Chapter five:

Theme; The Underworld

Painful whimpers of humans, beasts of different types, demons, and species filled the atmosphere. It was so boisterous that it was echoing throughout the whole place.

A green flame-filled everywhere. It was like they were inside a cave. No, it's not a cave. It's the underworld. Despite the burning of the flame and the shrieking of the humans, their skin didn't burn. It was like their skin was immune to the flame, yet they could feel the pain. It was outrageous.

They were in the underworld. The realm beyond what humans can reach: A place for the dead to rest. Home for different nightmares, critters, and infections. It was the replica realm of Thanatos, Tartarus. Yet, it's entirely different. It's the realm of the keeper. Bildad the shuhite.

Amidst the thousands of beings that were squealing, wailing, and howling in pain was Darius Rucker. He was naked. The same goes for the rest of the soul. All of them are naked. Beside him stood his best wizard, Alexander. Both of them were naked, and the fire was burning their bodies bitterly, yet their membrane wasn't burning.

He examined his surroundings, and he could see that he was in the realm of the keeper, his master, Bildad the shuhite. Without being told, Lord Darius knew he was doomed. He had never thought that he would return to the realm of his master anytime soon.

Taking a deep breath, Lord Darius rose to his feet. He had never anticipated this. He had thought that he was invisible to death. However, he was very wrong. Without being told, Lord Darius knew that he must present a very tangible reason before his master, or else he would be latched here forever.

"My master," Lord Darius screamed at the top of his voice. His voice bounced back to him like the echoing of a night's crickets. He got no reply. Of course, he didn't expect his master to reply to his call. He had failed him. He had failed to close the portal.

He examined all the surrounding bodies, and he recognized them all. They were all the people he had slaughtered. Thank goodness, all of them were busy screaming in irritation, and they didn't give him full attention. Lord Darius was grateful for that. Not even Alexander, his greatest sorcerer, recognized him.

Lord Darius screamed at the top of his voice again, "Master," yet he got no reply. Though he was feeling terrible pain in his body, he ignored it and rose to his full height. Thankfully, he had been here multiple times without a number. That means he knew his way around.

The first time he came here was when he was about to meet the keeper. Then, he just turned seventeen years old. He was defeated by his father in a duel.

When was the last time he visited his master? He couldn't remember. It has been more than five thousand years.

He couldn't remember most of those memories. Yet, he could remember the walls and tunnels of the underworld. Nothing has changed. He knew where each of them led to. He knew their horizon. A single misstep might plunge him into nothingness.

Darius also had a few memories of his childhood. The little memories that remained in his head were that he was young and naive then, but very brave. He always gets bullied by all his mates. Worst of all, he didn't possess any metaphysical power. He was useless. That always made his mate call him a weakling, and a different sort of name.

His life changed one evening. He was always alone, lonely, and depressed. He was sitting outside the palace balcony as usual when he caught a glimpse of a strange man. The man was walking in the shadows. It's obvious that he was trying to hide from sight. The young, fearless Darius Rucker walked up to the man who had a black hood covering his face. That's when his life took a new turn.

It didn't take long before the man was able to convince Darius. The man offered him power in exchange for his soul. The naive Darius Rucker asked for proof, so he could believe the man. With a single touch from the man, Lord Darius became stronger than all his mates.

At seventeen, he challenged twenty-five powerful diviners, ten Alphas and ten conjurers. Lord Darius won them all. He then hunts every single being that bullies him and erases them from the earth's surface. He thought that he was invisible, so he challenged his father to a death duel.

With all the experience gained from the ancient warrior, and copulating with all the fighting experience he gained from Theo, the crow master, Darius Rucker beat his child.

Angrily, Lord Darius returned to the balcony, where he met the strange old man at first. Surprisingly, he met the man there again. That's where they made a deal. That man was the being that brought him to the underworld. He brought him before the keeper, Bildad the Shuhite.

