22

In the belly of the beast... figuratively speaking

I awake in a room that is all too familiar. Stone walls and floor, one wall occupied by holding cells, candles illuminating the room. I'm bound to a wooden table by thick leather straps. A figure steps from the shadows of a corner.

"Welcome back Ivan. I assure you that this visit is not a dream." The figure says. He is a tall man with long black hair covering half of his face. He's wearing a plain white suit with red-brown spatters that seem to be blood stains. The only way he resembles the Avengus from my nightmare are the gigantic, stark black feathered wings hiding behind him. "I heard you managed to get a shot in on Lucifer. That's quite impressive. He was one of the very first to join my ranks. He was one of the escaped experiments you see, one of the first original Lycanthropes. He wishes to get revenge on those that ripped the life he had. Everyone has a story Ivan, even my generals and, believe it or not, myself."

"So then what's your story? What makes you want to parade around as a god and enslave an entire species?" I question

"Simple, power. I am one of four brothers Ivan. We all share a common goal, instilled into us by our father. He is the god, Ragnarok. Humans, however, call him by different names; Devil, Satan, Evil. But the thing is none of these exist. Evil is an imaginary force created by mortals. Why? That I do not know."

"So then even if I defeat you I'd have to go through your brothers? Well that's a spirit dampener, but not enough to make me give up."

"Yes, well we shall see about that once you meet them. Ivan I know I cannot keep you here forever; you will get out eventually but not anytime soon. You will meet them, father too. But for now I just need to figure out what to do with you."

"If you know that I'll get out then why are you telling me all of this?" I ask

Avengus smiles a razor's edge, "I never said that it'd be before or even during the war, did I? By the time you get out the world you know will be in ruins." Avengus walks out of the chamber and the lights leave with him.

I lay there in the dark unable to do anything other than think. At first I try to remember how I got here but come up with nothing. The time there in the dark seemed to drag on forever. As there is no way of telling time I could have been easily down here for hours, days, or even weeks. For all I know the war could be over and the world destroyed with all my friends laying dead somewhere. Well at least Saundra was safe here in...well here. I assume so anyways. No one has come to visit me since my talk with Avengus.  I reason that it couldn't have been more than a few hours, otherwise I'd be starving. I need to try to think of a way out, but how? All I have of my prison is a brief memory of my immediate surroundings. Ne recollection of anything away from the table I'm strapped to nor outside my vision. If only I could get free of these restraints I could go sneak around, get an idea of where I am. I struggle to wriggle free but can't slip my bindings.

The door to the chamber opens and a big half horse-half man walks through holding a platter with food on it. It was the Centor, Leviathan. His human half is very masculine and defined with a strong, handsome face and a cascade of brown hair. His horse half is the same brown color with legs that looked like tree trunks with a polished black hoof at the end of each one. He wears a leather harness with sheaths that hold his serrated daggers and had a bow and quiver across his chest. I can't help but think of how odd this weapon combination is for someone of his form.

"So you're the prisoner everyone is buzzing about, you and the girl in the next chamber over. You're the one that crushed Azmodaus's lackey." Leviathan observes

"Yea. You said something about the girl, is she okay?" I ask frantically

"For now, yes. So here's how things go around here, you get three meals a day. Normally they'd be far less glamorous and not delivered by a General like myself, however Avengus has instructed that you and the girl are to be treated a...guests. I will unbind you to allow you to eat, during that time the door will be locked." Leviathan looks over his shoulder quickly then shuts the door. Returning to me he speaks in a hushed voice, "But you can forget all that because you're not staying here for long."

"What? But Avengus said-" I start confused

"Screw Avengus! Ever since he brought you and that Vampire girl here that's all anyone talks about. No room for me, no. I'm going to help you two out of here." Leviathan spits

"What! Really?! What's the catch?" I eye him suspiciously

"You listen and do everything I tell you to, and once you're out you never come back here as a prisoner again. Agreed?"

"Twist my arm why don't you." I say sarcastically

"Good. Tomorrow your breakfast will be brought to you by Mammon, try not to kill him. Then I will be by to give you lunch, I will tell you the plan then. My suggestion to you is to eat well and get your sleep." Leviathan sets the tray down on a table and releases me off of mine before finally going to the door. "One more thing, the walls here are incredibly thin." He leaves the chamber, locking the door behind him.

