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Utopia	By : FlayraDowitcher Category: +G to L > Hetalia: Axis Powers Views: 2991 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia. I am making no money off of this fic.

Chapter List
- 6
- 7
- 8
***Now this chapter is by far the funniest, but only because things are going to start getting bad and I wanted to add in a little bit of humor before that. ^^ Also, I own no songs, places, or people mentioned in the humor part of this chapter!
***Warnings: Scary scenes, soft-core yaoi, minor violence, humor, language
***Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia. I am making no money off of this fic.

~*Say fuck it, before we kick the bucket
Life's too short to not go for broke
So everybody, everybody (go berserk) Grab your vial, yeah*~ -Berzerk (Eminem)
Chapter 6: Darkness Rising
"In Hell?"
'Yes! Please, help me find my brother!'
"Is your brother named Alfred?" He was hesitant to ask.
'Alfred! Yes! He's my big brother! Do you know where he is?'
Feliciano nodded. "He's here in my home."
'Please, could you take me to him?' Matthew asked with his hands folded in prayer and hopeful eyes.
"Wait here. I'll go and get him for you. Just stay here." Feliciano put on his robe and left the room. It surprised him how unafraid of Matthew he was. He figured after seeing so many horrible looking demons a see-through ghost was nothing. He checked in Romano's room first, but saw only Ivan and Gilbert asleep in the bed. The others must be out or in the living area. Feliciano checked the living room to find Alfred asleep on the couch, Ludwig reading a book, and Sadiq looking through what appeared to be his family photo album. He blushed softly when Ludwig acknowledged him. "We have a visitor."
"A visitor?" Ludwig repeated. Sadiq looked up. "Who is it?"
Feliciano gulped. "It's…it's Alfred's brother, Matthew. He's a…ghost." Both demons shut the books and got up immediately. "No! Stop right there! He's looking for Alfred, not you guys!"
"A ghost shouldn't be here, Feliciano!" Ludwig hissed at him. "He must be a spy for the fiends!"
"But he looks almost exactly the same as Alfred! Let me wake him up so he can come with us. Please?"
Ludwig was ready to say 'no' but Sadiq's hand on his shoulder changed his mind. "Alright. Wake up Alfred. I never sensed anything, so with luck he won't be wicked."
Feliciano gently shook Alfred's shoulder. "Alfred? Alfred, wake up now." He spoke softly. "Alfred?"
"Mmm…go- 'way."
"You need to get up. Someone is here to see you." Feliciano shook him again. "It's your brother, Matthew."
Alfred's eyes flew up and he shot up from the couch. "Matthew? Matthew is here? Where?"
"In my bedroom. You three go. I'll wait here and- YIPE!" Ludwig pulled him along with them.
Alfred was the first to reach the bedroom and entered quickly, his eyes settling straight on Matthew's ghostly form. It had been over two hundred years since he had last seen his brother, but now that he was before him, there was no mistaking it. Matthew's ghost slowly lifted his head to look back at him with eyes widening when they landed on Alfred.
'Alfie?'
"Mattie?" Alfred took a step towards his brother's ghost when he was suddenly jerked back by Ludwig.
"Stop." Ludwig said softly. "We don't know if he is real or not." He turned to Matthew. "He may be an illusion."
Matthew looked fearful. 'No sir! You have it all wrong! I don't know how I got here!'
Feliciano peeked around Sadiq to see Alfred break away from Ludwig and run towards his brother with arms open wide. However, Alfred passed straight through Matthew. Feliciano saw the look of confusion and sorrow on Alfred's face as the young demon desperately tried to embrace his brother. He understood Alfred's frustration and sadness for he could feel it within him. Unlike Alfred, he could actually embrace his brother, Romano, even if the man was not coherent. Alfred could not touch his brother at all. Feliciano hurt for the two.
"This isn't fair!" Alfred whined.
'Big brother, I have missed you so!' Matthew's chains jingled as he reached for his brother yet knowing he could not embrace him.
Alfred's normally happy features turned dark as his eyes traveled along the linked chains adoring his brother's body. "Why are you in chains? Who the hell put you in chains?"
Matthew looked away. 'I've always worn them…ever since I died.'
"How did you die?" Ludwig asked, crossing his arms. "In fact, answer us these few questions. Why are you here, where have you been, and who sent you?"
"Ludwig!" Alfred bared his fangs. "You're being a dick!"
"Let Matthew answer, Alfred." Sadiq stepped on Ludwig's foot before the demon could retaliate to Alfred's sneer. "We are trying to be safe while we're here."
Alfred grumbled under this breath but turned to his brother with a woeful expression. "I would like to know what's happened to you. I remember much more now, and you are by far the sweetest person I know…and you don't belong in chains."
Matthew glanced at the four before he lowered his eyes to begin his tale. 'I don't know how I got here. I've been in Hell for as long as I can remember.'
"What part?" Ludwig asked. "We all reside in 'Hell', so speak more clearly."
Matthew shook his head. 'I don't know where I was. All I knew was that I was in Hell and I have to suffer for all of eternity.'
"WHY?" Alfred hollered. "Why would YOU have to suffer? I'm the one who is suffering, and I should suffer because THAT is the choice I made upon my death!"
Matthew folded his hands in prayer once again, bringing them to rest against his chin. 'Let me start from the beginning. That night you left, Alfred, do you remember what I said to you?' Alfred sadly shook his head. 'I ran out after you. You mounted our father's horse, Sable, and I begged you to come back to us. You said 'no', because you hated father's loyalty to the British crown. Then I asked for you to come back for me, and you promised you would.'
