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Where Heaven and Hell Converge ((CLOSED)); Return to the Demon's Market
Topic Started: Apr 12 2010, 12:55 AM (425 Views)
Maldaine
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More than a Ghost on a Shipwreck
The deep wood was chilling whenever anyone entered it, but on the night of the blue moon they became something of a wonder. An odious symphony of all walks of life and death. For deep in the woods, on the night of the blue moon came the demon’s market. It was a special time where the laws of the human world could be bended and the demons could come out to take human prizes. Sure people tried to stop them, but the demons were crafty and their market well hidden.

Danny Maldaine stood in those very woods. The sound of far off noises ricocheted from tree to tree. From snarls to screams, the woods were alive with the many voices of demon, celestial, and dark humans willing to sacrifice safety for magic. Danny had traversed these woods on his own accord once before. His mission was to save his younger brother who was being driven to madness by the scrapping of ghostly wails upon his brain.

That was the first time that Danny marked his fate for damnation.

He split his soul using dark magic and transported a portion of it to his brother, and then took a piece of his brother’s soul to counteract the severity of the ghostly sight. It made Danny go blind for hours and nearly caused the death of himself, Rukkai, and Jameson. They had made it out, but Danny had promised that he would never go back there again.

He was going back.

This time he was with different company. This time he was with his master, Eiji Ishida. It had been the first time that the two of them had gone on a mission without an entourage in awhile. The last time that he could remember was when Danny’s death was recounted to him. It was sort of strange going to the Demon’s Market with Eiji. Danny always considered the man a dark human, and so his mind began to race over the many items that the market held. The powers that Wo Shing could gain from such a place were frightening.

With every step, every crunch of a leaf, Danny grew more and more anxious because it meant that they were that much closer to the market. One step closer to the place that started his hellish trip to death, and there was nowhere to run because he was bound by honor to be there. After a long draught of silence Danny finally decided for his own peace of mind that he should at least ask something.

“You do know that we only have an hour when we enter the market, right? And what do you want there anyway? They don’t accept money, and I can only hope that you aren’t planning on pawning me off for something. I’ve been sold once, and I really don’t want to be sold for something again,” Danny said. He didn’t know how Eiji would react to him asking such questions, but he figured that it would just be a continuation of silence.

The blue light overhead created an eerie calm, as the Demon’s Market grew ever closer. For some reason Danny was more at peace now than he was in the city, and he didn’t know why. Isolation usually wasn’t something that he liked, but perhaps something had changed inside of him that he wasn’t really aware of.

The Demon Market is perhaps the cruelest place you could ever take me Eiji…
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Eiji
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I got a PHD in KICKING YOUR ASS!
"You talk too much. Shut up already."

Eiji was barely listening but the background noise of Daniel's constant whining bothered him much more than whatever it was he was saying. He'd gotten somewhat used to it already, but whenever he was around it was usually in the city, where his bitching mixed with the other noise from cars, people and the like. In the deep woods, where demons roamed free, his voice- as low as it was, echoed like thunder, making the hellish beings aware of their presence long before their reached their destination.

It was true the Market was open to all, but you had to be able to get there in one piece. Even for the likes of Eiji, the proximity of the Gate made it extremely dangerous to travel these parts... especially when it wasn't your first time and those inhabiting the place remembered you.

As they continued on the shadows of the trees began shifting wildly in the blue light, changing shape and contorting; reflecting in the ground their true nature and that of the woods around them.

The trees themselves began to move, the sound of creaking wood echoing loudly as the branches turned into claws which slowly reached for them.

"Just ignore them. Keep walking."

Eiji's face was a blank mask, devoid of emotion. He didn't pick up the pace, nor did he try to move away as the wooden claws swept the air mere inches from his and Daniel's faces. He didn't know whether they would actually be attacked or not, but if there was a definite way to get yourself killed in here it was to show fear and weakness. Even blinking or raising your hands to cover your face meant you were a weak, pathetic human who would make an easy prey. On the other hand, if they saw you didn't give a damn about them trying to kill you it probably meant you could easily take care of them should they actually do so, which meant you weren't one to easily fuck with.