I wait untill I can no longer hear the clip clop of hooves on stone before I start to eat. I think about all that Leviathan told me as I shovel down food. The full meaning of his last words hit me like a sledgehammer and I throw myself against the wall banging on it. "Saundra!? You there?" I whisper frantically

It's silent and the cold fingers of dread creep into my gut. Then I hear a voice,  "Ivan? Is that you?" The voice is muffled but still audible.

I let out a sigh of relief. "Yea hun, it's me. Are you okay?"

"Yea, I'm fine. My wrists hurt a little from the shackles but other than that I'm okay." Saundra calls

"Okay, good."

"Ivan, where are we?" Saundra asks through the wall, fear residing in her voice

"Remember that dream I told you about back in Ireland? I believe we're there." I answer as best I can

"You mean Avengus's dungeon?"

"Afraid so. Don't worry though love, I've got a plan to get us out."

"You do?" Her voice was filled now with joyful hope, "What is it?"

"That's the thing, I don't know it yet."

"What? How do you-"

"I made a deal with Leviathan." I cut her off, "He doesn't want us here so if we agree to never come back he'll help break us out."

"Ooh. Do you think we can trust him? I mean he is Avengus's General and I don't think that he'd risk his life just to get us out of his hair." She doubts

"You'd be amazed at the stupid things that people do when they're jealous." I chuckle

"What?" Saundra asks confused

"I'll tell you some other time." I wave off the question

After a while of talking Saundra falls silent. I assume she's fallen asleep, so I too rest my weary head and fall into a sound slumber.

I'm awakened rudely by Mammon slamming the door.

"Wake up would ya, you miserable fur ball." He grins, "Isn't it funny how the tables have turned and now you are my hostage?"

I laugh at him, "Sure, but the thing is, mammon, that I didn't get smashed into a wall..." I catch myself too late

Mammon howls, "Yea, just the ground!! " Mammon rolls on the floor in a fit of hysterical laughter.

I growl at him and he immediately stops.

He clears his throat and dusts himself off. "Look kid, the only reason I don't kill ya where you  are is cuz this is Avengus's house so we follow his rules. He says you and the girl aren't to be touched, so be thankful that you're his prisoner."

"Oh no, you be lucky I'm his prisoner you pathetic green little pile of-" I spit at Mammon

"SHUT UP! Until you came along I was great. I had women, status, and power. I had enough money to but three of these castles. Then you came and somehow broke me. I want it back damnit! I am greed and the world is and always will be mine!"

Azmodaus opens the door abruptly, "What are you blabbering about?"

"Nothing that concerns you. Now go away." Mammon snaps

"My my, what did you do to get him so worked up?" Azmodaus glances at me

I shrug innocently, "Beats me."

This infuriates Mammon even more and he stomps out of the room still ranting.

"We'll so far I've had two people in here yelling about how much they hate me. Can't say I care, I'm your enemy after all. You gonna make it three now?"

"Now why would I do that? I admit that there's no love lost between us, but I do not hate you. To be honest I think I've come to respect you in a way." Azmodaus says

"Even though I killed Rain?" I inquire

"Rain was nothing more than a tool of mine. He was quite amusing whenever someone mentioned your name. Now he hated you." She chuckles. "And why are you so relaxed for being incarcerated in your enemy's home?"

"Why bother fighting and complaining about it? I obviously can't do anything about it and Avengus has been more than generous. Full meals, a room next to my girlfriend so I can still talk to her. He even sends his lap dogs to talk to me. I'm getting to know you all quite well. If he and I didn't have such opposing views I might've actually joined his little army."

"Huh. You've been a prisoner before haven't you?"

"Only when I was human and my mom grounded me." I joke

"I see. Well I have other things to attend to so i must be going." She says and leaves

I wave half heartedly as she goes. Once again I wait until I can no longer hear footsteps before I speak to Saundra. "All clean over there?" I call through the wall

"Yep. Is it just me, or are they friendlier? The Generals I mean." She asks

"They're under orders to be, and Azmodaus is the only one so far that hasn't said they hate me yet."

"Azmodaus? Why was she in your room? I thought you were supposed to have Mammon deliver your breakfast, not some vulgar bodied broad."

I can't help but to burst out laughing, I'm almost as historical as Mammon was moments ago.

