A journey to the Abyss

“What?!” Martius’s eyes widened, watching the sword struggle to penetrate Desdemona’s chest to no avail.

“What’s wrong?”

He quickly stretched out his left hand and used his index finger to draw on it. He looked into his palm and took a step backward in a mixture of shock and fear.

“She is in possession of my lord’s relic?” He let out in disbelief.

He stared at Arram’s face. “why are you going this far for her?” He queried.

He resorted his gaze back at Desdemona. “Since I can’t harm you without my lord getting hurt, I will wait until you wake up and then, I will kill you.” He vowed.

******

{An hour later}

Arram gradually opened his eyes and looking at his side to see Desdemona lying beside him, he instantly figured out he was still in his hideout.

He raised his head and sat up on the bed. He felt a slight pain in his head, and he held his forehead, frowning his face in discomfort.

Remembering the reaper had taken Desdemona’s soul, he instantly turned to her and checked her body, even though he didn't know what he was looking for.

“We still have time to save her.” Martius’s voice through the entrance. He entered and walked closer to Arram, filling his lips with a bright smile. “My lord.”

Martius’s smile annoyed Arram. He attempted to stand but fell back to the bed because he was weak.

Martius paced closer to Arram. He held his hands, attempting to help him up, but Arram flung his hand away. 

“Stay away from me!” Arram roared.

“I am sorry, but I have to do this,” Martius let out. He held Arram tightly and placed his hand on his chest, passing him some of his energy.

After passing him energy, Martius took a step back and Arram panted heavily for a few seconds.

Martius hung his hand across his back and bent his neck. “I’m sorry, my lord,” he apologized.

“It’s dangerous to go after the reaper,” Martius explained. “If you follow the reaper through his tornado, your soul will be cursed and you won’t make it to hereafter neither can come back to the world,”

“Your spirit will just be wandering around.”

“But what can I do?” Arram raised a question. He knew it wasn't right, but he had no other option. “I have to save her and that's the only way.”

“But why my lord, why is it important to save her? Shouldn’t you-” Martius wanted to pour out his mind, but Arram's announcement cut him off.

“She is my mate!”

Hearing Arram’s announcement, Martius put on a long face. “Your mate?” He repeated in a confused tone.

Arram nodded, confirming, “yes. She is my mate. She is mine.”

Martius nodded in disapproval and unintentionally raised his voice out of concern. “No! Never! That’s not possible! She can’t be!”

Arram was shocked at Martius's reaction and he eyed Martius for a few seconds before he interrogated. “Why?”

Martius instantly wiped the shock on his face away with an insincere smile. “Don’t mind me. I’m thinking about something else."

‘How can his mate be his calamity?’ 

‘Being his mate, he must keep her beside him forever. But as his calamity, he must kill her immediately they meet,’

’Will he keep her by his side or kill her?

’What card of fate is the moon goddess playing?’

Lots of thoughts about the future clouded in Martius’s head and he couldn't get his mind off it.

Arram watched Martius for a few seconds, expecting him to say something, but he said nothing. “Martius…” Arram called, but Martius was deeply lost in his thoughts to hear him.

“Martius…” Arram called again, but Martius still didn't hear him.

Arram tapped Martius.  “Martius!” He called in a high voice.

Martius came back to reality with a shocked tone. “Hun!”

“What are you thinking?” Arram interrogated.

“Hmmmm...” Martius vibrated with his mouth, scratching his forehead, speechless. He didn’t want to reveal the truth to Arram so he lied. “Nothing.”

Arram wasn't convinced. “Are you sure?”

Martius feigned a smile and nodded. “Yes, nothing…”

“Hunm, my lord, I think we have to kill two birds with one stone,” Martius uttered. “We should work with a quick option to get her soul back and heal her.” 

“Is that possible?” Arram doubted.

Martius shook his head left and right. “Impossibility isn’t my word, I don't use it,” he pointed out. “There is always a solution to every problem even if its chance is so tiny.”

A smile slightly escaped Arram's mouth. He trusted Martius and believed in his words. “What's the way out, Martius?”

“The only way out is a dangerous one,” Martius disclosed. “But I doubt you can do it with your present condition.”

Arram wore a confused look. “My condition?” He sounded amazed. “What's wrong with me?”

“You are weak.” Martius simple replied fled his mouth.

Arram exhaled deeply with his mouth. “Don’t worry about my condition, just tell me what to do and I will do it,” he let out. “I am ready to do anything and everything to save her. She is all I am living  for right now.”

Martius sighed. “The only solution is a journey…” He disclosed.

Arram frowned his face, unclear. “A journey?” He repeated.

Martius nodded, confirming, “yes, a journey outside of this world. A journey to places where you will give precious things to get something in return.”

“Where is that place?” Arram inquired.

Martius gave a simple answer. “The Abyss.”

“The Abyss?” Arram repeated. He has only read books and heard tales about the Abyss and he wasn’t sure if it truly existed.

“Yes,” Martius confirmed. “It’s a place where people of heaven and earth interact. It’s also the ancient prison where banned demon wolves were imprisoned.” 

“I will embark on a journey to the Abyss?” Arram asked.

“Yes.” Martius responded. “It’s a dangerous place, are you willing to go?”