To Eiji was common sense; one anybody who dealt with the Yakuza and other high-power criminal group on a daily basis should have.

The branches didn't reach them as they continued walking forward almost within range of the Market's entrance. In the distance a few dark figures could be seen against the deathly gloom of the blue light of the moon.


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Maldaine
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Saying that Danny was pouting after Eiji told him to shut up was inaccurate. He wasn’t pouting, but he was certainly a little hurt. It had been so long since he had really talked to Eiji (that’s funny, talking to Eiji, he thought) that his harsh voice made quite an impression. Danny just looked angrily off to the side and remained quiet for a moment. That was until the trees began to attempt to grab him.

“Just ignore them. Keep walking.” That was what Eiji had to say to him? Danny understood that he was weaker than Eiji, but at the same time he had been to this place twice. He was unaware of how many times Eiji had come, but it perturbed him beyond a reasonable doubt that Eiji would say that.

“I know how to act, Eiji. You don’t have to treat me like some child, save your condescending bastard lines for the demons,” Danny finally said. It had come to the point in their ‘relationship’ where Danny just grew tired of the way he was treated by Eiji. He thought that he had proven himself countless times, but it never seemed good enough for the Wo Shing tyrant. Of all the things that he missed of being just a normal person, friendly human interaction was one of them. What Zander had said to him was true. There was no one left to give a shit about him. If the two of them got into some trouble, Eiji would not hesitate to leave Danny behind.

Soon they had reached the entrance to the market and the dark shapes that had slowly grown out of the pale blue light were in full focus. They were ugly creatures, each with a distinctive animalistic feature. The gnarled teeth and un-kept features would probably have frightened many people, but Danny wasn’t shocked, didn’t care. He had to listen to Eiji, these things were probably kind compared to him.

As the pair grew closer to the demon’s they looked the two over, wondering whether it would be a good idea to pounce, or if it was okay to just let the two humans through. That was when the noticed something, for they just stared intently at Danny, something that actually made him uncomfortable. They didn’t say anything, but they just stared.

“What?” Danny finally asked them.

“You were the slave that was up for sale at the market a few months ago, weren’t you?” One of them quickly said. Danny scoffed at them, but it appeared that they weren’t interested that he had been up for sale, but about something else.

“Why do you keep staring at me like that?”

“You were obviously a better buy than anyone could have anticipated. You got a good deal, if you are the master of this slave,” another retorted.

“Eiji, can we just go inside please?” Danny questioned, looking at the man. He would probably just tell him to shut his mouth and not speak to the demons like he had been, but he would still wait, cause he had to. But something lingered on his mind.

Why was I a good buy?
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Eiji
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As Daniel back-sassed at him, Eiji remained quiet. The kid was too full of emotions still, too insolent and disrespectful towards someone who literally had not only his life but his soul on the palm of his hand, but Eiji knew training the kid would take some time, and this visit was part of that training.

As the two reached the small clearing where the entrance to the market was usually hidden, the giant gate manifested itself, made out of twisted vines lined with giant thorns which dripped blood continuously.

Two demons were standing outside. They were merchants, by the looks of it, for only merchants cared to talk nonsense like they did. Warrior or Lord demons rarely ever cared to address humans as equals, for to them they were little more than food or bugs to be squashed under their powerful feet.

Eiji wasn't one for talk, but he humored the beastly beings and stopped, looking at them with a smirk.

"Heh, that's what you'd think... but this disrespectful, whiny brat is much more a pain in the ass than anything else. We'll see what good a deal I can get for him this time, maybe I'll be able to get rid of him."