"It's not funny Ivan." Saundra barks

I calm myself long enough to speak, "Sorry sweetheart, I've just never seen you get jealous before."

"I'm not-" Saundra starts but I cut her off

"Mammon did deliver my breakfast, Azmodaus dragged him out because he was throwing a fit." I inform her

"Ohh...sorry."

"Don't worry about it." I start to laugh again. "She is pretty vulgar huh?"

"B***s the size of mountains." Saundra laughs with me now

We bounce back and forth between idol bantering and exploring our cells to pass the time until lunch, where Leviathan and I would work out the escape plan. It seems to take forever for time to pass. I pick up a smallish piece of rubble the size of my fist and toss it against the opposite wall. It bounces off with a dull thud and lazily rolls back to me where I pick it up and toss it again.

"You're not the only one down here you know." Leviathan's gruff voice beckons from the door

"Sorry. So what's for lunch?" I ask casually

Leviathan shrugs, "Don't know, don't care." He sets the covered platter on the wooden torture table. "So I bet you and the girl are eager to know the plan, no?"

"Indeed we are, very much so."

"Good. Listen closely," Leviathan instructs, "cuz this is going down tonight. Late at night, when the moon is high, there isn't usually anyone roaming the halls except for a few vampires."

"I figured as much. Doesn't make much sense to try to leave in broad daylight while everyone is wide awake. Besides, Saundra would turn to ash in no time."

"Oh, I never took that factor into account." Leviathan shrugs, "Okay so you have two options as far as plans go. There's a sneaky, quiet like a mouse approach, or the very destructive, but kinda loud approach. Both are relatively the same but there are variable that differ."

"Explain the plans a little bit first. I want to know what I'm getting into first."

Leviathan laughs a little, "Of course. Both include the the same route; exit the chamber, free girly next door, follow the right hallway to the armory,there are two guards there by the way, you'll need to kill them and grab your equipment . This is where things get a bit different. Sneaky you'll stash the guards' bodies in the armory. Destructive, leave them there and get the hell out of there before the patrol finds them. After the armory follow the hall to your left, then the second one on your right and I'd say sneak past here no matter what."

"Why?" I ask instinctively

"Because it's what is known as the Hall of the Gods. This is where the four Lords slumber." Leviathan answers

"You mean Avengus and his brothers?"

"Exactly what I mean, though Avengus is the least harmful. I warn you now to beware of Peligas, Lord of Plagues." Leviathan seems almost scared talking about this part, as if Peligas might hear him

A noise comes from outside that causes Leviathan to jump. "Not much more time. After the Hall of Gods is the courtyard. From there you run. Out talk ends now and never happened." He gets up and leaves the chamber with a loud thus of the door

I relay the plan to Saundra in the next room after I'm sure her company is gone.

"So how do we get out of our cells?" Saundra asks

"Mine isn't locked and if worst comes to worst I can just rip your door off it's hinges." I reply

Time passes agonizingly slow. I try to pass it by talking with Saundra or playing with rocks. Yes it's come to that. Every minute feels like a year, every hour is practically a millennia. Dinner comes and goes, brought down by Belphegor. I grow tired, even through anxiety and nervousness, but I can't sleep yet. I get tired of waiting and go to check my door. I don't want to jump the gun but I'd like to make sure everything is in order. It's locked still. My immediate reaction is to start going through worst case scenarios. "He's forgotten about us, no deliberately left us. The b*****d built us up full of hope and now he's just going to leave us to rot." I say to myself. I slide down against the wall, angry and sad. A mix of fear, hatred, and weakness sting at my eyes. I wipe my eyes and take a deep breath. "Come on Ivan, get a grip. No one ever said that it'd be unlocked. In fact he said the opposite, locked at all times. They also said I'd be bound. Leviathan wants us out, he wouldn't have gone through all this, risking what he is, for nothing. Then again, it could be a trap. Why not? Leviathan said we'd been stealing his spotlight, so why not let us escape so he can tip off Avengus and kill us so everyone loves him. Mammon might be in on it too." I shake my head, swearing at myself under my breath. "What choice do you have though? Even if it is a trap you have to go, you have a job to do no matter what. Let Saundra go on thinking the plan is still good even if its not, no need to freak her out too."

  A series of knocks come from the door and then a click as the door swings open.

"It's time." Leviathan says then trots off in the opposite direction.