Chapter Thirty-Four
The Demon's Harvest
----------------------------------------
After finally getting refreshed, I left the room I was assigned. I gazed up and down the hallway, curious about the gardens. My little Ember familiar had reappeared, its fox form as curious as I was. I crossed the hallway and knocked on Kurai's door to see if he was awake, even cracking the door open to peek inside.
There he was, passed out and sleeping—in his fox form, surprisingly. His tails covered his nose, and he was curled tightly into a ball.
"Curious," I murmured. He did mention that his fox form was much more compelling here in Tartarus—perhaps it just shifted while he was asleep? I was grateful he was able to sleep, but I still couldn’t believe he managed to rest after a week without a single bit of sleep.
After checking on Kurai, I decided to explore the Abyssal Garden. Sleep eluded me, and my curiosity about the plants and whatnot blooming in Tartarus got the better of me. With Ember trotting at my side, I quietly made my way through the dimly lit hallways until I reached the entrance to the garden. The air felt different here—heavier, almost charged with an eerie energy.
The garden was unlike anything I had ever seen. The plants were otherworldly, with glowing flowers and vines that seemed to move independently. Dark, twisted trees loomed overhead, their leaves shimmering in the dim light. The ground was covered in a thick, velvety moss that seemed to absorb the sound of my footsteps.
I walked deeper into the garden, marveling at the strange and beautiful flora. Ember sniffed around, occasionally pausing to inspect a fascinating plant. Despite the ominous surroundings, there was a certain tranquility here.
As I wandered, I came across a small, bubbling stream of lava cutting through the garden, its glow casting an ethereal light on the surrounding plants. I knelt down to observe a cluster of luminescent flowers growing near the lava's edge. They pulsed gently, like tiny, beating hearts. The petals were translucent, revealing intricate patterns and veins inside.
"This place is incredible," I whispered to Ember, who looked up at me with bright, curious eyes. The little fox familiar seemed just as fascinated by the surroundings as I was.
I continued exploring, feeling a sense of wonder and the ever-present unease of being in Tartarus. The Abyssal Garden was a strange oasis in this dark realm, and I couldn't help but feel it held secrets waiting to be discovered.
I stumbled upon a patch of bioluminescent mushrooms, their caps glowing in shades of blue and green. They emitted a soft, soothing light that contrasted sharply with the harsh glow of the lava stream. I reached to touch one, feeling a slight tingle as my fingers brushed against its surface. They reminded me a lot of the Fae Realm, and I couldn’t help but feel at ease here. It was strange because the plants would react to me like in the Reaper’s Realm. If I slightly touched them, they would inch toward me and try to wrap around me. “Look at that, Ember!” I said, chuckling as some petals reached out to my hand. “That’s so interesting!
Further along, I found a tree with bark that looked like it was made of black glass. Its branches stretched like skeletal fingers, and its leaves were a dark, iridescent purple. Hanging from the branches were strange, glowing fruits that seemed to hum with an otherworldly energy.
Ember darted ahead, leading me to a secluded corner of the garden where a small pool of crystal-clear water lay nestled among the rocks. The water was so still that it perfectly reflected the surrounding plants and the dark sky above. I peered into the pool and noticed tiny, shimmering fish swimming below the surface.
Sitting by the pool, I felt a strange sense of calm wash over me. With all its eerie beauty, the Abyssal Garden was a place of paradoxes—a haven within the depths of Tartarus. How was this even possible? This place was in Hell? Perhaps by magic, she was able to bring water here? Her plants needed to be watered - they were still just plants.
However, sitting here, I felt at ease as the little grass blades approached me, and I watched Ember prance on them.
“What is she doing here?!” Lady Serelia’s voice growled. “I told you to keep her away from Tartarus!”
“I couldn’t stop her from going to Tartarus,” the second voice huffed. Besides, I did what needed to be done—she needed to know.”
“She needed to be safe in the human realm, Mati!”
Mati?!
“You abandoned the Underworld, Serelia. What else was I supposed to do? Let it go without a Reaper?!”
