There was no air .
There was no sky.
There was no ground.
Only a cold, soul numbing wetness below and vicious, merciless pitch black darkness above.
Lesley gasped and coughed as he shot out from the wet surface. His lungs cried for air like he'd just been a step away from drowning. But the more he breathed, the faster he realized that nothing was actually entering his lungs.
He wasn't breathing but he was fine.
"Where am...wait, it's this place again." Lesley's eyes gazed around in fear, the last memories of being here surfacing like the memory of a night terror. He remembered being chased by skeletal limbs and drowning in the black waters, facing a fear, terror and dread like nothing in his entire life.
He didn't want to be here.
"Sadly, you have no real choice in the matter, Les." A soft voice said behind him.
A swirling mass of green energy like mist rose from the black waters, drifting in a mystic pattern. From the mist, two glowing green eyes stared at the teenage boy, with equal parts amusement and cynicism.
"You...Liv?" Lesley asked with narrowed eyes, his fear getting dowsed in anger.
"So, you do remember me? That's good, in a way." The eyes moved closer, inspecting Lesley who glared with anger and venom." Need I ask the reason for your hostility?"
"You and Lych, get the fuck out of me!" Lesley shouted," Because of you two I couldn't sleep, and I killed someone and make everything around me...i freaking hate you! Get out!"
"Kill? Are you talking about that guard? He's not dead without a good purpose." The mist swirled and a small translucent golden ball floated from it towards Lesley," His soul is right here. I would have used it but the Chains of Creation barely permit me to do anything. So it's stuck here...as am I, no matter how much you detest me. "
After the incident in the jacuzzi, the guard who had gone into the water when Lesley was out of control had fallen unconscious. For a week, Lesley asked after him, his concern for the guard built on guilt and a sickening fear that something supernatural would happen. But Mama V eventually told him the guard died in his sleep, which eased some of Lesley's guilt...but never all of it.
"I can see him." Lesley reached out, slowly touching the glowing ball and seeing the guard's face appearing serenet." He looks like... he's asleep."
"He waits to join my Cycle, as many souls have before." Liv spoke softly as the golden ball went back into his green mist." Tell me, how are you fairing? In the undead world around you "
"I'm sorry, but you heard me say I want you out right? And where is Lich?" Lesley looked around with a scowl making Liv laugh.
"Incredible! Absolutely incredible!" From the green energy mist a head appeared, cloaked under a green hood of a cloak." That you, a mortal soul, is demanding something from entities like us. Are you not afraid?"
"You've given me nightmares, possessed my body, nearly drove me insane...afraid? I'm way passed that. I'm more pissed than anything." Lesley stomped his foot on the black waters, causing a ripple that spread out," Lich! Get out here! I know you're down there or somewhere around here!"
"He won't come out." Liv said softly," He is too busy. Far too busy. How about we converse?"
"Busy with what?" Lesley had no patience for these two beings. Who would after everything they had done to him?
"Important things. Now, we should talk about the questions you have. Don't say you have no questions, I would not believe you. And I know when you lie, so please ask questions now." Liv waved his hand and the green mist vanished showing his true form.
Liv was a mid twenties looking young man with flawless skin, wavy red hair and shimmering green eyes like bright emeralds. He wore dark pants, a black collared shirt with an inner black and faded red robe, as well as a green cloak. The cloak swayed and drifted like it was made of pure energy, sometimes translucent and other times solid to mortal eyes. On his forearms he had metal plates like armour and a red and black sash tied around his waist with a black leather belt. His physique was athletic, and he had a slight tan on his flawless skin. He wore black gloves with metal knuckles and black boots. Liv had a small bemused smile, his gaze showing compassion and hope for the souls around him and only the soul.
"Fine. I'll bite, I do have questions. A bunch actually." Lesley pointed to Liv," Who are you really? And Lich? And Death? And Nuis?"
"You wish to know who we are? Very well." Liv took a small step with his black boots, his steps made no ripples," I am Liv ben-Gaia, my brother is Lych ben-Grimare, not a 'Lich' like a minor being. Death, is our mother, as she is to Nuis ben-lumia."
"So, you're some kind of family?" Lesley raised a brow and Liv nodded his head once.
"Yes, we are, as we are not. Although Nuis is more of a half sibling, but still a sibling." Liv replied as he put his hands behind his back like a professor.
"Ok, I get that, I think. But, what are you all?" Lesley pointed around him," And what is this place? And is it me or does it seem different?"
Before the waters had been rippling gently and black vapor flowed like pockets of fog all over the place. Now the waters were flat and only rippled when Lesley took a step, the area was clear of fog, seemingly appeared like an endless black sea.
"What we are...I can't answer that yet. As for where we are...this is inside you. We are inside your thoughts, your feelings, your possibility and identy. We are in your soul." Liv said softly and Lesley looked around in disbelief.
"My soul? But it's so...dark and cold. You can't be saying that this is what I am like inside. Can you?" Lesley didn't like what was around him, it was a sea of black waters and pitch black skies with no end. So what if it had changed from before? Both scenes were grim and if this is what Lesley was like inside...he didn't like what that meant.
"Calm down Les. Yes, this is your soul and it is different from the norm of human souls." Liv gave a thoughtful gaze," I've gazed at them through your eyes and at the one I have of the guard, truthfully your soul is different. Unique like a black pearl, as minor and mortal beings say."
"Horrific is the proper term. It's quiet and dark and like... terrifying." Lesley looked around with a frustrated and gloomy frown," Why does my soul look like this?"
"I can't answer that, because I don't know." Liv said softly.
"Can it change? Or is it...am I like this for a reason?" Lesley wanted know.
"I don't know, sorry."
"Do you know anything useful?" Lesley snapped," Why am I even here?"
"Ah, yes. Now you ask a truly valuable question." Liv chuckled as he looked at Lesley," There is a simple reason why you would be here."
"And that is..?" Lesley had a bad feeling.
"You are dead." Liv said simply.