Don’t worry, the last part before Naru actually goes to where Nephrite is- I swear!
August Moon
Part 4 : Moment of Truth
©MM T h r e a d s
Naru’s eyes widened in surprise.
“What?” She stuttered. “What are you saying?”
Daun put her hands on her hips. “I’m Metallia. You do know who that is?”
Naru nodded slightly.
“Before you get mad at me for seducing your dear Nephrite’s soul away from him, allow me to explain, please.”
Naru looked away from her, but nodded.
“My real name is Daun. Daun Shey K’takan’kana Kel’lay. As you know, I come far from your planet earth. I came from a very wealthy family, it seemed that my life had been planned out for me perfectly since I was born… where I was going to live, who I was to wed. Everything. Then war broke out, and all of that was forgotten. But since we were so wealthy, we were exempted in serving with the royal guard. One day I came back home from a long ride… and found my family killed. Slaughtered, all of them, even my betrothed. I walked into the manor to be greeted by the sick stench of death; blood covered the walls; my family lay all around me.”
Daun ran a hand through her long black hair and crossed her arms. “My world was destroyed. I had lost everything. Then I heard someone calling to me. It was whom you call Metallia. She said she had traveled through the galaxy looking for me- I was too distraught so I actually believed that. She told me she knew who did this, and that, if I would let her, she would help me seek revenge. I agreed without knowing the price it would cost me. I don’t know what she did to me, but I became a warrior, I found revenge for my family, and fought in the war. Some say I actually helped win it. I think I killed thousands. For years Metallia never spoke to me… until one day she came back and took what belonged to her. My soul.”
Naru looked up at Daun with sad eyes. “I’m so sorry.”
Daun shrugged. “It’s okay, I’ve began to make peace with what I’ve done. For centuries I was the vessel for Metallia’s power. Traveling to other worlds, taking what should not be taken. I killed millions and injured thousands. My soul and body was subject to her will, until my body could not sustain the power she has accumulated, and was destroyed. With the death of my body, she realized she had no immediate use for my soul. She sent, or rather stored me in hell where I lay submerged in Cocytus for eons. I am still connected to Metallia, I know all that she does, know all that she takes. I think that is my punishment. One day, I was able to leave. I cannot explain it, only that I was permitted to go to that forest you found me in. I think my dark lord found a soft spot for me. No soul can leave hell, but you can leave the circle you were doomed to. What was created for me was a kind of separate plane within hell. It was connected to four other circles, and I know I could be removed from it whenever my lord or empress so wished. The only catch to this kind of freedom was that whenever my lord encounters a soul he does not know immediately what to do with, that soul is sent to me for judgment. In all the ages I’ve been here, I’ve only had to judge four souls, and only one of them was allowed to stay with me.”
Naru was silent for a long time, processing what Daun had told her.
“Daun… I don’t know what to say. Part of me wants to be mad at you for feeding Metallia, even though you knew nothing of what you were agreeing to. Another part dearly pities you, and wished you could be freed from your prison.”
Daun shrugged again. “This may sound strange, but if you’ve been here as long as I have, you start to get used to it, at least after I left the great lake.”
“But Daun,” Naru said looking up at her. “If demons can tell the difference between one who is dead, and one who is living, then why did you not believe me that I was still alive.”
Daun grinned. “I never said I had died. My body disintegrated with the growth of Metallia’s power, but I never died. If permitted, I could walk earth just as you would. But I also am a demon… my exact nature is very difficult to explain.”
“So where do we go from here?” Naru asked, running her hands over her face.
Daun gave her a sly look. “Come on, follow me, I’ve got an idea. I’ve been doing good down here for too long.”
Daun led Naru back to the forest and sat her down on the rock Naru had originally found Daun on.
“What are we doing here?” Naru asked as she removed her cloak.
