Her voice is the only thing I can hear. It is slow and enticing, like the wrap of a bone constrictor around your torso.
My gaze starts reducing to blackness and nothingness. I feel an intense chill, like the hands of death are pulling me. If so, I welcome them with open arms. Nothing could offer me more escape than death.
Before I sink, I manage to get three words out.
"I'm not yours".
I see myself in a well adorned room. The tapestry and furnishings are ancient, but well kept and breathtaking. The walls are made of sturdy stone.
There is a long red carpet that parts into seven aisles. Each aisle ends at a unique throne. Each throne for the seven demon rulers.
Even in my astral state, I feel very uneasy. I used to be locked up somewhere in this building.
The thrones are auspiciously empty. They have their territories. This territory is ruled by Fang, the demon queen.
She takes her seat on the throne with a sculpted dragon at the head rest. Her throne is in the centre of others.
Does that mean that she is the most powerful?
She looks directly at me and smiles. The eyes of the dragon on her seat start glowing and it starts coming out of the chair, coming to life frighteningly. I back away as the dragon approaches me. It enters the side of my neck and forms a sort of tattoo.
Why did she mark me? This is the beginning of my torture, I think with dread.
One by one, the demon rulers start appearing on their seats.
"Aventri, demon of the Barra Island, welcome". Fang says with a seductive smile.
The smile is not returned by the strong faced man. He is wearing a long black robe with the insignia of drom, a demon with many faces. Varis, the ruler of the wastelands, Zumri, the ruler of the east continent, and three others with very distinguished names.
They all make attempts to take human forms as their true forms cannot be contained in such a small building.
Aradi, with his striking yellow eyes keeps glancing in my direction.
"We are immensely impressed by your methods of subduing the entire powered generation. We no longer have to worry about pathetic creatures rising up to kill our kind". Aventri says.
Fang nods with wry amusement.
They all laugh hysterically as if it is all very funny to them. It probably is.
"This could go on for several millenia. It is so much more entertaining to watch them murder for sport".
"Is there a chance of escape for any of them?"
"Tars, you should have more faith in my methods. Although, there is a very interesting pair that wants to defy all odds". She says and giggles, looking directly at me.
The System appears and displays something on the screen. It is showing the conversation I had with Xian Xi. Nothing we said is hidden. They are hearing every single thing.
My plans to open a portal, his offer of partnership, everything.
"Is it possible for them to escape?" Claw asks, his red eyes glowing darkly.
"They can try, but there would be no success. Even if they manage to get the stones, they would lose them in the portal. You see, the portal is designed to filter out anything they are carrying. Opening a portal while in a nightmare is utterly useless because nothing would happen. Escape is not part of the nightmare. They are merely being forced to relive a horror from their past. Attempting to open a portal in the Vault is just as hopeless. The forcefield around would hinder it. I considered all possibilities before hand".
"You seem to be acquainted with their methods".
"Yes. You see, one of them, the woman, was my slave".
"You took a slave that is not a demon? It is highly forbidden".
"Chastise me all you want. She is a demon now. She escaped me by opening a portal to the continent and I could not find her for almost seven thousand years."
"How unfortunate for you". Tars says and brushes non- existent dust on his robes.
"Yes, very unfortunate. My chase for her took me to the continent. That was how I was able to strike a deal with the charming emperor. I took the entire powered population and gave him a demon army bearing human form in exchange. What a bargain! Any discovered powered citizen would be immediately sent to me or the entire clan would be set on fire".
"What a delight!" Aradi says and chuckles.
I feel sick just listening to them cackling like idiots. They take so much pleasure at our misfortune.
"After the peace corps was surrendered into my hands, I was able to search for her body without interference. A blind peace corps member had hidden her body from me. That is beside the point. The point is that I was deceived by her methods once, but I would not fall for it a second time. If she attempts to escape, everyone in the Blink would die one by one, each subject to a very slow, tortuous death".
What the hell?
"I thought you created the entire system for your entertainment. Are you willing to destroy it all because a single woman makes an unsuccessful attempt at escape?"
"You misunderstand me, Aventri. She is the reason I created the entire system. Everyone here is just a casualty. This place is her prison. Every life here depends on hers. Any mistake she makes would result in the suffering of everyone around her."
"I never knew you to place so much importance on any being. I would advise you to tread carefully".
"I agree with Claw. Your attachment to her might be the end of us all. She might manipulate you".
Fang laughs out loud.
"Even if something happens to me, or any one of us, the system would go on. They have no escape".
"We fail to understand."
"Because she is the Grim System".