#blue death

For the first time in his life, Samil was nervous. He rubbed his hands together pensively in the master bedroom of his home, pacing back and forth past the four posted canopy bed that was carved of black bone and piled with lush sable furs. Dark blue fabric was draped along the walls from ceiling to floor, and his polished shoes made no sound on the thick rugs. He stopped as he felt the floor begin to shake, trophies rattling on their shelves as vases threatened to topple. Earthquakes were common to Hell, but what was once a singular monthly occurrence was now happening two or three times daily, and it only put him further on edge. He heard the dire wolves whine and yelp nervously in the icy woods, even they knew all was not well.

Hell was changing, more and more of his siblings were disappearing, and while he shared no love for them their absence along with his father's death had put him in a precarious position. Already there had been whispers of a regime change, a new king seated on the throne, and while everyone knew who it was they dare not speak ill will of the new Lord of Hell. He had ears everywhere, and Samil knew all too well he was being saved for last, and that Cania was no longer safe.

He should have told her to stay on Earth, he knew logically it was unwise to bring her here again. But he missed her, she was the only one he could trust, and her presence comforted him. She brought out emotions in him he never had experienced before, and it was if he was being shown a whole pallet of new colors he never knew existed. He smiled, thinking of her enjoying the frozen gardens and statues of ice that decorated his manor, her fine hands running over the spines of his collected books ever so delicately, wrapped in the thick green coat he had given her.

He took a deep breath, shaking himself off and plopping himself down into a plush armchair that was positioned near the bed. He picked up a crystal glass that sat next to it on a small table, quickly downing its contents. Ice wine, sweet and thick like nectar slid down his throat.

He looked into the empty glass, studying his own reflection. He could handle anything, he could protect her. He was still a Prince of Hell, feared and respected, in charge of one of the harshest environments of Hell. Cania had stayed uninvaded for countless eons, strong in it's fortifications and in it's forbidding nature. And just like his home he would not go down easily.

There was a rustling noise, barely audible even to his highly attuned ears. It was like something was slithering, quick and darting across the floor, getting closer to where he sat. He stayed silent, not wanting to give any inkling that he heard it, instead placing the glass carefully on the table. The servants had been dismissed already, and they knew better than to try to sneak up on him.

He waited...closing his eyes and letting himself relax, showing no sign of rousing as it grew closer, no doubt suspecting that he had let his guard down. He let it get closer still, until it was nearly at his elbow, when he finally struck...

Samil slammed one hand into the intruders chest, his claws easily puncturing the heart that lay beneath its protective layer of bone with a sickening crunch, giving a triumphant laugh as the black-cloaked  would-be assassin cried out in pain and clutched at his hand. But in that instance, as the intruders body seemed to melt off like wax, he looked on in stunned horror, and the realization of what he had just done hit him like a sucker punch to the gut.

He was looking directly into Mandy's shocked and pained face as she gasped, his claws still embedded in her chest. His own expression of terror reflected in her brown eyes as she slumped over onto his arms, her breath coming out in a choked gurgle. Her fingers weakly grasped onto his shoulders as a gush of blood pumped from her heart and seeped into the fabric of her shirt.

He sat staring as the light began to fade from her eyes, her lips trying but failing to form words. He shook his head, refusing, not believing his own eyes even as she grew pale. "Mandy...no...no not you...it can't be...what have I done...", he wrapped one arm around her, pulling his hand away from her chest. One great ragged breath came from her, and she was still. Her blood cascaded down his fingers, staining cold black with warm red. He felt like all the air had been taken from his lungs, his head spun, his stomach lurching. He clutched her to his chest as he sank to his knees, "No...please no...don't leave me...mon chou...please...". He felt his shoulders shiver, his head still shaking in disbelief...but it was too real, she was gone...and it had been his doing...

Tears like frozen glass rained down on her. He caressed her cheek, a smear of blood staining her skin from his hand. He whimpered, the mocking words of his father echoing in the back of his mind like a phantom from the past,

"There is no place for love in the heart of a demon...let this be your first lesson..."

