The Siren and The Scythe

The Siren and The Scythe

Chapter 1
15,000 feet in the air soaring above the clouds on a private jet people usually feel joy or fear, but for Dahlia Swenson she felt guilt.
In the luxurious cabin of the aircraft Dahlia was accompanied by her 2 bandmates while her brother and bass guitarist was in the cockpit. Relying on his years of aviation experience in the military was convenient to avoid hiring a pilot especially if it meant not being responsible for an innocent victim.
Dahlia sipped her wine with beads of sweat on her forehead to match the beads of condensation on the cool glass. She tried to take steadying breaths to calm her nerves and she closed her eyes.

Suddenly she was onstage in broad daylight gripping a microphone stand with clammy palms. She felt terrified, but she had mostly gotten over stage fright many years ago. Her band, The Sickle and the Scythe played onstage beside her blasting metal music from amplifier stacks. Flames spouted from the side of the stage and she felt the heat then was enveloped in cold.

The moment her chorus was to start the universe went silent. She tried to sing, then to shout but there was no sound. She looked around and her band was still playing but she could not hear them.

Below and in front of her a massive silent cheering crowd extended to the horizon. As she gazed upon this horizon it quickly turned to dusk and she was cast into darkness. Trembling she looked up at a dark sky with a black disk surrounded by a ring of light. Chills ran down her spine. Then the stars began to fall.

An explosion knocked her down as she watched another meteor hurtling towards impact. A blast of debris obscured the impact as burning bodies were thrown skyward.

After the dust settles a deep crater was all that remained from the collision. A terrible bellow emitted from down below from some triumphant denizen of the darkness. The ground trembled as a massive bull head emerged from the crater. Thick muscled arms as big as airliners emerged next, skin bloodred and clasped by manacles dragging along broken rattling chains.

A silent scream left her lips as she opened her eyes.

Dahlia gasped. Adam and Johnny sat in leather seats across the aisle from her and finishing their last sips of wine.

"Eh you alright over there D?" Johnny asked.
"Oh uh yes everything is fine don't mind me." Dahlia relaxed her grip on the padded armrest and her phone which she still clutched in her hand. "Just found something shocking online." Lying. Not something Dahlia was especially comfortable with but when it comes to prevention of the Apocalypse maybe it was acceptable?

"Was it about the eclipse?" Adam asked. "I could probably tell you anything you wanted to know about those." having lived over a century that was no exaggeration.

Johnny rolled his eyes. "Oh can you? But have you ever played in a gig during one?"

"I can't say that I have..." Adam said.

"Ha! It's like I always say, 'there's a first time for everything', even if you are an immortal being and what not. Isn't that right D?"

Dahlia was busy inconspicuously monitoring the consumption of their beverages to be sure they were drinking. "Uh right, you are always saying that."

"But your wrong about the immortal part Johnny." Adam corrected. "I may be a reaper and immune to aging, pain and mortal wounds, but at any point I can resign from my duties to pass to the afterlife." He turned to Dahlia and she felt his gaze from behind the ever-present sunglasses. "It is my choice."

"Why would you ever give up such a sweet job? If I was you I would never give that up not for anything! Remember next time there is a job opening to let me know!" Johnny replied flippantly.

Adam was about to reply but Dahlia could not bear to hear what he might say next.

"Excuse me." Dahlia said checking her watch she stood and took a short trip up to the cockpit. David was at the controls with headset on.

"I had the vision again. It comes every time I close my eyes." Dahlia whispered. She glanced back toward the cabin.
David frowned. "Then it just confirms what we already know we need to do. Did you see the demon again?"
Dahlia nodded gravely. "Yes. I swear he is bigger every time. I think that means he is getting more and more powerful."
"It will be ok dilly dally. We stick to the plan. I'll see you in hell."
Dahlia smiled sadly. "Not if I see you first."
David released the controls putting a hand on her shoulder and looked her right in the eyes.
"This is the right thing to do. Trust me I know how hard it can be doing terrible things for the right reasons. You can start to doubt and second guess yourself when you question if there is a better way. But ultimately you have to decide, do I believe in the ones giving the orders?" Dahlia averted his gaze but he leaned toward her. "Today I believe in the one who is giving the orders, beyond any doubt ok? Do you?"
Dahlia closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I do. The more I see the vision the more I am sure that we must anything we can to keep this demon trapped in the underworld."
David patted her shoulder and took back full control. "I believe you. It's almost time. I need you to secure the cabin." Dahlia turned to go then David grabbed her hand. "I love you sis."
Dahlia turned and hugged her brother from behind. She gave him a kiss on his bald head and returned to the cabin locking the door behind her.

"Is everything ok up there?" Adam asked.
Dahlia tried to hide her tears holding onto the overhead bins. "It's great everything is fine. Just some family stuff you know."
Adam set down his wine and went to stand but the plane suddenly tilted forward and he fell back into his seat. The glasses fell to the floor staining the white carpet. Johnny's head limply dropped to his chest.
Adam held tightly to his armrests. "So this is the action that was decided on? I thought it was odd that David would fly this trip. Your brother is very loyal."
The sound of the engines grew from a roar to a scream as the nose of the plane dropped farther.
"Please don't be upset." Dahlia said. "This is the way it has to be."
He removed his sunglasses revealing jet black eyes, no iris or sclera."I am choosing to follow you Dahlia." He grabbed her warm hand with his cold one. "This won't be my first trip to the afterlife. It might be my most painful however. I'm morbidly curious to find out how bad it will be."
Dahlia squeezed his hand. "I'm scared Adam." The engines rose to a thunder.
He closed his eyes. "Don't be afraid! I will find you on the other side and I will make sure you are ok!" He was barely audible over the crescendo.
Their hands were clasped tight until the final moment of impact blasted them apart.




