Just so you know, I am going to explain “Daun’s little universe within hell” thing, I just have to have something else be revealed beforehand. You’ll understand why when you get there. As for the explanation, it’s either going to be at the end of this part, or the beginning of the next.

August Moon
Part 3 : Revelations
©MM T h r e a d s

It seemed to Naru as if she and Daun had been walking for ages. The green forest had quickly thinned out to reveal a desolated wasteland, a cloudless red sky, and a strange ambient temperature, that, no matter how muggy it felt, there was always seemed to be a chill in the air.

Daun had found, or possibly summoned a long black cloak for Naru to wear. It wouldn’t protect her from the demons, they could smell living blood from miles away, but it did make her feel more secure.

Naru still couldn’t figure out why this girl was helping her, or maybe Naru was just being tricked. Curiosity getting the best of her, she had tried to find out.

“Daun,” She had asked.

“Yes.”

“Why are you helping me… or are you just going to kill me?”

“No, why would you say that?”

“I don’t even know you… and you are a demon.”

Daun had laughed.

“Don’t worry, I wouldn’t do anything intentional like that. I’m really not that bad a demon.”

“Then why?”

“Because there’ nothing better to do here.”

Finally, after about what felt another 10 ages of walking Naru saw the stone city of Maladomini.

Massive walls twenty feet high surrounded the city; atop it lay razor sharp spears to deter any unwanted guest from entering uninvited. As Daun led her closer to a large metal door, what seemed and smelt like blood spurted from small fountains on the sides of the door.

Naru felt like she was going to be sick.

Daun stopped in front of the massive door and shoved Naru behind her.

“Open up Door!” She commanded, in an irritated tone.

The metallic finish reformed to reveal a demonic face.

“Who goes there?” It hissed as it licked it razor sharp teeth.

“Daun. I said open up!”

“Then why do I smell the scent of human flesh about?” The doors eyes glowed. “Are you keeping something from me?”

Daun breathed in sharply. “I haven’t time for these foolish games, now I command you, open up!”

The door licked it lips. “A name to this flesh, I beg you.”

“Naru. Now open up!”

“You are not this flesh. I want the living one to say it.”

Daun looked to Naru’s terror stricken face and nodded.

“N…Naru…” Naru stuttered in response.

“Naru.” The door said thoughtfully. “And why do you exist in this realm still untouched by our masters hand?”

“Th...that’s why we’ve come to the city… to find out why.” She answered quickly.

“Alright Door, you’ve had your fun, now open!” Daun pressured again.

“The door sighed slowly, it’s fiery breath, passing over Naru and Daun.

“Very well, I shall open for you, sweet demon.”

The face left and the doors swung open. Naru made a move to enter, but Daun grabbed her tightly on the arm.

“What are you doing Daun? He said we could enter.”

“He said I could enter. He mentioned nothing of you.”

Naru was silent.

“The living one shall enter too, unharmed.”

The door laughed long and hard. “That is not part of our understanding.”

“Well it is now, Door!” Daun shot back, beginning to anger.

“Come closer sweet living one, I want to see you better…” It hissed in a cooing tone, ignoring Daun’s statement completely.

“No, that’s really alright.”

The door laughed again. “Come closer… so I may eat you!”

“That’s enough!” Daun shouted. “Let both of us enter now!”

“And what makes her an authority over me?”

“You know where I stand in the ninth circle, how do you know she is not an importance to him?”

The door was silent.

“Very well… you both may enter. But quickly before I change my mind!”

Daun pulled Naru close, and they both went through the gateway, both unharmed.

They continued down the cobble road, neither thanking the door for its ‘kindness’.

After a good distance, Naru broke the silence.

“What was that about?”

“Oh, we’re about the same age so he won’t always listen to me as a superior, he usually always lets me in though. You just have to be careful because he’ll always try to trick you, even if it isn’t to his advantage.”

Naru considered asking about what Daun meant about ‘where she stood in the ninth circle’ but decided against it, knowing she would receive another answer that would create even more questions.

They walked for hours through the stone city. Temples, crypts, tombs, mausoleums, black monoliths, small dwellings and lone towers that touched the flaming sky all dotted the massive expanse. No grass covered the ground- only red dirt and mangled weeds littered the area.

Daun led Naru to one of the tallest stone towers in Maladomini. It’s height so tall, and it’s with so thin caused Naru to wonder how it had stayed erect throughout the centuries.

Daun reached out and pulled one of the massive iron doors open. As she pulled, Naru could hear the distinct sizzle of something burning. The throbbing humidity from over the years must have superheated the doors and handles.