Yelps followed by silence, the copper and salt heavy scent of blood, the taste of his own cold tears on his tongue as his father looked on, laughing at his pain. It was all too familiar, he didn't think he'd ever feel that pain again, but here it was like a hot knife in his heart, and somehow even more painful than before. He held her still, sobbing softly at first, before his howls of agony echoed through the empty halls of his manor, answered by the fearful cries of the damnded as the Lord of Cania's grief burst forth.

He took a deep shuddering breath, trying to get ahold of himself, trying to think. It couldn't end this way, he would not allow it, not again. Not when he was more powerful than ever before...not when he knew people who could help...

Help.

He knew of the ressurection that occurred, the one that had taken place at House Ebonmoon. The woman Kira had come back from death whole and strong after being killed by a Goat-possessed Chimney. It was a miracle that was spoken of in awed whispers, barely to be believed, but it was true, he knew it was.

He rose, still holding her, "No power here or anywhere else shall keep us parted so easily mon amour...I will not allow it. You will live...if I have to fight God himself you will live..."

He spotted the green coat on the end of the bed, and with great tenderness he wrapped her in it, planting a soft kiss to her forehead before picking her up again. He knew exactly where he was going to go next, and he set his jaw with grim determination as he teleported to the In Between...

Chimney lounged on his couch, thumbing through a comic book with one hand and digging into a massive bowl of jelly beans in the other, popping them into his mouth with abandon. His shirt was pulled up above the mouth that gibbered in his abdomen, and he pitched a handful of jelly beans into the toothy maw before grimacing,

"Ugh, licorice and cotton candy don't mix well."

He heard a knock on the door, and he paused, growling irritably. He put down the comic book and slid the bowl onto the coffee table, before pulling his shirt down over the mouth. The knocking happened again, this time more urgently, and his irritation grew as he lumbered to the door. He swing it open, scowling as he saw Samil standing at the door holding a green furry bundle in his arms. Partly hanging out of the bundle was a small hand.

"The fuck do you want?", Chim barked out, before his eyes darted down to the green bundle in Samil's arms, squinting in suspicion, "What...did you do..."

"It...it was an accident...I thought she was someone else and I-I...", for once Samil was at a loss for words.

Chim's brows furrowed, "You killed her?"

"It was an accident!"

"Riiiiiiiight. That's a paltry excuse coming from a so called prince", he leaned against the door jamb with his arms crossed over his chest.

Samil gritted his teeth, his eyes glinting with blue fire, "I'm telling the truth damn you!"

Chim remained unimpressed in the face of the prince's anger, "Yeah whatever sure. So what do you want from me?"

"You know Iblis, I thought perhaps you could help me..."

Chim was silent for a moment, looking on Samil in utter bafflement, "H-.......Help you? Ha...hahahaha...HAHAHA! Wow. Did you uh, did you forget who you're talking to here? Why the fuck would I EVER help you. You're the one who killed her!"

"She was of importance to you!"

"So? Again, this is on you. You fix it. Or do you think you're too damn special to ask for their help on your own?"

"...fine...I'm sure Kira will completely understand why you didn't want to help ressurect her friend"

"How is this my fault? What, you think because you got some pull in Hell you can just waltz down here and make demands of my time? Your position doesn't mean shit here."

Samil huffed, "I wasn't-I didn't-"

Chim rolled his eyes, "Look your whateverness, I'm not in the business of resurrecting people, I do the opposite. So why don't you go fuck back off to the infernal ice rink before I give you the same treatment I gave your father?"

"You're despicable, Chimney."

"You must be new here. Now...Get. Out."

Chim turned to close the door, grumbling under his breath...

Samil felt bile rise as the panic and anger began to take hold once more, when it dawned on him to take one last desperate measure...

"It was the Goat's son! Chad!"

Chim paused, his face obscured by the shadows of the house, "What...did you say?"

Samil stepped forward, "It was his doing, he made an illusion...it was too powerful, even for me...I couldn't see past it. He made her look like someone else..."

Chim's head slowly turned to look at the prince, and Samil lifted his chin as he saw Chim's eyes had turned to red, glowing like hot coals out from under his deep brows, "Are you lying to me?"

"I swear on everything I own, everything I have...I am not lying", Samil held fast, lifting his chin as Chimney's eyes seemed to bore into him like a cobra regarding its next meal. He remained unafraid however, returning Chim’s gaze with one of his own, steely cold determination meeting burning hatred. The silence seemed to last an eternity before Chim finally moved,

"Fine. But don't think I'm doing this for you..."