Alfred looked away from his brother. "I didn't think I would die. Forgive me, Mattie, but I was young, fearless, and thought myself indestructible. I left our house knowing that I was destined for great things! That I would become an American hero! I would have been a part of what made our country independent!"
Matthew began to weep silent tears. 'You said those same words that night. I grew depressed after you left. Mother died two days later. Father was in constant mourning, and then my sickness took a turn for the worst. I fell deathly ill. Father had lost a wife and son to disease, and then another son to war. He blamed you for my illness and mother's death! He said it was a curse from God and that you had sent the plague upon our house! He cursed you that night as I lay dying. My last wish was for him to forgive you…but I fear he did not listen.'
Alfred clutched his head. "STOP IT! STOP SAYING THOSE THIGNS!" He screamed. "I DID NOTHING WRONG! I DID WHAT WAS RIGHT! I WANTED ONLY THE BEST FOR MY FAMILY! I MADE A HUGE SACRAFICE, BUT I DID IT FOR YOU, FOR MOTHER AND FATHER, FOR MY COUNTRY! I can't take this another minute!" Alfred ran out of the room with Sadiq quick on his heels, shouting for him to come back.
Feliciano walked over to Ludwig and stood beside him, looking up at the tall blonde demon with tearful eyes. "Matthew is not evil, Ludwig. He's not."
"How do you claim to know this?" Ludwig tried to ignore Matthew's ghostly form on the floor as he cried over his brother's outburst.
Feliciano took Ludwig's warm hand in his own. "There are some things we just can't explain…but what I feel…I know it's true." He glanced up at Ludwig through his brown lashes. "I was right about Alfred's sorrow."
Ludwig knew that Feliciano was right. While he did not fear Matthew being evil, he worried about who it was that sent the ghost here. He didn't deny the fact that Matthew probably has no clue who sent him here, yet he could not let the situation slip by without proper investigation. "What would you have me do?"
"Let me talk to Matthew for a bit."
"You?" Ludwig smirked. "YOU wish to speak to a ghost?"
"I'm not afraid of him." Feliciano said. "Honestly, I'm not. You're more terrifying than he is." He 'eeped' at Ludwig's glare. "Please? Let me talk to him?" He wanted to prove to Ludwig that he could be helpful, and speaking with a ghost he was not afraid of was the best 'first step' he could take.
"Very well." Ludwig turned away from him. "I will be in the living room if you need me. Just call." Ludwig had no fear of Feliciano with Matthew, which is what made him feel secure about leaving the two together. What he would do, however, is get in touch with Arthur and let him know what is going on.
Once Ludwig had left, Feliciano coaxed the ghost to his feet and had them sit on the bed together. He smiled at Matthew. "I want you to understand that I know how you feel. My brother, Romano, was badly injured and he is in a long term sleep that he may or may not wake from. I know what it's like to mourn for your brother."
Matthew gave a small smile but slowly shook his head. 'While I am sorry for your troubles with your brother, I fear we have very different stories. This is something I did not want to tell Alfred because I know it would hurt him…so I will tell you instead.'
Feliciano gulped. "I hope you…don't expect me to tell him. Do you?"
'No. I just want someone else to know. My story is dark and cruel…but it has to be told. Someone has to know.' Feliciano nodded and Matthew began. 'I died a week after Alfred left. Father cursed Alfred, just like I said. But one night, by my bedside, he offered Alfred's life and soul to the Devil. He prayed for Alfred's death to restore my life.' Matthew continued to speak, all the while crying. 'I remember dying on that bed. I could see and hear my father, yet he was crying over and over that I was dead. I heard his curses, I heard his sadness, and I had felt his despair. Yet I could not comfort him.
Soon, my vision went white. All I could see was white. I was always told that when you die, you see black, as if you closed your eyes and went to sleep. But I saw white. White for as long as I can remember. Until that fateful day-' Matthew started to shiver.
"Fateful day? What happened, Matthew?"
'I woke up. I woke up from my death. But I was not in my bed…nor was I in my house. I was in a mass open grave.'
Feliciano's eyes widened. "You woke up…in a mass grave? Then…you weren't really dead!"
'I was very much alive. I don't know what happened or why, even to this day it is still a mystery. I woke up amongst hundreds of dead bodies wrapped in cloth. I too was wrapped. Screaming, I struggled to break free of the wrap. I cried for help; I cried for anyone, man or God, that would help me at that moment. I rolled and squirmed against dead bodies until I was finally free. I remember looking up in to the gray sky, heard the sound of distant thunder, and felt the rain beginning to hit my face. I climbed out of the mound of corpses, yet when I reached the walls of the ditch, the dirt was damp with rain. Desperately I clawed at the dirt, trying to climb up and out of that Godforsaken Hellhole! I kept slipping. The rain fell harder, the dirt turned to mud, and my hope of escape became grim.
Exhausted, I fell against the cold pile of bodies as the rain beat down upon me. I heard the whinnying of horses and the shouts of men. I remember calling up to them, but by then my mouth was filled with mud and water…they didn't, and couldn't, hear my pleas for help. One by one…the bodies were tossed. One by one they landed atop of me, burying me under their dead weight. I remember lying there for hours, unable to cry for help as the grave filled up with muddy water. And then I…I…' Matthew found he could not finish the last part of his tale.
Feliciano finished for him. "You died buried under bodies and water."
