Project S.T.A.T.I.C. Part 4: Worlds Apart

The heat of the underworld was the first thing that Rebecca felt as she stepped through the portal. It closed behind her as her feet touched down on the red sands of Hell. She'd hoped to never return here again, but love drove people to unfathomable lengths. She, of all people, knew this better than anyone. She'd committed countless atrocities in the name of love and passion; things that she'd never imagined when she was still young and naive. That was all in the past, but standing amidst the red sands and near the lakes of fire she questioned her sanity once again. This realm was one of pain, suffering, and sorrow. All who set foot in it were welcomed with misery and hate. In her world, she was a predator, but here she was prey. The demons would sense her soon, and she wasn't looking forward to seeing Lilith again. This wasn't for her, though, this was for Jake. Even if he wanted nothing to do with her, it was her fault he was trapped here. She'd set him free and live with whatever he chose.

The winds howled as they rolled across the red dunes and stirred up dust and debris. They carried the screams of the departed and those that were suffering. The Citadels were still functioning even without Dorothy and her bureaucratic reign. They'd existed long before she rose to power, and they would continue with or without her. The fires and spires of Hell would burn until time finally stopped. Rebecca took a deep breath and instantly regretted it. Brimstone and sulfur were prominent here, and her lungs burned from the pungent aromas. Still, it was better to get used to it than to hopelessly try to avoid it. Like it or not, she was stuck here until she retrieved Jake. That was assuming she could free him from Lilith's clutches.

Rebecca began her journey into the underworld with her first few steps. She ignored the screams of anguish and pain as she walked. They brought memories of her time here. They were warped, distorted, and twisted remnants that felt like nightmares. She couldn't recall any of the specifics of what she'd endured here, but she remembered feelings of agony and fear. Whenever she tried to, it was like trying to remember a dream. All she knew for certain was that Jake was suffering in untold and unimaginable anguish. Lilith held all the cards In this dimension now. Jake had no idea the extent of her powers even with his experience with herself. She'd been one of the most powerful women in the land of the living, but the shackles of humanity kept her from achieving unparalleled heights. It had been one of the reasons she'd waited to strike Dorothy until Elizabeth and the others had softened her up.

A distant growl from something inhuman and otherworldly reached her as she began climbing one of the many dunes. She was being watched. Rebecca had felt the eyes of the unseen on her the moment she stepped through the open door. Mortals weren't permitted to wall freely in this dimension. They were either food or fuel, but never free. What was worse for her was the stench of being an escaped soul. One of the tomes she'd studied years ago spoke of demons and their persistent connection to souls marked by their domain.

Whenever a mortal was sentenced to the underworld, their souls became the property of the demons. They were marked by them in some form or fashion lest they somehow manage to escape. The mark meant they could be tracked and hunted. It was one of the reasons that conjuring and communing with demons was dangerous. While their power was limited due to the veil, stronger demons and entities were able to manipulate objects in their world. They could peer through the veil, but they couldn't cross over unless they were invited or the right circumstances were met. They needed a physical body to possess, or a ritual to pierce the veil. Their ability to track their prey, though, went beyond any invitation or magic. Rebecca stood in the pits of Hell as a soul that was marked by an Archdemon. The lesser demons and underlings were bound to be after her. There was likely a reward for her capture and return.

Rebecca stopped at the top of the dune and waited for a moment. “She returns,” a guttural growl came from behind her, “Did the dog miss its master? Have you come seeking more pain, human?”

Rebecca ground her teeth at the taunts from the demon behind her. She could smell it from where she was. It was one of Lilith’s underlings; she recognized the scent of its mistress clinging to its scales. She wouldn’t dignify it with a verbal response. The sound of its voice was already like nails on a  chalkboard, and it brought back fragmented memories of her time here. Instead she clenched her fist and let her powers channel through her right arm. It was still strange to her to feel her magic flowing without the corruption of Lilith tainting her. A cold chill ran through her veins as the demon stomped closer. It was smiling sadistically at her, preparing to grab her. She stood still as a statue and waited for it to make its move.