Chapter 2
Adam gripped Dahlia's hand with all his might as his body became weightless. This was either from the rapid descent from the sky or his soul was beginning to transition to the afterlife. Like a thought that never had a chance to take hold, Dahlia's hand slipped away.
After a moment another soft, slender hand gripped him and the falling stopped. He was standing in a ruined building underneath a darkened sky. A strong sulphureous odor assaulted his olfactory senses.
"Adam." A figure wearing a white cloak said as she let go of his hand. Their face was partially obscured by a cowl. "what are you doing here in this state?"
"I am not 100% sure what just happened. Why can't I remember?" Adam asked.
"You have died and you chose to relinquish your immortality. Your soul has been splintered as well as some of your memories give it a moment the disorientation will pass."
"Evelyn?" Adam said.
The figure pulled back the cowl to reveal an unhappy woman's face that seemed familiar. "You were foolish to forfeit your life brother. You have become too attached to these mortals for your own good. Now look what you have done." The large white cloak slowly reduced its size reforming into a doctors coat. She withdrew a stethoscope from a pocket and began a checkup of her brother.
"Take a deep breath for me. Good. You still have some of your powers but they have been weakened. Here, take some of these." Evelyn deposited some shiny blue crystals in his hand. "It's not the most charitable way to gain your powers but it will have to do for now. Do you know how to use those?
"I don't remember."
"Well good thing they are pretty fool proof. That's good for you and the dumb witted demons. Basically just hold it in your hand until you feel it get warm then try using your regular powers. Do you remember why you're here?"
"I was following Dahlia. She had some plan..."
"Excellent looks like your short-term memory is healing. You will take less time than your friends. Yes, your friend plans to stop the apocalypse, but I warn you now Adam, the apocalypse cannot be stopped." Evelyn placed the stethoscope around her neck
"I'm sorry Evelyn, I wouldn't be here if it wasn't very important. Something is different about Dahlia. She has had visions her whole life. If she believes the apocalypse can be prevented, then so do I."
Evelyn held out a hand and a long scythe materialized. "I hope you do know what you are doing. I hope you can succeed."
"Can you help me please? How will I find my band?"
"I tried to do what I could but unfortunately there are not many great destinations here. Johnny ended up at the Reaper casino. I hate that place they totally misrepresent us. Dahlia is at the Black Lotus Spa and Resort. I thought about staying to get a mani-pedi with her, but the prices are a little steep. And David found a nice spot in Valhalla Villa. Last I saw him he was charging into a hopeless battle happy as can be."
Adam groaned. "Don't tell me how bad those places truly are. Can't you stay and help me gather them all?"
"I'm sorry Adam but if I start meddling in the affairs of mortals I'll end up trapped her with you. If you really want my help, use the splinters I gave you to get out of here. There may still be hope for you. Your friends are damned."
"I can't use my power to escape with them?"
Evelyn shook her head. "No. Our abilities provide a one-way ticket. You know that."
"Understood." Adam adjusted his black leather biker jacket. Like his sister this was more than part of his apparel but was a disguised version of his cloak. He held a splinter in his hand and after a moment it began to pulse with warmth. "But I made a promise."
Adam held out a hand and his familiar scythe appeared. He held the long black shaft while the blade curved over his head.
"Never make a promise you can't keep." Evelyn warned.
With a deft slash Adam cut open a portal in the fabric of reality. "I don't intend to. Thank you, Evelyn. If you change your mind, you know where to find me." Adam stepped through his portal.


The first thing Dahlia noticed about hell was the chill. She was freezing. She didn't even have time to consider the irony with the adage before the next oddity struck her.
It was not the perpetual twilight that was odd, anyone would probably expect that. No it was the source of the twilight that sent a shiver through her that had nothing to do with the temperature. Above her in the sky was a black disk surrounded by a ring of light.

But this was not another vision. This was real life. Or real death. Either way it wasn't in her head, since the plane crash...
Was that what had happened? Yes that had been the plan all along, crash the plane, kill the entire band...
Dahlia panicked as she realized she didn't know why she had killed her band and even worse, what their names were. Dahlia closed her eyes.
Ok don't freak out yet focus and try to remember. There is my brother David, he plays the drums. Next of course is ... the reaper with black eyes... he plays bass. Oh what was his name? Aaron? Michael? No. Shit!
Well there is also the lead guitarist ... he is obnoxious I remember that... he had a british accent so he must be from the UK... what's a common name in the UK?