“YES! That’s exactly what you should’ve done. The Celestials can be responsible for once in their lives!”
Their voices were coming toward me, and I gazed around for an area to hide, but there weren't many hiding places. The best thing I could do was get up and go to a rock cluster off the side of the luminescent pool. I gazed through a small crack at the top of the rocks as I held Ember close. “Shh,” I whispered to the little cub.
In my view, there were two figures: Lady Serelia in her same adorned robe and cloak, covering the majority of her face so that I couldn’t see her reactions.
Then Mati pushed through, his dark, feathery red hair shaping his face. I stared at him to make sure it was him, and when I saw that single red eye and the single yellow eye, I was instantly confused. Why was he here? He said he couldn’t come to the Underworld - didn’t he? My heart dropped momentarily as I felt a pang of sadness and betrayal.
“Serelia, you know that the Celestials—what they’re doing is wrong,” Mati’s firm voice sounded as he crossed his arms over his red and black robe.
“It doesn’t matter, Mati. She wasn’t ready.”
He looked taken back a little as he gazed at Serelia up and down. “She was ready the day that contract got active!” The Celestial argued, his arms crossed.
She took a step forward, her face getting close to his as she glared at him, I assumed. “She wasn’t ready to be the Reaper. She’s guided, what, one soul home? That’s it?!” Her voice grew louder with anxiety. The former Queen sighed and sat down, draping her head backward over the bench as she stretched her arms out.
“"She's not a child, Serelia. She's a grown woman."
"And she's a mortal. She has one life," Serelia replied, her voice filled with pain. "One... life."
As I watched, her posture shifted, and to my surprise, her cloak slipped off her head, falling to her shoulders. My eyes widened as vibrant red hair cascaded down, revealing her fully. "There's no way," I whispered, inadvertently squeezing Ember, who yipped loudly in response.
"Shit," I murmured as I felt a dark energy wrap around my body, lifting me off the ground and pulling me towards them.
"Damn it," Serelia groaned, dropping me with a thud. "Look what you did now, Mati!"
"Me?!" Mati gasped, almost hurt, as he glared at her. "You're the one completely unaware of your surroundings!"
I sat on the ground, rubbing my side where I had landed, wincing slightly.
“How much did you hear?” Serelia demanded from me, standing up and quickly fixing her cloak and pushing her dark red hair back into it.
Mati chuckled, looking Serelia up and down. “You seriously had no idea she was there?”
“If I did, I wouldn’t have brought you here!” She glared at him.
“Nice to see you again, Aria,” Mati greeted me, reaching out to help me up.
I hesitated to take Mati’s hand, wondering why he was still there. He had told me he couldn’t come to the Underworld—yet here he was, in the flesh. I knew for a fact that this wasn’t a dream. I refused to take his hand, my mind racing with a million questions about the scenario I had just witnessed. The red hair reminded me precisely of the woman’s hair I had seen in Kurai’s vision back in his home. I frowned at Serelia as I stood up straight.
"I’m so confused," I murmured, holding my arm with the demon's marking on it. "Between Mati being here, after you told me you couldn’t be here," I said gently, "and then you—I know you."
Mati and Lady Serelia exchanged glances. "I need to go back," the Celestial murmured, pointing upwards as his wings unfurled.
"No, you don’t," Lady Serelia commented, her voice darkening. "You will stay here."
"Why do I know you?" I asked Serelia, inching closer to her. I wanted my grimoire, and I wanted answers," I demanded.
“"Oh, Great Celestials, here we go again," Mati groaned, taking a seat on the bench. His muscular arms stretched on both sides as he watched the scene unfold.
"Mati, why are you here?" I asked, my gaze flickering between them. "There’s something you’re not telling me." I felt a mix of hurt and anger as the secrets seemed to pile up.
Serelia's gaze hardened as she looked at me. "It's not your place to demand answers," she said coldly.
“It is my place, I’m here now!” I replied, my voice raising.
Mati, however, seemed uneasy. “Serelia, you need to talk to her.”