The demon tried to grab her, but Rebecca twisted to the side to dodge his claw. She spun around, her fist now coated in a thick sheet of ice, and struck him across his snout. Seeing the demon, she was repulsed by the sight of it. Thick black scales covered his body, short twin horns adorned his head, and a row of jagged teeth hung from his elongated mouth. The demon recoiled from the force of her punch, and the icy energy she had channeling in her hand was released after a successful blow. It ruptured upon impact, and shards of thick ice exploded into his face. He snarled and howled from the surprise attack, and he spun around to swing his tail and try to sweep her off her feet. Rebecca stepped over it with ease and raised her other hand and pulled the sands up to form a tomb around him.

“Ugh, release me, witch!” the demon barked as the sands bound together around him.

“I have often wondered what becomes of a demon if it dies within its realm,” Rebecca mused, slowly closing her fist, “Does the rank of a beast dictate the fate? Or is your essence recycled and returned to the ether?”

“Release me and fight me!” the demon roared.

“As you wish,” Rebecca shrugged, closing her fist and silencing the demon.

The tomb of sand suddenly tightened and clenched together as though it were stone. The demon cried out briefly before its roar was extinguished along with its wasted life. Rebecca unclenched her fist and let the grains of sand spill out and return to the dune. Its blood marred the red grains with shades of black and blue as she walked off and descended down the dune. Lesser ranked demons weren't what worried her. They were trivial obstacles compared to the dangers that were waiting for her here. Lilith, her daughters, and the Lords she most likely had serving her were the true threat. Knowing what she did about Lilith, she suspected that she'd be granted an audience with her. The woman was nothing if not arrogant. 

The time that she'd spent wrestling with Lilith's demonic influence had changed her. It had given her insight into the inner workings of the sadistic demoness and her thoughts. To many, it had seemed that she was drunk off of power, but that wasn't all it was. It was true that she believed herself to be a Goddess, but that hubris had come from more than just unfathomable power. When she'd siphoned Lilith's powers for herself, she hadn't considered the possibilities of absorbing parts of her personality. The demonic rage, lust, greed, envy, and arrogance were all byproducts of the merger between mortal and demon; a union that should never have existed. It left her with more regrets than she cared to count, but it also gave her understanding in this realm.

Rebecca walked for what felt like hours undisturbed. She was being watched, she could feel their eyes on her. Perhaps her display had served as a sufficient warning to the lesser demonkin about trifling with her. Then again, it could have been that Lilith wanted her to make it to her. What better way to torment someone than to make them watch as they had their way with the love of their life? It was something she'd done to others during her reign of terror. While it was undoubtedly a heinous tactic, it was effective in breaking one down. Outside of the scorching heat and foul odors, her journey was too easy for her liking. Something was waiting for her, but she couldn't be sure what it was.

Rebecca could feel Jake's aura getting closer as she walked beside a molten river of magma. Another large dune lay ahead of her in the distance, and she suspected that Lilith's domain was just beyond it. “Well, well, well,” a fit of maniacal giggles came from behind her, “Look who's come running back. Oh, I have missed playing with you, Becky!”

Rebecca cringed at the shortened and familiar name. She hated when people did that; it made her sound juvenile and feel patronized. The high pitched voice and sadistic giggles were a clear indicator of who she was dealing with. Rebecca turned around as Cherrie rose from the sands and flashed her a yellow toothed smile. “Your mother has let you off your leash,” Rebecca chided, clenching her fist and preparing a spell, “I suggest you use this freedom wisely, dear girl. A specter can still be slain, and I'm in no mood for your twisted games.”

Rebecca was caught off guard and knocked off her feet by a sudden, forceful shove. She rolled in the sand, but landed on her knees. Cherrie wasn't alone. The short-haired brunette specter Annalise hovered with her sickles in hand, her eyes burning bright red like coals in a fire. “Show some respect, worm,” Annalise growled, “You're no longer a powerful pretender, but just a lowly little mortal to be toyed with. Threaten my sister again, and I will make you see the true meaning of mortality.”

“Very well, I'll focus on you then,” Rebecca rose to her feet, “If you think me as weak as the souls that pass through here, then you have forgotten who you're dealing with. I outwitted your mother before you were a thought in her mind, and I can erase you without breaking a sweat. But then, you're not here for a fight, are you?”