With that, Eiji walked through; not paying attention to the demon's amused expressions. Inside the market's contrasting reddish glow, the chains finally became visible. It was a long, indestructible chain which was only visible to normal eyes inside the market or the demon world itself and it was endless, as it stretched as the slave walked away from the master, no matter how far, and it shrunk as he got nearer. It was attached to Daniel's neck on one end and a bracelet around Eiji's wrist in the other, and it glowed like a fiery ember.
Edited by Eiji, Apr 12 2010, 02:48 PM.
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Maldaine
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Danny just looked down when Eiji said the rather harsh words to the demons. A whiney pain in the ass? Well maybe he wasn’t about to kill Eiji, but it was nice that he was dealing some sort of damage to the man, but then again chipping away at patients was never a good way to behave around someone who literally owned every part of him. Saying that his soul was in a glass jar on Eiji’s desk was actually almost accurate. Sure his soul was inside of his body, but Danny was pretty much perched wherever Eiji wanted him.

Danny waved goodbye to the demons, who actually waved back. They went on talking about things that didn’t make sense or were unnecessary to listen to, and so Danny just walked into the portal. The rush was always overpowering, and he figured that he would never get used to its power. But this time he felt different when he entered into the Demon’s Market. He felt both a surge of power, and a crushing weight come over him.

He looked down and he saw the chain, the wretched chain. He had actually forgotten about it until now. Things started to come back to him in small pieces:

Next we have this human. Do not worry, he may not look it but he has killed quite a few of our handlers. He wields powerful light, most damaging to our kind. Look at his intense face, his rather powerful physique for a human. He will probably be good for work or ottoman alike.

Danny couldn’t really remember much else at the moment, but he knew the further that he went in the further his memory would slowly come back to haunt him. The only other thing he could remember was,

“SOLD!” A demon screamed from a small stand next to the portal. He had just gotten a good price for a piece of junk, and it seemed that the human who bought it just realized that he had been had. Danny’s eyes concentrated back on the chain, and he followed it all the way down from his neck to Eiji’s wrist. He probably couldn’t tell Eiji to stop calling him a child, since he was pretty much being led around like one. There were others with the same chain, many more beaten up looking then he.

Danny finally walked completely into the market, and when he did the loud demons and humans, monsters and ghouls, all stopped speaking for a minute and their gazes just turned to look at Danny and Eiji. Their gazes were greatly like the ones that the demons outside of the portals had only a few moments ago. The quiet was strange; for in both times that he had entered the market he had never heard such silence. That was when he noticed that they were looking at Danny, and then would give Eiji a questionable look.

A demon finally came out of the crowd. It was old, disheveled, but it seemed like many of the other demons had great respect for it. All of them eyed the demon as it walked towards Eiji. It was about a yard away, it’s scrunched up face and squinty eyes just peered at Eiji for a while. Finally it spoke in an eloquent, yet raspy, voice.

“How is it that you aquired a slave such as him? It is not usual that his kind allows slavery, especially by a human.”

Danny just looked confused. What did the thing mean by ‘his kind.’ Danny was just a human like Eiji, and by the looks of it there were a lot of other humans with human slaves staring at them.

Danny never even noticed that he now had a wingspan of about 15 feet or so. On his back, growing out of his shoulders were huge, white, feathery wings. The way that he held himself made it seem like he had had them for years, but since he never looked but forward, he didn’t even see them. He just continued to look puzzled at the demons.

Does Eiji know something that I don’t?
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Eiji
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Eiji walked leisurely inside the market, a place where most beings -human or not- would most-likely try to escape from the first chance they got. The fact that humans were allowed in for one hour was no guarantee whatsoever that you would be unharmed... it merely gave you a chance not to be tortured, then killed, then eaten pretty much instantly by its dwellers.

He ignored the inquisitive gazes from both demons and humans (and others) and simply looked forward, not looking at anything in particular, as if he was taking a stroll down the park.

The truth was, Eiji was well on his toes, just waiting for the second anybody tried something; he wasn't stupid and anybody who tried to play cool or cocky in here would most likely end up in a big post of stew. But the fact that he had been here before, had managed to purchase something so valuable to them from right under their noses, making them think they were taking advantage of him when it was the other way around (demons did enjoy irony), and the fact that he had the nerve to show his face again with the priced item for all to see would probably make the demons believe he was no ordinary visitor and had to be treated with a minimum amount of caution.