"Of course not."

"Good...let's go..."

Only a few minutes later Chim grunted as he looked at the house, it was still heavily marked by sigils, preventing unwanted visitors from teleporting in and acting as an alarm system for anyone getting too close for comfort. It looked like they had added a few more since he last was here. Although, when he last looked at the house it was while he was not in control of his body. He shuddered, purposely ignoring the presence of the green car that sat in the driveway as he walked to the door, before stopping to stare at Samil, "Well? Get on with it, I'm not knocking for you."

Samil hesitated, looking at the sigil placed on the door with trepidation. He took a deep breath, setting his shoulders and adjusting Mandy's body in his arms before rapping on the door. He could feel the energy that surrounded the house, thick and heavy like a wall of fuzzy distortion, his knocking causing a ripple that caused the sigils to glow with renewed fire.

Chim snorted with amusement, "This should be fun..."

The door swung open slowly, revealing a less-than-pleased looking Nocturne barring entry to the house.

"You...", he muttered quietly as he looked on Samil, before he looked over at Chim, "and you? What the hell are you two doing here?"

Chim snarled impatiently, "We're selling girl-scout cookies, what does it look like?"

Noc looked at the green bundle, before locking his eyes on Samil in cold judgement, "What is this?"

"I...the Goat’s son made a trap for me...I didn't realize it was her..."

Nocturne looked askance at Chim, who shrugged.

Samil sighed, "Nocturne, please...I need your help..."

Noc looked surprised at the prince's sincerity. He had always seen him so poised and in control, but here he was, looking defeated...shaken, and asking him of all people for help,

"What do you want me to do?"

"I need Iblis to bring her back. He can do that yes? I heard of his power, how he brought back Kira", he nodded towards Chim, who glared at him in return.

"It's not that simple...he has to sacrifice a part of himself for it to happen...it’s complicated..."

Samil stepped forward, pleading, "Please...Nocturne...I will do anything. I will give you anything you could ever want. Please..."

Noc sighed, "What I want from you, you can't ever give me back...but I'll see what can be done."

"Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet...bring her in here and put her on the table...", he moved out of the way, allowing Samil and Chim into the warm house, pointing the way to the massive table that lay in the dining room.

Chim slunk into a corner, well away from the table. It was new, not the same one he had been strapped to when he was possessed, but it was enough to make him feel ill at ease...he focused on the bundle instead. He had not been witness to Kira's resurrection, and watched from the darkness as Samil laid Mandy carefully down on the table, brushing her hair with his claws gently before holding onto one of her pale, lifeless hands in his.

There was a familiar soft papping noise as Iblis walked in, followed closely by Noc and the bohgey, Marc. Noc of course Samil knew, but Iblis and Marc he had not yet met. The banshee approached Samil, his head turned slightly, candlelight glinting off the tips of his horns, "So, you are Samil?"

Samil brought himself up and straightened his vest, an unconcious habit, "I am. You are Iblis I presume?"

"Yes, and this is my other mate Marc, he and Noc will be assisting me. Please tell me what happened, and be truthful..."

Samil sighed and looked back at her prone form on the table, before speaking quietly, "I heard an intruder...and I thought I was defending myself, but it was a glamour...when I stabbed her the illusion faded, and I saw that it was her instead. I knew I had to take my chance coming here...to help bring her back..."

He felt Iblis's eyes on him, studying him closely as he explained. He could have sworn he heard soft whispers, the light of the candles in the iron chandlier that hung above the table wavering slightly as if a breeze had passed through the room. He turned to look at the banshee fully in the face, "I swear...it's true."

Chim snorted from his corner, "Yeah, like they should take your word for it..."

Samil shot back, "And why would I lie?"

"Gee maybe it's because you're the son of the Devil?"

Samil glared at Chim, "I know whose son I am, but I am not him!"

"Right, like you didn't torture blue balls over there right along with him. Apple doesn't fall far from the tree now does it?"

Noc growled, "Leave me out of this."