“No,” Serelia snapped, her eyes flashing with resolve. “She doesn’t need to know.”
"Why not?!" Mati argued, standing up from the bench. "She’s here—she made it into Tartarus and your domain. You have no souls here, you are empty-handed—this place has fallen to the dark and depths of the same thing that’s marked her."
I watched the exchange, and my patience was wearing thin. "I am the Reaper; I have a right to know what’s going on in the Underworld," I said, finally standing up for myself.
I could see Serelia twitch slightly at the disrespect I had shown her. She turned to me, stepping into my space, her eyes blazing. "You are speaking to the Queen of the Underworld! Show some respect!"
The intimidation got to me, and I bit my tongue slightly. But something inside me—a dark force—pushed me to move forward. It insisted that I get the answers to my questions. I steeled myself and matched her energy, feeling like a fool. "You were the Queen," I whispered, my voice steady but low. "The Underworld is under the care of Lord Mundus now," I hissed.
There was no turning back now, but I could see the anger flare in her eyes, her expression darkening.
"You definitely shouldn’t have done that, kid," Mati sighed, rubbing his temples as if preparing for the inevitable explosion.
"Shut up!" we both snapped at Mati, our voices echoing through the empty halls.
Serelia's eyes narrowed, and her voice dripped with frustration. "Who do you think you are?" she asked her tone a mix of disbelief and anger. Her presence seemed to grow, shadows twisting around her like serpents, making the air feel thick and oppressive.
I felt a chill run down my spine but stood my ground. "I am the Reaper," I repeated, my voice firm. "I deserve to know the truth about what’s happening in the Underworld and why everything is falling apart."
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
Serelia's eyes flickered, and momentarily, a hint of vulnerability crossed her face before she masked it with anger again. "You have no idea who and what you're meddling with," she said, her voice low and dangerous.
"Then enlighten me," I challenged, refusing to back down.
The tension in the garden was palpable. Serelia's eyes blazed with fury, and she took a step closer, her hand twitching as if ready to summon her powers. "You want to know the truth?" she spat. "Fine, you need to learn your place then - not mess with a force like mine."
Before I could react, Serelia lashed out, her hand glowing with dark energy. I barely managed to dodge, the force of the strike sending a shockwave through the room.
"Serelia, this isn't okay!" Mati yelled, but it was too late.
I glared at her, my eyes narrowed. "A queen with no patience got it. One who strikes at a mortal, a Reaper?" My anger flared, and my sharp tongue took over. I hated being told to 'learn my place.' My place was as the Reaper, and if Serelia was like the other forces I'd have to face while guiding souls, let this be a lesson.
Something inside me roared with fury as I summoned my Grimoire to my side. A wicked grin spread across my face as I stared at the woman standing a few feet away. "You know, it's not every day I get to fight an Underworld Queen."
"Is that so? I assume you disrespect royalty often?" she asked, opening her hand as a scythe appeared in her grasp.
I looked at the scythe, its familiarity reminding me of Noxaris. However, I held my ground against this woman—my magic pulsating into the Grimoire beside me. "Only when they abandon their entire kingdom and tell their followers they're dead," I shot back.
"Funny, I don't remember asking for anyone's opinion," she hissed, raising her hands toward me again. "Especially someone like you."
The book flipped to a page that I quickly glanced over, gathering what I needed in hopes of at least standing my guard. Could I prove myself worthy?
Serelia's words cut deep, but they only fueled my resolve. As we prepared for the inevitable clash, the air around us crackled with tension. I could feel my magic surging, resonating with my anger and betrayal.
"Someone like me?" I echoed, my voice steady despite the storm of emotions inside. "You mean someone who hasn't forgotten their duty? Someone who still fights for the souls they're meant to guide?" Serelia's eyes flashed with something between anger and regret, but she didn't falter. "You think you know everything, but you don't. The Underworld is more complex than you can imagine."
"Maybe," I replied, tightening my grip on the Grimoire. "But abandoning your kingdom is never the answer."