Dahlia opened her eyes. No visions. She gazed upward again but saw a bloodred sun in the place of the eclipse. What did that mean?
She gazed around to take in her surroundings and her eyes laid upon a large white building with many people milling in and out in plush white robes. Curiosity got the best of her, and she found herself at a broad white marble desk. Standing behind the counter was only what Dahlia could describe as a goddess. The woman was perfect in every way, body, hair, bone structure, makeup clothing. Rather than jealous Dahlia was in awe and had an unsatiable desire to become like this being.
"Hello there. Do you have an appointment?" The smile the woman showed almost blinded Dahlia.
"I don't know." Dahlia whispered.
"Name?"
"Dahlia Svenson."
"Let me see..." The woman picked up a clipboard and flipped a few pages.
"Ah here we go. Welcome Dahlia. You are scheduled for the VIP treatment. Please follow me."
The woman strode confidently through the luxurious space. Calming music and sweet scents floated through the air.
The woman stopped in front of a white door. "Just through here please." She gestured for Dahlia to open the door.
As Dahlia touched the handle the door pulled her into a dark room and everything changed. She spun around and the beautiful woman had turned into a rotting corpse. Dahlia buried her nose into her shirt at the stench that now burned her nostrils.
"Where am I!?" Dahlia shouted.
"Welcome to the Black Lotus Spa. Your massage will begin soon." The corpse curtsied on shaky bony legs and slammed the door.
Dahlia ran to the door and banged her fists. Then she heard the whispers.
Now with her back against the treacherous door, she saw movement in the dark corners of the room. Something brushed her ankle, and she screamed moving towards the center of the room under the single dim light from a flickering candle. A liver spotted pale hand reached from the darkness clutching the floor where she had been standing. With a sickly wet squelch, the one-armed torso of the corpse pulled itself toward her leaving a dark streak on the ground.
Her scream was cut off by a hand grabbing her mouth from behind. She drove an elbow into the assailant's stomach, but they didn't flinch, and her arm only became trapped in a mush of rotten muscles.
Gagging, and struggling, she was thrown onto a massage table strapped down and her face forced into the hole.
"Thank you attendantsss." A voice hissed. "You may leave our guessst with me now."
Dahlia was able to raise her head enough to see a thin scaly demon stepping toward her. In his arms were a variety of wicked instruments.
"Who are you!? Get away from me!" Dahlia screamed.
"Hello, my name is Rathspar and I will be your masseuse today."
"Just let me go." Dahlia pleaded.
"Oh you will be free to go. As soon as your spa treatment is complete." The demon chuckled. He tore the back of her shirt and stabbed her with a painful pin, some twisted form of acupuncture.
"Ow! Fuck you, you could use a spa treatment yourself with that dry skin motherfucker." Dahlia cursed.
Rathspar chuckled with glee. "Oh, darling we are just getting started. And I do get an employee discount on treatments thank you very much."
Searing coals were placed on her back. The exquisite pain was enough for her to mercifully lose consciousness.


She came to some time later. The reptilian weasel was speaking. "... without much difficulty. It is only slightly fragmented. Does this please you master?"
"Why do I not have her complete soul!" A deep voice bellowed. "We sprang the trap almost immediately upon her arrival!"
Dahlia raised her head to try to see the newcomer. She could only see cloven feet beneath dark reddish-brown fur. Something about this newcomer gave her chills.
"Master this is not a perfect art-"
"Enough! She is no longer any use to us. Finish the job and dispose of her."
"Yes my lord." As Rathspar turned back to Dahlia she fainted again.




Johnny was on a hot streak. He was so hot he couldn't lose. He was surprised there wasn't steam coming off his body.
His luck had begun at the slots and eventually led him to the craps table.
Johnny reached down and plucked the translucent red dice off the black felt table.
"Let's keep the roll going!" He shouted. The other players around the table cheered.
Johnny turned, his metallic red suit casting reflections from the many neon lights of the casino. He put one arm around the pink skinned she-devil next to him. What was her name? Did it matter to him?
"How'd you like to do the honors sugar?" He raised the dice.
"I'd love to give you a blow." She said with a wink. She pursed her ruby red lips and leaned forward to blow gently on the dice to a few cat calls from around the table.
Johnny drew back his arm and with a twist of his wrist gave the bones a toss.
"Hard Six." The thin and chalky skinned stickman called out as the dice landed. He used his long stick made of bones to pull the dice back to him.
"Whoo!" Johnny called as he was paid for his splinters on his hardways bet. A stack of splinters was pushed his way. Rather than taking the winners he told the dealer, "Give me all the inside numbers."
"You're a high roller aren't you?" Said the she -evil brushing his cheek with one finger.
"You know that's right baby." Johnny said eyes fixed on the table.
"Let's see how lucky you get this evening." She said leaning in and licking his ear with a forked tongue.
Johnny smiled as he grabbed the dice for the next roll. Without pausing he rolled again.
"Seven out." The stickman called. Immediately the dealers cleared all the splinters from the table and an audible moan went up from the table.
Johnny watched his profits disappear in an instant. His stomach twisted and he leaned forward against the rail of the table.
"Aw too bad looks like your luck just ran out." The she devil turned and walked away. Johnny watched her leave. Probably for the best she was bad luck.
Johnny had the dealers cash him out and he left the table to look for somewhere for his luck to turn.

