To Ashes And Blood

The Gates Of Hell

The streets gradually grew quieter as Damien and the woman left the brothel.

The loud music had faded into the distance, replaced by the sound of dishwashers from roadside restaurants and the chatter of open bars.

They crossed one bridge onto another street and found themselves in another market.

Damien finally glanced sideways at her.

"Is the place always this far?"

The woman let out a quiet laugh.

"You really think that's how it works?"

Damien frowned.

She folded her arms behind her back, walking without a care in the world.

"You think you can just ask to see the Devil, and he'll come beckoning to your call?"

She looked at him from the corner of her eye.

"You have to wait until the Devil decides when he wants to see you."

Damien frowned even harder.

"So everyone in the Ninth answers to him?"

"The Ninth is home to all kinds of people, so we can't say everyone answers to him."

She smiled.

"But everyone respects him."

"And the ones who don't?"

"Well, let's say he is the last person they'll disrespect."

There was silence between them for a while as they continued walking.

Damien looked around the lively streets.

Children ran from one food stall to another, mechanics argued over broken engines, and street performers drew crowds with Echo abilities that looked entertaining.

"This place..."

He looked back at her.

"...doesn't feel anything like the government cities."

"Because it isn't."

She shrugged.

"The government tells people how to live. The Ninth gives people the freedom to decide that for themselves."

"And if they make the wrong choice?"

She stopped walking.

"They pay for it... often with their lives."

Then she continued as if nothing had happened.

"The Ninth doesn't protect fools."

They came around another corner before stopping outside an old pawn shop.

The windows were crowded with old radios, broken watches, rusted weapons, and shelves full of trinkets that had survived the apocalypse.

A battered television hung above the counter inside.

Footage of an underground boxing match played across the screen.

Several men were gathered beneath it.

"I'm telling you, Iron Fist threw him through three walls."

"You're blind."

"It was two."

An old mechanic snorted.

"Doesn't matter. He still hasn't lost a single game."

Outside, near a food stall, a boy no older than twelve puffed out his chest.

"One day I'm gonna beat Iron Fist."

The entire shop burst into laughter.

The woman beside Damien smirked as they walked into the shop.

Then she extended her hand.

"My Crown Ember."

Damien looked at her.

"You haven't taken me to the Devil yet."

"Sweetheart, I understand several languages."

She smiled sweetly.

"But money is the one I'm most fluent in."

Damien sighed through his nose.

Reluctantly, he reached into his pocket and placed the Crown Ember in her palm.

She admired the coin for a moment before walking to the counter.

Without another word, she handed it to the pawn master.

The old man inspected it carefully before disappearing through a curtain at the back of the shop.

Damien folded his arms.

"I don't even know if this damned Devil can get me what I want..."

In an instant, the whole room froze, and the silence was more than that of a graveyard.

The old television continued playing.

But nobody spoke.

A bottle slipped from someone's hand and shattered across the floor.

The woman slowly turned toward Damien.

The smile that had followed her since they left the brothel was gone.

"If you want to keep your head on your neck before leaving here..."

Her voice was calm.

"...it would interest you to address the Devil with respect."

She stepped closer.

"The only reason you're still standing where you are now..."

She looked him directly in the eyes.

"...is because I know Cole."

Damien immediately straightened and glanced at the people in the shop before looking back at her.

"I'm sorry... guys. It was, uhh... a bad joke."

She didn't react, and slowly everyone went back to what they were doing.

At that moment, the pawn master returned carrying a leather pouch.

He placed it in her hand.

The contents rattled loudly.

"Seven hundred Blood Embers."

He nodded respectfully.

"We've already sent the Devil his cut."

Her smile returned as though nothing had happened.

"Awww..."

She gently squeezed the pouch.

"You're such a sweetheart, old Robin."

Without waiting for Damien, she walked back into the street.

He hurried after her.

"I said I'm sorry."

But it fell on deaf ears.

"I shouldn't have said that."

She still didn't reply.

After walking in silence for another while, Damien tried again.

"...How do you know Cole?"

She didn't spare him a glance and simply kept walking.

They passed another crowded district.

A massive arena sat at the center of the square.

A towering holographic banner flickered above its entrance.

A man wearing a dark mask stood with his fists raised beneath bold letters.

MONDAY NIGHT CHAMPION

Crowds flowed in and out beneath the display while vendors shouted about tonight's matches.

"At least tell me your name. It only seems fair, since you know mine."

She continued walking.

For a minute, he thought she intended to ignore him again.

Then she broke the silence between them.

"Vesna."

She paused.

Without looking back, she added,

"Vesna Erik."

Damien smiled faintly.

"...It's a beautiful name for a more beautiful lady."

She gave the smallest smile.

"You've been asking questions all night..."

Damien interrupted her.

"Well, here's the last one."

Damien looked ahead.

"If we're trying to find Iron Fist, why do we need the Devil?"

He paused for a split second.

"Doesn't Iron Fist have somewhere he lives?"

For a while, only their footsteps said anything to him.

Then Vesna finally spoke.

"He doesn't."

"What?"

"He sleeps somewhere different every night. No one really knows if he has a place to call home."

Damien frowned.

"Not even you?"

"Not even the Devil."

That answer only created more questions in Damien's mind.

Before Damien could ask anything else, they arrived before a pair of enormous steel pillars.

Blue electricity surged between them, forming a barrier that stretched high into the air.

Hundreds of people crowded outside the entrance.

Some carried bags, others held documents.

Many sat on the floor beside the pillars.

Damien looked around in confusion.

"This is where the Devil lives? And they're all here to meet him?"

Vesna smiled.

"Oh, no."

She pointed beyond the barrier.

"The people inside are waiting to meet him too."

She led Damien away from the crowd toward the side of the gate.

One of the guards glanced over.

"Evening, Vesna."

She leaned casually against the wall as Damien glanced around the enormous building beyond the barrier.

"I've brought someone. I want to make sure he visits hell tonight."

The guard raised an eyebrow.

"That so?"

Without hesitation, Vesna slipped ten Blood Embers into his palm.

"If you're free, you could also stop by my quarters for a treat."

His eyes widened for only a fraction of a second before his expression returned to normal.

"Consider it done."

Vesna turned and walked back toward Damien.

"My work here is done."

He looked at her.

"That's it?"

She smiled.

"You wanted the Devil, and I've walked with you on the road to hell. I can't follow you into it."

"What happens after?"

She took a step backward into the crowd.

"That depends entirely on whether he finds you interesting."

Before Damien could respond, the guard called out.

"Pretty boy."

He motioned toward the front of the line.

"Get over here."

The moment Damien approached, angry voices erupted.

"What?"

"I've been waiting since yesterday!"

"That's not fair!"

"You can't just let him in!"

Several people surged toward the gate.

The barrier suddenly flared, and with a crackling sound, blue lightning exploded across the entrance.

Three men were thrown backward onto the pavement.

One screamed as smoke rose from his jacket.

The guards didn't even look at them.

They simply reset the barrier, and the crowd reluctantly stepped back.

The guard unlocked a narrow opening just wide enough for Damien.

He gestured inside.

"Go on, pretty boy."

Damien stepped through.

The gate slammed shut behind him, and the electricity surged back to life.

The guard chuckled as he walked away.

"You're in Hell now."

He pointed toward the sprawling fortress beyond.

"You should find the Devil... and hope he finds you worth the time."