Chapter 21 – The Gates of Hell

THE OUTSIDE GATES OF HELL STOOD ON A BARREN LAND.

Dead trees can be seen but the magnificent wall and the black gate drew attention because of its height. The soil is also a dark shade of red.

The elevator was the only pathway for the death dealers to visit that place. Another means for humans to go to hell is simply to die as a sinner. But that will lead the souls of the deceased to the inner wall of the first gate.

Since the arrival of the death dealers was not on schedule the twins at the gate were instantly on alert. They wore the same armor. Their bat wings flapped before they landed from the pillar they were sitting on. They seemed like a mixture of bat, wolf, and a bit of human anatomy with three little horns in their forehead. Their sclera is in the shade of black. While their iris is the same shade with the death dealers.

“Yo!” Clay greeted the two.

“It was not yet time for your kind to enter the gates,” said one of the twins.

“There is an urgent matter we must attend to in our nest. We will come and go without causing any disturbance. Furthermore, we would—”

“Get back to where you came from. None of you are supposed to be here. Take that as your first and last warning.”

“Tch. Did you really think they’ll listen to your plea, Kyros?”

“It was not a plea but a mere statement,” Kyros corrected Sloan.

“It’s not like we really expected their kind to be kind to us,” Cassian said as he stepped in front of his team before acknowledging the two devils who are now on guard.

Clay laughed. He knew Cassian was mocking Sloan with his way with words.

“Are you mocking me?” Sloan asked the obvious.

“You know I do,” Cassian confirmed. “Do you think you and Clay can last half an hour without causing trouble?”

“What am I? A child?” Sloan asked insulted.

“No. Just a brat,” Cassian responded. “Now, now, we were already given a warning. But we must do what must be done to keep this so-called balance. So…”

Another step forward from Cassian and the twins attacked without restraint.

Cassian smiled. It was just as they expected. Devils are way too territorial sometimes.

The four of them moved fast as the twins attacked. Cassian jumped to dodge a swipe of a sword along with Kyros. But Sloan and Clay are the ones who are behind them and tried to hit the two using either their leg or their fist.

“They still know how to fight well even unarmed? Correct?” Cassian said to Kyros as the two of them kept running towards the tall gates.

“Frankly? I hope they last for at least five minutes,” Kyros responded as he kept his pace along with Cassian. Like Cassian, he doubts if the two they left behind would not be tempted to use their powers as they fought the gatekeepers.

“We should move faster then.”

“Agreed.”

The two of them sprinted towards the gates. It remained locked and immovable. But they knew better. The twins are not guarding anything that might enter hell. They are simply there as a look out for anything that is trying to escape hell.

The gatekeepers kept attacking Sloan and Clay as if they wanted to kill them instantly so they could deal with the other two intruders. But killing a death dealer is not that easy especially when they are at par with the skills of the devils.

Sloan knew they must abide by the rules Kyros told them. Don’t slay anything from hell and try not to get any more attention.

Sloan sensed an attack from his back so he ducked and a sword almost took his head off. When he kicked the attacker from behind as soon as he bent, his original opponent took that chance to raise his sword and swiped it down on him. But the tip of the sword only hit the ground for Sloan’s movement is continuous. He pushes himself off the ground to see from above the exact location of the twins. As gravity pulls him down, Sloan also sees that Clay was just idle nearby.

“What the hell, Clay?! Are you just going to stand there and watch?!” he yelled.

“Actually... I kicked him so hard he flew in your direction. And he decided he didn't wanna play with me. So he attacked you instead.”

“And you didn’t even bother to help?!”

“Well… I don’t think you’d like that.”

“You…” Sloan sighed before regaining his calm. “You’re right. It’s not like I haven’t killed two beings at once.”

Sloan planned for an attack. While Clay sat on the ground yawning.

“So you chose to kill us one by one, huh?” Sloan said as soon as he realized their plan. “Let’s see what you got.”

The twins stood side by side and moved as if each was a reflection of the other. In a split second they attack quick enough that Sloan did not see them coming for a second. He felt the swords cut through his chest but he remained unharmed. It created an X mark as if declaring he was an easy target and is now ready for elimination.

Clay whistled. He remembers he did that same attack with Johann’s old man.

Sloan was angry. He removed his mask and his cloak, letting it fall on the ground.

“Now you’re both pissing me off.”

The cloak served its purpose. It concealed their armor for the time being. Now, Sloan no longer appreciates it. He wore fitted armor made of metal and high cut boots. It amazes him how Bony made it feel lighter and flexible. And of course the skeletal design and logo that marks her work is also visible.

“Kyros will scold us if you remove that,” Clay commented.

“I don’t care! It’s limiting my movements! We’re already fighting now so hiding our armor in the cloak is pointless!”