Iblis seemed to be ignoring the bantering, focusing instead on placing his hands on Mandy's head, closing his eyes as he bent down. Meanwhile Marc busied himself with grabbing a heavy black book from a nearby shelf. He was still wearing his bathrobe, his fauxhawk sticking up in random directions and his shadow coiling curiously near. He pushed up his thick black glasses, "This really needs to stop happening..."

Chim growled, "Hey! I was fucking possessed! It wasn't my fault! What's his excuse? "Oh I mistook a tiny woman for an assassin look at what a big badass demon prince I am." Bullshit."

Before anyone could react Samil roared, hurtling himself across the table and grabbing Chimney by throat, cold claws digging into Chim's grey flesh, his eyes blazing with hatred, "You worthless waste of flesh! Say one more word and I'll flense you alive and take your skin as a trophy!"

Chims eyes widened, but grinned up at Samil, wrapping onto the demon's arms with his own claws, "Sure you don't want to stab me in the chest like you did her?"

Samil raised his other hand, ready to shred Chim's face to nothing, when the tense silence was broken by the sound of a child crying in another room of the house, causing him to pause.

Noc's rubbed his face in consternation, "Great, you woke up Erebos...I'll be back...try not wreck anything while I'm gone", he turned with a heavy sigh and muttered bitterly as he headed towards the back of the house.

Iblis didn't even look up from his position at the table, his eyes still closed, but his voice firm, "Gentlemen, please, I need to make preperations for the ritual...and we just got that table..."

Samil didn't take his eyes off of Chimney, but removed his hand slowly from his throat, backing away to stand next to the head of the table and holding onto Mandy's hand once more.

Chim stood up, brushing off his shirt, "Whatever. Hey Sharkboy you got beer still?"

"Yeah in the fridge, top shelf...", Marc eyed both of the demons, not trusting either of them as he placed a metal tray at Iblis's side. It held the book, along with an assortment of jars, knives, stones, and what looked to be a bowl made of brass.

Samil looked on as Iblis's countenance turned to a grimace of pain and sorrow, the banshee finally taking his hands away from Mandy's head. He turned then, flipping open the thick and ancient book, its black pages marked with golden ink. Ilustrations of herbs, stones, and creatures were inscribed carefully onto the pages.

Marc took the assortment of jars containing various dried ingredients, placing them near Iblis while the other began to chant, a small ball of purple flame manifesting above his head. Ingredients from the jars were placed carefully within the metal bowl, before Iblis lit a match, letting it fall into the bowl. A sweet-smelling smoke rose into the air, swirling upwards and around the chandelier.

Chim, for his part, busied himself with the fridge, pulling out not only a full six pack of beer along with half of a leftover cake and a package of venison. Noc walked back in, and seeing Chim holding a teetering plate of food rolled his eyes and joined the others at the table.

Marc looked up as Noc approached, "Kids okay?"

"Erebos is settled now. I told Kenith and Amira that we had visitors but to stay in the bedroom until we come get them."

"Good plan."

"Is Iblis talking to the spirits?"

"Mmmhm, just waiting to see who picks up the call first..."

Samil remained silent, watching as Iblis cut his own hand with an obsidian blade, deep purplish blood coursing down his index finger and into the metal bowl. The smoke billowed, growing thick, but still smelling of heady flowers and nightshade honey. The same finger was then used to make bloody marks on the table around Mandy's body, before he came to a stop at her head.  

Iblis lowered his head, looking as if he was in prayer. Chim watched in the background, sipping a beer nonchalantly as the others kept watch, Samil still keeping a grip on Mandy's hand.

Iblis gave a faint smile, "Ereshkigal has come forward to volunteer herself. She chooses Mandy as her new host."

Marc made a quiet, "Ooooh" sound. Noc murmured, "Which one is that?"

"Progenitor of the Grove Tribe, she ruled over Death and Law..."

Iblis looked at Samil, "Are you truly ready for this? She will not be the same as before, her personality will be the same, but she will become more like one of my people. She will have to learn how to control her powers, how to be a banshee..."

Samil lifted his chin, confidently nodding, "I'm ready for whatever is needed. I just want her back..."

Chim snickered, cramming cake into the stomach mouth, but said nothing.

