84 The Choice? (1/2)

I wake up in a white place. It's just a white plane in all directions. There is nobody there. Am I dead? For real? The great Eris died because she was in the wrong place at the wrong time!? Fuck!

”AAAHH!”

While I scream my frustration into the nothingness, I wave my fists at my fate. ”Is anybody here!?”

I get no answer so I sit down to think about my situation. There were the demons and that mortal. Then the crystal fortress shot this red maelstrom at the city and I tried to run.

I used my power to shield the mortal. Could it be that it was a mistake to save him? Should I have shielded myself?

What was wrong with me in that moment? Did I feel guilty that it was my fault that he waved his ass at those monsters?

It's a waste of time to think about it. I can't change the past any more. Just what the hell is this place?

After getting up I start walking. It feels like an eternity but I arrive nowhere. There is just endless white.

Hours later I drop to my knees and start crying. Is this really the end? Is that the retribution for my life as a Council member? If I had known I would have tried harder to change something!

While crying, I fall asleep.

…..

….

…

”....Up!”

*Splash!*

”HIIIIIIIIIIIII! Gggurrrgle....” I awake as ice cold water hits me and I am suddenly under water! I try to differentiate up from down and swim upwards, reaching the surface with just two strokes.

I am inside a little pond! It can't be bigger than two square metres. Around me is still the endless white plane.

After crawling out of the ice cold water I start to shiver. What's this shit! Am I in hell? Will something unfortunate happen when I try to sleep?

”You are awake now?”

I turn around and see a person behind me on the other side of the pond. He has horns and golden snake eyes. They look creepy and they give me the feeling that he isn't looking at me, but directly at my soul!

”I will take your stare as a yes and assume that you don't sleep with open eyes.”

The pond disappears and he sits down. Just as I assume that he will fall on his ass a comfortable chair appears under him.

He stretches his legs and leans backwards with an apparent relaxation in his face.

”Aaah. I guess this will take a while. So where should we start?”

”How about what happened and who you are? And where am I?” I glare at the supposed master of this endless plane.

”Hmm. Well I guess it won't hurt. I will stay civilised as long as you answer my questions. I will give you those answers as a free bonus.”

”You are Eris, a Council member. You were in a city which was attacked by demons. One of our fortresses showed up and cleaned the menace up. You were caught in the crossfire and heavily wounded.

Your body and your soul. Fortunately or unfortunately for you my men became aware of your presence when you tried to avoid the attack by using a pathway.” He scratches his cheek while thinking.

Then he takes a breath and continues. ”They picked you up and brought you to me. My name is Angrod and I am the king of Chimera. Unfortunately for you, I have to inform you that your body was damaged beyond help. But I was able to repair your soul. And now you are here. This is something like my personal soul space. It's similar to the river of souls.”

Shit. I was caught. ”How is this possible? If my soul is all right, why is my body dead? Repair it and put me back inside!”

”That's not possible. A body has something like astral connection points to create a connection with its soul. My magic attacks all levels of existence. Though the physical world is affected less strongly, the astral plane is damaged very heavily. I don't know how to repair the damage to your body. You will have to reincarnate.” -Angrod

I bite into my lip at his words. If he is telling the truth, I am fucked and at his mercy.

”Now tell me everything you know about the Council, the Spheres, where you hide. ~Everything~” He looks straight into my eyes and it sends shivers down my spine.

But I wont give up that easily! ”Why should I cooperate with you!? I have no guarantees that you will let me go.”

”Oh? But you will cooperate. This whole place exists for cooperation. If you don't talk you will get a new perspective on the word ~pain~.” A long row of torture instruments appears to his left. It stretches to the horizon until I loose sight of it. I see everything I can imagine. From an iron maiden to things I never even heard of, nor can I imagine how they are used!

”And if you still won't talk... then we will work on the word ~humiliation~.” A row of BDSM toys and strange costumes appears to his left. He looks at me with a smug grin.

This pervert! Never! ”B...B... Bastard!” I jump at him and swing my fist into his face with all my might. He doesn't even twitch as it impacts.

I feel my fingers breaking at the impact! It's like I just hit solid steel without any help of magic and with a simple mortal body.