“I thought you love our uniform? You’re used to war. Wearing armor while killing your opponents should be a piece of cake.”

“This is different! We wore camouflage uniforms and bulletproof vests, not a cloak and a freaking mask. And I didn’t say I love them.”

“Oh, right. You didn’t. You said you all just respect Bony’s work. So, does that mean you all love Bony?”

Sloan blush because of that weird conclusion.

“What made you even think of that you bonehead?!”

Clay laughed. “I’m just messing with ya! I also like her work. And, well. It did save ya! Bony said it’s fireproof, waterproof, bulletproof, basically foolproof, if you ask me. Anyway… Same purpose. Different style. But if you wanted to die that badly, I can’t blame ya!”

“Just shut up!”

Clay just sighed and gave up on talking to his current partner in crime. Well, they were not acting like partners as of the moment so Clay feels bored already.

“Aren’t you pissed off with those two?” Sloan suddenly asked without losing sight of the devils. They still attacked him but this time he managed to dodge. The two aim for his chest again and again. When the right opening comes, he kicks the first devil on the chest that attacks him upfront then does a spinning elbow on the other.

“Huh? Why would I? It’s the first time we’re fighting these twins. I don’t even know them,” Clay wondered as if he was not seeing Sloan in action.

“Not them. Them.”

It took three seconds before Clay finally understood Sloan.

“Seriously Sloan, you need to improve your vocabulary. Can’t you just say Cassian and Kyros?”

“Fine. The crazy doctor and the princess. Happy now?” Sloan answered while still not looking at Clay. His eyes were kept to the twins. And his body was busy protecting itself.

“Why would I be pissed at my comrades?”

“Because they left us here to babysit these twins. Or rather we’re used as bait.”

Sloan and Clay agree to only have a physical fight with the devils. But that does not mean they will let the twins murder them.

“No, we’re not baits. I think we’re the rearguards and they’re the vanguards. You just can’t accept it.”

“Since when did you become interested in the military?”

Clay smiled at Sloan. “I’m always interested in anything.”

“No, you’re not. You’re only interested in something if you’re up to something.”

Clay laughed. He was slightly entertained especially when the twins acted as if they had the same body again. They thought they were distracted enough that they could sneak in a fast attack again on Sloan.

But Clay knew Sloan was ready for any attack so Clay stood still and kept watching. The plan of attack is simple. Disarm the two and use their weapons against them. At least that was what he had in mind for it was what they are trained to do. He and Sloan just have different fighting styles.

If I were to finish them off I’d blow both their heads with my guns the moment they gave us the warning, Clay thought as he watched the fight. But, wait. Guns are a no-no. Ugh. We can’t make any noise as much as possible. And that’s why we’re stuck here. But damn… this also excites me. What ways should I do to kill them? Clay gasped when he thought of something. Wait. Did Kyros and Cassian leave me here so I can deal with my weak point? How do I silently defeat anyone then? Hmm…

The devils attacked Sloan again and Sloan did nothing, at first. Since he knew their swords now aimed for his head, he waited when the twins swiped at the exact moment and Sloan grabbed both of their arms that held each sword. The two were surprised for a split second before they tried to pull off their arms from Sloan. But his grip was tight. Sloan smiled as he noticed how the two held their weapon. One on the left and the other on the right.

Both twins dropped their sword but caught each weapon on their other free hand. Sloan had no choice but to flip backwards, at least thrice, to avoid the swords again.

But Sloan was moving in the direction of Clay and on his last flip he almost stepped on Clay when he dropped on the ground. As the twins move towards Sloan, Clay kicks the arm of one of the twins to make the sword fly above them. It was an unexpected move from Clay. He already convinced everyone he would not join the fight. The devil was caught off guard when Clay made his move while all of them were distracted. It was a trap. His trap.

Fortunately, Sloan saw an opportunity to get the weapon that Clay kicked. He jumped and reached for the sword before it started to fall. Once he landed, Sloan was already armed. The other twin with the sword tried to smash his weapon on Clay as he still lay on the ground. But Clay moved as if he was break dancing.

Well, if those were what my seniors were thinking then… bring it on, Clay smiled as he concluded his thought before he mumbled. “This brings me back to my human days.”

“What are you mumbling about?” Sloan asked from a distance.

“I just said… Not fair,” Clay smiled at Sloan. “You have a toy while I don’t.”

“Then get one yourself you lazy ass,” Sloan said while smiling. Then he attacked the owner of the sword he held.

“Never mind. Not a fan of swords anyway,” Clay said before he dodged another swipe on his face. “But hey, I don’t mind playing with you,” Clay said to his opponent. “Just make sure you won’t be boring as hell.”