Chapter 1: How A Dark Life Flows

A cloaked figure, his face hidden and his figure unrecognizable under the massive amount of folds that shrouded the contours of his body, walked silently down an alley. The dark of night embraced him, a comfort that he could rarely find. A sly smile crept on his face as he watched a lone man cross the mouth of his temporary sanctuary. The man walked out, pulling his hood down in one smooth movement, “Excuse me, Sir. Do you have the time?”

The startled man turned quickly, his eyes flowing over the cloaked figure. He paused over the man’s lavender hair and his split blue eyes, one side being darker, the other lighter. He looked down for a moment, reading the time off his watch. “You should buy a watch…” he comments with a pause, “It’s ten to eleven.”

“Thank you, Sir,” The cloaked figure muttered as they both turned their separate ways. He ran a hand through his bangs to get them out of his eyes, a nervous look on his face.

A small pop resonated over the air as a small plump creature appeared, landing on the man’s shoulder. The creature bore a wide smile, his pointed teeth slightly yellow and his eyes a deep red. “Masteeer…. Agares is angry…. Vee must leave…” it whispered into the man’s ear, its voice harsh and deep.

“Yes, I would think so.” The man sighed, dismissing the creature with a wave of his hand. He then looked around, seeing that no one is in sight at the moment. He closed his eyes, the shadows around him twisting and melding to engulf his form. A cloud of smoke rose, twisting around him until he vanished and the smoke dissipated.

The man soon appears at the base a tall stairway at the side of a large church. The pews shine in the candlelight, their shadows engulfing a few little monsters, which by morning would have disappeared. The man turns back to the stairway, proceeding up at a slow pace.

“I told you to be back at ten, you worthless boy.” A voice calls from atop the stairs, a figure hidden within the shadows of the hallway.

“Stop calling me worthless Agares, I do what you tell me, always.”

“You do what I say, but you never obey my requests. I told you to be back at ten, Amon.” Agares retorted, his voice smooth and almost silky. He took a step out of the shadows, revealing his demonic appearance. His black skin was partially covered by a deep purple outfit embellished with rings and chains. Two large tan wings sprouted from his shoulder blades, splitting into four a small ways out and long blonde hair was braded and wrapped loosely around his long curved horns.

“I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.” Amon promised, reaching the top of the stairs and turning toward his room.

He entered his room quickly, not wanting to be near Agares for much longer. He could be decent at times, but mostly he was a cruel-hearted man that enjoyed making people suffer. But despite this, he was cunning and had obtained amazing amounts of knowledge throughout his lifetime. He was calm and a smooth talker, yet was brutal and would not allow insubordination.

Amon sighed, unclasping his cloak and laying it on his queen-sized bed, revealing a long-sleeved black shirt that clung to his form except for his arms and deep red pants that shined slightly in lamplight. He grabbed a matching red suit jacket and put it on. Opening his door he found Agares reaching for the doorknob.

“Going out?” Agares inquired, his eyebrows raised slightly.

“I’m done with your task, I want to go out.” Amon answered, his great dislike of Agares apparent.

“Just remember, you are my student, I know what you do.” Agares placed a hand on Amon’s forehead, a sharp talon dragging across the skin just above his eyebrow. Blood dripped down into it, then down to follow the curve of his eye socket. “Be back before morning.” He added, his voice steady and commanding.

Agares then left, going down the hallway a ways to his own room. A bright red light shone on the opposing wall when the door opened and a hiss resonated over the air for a moment. Amon sighed again, wiping away the blood with the back of his hand and proceeding down the stairs and out the front of the church.

He looked about a moment, wondering which direction to go. He chose to go west, toward the beach. The beach made his suffering look miniscule, therefore more bearable. He stopped, peering into the window of a shop. Looking over ten small figures he smiled, their faces were exaggerated and their heads wobbled freely with the slightest movement. They amused him greatly.

“They’re cute aren’t they?” a feminine voice asked from behind him, causing him to jump slightly. He turned around quickly. The woman was tall; her long red hair fell upon her shoulders in curls and her baby blue dress complimented her soft blue eyes.

“They’re certainly different. I suppose cute would adequately describe them.” Amon replied after a pause.

The woman smiled, small dimples appearing on her cheeks. “Your hair is beautiful, I’ve never seen such a color before…” she said softly, reaching for Amon’s hair without thought. As she lifted up his bangs a hand clasped her wrist, just after Amon’s cut was revealed.

The woman recoiled, shock clearly defined on her face. After a moment Amon lets go, turning from her and walking away. “Where did you get that cut? It looks deep.” The woman’s voice asked shakily.

“It’s nothing to worry about. It will heal.” Amon insisted, turning around just long enough to smile, then quickly disappearing into the nearest alley where he disappeared, reappearing on the docks.

He leaned against the rail, his breathing smooth and composed. He looked down at his hand a moment, a soft sadness weighing down his heart. “Why can’t I do that to Agares? Why can I not prevent him from doing so many wrong things?”

