Fox Ball

I don’t know how long I sat there, channeling my energy into the ground. A thin sheen of sweat glimmered off my skin, causing my clothes to stick to my body. I was exhausted. I didn’t know how much longer I could keep this up. I felt the beginning of a sunrise shine on my skin, lighting up my eyelids in a bright orange. I continued to focus, sending my thoughts out into the open, We need help. Someone come help us. I am here. I am willing. I am ready, on a constant loop. The gray spirit line was unconnected to anything other than myself, waving in the slight breeze of the Ruins.

Finally, I felt a tug on the gray cord, signaling that someone was on the other end. I tightened my grasp on it, pulling with all my mind’s might. I felt a sharp wind connect with the exposed skin on my face, like I was being flown through the air. The sound of crumbling stone echoed through the darkness that now shrouded my vision, the sun no longer lighting up my eyelids. I continued to pull, feeling the other side of the cord twisting from the other end, drawing me closer and closer to whatever was on the other side.

Like a snap, I was jolted into the present moment, my eyes opening of their own free will. I gasped in shock as I took in the world before me. No longer was I surrounded by beige crumbling stones. No longer could I hear the whisper of waves against the beach or the birds cawing over the sea. No longer could I feel the sun on my face. Even without the sun, I was hot; too hot. I was encircled by iridescent spires of a black rock that I couldn’t identify. To the sides of me were pools of what resembled lava, emitting waves of heat as flames licked up the sides of the cavern I had been transported to. I could hear the distant screams of souls being tortured, a shiver of fear running down my spine.

“What do we have here?” A chilling voice spoke, averting my gaze to the creature in front of me. It had black skin that shimmered in the light of the flame, glittering as if made of starlight. It’s eyes, pointed at the ends were black, a dangerous glint in them as fire danced around the cave. It’s features were sharp; a rugged edge to it’s jawline, thin lips, and over-accentuated cheekbones that cast shadows on it’s cheeks. It’s full lips were pulled into a mischievous smile, showing off a mouth full of fangs.

I was seated, but I could tell that the thing was at least twice my height, towering over me as I felt a chill roll down my spine. It was basically naked, nothing but a small loincloth covering it’s nether regions. It had a long, whip-like tail, twitching to the sides with every breath the creature took.

“A human?…no…a kitsune?…no…a hybrid,” it spoke, but it’s mouth didn’t move, as if it were sending me their voice through my mind’s eye. The smile stretched wider, impossibly so, ripping the daemon’s face in half. “To what do I owe the pleasure hybrid?”

I honestly hadn’t expected to actually end up here so I had no answer for it. I stumbled over an answer, making unintelligible noises that couldn’t really be heard as words.

A laugh sounded through my mind, a deep, rauncous laugh that made a stone of fear build in my stomach. “That’s not an answer hybrid. Speak.” It ordered. I had no choice but to comply.

I took a deep breath, breathing in the scent of charred flesh almost causing me to gag, and began explaining why I was there. “I need…help. There is something occurring in my realm that is due to destroy the humans.” I looked around at the souls being thrown in the lava pits causing a shiver to resonate through my body. “There is a man who is planning on ripping the humans apart to create a world where the supernatural is free to roam. I need information and a helping hand in defeating him.”

“Ah. Yes. Peter Gratzen. I have heard of his desires. But I must ask. Why should I care?”

I could only shrug, expecting this. “Without humans, you will have less souls to torture. With a world of the supernatural, you are bound to be invaded and conquered in time as Peter will only see you as a threat to his throne.”

The being nodded in understanding, though the smile that covered it’s face only grew impossibly wider. “He is no match for my armies.”

“Maybe not, but he will be.”

“How would you know this hybrid?”

“Because he is planning on using me to destroy the human world, infecting me with a Nogitsune and training me, along with his army of kitsunes. I know not what his full plans are, but he is already creating monsters. It is just a matter of time before your armies will be eliminated.”

“Monsters you say? And yet you are enlisting the help of daemons? You make little sense young hybrid.”

That did kind of make sense. I quickly came up with a rebuttal. “Yes. But I’d rather the monsters be on my side, rather than his.”

The daemon nodded in understanding. “You say you need information. What kind of information would amuse you?”

“I need to know where he is keeping his Kitsune Ball?”

“And why do you think I would be aware of this…Ball?”

I decided to work with its ego rather than its knowledge. “Because you are an all-knowing, powerful being. You’re also my last hope.” I let some desperation leak into my tone, hoping it will concede to me.

The smile faded a bit, allowing some of its cheeks to catch the light. “What you seek you have seen before. Not to be confused with lore. He keeps them close to his heart. Just remember to strike at the start.” The daemon spoke before swiping its clawed hand through my body. I expected to feel pain, but rather, as the hand disappeared into my chest, I felt nothing but weightless. The image of my body began to wane as I smiled.

“Thank you for the information Baphomet. I look forward to working alongside you.”

The daemon frowned before understanding lit up its face. “An illusion I see. There is still much to learn about you young hybrid for your power will reach godly proportions. Good luck. You have my armies to control.” It whispered something under its breath, an incantation it would seem. “Use these words and the world will fall in your hands.”

With that, I completely disappeared, floating through the darkness back to my own world. The riddle that it spoke swimming through my mind as I came back to my body. It was in the same position as when I left it. The sun was still barely coming over the peak of the horizon, the waves lapping happily against the ground. I took a deep breath, exhaustion washing over me as my energy snapped back into my body, forcing me backwards into the stone. I could just barely close my eyes as sleep washed over me.