As he entered a large hall Eiji was met by a Demon; an old Demon, one who seemed to be respected by his peers by the looks of it. As he approached Eiji, the leader of Wo Shing bowed slightly and listened, choosing his words carefully after looking at Danny and seeing his wings. He was quite surprised of course, but nothing about him made it apparent, for his face, his voice and even his eyes remained unchanged, as if it was the most natural thing and he was very much used to him being that way. He had suspicions about Danny since he'd first seen the jar, then they kept growing as time passed and he got to spend more time with him. He knew the kid was hiding something, maybe even from himself as well, but he had never imagined it was something like this. The way the demons talked about 'his kind' only confirmed it.

"His kind has no power over me, nor do I care what they do or do not allow."

Eiji smirked, looking at a spot in between the foul creature's eyes but not directly at them. He had been taught by Triyun long ago not to do that and it was a lesson you couldn't easily forget.

"As to how I got him, well... I purchased it right here a while back, right under everybody's noses... and it's ironic, since they all thought I had been had."


-------------


It had been Allen. He had known the way to the Demon Market, something obscure and mythical even for most of those knowledgeable of the occult. That one thing and his cold and calculating nature had been his ticket into Wo Shing. The organization had long been looking for the entrance and had yet to find it, like many other secrets yet to be unveiled by them.

Eiji had the privilege of being the first one to go in, simply because he didn't trust anyone else to do it and come out alive. He had traveled to Niwa City to meet this man whom Tatsuo had recommended and of course verify if the story about the gate was true.

It was.

The three of them had gone in and had also managed to come out before the time was up, not without almost getting tricked into staying. It had been a close call, but they had left with a good item: a new member for Wo Shing; one who couldn't refuse following Eiji's orders, for the chain around his neck would strangle and cause so much pain to him should he disobey, that no matter how much he struggled, in the end he simply had no choice. Eiji only used this a couple of times to make the boy understand who was in charge; luckily Daniel had always been a smart kid.

They had looked around at first, making mental notes of the incredible things they could get their hands on eventually, but Eiji had his mind set on one thing and one thing only: finding The Pantry of Souls, a mysterious room where demons actually had the power of summoning the souls who refused to leave the world entirely and move on, and making slaves out of them. According to the ancient scriptures Demons travel freely in the border between the world of the living and Hell, the same way Angels are free to go between Heaven and the border, sometimes called the Astral Plane. Thus it was easy for demons to find what humans call ghosts and capture them, if they somehow beat angels to it first.

Now, in this Pantry of Souls, according to the scriptures you could summon a soul by its name, and if that soul had not yet departed, it would be summoned to The Great Auction, where you would have a chance to purchase it.

When he arrived he actually had to stand in line behind many other humans, mostly practitioners of the dark arts looking for the same as he did: souls to use or trade for their own benefit. Only Eiji's use for his did not involve strange rituals or the like.

When it was finally his turn to write his name in the book as a bidder, the Great Demon held a small, open jar before him and uttered a single word in his deep and ghastly voice of death:

"Name."

Eiji leaned forward and practically whispered into the jar.

"Daniel Maldaine."

The jar filled with light, and the Great Demon, the Soul Merchant put a lid on it.

"You may come in."

Eiji smirked as he stepped into the Pantry of Souls.



-------------------------------

"I mean no disrespect, but you demons tend to underestimate humans sometimes."

Eiji bowed again, knowing the Demon would be either mad or delighted. They were a cruel, sadistic kind, demons... but they liked mind games, riddles and challenges and were more than willing to let a minor nuisance slip by in favor of good entertainment. Eiji hoped he had proven intriguing at the very least.

"Now if you'd care to I have something to tell all of you, demons-only; which is the reason why I have come. Please gather around and hear me out!"