He asked for Lord Darius' soul in return for eternal power and the power of the dead. Without thinking twice, Darius sold his soul to Bildad. In anger, he returned to the palace, fought his father, and stabbed him in the heart. Then he left him in his chamber to bleed to death.

"Those were memories, son." Lord Darius heard a voice speaking in his head. "Welcome back home."

Without being told, he knew it was the keeper. "Master," he called out again. Yet, he was met with silence. The only difference now is that he wasn't feeling any pain again. It has gone. Mysteriously vanished.

Lord Darius took a brief look at Alexander, who was still snorting in pain beside him, and he felt pity for him. Who could have thought that the great Alexander could be killed by a girl? That's ridiculous.

Lord Darius walked toward his sorceress and called out his name, "Alexander." However, the latter couldn't reply. It was like he didn't recognize his master. "Alexander," Lord Darius called again. Yet, the latter didn't give him any reply. Instantly, Lord Darius knew it was the work of the keeper. It was like he didn't see him.

He scrutinised the whole cave once again. Surprisingly, lord Darius could remember every single being inside the cave. He could recognize them. Most of them were killed by him, while some of them died during the war. He couldn't believe that he had killed more people than his age.

Well, he couldn't blame himself. He had to do that. That's what he had to do if he wanted to live long. In other words, murdering about five species in a day was what made him young and live long. It's part of the reason why the keepers hadn't called him. If it weren't for Joy, he would still be alive now.

Why? Because he was the first spectral. Of course, no human being can visit the underworld. You had to be killed first. Lord Darius killed himself before he met the keeper. He struck a deal with him by selling his soul, and he was granted power over death. He also had the opportunity to visit the underworld and do anything he wished. In return, he will send souls to the keeper.

Lord Darius could see everyone he had killed. But he noticed something. His father isn't here. He examined the cave carefully. He could see Micah Tyler, Joel, Nicki, Thawing Son of Thane, Duke of the Upper Isle people. Yet, he couldn't feel as if something was wrong. His father isn't the only one that wasn't here; Sarah and Edgar Allan were nowhere to be found.

Taking a deep breath, Lord Darius walked away from the dead bodies. With every step he took, Lord Darius felt his legs grow heavier. His body was growing old and exhausted. He knew this was from his master. He was punishing him.

Had he failed the keeper? Lord Darius asked himself. No. He didn't. The keeper failed him. He should be invisible to death. He was spectral. He was supposed to be impervious to any supernatural or human weapons. How can Joy easily defeat her? That's a mystery he couldn't solve. Only the keeper himself can explain.

Taking a deep breath, he let out a cry of frustration, "Stop hiding in the darkness, Bildad shuhite. Show your face, you coward."

At first, his words were met with the wailing of the people. Even though they were crying, Lord Darius could still hear the mocking in their voices. It was like they were accusing him of their death. Their cries call out for revenge.

Their voices filled his ears with terror, and they sent a strong fear down Lord Darius's spine. He couldn't believe it. He had died, just like that. His body was burnt by Joy, the keeper's daughter.

Lord Darius climbed the lawn and walked out of the bodies. He had done what none of the remaining beings could do. He had walked away from the burning fire. Though he could still feel the heat, it wasn't affecting him. All of them were busy screaming and rolling in pain.

Lord Darius knew that could only mean one thing. The keeper still needs him. With one last effort, he shouted at the top of his voice. "Bildad the shuhite, this isn't our agreement."

As usual, his voice was met with the voices of the burning people. Their voices suddenly increased, and it was like the roaring of a lion in Darius Rucker's ear. Before he could blink, it turned to laughter. Their screaming voices meant they were mocking him. They were calling out his name, yelling at him that he belonged to them.

No! Lord Darius thought. He didn't belong to them. He wasn't told what would happen to his soul after he was killed. Yet he was sure of one thing. He didn't belong to their coalition. He was different from them. Entirely different. He could hear his thoughts, feel them, and know his way out. He wasn't burning, unlike them. He was conscious of his environment.