Matthew nodded. 'Please, do not tell Alfred of this tale. He will be devastated.'
Feliciano wiped the tears from his own eyes. "That's a horrible death to experience. But Matthew, Ludwig has many questions for you. He will want to know this."
'I know. What I am about to tell you…well…you must promise me not to tell anyone but Ludwig.'
"Okay Mattie."
Taking a deep breath, Matthew spoke. 'I'm in Hell because…because of Alfred's will to live an eternal life.'
"W-What? Alfred never told me anything like that!"
'He doesn't know.' Matthew whispered. 'I wear these chains because of him. I suffer in Hell because of him. I am paying for his eternal life.'
"But, that doesn't make any sense! Alfred and the other five demons all say they sacrificed their souls with the constant pains of their deaths. They say that is their punishment."
Matthew shook his head. 'Maybe to some. But to Alfred and me? I am a part of his sin.'
"That's not fair."
'It can't be changed. This is my Hell. I am meant to suffer this way because of the choices my brother made.'
Feliciano looked at him with wide eyes. "So why are you here? Are you here to hurt Alfred? Or are you working for people who want to hurt Alfred?"
'Honestly, I don't know. One minute I'm in Hell, the next I am here on earth.'
"Were you…crying from the grave?"
'The grave?' Matthew raised a brow. 'What do you mean?'
"Alfred said he heard you crying and screaming from your grave. He went to your headstone and begged for you to stop. He did mention something about a mass grave, and that your father put a headstone up because it was necessary."
'Oh?' Matthew smiled sweetly then. 'Father did that? For me? He gave me a real tomb?'
"Alfred was there. Your name was written on it."
'I want to be at rest, my friend.' Matthew smiled at him. 'I want to be in that grave…resting…peaceful…and free to walk among the skies with the angels.'
"If that is what you want, then I hope you can get it." Feliciano smiled. "But we have to do something about you. I think Ludwig will make you go to Arthur. Arthur is a warlock and he may be able to help you. Will you be alright waiting here while I go and talk to Ludwig?"
'No, please do. And if you see Alfie…tell him to come back here. I want to see him.'
Feliciano played with his curl. "May I ask you something? If you are suffering like this because of Alfred, how is it possible that you still love him? I'm just curious."
Matthew looked away from him. 'Alfred didn't know anything. When he made his choice he did not know about the consequences on my end. To be honest, I don't know the real reasoning behind my suffering. I was part of Alfred's sacrifice…but I do not know the full reason why.'
"Who told you this?"
'The person who keeps me in these chains. I don't know his name.'
Feliciano left the room to find Ludwig, who was seated in the living area. It was only the two of them so Feliciano took a seat on the couch beside the demon. Ludwig calmly acknowledged him. "So what did the ghost have to say?"
"He doesn't know who sent him or why he is here. But he did tell me something that worries me."
"What is it?"
Feliciano twiddled his fingers. "Matthew said that he is suffering in Hell because of Alfred's choice at eternal life."
Ludwig frowned. "That doesn't make sense."
He nodded. "That's what I thought too. But Matthew said that is what was told to him by the person who keeps him in chains. Matthew doesn't know his name or who he is. I told him to go see Arthur." Feliciano chose to keep the story of Matthew's tragic death to himself.
Ludwig was impressed. Feliciano had handled himself well in this situation and appeared to be catching on. "Good choice." He smiled and rubbed the top of Feliciano's head. The human laughed a little and smiled happily at him, making Ludwig's heart skip a beat. Feliciano's smile and cheerful exterior was much like Alfred's; it could light up a room and spread the warm feelings of happiness. The human reminded him on his Hell Hounds back home in the Abyss; always eager to please and are ecstatic when they do so. Briefly he wondered if Feliciano liked animals, and if he would like his three dogs. That thought, however, indicated to him that he wanted the human with him. The idea of Feliciano, a lazy coward afraid of his own shadow, living with him and destroying his home sent a shiver up his spine.
'I did something right! Ludwig is pleased with me!' Feliciano was thrilled at the positive reinforcement. "So are you going to take Matthew to see Arthur?"
"I think we all will go to see Arthur. Too many peculiar things have been happening recently and I think it's time we take action."
Feliciano, with a face of pure determination nodded his head. "I'll be right here waiting for all of you to get back!"
"Human!" Ludwig hollered and hissed at him. "You're coming with us!"
"Vehhhhh!" He whined.

"Well, I'll be damned." Arthur circled the ghostly form of Matthew.
Matthew looked worriedly at his brother who spoke for him. "Can you get him out of these chains?" Alfred asked.
"Depends on who put them on him." Arthur stroked his chin. "This will take some time for me to figure out."
Ludwig tapped his foot impatiently. "Do you know where he could have come from? This ghost doesn't know who he is or who did this to him."
"I would think he's from an area between the worlds. This world and the Abyss. But he hasn't caused any harm?"
"None at all." Alfred answered. "Can you help him?"
Arthur used his power to pull a book off the shelf. "I have an idea on how to help him. He may end up like Francis, though."
'Like Francis?' Matthew looked at Alfred.
"He has a solid form." Alfred answered. "And with any luck, you will too!" He smiled at his brother.
"But where did he come from?" Ludwig asked again. "Who is letting these ghosts free?"
Arthur flipped through the book as he spoke. "There may be a portal opened somewhere near. I've sensed something strange in the spiritual aura of this world recently. With the rising of demons so comes the rising of ghosts, especially if they are ones who are not at rest." He glanced at Matthew. "But there is one spot that you should check. Go to the home of the Leed's Devil in New Jersey. In the Pine Barrens. That area has been heavy recently with orbs and spirits."