He found himself at blackjack next. He slid casually into a black leather chair with skulls at the end of the armrest. When the current round had ended he presented his metal wristband to the dealer; a female gargoyle. She held out a clawed hand over the object and a faint white light flowed out of the band.
"Place your bets." She said after the ritual had ended.
Johnny confidently placed his bet after briefly checking his remaining splinters and table limits. He knew he was down but he had always been good at blackjack.
He looked at his cards, 6 and 4. The dealer looked at him expectantly.
"Double down." He said with a smirk.
The dealer slid a jet black card from the shoe and placed it on top of his other cards. It was the Ace of Hearts. Rather than a cartoonish image the card was anatomically correct with values leaking blood.
"21." Said the dealer. "Nicely played."
"As always." Johnny said nonchalant.
The dealer finished dealing the other players hands including a bleary eyed man in a worn out ball cap. He bust.
"Give me the sudden death bet again." He pushed a single sliver onto a circle on the table marked with a skull with snakes coming out the eye sockets. He then placed the table minimum bet with 5 splinters.
"Excuse me sir," Johnny said leaning towards the man, "What is the reaper bet?"
"Huh?" He looked up confused that someone was talking to him. He squinted at Johnny with puffy red eyes. "What's the what?"
"You just placed the sudden death bet." Johnny said pointing. The bleary eyed man barely managed to focus on his finger. "I was wondering if you could tell me more about it."
The man followed the direction and suddenly became slightly more coherent. "Oh you mean the reaper bet! It's nothing just a lousy side bet that never pays out." He shrugged.
Johnny eyed him up and down. Was this man a crazy drunk or actually a savvy gambler?
"Place your bets please." Said the dealer impatiently.
Johnny hastily placed a large bet. And of course he busted.
He glanced over again when the ball cap man placed the sudden death bet again. Frustrated he turned on the man at the end of the round again.
"Well the reaper bet can't be that lousy of a bet if you keep betting on it each round."
The ball cap man frowned. "Lousy bet? Who said that? It's one of the highest pay outs of the whole casino. I mean it's where they got their name from after all."
Johnny spent a moment annoyed at the crazy man before he felt a tinge of excitement. "What's the payout?"
"10,000 to 1." Said the ball cap guy flatly.
"Place your bets please." The dealer interrupted again tapping her long sharp claws menacingly.
Johnny hesitated. Then he pushed half his splinters into the reaper circle and played the minimum on his hand. "I'll take the reaper bet please."
The gargoyle dealer's eyebrows furrowed into a deep wrinkly frown.
Johnny smiled and winked at her. His smiled wavered when he saw the look of terror on the ball cap guys face.
"What the hell are you doing?" He asked hoarsely.
The dealer slowly dealt the cards and Johnny could feel her eyes boring holes into his skull.
"What do you mean? I'm taking a risk with a few of my splinters. What's the bet anyway?" Johnny asked. Each player had been dealt their first faceup card. The baseball cap man shrieked when he saw that the dealer had the Ace of Spades faceup. This card depicted a smiling skeleton dressed in a long ink black cloak carrying a curved scythe.
The man was visually shaking when he looked back at Johnny. "When you make the reaper bet you want to get a blackjack with the ace of spades."
The dealer finished distributing the second card to each player.
"What happens when you don't get the ace of spades?" Johnny asked biting his lip.
"Nothing." The man replied. "But if the dealer has a blackjack with the ace of spades you lose."
Johnny's stomach sank.
"Insurance bets?" The dealer asked.
Johnny looked at his remaining chips and quickly pushed all on them towards the insurance line.
"Ha, you almost had me," He said to the dealer. "But now I'll either win the insurance bet and lose half my splinters basically pushing, or I'll lose the insurance bet and keep my other splinters."
The ball cap man shook his head. "You don't get it." He said mournfully. "You don't just lose your splinters. You really lose. You'll be Shattered... again."
Johnny looked desperately as the dealer flipped her facedown card. King of Spades, a mournful monarch sitting chained to a flaming throne.
The dealer showed her fangs. "Blackjack. That's too bad for you Johnny."
Johnny burst from his seat. He furiously looked for the nearest exit.
The dealer flipped the table and lunged for his manacled wrist. In a cascade of splinters and cards Johnny struggled for his life against the demonic dealer. But he had already lost his life, that's how he had ended up here in the first place. All he possessed was his broken soul.
After a short struggle the dealer had caught his wrist and brought the metallic cuff towards her hand. "Time to pay your debt."
There was a burst of white light in the room and in Johnny's mind. He shut his eyes as his body was seared by a blinding pain.
Deep inside him he felt a sharp white hot burning . And it cut through him, from his bowels and into his stomach. He doubled over and would have wretched but it sliced up his throat cauterizing as it went. His eyes flew open and he gagged as hundreds of small blue crystals filled with light spilled from his mouth. He wailed as he shut his eyes. He was losing consciousness even as he screamed. All sensation left his limbs and all he was aware of in the darkness was pain and the terrible wail of the damned.
He became aware of a bar which he held fast to with one hand. I can't be lost I don't want to go into the darkness. So he pulled on the bar with his might.
Sensation flooded back to him and the terrible wail became a shout of joy.
"Woohoo!" Johnny sat in a stained red velvet suit. He let go of the slot machine handle as hundreds of small white scraps spilled from the machine.
"I'm on a hot streak now!" He bragged to the patrons around him. A few of the human patrons frowned and a couple of devils smiled at him.
He removed the ragged jacket feeling literally hot anyway and he managed to collect the splinter crystals in the jacket. "If I could find a craps table right now I could really make some money!"
As he made his way through the crowded aisle someone called, "Nice winnings Red."
He stopped and looked at the man. He had a black leather coat and sunglasses.
Johnny realized he was wearing a deep maroon dress shirt and scarlet bow tie. Not to mention the red velvet jacket he held his splinters in.
"Oh I get it, it's cause of my outfit right? Kind of a ridiculous getup huh? I don't even remember putting it on..."
The stranger strode toward him. "No it's actually your name Johnny. Johnny Redding."
Johnny hadn't realized he had forgotten his last name til it was spoken to him.
"Redding... yeah that's right. Wait do I know you?"
"Not from this world. But yeah you knew me before."
Johnny was quiet. Then abruptly asked, "Before what?"
The stranger put his arm around Johnny and started walking towards a wall conspicuously not covered in slots or other games. "I'll tell ya, but what do you say we get out of here first?"
Johnny stopped and nodded deeper into the casino. "But I was winning, I was on a hot streak!"
The stranger lowered his dark sunglasses to reveal even darker black eyes. Not just the pupil but the enitre iris was jet black. Johnny's initial reaction was to be shocked but then he felt a calming sense of familiarity.
"Do you really feel like you've been winning Johnny? Come on, and you can leave those, they won't do you any good outside of here."
Johnny dropped his jacket and out spilled the hundreds of scraps. Shouts and a commotion of patrons swarmed the pile. The stranger knocked on the wall and a door materialized. Johnny stopped at the threshold and took one more look at the only place he had any memory of. Was there a world outside this one? Might as well find out.


