The Devil's Bleeding Crown

My morning had started with the visit of the Priest, because... why the hell not. Did it seem like I had better things to do? Maybe getting the angel back? Yeah, it was too early for that and I wasn’t up to the possible walking in on her and Gates doing something that I couldn’t erase from my head. Fuck... Why did I just imagine it?

I pushed open the heavy doors to the church, sneezing as soon as I stepped in the holy hall.
„Fuck, these allergies...” You may ask what I was allergic to? The answer is simple – bullshit. As I walked further, I stopped by the font of holy water, just barely wetting my fingers in attempt to do that cross thingy over oneself. Somehow the action itself always brought a grin to my face. Maybe because I didn’t know how to properly do it. I mean... sorry... Nobody teaches this thing in Hell.

My feet carried me straight towards the confessional. The church seemed empty, which seemed odd. It was Sunday in fact – the only day God was seemingly working. I drew the curtain and got in the booth, sitting down exactly as the shutter opened on the other side. I slight smirk mirrored on my features as my eyes connected to my hands. „Don’t bless me father for I will sin...”

„I was wondering when will I hear your voice, Pandora.” Priest replied, seemingly irritated. „I see you’re still not ready to confess all your sins.”

„Oh father,” I shook my head with a smirk as my eyes raised to the ceiling of the booth, „Why tempt you? What will I do when you’ll realize the dark side is in fact fun and we have some hellish cookies? To whom will I not confess my sins then, huh?”

„To the point, Pandora.” He snapped.

„Oki-dokes,” I took a deep breath, before continuing, „are you sure you don’t want to join my hellish crusade, ‘cause—„

„Pandora.” He implied, forcing an even bigger smirk out of me.

Okay, okay... hell’s not your shot of tequila, I get it. Jeez. „I need to get in Hell.”

Silence. Deadly silence. I turned to look at the sort of window through which I could see his silhouette. Did he die or something? Why wasn’t he saying anything? Cat got your tongue, huh? „You know how to get in.”

Oh, look, he speaks! I rolled my eyes. „Okay, I’ll rephrase that – I need to know how to get out of Hell.”

„And how did you do it last time?” He questioned, sounding surprisingly intrigued.

„Beats me.” I shrugged, „I honestly don’t remember that part. I just know I woke up in the middle of the Nevada desert.”

I heard him sigh at the other side of the wall, „If you’ll get into the devil’s office, you’ll see a large door guarded by two serpents...” What the hell was he talking about? I had been in Syn’s office before, but never had I seen a door of sort. Like actual serpents? Kinda freaky if you ask me. And ironic. „It’s an elevator. You’ll need a key to activate it.”

So the Hell had an elevator? Good to know. „And where do I get this key?”

„Don’t know.” The Priest replied. Well... that helped a great deal.

„Thanks... for nothing.” I mused to myself as I pushed myself out of the booth. „Oh, and here—„ My hand picked out the small bag with drugs from my pocket along with the ‘card’ and threw them in his side of the booth after I had opened the red curtains. „Two grand. You’ll pay me when I return.”

Highway to Hell had always been and always will remain a huge pain in the ass. The fact that we had to actually take the glorified Route 66 to enter the devil’s lair made me seriously roll my eyes. I bet he found this funny... The only way to get into city of damned was to drive a road which is... undrivable. Practically nobody used this road anymore, since basically the place where it branched off to Route 666, there was a serious crack in the road... Almost as if Thor – the one from Avenger movies – had taken his mighty hammer and slammed the spot a couple of times, which obviously gave no option, but to take Route 666, which lead straight to Hell. Basically, it was a deserted road which started just as Nevada ended.

Rumors told that a pretty girl dressed in a white gown marched down this road and eventually everyone who drove down Route 666 saw her. That’s Mary. Gates damned her for an eternity to walk this road. Her main mission was to see if people would stop and help her – if they did – she had a small talk with them, asking where are they going and if they knew that they’re on the Devil’s Highway – if they knew – she hopped in and continued their drive with them all the way to Hell; if they happened to be on this road by mistake – she allowed them to turn around and head back. Basically the girl served as a road-sign if you will. If you saw Mary, you still had the option to turn around and get the fuck back from wherever you came from. Nevertheless, Mary didn’t mean any harm, but I can’t say the same for Gates’ hounds, or the flaming diesel truck which we just passed by the way.