Edited by Eiji, Apr 15 2010, 02:01 AM.
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Maldaine
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Danny finally understood what was going on when he saw Eiji turn to look at him. Danny finally turned his head and saw the collapsed wings on his back. He didn’t even notice them until he turned around, and in that moment he began to shake. He had remembered what they told him, but he knew he would be brought here eventually.

~~~

“You’re mission is a simple one. You are to spy on Eiji Ishida, and that is the reason that you have that eye. We see everything that it sees. We need you to get as much information on Eiji as possible,” the elder angel told Danny as he just sat and looked confused. He didn’t know what to say. For months he had thought it was because he had tainted himself with his greed, but it was because he was being used.

Being used by evil and by good now? What was he some sort of yo-yo that just got thrown back and forth depending on whatever side needed him?

“You didn’t even ask me if I was okay with this,” he replied.

“You said that you wanted to be reborn, to do good, and now you can.”

“Me killing people so that I can continue to live and spy on Eiji is what you call good?”

“There is no need to act like this. Just complete your mission by any means necessary. We trust you, and you should trust yourself. We picked you because we knew that he wouldn’t sway you, just don’t let us down. You have your new powers to help you with that. Remember who you are, that is the most important part of this. Do not get wrapped up in his lies, do only what is necessary.”

“Alright. I’ll do what you ask. But please don’t just leave me alone like that. I don’t have anyone, and being used like that…”

“I’m sorry, but it was to protect you. One last thing. Don’t go to the demon’s market. You’re wings will appear if you go there, and you will blow your cover.”

“Buy Eiji knows about the market. There is no guarantee that I won’t be dragged along, I can’t just tell him I can’t go. He’ll wonder why.”

“If it can’t be avoided, act ignorant. Goodbye Daniel.”

“Don’t call me that. He calls me that.”

“Then Danny it is. But don’t you think you are a little old to still be going by that?”

“You told me to remember who I was. That’s been the best way so far. He calls me Daniel, but I’m not Daniel…”

The angel nodded and took off. Danny had received his mission just before the multiverse had gone back in order…and so he had only been a mole for so long.

~~~

Danny didn’t know what to do, and he certainly didn’t know what to think. He was a terrible liar, and he knew that Eiji would just be able to see through his shit. He could already tell that Eiji was fairly angry with Danny, that wasn’t a hard one. He didn’t show it, but that was because Eiji was a good. Not to mention now that Eiji was just trying to show off to the demons. Danny remembered that Eiji almost lost out on his chance to get Danny Maldaine as a slave, but that bastard won him in the end…

~~~

In the slave’s market, once a soul has been put back in its original body it is then put up on the block. The one that asked for the soul is allowed to start the bidding, but just because someone asks for the soul does not mean that they are going to get it. It is an auction and so there was a chance to screw the other person out of their wanted prize. The demons loved that sort of thing. Losers were funny to them.

Danny stood in a large hall. He was stark naked, and when he said naked, he was naked to the core. Demons, humans, and other creatures were all forced together like wild animals. Every move just made someone else uncomfortable, and the fact that everyone was naked, except for a few who were able to get some form of clothing, just tried to remain as far away from others as possible…but it was impossible.

They were like cattle. The demons would scream out the name of the person who was to go out next, and that person or thing would have to speak up or get shocked by the collars placed around everyone’s neck, the shocks weren’t bad, it was the choking that was the worst. The chains were the worst things for Danny. Sure, being naked to the bone was terrible, and the fact that there was no dignity whatsoever left in him also made it bad. But the fact that he was truly an animal here just killed him.

He wanted to just kill himself, but he knew that wouldn’t solve anything. They would just bring him back.

Danny began to shake. He was cold, depressed, and utterly senseless. Suddenly, a scratchy, yet warm cloak wrapped around his flesh. A young looking demon, almost twice the size of Danny had placed the cloak around him. The demon smiled at him and didn’t say anything at first.

“I know what it’s like. They’re monsters here, but not all of us are monsters. Standing up on the block, naked is the most humiliating thing about this. I’ve done it before so I don’t care. You shouldn’t have to go through the same thing. You’re too kind for something like that. See this eye, it shows me auras, and yours is a pure one. Repay my kindness. That is all I ask of you,” the demon said. And his name was called next.

“I will…and thanks,” Danny finally said. Danny wrapped the cloak around him, and he had to admit that it did make him feel at least a little more comfortable. After the demon’s name he was called up next.

Dragged up there. A light was placed on him and he was forced onto a pedestal. He couldn’t see how many were in the audience, but he knew that there were a lot, for he could sense the eyes staring him down. Looking him over, wondering how much they should bid, the people started to shift through their change purses wondering what he was worth. It was truly the lowest point in Danny’s life, but it only got lower. He heard a voice call from the audience, and he knew that voice too well.

“Eiji! You called me up here!” A huge choking feeling brought Danny to his knees, and he shot a huge blast of light energy out and killed one of the men running the market.

His price certainly just increased…

