Persephone's Steps

A Quiet Hell

They had taken her shoelaces away. What did she do to deserve getting her rights to shoelaces revoked? Right...suicide watch. She was the new girl in the mental ward and the nurses were eyeing her carefully; they had given her a special cocktail of medication to keep her calm or maybe docile? Who can really say at this point - the only thing she knew was that this was all her doing. All the drinking, the partying and the s*x couldn’t wash away the most painful of her memories. Her fear and her shame. The nights at the hospital was all one big smudge with the execution of her dreams; in her lithium haze she dreamed of her angel caressing her body and licking up her tears.

“Always mine” he would whisper and in her weakest moments she knew it was true - she was his - and that was okay because he was a dream. A fantasy - a sweet sticky wet dream she could wake up from before pulling herself back together again. There was a dark corner in her rational mind that warned her he was in fact real and separate but she needed to ignore it at the time; after all if she told her doctor that she could see or speak to demons and angels she was pretty sure they would never let her leave. 

And Kora was so determined to. 

She covered her mouth with her hand so she wouldn’t wake up the patient next to her and slid her other fingers into her panties; playing gently with her c**t. It didn’t take long for the spirit to become interested; invisible hands caressed her breast and played with her n*****s. She could feel them harden against her hospital gown- no matter how many times she dreams about this it still amazes her that the sensations seemed to transcend physical matter. Everything felt as if it was skin to skin and flesh to flesh; she almost screamed when she felt him enter and fill her from the inside. Strong hands gripped her shoulders - finger pressed firmly into her shoulder. As if it made a difference she practically swore herself to him again and begged him to f**k her back to sanity. 

After all it was just a dream right?

Something for her to enjoy in this quiet and cold little hell.

…

If only she knew - if only she realized long ago that she was following Persephone’s steps straight to the underworld. Memories of her foolishness pervaded her consciousness as she awoke once again in a new space. Sitting up to an opulent room equal parts regal and futuristic - Kora recognized none of the materials used to create and illuminate...everything. However it all appeared to fairly familiar; the bed looked like a fancy bed, the couch a couch, the table a well crafted table and so on and so forth. 

Wait I’m in hell now right? Where is he? As if on cue something stirred behind her; turning to face the noise she anxiously tightened her grip around the blanket as if that would somehow protect her or give her strength. 

“I thought you would be perfectly merged with your body now - I should have waited before but I was excited to have you here. After all we never were really able to talk in your past life - A long overdue introduction is necessary don’t you think” stepping into view the man..demon was a strapping 6’2. Kora couldn’t begin to fathom his weight but it was clear he was rather built even through his light-weight button up shirt; it seemed too cliche that he was dressed practically head to toe in black but he wore it well. Her eyes traveled up to his face - that face of her dreams - fair skin and sharp features- as if he was sculpted out of clay. Her body was doll he made so anything seemed to be possible. His eyes though; those dark emeralds pulled her in the way they did in her last lifetime and maybe (if what he said was true) all of them. His blonde hair appeared slightly darker than the last time she saw him, but she attributed that to the lighting while noting the slight stubble on his face. Then she fixated on his lips. They looked rather plump and soft; she watched as the ends tucked up into a grin.

“Always so hungry. Every lifetime so lusty and vain… do you want me Kora? Do you want to feel what it’s like to have a dirty dream come true” her face immediately heated and she tore her gaze from him embarrassed. He was dangerous to look at.

“So you are some kind of incubus that has managed to drag me to hell? What now then? What are your plans for me now? I am not...whatever you are. I am sure I hold no value to you - I don’t have powers or any demonic abilities” he was suddenly on top of her; his face inches from her as he straddled her hips. Her body sunk deeper into the bed from his weight for which she was grateful because his eyes were locked with hers the intensity overwhelming.

