|
lurklurklurk
|

07-07-2009, 05:20 PM
2.6
Speaking of “assignments”, one assumed retiree was peacefully walking down the corridor of Hell, accompanied by Evil itself … But it was no ordinary corridor – it was a hidden passage, that could only be opened by three beings alone and one of them was there right now. The passage was very short, as one could see light at the end of it. Normally, the corridors of Hell were long, narrow and faintly illuminated by lanterns or candles, depending on their length but although they were rather long, one could pass from one department [5] to another easily through black portals, making circulation the most airy one yet!
At the end of the passage, a dry surface of land with gray matte puddles spread around was depicted in front of the two. Lu told Jin to wait for a few seconds while he went to speak with someone. With who? There is nobody here… Jin wondered. While he was searching for devil knows who, Jin started to wander around, strolling at a slow pace because of his condition. He hadn’t had more of those attacks but instead he suffered from lack of energy and fatigue, feeling the need to sleep all the time. He had furthered a little from where Lu had “left” him and had come to a square which he by– passed with no difficulty and stumbled upon a strange, yellow place, with its ground covered by sand. It was yellow because the rock structure was yellowish and so was the soil. It made Jin feel like he was somewhere near the sea, in a cave dug in the sea– wall by demons long ago to hide something precious or just to escape whenever one wanted to spend some time with oneself. To his surprise, a couple of meters away, Jin encountered a little girl who was standing on the sandy ground, back turned – she was holding a stick in one hand and it appeared like she was drawing something. It was very odd that a little girl would be there, in that place, that she would be actually living in Hell! What could she have possibly done to be thrown in that tainted, evil world? From what he knew, all children went to Heaven, no exception – maybe she wasn’t an ordinary child… Jin approached her quietly so as not to scare her and when he got close enough, he knelt down beside her. The child had written the name “Agatha” on the ground.
“Is this your name?” Jin gently asked the child.
“No” she responded. “Madison…”
“Madison… well that’s an unusual name…”
The girl turned around to face the man. Her eyes were the most clear and wonderful black eyes he had ever seen. Her lashes were extremely long and curled at their ends, to fit her pair of wonder.
“Why is that?” she asked him in return.
“What is what?” Jin replied rather confused.
“Why is my name unusual?”
“It is unusual because it is not common. Names like Anna, Lisa, Sarah or Michelle you hear everyday but yours is not that common. Also, I think it suits you…the way the letters resonate gives it a nice ring…”
Very pleased of his response, she smiled, her eyes smiling along too. Jin smiled back. She then reached her little hand and touched him on his left cheek.
“You are sick” the girl said as her face turned from joy to sadness.
“Yes I am” Jin responded with a faint smile.
“It will end soon…”
On hearing this, he became sure of the fact that she was no ordinary seven– year old child. Maybe she could see the future or maybe she had said what he would have liked to hear; the pain and the ugliness, how he wanted them to all vanish…
“I am not your regular “fortune teller”– and this is not something I would say just to make you feel better” she added.
Jin’s eyes instantly got bigger – she had read his thought! A soft smile appeared on her face.
The two would have continued their charming conversation if the man wouldn’t have been called out. Jin raised and so did the little girl.
“Lulu!” she shouted and jumped in the devil’s arms.
“How’s my little Madison been doing? I see you found yourself a friend…”
“Yep! I have!” The change in the girl’s attitude confused Jin – in their conversation he had found in her an intelligent and mature person whereas the one in Lu’s arms was behaving exactly like how a 7 – year old would. A change in language could be noticed too…
“You have, have you? Well, my love that’s something new even for you!” Lu said and kissed her on the cheek. He then let her down. “I believe Shar`an is waiting for you, Madison… meanwhile could you let me have a word with your friend? “he asked her smiling. An affirmative response quickly followed Lu’s request and then by a quicker leave. How strange…I’ve never seen Lu like this…I wonder what the relationship between them is…
“How are you feeling?” Lu inquired, taking him in his arms. “Still weak?”
“I’m alright .Exhausted yes, but hanging in there.”
“I see you’ve made a friend.”
“Yes…although she is much more than she appears to be…” Jin added.
Lu’s eyes sparkled seeing how ready– witted his beloved proved once more to be.