“What was that, bitch?” Annalise growled, “You threaten us and presume to know our intentions! This is our realm, and we will-”

“Do exactly as your mother commands,” Rebecca cut her off, “If you wished to fight, you'd have drawn blood from your lucky surprise attack. The fact that you sit there hurling insults only furthers my point. An aspect of rage with a tight leash around her neck, and an aspect of lust with shackles binding her desires. No, you're here as a messenger, nothing more.”

“Oo, she's smart,” Cherrie giggled.

“Cherrie!” Annalise snapped, “Don't compliment our food!”

“What is it your mother wants, girl?” Rebecca asked, “I've passed through the gate to this world, and I've walked the wastes unimpeded say for the straggler that sought my head. One can easily infer that the reason is because your mother wishes to speak with me. My question is to what end?”

“As astute as ever I see,” Victoria chuckled, rising from the sands, “Sisters, return to mother dearest and tell her I'll be returning with her trophy soon. It seems you two still cannot be trusted to follow orders without supervision.”

“Tell her yourself, Victoria,” Annalise barked, “We've got this under control.”

“Her order was that she return unharmed,” Victoria explained, “This one doesn't belong to us. Now, unless you wish to return to the sphere, I suggest you do as you're told. Do this, and I'll forgo telling mother that you were behaving recklessly. Your arrogance will cost you one day, sister. Mortal or not, she is still a formidable witch like her pupil.”

“L-let's go, sister,” Cherrie swallowed, her tone uncharacteristically meek, “It will be done, Victoria, I promise.”

“There's a good girl,” Victoria smiled as Cherrie guided Annalise over the hill, “My apologies, Rebecca, it is difficult for my sisters to contain themselves. Their desires and wants often supersede what's asked of them. We knew you would come for him, but I'm afraid you won't be taking him away from mother.”

“Civility amongst demons, how drole,” Rebecca scoffed, “You can make such claims, but I escaped once before, girl. You would be a fool to think I couldn't do it again.”

“Is that what you think?” Victoria smiled, “Hmph, it seems we've given you too much credit. Perhaps the torment fractured your mind more than we anticipated, or maybe your hubris is just that grand.”

“What are you on about?” Rebecca asked.

“All will be revealed in time, dear child,” Victoria replied, “Come, we have an appointment to keep. Unlike my sisters, I do not enjoy angering my dear mother. Let us see if she extends grace a second time to a usurper. Follow me, if you would.”

Rebecca frowned but did as she was asked. The redheaded specter led her up the dune in silence. The howling winds of the wastes continued to carry fresh screams to drown out the uneasy quiet. As she followed, Rebecca wondered just what Victoria meant. The truth was that the means of her return to the land of the living were still a mystery to her. She wasn't so naive as to think that she'd actually managed to break free, but a strong bluff had carried her far in the past. Judging by what Victoria was implying, though, there was something she was missing. Had her escape been another sick ploy from Lilith? What possible purpose would that serve? It didn't make sense, but then what did these days?

They crossed the threshold of the dune and she saw the familiar marble stones in the distance. The columns and pillars of bone and stone rose up higher than she remembered. Cauldrons of burning and bubbling liquid could be faintly seen below at the base of different columns. Seeing it now, Rebecca could remember being dunked into the cauldrons after being stripped down and beaten. A sensory memory of the blistering liquid ripping at her open wounds and bare flesh sprang to mind. The feelings of cold chains around her wrists as she was cut, whipped, and beaten before Lilith would let one of her daughters have their way with her also surfaced. Days and weeks of untold suffering began to resurface in her mind, and Rebecca felt fear and apprehension as she walked down the hill.

The closer they got, the louder the screams became. There was more than one poor soul being used here. Strung up from the first pillar was a man that had his lower body ripped off and his wrists bound together above his head. He moaned and wept in agony as smaller demons crawled up the pillar to feast on his exposed flesh. There was no question that he was praying for a death that would never come. Mercy wasn't welcome in this place. They ascended the stairs just as a woman was submerged in one of the cauldrons of bubbling magma. Her screams were brief as she was pushed down until her head was beneath the molten liquid. Rebecca turned away as the cauldron shook and more bubbles rose up; she knew she was still screaming as she was held down and burned.