Serelia lunged at me without another word, her scythe slicing through the air with deadly precision. I barely had time to react, my instincts kicking in as I dodged and countered with a burst of magical energy from my Grimoire. The clash of our powers sent shockwaves through the dimly lit chamber.
As we fought, memories of my past and the stories I'd heard about Serelia flashed. I couldn’t help but watch this lady’s face with my memory. This couldn’t be her, right? This wasn’t The Lady in Red, was it? But this dark force in me was encouraging me to fight. I couldn’t get my words out to ask her about my past. The red hair from my memory flashed in and out, matching the same woman’s hair.
She moved with a fluid grace, her scythe an extension of her will. I struggled to keep up, my Grimoire glowing with energy but not enough to match her relentless assault. A particularly powerful strike sent me skidding across the floor, my body aching from the impact.
“You were not ready for the truth,” the woman growled as she approached me once more. You’ve been defeated by every force that you’ve encountered. It was probably good that the contract with Kurai came to be because you would’ve been destroyed already.”
“That’s not true!” I snapped back, raising my arms to deflect the power of her weapon about to crash down on me. I can fight!”
“Then show me the Reaper that I created,” She growled.
“What?” I said, my eyes growing wide. “It was you…” The memory of the woman and her smile flashed into my head, telling me how much I’ve grown. “You’re…”
“That’s right,” she snarled, watching me move to the side and out of her grip. I noticed that her black horns had grown slightly since she had initiated this fight with me, and I could feel anger ripple inside me.
“So not only did you abandon and lie to me, you abandoned and lied to the entire underworld?” I questioned, my heart shattering but anger filling my bones instead. I could feel the surge of magic.
She abandoned….
Destroyed…….
You’re alone….
A voice entered my brain, and I gazed around, trying to find the source of the voice. But I could see nothing. My gaze scanned the clearing, and then I swear I saw something fly over me—but I turned my attention back to the Queen—the mother who gave birth to me.
“All the sacrifices I made,” she called out to me, “were so you could live a normal life—a life where you’re not trapped in this Hell. A life where you could make your own choices!” Her voice began to sound distraught. “Now, fight smarter!” she snapped. With a flick of her wrist, she sent a wave of dark energy crashing towards me. I barely managed to raise a shield in time, but the force of the attack shattered it, sending me sprawling once more. My vision blurred, and I knew I couldn't keep this up much longer. “You’ll never be a good Reaper if you’re as stubborn as you are.”
Before I could process her words, she was upon me again, her scythe poised for a final, decisive strike. Desperation surged within me, and I summoned all the magic I could muster, but that wasn't enough.
Just as her scythe was about to connect, a sudden idea flashed. But before I could act on it, something else happened. The anger I felt—betrayal and hurt—began to boil over. Black Magic, feeding off my raw emotion, surged uncontrollably within me. The mark on my side and my arm began to glow, and it started to hurt.
“What is happening?!” I screeched in pain. “What is this?!” I looked up at Mati and Serelia, who were watching in horror.
“You should’ve just told her the truth from the beginning!” Mati's voice snarled, eyes blazing with anger.
Before I could grasp what was happening, a shadow rolled in, a huge figure that cloaked the entire garden in fog and smoke. The air grew cold and oppressive, and a sinister laugh echoed through the darkness. “What is this family reunion?” the voice mocked, dripping with malice. “I thought I ended your life years ago, Serelia. And now you’ve brought me the Dream Walker, too? What more could I possibly want for this Blood Moon?!”
The voice whispered into the shadows, sending shivers down my spine. I could see the outlines of a demonic figure, its eyes glowing with a malevolent light. This demon had marked me, the one waiting for this moment to strike. It wanted me to be vulnerable, my emotions at a heightened expense. This was perfect.
Serelia stepped forward, her scythe by her side, as the voice surrounded our garden. “You are not welcome here!” she called to the cloud.
“Oh, but I am, thanks to your little Aria,” the voice responded with a dark chuckle.
