Chapter 3 - A New World

''Welcome boy-no Brother.'' I felt his firm grip on the collar of my shirt as he yanked me up onto my feet.

My ears were invaded by this sharp ringing noise that created a cacophony of screeching noises, full of agony and despair as the chilling sensation from earlier dove back down my throat.

Lucifer noticed this and seemed to close his eyes and mouth something- and at that moment a crimson aura started to shirk its way towards me across the floor like a snake. The aura wrangled around my legs as I felt the ringing subside and the pain slowly decay.

''Your body can't handle that power yet. Don't use it.'' He informed me as his body once again shrunk down to the comedic proportions he previously had.

''Huh- what? What power? What did I just do? What is this?'' Questions started to ramble out my mouth without caring about my well being even in front of this mythical creature.

My head started to spin at trying to comprehend at even the tiniest level what the hell was going on. But just before I felt like I was about to loose it, Lucifer spoke up.

''Now, Brother. As a deal's a deal- you're now my right hand man.'' The corners of his mouth pulled up to form a mischievous grin as he pondered for a second before speaking again.

''I've got a small job for you. It's a problem I have in another realm-'' Before he finished, my brain lit up with a small sense of excitement.

''Another realm, you mean like another world?'' I questioned, trying to hush the rising excitement in my voice.

''Yes, you could call it that, regardless. Brother, my influence is falling in that realm due to something. I'm not sure.'' He carried on.

''I need you to find out what's going on and fix it. I trust you'll be able to carry out this properly- but first I must tell you something.'' He stopped there, as a palpable silence surrounded the room.

''You were chosen by-'' Before he could finish- a deafening boom echoed through the halls as the earth- well Hell shook below my feet.

The sounds of screams entered my ears again, but this time they felt real. Sounds of gurgling, blood splattering and swords clashing.

The dark black pillars of the palace begun to buckle and crack under the pressure of the unknown warfare going on above us. The floor shook beneath my feet as Lucifer looked up in shock with a hint of defeat starting to come over him as his shock turned to a small smirk.

''I guess they've come. It makes sense, you're here after all.'' His defeated tone shocked me as I shouted out;

''WHAT? WHAT's COMING HERE? WHAT SHOULD WE DO?'' The questions spilt out but weren't acknowledged by Lucifer as his body grew again.

Not long after he said that, I saw an ethereal flash of light rush through the ceiling as the light disintegrated the rocks it flew through. It landed with a godly thump as the ground beneath it distorted and a bright holy aura started to surround the figure. Lucifer's wound began to fester with the same light.

An unknown emotion spilt out the voice of the godly figure as it spoke.

''G̸̢̫̞̈́̓̕I̵͇͚̪̔̕͝V̸͖͕̿͑͝E̸̪̠͚͒͘ H̵̡͙͙̓̿̀I̴̢̦̝͆͒͌M̴̘̙͋̀̚ H̸̡͖̼̓̓̿E̵̡̞͔͆͒͝R̵̢͔̺̀͐́É̵͇̼͚͐͝''

It uttered with holy dividence as Lucifer stood solid.

Lucifer pushed his arms behind his back in a sophisticated manner as I saw him start to twirl his fingers in the air as a small aura surrounded his fingertips. His fingers danced around as a small blue portal appeared underneath my feet.

The celestial blue of the portal sparkled as Lucifer's hand twirled and danced around his back.

''I'm afraid I can't do that. He's my precious Brother after all.'' He firmly said as he stopped his casting of the portal as it began to suck me in.

''HEY LUCIFER! WHAT'S GOING ON? RUN AWAY!'' I demanded as I felt my soul slowly being drowned as I sunk deeper and deeper into the portal.

As he turned to face me, an inexplicable emotion struck across his face.

''Brother, I'm sorry this is how we depart, but I have one small thing to tell you.'' Lucifer urged as I saw the holy figure's halo bobble above its head as it took step by step, ancient looming footsteps over to us.

''Meet with Asmodeus- he will assist you. My army lays to the north in the fiery hell of Leviathan. They will assist you-'' But before he could finish, he let out a guttural groan of pain as I saw the sword pierce through Lucifer's torso. The holy light illuminated Lucifer's face for the first time.

I saw the scars of a man who's been alive for longer that I could possibly think. The burn marks gnawed at his skin. His deep dark sunken red pupils seemed to dim as his body fell limp as his hands rested on my shoulders. He felt cold.

''LUCIFER NO!!'' I screamed out as the sword returned through his torso and left a gaping hole in its place. Blood poured out the wound, a dark, black, greasy blood.

I felt Lucifer's hands grip my shoulders hard as the holy figure once again began to advance onto us. My legs seemed to fall ever deeper into the blue of the portal as time seemed to slow in that moment. I looked up at Lucifer's face and saw a small tear run down as he agonisingly pulled his head up to face me, a small smile on his face. His eyes seemed softer in that moment, like someone I'd known for a long time unbeknownst to me. It seemed familiar. Lucifer's pupils dilated even more as I saw the aura around him fade and move over to me where I felt his energy permeate through my skin. The dark red aura strangled my veins as they diffused in. I felt a surge of energy, an ancient energy surge through me.

The holy figure charged at us as I felt my body go limp and felt the call of the portal as it pulled me even deeper. My eyes stayed wide open in shock as I saw the sword slice through Lucifer's neck as his head tumbled through the air.

The portal drowned me till the point of no return as the celestial blue surrounded my vision. I tried to lunge my hand out-

''BROTHER!!'' I shouted out as I saw the scenery of Hell disappear as I fell deeper and deeper into this wormhole.

I felt like I was falling for a long time, my mind in disarray as I floated in limbo for what seemed like hours. The memories of my life before I died rushed through my head, memories of my Mum, the library, everyone. My head ached with a longing to go back to everyone yet I felt a guilt at the memory of Lucifer protecting me.

Why did he seem so familiar to me? I tried to push the feeling out of my head but other questions seemed to pool in. But before that I saw a bright flash of light in front of me as a small hole began to open in front of me as I saw lush green pastures begin to come into view. Except I was hundreds of feet above the ground. As I felt the celestial view of my peripheral vision begin to fade away, in came the sky, and white fluffy clouds with it. I felt the wind pulsate around my body as I free fell, the fear I felt replaced with awe as I took in my surroundings as I tumbled down. The horizon stretched wide as the world was split indefinitely. A stringe of dark red with hellish towers lay to the north, a bright royal yellow streak of buildings to the south and the deep white of snow to the west.

As I fell, I saw small creatures float around me, their small wings fluttering around me trying to gauge me. Their colourful dresses danced wonderfully in the wind as I then realised how close I was to the ground. Soon, the deep blue of a pool came into my vision as the small figures from before fluttered away.

I felt my body crunch upon impact, accompanied by a loud thwacking noise, as I hit the water with enough force to completely flatten me. My vision instantly blacked out.

When I woke up, an aching pain seethed in my body as I grimaced in agony. I forced myself to open my eyes as I winced from the pain, but as my vision readjusted I saw a small girl with a fluffy tail and white skin look over me, her cheeks stuffed to the brim with carrots as the leaves were still visible from her mouth. She gulped them down before she opened her mouth.

''ᚺᛖᚤ, ᚨᚱᛖ ᚤᛟᚢ ᛟᚴᚨᚤ?'' The small inversion of her tone at the end inferred a question.

Huh?