Ludwig nodded. "We will leave for it now."
"Wait!" Arthur stopped him. "Keep Matthew here with me while I try to figure out the situation. You'll have to use your energy to find the exact spot of the portal. If you do find it and it is open, then you and the others must close it."
"Where are these Pine Barrens?" Alfred asked.
"You'll need a map to find it. It's a bit of a ways from here. But Feliciano should know the most inconspicuous way to get there."
Ludwig raised a brow. "Inconspicuous? You mean you would want us to be in our human forms?"
"Yes. If Matthew was sent by any one of the Fiends, they have others out looking for all of you. Do your best to look entirely human. Travel to the Pine Barrens by car, buy new clothes, and act as humanly as possible. The lesser demons searching the lands are too stupid to recognize your powers while in disguise."
Ludwig's brow twitched. He didn't want to have to rely on Feliciano for anything, but the modern human world was still a mystery to all of them. Hopefully the human would prove useful on this mission.
'What about me?' Matthew asked softly.
"You will stay with me and Francis." Arthur assured him.
"Yeah Mattie! They'll find out how to help you, and then we can be together as brothers!" Alfred smiled and gave him a thumbs up. "Right?"
Matthew nodded happily. 'Yes! Alright brother!'
"Let's get started then!" Ludwig demanded. "We have much to do." He left Alfred to say goodbye to his brother while he joined the others out in the shop. He rolled his eyes when Gilbert put on some sort of mask to leap out and scare Feliciano with. The human yelped, cried, and trembled at the scary sounds his brother was making. Sadiq appeared to be getting high off of the incense and Ivan was staring at the sacrificial weapons in the glass display case. "Everyone, listen up!" They were ignoring him. "Hey!" He shouted again, but he was still ignored. Out of frustration, he let his body burst into angry flames to get their attention. "PAY ATTENTION!"
The others finally took notice of him, with Feliciano near fainting. "Geez bro," Gilbert removed the mask. "Have an aneurysm why don't you?"
Ludwig allowed the flames to dissipate around him. "We have a mission." He explained to them the situation, and then turned his attention to Feliciano. "We will need from you new clothes, a car, and a map. Provide us with these things."
Feliciano looked at all four of them. "Those things cost money! I can't afford all that!"
"Demons don't pay, remember?" Ivan ruffled the brown hair.
"But if you're going to look like humans then you have to act like them!" Feliciano wasn't sure how they were going to pull this off. His question was answered by Alfred who came into the room holding a small stack of cards.
"Hey guys, Arthur said for us to use these to buy what we need." Alfred handed each one a card. "He said it's like money but will make someone else pay it."
Feliciano saw that they were major credit cards. He didn't know how or why Arthur had them, but sometimes it was better not to ask. Nervously, he shoved his hands in his pockets.
"Now that we have money the human way, take us to buy what we need." Ludwig demanded.
Gilbert smirked and said, "No clothing touches this body but silk and fur!"
"I want to look awesome!" Alfred said with a pose.
"Take me to the tailor, if you will." Sadiq gave his request. "I need all my clothes to be specifically tailored to fit my taste."
Ivan clapped his hands. "I want a very nice hat!"
"I don't care what I wear." Ludwig rubbed his temples. "Just take us somewhere to buy these clothes."
"Alright boys, you heard the man!" Gilbert shouted. "To our human forms!"
Feliciano wanted nothing more than to have Arthur make him disappear. Shopping with these five demons, human form or not, would end up as a disaster. There was only one place nearby they could go to suit everyone's tastes.

Somewhere in Macy's…
Ivan and Gilbert were browsing the lingerie section, never having seen such interesting women's apparel all in one spot. Ivan held up a frilly pink one piece to his body.
"It's a shame they don't make these in men's sizes. You would look stunning in this!" He showed it to Gilbert who stuck his tongue out.
"To Hell with that! I don't do lace! I'm more of a leather guy." He straightened out his sunglasses.
"Excuse me, sirs?" Said the mall security guard. "This is the ladies section of the store."
Gilbert smirked. "Obviously!"
"Well, men are not supposed to be here. You may browse the men's section."
Ivan smiled at the man. "We are looking at things for our girlfriends. Gifts."
"You are making the other women shoppers uncomfortable by being here. So please, do your shopping online instead."
Gilbert was ready to scold the man for dismissing them but Ivan just guided him out of the section. "Remember Gilbert, we are to act like humans, and humans don't bite each other's tongues out when they're angry."
"They should! I bet it would stop a lot of people from sprouting bullshit!"
In the men's department, Feliciano shadowed Ludwig as the man browsed the clearance racks for shirts. The demon settled on a simple white button down shirt, and Feliciano wasn't the least bit surprised. For a being that lived during the Roman Empire and survived as a demon under ground in a whole other world, he could pick out an outfit. Feliciano stopped breathing when he saw Ludwig exit the fitting room in his whole new attire; white shirt, tan pants, loafers, and a belt. Ludwig looked like a normal human being! He looked well educated, well adjusted, and reeked of 'white collar' businessman. Feliciano found himself blushing.
"You look nice, Ludwig."
Ludwig looked himself over in the pillar mirror. "I don't disapprove of this outfit." He flattened the collar. "Have you seen the others?"
Feliciano glanced around the area. "No recently. Alfred was trying on some American flag ball cap and Sadiq was browsing the Estee Lauder kiosk, or the girl behind it. Ivan and Gilbert? I don't know where they ran off to."