A large female demon stood with a whip in hand in front of a trio of men that had been locked in stockades. The demon looked mostly human compared to most she'd seen. Red skin, black leather, and a twin set of horns jutting out from her skull. Her curves were a clear indicator that she was meant to play on the lust lurking in the hearts of mortals; penance for their sins and adulterous acts no doubt. She cackled in a dual toned laugh as she reared her hand back and cracked the whip against their bare skin. The crack of the whip, the sound of their anguished cries, and her vicious mockery all reminded her of times she'd done the exact same to men and women. Rebecca had also experienced such depraved acts done to her while she'd been trapped here.

They passed more atrocities as they walked deeper into the structure. People being flayed, molested, eaten, or worse with nothing they could do to stop it. Perhaps the most vivid and painful sight was when they'd passed a man that had been savagely beaten and abused. He'd landed at Rebecca's feet and grabbed her ankle to stop her. He begged and pleaded with her for help and mercy, but he was soon ripped away by the demoness that had been dealing with him. Rebecca looked at the wrong time as she began stomping on his face with her bare foot. Over and over she brought her sole down on his face until his skull finally popped. Yet again, it was something she'd done to others while she walked the earth.

They came at last to the large throne that Lilith resided on. A bubbling pit of purple liquid lay before her, and Rebecca could see the legs of what she could only assume was Jake sticking out between her legs. He wasn't moving, at least not struggling by the looks of things, so she assumed he'd been there for a while. “As you requested, mother,” Victoria bowed her head and gestured at Rebecca, “The usurper has returned unharmed, just as you foretold.”

“Very good, dear Victoria,” Lilith smiled, “Leave us and tend to your toys. See to it that Annalise is able to relieve her aggression on one of our newer arrivals. She's been rather sullen as of late.”

“As you wish, mother,” Victoria nodded before disappearing into the stone.

Rebecca stared up at the monolithic demon queen before her. Her anger at seeing Jake treated so poorly was rising quickly, but she wasn't foolish enough to think she could pick a fight and win here. “You want to attack, don't you, Rebecca?” Lilith asked, her wide smile sinister and foreboding.

“Forgive me for not being glad to see the woman responsible for my unending torment here and in my world,” Rebecca scoffed.

Lilith twisted and ground her hips in her seat. Rebecca clenched her jaw and fist as she heard the sickening snap of Jake's neck beneath her. It was a show to stir her up and elicit a response. She wouldn't allow her the pleasure of that. “You blame me for your actions beyond this world after all this time,” Lilith said, grabbing Jake's leg and tossing his body into the purple goop, “You really are pathetic. The inability to take responsibility was always one of your greatest shortcomings. While you ran around with stolen powers, I was confined to this world as a shadow of myself. It wasn't until the boy fulfilled our arrangement that I regained the ability to break through the weak spots in the veil. Your restraint, however, is mildly impressive. We'll see how long that lasts, though.”

“What do you want?” Rebecca asked, glaring at Lilith, “You allowed me free passage here, and your daughter dearest made it clear you wanted me unharmed. Answer me.”

“You do not make demands in my realm!” Lilith snapped, rising and holding her hand out to catch Jake as he fell into her palm, “This is my world, not yours! Observe as I demonstrate what all life equates to in my domain.”

Rebecca watched as the titanic Lilith, standing twenty feet tall, held a terrified and confused Jake. He looked around and spotted her in the distance. He reached out to her, “Rebecca?”

“Silence!” Lilith exclaimed, closing her fist and squeezing the life out of him before dropping the bloody remains to the ground, “I did not give you permission to speak, worm.”

Lilith's body became engulfed in flames as she shrank down to Rebecca's height and stood before her. “A meaningless show of dominance,” Rebecca spat, pushing her outrage and disgust down, “Is that why you called me here?”

“Called you?” Lilith repeated, chuckling, “Dear girl, you broke through the veil on your own. I released you while knowing that you'd return because of that naive heart of yours. You are here because it is ordained that you be here, and because you wish to join him in his eternal damnation.”