“I don’t expect you to know the difference but never insult me with that comparison. Look around you - does this appear to be the home of some low level demon? I held your very soul in the palm of my hands; I could easily rip it from this doll” he wasn’t yelling but every word sounded like a terrifying warning growl “You will call me Ciel. I am the 49th Spirit and a Great Duke of this place you carelessly term “hell”. I govern forty-eight legions of spirits and have done more for your soul and countless lifetimes than you can even comprehend in that stunted form” beneath the him she could feel herself tremble in fear. She cursed herself and her demented mind for getting slightly aroused but she shook her head to focus “okay - okay I am sorry Ciel. I just don’t understand why you would want me here” his hands were strong and rough as they cupped her face with a sigh “let’s get you dressed and then I can show you around a bit - things will continue to feel a bit strange. You are obviously not the first human soul to find itself here but I made sure your body was finely crafted and so you will be stronger...and more free than the souls trapped here”

Was she not also trapped here? 

Kora was beginning to understand that he didn’t see things that was… in his mind she consented to staying here with him. She couldn’t say he was inherently wrong; she saw with her own eyes that she had agreed to this arrangement but she was a child! No- No that’s not quite true. Her whole life she has felt his presence around her; knew he inhabited her dreams and on her darkest of days she called for him. Cared for him. Loved him as some strange imaginary friend or ghost lingering in the recesses of her consciousness. She was never sure of his reality believing him to be a mental mechanism of coping. 

Ciel long ago shifted off of her and walked somewhere while she finally sat up in her bed which was in fact quite beautiful and soft. Shifting herself she awkwardly spun and slowly stepped off the bed; her legs felt weak, her movements were sharp, and as she stood she felt taller than before. 

In another corner of the room was a full length mirror - Kora gasped when she looked into it - it looked like her but not her. Did that make any sense?! She gravitated to it engrossed in her new naked form; she was indeed taller. The legs looked toned and tan, her hips her still quite wide and her breasts were large. This was strange to her - sure she looked strong but she was still a little chubby. The curves felt all too normal and she wondered why she would sculpt this shell in the same manner - why when her soul was placed in it did it not change? Like - her whole life she was dieting and exercising...her face looked the same (on her best skin day ever); same soft round face, almond shaped eyes, and full lips. Her skin glowed with a clear golden radiance she only dreamed about in her lifetime. Kora leaned in closer to the mirror; from afar her eyes looked brown but upon further inspection they looked to be almost a dark galactic purple. It was subtle but..beautiful. Her long dark hair waved down to her waist and this made her smile.

“Like it? The key to integrating a soul is to make the vessel appear as close to the last body it inhabited as you can. So it feels familiar. I took slight liberties with the design but even that in the end won’t matter much if the soul decides to change something once placed in. Anyway - here- this dress should do and then we can get to work”

Work? In her afterlife? I guess this was hell…

Turning her attention to the garment she smiled. He had nice taste. The dress was long and grey; it’s fabric smooth. A simple long sweetheart dress that would flatter her figure and subtly showcase her breasts while adding a touch of elegance in the form of a built in chain collar and shoulder piece sewn into a light mesh that draped across her shoulders and suspended her open sleeves. Like a little girl playing dress up she excitedly changed into it smiling and playing with her hair. When she was finally ready she turned around noticing that Ciel had been watching and waiting for her from his relaxed seat on the bed. 

“Good - I thought that would suit you well” smiling he rose and stretched “ready to see your new home? A new world?” she flinched at the word “home” but nodded nonetheless. He offered his arm like a gentleman and she found herself interlacing hers with his as he walked her through the door.

From the inside she couldn’t determine if his home was a mansion or a castle but i was so large; it’s ceilings high. The floors a dark cosmic obsidian marble - the hallways seems to stretch for miles but were eerily empty and silent. Ciel gestured to the window and her eyes followed naturally.

The landscape before her was… incredible. It wasn’t quite the Dante's inferno of nightmares though there was fire and things to fear. Dark creatures - monsters- roaming around with purpose. There was also large clusters or rock and crystal that was quite beautiful. Given the absence of flowers and green. The dark soil looked like volcanic ash and from it seemed to only spring red succulent looking plants. Stunned into silence, she walked alongside him down the never ending hall until she heard voices - loud, terrifying, beautiful, animalistic voices.

How could she possibly adjust to this reality? This world? In the books and movies when a girl was transported to another world the transition seemed easier - the acceptance of the new reality taken in stride by the main character who didn’t think too much and fell in love with little.

Why couldn’t she be that girl?