going to punish your handler, he should have been here long ago. “

-” Wait, you are going to punish me? “ I exclaimed in doomed voice.

Imp waved it’s hand. -” No, I am not your boss, I am going to punish him for stealing rations and negligent supervision of his imps. “ Suddenly Sidsir sent me a piercing look. -” Listen well, scamp. If you want to survive in hell you need only one thing - mana. “

-” But what is it! “ I said loudly. -” No one told me anything! “

-” Mana is power. It’s just that simple - its the power of creation, spark of the gods, present in all things. “ Sidsir raised a hand in front of its face. -” ...and the hell runs on it. “

At that moment a familiar fiend rushed inside. -” How dare you slack here when everyone’s working! “

-” Too late. “ Sidsir’s voice was barely audible, but the menace in it was so overwhelming that I froze in terror. -” For failing as the handler… “

-” It’s only an imp! I haven’t failed enough to warrant such… “ Beast yelled in defiance, interrupting the imp.

-” ...AND stealing mana... “ Sidsir’s voice suddenly become so loud it was almost deafening. -” ...I shall punish you! “

-” Gahh! “ The beast was taken aback by the fiery aura of power which surrounded Sidsir, but it didn’t stop it from charging. -” So what? An imp is unfit to rule as a Soul Keeper! Your spot shall be mine! “

Beast’s clawed hand swished savagely through the air. Sidsir rolled to the side, with a motion almost too quick for an eye to see. Fiend froze with dumbfounded expression on its face, still looking at the spot where the imp was in.

-” Hellshard Blast! “ Sidsir chanted in a high pitched voice and raised its exposed palm in the direction of the fiend. A circle of runes appeared for a moment before instantly turning into a foot long shard of black glass, which shot forward to hit the beast in the side.

-” Mughuhuhu. “ The fiend cackled maniacally, while its silhouette swelled, making its muscles bigger and bigger. -” An imp can only go this far, your puny magic stings a little. Kekeke. “

-” Tsk, that’s what you get when you promote newcomer’s early. “ Sidsir shook its head in disapproval.

The beast charged again, despite its bulk it was wickedly fast and got to the imp instantly.

Claws rushed past the space left by imp’s almost dance like dodge… and buried themselves next to my ear! I failed to comprehend what happened.

At one moment the beast attacked and, at the other, its clawed hand was buried in the stone next to my head, and I was away from the fight!

-AGWWWAA! “ The fiend screamed deafeningly in pain, while Sidsir licked her bloody claws, which were almost half a feet long at the moment.

-” Are you ready to yield and accept your fate now? “ Sidsir asked in disinterested voice.

-” You shall pay for iiiittt!!! “ Bestial scream was followed by another mad charge, but before the beast could take few steps it was intercepted by a blurry zigzag of motion.

I blinked.

All I could see was a spraying red liquid, and the image of torso and legs going in the separate directions… Bloody spectacle had almost enchanting quality to it…

-” Learn from this. “ A matter of factly voice came from beside me. -” Mana might be everything, but stupidity can render it useless. “

I watched in horror as Sidsir made it’s way to the corpse and then began eating.

-” Also, you can’t die in here… “ The image of cannibalistic, gory feast burned itself into my mind. -” ...but you shall wish you did. Remember this when you see a small imp tomorrow. Huhuhu. “

I could not stand the spectacle, and self satisfied appearance of the imp, so I ran…

=========================

Hey~, Author's Here~

somehow this took longer than expected. Still, it appeared and its longer than 1,5k so all is good.

Comments are welcome... as always :P

Cheers,

Mea

http://www.royalroadl.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=28012