"Very well", Iblis made a new mark, his blood painting a symbol onto Mandy's forehead, before he walked over to the metal bowl again. Into it he crushed a green stone, and stirred the mixture with what looked like a piece of bone. The smoke billowed with renewed vigor, taking on a greenish tinge. As the banshees chanting began anew, he voice took on a subtle rasp, lowering and slowing until it almost sounded like a dirge. His eyes and his flame shifting to a vibrant green that cast an eerie glow across the room.

Finally he sighed, lifting up his head, studying the assembled men before before pointing a claw at Samil,

"You, you are the one who wishes this one to live?", his voice mingled with the rasp, making it sound like there were 4 voices instead of 2.

Samil nodded, "More than anything."

"Then place your hands upon her Samil Urdin, and think of her alive and well."

The being who was Iblis and yet not looked to the rest of the table, "And you all wish for her to live?"

Noc spoke, "I do, she's a friend and doesn't deserve to die like that."

Marc also spoke, "I do, I think we've had enough innocent deaths for awhile..."

Chim blinked as the being stared at him, "Huh? Oh yeah I guess so..."

Erishkigal/Iblis raised their arms, "Then place your hands upon her body, think of her as living, and do not let go."

Samil wrapped both his hands around Mandy's, focusing on nothing but his memories of her, warm and lithe, wrapped around him like a cat, her arms draped around his shoulders. He closed his eyes, picturing her smiling at him as she teased him.

Nocturne and Marc each placed their hands on her dutifully. This was not the first time they had done this, but it was for Chim. He groaned and placed a single finger on one foot, still swigging a beer with his other hand.

Iblis lowered his head towards Mandy's, placing his fingertips along her temples, and the sigil on her forehead began to glow with the same green light that burned between his horns. The raspy voice was stronger that ever as he spoke, "I give my spirit to this human so that she may live again..."

The room began to shake, and what sounded like hundreds of bones rattling rythmically shook the pictures on the walls. A green light flashed, coursing through the attendees and causing their eyes to blaze with the same verdant shade. The air in the room seemed to change as energy flowed from one person to another, fresh and with a hint of offeratory incense and ancient books. The energy collected, coalesced, and finally formed an emerald sphere above Mandy's body, before slowly sinking into her chest.

The participants collapsed to the floor as the energy released them, and they fell hard. Samil was the first to scramble to his feet, desperate and hoping beyonf hope that it had worked. The green light was gone, but the scent of the incense was heavy in the air. He bent over the table, grasping onto her shoulders and lifting her, looking expectantly at her face as her eyes began to flutter open.

"Ugh...Sammi?"

"Yes mon chou?", he grasped her hand and kissed the back of it

"I need some coffee..."

"Whatever you desire"

"Oh for christs sakes, some warning would have been nice", Chim rubbed his head as he pulled himself up by the edge of the table, with Noc and Marc doing the same on either side.

Mandy looked up at Samil with a bewildered expression, "What...happened?"

Chim groaned, "Frosty the ice-bitch killed your ass is what happened."

Samil growled, "Chimney...if I were not holding her right now..."

"Yeah yeah whatever. So scary." Chim rolled his eyes, before lifting the broken beer bottle, "Goddammit..."

Mandy looked back at Samil, "Wait, I died?"

Samil nodded, "It was a trick...I'm so sorry mon amour...I am so sorry..."

Noc was in shock. He never imagined he'd ever hear the prince of Cania apologize for anything, but he was soon distracted by Marc rushing towards the head of the table, "Iblis...honey?"

He joined him, finding Iblis still laying on the floor, unconcious. He exchanged looks with Marc, before Chim yawned,

"Well that was...something. Can I go now? Rudolph?"

"He's unconcious..."

"Huh...okay guess that answers that question. I better not get any more fucking visitors..."

Samil shot Chim a murderous glare as the other sidled past him with a smirk, "You owe me, your majesty", the last word was marked with venomous sarcasm.

“I’ll show you what I owe you next time we meet...but you better hope for your sake we don’t meet again...”

Samil looked over at the unconcious banshee, now being lifted by Noc. He wasn't sure how he was going to repay the debt he had accrued for this, but he certainly wasn't going to forget it anytime soon, and judging from the look he was being given, neither would Noc.

He looked back down at Mandy, "I shall have to replace your shirt..."

"Okay...but first...coffee..."