Charms of Derunia

(Derunia City, Strata)

Derunia, one of the small cities of Strata, was harmoniously situated in between a bluish indigo sea and an emerald green Mountain steep of Brighver. The Range Rover hummed silently as its revolution spiked running on a straight path along the freeway that connected the neighboring provinces before this City.

Dreygo did not sleep for the long duration of the drive while enjoying the passing scenery of the Earth provides. Bright sky and the sun's rays kissed the horizon that connected the clouds and the sea. The water glittered as it danced below the sunshine.

The vastness of the fields beyond the freeway gives Dreygo a sense of peace which he did not dare to understand why. He just succumbed to the feeling of tranquility and the calmness of trees as they swayed gracefully against the cool weather breeze.

Viriel did not spend more time talking because he knew that Dreygo enjoyed the silence while relishing the beauty the Earth delivered. It was centuries that Dreygo sank his soul into the horrendous environment of Hell and witnessing Earth for the first of many years was like the greatest gift of Ascension.

The vast barren gradually diminished as now replaced with medium-end condominiums, low-rise hotels, public establishments, and factories. The place was getting crowded and their vehicle decelerated due to moderate traffic. Sun rays were now covered with the shadows of these establishments that gave the place an alternating shade.

Their car turned from a down steep street from the High way and towards a residential sector of Derunia until they reached low-end hotels that inconspicuously blend with the residential housing. The housing was almost of the same designs just like rowhouses but the wall colors varied.

Their car decelerated more as not to hit running children playing on a narrow street.

'Children? The children in hell are the most vicious of the humanoid demons. They do not fear death from my blade. They most probably attack me more than the adult ones.'

Dreygo witnessed little boys and girls running around chasing each other with smiles on their faces and on the other side of the road were adolescents who also ran around carrying toy guns. Laughter muffled in the ears of Dreygo as his memories of hell, children crying and bloody, forcibly invaded his sights as he gazed upon the happiness these children shared.

These visions in hell are sometimes uncontrollable for Dreygo. His eyes still beheld the horrors he experienced in Demon World, not that he was afraid when he was in hell but it was that it became his life, his norm, his definition of living, and never-ending dying. Time spent in hell almost erased all his past experiences when he was alive on Earth.

'Toys? Hell's children carried cut limbs and burnt bones served as their toys. Laughter? The only laughter I hear was always myself when I kill those foolish demons.'

This was their scenery for a long stretch of the street. Viriel just smiled and said, "You know, if you are going to see heaven, immeasurable happiness not only to children but also to the adults as well."

"Point me in the right direction Viriel, I might end up going back to hell after my reincarnation," Dreygo responded with sarcasm.

"I know you will learn Dreygo. You already experienced hell and all its suffering. Just having that knowledge will give you the motivation to do good things on Earth. Or else I will come down from Heaven to slap your face."

Dreygo just smiled and did not answer.

They turned to another narrow street, much quieter than the previous one. Viriel asked, "Have you sensed Demons in the area?"

"Yeah, I sensed them. Even their locations." Dreygo answered sitting slouchy on the passenger seat.

"You know, they can also sense you, right?"

"I know that. Only my presence but my location is vague for them. Unlike me, my 6th sense is heightened."

"I expected more demons in this area, the Seer is situated just on the foot of Mountain Brighver," Viriel said as he pointed the mountain beyond the urban setting.

They drove inside a narrow gate of a low-end motel, Alexis Inn. It was a brown-painted, two-story establishment and with doors equally spaced from one another. There were two or three cars parked outside. It seemed that the establishment's paint was a little bit chipped off, and the roofing edges seemed to be dilapidated.

They approached a 20-square-meter room with one staff assigned behind a desk. An old man, with soggy eyes, in his early 40's, asked the two as they stepped inside, "Hi two good sirs, I am Erick Alexis, at your service! A Room for two, a single King size bed perhaps?" As if referring to them as couples. Dreygo stared at the man looking for a hint of mockery, but there was none. It looks like he was used to seeing couples of the same gender.

"No, just for a single bed for my friend here." Viriel smiled, neglecting the ambiguous question.

"That would be 30 bucks per night. Rules and regulations of this establishment are posted behind your room's door. No curfews."

The man placed a key, attached to a wooden key holder, and carved their room number on it.

"Ok, thanks!" Viriel said while he grabbed the key and started to leave the room.

"One more thing!" The man said and they turned their heads towards him then there was a long moment of silence. The two waited for the man to speak, but he just stared at them blankly with a subtle expression of delivering a joke or ridicule of some sort.