A young Amon sat in the dirt, a soft falling of rain upon his face waking him gently. The darkness in the small alley was a comfort to him, though no one else seemed willing to enter. He got up, leaning against the wall for support and heading to the mouth of the alley.

Within moments of the light sprinkling halting a few kids appeared, tossing a small rubber ball back and forth. A small blonde one threw it now, missing another kid by a huge margin, the ball bounding straight for Amon.

He caught it without a thought, the coarse rubber feeling good in his hands. “Hey! Throw it here Amon!”

Amon looked up, a smile on his face. He stepped out, throwing the ball to the kid who had called. “Can I join you guys?” He asked, walking out slowly.

“Sure, just catch the ball when it’s thrown to you!” Another explained, this time a girl, her black hair flowing in the wind.

Soon the five were playing again, and none were able to hit Amon out.

A drop of rain startled Amon from his memories, only to find that he had still been staring at his hand. He turned, heading toward a covered section of the sidewalk, and slowly walked toward it. Before he could reach it the loud splashing of water created by a running child drew Amon’s attention. Within seconds the child had latched onto his waist, her small frame shaking as she sobbed.

Amon kneeled, placing his hands on the little girl’s shoulders comfortingly. “What’s wrong?”

The little girl looked up, wiping her eyes with the back of her hands. She strongly resembled a girl he had become friends with when he was a child, the resemblance shocking and worrying.

“Mom- Mommy and Daddy won’t wake up!” she wailed. She squirmed past Amon’s hands, attaching herself too him once more.

“Where? If I can help I will.” He offered, the situation strange and uncomfortable. The girl quickly grasped his hands, pulling him after her down several streets. Finally the girl opened the door of a large one-story house, the lamps still burning brightly and various papers fluttering over the floor.

Soon they stood in what appeared to be an office of sorts, though the furniture was tossed about and a large amount of trash and crumpled paper littered the floor. Across the room lay the bodies of the girl’s parents, their arms peacefully places over their hearts.

“Did you put their arms like this?” Amon asked softly, slowly walking over to the bodies. He kneeled close to them, the shock paralyzing his limbs.

“No…” the girl whispered. “They weren’t like that when I left…” she added, standing next to Amon, silently weeping.

Amon placed his hand over the face of the woman, his childhood friend. Concentrating he felt around the room for her soul, finding it weakly hiding in the corner. Repeating the action with the father, someone he did not recognize he sighed, “Little girl, I’m sorry I have to do this. Pick one, either your mother or your father.”

“Why just one?” she asked innocently, looking up at Amon with sorrowful eyes.

“I can only save one. Please hurry, choose one.” He could slowly feel the energy of the two souls diminishing; if the girl did not choose soon returning them to their bodies would be impossible.

“Why can’t you save them both mister?” she inquired, her soft voice shaking.

“I do not have enough energy for it. Please hurry, they do not have much time.” He answered staring at the floor, disheartened.

I don’t want to do this… I don’t want to leave a child with just one parent, their soul doomed to be banished to the Underworld. I don’t want to weigh down this child’s life with this choice. Amon thought, closing his eyes.

“Mommy….” The girl whispered, tears rolling down her cheeks. Amon knew she was just whining, having not made a decision. A child like her could not make such a decision.

“Mom it is.” Amon answered, quickly moving his hand over her face again. “Hold my hand and close your eyes.” He put his hand out for the girl to grab, soon feeling the soft flesh of her hand in his.

Within seconds the room was enveloped by darkness, the only light coming from the corner. Though faint the light came from the mother’s soul, longing to return to her body. “Oh master, bringer of darkness. I ask a favor. Return this soul to its body and its soul will forever be yours, to join you in the darkness of the underworld forever more.” Amon chanted softly in Latin, the darkness deepening.

Within seconds the soul began struggling, fear resonating from its very being. But with the aid of a foreign energy soon it was back in its body, the darkness slowly dissipating.

“You can open your eyes now. Your mother will awaken in a few moments, lets set her on the chair.” Amon sighed heavily, carefully grabbing the limp body, it’s chest slowly rising and falling. He sat the woman in the nearest chair, wiping beads of sweat from his brow.

“Thank you Mister. Now Daddy comes back right?” the girl asked, looking up at Amon once more, a smile on her face. Amon did not have the energy, nor the heart, to speak only a solemn shake of his head.

The girl began crying again, grabbing her mother’s hand protectively. “I must leave… your mother will need some water when she awakens.” Amon announced softly, his voice hoarse. He turned to leave, a simple “Thank you” resonating over the air.

“You shouldn’t thank me.” He commented, closing the front door behind him as he left, heading back toward the ocean. I doomed her to the pits of the underworld; nothing there is worth thanking me over. The soft raindrops soon soaked his hair, his bangs clinging to his skin.