Chapter 3
Have you ever had the feeling that you had something very important you needed to do, but you could not for the life of you remember what it was?
That single impression was stuck in the mind of Dahlia Svenson. It was more of a raw instinct that a thought as in her current catatonic state her numb mind was not capable of thought.
Dahlia's dark hair was a snarled mess. Her clothing was ripped and torn. But compared to her present company of a dozen or so other walking corpses she was well dressed. Apparently a more recent addition to the crowd.
As her mindless feet shuffled along the crowd of other shamblers, the urge to remember to take critical action tormented her.
Step.
Need to remember.
Step.
Must find... something
Step.
Where are... the others?
Faces suddenly appeared in her mind causing her to freeze momentarily and her fellows bumped into her before they parted around her.
A man's kind strong face with jet black eyes. A blond man with blue eyes, someone she shared a strong connection with. And a rugged bony face with dark shadowed eyes. 3 different men. And suddenly they were gone. Mind blank again.
Step...
Her life was empty. Especially now that she was a lifeless mindless corpse, but hadn't she felt this way before? What had happened before, how had she been damned like this? She had passion but had always been missing something.
But that was not the urgent feeling that she did not remember. There had been a plan with the others. But what? Why had ended up here?
Even with her incapacitated mind she knew the truth deep down. She was dead. The plan had gone wrong. And she would never see the others again.

She had no way to tell how long she had been in this catatonic state, even if her mind would have been able to comprehend the concept of time. It could have been days or months that her and her groupies roamed the streets of the dilapidated city.

"Dahlia." A familiar voice whispered. Her lapse of incoherence was broken.
Her head rolled to the side, neck refusing to move. There was the man with jet black eyes. Her feet froze. Out of fear or shock she was not sure. She was briefly aware of a woman walking briskly step around her. Was that odd?
"Dahlia, can you understand me? You need to come with me. Can you follow me?" The man let go of her shoulder and clasped her hand. He gently pulled.
Well, if he was insistent why not follow him? Dahlia's feet responded at the usual lethargic pace.
A distant roar of a motor bike disturbed the silence. The man looked around concerned, he urged more emphatically but Dahlia's feet had one speed.
"Really this is as fast as you go? I guess you didn't move much faster even when you were alive." The man commented.
The processing power of her mind was very limited but just seeing the man's face had given it a slight boost. Dahlia was not sure if she was offended. The buffer circle was still spinning from the first time this man spoke her name.
As he led her down a dark and dirty alley away from her only other freakish friends she knew, her mind registered the insult. She jerked back her hand. As Adam turned around she attempted a sluggish slap to that stubbled face.
Adam watched the hand approaching but paid it no mind as it connected.. His attention was on a massive motorcycle that roared down the road they had left. He made sure that the fearsome vehicle had continued past their hiding spot then resumed the escape. "Great slap let's go."




Gartarun bared his thick molar teeth as he sped through a crowd of shamblers clogging the narrow street. The soulless denizens didn't bother to clear a path for his sidecar-motorcycle equipped with steel blade bumpers and spokes that whirred like a buzzsaw. Needless to say, Gartarun literally cut through the crowd leaving mutilated bodies in his wake.
In the passenger seat sat Rathspar whose futile attempts to wipe the blood from his riding goggles left the glass smeared with gore. The little reptilian demon looked like a fly next to the giant bovinae demon that was Gartarun, whose massive horns where as thick as Rathspars entire body. Rathspar's body buzzed from the vibrations of the roaring engine and he slapped scaly hands across his goggles again as another victim was cut down. His quick reflexes allowed him to grab the sissy bar and prevent himself from being flung out of the sidecar as the motorcycle jostled over the corpse. Gartarun didn't even budge.
"What a beautiful day!" Gartarun bellowed. Dark clouds hung low in the sky and the sun shone red as if it was about to set. "A perfect day for a ride don't you think Rathspar?" Gartarun grinned as the blood ran down his face forming drops on his nose ring.
"Yesss sssir." Rathspar hissed. "A good day for revenge!"
Gartarun snorted a sharp huff. "I'll make that maggot suffer. No one crosses me, and if they do I'll go to hell and back to find them!" He smiled wryly and Rathspar braced himself for the bad joke he knew was on his bosses lips. "And looks like we are already here!" Gartarun laughed so loud it drowned out the powerful engine.