"I'll change back into my regular clothes first, and then we'll find the others and purchase our products. We must be moving on."
Feliciano was not prepared for the shocking mental chaos he was about to encounter at the checkout. As usual, the people ringing them up took no notice of anything out of the usual, not even when they were charging the credit cards. Ludwig purchased his products first.
"Enjoy your day Mr. Pitt." Said the male cashier.
Feliciano slapped a hand to his face.
Gilbert was next. He bought a long black trench coat with a high collar of leopard print faux fur. While wearing it, Gilbert appeared to have a massive halo of spots behind his head. Feliciano didn't have the heart to tell him it was not real fur but rather artificial. Sometimes playing 'dumb' had its advantages. "Have a nice day, Mr. Reeves."
Feliciano sighed. Sadiq was next. He went for the same style as Ludwig but added a purple, green, and blue argyle sweater vest. He also purchased a brown tweed flat cap. The cashier woman handed him back the card along with her number written on the corner of her employee business card. "Enjoy your weekend, Mr. Burt Reynolds."
'What was Arthur thinking?' Feliciano asked himself. These were all, technically, stolen credit cards of major celebrities and none of it made sense. These demons didn't match with the celebrities at all!
Alfred followed right behind. The young demon bought a pair of baggy blue jeans, neon blue sneakers, and a long sleeved blue Nike shirt. To add, he had a poofy navy blue windbreaker vest and proudly adorned his American flag ball cap. "Mr. Efron, please enjoy the rest of your day here at our mall." Said the young man.
'This is ridiculous.' Feliciano found himself rubbing his temples like Ludwig often did. Finally, Ivan came up to the counter with his purchases. Feliciano wanted to vomit at the sight of the hideously ugly Bill Cosby style sweater Ivan was buying. Not only that, but he chose a white turtleneck to go under the ugly sweater. Ivan was minus a hat. And Feliciano hated the sound of corduroy pants rubbing together, yet Ivan was purchasing a black pair. "Have a wonderful day, Mr. Clooney."
Feliciano shook his head. Ivan was handsome in his own way, but the demon certainly was not a George Clooney look alike. Was he the only one noticing all this? The answer was 'yes'. Arthur was probably getting a huge kick out of this back at his shop when he should be trying to help Matthew. He waited patiently as the demons dressed into their new outfits to wear out. And then, it was on to mental chaos part two.

He didn't have a driver's license, only a photo i.d., yet here he was driving a Honda minivan full of demons. Feliciano knew how to drive but there was no reason for him to own a car in the city. The car salesman handed them this car without questions and they only had to sign one paper. No credit check, no major credit card, no nothing. Feliciano felt as if they had stolen the car and the temporary paper license plate would get them pulled over. Not that he had anything to fear from a simple police officer. He was in a car full of vicious demons that could tear the cop apart if they wanted to.
"Are we there yet?" Alfred whined from the very back seat where he sat with Ivan. Sadiq and Gilbert were in the middle with Ludwig at the passenger side. Ludwig was in charge of reading the map, which he had caught on to quickly. Feliciano wished they had a GPS and debated pulling over to a Best Buy to purchase one. They had been on the highway for far too long it seemed to him.
"Say that one more time and we're leaving you on the bend of the road!" Gilbert hissed.
"But I'm tired! I'm hungry and thirsty! I'm thirsty and hungry, thirsty and hungry, thirsty and hungry!" He rambled on until Ivan pulled the young demon into his lap.
"We must be patient, my love." Ivan cooed. "This car goes much faster than horses! We'll be there soon."
Feliciano turned to Ludwig. "Which exit should we get off at?"
"Hmm…I'm not certain. Pull over for a moment. These new age roads are rather complicated." Feliciano pulled over onto the shoulder of the highway and shared the map with him. "We want to follow this red line."
"Yes. I agree." Feliciano's stomach was bouncing up and down with anxiety. He had missed (or rather zoned out) during that lesson in school about how to properly read a map. He always relied on the GPS in his cell phone, until it had to be given up due to Romano's hospital bills.
"You haven't a clue." Ludwig could see the lies in Feliciano's eyes. The human was too transparent. "Step out of the car. I'm driving from here on out."
"Veh? But you don't know how to drive!"
"I've been watching you. It's not difficult. Now move." They switched sides, and it took Ludwig a minute or two to properly adjust the seat and wheel settings.
"Are we moving yet?" Gilbert pinched his brother's earlobe. "I want to get to this place before all the ghosts are free."
Ludwig turned on his blinker and merged back onto the highway. "Sit down and put your seatbelt on. The man at the dealership said that these seatbelts are important. Alfred! Don't you throw that gum wrapper on the floor of this car!"
Alfred lazily snapped his gum and blew a pink bubble in Ludwig's direction. Ivan just sighed and rolled his eyes.
The party of six continued on in their inconspicuous minivan. Feliciano was fumbling with the radio, trying to find a song that would tune out the insulting ramblings of Gilbert and Alfred. He recognized the tune for 'Kokomo' and cranked up the volume, which got everyone's attention.
"What is that song?" Sadiq asked, snapping his fingers to the tune.
"Kokomo, by the Beach Boys." Feliciano answered while rocking out in his seat.
Ivan let out a playful laugh. "I can harmonize too!" His attempt had all of them covering their ears.
Gilbert snickered. "If you want the car to clear out, that is! You harmonize like this!" Gilbert's attempt was even worse than Ivan's, enough so to make Ludwig swerve on the road.