“You’re here because of Nephrite’s soul, there’s not a doubt in my mind. The only problem is, there’s no way within my power to unite you two together. That is, to unite you two here. Nephrite is here because he chose to accept the lure of Metallia, if he hadn’t, then he would likely reside in another plane, likely Limbo or even the heavens. What you have to do is stop him from willingly accepting Metallia’s influence.”
“How do I do that?”
Daun smiled. “By sending you through time of course.”
Naru looked confused. “I thought you said no one could leave hell?”
“No one who belongs to Satan. No one who still has their soul.”
A glimmer of hope fell across Naru’s face. “How do we do this?”
“Remember when I said that one other resides in this forest. He was rather powerful in his lifetime… I think he can help us.”
There was a slight rustling in the trees, and an impeccably dressed man stepped through.
“Speak of the devil…” Daun muttered.
“And he so shall appear.” The man finished. He wore tan breeches with tall black boots. He had a navy crushed velvet jacket, with a frilly shirt underneath. He had dark gray eyes, long brown hair and pale skin.
“And who might you be?” He said walking to where Naru sat.
“Naru.” She replied looking up at him with curious eyes.
“Naru.” He repeated. “That’s a lovely name. I used to know a Naru once… or was it Nyala?”
“Okay look, John, we’ve got plenty of time for fun later, right now we need your help.”
The man looked sharply up at Daun. “Not until I’ve properly introduced myself to Miss. Naru.”
He took Naru’s hand in his and bowed slightly. “My name is John-Einar, but my friend here calls me John. You seem nice so you may also address me as that.” He then kissed her hand.
Daun rolled her eyes. “Alright, that’s enough. Are you going to help us or not?”
John grinned a fangy grin, which displayed to Naru why the charming man was in Hell.
“What is it? …No, no, let me guess. I’ve gotten quite good at that lately. You want me to help you send this lovely friend of yours back to when the one she loved sold his soul to Empress Metalia?”
Daun nodded.
“Fools. Both of you. You cannot imagine what our Lord would do to us if we aided in the freeing of one of his chained, even if this ‘love’ of Naru’s still partially belongs to Metallia.”
Daun shook her head. “He won’t mind if this soul is replaced by a number of others who sold theirs to him. Remember, that’s what we do.”
John frowned. “Alright, I will, but only if you deny my aiding of you. I like where I live, and don’t want that to change.”
“Fine.”
John returned the charming man he was minutes ago. “Then I am at you service Miss. Kel’lay.” And bowed.
Naru rose from the rock and stood facing the two demons. John pulled a pendant from the inside of his coat. The stone at the base was the clearest thing she had ever seen. It was on a small mount with a long pewter chain. John held it to her eye level.
“Isn’t it lovely?” He asked Naru. She looked through the crystal. The world was as clear through the crystal as if she were looking directly at the scene. The only strange aspect about its beauty was the crystal projected the image in black and white.
“It’s beautiful.” She murmured still gazing at its wonder.
“For whatever reason, when I died, this passed through along with me.”
“Naru…” Daun began to ask. “You do realize that what you are technically doing is making a deal with two demons. I cannot promise you that when you die you’ll pass on into the heavens. Are you prepared to accept this?”
Naru nodded. “Anything to free him. To free all of them.”
John shook his head slightly in disbelief. “Such loyalty…”
“So what are we going to do?” Naru asked, turning to Daun.
“Just watch and learn.” John replied instead.
Naru turned to see John holding the crystal in front of Naru. His lips were slightly ajar to reveal the long fangs nestled in his mouth. His eyes were slightly narrowed and now took on a pale shade of gold.
The world around Naru began to fade. It was almost as if everything froze except her and the crystal that John held.
Such power within that crystal.
The world continued to fade- fade to black and white, and then even that disappeared. It was only Naru and the crystal.
Then, in another moment, only Naru.
The world began to fade back into her eyes, only, it wasn’t the place she left from.
Her head throbbed.
She could barely tell what she was looking at.
A road?
Trees?
The sound of horses?
Naru collapsed to the ground.
The soft feel of dirt against her face?
Then the sweet arms of sleep comforted her.
End Part Four.