The Tales Of New Hell - Part One (778 hits)
Category: NoneLabels: NewHell
Rating: 2 on 23 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by kaos-king (View user info) at 2005-08-22 09:49:45 EDT
"Tell me, Asmodeus," he said, gazing at a nearby pile. "In your most witless opinion, do any of these strike you?"
The acolyte bowed nervously twice. His master had seemed most talkative that day. When the lord was graced by such moods, his imagination could be limitless. Although Asmodeus had often been present for such bursts of creativity, many spectators found themselves quickly placed in a position of medium for the Exalted One's art work. Ziehl, the former alphite necromancer, still hung outside the garden walls.
"I confess, Most Grand, I do not feel adequate enough in the presence of the Divine to make such choice. Only by the grace of spilled blood, would one such as I..."
"Oh, do stop your babbling, Asmodeus," sighed one of the Darklings.
Asmodeus bowed again, this time to keep the look of murderous rage hidden from the master's child. Winter Dukestien lagged a few paces behind her father, absently thumbing her rings around her slender fingers. Many in the city of Gehenna despised the Princess of New Hell, but their hated was always cut with a mixture of absolute dread. Although barely out of her teens and easily the most beautiful thing within the city, her reputation for atrocities rivaled that of The Most Infamous. And she was beloved by her father. At least, as much love as the Anti-Christ could possess.
Mabus glided towards his child, his black eyes sparkling beneath the red X's burnt across his face. His black cloak of living darkness trailed behind him, a wisp of it playing at one of the piles. Mabus gently laid both his hands on the sides of his daughter's face, his left, unmarred hand, and the right. His right turned slightly, aiming the blade adorning his pinky finger away from her, allowing the nubs where his other digits used to reside to stoke her hair. The stitches that reached from the corners of his mouth to his jaw line strained as he kissed Winter on the forehead, struggling to keep his face bound together.
"It's always endearing to watch you belittle the minions, my dear."
Winter rose her hand, her pinky barring the same bladed device as her father's. She used its point to trace the crimson neo-occult symbols that criss crossed his cloaked chest.
"Father, why do you allow them to speak? They bray like mules, and I find it difficult to hear the screams of the mutilation pits over the din."
"Occasionally something of interest falls from their lips," replied Mabus.
Winter shrugged. She blew her father a kiss and strolled passed the mounds of corpses, out of the garden. Asmodeus shuddered, then allowed his shoulders to relax. He looked up to see Mabus smiling at him. Again, he went rigid.
"My heir's leave of us pleases you then?"
"N-not at all, my liege. Her presence is... invigorating."
"Perhaps you would prefer my son to be along with us today?"
Asmodeus cringed. Giovonni was no where as wicked as his sister, but in turn, made it up with blatant cruelty. Had Asmodeus's words irritated, angered, or bored him, the scion of the Anti-Christ would have simply stepped over and slit the throat of the offender. The brother's detachment was almost worse than the sister's viscousness. Almost.
"I would welcome his highness as a blessing, would that he could be here, sire."
"Hmmm..." murmured Mabus as a response as he glided past Asmodeus, further into the garden.
The garden was rich with life, but only a life that Mabus saw fit. Everything here was kept alive, although most of it should have been embracing death long before. Even the things that no longer had coherent thought. They passed one of the "bushes," a naked woman bent in a bow, her legs buried in the dirt to their knees, the arms to the elbows. Only the faint twitching of back spasm let the viewer know she was still alive. Her head was buried, too.
A man stood on his tip toes, trying to stay balanced. Stripped bare, he was not able to flinch from the worms crawling through the flesh of his torso. Had he slipped, he would not have fallen. A tree limb had cracked through the back of his skull, fused with his head, and now grew from his ravaged mouth. The sight of Mabus gliding past must have been too much, for his toes lost their hold. Only his eyes betrayed the pain he was in as he tried to regain his position, his toes seeking out his own severed arms that he used to prop himself up with. The bark that had pierced his larynx removed any hope of screams.
"Sit," ordered Mabus, pointing towards one of the stone benches.