"I think we just ran over a cat!" Alfred joked, referring to Gilbert's singing. Gilbert stuck his tongue out in retaliation.
Ludwig grumbled as he changed lanes. "I don't know a place like Kokomo. Where can I find one?" He said with flat sarcasm. "I need it."
"It's not a real place." Feliciano answered him. "It's…ah, what's the word? Symbolic?"
Ludwig hissed. "Yes, I get that!"
"What happened to the song?" Alfred shrieked when it finished and changed to another.
"It's the radio. It plays different songs all the time." Feliciano answered.
"I want the last one back!" Sadiq demanded and Ivan agreed. It was Gilbert who used his magic to make the radio replay the song. Feliciano was startled for only a moment. Slowly, he was getting used to the strange happenings that are occurring in his life.
However, Feli wanted to open the car door and jump out onto the street to escape the song. Three times was bearable, but ten times in a row on a busy highway trapped inside an enclosed space could drive one mad. Luckily, he managed to get them to change stations with the help of Ludwig's constant yelling to change songs. Their second curse was the sudden blaring of 'What Is Love'. Gilbert forbade him to even touch the dial. Feliciano could only turn to watch everybody jamming in the back. In an amusing but shocking way, Alfred, Gilbert, and Sadiq were dancing in the classic 'Night At the Roxbury' mode to the song. There was no way they could have known, so it must have just come naturally. Ivan now appeared lost and confused while the vein in Ludwig's temple grew larger with each passing beat.
Feliciano had never been happier to pass by the 'Welcome to New Jersey' sign.
An hour later…
"I refuse to pull over again!" Ludwig's eyes met with Ivan's in the rearview mirror.
"But Ludwig! I have to go again!" It was now known to the others that Ivan had a weak bladder when it came to long car rides. "I'll pee in the seat!"
Blue eyes widened. "Don't you dare! I swear I'll make you lick it up!"
"Come on, guys, don't fight." Sadiq said between sips of his green Slurpee while flipping through a New Jersey state book they had 'bought' at a Wawa. "Listen to what it says about the Pine Barrens and the Leed's Devil."
"Let's just be surprised." Gilbert had grown bored of the radio and took to staring out the window. He was trying to block out Alfred's heavy snoring in the back.
"Ludwiiiiiig! I have to go!" Ivan whined and whimpered, wiggling in his seat. "Just pull over!"
"I don't want to get out of the flow of traffic!" Ludwig hissed, but a pitiful look from both Ivan AND Feliciano had him defeated. Sighing, he pulled over onto the side of the road. "Be quick! No more drinks for you on the way back!"
Gilbert was forced to move from his seat so Ivan could climb over a sleeping Alfred and exit through the door.
Putting the car in neutral, Ludwig turned slightly in his seat to face Sadiq. "What were you saying about the demon?"
"Oh, right. Well, people here call it the Jersey Devil and it's a 260 year old folktale about some 'demon' that haunts the Pinelands. There are many people who have claimed to see it." He started to snicker. "Get this, sightings of it show that it has the head of a horse or goat, hoofed feet, a forked tail, a kangaroo like body, bat wings, and lets out a high pitched scream."
Gilbert laughed as well. "I think I saw something like that the last time I was drunk!"
Feliciano looked a little embarrassed. "I thought it was just a hockey team…"
"It's not real." Ludwig assured him. "If it was, we would know about it. This is just common folklore and nothing more. Which leads me to believe that Arthur doesn't know what he's talking about."
Sadiq held up his finger as he continued reading. "Now hold on a second. The area we are heading to is where the Leed's house stood, where the monster was born. It may be one of the portals to the Abyss if this story holds any truth to it."
"Portals?" Feliciano looked at Ludwig.
"There are always portals here in this world." Ludwig answered. "This story probably comes from some spiritual happenings there and the tales carried on throughout the years. Sometimes they are open and other times they are not. Where the hell is Ivan?"
"Probably eating some squirrels." Gilbert answered. "Are we close yet? I'm itchin' for some killin'!"
"We should be getting close." Ludwig answered. "If Ivan ever gets back!" He growled.
Feliciano saw Ivan coming back from the woods. "There he is!"
"Finally!"
Ivan got back into the van and took his seat with a smile. "I'm all emptied out!"
"We didn't need to know that." Sadiq frowned.
Ludwig ignored everyone and pulled back onto the highway. There was nothing more in the world he wanted right now than to be out of this van and away from his companions.

Upon entering the area of the Pine Barrens, each demon became alert of the high level of spiritual energy around them. Ludwig pulled over to an empty clearing along the side of the road and everyone exited the van. Feliciano quickly hurried over to Ludwig's side. It was up to Alfred to find the portal since he was most sensitive to this type of energy. Feliciano himself felt something odd in the same way he had felt Matthew but this feeling was much stronger. It held no sorrow or regret, only anger. He was afraid as they began following Alfred into the forest of towering pine trees yet chose to remain silent. There was no reason to be afraid so long as Ludwig was with him. The demon didn't scold, glare, or push him away when he got close. In fact, Ludwig was holding his hand!
Feliciano was happy, at least for a moment. His fear returned when the sun suddenly disappeared behind a wall of dark clouds. They looked nothing like rain clouds nor storm clouds. Looking around at the forest, he could sense something watching them. With a squeak he moved closer to Ludwig.
"Stop." Ivan suddenly spoke to Alfred. "Do you feel that?"