~~~

The old demon began to chuckle at Eiji. It was certainly amused by him, and many of the other demons were too. He certainly had their attention, and Eiji had Danny’s as well. He was worried as to where this could possible go, and so as many demons crowded around, and humans began to leave as their hour was coming to a close, Danny moved a little bit closer.

What the hell is this going to be about?

All ears were on Eiji Ishida
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Eiji
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“You…you…you weren’t going to let me live…I know it…you know it…” Danny pointed upwards, “and he knew it….so…soooo…”

Those had been Daniel's last words. Always arguing, always trying to prove his point, never even trying to stop and listen and think and consider. He was such an insecure kid, always trying to prove himself.

That had been the true reason for his death. You do not blame a snake for biting someone who's trying to kill it. If you do not want to get beaten you don't mess with the snake. But poor Danny Maldaine just had to try and compensate for his insecurities, for his lack of character by proving to everybody things which needn't be proven.

Even after dying and coming back to life, he hadn't changed one bit. He always tried to prove himself to Eiji even, a man he claimed to hate and yet desperately sought his approval. And when things didn't go his way, he simply bitched about it tirelessly, disrespected him by calling him things Eiji would kill any other person for saying. Poor Danny thought he had already died and had nothing to lose. He thought the worst that could happen to him by questioning his master was getting killed again and hell... maybe he even thought Eiji would even do that because of how much he had invested in him.

Today Daniel Maldaine would finally come to learn his place and understand just how wrong he was.

"Please, I beg of you. Would you be so kind as to lower that meat hook?"

A gigantic monster- Eiji wasn't sure if demons could actually be that disfigured or if the mountain of distorted flesh with the gigantic butcher axe and bloody apron was actually something else entirely- raised a hand and pulled one of the few empty hooks hanging from a chain attached to the ceiling and handed it to Eiji, looking at the tiny human with his one, curious eye; the other hooks were occupied with human bodies and other... things.

"Thank you, sir."

Eiji then threw his chain through the half-loop and pulled from it hard, forcing Danny close to it, then tied it really well so that no matter how much he struggled, the winged boy couldn't break free.

"Very well, you may now raise it, sir!"

The disgusting-looking humongous creature did so, visibly more shocked at being addressed as 'sir' than by whatever was going on. Danny would soon find himself hanging low from the hook.

---------------

"Are you taking the soul alone or do you have a trinket?"

Eiji smirked at the old demon hag questioning him by the podium.

"Oh I just so happen to have a trinket with me."

The young man reached into his pocket and pulled out a small bundle. It was a tiny leather pouch and contained the one thing without which it would have been useless taking the trouble to come all this way.

The female demon smiled wickedly, almost mockingly at what she saw before pulling out Daniel's bony finger out and laughing with a husky voice.

"Let me guess... he gave you the finger, HA HA HA HA HA!"

Eiji's expression remained flat and serious. Yes, Daniel's last act of heroism had been giving Eiji the finger before he died. The crime lord hadn't been offended, on the contrary Daniel had gained a spec of respect back from Eiji by putting up whatever fight was left in him until his last, dying breath. He had broken the finger right after the boy had expired and took it as a souvenir for no particular reason; at least that was what he wanted to believe.

