The Death Trials by Jonsie (rocket ebook reader txt) 📕

crossed their paths and killed Cyril. He would’ve been lost but Blake wouldn’t excepted it. So, she came down here, begging me for his life. I told her, the only way she could restore her brother’s life was to go to the wish-dealer. And so she did. The price was high: Her heart against her brother’s life. You know- seeming her brother is alive- what she did, right?”
Elias just stared at me, wide-eyed and shocked.
“She… gave him her heart?” He whispered. I was too embarrassed to look at him, so I stared at my feet.
“Right. But wishing and dreaming are dangerous things. The dealer tricked her. Cyril lives, yes. Her heart is beating inside of his chest, but he only lives down here- never in your world.”
“But with no heart, Blake could die down here! No soul, no heart…”
My legs, gray. It creped towards my fingers, pulling the color out of them. Dull and cold. Black and White. Dead. Elias’ eyes swayed to his hands and then to mine. Then he realized the huge difference, sucking in the breath. Belzeebub laughed.
“Well, well. As it seems you’ll have a lot to talk about after I tell you my request.”
Elias seemed blank. He wasn’t listening and I couldn’t be sure that he even saw me gazing upon him. So, I had to handle this alone.
“Start talking, big man,” I spat. How dare he?! Really? Belzeebub raised one eyebrow, but proceeded still with the grin on his lips. His eyes, though, looked troubled.
“Well… we are loosing souls. More and more.”
The master of fire frowned.
“Satan doesn’t know why, neither does Luzifer- or me, for that matter. Our troops are getting weaker and we can’t defend ourselves anymore.”
“Against… who?”
Belzeebub’s eyes seemed to glow red in the dim light of the throne room.
“Heaven.”
At the sound of that word, Elias snapped out of it, blinking a few times.
“So, good versus evil?”
He seemed to challenge the master demon with his gaze, aching one eyebrow up. He crossed his arms in front of his chest and raised his head a bit to come across more superior.
“Yes, exactly. We’re trying to keep everything at a balance, reaper. There has to be good and evil at a certain rate but I guess somebody like you wouldn’t understand. You just follow like good little doggies.”
Elias grunted. I felt for him, really, but because I knew Belzeebub was more or less right… I mean, we did follow like sheep. Mr. Adam organized everything and we accepted it. Maybe we should try questioning what we did and for who we did it.
“So you think Heaven is trying to… well, take over?”
The bull man smirked.
“Yes. If you want to put it that bluntly. And I want from you to fix it. It is, mainly, your fault anyway Blake Heart.”
“What is he talking about, B?”
My partner eyed me suspicious.
“Another thing you two can talk about! It’s going to be a long night.”
“What do I have to do?” I asked further, ignoring Elias burning stare.
Belzeebub bent down to be on my eye level, his eyes shimmering and sparkling. Never a good sign by demons. His thin lips curled up to another smirk, his hair framing his gorgeous face perfectly. With his beauty he reminded me of Adelaide. They would be a perfect couple and furthermore she wouldn’t annoy Caden so much. Funny, but I always had the feeling I needed to protect that lonely reaper.
“You have to go through the Death Trials.”
“A-ha? And afterwards?”
“Well, well. Thinking optimistic, are we?”
I narrowed my eyes. He laughed it off, shaking his head and almost killing me with those big horns on his head.
“Then you are going against heaven?”
“Why do we have to go through the trials?” Elias snored.
The demon sighed, breaking the eye contact with me to look at my partner. I had the feeling he wanted to burn Elias alive with his gaze.
“Why don’t you find that out by yourself?”
An early feeling crept up inside of me. Maybe I was a fortune-teller, but I think it wasn’t a good sign if a demon – always waiting for a moment to be gleeful – didn’t want to share bad news with others.

Later that evening (let’s call it that, because you sure lose track of time down here) a servant of Belzeebub brought us to our room, barking that we should be ready in a short time for dinner. Barking, because he was a werewolf.
“Well?”
Elias was silent the whole walk through the hallways and stayed that way until he sat down on our king sized bed, folding his arms. His eyebrow was raised, his lips shut tightly. He sure didn’t look like playing games or sarcasm. Too bad, I always love to tell my fairy tale gone bad with a hint of a joke. It was less painful then.
“What do you want to know?”
“Like… everything? Is that possible or you just wanna lie some more?”
He was hurt. I could see it in his eyes and the atmosphere was so tense I could barley move. Swallowing hard I started to massage my fingers – a habit I grew fond of over the past ten years when I felt nervous. Or got caught in a lie (that happened to me a lot – still does).

(to be continued... -dramatic music playing in background-)
Imprint

Text: Jonsie
Images: Senju-HiMe
Publication Date: 04-29-2012

All Rights Reserved

Dedication:
to all of my readers out there (are there even anybody?)