Then for a few seconds, he continued,

"If you want a hooker, I can call you one. Maybe you need some company." The man smiled.

"Well, I will just give you a call." Dreygo chuckled while saying. Viriel did not like the idea and stared at Dreygo with a slightly repellent expression on his face. Dreygo did nothing but smiled back at Viriel.

They went inside the room and suddenly Viriel suggested,

"Do not enjoy yourself too much Dreygo. You should be vigilant. I can sense, a lot of prying eyes are looking for us."

"Well, they better come so that I could absorb their demonic strengths." Dreygo grinned.

"Just be careful. I don't want my efforts will go to waste for an irresponsible demon who distracts himself from his mission."

"Don't worry, Viriel. I am hitting two birds with one stone, you know. I can multitask and besides, I am still a trained Death Harbinger, maybe I can take at least a hundred demons at once."

"Do not be too cocky Dreygo. We cannot assess their strengths here. Always remember, you are not immortal anymore."

Viriel opened the Rover's hatch and handed him over a large duffle bag and an attaché case with money inside.

"Don't worry too much Viriel, you will get wrinkles from that beautiful face of yours."

"I do not age Dreygo. I am in human form but my angel powers are retained. I can kill you with one snap of my finger." Viriel's face maintained its expression while speaking those words. Dreygo could not determine if Viriel was joking or not. But probably not, as Dreygo decided to assume.

'Best not to piss off angels.' Dreygo thought.

Dreygo laughed just teasing him. "I would like to see you try, Viriel."

Viriel smirked as he stepped away towards his car's door. He opened it and said parting words before he went inside, "I will be back after 25 days Dreygo. Do your best. If you see Kragus before I come, do not engage him yet. Just monitor his movements. I may have your sword when I come back. That will be the best time to kill him. But without it, you stand no chance."

Dreygo just stood there near his motel door and gave Viriel a thumb up and a grin on his face. Viriel drove away and Dreygo went inside the room. He sighed upon entering. The room was small but neat and organized. It does not match its exterior's dilapidations.

His room has a red velvet colored carpet with a tribal design on it, and a 40-inched flat-screen Television mounted on the wall opposite the bed. He had a double-cushioned bed with white bedsheets professionally placed.

It was not elegant enough but better than what he used to sleep in Hell; rock bed, air filled with fine ash particles, and never-ending howls of suffering demons. He always hugged his sword when he slept or placed it on his side, at arms-length. His Hell memories flashed and compared to his room now, he was sure that he was now in heaven.

He slammed his body against the cushion like a log and his body bounced a bit. He looked above the ceiling and saw a beige-colored wooden ceiling with a round fluorescent bulb illuminating his room.

'No more ashes, no more howls, only me and this room.'

He closed his eyes and retired for the day. He slept for a few hours, his body demanded it. Suddenly, three knocks on the door caused Dreygo to be hauled from his back to a sitting position on top of his bed. He realized that he was sweating hard and panting as he had just run a few miles. He was not able to hear the knock but he was disoriented for a few moments and realized that it was dark outside.

Then again, the three knocks on the door, now heard by Dreygo. He quickly grabbed his dagger from his duffel bag and went towards the door with silent strides and pressed his cheek on it, trying to overhear something outside. It was silent but only large heavy breaths reached his hearing.

He knew somebody was outside and said, "Whoever you are, go away or I will stab this pointy thing in your throat."

"Ah.. I am Elaine Marks. Viriel sent me to accompany you on your journey to the Seer of Derunia." A faint female voice with a hint of fear, obvious to her tonality. Dreygo did not sense a demonic presence outside his door, only from a few blocks away from the motel.

He realized a small pencil hole covered with glass situated at the center of the door at normal eye length from the ground. It was a peephole. He buried his eye in that hole and saw a slightly frightened pretty woman, wearing glasses on a black coat.

'She seems friendly. I will find out.' Dreygo opened the door for her and she rushed in. As she took a step inside his room, the aphrodisiac fragrance of lavender invaded his room and her dark hair carried the scent as it swayed while untangling her hair clip.

Dreygo just stood in front of her, speechless, watching her as she was taking her coat off. In the eyes of Dreygo, this beautiful face was beyond words, his mouth semi-opened and his breathing increased. She wore light makeup that emphasized her smoky eyes and her fine reddish lips. Her face matches her scent. She smiled at him and said,

"Can I sit down?"