Chapter 3: Jesse
1424 Words
Jesse's P.O.V.
This is so not okay. I mean what the actual f**k? Kidnapped by demons? This can't be right. Who the f**k messed this up? What would demons want with me?
I watched them from the spot on the wall they had chained me to. The place was literal hell, hotter than the devil's balls. Sweat gleamed all along my skin, matting my short hair to my forehead. I had just cut it yesterday, thank the shadows. I think I'd die if it were any longer right now.
My face itched as a bead of sweat ran down my nose and onto the clay colored ground beneath me. It sizzled as it hit the ground, evaporating into the air. I strained to hear what the demons were saying, wondering how they even got me down here. Judging by the dead body covered in ancient ruins before me, I'm going to say it was some kind of dark magic.
"You i***t, that's not her mother." I could hear one of them scolding the other in its raspy voice. One that pricked my ears like a million needles.
"It's still her family, he'll still come," the other defended. His voice was just as bad, only it didn't hurt my ears. Instead it sent a prickling sensation down my back, as if I were being lightly scratched by thorns.
"He better, or it'll be your head the boss takes." His voice stabbed my ears again, making me wipe it against my shoulder as if that would help somehow.
"What do you want from me?" I asked them again, hoping maybe they would answer this time.
'Jesse!' Luz scolded me.
'I know, bad idea, Jesse.' I sighed, already knowing she was going to lecture me.
'No s**t. We don't want their attention. We need to get the hell out here.' Luz was scared shitless. Who wouldn't be when they're randomly brought to hell surrounded by a handful of powerful demons.
'Was that a pun?' Umbra laughed, taking this lightly as always. Umbra never seemed to take anything too seriously, always joking around. She was the most playful shadow to exist. I guess that's why she's an original. She's powerful and unintimidated by a lot of things.
'No it was not a pun. Will you take this seriously for once? We're in hell, Umbra. HELL!' Luz had grown annoyed with Umbra through the months, to the point I thought they may actually fight inside me. I think she was ready to kill her.
"Quiet!" The demon who's voice hurts my ears, yelled at me, only making me feel like they would bleed. His yelling hurt more than his normal voice.
"Geez, alright. Cranky much?"
What's the matter with me? I'm literally poking at a demon.
"If he doesn't come soon, I'm going to tear her tongue out before we kill her," the demon whose voice prickled my back spoke next.
"If you want me to be quiet you could just answer my question," I shrugged, saying it as if it were the simplest of answers.
I think I have a death wish.
The demon seeth, the orange cracks in its charred skin glowed brighter as its anger rose. It held its clawed hand up ready to strike when a gold feather struck through its palm. I'd never seen a feather so strong. As I looked ahead to the long dark cavern I saw the glow of Ares’ lilac eyes and Auggie’s blue flames.
They came to save me.
I pulled on Umbra feeling the power rise in me as a blue haired woman stepped through first. She was so f*****g beautiful that she had me believing I loved women for a second, but then I remembered how much I love Liam's d**k and the feeling faded quickly. I used Umbra, taking control of the darkness and had her pick at the lock on my shackles. A fight erupted all around me as Ares, Auggie and a dark-curly haired girl stepped in. She was the one that had thrown the feather seeing as her wings held a million more of them. She jumped into the air spinning as she sent more feathers flying. What I didn't expect was for them to now be coated in fire as well.
What is she?
More demons poured in from the left and right, quickly outnumbering us. The curly haired girl pulled a sword out of thin air, one that flamed to life beside her. The sword of the righteous is what Toni called it. She must be part angel.
"You won't be getting out of this alive. If you want her back you'll have to trade. Who do you love more, your sister or your daughter?" The demon spoke to Ares with a chuckle in his voice.
"Obviously his daughter. I see why you wanted to get Andy instead. Tougher choice, but I would gladly die for my niece," I interjected just as the shackles were released from my wrists.
I rubbed at them as I locked eyes with the demon in charge. His bright orange holes for eyes seemed to grow brighter as the hell fire in him rose. I traveled beside Ares, glad I had continued to practice with the darkness all summer long. It didn't strain me as much to use it now.
"No one is dying here today."
"Time to go, dearies,” the blue haired woman said.
She winked at me as a white fog began to wrap around my ankles, moving up and slithering around my whole body. The demons all lunged at once and the curly haired girl sliced a few of their heads off before we all traveled out together. I'd never traveled through light before. It was warm, unlike the cold embrace of my shadows.
We were out of hell, allowing me to breathe in the cool fresh air. I almost shivered even though there was a warm summer breeze. It felt oddly cold compared to the heat of hell. I looked around finding tall trees and a familiar crack in the air. Only this one didn't feel like the ethereal plane crack I'd traveled to before. Although still enchanting, it didn't give off the same inviting feel. It called to the dark side of me, pulling me towards it, but my soul knew it was not a good place. The blue haired woman stood before me as she placed her hands on either side of the crack. She pushed it together, ultimately sealing it shut.
"Well, that was a lot easier than I thought it'd be. I swear gods can be so over dramatic sometimes." She rolled her eyes as she waved her hand down in complaint.
"I don't think we're done," the curly haired girl chimed in just as demons and ghouls began to surround us.
"I knew that was too easy," Auggie complained, letting his flames grow tall.
"We got this," the blue haired woman smiled, taking a spot beside me for some reason. "I'm in charge of keeping you safe, so I won't be but a few feet away from you, cutie."
Her wink caused me to blush for some reason, making me feel like the school girl I was. I shook my head, trying to focus on the battle ahead. These weird thoughts, and feelings can wait until after battle. I took a stance, but this blue haired beauty grabbed my hand. I was about to complain when I was suddenly struck with immense power. Her hand held mine tightly as she shared her strength with me. It was euphoric, like tasting heaven. I moaned as it rushed through my body from my head down to my toes.
"That's a pretty sound." She smirked before letting my hand go and punching the nearby demon that lunged at me. It flew 30 feet, knocking down the tree it hit on the way. This woman was damn strong and I could feel that same power coursing through me. I hit the ghouls around us with my shadows sending them flying as well. When a demon came next I decided to see if I could punch just as strongly as her now. Turns out I could.
"Fun, isn't it?" She asked me.
"Extremely."
My mouth split into a s**t eating grin as she and I fought side by side. She was amazing and the power she lent me made me feel great too.
I don't know what she is, but I hope she sticks around for a while.
- Writer