“Yes,” Arram bravely declared. “Death is the worst and for her, I am ready to sacrifice my life,”

“Please, tell me how to get to the Abyss.” He implored.

“The Abyss journey isn’t a journey you will embark on with your body,” Martius declared. “It’s a journey to be embarked with your soul,” 

“Your body will be here while I send your soul to its dream in the Abyss.”

“What do I have to get in the Abyss?”  Arram inquired.

“A flower.” Martius replied.

“A flower?” Arram sounded unclear.

Martius nodded. “Yes, it grows on an island in the Abyss. It’s a relic with pure Elixir of life and it’s a cure to all ills.” He described.

“If I get there, what will I sacrifice to get the flower?” Arram dug deep.

“I don’t know because I have never been there and none of those who embarked on that journey make it back,” Martius disclosed. “But rumor had it that you will pay with something dear to your heart,” 

“It will cost nothing to plug the flower, but will cost a lot to make it to the Island.”

“What does that mean?” Arram inquired.

“To get to the Abyss, you must pass before Sabinus and Lilith.” Martius foretold.

“Sabinus and Lilith?” He repeated. “Who are they?”

“The spirit goddess and the demon queen,” Martius explained. “Sabinus, the spirit goddess doesn't offer help unless you request for it, and, you will surely request for it because there won't be a way out of a certain problem without her help 

“After she helps, you will just return her favor, not pay with anything.” Martius said and stopped talking.

Arram waited for a few seconds for Martius to continue but he didn't and Arram was already curious. “And Lilith?” He threw a question.

“Lilith, the demon queen, to her, you don't need to ask for help before she renders it,” Arram introduced. “Once she helps you, you must pay and if you refuse to do so, you will suffer greatly,”

“You may not be the one to return her help, it may be your generation. Likewise, if you fail to return her favor, your generation might suffer for it.”

“What will Lilith ask for?” Arram raised a question.

“You can’t know until you meet them.” Martius informed.

“Okay.” Arram comprehended.

“My lord, I will teleport your soul to half of the journey and you will continue from there.” Martius informed.

“Okay.”

“You have limited hours to stay in your dream. If you don’t come back before the door to the world closes, you won't make it back and you will not be able to wake up,” Martius announced. “Your soul will be trapped and you won't be able to open your eyes back to the world.” 

“I promise I will make it back, if not because of anyone, but because of her,” Arram vowed. “She needs me most now. I must make it up to her and give her everlasting love, care, and happiness.”

Martius nodded and smiled insincerely. “Okay.” He let out. He stretched out his left hand and a feather and a stone appeared in his palm.

He took some steps closer to Arram and grabbed his left hand. “Take this.” He said, putting the feather and stone in his palm.

Arram had a glance at the feather and stone in his hand and looked at Martius’s face. “What are these?” He inquired.

“Treasures,” Martius' simple but confusing response came, so he further explained. “These are things you will need. You are weak so they should be of help,” 

“You won’t know their values until you need them.”

“How will I use them?” Martius inquired.

“Don't worry, when it's time to help, they will activate themselves and do their jobs.” Martius let out and smiled softly.

“Okay.” Arram said. He closed his palm and the feather and stone vanished. 

“Thank you, Martius,” he appreciated, promising, “I have more reason to come back. I have to make it back because I owe you a lot and I wish to return them all.”

Martius grinned. “Only the living repay favors,” he uttered. “Your return comes first and every other thing will follow.”

“I will come back to give my mate a good life she deserves but has always been deprived of,” Arram assured. “And to repay the kindness of my right-hand man, who stands firmly with me during the toughest time,”

Arram stepped closer to Martius and stared deeply into his eyes. “When I return, I will permit you to request for one thing and I will grant it no matter what it is.” He vowed.

Martius filled a part of his mouth with a smile and said nothing about what Arram said. Instead, he pointed to the bed, changing the tune of discussion.

“We don’t have much time,” Martius uttered. “Lay on the bed and let’s send your soul on this dangerous journey.”

Arram smiled and walked to the bed. He had a last glance at Desdemona's face and lay on the bed, facing up.

Martius moved closer to the bed. “Are you ready?” He asked.

Arram nodded. “Yes.”

“Close your eyes.” Martius instructed.

Without letting Martius notice, Arram held Desdemona's hand tightly and he closed his eyes.

“I will send your soul away now.” Martius informed. He raised his hands above his head and a flame appeared in each of his hands.

He joined his hands and mixed the flame for a second till they became one.

He held the flame in his right hand and hit it on Arram's chest.

Immediately as the flame touched Arram’s chest, it vanished and Arram gasped for a few seconds till he was covered with sweat and his dress soaked.

After a minute, Arram’s struggle stopped and a white flame in bug’s form flew out of his body.

Martius eyed the flame till it flew out of the hut and after it disappeared, he blew air at Arram's face, using his mouth.

Martius sighed and hung his hands across his back, filling his lips with a sour smile.

He stared at Arram and Desdemona and shook his head in pity. “Nothing scares me now like the uncertainties of your future…”

“I wonder if all your efforts will be worth it in the end,”

“My lord, what will be your decision when you find out who she is? I wonder if you will still want to protect her.”