I could feel my anger and fear clashing back and forth when I was suddenly pulled up off the ground once more, wrapped in vines—similar to the vines that Terranis had used before. I tried to shift, but as I did, the thorns dug into my skin, penetrating it and causing the pain to tighten. I couldn’t do anything but try my best to relax in its grip, but the pain was unbearable.
Serelia’s eyes widened in horror as she saw me ensnared. “Snow! Hold on!”
I couldn’t squirm or move, but I could focus on the Grimoire I saw near the ground. Come on, come to me. I begged it, watching it shake to go off the ground. I thought a little harder. “Come on, stupid magic!” I hissed to myself. A surge of power rushed through me as I could see the Grimoire finally respond to me. It lifted, and while the demon was distracted, I tried to flip through the pages to see if there was something I could use.
Serelia raised her scythe, the blade glowing brilliantly. “I’ll cut her free. Cover me, Mati!”
Mati nodded and began to chant, summoning a protective barrier around us to fend off the demon’s influence. As Serelia approached, the vines tightened their grip, sensing the threat. This caused me to wince in pain as I felt the sharp vines intertwined with my skin again, piercing it. I glared at the vines below me, seeing the same dark magic used on the chains.
The demon’s voice echoed through the fog. “You think you can save her? Your efforts are futile. She belongs to me now. She is mine.”
Serelia ignored the taunts and swung her scythe with precision, slicing through the vines. Each cut released a burst of dark energy, but she pressed on, determined to free me.
The pain was intense, but I focused on Serelia’s determination and Mati’s protective magic. I could feel my power steering, a faint light within the darkness. The vines weakened with each cut of the scythe, and I could sense the demon’s hold lessening. The book fell, though, right before I could read something clearly.
But just as Serelia was about to make the final cut, the demon’s laughter grew louder, echoing ominously through the night. “Enough of this charade,” he snarled. A dark energy surge suddenly erupted from the stormy cloud above, engulfing Serelia and Mati in a whirlwind of shadow.
Shelia was thrown back violently, her scythe flying out of her hand and clattering to the ground with a metallic thud. She hit the ground hard, the impact knocking the wind out of her. Gasping for breath, she struggled to get back up, her limbs heavy with fatigue and the sting of dark magic coursing through her veins.
Mati, eyes wide with alarm, tried to reinforce the protective barrier around us. His hands glowed with a soft, celestial light as he chanted incantations. Still, the demon’s power was overwhelming, like a tidal wave against a sandcastle. “Serelia, stay with me! We can’t let him—” His urgent plea was cut off as the dark energy shattered his barrier like fragile glass. The force of the blast sent him sprawling, darkness crackling around him.
The demon materialized fully now, emerging from the swirling shadows as a towering figure cloaked in an inky blackness that seemed to absorb all light. His eyes glowed a malevolent red, and with each step, the ground beneath him withered and died, leaving a trail of decay. “You two are nothing but relics of a bygone age,” he taunted, his voice a deep, resonant growl. “Your time is over.”
Serelia, her face a mask of defiance, tried to stand. Her body trembled with effort, but before she could rise, the demon unleashed another wave of dark energy. It slammed into her, pinning her to the ground with an invisible force.
“You were a queen once, Serelia,” he sneered, his tone dripping with disdain. “Now look at you, groveling in the dirt. Bow to the real Overlord of Hell.”
My eyes watched them with fear as they were thrown around. I couldn’t move; my body was pinned between the vines and tightened every inch I moved. My vision felt darkened as I watched them try - but ultimately fail. My gaze trailed over to the ancient ruins where Kurai lay fast asleep, my mind bobbling. How was he not waking up? Was he indeed this tired? I couldn’t even call out for help because the vines wrapped around my mouth. I stared downwards, pleased that this thing wouldn’t hurt Mati and… My mother - the Lady in Red - the previous Reaper. I could feel the anger rising in me, the hurt.
Mati, weakened but undeterred, summoned the last of his strength. His hands glowed brighter, and with a fierce cry, he launched a beam of pure, celestial light straight at the demon. “You won't win!” he declared, his voice filled with righteous fury.
