Welcome

          *Violence Warning*

     Nathan stared at me for the longest time. His eyes looking me up and down. I stood still, like a deer in headlights. I flinched when Jackson touched my arm, moving between me and Nathan. They looked like complete opposites. Like two dogs ready to fight... I looked between them, I felt like I was caught between them. Two kids fighting over a toy.

    "Don't....touch her...." Jackson mumbled an exhausted threat lined each word.

    "Or what? You have already tested our master's patience. I was sent here because of you, and I was forced to find a vessel that was already close to you two." Nathan's sharp gaze turned to me and I felt a cold shiver slide down my spine. "And since you clearly can't do your job...ill have to do it for you."

    "No....! I...I just...I need more time.."

    "He wanted the job done by the age of eighteen. He's been waiting patiently for a year, Samael."

    I looked at Jackson confused. He wouldn't meet my gaze.

    "I know...but..just give me more time—"

    "We will not wait any longer Samael!! You had your chance, and you blew it! It's time for someone to take your place." Nathan growled, slowly looking at me, his eyes looking me over again. I felt like I've been stripped naked by his gaze. I cowered behind Jackson, confused...

    "Please...Belial..."

    "Tomorrow night. I expect to see the deed be done. Otherwise....I'll do it for you. Understood?" Nathan–Belial...whoever this creep was, looked at me again, and for a second...I could've sworn I saw his eyes flash a crimson red. I swallowed my fear as best I could and though I tried to sound strong...I still could barely mutter the words that were twisting around my tongue and piercing my mind.

    "Who.....who are....who are you....?" I whispered, staring at the boy in front of me. His gaze was made of flames, but the emotion in them was empty and cold.

    "Why are you asking who I am, when you should be asking who HE is?" Nathan said, giving a pointed look towards Jackson. I eased in front of Jackson, his motionless body leaving my territorial instincts into overdrive.

    "Because I know who he is..!" I looked towards Jackson for support, but his eyes were empty and he was pale. "..Jackson...?" A cold hand squeezed my heart, the feeling of dread creeping up my spine and piercing my thoughts. I stared at my childhood friend, questions coming up without answers. Thoughts coming up without convictions. I was in the middle of a war.

    "Well, since he won't tell you..." I looked towards Nathan as he spoke and cried out when he grabbed my neck. His hands felt like flames and his eyes were glowing red. "I will." I clawed at his hand around my throat, tears springing into my eyes as I felt my skin burning underneath his touch. "You don't mind taking a walk with me..do you?" He asked, his lips twisting into a smirk as I gasped.

    "Let her go...." Jackson said, a small whimper slipping from me as Nathan's hateful gaze landed on Jackson behind me.

    "Why?" Nathan snarled. his grip was tightening and I saw stars flash in my eyes, steady darkness seeping into my mind.

    "Let. Her. Go..!" Jackson yelled. The burning hand slowly eased the grip on my throat, my lungs gasping for air as I crumbled before Nathan. I coughed and grabbed my throat, trembling. I was expecting there would be burns, but only hot, smooth skin met my cold fingers. As if I simply stood too long in front of a fire. The darkness was easing back into the depths of my mind as my world came into view. Jackson was wrestling Nathan—or was until Nathan breathed flames onto Jackson, whose scream was agonizing. Nathan kicked Jackson off of him and hissed.

    "You'll pay for that.." his gaze slowly turned to me, I stared at him, fear trembling through my every being. This was no human. This was a monster...a demon.

    "Kasey...!! Run!!!"

    I broke from my horror and glanced at Jackson before scrambling back. I was stopped short when I hit a barrier. I looked at the empty hall and slowly touched the invisible cage around me. Nathan laughed, his voice morphing into a deep voice.

    "You think you can run from me?" I screamed when I felt a hand yank on my hair, pulling me from the wall. I screamed and whimpered when he finally let go of me. The smell of burning flesh was filling my nose and I looked up at the burning body that was once Nathan. "I'm getting tired of this game." horns were slowly forming from his head, his skin burned as flames seeped from him. Bits of flesh falling from his face.

    "Kasey...." Jackson groaned softly. I stared at Nathan, unable to look away from the horror. "Kasey...I'm so sorry..." flames burst up around me, engulfing me as I screamed, the sudden sensation of falling hitting me as I fell into darkness. My mind slowly shutting down, and my thoughts drowning in a calming black, where I let it all go...