"Will it do?"

The old hag chuckled again.

"Oh it will do just fine! Have a seat!"

As Eiji sat down in the front row, the demon witch took the finger to the stage and placed it in the middle of a strange diagram on the ground, then brought over the jar containing the glowing soul whose name Eiji had called... and opened it, allowing the soul out, only to be imprisoned again by the power of the diagram.

After a few minutes of strange, guttural chanting and many hand gestures the diagram began to glow a red light. Each line parted the ground as if a gigantic knife had suddenly shopped through it and blood began to pour... upwards. The thin bones rose in the air and stayed there, suspended as the bloody geyser covered it and wrapped itself around the light of Daniel's soul, slowly taking the shape of a human body, until it after a couple of minutes later, Danny Maldaine was standing there naked in front of the most horrid, most frightening audience in history.


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Maldaine
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Like a stuffed bird, that was how he felt hanging there from the chain, and looking around all of the other people. Eiji had completely strung him up by his arms, and now he was hanging in the middle of the market. He began to breath heavily, and tried to wiggle his way out, but all it did was create a pendulum out of his body. He swung back and forth, feeling his futility rise the way it had risen that night Eiji showed up.

Strike one…

He recalled that night, being resurrected from the dead into the hellhole he found himself in now. The only kindness coming from a demon, being bet on to be a slave, and then being bought by the exact same person that killed him. The people of the market were looking at him in the same way that they had looked at him that night in the slave arena. They just stared in horror and delight. They were so excited to see a show again. He had told himself he would never allow this to happen to him again. He would never be cattle again.

Strike two…

He just looked out at the crowd. It was all he could do now. He could feel his arms slowly losing the grip from his shoulders. If he hung like this for much longer he might pop his arm out of socket, at least that was the way he was hung. Perhaps if it had been properly done it wouldn’t’ have been so bad, but there was no such thing as proper when it came to the demon market. What was Eiji planning; why did he do this to him?

“If this is…” he just stopped. Danny knew it was no good. Whatever he said, Eiji would just store it in his brain, call him weak and use it against him later. He had mouthed off to Eiji one to many, and now he knew that he was going to be paying the price for it. The pressure was building up inside of his mind, and he could feel himself about to lose it. He was a fish on a hook, there was nowhere to go but into the belly of the beast that caught him. He had wondered once if Eiji was a god, and the answer was no. Eiji was indeed a powerful being, but he would never be such a thing. Eiji was hell.

~~~

“The betting will begin now. I want all people to be as quiet as possible for this one because for the first time in a long time, we have a human who is actually worth more than the skin that it is wearing. WE WILL START THE BIDDING NOW. PLACE THE ITEM IN THE AIR THAT YOU WISH TO WAGER AGAINST THIS BOY! BEGIN!!!” The hag of a demon said as she hammered some strange item down on the podium.

“I wager gultweed!” A demon from the back said, holding a pouch up.

“I wager Uwe’s Mirror,” another next to the stage said. Many in the audience gasped at that.

Well at least they are going to give me a good price…Danny though. He was trying as hard as he could to keep his spirit high. He was worried if crying on stage would just make them slaughter him again.

“No way, I’ve got the winner. I wager the Setting Sun,” a human said. Danny hoped that he was the one that was going to win as he lifted a sword high into the air.

“Your hour is up,” a demon next to sword guy said, snapped the man’s neck, took the sword and then wagered it as his own.

“Is this really happening to me? Is this really, really happening to me?” Danny questioned out loud.

“Yes it is,” the demon woman announcing the show said. “It is, and there is nothing you can do about it.”


~~~

“Is this really happening to me again?” Danny questioned out loud, hanging slightly off the ground. His eyes darted back and forth as he grew more and more nervous. His wings flapped slightly, bringing a small gust of wind with them, but he realized that he wasn’t going anywhere.

He dangled, emotionally naked to the crowd.
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