“I've come to take him from you,” Rebecca corrected, “If I have to take his place, then so be it. I will not let you have him.”

“Like you would not let go of that silly notion of freedom?” Lilith asked, “You still believe that it was your own strength that freed you, don't you? Ha, such an egotistical little whore you are.”

“You expect me to believe that you freed me?” Rebecca asked, “To what end?”

“Because true suffering is witnessing that which you desire most be taken away from you,” Lilith smirked, “Just as you took that which I coveted, I took that from you. Your dealings with the time witch might have permitted you a glimpse into the future, but you never fully realized the extent to which my powers could reach. I am an Archdemon, girl, and I am the rightful queen of this realm. My power rivals that of the creator, and as such I can see what lies ahead in the paths of mortals, especially those bearing my mark. Jake's death was preordained, and I knew that it was coming sooner than later. The only thing that could have made it better was for you to watch as I dragged his soul to Hell where he belongs.”

“You freed me because you knew he was going to die?!” Rebecca demanded.

“Indeed,” Lilith chuckled, “I cast you out of my realm with little more than a fragment of who you were. Haunted by memories of your past, but left with more questions than answers. I knew you'd stumble and question, but by the time you learned the truth it would be too late. He pined for you while he was alive, and he begs to see you while he's here. In life, and in death, he is denied that which he wants most. Why? Because it hurts you more than him. This selfless fool gave himself to save a world from you, and he pays the ultimate price for your sins!”

Rebecca clenched her fists until her knuckles cracked. She wanted so badly to lash out and strike down the monster before her, but there was nothing she could do. “You truly are a despicable monster,” she whispered, “You'd subject him to this to get back at me? I'm the one who wronged you, not him. Release him and take me instead!”

“My time making deals with the likes of you has long come to an end,” Lilith dismissed her, snapping her fingers and causing Jake to appear at her feet, “Besides, this boy makes too fun a toy. His tongue has proven useful on a number of occasions, he tastes delectable, and I've yet to find a better cushion here. He, like everything else in this world, is mine. Besides, I knew that your misguided heart would bring you back to me. Why would I relinquish my new favorite plaything for a discarded whore? Both of you belong to me now, and you won't be escaping a second time, Rebecca.”

“If you think I will stay here willingly-” Rebecca started, taking a step back.

“You will do whatever I say, girl,” Lilith cut her off, kicking Jake over to her throne and raising a hand to open a portal at Rebecca's feet, “Are you truly so arrogant that you think you can take me as you are? You are nothing without me, and your pathetic magic won't even scratch the surface of my power.”

Rebecca tried to keep from getting pulled into the swirling green vortex. She pulled the stone from the floor at her feet up and to her arms. She was able to resist the fierce pull, but she had to close the portal unless she wanted to face Lilith's full wrath. She broke one hand free and focused on the vortex. She swirled her hand in the opposite direction and focused on the image of her and Jake's apartment. Skeletal creatures began crawling out of the portal and clambering to get to her. Rebecca was able to hone in on the energy signal of the portal, and she clenched her fist to dispel it. Several of the skeletons were severed and broken, but a handful had managed to crawl out before she slammed the gateway shut.

They charged at her, shambling and clattering as they ran, but they were a minor threat. Lilith was toying with her. She knew it by the way she walked over to Jake and placed her foot over his face. The way he immediately began to lick and kiss told her that she was breaking him down. It infuriated her to see him like this. Rebecca screamed as she reached out and grabbed the ribs of one of the skeletons and crushed it in her hand. She caught one of their arms and ripped it off before beating it with it. One final skeleton closed in, but Rebecca palmed its skull with one hand. She channeled her power and froze it before turning it to dust.

“Get off of him!” Rebecca roared, drawing runes in the air as she prepared for a powerful attack.