***************

Shaylee heard the roar of the obscenely loud motorbike reverberating down the corridor of concrete and steel. Sweat beaded her forhead and made her dark hair stick to her face. She walked quickly through the crowd of people, all with various levels of their humanity intact.

A tall shambler man bumped into her shoulder, while a shambler woman abruptly stopped in front of her and she had to quickly sidestep her. These actions weren't rude, and it was useless to be upset by anything a shambler did. You couldn't hold anything against someone without a soul.

But on the other hand... out of the corner of her eye she saw a wrinkly hand moving toward her chest.

"Hands off grabby." Shaylee said slapping the hand away. "I still got some sanity." She glared at the old man that was walking in the opposite direction.

"For now." He said with a wink. He smiled through cracked lips showing what remained of his yellow teeth. "I am a patient man." He watched as she walked passed him.

Shaylee wanted to gouge out that eye. And if she had time she would have but the sound of the engine was drawing closer and she could hear the squeal of tires as Gartarun descended on his quarry.

Reluctantly Shaylee put her butterfly knife back in her pocket. "You're lucky I'm on a tight schedule." She said over her shoulder as she began to jog up the street pushing bodies out of her way. The old man continued in the opposite direction groping shamblers as he went.

Shaylee was trapped between the black sky and the towering buildings that surrounded her.
Why did she think that the Black Lotus would be a good mark to lift a couple splinters? The better question was why she had thought that she could cheat Gartarun out of any splinters? That had a simple answer: she had trusted a demon.

That little snake Rathspar had made her a deal. If she did the dirty work he would be sure Gartarun never found out. Then they would both be rich and powerful. Now look how that turned out, she was on the run from one of the biggest, meanest and most blood thirsty demons of Lower Los Diablo.

Shaylee was almost out of time. Time almost didn't seem to exist in a world of perpetual twilight but to the demons that ruled over the land it most assuredly did.

Shaylee tried to forget about the past and focus on the present. She was almost to her destination. The crowd of shamblers was thinning and she was at a full sprint when she went through the intersection of 64th and Butcher Street.

Running down the next block she realized the sound of the motorbike had faded. Relieved she started to slow.
Suddenly the tank sized motorbike and the raging beast driving it squealed to a stop cutting off Shaylee's path at the next intersection.
Gartarun leap over the side with one hand and snatched a massive ax from a rail along the bike with the other.
"What have we here?" Gartarun sneered through gritted teeth. "More a rat than a human I think. You'll give me back the Shard now or I think you know what happens next."

"Probably the same thing either way." Shaylee said trying to remain cool. "Have you stopped to consider how a dirty little rat managed to steal a fragment from you anyway? Surely I couldn't have done it on my own..."
Shaylee glanced at Rathspar who was shaking in his scales.

"Let'sss kill her now bossss!" Rathspar said.

Gartarun raised his ax and was drawing in breath to shout, but Shaylee cut him off. "Surely I must have had help on the inside to pull off such a daring heist..."

Gartarun finally caught the implication."Rathapar!" He bellowed. The tiny reptilian demon cowered.
Gartarun ran after the lesser demon and grabbed Rathapar by the throat lifting him off his feet as Shaylee darted past.

Gartarun roared and Shaylee heard a crash but didn't dare look behind.


Finally, 66th street. She turned right onto the dimly light road watching the house numbers. 2...4... and then #6 the third building down. It was a dark building built of pure obsidian. A fearsome silver dragon door knocker hung on the entrance.

Shaylee raced up the short series of steps with Gartarun hot on her heels. Suddenly he froze and hesitated at the foot of the stairs.


Shaylee smiled in triumph. From her side bag she withdrew her prize; a palm sized crystal fragment glowing blue. She tossed it in the air casually. "Well looks like you lost Gary. Here we are at a line you can not cross and I am just out of reach."


Gartarun snorted and raised his axe swinging with his might. The blow froze midway between them. Gartarun trembled and bellowed his eyes began to glow red. His exertion was not in vain, slowly the axe blade began to glow as tendrils of light webbed outward revealing the invisible barrier.


All swagger left Shaylee as she clutched the doorknocker and repeatedly pounded the door.
A blast of cold air froze her as her master left his lair. Asmodeus held his hands calmly in front of him with cold composure. He held out a hand towards shaylee. "The fragment please." His raspy voice said quietly.


Shaylee obeyed. As soon as the crystal was in her master's hand the light tendrils began to recede. They raced backward along the tracks they had made. As the unified at the edge of the blade there was a flash and Gartarun was blasted backwards across the street through the wall of the opposing buildings. A wounded bleating followed shortly by the roar of the motorbike was the last they heard from their adversary.


Asmodeus turned towards his servant. Shaylee quickly took a knee. And looked down towards his spotless black books.


"Rise. You have done well retrieving what I require."
"It is the right soul fragment then? Rathspar is not the most reliable."
"It is. And she is nearby. Now you will return to your shop. You will meet her soon."