The demon merely raised his hand, effortlessly catching the beam. The celestial light seemed to dissolve into his palm, absorbed without a trace. “Oh, but I already have,” he said, his voice thick with malice. With a casual flick of his wrist, he sent Mati hurtling through the air like a ragdoll. Mati crashed into a nearby tree with a sickening thud and lay motionless among the roots.
I was still ensnared by the thorny vines, my heart pounding as I watched in horror. There they were, lying defeated. The demon's eyes, glowing like embers in the darkness, turned to me. He smiled a cruel and predatory grin. “Now, it’s your turn, little Aria.”
With Serelia and Mati incapacitated, the demon approached me, his presence overwhelming, suffocating. “You’re coming with me,” he declared, reaching out with a clawed hand, his fingers like talons of shadow.
Just as his hand brushed the vines that bound me, a sudden burst of brilliant light erupted within me, pushing him back. The light was blinding and pure, momentarily dispellingled the darkness around us. The demon staggered, his form flickering like a disturbed shadow. He looked at me, his eyes widening in surprise and then narrowing in anger. “Impressive but futile,” he hissed.
The light faded, and he quickly regained his composure. With a sinister grin, he snapped his fingers. The thorny vines tightened around me, immobilizing me completely. “You see, Aria, I don’t just want to defeat you. I need your power for the Blood Moon,” he revealed, his voice dripping with dark intent. “With your essence, I can consume as many souls as I desire.”
Before I could react, he turned his attention to Serelia, who was still struggling to get up. “And as for you, Lady Serelia,” he said with a mocking bow, “I think it’s time to finish what I started.”
Serelia’s eyes widened in terror as the demon approached her. She tried to summon her strength, but it was too late. The demon reached out and placed his hand on her chest, his fingers sinking into her ethereal form. Serelia glared at him. “You won’t get away with this - my soul may be gone,” She said as she gasped for air, “But you still have the rest of the Spirit Walkers and Aria to handle.” She had a smirk on her face as the last words left her body.
“No!” I cried out, but the vines held me tight, and I could do nothing but watch in horror.
The demon’s eyes glowed brighter as he absorbed my mother’s last bit of spirit. Her form flickered and faded, her soul being devoured by the darkness. Within moments, her screams ceased, and her body dissolved into nothingness, leaving only a faint, lingering wisp of light that quickly vanished.
Serelia was gone. Entirely and utterly consumed.
“Lady… No, mother?” I cried; I could feel the hatred building inside me. “Mom,” I cried, feeling my body whimper from the hatred and darkness that I just witnessed.
The demon turned back to me, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. “You’ve seen what I can do now, Hm, Snow? And you are being marked… Makes your soul be forever mine. I will devour you the same as I just did to your precious mother. Murdered. The satisfaction that I have gotten.” The man’s voice raged as thunder clapped around us. “28 FUCKING YEARS, you’ve avoided me!” His voice raged. “You’re mine - finally.” A wicked laugh left his body, filling my ears and echoing. “Say goodbye.”
“Kurai,” I whispered, “He’ll stop you.”
“Kurai? The second he sees you hurting and on the verge of death, he will be destroyed—consumed by his own flames where there is nothing but a pile of ash,” the demon whispered into my ear, sending chills down my spine. “He’s harmless. He couldn’t bear the thought of you being hurt,” he taunted. Now, let’s get the Blood Moon ritual started, shall we?”
With a final, contemptuous glance at Mati, who was still struggling to rise, the demon stepped back into the swirling shadows, taking me with him. The world around us dissolved into darkness, and the last thing I saw was the anguished face of Mati, left behind in the demon’s wake.
As the shadows enveloped us, I realized the full extent of the demon’s plan. He intended to use my power to fuel the Blood Moon. This ancient ritual would grant him unimaginable strength and allow him to harvest countless souls. The thought filled me with dread but also a flicker of resolve. I couldn’t let him succeed, no matter the cost.
The demon’s laughter echoed in the darkness as we vanished, leaving the battlefield in an eerie silence, broken only by the whisper of the wind and the distant cries of my Mati and my mother.