The runes appeared suspended in the air for a moment before they began to glow bright purple. One by one, they illuminated and linked together. A large blast of arcane energy shot out like a cannon through the air. The pillar of energy shot straight for Lilith, but she stopped it just by raising her hand. It changed course and flew off into the distance, striking a stream of lava beyond the dunes. Lilith flashed a sinister grin as she raised her hand and Rebecca was lifted off the ground. Rebecca winced as Lilith spread her fingers and her limbs were pulled taunt. Lilith ground her foot on Jake's face for a second before slamming it down and smashing his face into the stone. She sauntered over closer to Rebecca and grew in height.

“Amusing as this might be,” Lilith said, twisting her wrist and causing Rebecca's limbs to bend, “I'm afraid that our time speaking is at its end. It's time for you to go back where you belong, Rebecca dear. You've played directly into my hand, as I knew you would. I am the true alpha and omega, and there is nothing a pathetic mortal such as you could do to hold a candle to me. Don't fret, though, at least now you'll have a reprieve. I'll be alternating between you two worms and making the other watch! Now, I've some unfinished business to attend to while you get reacquainted with your surroundings. I believe you upset my sweet Annalise earlier, and I think you'll do wonders for relieving hee frustrations. Begone, foul worm!”

Rebecca was pulled into the abyss and hurled through space and time. She emerged from a portal and slammed against a nearby wall. She was in a holding cell below the marble ruins. She recognized this place by the foul smell, the musty air, and the feeling of blood around her. It was the place where Lilith sent those that failed her and the souls that showed promise: the flesh pit. A glorified torture chamber that served as a sadistic laboratory where demonic flesh was blended with human souls. Whatever humanity was left in a soul was often lost in these dark chambers. Souls were sent here for one of two reasons: either to be molded into something inhuman, or to watch the process and further their hopelessness.

Rebecca tried to get to her feet, but her ankle had been snapped by Lilith's magic. She crumbled and cried out as she fell to the floor. She tried to conjure a healing magic to mend her broken bones, but a cold steel sickle flew through the air and pinned her wrist against the wall. “No,” Annalise growled, floating closer, “You will feel every ounce of pain and suffering that you deserve, witch. Mother has graciously allowed me to have my fun with you while she plays with the fool above us. We have hours to spend together, but it will feel like an eternity to you. That pristine pale face of yours will look much better with shades of scarlet rolling down it. Once we've given you a proper makeover, we'll see if you can still make yourself useful.”

“Stay away from me,” Rebecca warned, trying to pry her hand free, “Whatever you do to me will be repaid tenfold, girl.”

“Idle threats and empty promises,” Annalise chuckled, striking Rebecca across the face with the broadside of her second sickle, “You were powerless when you were here last. Don't expect bravado to carry you far with me. All it will do will make me relish breaking you into a puddle before this is over!”

“Last time it was only me,” Rebecca said, glaring up at her despite the pain in her cheek, “This time, you're keeping my beloved from me. I will break out of this, and I will take him from here to save him.”

“You're too weak to do anything, but you'll realize this soon enough,” Annalise grinned, dragging her sickle along Rebecca's face, “Let's begin the lesson, shall we?”

Annalise dug the rip of the blade into her cheek, but Rebeeca refused to scream. It hurt, black hells did it hurt, but she wouldn't give this monster the satisfaction. She'd endured worse on earth, and she would overcome this. She let her mind wander as she took the brutal punishment from Annalise. The cackling of the sadistic daughter began to fade away as her mind traveled somewhere else. It wasn't to some place pleasant, but rather deeper into the confines of her mind. Deep in the recesses of her mind's eye, Rebecca began to formulate a plan of attack and escape.

If Lilith could foresee the future, then she'd have become unpredictable. It would take time, and it was going to hurt, but she could lull the demon into security. She would wait, watch, and bide her time until she could make her move. As much as she hated the notion of it, she was going to need help from a rather unfavorable source. If Jake was here, that meant Ashley was here as well. The two were far from allies, but a mutual enemy and common goal could go a long way. She didn't need to be friends with her, not that she had any interest in that. The animosity between them could be handled later, but she knew that she wasn't the only one that wanted Jake out from this pit. It would take time, but she was confident she could make it work and that Lilith wouldn't see it coming. She'd take her revenge, tear down the walls between worlds, and bring her beloved back where he belonged before this was over.