Alfred's eyes shifted slowly from left to right. "We're getting close. Whatever it is, it's not tiny."
Gilbert removed his sunglasses. "I say we lose our human forms. Something wicked this way comes." They all changed back into demons and prepared their weapons.
"We need to find the portal first." Ludwig said. "Alfred, lead the way."
"Ludwig," Feliciano whispered as he was pulled along. "I'm scared."
"Just stay with me and you'll be fine."
Feliciano looked worried yet continued on with the demons. The further they walked, the stranger his eerie feelings became. The trees were shifting, or swaying, in his vision. He felt as if he were drunk, but that was not the case. Every tree around them was moving on its own. The green branches started to sway in an invisible wind that they could not feel. That dark cloud grew blacker with each patch of blue sky it covered, shadowing the area and limiting their vision. There was a distant moaning from around them that slowly grew louder until it turned in to a horrific symphony. Feliciano felt a cold draft on his leg like a wind was blowing up under the hem. With a glance down, he saw the swirling and transparent torso of a skeleton like ghost clutching at his leg.
"A GHOST!" He screamed and jumped onto Ludwig's back. They were surrounded by swarms of ghostly figures moaning in agony.
"The portal should be close by!" Alfred shouted, swinging away at the ghosts encircling him. "We have to close it!"
"Which way is it?" Ludwig shouted back.
"THIS WAY! HURRY!" The others followed after Alfred but Ludwig was stuck with Feliciano on his back.
"FOR THE LOVE OF-! GET OFF OF ME!"
"I'M SCARED!" Feliciano looked back in time to see a skeletal face coming towards him. With an ear-shattering scream he leapt off of Ludwig's back and took off in a run behind the others.
"ARE YOU SERIOUS?" Ludwig wanted to take his sword and run Feliciano through with the blade! How dare he know how to run that fast and kept it a secret! "GET BACK HERE YOU COWARD! FELI-!"
He had lost sight of the others but couldn't stop running now. Feliciano ran through the pine trees, jumping over fallen branches and batting away lose laying ones. He cried for help, for the others, for Ludwig, but no one heard him. 'I'm lost! I'm lost and I'm alone!' Feliciano stopped for a second and looked around the area. Nothing looked familiar to him! All the trees looked alike! "LUDWIG!" He screamed out but only heard the echo of his voice. "LUDWIG! WHERE ARE YOU?"
Something gripped his ankles from behind and pulled his feet out from under him. He landed on his belly with a cry of pain that only intensified when he was dragged along the ground. Panicking, Feliciano screamed for help and tried to grab at anything he could. The dry forest floor and brambles were tearing at his clothes and skin, turning his fearful cries into wails of pain. He screamed and cried for Ludwig, for anyone, to save him. His screams died when the earth disappeared from under him to give way to open air. The force around his ankles was released, dropping him down a shallow ravine of leaves and sticks. He gasped and grunted with each painful roll before tumbling to the bottom. He lay face down in the cold hard dirt, his heart racing and his breath rapid. He wanted to keep his eyes open, to stay awake and alert. But the last thing he saw before passing out was a dark form looming above him with white orbs circling it. Unable to fight through the pain, he gave in to the darkness.

"Where is he?" Ludwig hissed through his fangs. "Where has he gone?" The others could handle the portal but he needed to find Feliciano before some other demons did. He had sensed the human for a short while but the life force was quickly gone, as if he had just disappeared. "Damn it all! That stupid human! I swear I will put him in chains the next time I see him! FELI!"
Ludwig was forced to come to a halt when he heard the familiar sound of Feliciano's cries. Quietly he listened for the direction of the sound. He was to preoccupied with the wailing of the human to notice the red mist surrounding him. Ludwig called out to him but there was no verbal answer, only crying. Crying that soon became wails of another kind; the lustful groans and sounds of sexual pleasure. Ludwig readied his sword. He knew those sounds were not coming from the real thing but from whatever demon ruled his area.
"SHOW YOURSELF, COWARD!" Ludwig called all around, hoping the demon would step forth and challenge him. Instead, he was approached by another form entirely, a form that he could not take his demon eyes off of. In his wanton lust his eyes turned snake-like as they raked over the naked supple body of his human. Feliciano's form was solid with the human blushing prettily and appearing shy as he was presented in this way. Those doe-like amber eyes gazed upon him with confusion but clouded with desire. "Feli?" Ludwig whispered the name.
"Ludwig? I don't know what's wrong with me, but my body feels so strange."
'This can't be him.' Ludwig reasoned. 'Feliciano would never do this.' Yet it was his demon instincts that were proving to be superior. Real or not, the image of his human naked and wanton threatened to make him lose control.
'Isn't he just charming?' Whispered a voice in his ear but he did not stir. 'An innocent little human dying to burst through his shell.'
Ludwig's sword trembled in his hand. "He is an innocent…I cannot take away that purity…"
'Ah, but you can.' Ghostly hands covered his eyes. 'Hear his moans? Those are the moans of a sheltered virgin craving to become a demon's whore.' Ludwig could hear the moans and the image behind his eyes were of the human writhing on a pearl colored bed. 'See how he secretly aches for you.' His breath quickened at the sight of Feliciano touching himself. 'Imagine biting every square inch of that pure body, dragging your powerful claws along the supple flesh, constantly marking him as your own. How pretty his blood will look adorning those sheets.' Ludwig shuddered, licking his lips and the tips of his fangs. 'Wouldn't you like to claim that virgin body for your own? To take him back to your dark castle? Wouldn't you love to taste the blood of fear, love, and power as you drink and fuck your fill? All that life force can be yours! With the blood, love, and trust of this human you could burn with such power! You could rule over your companions when the new Utopia appears! All that power can be yours, if only you will let go of your reserve and control.'
