“It’s your time, maggot,” grunted the guard, “Good luck, idiot.”

“Do you think your face would break if you smiled?” Jewell asked.

The guard turned to look at her. Smiling mockingly, he said, “You should watch your tongue, or else someone will cut it out.”

Jewel just laughed. Standing up, she readied herself while the guard stood waiting and finally stepped forward. With great flourish he opened her cell door and bowed. “My lady.”

She dipped her head and, taking a deep breath, stepped past him. She was a brave woman, and had accomplished more than most men would even dare to try. That was why she was here today. Jewell held her head high and walked proudly down the hallway. She didn’t know what would happen, but that had never stopped her before. Her bold green eyes stared directly into the sunlight, as she stepped from the hallway into the giant arena. Her pulse rising as adrenaline pumped through her veins. It was time.
----/~/----

The crowd roared as Vesper stepped through the curtain onto the podium. He had been their master for nearly a year, but this was the first time anyone had ever seen his face. Seven women wearing flowing red robes stood to each side of him, four on his left, and three on his right; their hoods falling over their faces, concealing them.

These women had been his spokespeople. Although no one, not even himself, had ever seen their faces, they had appeared before the people many times, speaking in his place. He had kept himself hidden, waiting for the day when he could reveal himself to the people. Now that Jewell was here, he could finally step out into the light.

Vesper’s eyes narrowed as he watched her walk through the cavernous entryway. He wished it was full of teeth that would crush her delicate figure. She stood so tall and proud. She should be cowering before him, begging for mercy. But there she stood, now in the middle of the arena, simply waiting. He couldn’t see from this great height, but he could almost swear she was smiling. Turning to the side he spit. Jewell Diamonde was disgusting.

“Who do you think you are?” he bellowed, his voice carrying across the coliseum, effectively hushing the crowd. He stood quickly, his lavish robes swirling around him. Leaning against the rail he shouted again, “Who do you think you are?”

“Don’t pretend you don’t know,” she retorted, “I am the only thing standing between you and the rest of the empire.” Then her demeanor changed, “don’t you remember?” she asked, her eyes flickering briefly.

He ignored her confusing plea. Suddenly, his eyes turned black and his robes began to swirl erratically around his now looming figure. Vesper raised his hands and a thick blue liquid began to pour out of them. Again, he asked her his simple question, though this time, his voice was barely a whisper. Still, it reverberated through the air reaching the ears of every person present. He had had enough of this infuriating woman. It was time to bring her to an end. The blue liquid was bubbling at his feet and with a crooked smile, he moved his left hand and pointed at it. The substance danced beneath his finger and he raised his eyes to look directly into hers. There was no fear in those green pools. Enraged, he shouted, “It is over!”

He whisked his arm up and then pointed directly at Jewell, the thick blue liquid following his finger. It shot out from the podium straight into her lovely and disgusting face. In a flash, it was done. He smiled pleased with himself and relaxed, sitting down as guards rushed out to gather her limp body from the sand.

Then he remembered.

----/~/----

“Honey, wake up!” he shook her shoulders in an effort to tear her from her nightmare. She had been having a lot of them recently and he was worried. Daniel reached up to turn on the light of their tiny apartment. He loved her more than he loved himself, but her nightmares were becoming more and more consistent. He was overtired and overstressed.

“Jewell wake up,” his voice getting tighter as her body continued to shake but her eyes refused to open. What was going on?

Suddenly her eyes opened wide and she spoke, her voice raspy, “Find them Daniel.”

“Find who?” he asked, now frantic.

She turned to look at him, her bright green eyes flashing blood red and then closing for the last time. “The seven brides of Satan.”

------------------------------------------

“Find them Daniel”

“Find who?”

“The seven brides of Satan.”

These words looped through his head, over and over and over again. He could see her beautiful face, strained and contorted. He remembered her striking green eyes, flashing a bright and unnatural red, before they closed. Then he could see her face relaxing, her mouth curving into a twisted smile, and the horrible realisation that she was dead.

“Find them Daniel”

“No.” A deep and gravelly voice interjected his thoughts. “I will kill you.”

“Who’s there?”

“Don’t turn around Daniel.” The voice had an awful tone.

Daniels body began to shake. The sinister quality of that voice completely shattered any peace he might have had left. He needed to see what was there, he began to turn around.

“No, don’t turn around Daniel” The voice almost sounded playful now, as if it found pleasure in terrorising him. “If you turn around you will die.”

Daniel could feel something coming up behind him. Every single cell in his body was begging him to turn around, begging him to look and see what was there.

“If you look at me you will die.”

He felt a hand, or something, brush up against his shoulder. It was too much. He turned.

--------------

Maniacal laughter echoed from far away. Daniel opened his eyes, but the room was pitch black. Confused he shook his head, raising his hand to rub eyes. He didn’t know where he was, or where the laughter was coming from. But the laughter persisted, drawing closer.
“Daniel”

It was that voice again. Long talons of fear gripped his heart again, refusing to let go.
He couldn’t see anything. Frantically he whipped his head around, searching for any source of light. Anything that might point to a way out.

There was nothing.

Where was he? Cautiously, he reached out his hands. He started to walk forward, slowly, carefully. Something skittered below him to his right. He whisked around to avoid it, smacking his elbow on a concrete wall. Cursing he cradled his elbow and slumped down to the floor. His eyes were beginning to adjust, but it didn’t matter, he still couldn’t make out what anything was. There was no light coming from anywhere. It was as if someone had dug a hole deep in the ground, built a concrete room, and stuck him in it. Overwhelmed, he sighed and covered his face with his hands.
“It’s alright”

A comforting phrase when whispered by your mother, but coming from this deep, throaty voice, it only sent Daniel into a deeper panic.

“What do you want from me?” Daniel cried. “Where… who are you?”

The voice spoke again, chuckling, though it now seemed be right in front of him.

“Call me Satan. I go by many names, but the people of your world seem to prefer that one.”

-------------------------------

okay if you read all that you are a freaking boss!
That narrative above is a general intro to get the creative juices flowing--now the story is all yours.

Character list.

Jewell

Daniel

"Satan"

Vesper

Bride(s)

Also, if want to contribute secondary characters from your imagination--please submit them--the story wouldn't be possible without them. If you have any idea please share/submit for approval.

Character requirements
Should be somewhat detailed
Name (provided)
race
Characteristics.
Appearance
weapons/special items
special abilites (somewhat provided but definitely expand upon them!)
character shortcomings/weaknesses
Anything else you would like to add :)

Settings
Hadri--desert kingdom--alternate dimension. A place full of magic and special races.
Earth, present day.