Asmodeus settled himself on the bench. The mock tree made of bones wired together loomed behind him, but offered little in the way of shade. The sun, now a vibrant hue of red, shone down upon the broken Earth, slowly baking the seas dry. The scant wind offered no relief, but allowed the stench of decay to waiver through the garden.
Mabus closed his eyes and tilted his head back. In the distance, both could hear the shuffling footsteps of the Herd. The army of the Anti-Christ, thousands of converted humans mutated into monstrosities that patrolled the lands looking for stray tribes. How mankind had fallen. They now huddled together in small groups, each day hoping for another. Mabus had brought The Doctrine to them. Suffering was Truth, Pain was Purpose, Freedom was Blasphemy. Some like Asmodeus has realized early what the outcome of Mabus's war would be, and had flocked to him. Other had been... changed. Most ended up in the mutilation pits, where demonic monstrosities violated them. Some where given the gift of purpose, turned either into members of the Herd or made into Drones. The Drones were rendered sexless, blind and mute, their feeble minds only able to work out the most basic of commands.
"Ah, listen my acolyte! The wind has caught Ziehl."
Asmodeus turned in the direction of the moan. He tried to keep his face passive as he watched the former necromancer billow up above the garden wall's edge. Forcing the soul to continue animating the flesh, Mabus had torn the skeleton from Ziehl and formed the remaining skin and tissue into a large flag. The symbol of New Hell had been branded into him. A strong gust of air could catch in the remains of the throat and allow Ziehl to release sound.
"You were merciful to him," said Asmodeus quietly.
Mabus was about to reply when he saw the Grand Inquisitor strolling up to them in the garden. His apron was drenched in blood and it even dripped from his dreadlocks. Only the goggles fused to his face were wiped clean. He was whistling. He stopped a few feet from the Dark One and his minion. He produced a bag from one of his pockets and offered it to Asmodeus. It was filled with eyeballs. When the priest did not respond, the Inquisitor shrugged, and popped one in his mouth.
"Tell me, Seamus. Did you and Confessor Constantine find the information I asked for?" spoke Mabus slowly.
"Aye, me Grandest One, that we did. What ye believe te be true, t'was."
"And I assume you want the pleasure of taking the next step?"
The Inquisitor smiled, his brown teeth barely visible through the dripping blood. "T'would be most an honor, me Lord. Quite the honor, innit? Only if ye wish it, ye say the word."
Mabus smiled, his stitchings crackling under the strain. "No, my devoted one, I'll take care of it myself."
Seamus the Grand Inquisitor bowed, keeping his disappointment at a minimum. He was taking his leave when he turned back.
"Ye son just returned, he has. D'ye want 'em present, me Lord?"
Mabus shook his head, and waved him away. Seamus took his cue and left. Mabus took his bladed pinky and sliced a circle in the air with it. Reality fell apart and a small window floated in its place. Shortly, a man with staples holding the skin of his face in place appeared.
"Keluchi, see to it that a handful of the prisoners are released to Seamus. He has pleased me, and I want to keep his skills at their highest. That, and it will make him giggle."
"Yes, Sire," said the displaced face before it disappeared.
"See how I reward my loyal, Asmodeus?"
"You are most just, my liege."
"Of course, I do play favorites, too."
Asmodeus, unsure how to proceed, just sat there.
"Do you believe you are one of my favorites, Asmodeus?"
The question caught him off guard, and he sputtered on his words.
"My Lord, I... I would not... I am not in the position to, eh, make such a bold..."
"You were, my priest, you were," Mabus mused.
Asmodeus's couldn't even breath. He was momentarily sure his heart had stopped beating. Were? Past tense? What had he... no, it was impossible. Mabus couldn't have known that he was... no.
"Did you honestly think that I wouldn't find out that you were in communication with Reverend Rief across the ocean?" he asked conversationally.
Asmodeus began to emit strange bleating sound. Tears gushed from his eyes.