Although... there was a way to continue the road and pass Hell, but knowing how we were traveling at night, it was extremely hard to spot the place where the road branched off thanks to the lack of signs. Basically there were two sections of the road. The one which mostly everyone took lead right to the gates of Hell. Even in pure daylight it was almost impossible to know that the actual road curves at one point and doesn’t go straight.

Tempest was soundly asleep in the passenger seat and I thanked the almighty for it. She didn’t need to see all of this. I could ignore the hounds running along with the car which was speeding off in the night at 120 miles per hour, by the way, but I don’t think Tempest could’ve ignored those haunting yellow eyes reflecting in the window.

Fun fact about this road, you actually didn’t realize you’re in Hell until you’re actually there, which was the reason why I checked the watch under the speedometer every other minute. Once you entered Hell every one of your time devices froze. It felt like being in a loop, on a road that never ends – the very first circle of Hell. Only when you stopped to look around, the view started to change – the desert around you became even darker and for a moment you would’ve thought it had started snowing. In the middle of a desert... In July. Yeah. Tough luck. In reality that’s ash. From where and why? Beats me, there’s not an actual infernal flame that burns throughout Hell. Well... except for the gate which leads to Gates’ lair. One of his cheap gimicks. It’s burning with a blue flame, but besides that... you can see the occasional smoldering, but nothing else. All in all Hell was a really damp and outrageously cold place. It got warmer the further you went. Somewhere around the fifth circle, the temperature reached about the one they had in LA on a sunny day, yet it’s so moist that you practically couldn’t breath, which was hilarious to me – every person who enters Hell is already dead and they don’t need to breathe anymore.

I stopped the car, hearing a bestial scream go off in the far distance. I turned my head to look at Teek and saw her eyes going wide. „We’re here.” I announced seeing her finally awoken.

„It’s... dark.” She whispered, breathing on her hands and rubbing them together, „and cold.”

My hand was already on the handle, before what seemed like a surprised and frightened scream came from Tempest. She was pointing to something out the window. I turned my head to look at what had gotten her so scared. The hounds? They usually don’t come this far. I saw a pair of blood red eyes gazing inside the car. A small smile appeared on my lips as I opened the door and stepped outside. „Oh hey, baby...” The large head lowered so my hand could rest on those cold scales of his nose. „Teek, don’t be scared, he won’t hurt you...”

„What is that?” She asked, her fear had seemingly minimized, yet still she was hiding behind the car.

„What?” I laughed, turning my head back at her. „More of a who... This is Drago. He’s a dragon. Have you heard of them?” Drago was still relatively small, he stood at ten feet at best, but boy was he growing. Last time I saw him he barely reached my shoulders. „How have you been, boy? Tortured some naughty little souls?” He purred as he moved his head in to my hand. „Good boy...”

„He’s so big...” Tempest mused as she slowly came closer.

„Nonsense. He’s tiny.” I walked closer and hugged his neck. Man, have I missed you. „His brother has good ten feet on him...?”

„Brother?” She gulped loudly.

„Yeah, Luci. You’ll see him later. He’s Syn’s dragon, surprisingly named after himself.” I rolled my eyes. Gates was such an egotistical bastard, I mean... who the hell names his pet after himself?

„Luci?”

„Lucifer. The name God gave him.” I explained and patted Drago’s back, his huge wings fluttering.

„So who’s dragon is this one?” Tempest pointed with her head towards the beastly.

„Mine of course.” I stated proudly, looking back at his red scale covered body. „Hey, I have an awesome idea,” I looked back at Tempest with a wide smile on my lips, motioning for her to come closer, „Come on, don’t be scared.” In all actuality Drago was probably more scared than Tempest herself. He had never in his life seen an angel, usually a couple of demons, rarely a fallen, and despite the fact that Teek didn’t have her wings anymore, she still had the heavenly scent to her. Drago stepped back, eying Teek very carefully. „Shh, boy, it’s all good...” But the closer Tempest got, the more stressed the dragon became, swinging his wings as if trying to shove Teek away. My eyes darkened and I knew veins around them bulged out as I spoke in a quiet yet menacing voice, „Supplico.”

Drago’s eyes stayed on me for a second, before he knelt down, lowering his head to the ground.

„Right.” I clapped my hands together as I turned back to Teek with a wide smile. She, on the other hand had raised a brow at me and had crossed her arms over her chest. „What? Don’t give me that look and get on the damned dragon.”