“It’s fascinating…” hell’s master spoke while caressing his beloved’s face with his long fingers.
“What is?” Jin inquired.
“The fact that she did no harm to you. Moreover, you are the first to ever come her path and remain sane.”
“Why? Who is she?”
“Madness.”
“Lulu?” the child asked him. The devil however was very focused at his new painting and didn’t hear her call his name out. Realizing that she was not heard, the little girl got off the bed and stepped towards him. She stopped merely inches away, gazing at the beautiful display of both craftsmanship and talent combined. “Lulu?” she then asked again and reached to gently grab an end of the demon’s shirt. Although a bit startled, Lu turned around smiling.
“Oh I’m sorry darling I didn’t hear you” he said and lowered himself to establish better eye contact with the pretty girl who was standing next to him.
“What are you painting, Lulu? “
“What am I painting? Hmm…let’s see now… oh but for that we’d have to further away from it so we can visualize the whole painting” he replied and then took the child by her little hand and stepped backwards a little. “Can you see it now, Madison? “
“It’s the sun and the moon! And stars! “she responded enthusiastically. “But Lulu… why are there butterfly wings with the stars too? “
“Because the universe is going to change soon… “
Lucifer closed his eyes for a few seconds. His face however, betrayed him, as the child could notice a faint touch of sadness.
“Lulu… “She said with a warm voice, covering his cheeks with her two hands. “ Lulu, don’t think about that anymore… I want you to be cynical! Beautiful and merciless and cynical! You must think what you are going to trade for things to remain as they are.”
Lucifer opened his eyes and after stroking the girl on the head he kissed her forehead.
“My dear Madison…you too not worry for me as I know what needs to be done. An as for Shar`an, I think I’m going to have a word with him pretty damn soon…”
“No, Lulu! You’re wrong! I’ve…seen it…” she said, averting his eyes from the devil. “I’ve seen it in him…”
“Then why do you continue with this nonsense? “He shouted.
“Because I felt it…I felt something that made me believe a new order will come – you know this for sure. Don’t you? “The girl fixed him with her look.
“I wish not to remind you that I am the Master of Hell but see both you and Shar`an seem to have forgotten this devious little aspect…”
‘Neither I or Shar`an have forgotten a damn thing! You are the one who has changed! We are the same as we were at the beginning… “
“I see…you are jealous of him…” Lucifer quickly noted.
“We have seen that you fancy his presence more – and have accepted that. Nevertheless, you cannot expect me or Shar`an to go on as nothing has happened! Especially me!”
On hearing this, the devil giggled.
“What’s so funny?” the girl asked him and turned her back to him, arms crossed.
“Forgive me as I am the biggest sinner and deserve to rot in Hell! “ Lu spoke with utmost tenderness.
She couldn’t stay mad on him, not on him! So she turned around to face him and said
“I hate you, Lulu!”
Lucifer started laughing and hugged her real tight.
“I love you too, Madison!”
***
__________________________________
[5] Hell is organized in departments. The biggest and most important one is the Archives, managed by Jin. Despite the fact that Jin has helpers, they do not interfere in the work itself, their job limiting to carrying the paperwork, stock– taking, copying specific type of reports and other such things. The Archives does not stint to Jin’s desk alone. Far from it! In reality, the Archives are situated in the back – a galactic area wisely– occupied, like a sea of books. This department resembles a library, only it is at an enormous scale.
“Are you going to follow me all day long?” he asked.
“Hmm…it’s not that you wouldn’t deserve it… Well, consider it a privilege! How many can say they have a direct link with Hell’s most powerful beings?” the voice told him.
“Shut up! Shut up!! You insolent bitch! Shut up! Leave me alooone! “Christian shouted while walking down a corridor, his hands to his head.
“Hey, hey…that’s no way to talk to a senior, petit fallen… “
“You bitch! Get out of my head! Leave me alone!! “
“Grotesque creature…you do not deserve your position! You have brought only misery to your lover. You’ll never escape Hell, never!! “The voice replied and then started laughing.
Christian was heading towards the Archives, because that’s where Azariel had been working at for the past week; the moment he touched the door knob however, the laughing voice inside his head stopped.
“You’re here. Good. Close the door.” Azariel spoke gravely.
Beauty lies in imperfection
|