David was pacing the floor of the cluttered warehouse. Why did Hell even need warehouses? Did he want to know what was inside the thousands of crates? Judging by the stench, no he did not.
Sitting on one of the mysterious containers was Johnny. Every creak and groan of the abandoned building made him jump. David and his engrained sense of security was able to filter out the white noise and focus on true sounds of approach. He picked out the sound of two people approaching, one shuffling and the other walking briskly.
"They are here." He said to Johnny. Johnny glanced around wildly and David directed his gaze down a narrow corridor of boxes. Soon Adam appeared from the opening followed by a miserable sight.
David was stunned to see his sister who was oblivious of the presence of her bandmates. Well former bandmates. Death had not been kind to her. And he had thought Death had been on their side.
"I thought you would make sure we had a clean cross over into the Afterlife Adam!" He stormed up to the smaller man.
Most men were smaller than David. He tried to grab Adam by the front of his leather jacket but conveniently the reaper used his ethereal form to become suddenly incorporeal. Man, he was getting faster at using that trick.
"Well, I could have done better with a little warning. Why did you and Dahlia keep this plan a secret from me." He glanced at Johnny. "I mean from us."
"Yeah mate I thought we were in this together?" Johnny interjected.
David ran a hand across his scalp. "I don't fully remember now. I think we all are familiar with that feeling. But that is what Dahlia wanted.




"Why is Dahlia stuck like... like this? What is wrong with her?" David sputtered.
"It's ok, it's only temporary. I was not able to get to her fast enough. Adam calmly explained.
"So we can get it back?" Johnny questioned. He nervously glanced over Davids broad shoulder.
"Yes." Adam said. "We just need to return her splintered soul by getting it back from the demon in possession of it right now."
"Sounds like a great plan." David said. "By the way do you guys hear that metal?"




Chapter 4
The music shop had an inviting atmosphere compared to the rest of the businesses in hell. Those usually meant to cause pain and suffering whileThis one offered something else: sweet cacophony of deafening heavy metal.

The bass could be felt from around the block but upon entering the establishment it vibrated to the bone. Behind the counter a spiked hair woman with a vibrant canvas of tattoos and piercings to envy an pin cushion, banged her head to the beat while flipping through a magazine. The quartet stood basking in the ambience (all that could enjoy it that is) for a moment before David reminded them of their mission. Each member then dispersed about the cramped store to find the tools of their trade.

David approached the counter with Dahlia. He waited for the owner to look up in vain. Finally he got her attention by waving his hand in front of the magazine.

"Oh customers! Sorry I was caught up in my music again.." She said sheepishly as she lowered the volume of the din. "Can I help you?"
"I hope so." David said "My band and I are looking for a full setup."
"Really? I don't get too many customers in here looking for instruments! What kind of music do you play?"
"Mostly heavy metal or hard rock."
"That's great! I mean it's really popular down here if you haven't noticed. Even among humans. Must be something about our surroundings."
"It must be." David stated dryly.
"We'll I can definitely help you get setup with everything you need for a show. Now I get the sense you are somewhat new around here..."
"What gives you that impression?"
"Well you don't have that eternally damned expression quite yet. Aside from your friend there. How very altruistic of you to take a shambler under your wing."
"Is that what you call someone in her condition?" David asked. Dahlia was raising the ignored magazine towards her mouth, but David intervened as you would with a toddler. "How did this happen, and why only to her?" David handed back the magazine.
Shaylee accepted the magazine and returned it to a stack in a cardboard box. "She has a powerful aura. Some demons must have sensed her presence and stolen away her soul. Lucky for you I retrieved a fragment." Shaylee placed a blue rock on the counter."
David snorted derisively. "That's my sisters soul?" He reached out a hand to grab the fragment but Shaylee snatched it back.
"Ah ah it's not that easy soldier boy." She said.
"Hey! Give it back. You don't want to get on my bad side lady." He said menacingly.
"You?" She scoffed looking him up and down. "Trust me buddy I have pissed off beings way more intimidating than you. But fortunately I want your sisters soul restored. I think we can help each other."
"So you think we are going to bargain with you for her soul?"
"Yes." Shaylee said flatly. "When in Rome..."
"I don't think anything good has ever come from bargaining with a demon." David said.
"Hey man I'm no demon. When you meet one you'll know. I am just a girl that wants to trade favors. Look you really don't have much of a choice. I stole this fragment (and a few others) from Gartarun, he's the giant Minotaur demon that has the rest of her soul. I paid off some debts with the others, but now Gartarun wants my soul now so I propose that we restore your sisters mind, combine our skills, and slay him. What do you say?"
Shaylee slid the crystal back across the counter.
"Why do we need your help?" David said as he clenched the stone in his fist.
"Do you know how to use that fragment? Do you know how to slay a demon?"
"Fair enough. Why should we trust you?"
"You shouldn't. I sure as hell don't trust anyone down her. Always look out for number one, that's my motto. But when you see an opportunity and your needs align with another a little teamwork doesn't hurt."
David looked at his sister was standing still and kicking the counter with one foot.
"Your right, we are completely out of our element her. You've got me convinced, bring my sister back and convince her and you'll have our help."