„Excuse me? You want me to... climb on him...?” She pointed her finger to herself. So the angel got an attitude. Marvelous.

„Oh so you want to walk through those eight remaining circles, probably die once or twice just by passing the second circle instead of flying over them?” I frowned greatly.

Her glare traveled to Drago, who shook the ash off his shiny scale. „It doesn’t look like he likes me...”

„Of course he doesn’t - you’re an angel!” I cried out, „He’s never seen your kind and frankly he’s trained to kill everything celestial... I’m actually surprised he hasn’t tried yet...” I looked back at the dragon over my shoulder. Are you ill? Or maybe broken? He just looked back at me and I swore he just rolled his eyes on me.

„He’s trained to kill me and you want me to get on top of him?” She exclaimed, pointing to Drago. Hey! He too has feelings!

„You were on top of Gates, weren’t you?” I retorted cheekily, walking towards Drago and climbing on his back. „You’re coming or not?”

I looked back at Teek, who had a resemblance of a tomato at this point. Oh, so she thought I didn’t know? But I think she herself didn’t know what was the activity they had indulged in. Although... probably she suspected that it was something that you were only allowed to do after you got married. At least that’s what the Bible told you. The number one fanfiction of the world.

„Look, I can leave you here, but I don’t promise you won’t run into some very hideous creatures who’d try to kill you.” I saw Teek sighing heavily, before she started walking towards us, which made Drago stand to his full height as if showing he’s more superior than the tiny angel. Oh for fuck sake... I leaned over and held out my hand for her. „Just grab my hand, I’ll pull you up.”

She rubbed her forearm, looking fairly unsure about the whole ordeal.

„Come on, I promise he won’t hurt you.” I shot her an encouraging smile, „My word is my bond, Teek.”

She took a deep breath and finally she nodded, reaching out for my hand. Just a second later she was sitting behind me. „Wow... you’re strong...”

„Demon’s strength enhances while being in Hell,” I explained just as Drago got us up in the sky. What probably hurt the most and made me despise Gates to oblivion and back, was the fact that he had caged away Drago as soon as he threw me in one of his torture chambers, knowing Drago would try and break me out... Cage a dragon and he won’t grow. Not even by an inch. Luci and Drago were exactly the same age, but the height difference was impressive.

I wished I could take him with me, but sadly he had to stay in Hell. I still remembered his scream when he realized I’m leaving him, nevertheless, he couldn’t disobey me, just like I couldn’t disobey Syn. Drago was bound to me just like I was bound to Syn and nothing in the world could change it.

Tempest had cramped herself in my waist and only when we had been up in the air for a minute or ten, I realized Drago isn’t flying where he was supposed to. Instead, he was going the opposite direction, towards the burning mountains. So there was in fact an infernal fire burning somewhere in Hell... Look at that. Who would've thought. I thought it was only a story parents told their catholic kids who refused to go to bed. Frustrated wasn’t a word at the moment. Drago had gone towards the fire... How dared he disobey me?! I didn’t have time to be the Dora explorer Shads thought I was.

A see of fire burnt right below us, which made me realize I had never been here. Drago landed in a cave of sort and I instantly jumped off him, helping Tempest get down, before I gave him a glare. He screamed back at me. The sound was piercing my ears, yet I stood still, not ever taking my eyes off of him.

The same sound echoed from inside the cave, which was the main reason for me to break our stare-down. „What the...”

Just then I realized Tempest was gone. I walked to the edge to see if she had fallen down, but nope, no angel was burning in the infernal fire. A voice sounded from inside the cave, „Pandora?”

I pinched the bridge of my nose, before I sighed heavily. This was Hell for crying out loud... She couldn’t just wander off if she wanted to stay in one piece.

„Pandora!” She yelled, forcing me to march straight in the darkness. After I had entered the cave, it didn’t seem so dark out of a sudden. As I walked deeper, I saw the reason behind it. The cave was burning with a blue flame, which was oddly cold and in the middle of the cave was Tempest... who was staring at a white dragon.

„Okay, Teek, just stay perfectly still...” I whispered as I slowly approached the dragon, which screamed right in my face. My eyes spotted a book in leather covers right under it’s paw. The grimoire... Was this... Lilith’s dragon? No... It couldn’t be, she hated them. A high tone screetch came from the dragon once again. „Come on... we’re not gonna hurt you...”

„Uhmm... Pandora?”

„Not now, Teek...” I whispered back at her.

„The dragon’s bleeding...”

Notes