"Rief, the man who left me for Adam. Adam, the being who arose in power over in the Middle East, and claims to be the "True" Anti-Christ? I hear he's trying to lure my subjects over to his lands to be part of his own infernal armies. Were you planning on leaving me, Asmodeus?"
The minion began shaking violently. "No, no, no, no! Never Sire, my Lord! He contacted me, oh Exalted one! I denied him and his offer, I would never,,,"
"Ah, but you are one of the few who know the truth, Asmodeus. That Adam of Sumer is in fact the true son of Hades. That I am... an anomaly."
Asmodeus fell to his knees before Mabus, bowing his head rapidly into closed fists. Blood formed on his brow and knuckles. He tried to speak, but choking sobs held any words of defense inside.
"Had you of reported such an incident, I would believe your innocence on this matter. And yet you kept it secreted from me. From your Lord. Oh, Asmodeus, such a sin you have cast against me."
Mabus rose to his feet, hellfire crackling around his head in an infernal halo. He placed his marred right hand upon the head of his acolyte.
"Oh Asmodeus, such a sin. But what glorious plans I have for you..."
User Reviews
Submitted by St_Jimmy (user info) at 2006-11-14 13:35:37 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Nice. Will be reading the other parts.
Submitted by Ditka (user info) at 2006-01-07 22:45:58 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Auto +2 already read series just giving author his due.
Submitted by RyuFu (user info) at 2005-09-27 16:48:38 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Yikes, this shit was B-A-N-A....I mean, it was fucking awesome. Look what you've done--now I have to read through all of your stories. I hope you're happy with yourself.
I have to admit, the fear of getting hooked was the main reason I haven't read your stories yet. That, and only having enough time to write my own. But now it looks like I'll be taking some tips.
Submitted by Magic_Monkey (user info) at 2005-09-12 04:17:08 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I think i just found my new favorite author on uber ...
Great work
Submitted by Axolotl (user info) at 2005-09-04 23:14:13 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I got a devil-hell-inquisition story too.
http://www.ubersite.com/m/72941
http://www.ubersite.com/m/74528
Submitted by Benny (user info) at 2005-09-04 23:08:43 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
The beginning of a very intriguing tale. I can't wait to read more.
Submitted by NumLock (user info) at 2005-08-30 18:31:45 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Indeed.
Submitted by Brdn_Nkd (user info) at 2005-08-25 11:45:52 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
As Always
Submitted by supadupapupa (user info) at 2005-08-23 04:57:07 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
yes! more please!
Submitted by LadyPlural (user info) at 2005-08-23 00:38:28 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by thecaes (user info) at 2005-08-23 00:03:25 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Wow, dude. This was great. Looking forward to getting some more background on this story.
Submitted by Chroniclysm (user info) at 2005-08-22 19:17:33 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Fucking awesome. Already looking forward to the whole series.
Submitted by Kre8rix (user info) at 2005-08-22 15:33:39 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
awesome
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2005-08-22 15:15:46 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
crazy-ass shit...more, please!~
Submitted by ess-arr (user info) at 2005-08-22 14:45:58 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Barnymeinhoff (user info) at 2005-08-22 11:53:47 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
looks good, commercial potential.
Submitted by Circe (user info) at 2005-08-22 11:30:10 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
The garden seems familiar.. Have you read "The Year of Our War"?
Submitted by kaos-king (user info) at 2005-08-22 10:58:39 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
This is a 10 part series. I'll post one every day, except for Sunday. Every other post SHOULD have an illustration to go along with it...
Submitted by krissi (user info) at 2005-08-22 10:47:22 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
very good.
Submitted by iradney (user info) at 2005-08-22 10:47:20 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
quite good...when's the next one?
Submitted by badassmofo (user info) at 2005-08-22 10:23:19 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
refreshing Brian, amidst the mire.
Submitted by Psychonaught (user info) at 2005-08-22 10:22:00 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Sweet
Submitted by apollo88 (user info) at 2005-08-22 10:17:28 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
bit rough in parts but keen to read more.
Strangely I have always found one of your particualr strengths to be dialogue, but this jarred in places.
Possibly because of the difficulties of keeping up a faux-medieval tone.