Dahlia felt something important was being discussed by the big muscle man and the attractive punk rock chick but didn't have the attention to focus. Her attention had been grabbed by a beautiful purple leather jacket one the wall she wanted but something prevented her from walking close enough to grab it.
Suddenly the punk rock chick was in her face. The woman was holding someone's hand in hers, wait it was Dahlias. A large blue crystal was placed in her hand and it began to glow.
Warmth emotion and memory flooded through her being.
With a sharp intake of breath and as the sensation dissipated she became aware of her surroundings and the three other people in the room.
"Your all here!" And I remember you now! David!" She ran and gave her brother a hug. "Dahlia you had me worried there for a second." They released and smiled at one another. The stony man hide his face not wanting his little sister to she his emotion. She turned to the other two allowing him to keep his pride.
"Sleeping beauty is awake!" Johnny smiled.
"Does that make you Prince Charming?" Dahlia asked.
"We'll I am the most charming in the group but we all know I am not your true love." He turned to Adam. "Speaking of true love..."
Adam was next to embrace Dahlia. "I'm sorry I didn't get to you sooner. We all had a tough time crossing over including me."
"It's ok you did find me though." She touched his cheek. "Thank you."




The woman stood up and gestured "Follow me. I take a look at my back room. By the way my name is Shaylee."
Dahlia politely introduced herself and together they made their way to a splintered door that creaked loudly as they passed.
In the next room a plethora of weapons adorned a brick wall. An assortment of swords, axes, knives and every conceivable hand weapon filled one side. And on the other sat pistols rifles shotguns and machine guns to make rival any military force.

David whistled from beside her. "[something about military grade weapons]"
"I'm glad you are impressed. Humans often find themselves in peril down here. All kinds of demons find pleasure in splintering our souls for their power. I call these demon deter ants."
Dahlia turned to look at the other woman. "What is that you said about splinters giving demons power? Are we talking about pieces of wood stuck under the skin?"
Evelyn snorted. "Not that kind of splinter! Though if you like that kind of thing I know an oni in coalville that specializes in that kind of torture. It's incredible the number of bamboo pieces he can wedge under one fingernail..."
David Dahlia and Adam looked all look at her.
"But to answer your question yes demons derive their power from the essence of a broken soul. We can them splinters. They are pretty much the currency down here. Speaking of..."
The group eyed each other.
David spoke up "why do you want splinters? You just told us only demons can use them?"
"Ha! Why do you want money on the other side? It gives you power. Not true power but some false sense of it. Splinters are true power. And it's not just demons that can use them. Demons horde them and relentlessly seek them out true but nothing stops your or me from partaking in this power as well."
Noting all the confused expressions Evelyn stuck her hand out toward David. "Let me show you."

David carefully retrieved one of his splinters from his Chest. His hand passed through his sternum without resistance and came out holding a crooked small blue crystal. He placed it in the outstretched hand of the stranger.

Evelyn clasped it tightly and closed her eyes. Turning her hand over to reveal a tattoo of a snake constricting a heart. The light in the room dimmed and her hand began to glow just for for moment.
Evelyn opened her hand then her eyes which now burned with blue fire.
"See?"
Dahlia leaned closer and David who was usually cool and collected looked stunned.
"It's not just changed my eyes." Shaylee reached out a hand towards the gun rack. A revolver jumped off its shelf and flew into the awaiting palm. Shaylee expertly popped open the cylinder and gave it a quick spin and then closed it with a snap of her wrist.

David didn't have to see any more. Without hesitation he plunged another hand into his chest and withdrew a shard. He matched Shaylee's technique but frowned and opened his hand. The blue crystal remained. "It doesn't work."

"And that's the trick." Shaylee said laying the weapon on a counter. "You can only use shards from another never your own. Take the shard Dahlia and see what you can do."

Dahlia looked into the eyes of her brother. She felt strange receiving a piece of his soul with the intent of consuming it for a cheap parlor trick. But what the hell...

The surface of the crystal was smooth but the twisted shape created many sharp edges. Nothing dangerous but not so nice to hold in a fist. Dahlia glanced at Shaylee and she motioned for her to continue. Dahlia closed her eyes. She breathed in deeply and tried to concentrate on the splinter. In a split second it became hot and she opened her hand in surprise. The splinter was gone.
"Wow it is gone. I-" Dahlia cut off her words which had emitted from her throat as if spoken by her in multiple tones and voices. Each was her voice but together sounded unnatural.
Evelyn looked mesmerized by the effect. It became uncomfortable as Evelyn and the others looked at Dahlia with blank stares for far too long.
"Ok guys I know this is weird but cut it out." Immediately they stopped and looked confused.

"What just happened? Did it work?" Adam asked?

Dahlia kept her lips pressed tight until she felt something... drain inside her.
"You didn't hear my voice change?" She asked "it was like you were all in a trance..." she paused. " You were in a trance. Is that my power?"
Shaylee nodded. " Sounds like it sweetheart. Each being manifests different powers when they consume splinters. Including demons."

"Why did it change her voice?" Adam asked.

"The power is tied to your soul. So you tell my why her voice is important?"

"She was the lead singer in our band."

"There you have it. Me, I have a way of attract people and things. So my power manifests as telekinesis. Your sister is a singer not just by vocation but to her core. So she is gifted with siren song."

Dahlia got chills. "Guys, let's get the rest of the equipment and get to work. I think I got a new name for our group."

***