Daun looked down to her blistered hand as they entered the keep.

“I always hate that when it happens… I never learn do I?” She then smiled and looked up a Naru. “Better me than you, though.”

They began their ascent up the narrow staircase. After about only fifty steps it seemed, Naru could already feel vertigo every time she dared to look down, or even up for that matter.

“Daun,” Naru asked meekly. “I thought this was a city of hell… where are all the demons and damned souls?”

“Avoiding me.”

“Why?”

“I’ll explain later.”

Daun would always explain later it seemed.

After another grueling few hours of climbing, stepping, stumbling, dizzying vertigo and feeling borderline nauseous Naru finally reached the top.

She wasn’t sure what she was expecting. Maybe some sort of guardian that could read time, or magic seal that would tell her all she wanted to know, or even an old book. But all that sat before her was a black marble pedestal covered in inches of dust and cobwebs, and five massive slabs of unfinished iron with strange engravings, that lay mounted against the wall.

“This is it.” Naru gasped as she tried to catch her breath.

“What were you expecting, the prince of darkness?” Daun chuckled.

“Anything but… this.” Naru replied, her hands gesturing to the iron slabs on the wall.

“Don’t let your eyes deceive you,” Daun said as she trotted towards the first slab. “There’s always more than meets the eye.”

Daun examined the first slab, and then the second, and then the third and fourth and then last, muttering something under her breath as read each inscription. Naru just watched her, still battling her fatigue from the climb.

Daun walked back over to the pedestal and placed both hands atop it, not bothering to remove the dust and grime from it.

“Bagabi laca bachabe! Lamac cahi achababe!”

Naru was knocked to the floor from a burst of something powerful, likely energy in some form.

She blacked out for a few moments, and awoke to the sound of Daun’s shrieks.

Naru darted to a sitting position to see Daun kneeling on the floor clutching her temples, and rocking back and forth slightly. Still disoriented from the blast, Naru crawled across the dirty floor to where Daun sat.

“Daun!” She called out. “Daun! Wake up! She grabbed her shoulders and pulled her to the floor, trying to break her trance.

After a moment, some of the pallor left her face, and she opened her glassy eyes.

“Are you alright?” Naru asked as she let go of Daun’s clammy skin.

Daun sat up slowly and ran a hand through her damp hair. “That always happens to me when I talk to the slabs…”

“But you were shrieking out in pain, I thought you were going to die and leave me here!”

“Oh… there was that too… I… found your friend.” Daun said as looked to Naru with some reassurance.

“You did? Where is he?”

“I found his three other friends too… they’re… they’re in a place of great pain and suffering… I saw them, I felt them… that’s why I was screaming.”

Naru hesitated a moment. “Where… where is he?”

“Cocytus.” Daun answered bluntly. “Submerged completely… they lie next to my lords jaw… where I once lay, so long ago.”

Naru’s hand went to her mouth slowly.

“No…” She whimpered. “He can’t be… he just can’t. He was a good person, I know he was.”

She burst out into tears and found comfort on Daun’s shoulder.

“He may have been… but he also betrayed his home, his family, his friends, his country, his prince… treachery comes with a cost.”

Naru cried for another few moments, then looked up a Daun, surprise on her face.

“How did you know about that?”

Daun looked away. “You don’t need to know.”

Naru pushed away from Daun. “You’re always avoiding my questions, not answering anything fully for me… do you have any idea how confusing this is for me? I literally walk into hell, I’m lucky I found a demon who didn’t want to eat me, and all I ask is a little explanation to my situation… before the fear and terror of being here kills me.”

Daun stood up and walked to one of the slabs.

“These slabs are ancient… I’m almost hesitant to say they’re older than time. When I arrived, they were not here. I came here one day to find this tower, and at the top, these slabs.” Daun bowed her head. “I came to Hell from a place… far, far from Earth- Earth didn't even exist then. Before I was born, Hell wasn’t a place; it was a state of mind. When I came, I swear the cities were still being built, always expanding to accommodate the growing need. That is how old I am. Eons and eons.”

“But… How did you meet Nephrite?”

Daun didn’t turn to look at her. “I was hoping you would never ask me, or at least later, when you would have time to understand.”

She turned to look at Naru. “So I guess proper introductions are in order.”

“What are you saying?” Naru asked, rising to her feet.

Daun walked over to her slowly, and held out her hand.

“My name is Metallia, empress of the dark kingdom.”

End Part Three.

back