He knew his way out. Though they might lead deeper into unknown places in the underworld. Yet, he could still walk out. He might be stuck here in this dark cave with green fire, and their screaming. But he still had something they didn't have. He had the freedom to walk, speak, and be immune to the burning fire.

Lord Darius was also sure of one thing. For him to have access to all that freedom means the keeper still needs him. He still had some tasks to complete for him.

Immediately, the lord of Darius started to imagine himself back in the middle land. The first thing he would do is go after Joy and her guardians. They would think he was dead, and they wouldn't have expected an attack. They would think the middle land is safe. He had the element of surprise. He was sure that he wouldn't fail. Not again.

After that, he would go after all of those stupid councils. Even though he was visualising it, Lord Darius felt his anger boiling at the thought of them. They were supposed to help him during the battle. They were there at the purple dragon queen's villa, drinking and enjoying themselves. Yet, they didn't support him during the attack.

They didn't come out, nor spare him a glance. They mysteriously vanished. They run like cowards. If they had interfered, Lord Darius was sure that he wouldn't be killed by Joy. He was sure that the council would help him out. His hatred for them grew at every minute.

After he was done killing all the councils, he would go after the guardians of the ancient temple. He will kill them all, burn their homes to ashes, and topple their altar. He would remove all the bricks that were used to build the Hall of Prophecy. He hated them.

They were supposed to serve him. Yet, they kept it a secret from him. They didn't tell him that Joy was the daughter of the keeper. If they had warned him, Lord Darius would have come to the keeper immediately. They were among those that caused his death. He clenched his fist in fury at the thought of that. They betrayed him.

Next is Jerushah, daughter of Kodak. That crazy, old, white witch. She was supposed to serve him. Instead, she served the half-breed. Lord Darius was sure that she had seen the future. She had glimpsed his defeat. Yet, she remains mute. She joined hands with the rest and sent him to an earlier grave. They didn't warn him that Joy was the keeper's daughter.

He hated them all. All Lord Darius needs is a chance. If he had it, he would kill them instantly. The more he thought about it, the more his blood boiled with retribution, turmoil, and bitterness. He clenched his fist, and his knuckles turned white. He loathed them all.

Lord Darius was so lost in thought that he didn't notice the female figure behind him. "Easy, Darius Rucker." The female figure said with a soft, seducing voice.

That jerked Lord Darius out of his thought. He stared back at the being that had just appeared behind him. He hadn't seen her before. Except for the strange man that brought him to the keeper, he hadn't seen anybody with him. 'She must be new here.' Lord Darius assumed in his mind.

As if replying to his thoughts, the female being said. "You are wrong, second Darius Rucker of the middle land. I'm not new here. I have been here before Drax brought you here."

As the lady concluded her speech, Lord Darius felt like hitting her in the face. He hates it when they tag him as a second being. Part of the reason why he killed his father. He didn't want to share power with anyone. He was too voracious for that. The fact that she was able to read his thoughts made Darius Rucker despise her more. However, he had no choice.

With gritted teeth, he said "Who are you? Where's the keeper?"

"I'd like to introduce myself," the woman said with a smirk. "But he warned me not to reveal more than my name."

Unable to contain his rage, Darius Rucker screamed, "Who?"

"Idiot," the girl said with a devious smirk. Instantly, the look on Lord Darius' face collapsed. He couldn't believe that a young girl had just made fun of him. He tried to summon his power, but it didn't respond. That's when he remembered that he was dead.

The girl mocked him again. "Idiot, how could you forget that you are dead?" She moved closer to Lord Darius and whispered in his ear. "Your soul belongs to him now, brother. So, follow me because you are keeping him waiting."

With that, the girl walked towards a tunnel that Lord Darius hadn't seen before. She was halfway there when she stopped and turned back. "My name is Kira. You will soon need my help. So, don't hesitate to shout, dummy." With that, she walked deeper into the tunnel. Reluctantly, Darius Rucker followed her.

T. b. c