No Chance In Hell
Aariz woke up to a room engulfed in flames. He sat up quickly looking around frantically, only to realize the room wasn’t in flames, but around the place they stood a throne room of some sort, was surrounded by a lake made of flames, that could be seen by the columns that lined the area, an open atrium of sorts. He glanced around taking in the two lions that stood sentry on either side of the gilded throne. Aariz startled slightly as he heard movement behind him. He realized with relief the movement was the rest of the party. Seraphina was standing already her arms crossed as she looked around, Tariq seemed to be glaring at some girl who had appeared and was grinning gleefully at him. Nasir was helping Zara up and for some bizarre reason Rafe was also here looking bored as he glanced around.
Aariz looked down, surprised to see his own reflection glaring back at him, as he looked more closely at the floor, he realized it had been polished to such a shine, that it was little more than reflected glass. The flames around them tinting the room and floor in a reddish-orange haze.
“So where are we now?” Aariz asked.
The girl who had appeared, spun away from Tariq her red hair brushing his cheek as she moved, to a swift curtsy to Aariz. “Welcome, to the Throne room of Yama, God of divine punishment, Judge and jury of the untold sins of men and creature alike.”
“Yama?” Aariz repeated, never having heard the name before.
“She means what she said, although I don’t fully understand why all of us are here?” Tariq murmured.
“What is there to be misunderstood?” The girl, Agni asked.
Aariz stared blankly as one of the many columns seemed to burn all the brighter as a tall man, much taller than any pirate or man Aariz had ever seen before walked into the throne room, his eyes clear and blue staring at them for a moment, before walking towards the throne, and with a sweep of his cloak, he sat down and surveyed them all with distaste.
“I wasn’t aware I had guests.” He murmured, his voice silky soft, with an undertone that spoke of danger and all the things that go bump in the night. He rested his chin on his fist as he surveyed them.
“Trust us, we had no idea we were going to be here either.” Aariz muttered as he stood. The lions raised their heads at his movement startling him to stillness.
The man narrowed his eyes slightly gazing at Aariz before straightening on the throne, his hands resting on the arm rests, the long nails on his hands tapered to sharp points looking more like claws than anything else, scratched over the gilded chair, making a metallic noise.
“Agni, why have you brought them here?” He asked quietly.
“They were floating in your water’s sire. And one of them,” She clawed Tariq’s arm and shoved him to his knees before Yama, “Was sworn never again to show his face here.”
Yama smiled as he took in Tariq’s form. “I know your face boy, you were one of mine, were you not?”
Aariz glanced at Seraphina in confusion, and she shook her head softly, worry filling her gaze. She was holding one of her arms, as if she was in some sort of pain.
Yama continued, ignoring the confusion that was happening beyond Tariq. “One of my most valuable soldiers who left me, for love.” He muttered distastefully as he surveyed Tariq. “How did that love serve you, boy?”
“She was cursed, sire.” Tariq murmured his head bowed. “I was searching for the Dragon hordes looking for a cure, when we swept in this direction. We would never have come to bother your kingdom otherwise.”
Yama, eyes seemed to glow with an inner fire, flames slowly flying out of his eyes. He put his nails up under Tariq’s chin lifting his face slightly upwards. “What pertains this curse your love has?”
Tariq searched Yama’s eyes, his throat working. “She is confined, her lips poison to the touch. Skin an icy shroud.”
“The death thrall.” Yama mused letting go of Tariq’s chin. His nails held droplets of blood, that Yama licked off thoughtfully turning to Agni.
“Did you know, Agni when you were here, boy?” Yama asked, still looking at her as she stood frightfully still under his gaze.
“I did.” Tariq spoke, confusion lacing his tone, as he looked at Agni and then back at Yama.
“Agni was recently given a title, one that she has worked long to gain.”
“When I was here, she caused chaos.” Tariq muttered.
“Now she is the goddess of divine retribution, and revenge.”
As if they all had the same thought, the rest of the crew took a step back, Seraphina taking three steps back until she was in front of Zara protectively. Zara glanced at her slightly in surprise, before she slipped her hand in Nasir’s almost for comfort.
“So, the question remains, did Agni bring you all here for revenge or retribution?”
“The curse laid on Astraea was for revenge.” Tariq glared at Agni. “Was it you?”
Agni smiled. “That is not why you are here,” She murmured. “In truth, I do know the person who is responsible for the curse, and he is here, and you could face him here now and claim your retribution on behalf of Astraea. If the Judge allows.”
Agni turned to Yama who seemed to smile. “I judge people quickly and fairly, if someone is here still it would be one of my many soldiers.” He allowed. He held his hands crossed at his back, as he surveyed Tariq once more. “You can have your retribution, but what of the others?” Yama asked.
“I would speak to them if I can and send them on their way.” Agni murmured, “It is not just Tariq’s vengeance that is in play at the moment.”
Yama clapped his hands once, and the lions leapt from the throne, one of them allowing Yama to sit on it, the other gripping Tariq’s neck before galloping out into the red river.
“Is he dead? Did the Lion just eat him?” Aariz asked.