Those two words were enough to break him out of the trance. With a roar of anger, he burst into flames and cleared away the red mist along with the wanton image of Feliciano. Ludwig was burning slowly with small streams of flames along his arms and shoulders. "SHOW YOURSELF, FIEND! I WILL NOT FALL FOR YOUR PARLOR TRICKS!" He twirled his sword in his hand.
A manly laugh bounced off the trees around him. 'Such fine work, as always!'
"Griot! Fiend of Corruption! I should have known it was you!"
A red mist appeared in the air above him like a small tornado. Yellow slanted eyes peered at him from above. 'Yes, tis I! Nothing pleases me more than toying with your extreme sense of control and noble spirit. It's such a shame for one so strong and as talented as you to be burdened with the still human moral sense and values.'
"Knowing both sides of the races would give me an advantage, wouldn't you say?"
'Indeed! But you and your friends have made a grave error by coming here! This is my territory! It is I whom is letting the tortured earthbound souls run free in this world!'
"What for? What is the meaning behind these ghosts?"
'Fool! Isn't it obvious? Human beings are weak and stupid creatures! The ghosts will haunt their homes and minds, leaving them frightened right down to their very core! My lady Fiends and I will feast off of their fear, growing ever stronger with each fearful soul!'
"We will close your portal and seal it. Do not forget that Ivan can swallow souls as well!" He followed the red cloud with his eyes. "Where is Feliciano? Answer me now!"
'Turn off those flames, little boy. You don't want to cook yourself again, now do you?' Griot laughed. 'I don't think your human would like to be fucked by a charred demon! He is in my grasp! I have him right now as we speak!'
Ludwig's flames grew larger and brighter. "Return him to me! NOW!"
'I don't have to do shit, Ludwig! I already know how I'm going to strike fear into the heart of that pure hearted human! I will corrupt his innocent little body and mind by letting my demons have their way with him! They will send him to the moon and back before they tear him apart limb by limb and consume his flesh!'
Ludwig couldn't bear to hear any more so he flew up to Griot and swung his sword through the mist. His blade did nothing to harm the Fiend, as was to be expected. "You will leave him be! He is my human!"
Griot bounced out of range. 'Your human? Then it's just as we thought! With your demon body the human wouldn't stand a chance. You'd kill him. How wonderful that would be for us!'
"I have more control than that!"
'Do you? I saw the look of wanton lust in your eyes as your body ached for the virgin pleasures of that human! Love makes you weak and lust will surely kill you. Try to find him if you can! That is, of course, if he hasn't been fucked raw by my demons!'
"I will destroy all of you! By myself if I have to!"
'Ha! That's adorable! It has been centuries since I've had this much fun! Please, continue to entertain me further, Ludwig! Humor me, find your precious little human! Find him before my boys do!' With an echoing laugh the red mist disappeared and the area became normal once again.
"I have to find him! I must hurry!" Ludwig stood on one of the branches as he focused his mind on channeling Feliciano's spiritual energy. 'Fight them, Feli. Fight them with all your might!'
Why wasn't he sensing anything?

The remaining four demons had found the portal, circled it, and were using their combined powers to seal up the hole. With hands stuck out, palm up and out, various coils of demon magic slowly built a barrier to cover the portal. It had worked, and continued to work until one of them became distracted.
Sadiq turned his head at the familiar, haunting sound of a young man's voice.
"HEY! FUCKING CONCENTRATE!" Gilbert shouted over to him.
Sadiq couldn't tell what it was but knew that it was important to him. Without a word he left the circle, leaving the others to work in his place. That sound. Now he knew that sound! That was the sound of a small harp! If the harp song was coming from the being he thought then there would be another fight on his hands. It was that tune he and his lover shared so many centuries ago, one of the very few things they agreed on. Even if this song was an illusion, even if the one playing it was an illusion, Sadiq felt the urgent need to set eyes upon his Grecian lover once again. True, the man had cursed him upon his departure that led him to this Hell, but it did not change the deep feelings he still held for the man who hated him. Even now he could picture those sour green eyes glaring at him, sprouting words of insults and curses. His lover was full of hatred for him yet when it came to the bedroom, that hate turned in to something beautiful, something magical. It was a feeling he could not find with other man or woman in his harem.
Finally, he came to a clearing in the woods where a set of boulders sat; and in between those rocks sat none other than his lover, Heracles. The Grecian male was dressed in traditional style Greek clothing worthy of that time and still played the harp with expert talent. He was still playing their song. It was a song consisting only of a tune and no lyrics, but Sadiq remembered it well. He stood and gazed upon the flawless form of his beloved Grecian sitting so beautifully between those rocks. And like always, Heracles was surrounded by cats.
Sadiq remained in the same spot hoping the image of his lover would notice him. Eventually, they took notice of him. With a flat and bored expression, Heracles stared right back at him. Sadiq could remember seeing his face reflected in those emerald green eyes. He could remember watching the man sleep beside him while playing with the hanging tuffs of hair that fell in front of the ears. He loved this man, it was true. But Sadiq knew that this was not his lover but an illusion, so he drew his weapon.
Green eyes flashed brightly before the harp turned in to a sword of his very own.
End Chapter 6 TBC
- 6
- 7
- 8
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