    I found myself back in the school hallways. Nathan–Belial–that...CREATURE...stood over me. The skin that once covered the muscles and bones was charcoal or completely gone. The fat that coated the skeleton left a pungent smell that strangled me as I coughed and gagged. I caught something moving in the corner of my eyes, alarmed I swiveled my head to stare at Jackson....Or...who was supposed to be Jackson. Blood dripped down his head from black horns that protruded his skull. Blue flames sparking up around him as he hissed. I looked back at Nathan, and to my horror, saw the rest of Nathan slowly being overtaken by tendrils of lava that coated what was left of him like veins. The harsh eyes suddenly turned back to what they were meant to be–whose they were meant to be. The terror tore a shriek from it, and Nathan,  burst into ashes. A red-horned monster taking its place. Its face looked like a skull with a thin red leather wrapped around it for skin. Its sunken eyes met mine and I felt the cold grip of fear tear at my throat. The whites around its eyes were a black void, and the two yellow dots glowing with pure hatred....and lust.

    He turned towards me, a clawed hand reaching for me, I scrambled back, an ice block in my throat to keep me from screaming, from begging. Tears that fell were a relief and a curse. The blurry drops saved me from seeing the atrocious thing before me, but also hid any danger from around me. I wasn't ready. I didn't want to die. I scrambled to a standing position and looked towards Jackson. Who was suddenly just a streak of fire, that demon before me suddenly screeching as Jackson tackled him, both were growling. Jackson was suddenly flung from the monster, he crashed into the wall, stunned from the impact. And then, its hand was around my throat, a scream finally ripping free. I bucked and kicked, clawing at its leather skin, and cursed at it. Its sneer was enough to tell me, he was not going to stand for it. I felt the wind and the impact against the wall before even realizing what was happening. I tried to fight the pain, the darkness. but, as soon as I felt the cool floor against my head, it no longer mattered...I slowly opened my eyes, and Jackson was pushing the creature away. His eyes kept looking at me. Then...Everything went black.

    A fire was burning. Its heat radiating over my aching body. I shifted the blanket that draped over me shifting with me. A knife was stabbing my mind and I tried to fall back into the void. The painless void that seemed like a haven for my torn soul.

    "Kasey...?"

    I stirred slowly. The voice sounding familiar but different all at once.

    "Kasey...Kasey, wake up..."

    I didn't want to.

    "Kasey.."

    No.

    "Kasey..!" Hands grabbed my shoulders and shook me. My head screaming in agony at the movement. I winced and peeked at the figure hanging over me. I hissed at them and tried to roll back over. But they were persistent. "For goodness sake, Kasey. You scared the shit outta me. I thought you were going to die. God...I really thought that Belial killed you. You had three fractures, you idiot."

    My body froze at the name. The flashes of the burning body and the sickening smell hit me. I jolted up into a sitting position. The person who was over me yelping back with shock. I looked around, the place was illuminated by an orange fire that burned hungrily across the room. Despite the heat, I shivered. The cool hands of fear grabbing my spine as I stared at the roaring monster.

    "Kasey...?" I looked at the figure. He didn't look like anyone I knew. Of course, the strange sight of pointed ears and horns didn't help. His skin was white with a grayish tint. His eyes were gentle and kind, but the bright color that was surrounded by pure black made it seem harsh and threatening. His light orange eyes looked me over slowly, his frown growing.

    "Who...who are you...?" I asked slowly, his eyes met mine again and he smiled slowly, his pointed teeth looking like a wolfs.

    "Well...depends...." he hesitated, his smile gone, replaced with a sad expression. "You knew me as Jackson..."

    I stared, the name rolling around my mind as I mulled it over. I shook my head. "I don't know you..."

    He sighed, "my real name is Samael.." I flinched slightly, blue fire erupting in my mind as I tensed. "You...you were badly hurt...I didn't have a choice but to bring you here..." his eyes darted around the room.

    "Wha—where...?" I looked around the room again. The walls were obsidian black and the floor looked like a light gray carpet. The bed was king-sized with dark wood as the frame and black silk sheets for the bed. Samael sat in a dark wood chair beside the bed, a nightstand beside the bed complimenting the deep brown. The only door sat off to my left, behind Samael.

    "You're in my home....my room to be exact..." I met his cautioned stare and looked him over. Flickers of memory emerging, then fading before I could catch it. "You are not entirely safe—"

    "Where am I?" I said, my gaze turning hard and cold.

    "Kasey..." he whispered.

    "Where. Am. I?"

    "Kasey...please..."

    I hissed and grounded out my question again, "where am I, Samael?"

    "...hell..." he mumbled, looking away. "You're in hell..."