Santi: The Devil's Pioneer

Chapter 4 - River Styx and Its Glory

    The riverside was at least a mile away from the kingdom. By now, Santi had caught up to Michael. The pair walked side by side towards the garden, past the Seven Shrine of the Deadly Sins, and along with the ruins of what once was Lucifer's glorious temple where the humans worshipped him. Neither one spoke for what felt like an eternity. Santi was still left blindsided by the absurdity of the situation, unable to absorb the information all at once. She remained silent, fearing if she spoke, she might instigate a fight between good and evil again.

She had no idea why the great angel had come down from the marvelous heavens to take her out for a tour. The last time angels approached the kingdom of Hell, she paid the price and suffered until this day. Her rage against angels remains immeasurable. But she was curious, and deep inside her, she saw a sliver of hope for escape.

"Do you know which river we'll be visiting today? And what lies on the other side of the river?" Archangel Michael whispers under his breath. "The She-Devil herself, remain unknowing to the deep dark secrets her home hides."

"It's not my home." She answers.

By now, they have arrived at the dockside, where a ferry awaits to take them to the other side of the wide River Styx, where souls and shrieks of the dead could be heard. Archangel Michael steps on the boat, with the ferryman waiting to take them. Santi hesitates but follows the angel. Again, no sound apart from the dead souls screaming could be heard uttered. The air was dead silent, pun intended.

The incomparable duo sat on opposite sides of the small boat. Santi was confused and furious with where she is, and how she's letting the situation happen. Archangel Michael, curious and fascinated with the one-of-a-kind creature she had known Santi to be. A human, with the Devil for a father. Or a devilish creature, with human anatomy, emotions, pain, and all the works. Definitely one of a kind and fascinating.

"Why have you come down here?" Santi spoke with her usual fiery tone. By now, they've approached the middle of the river Styx, and the screams grew louder. "You are not welcomed here. You do not belong here."

"I know I don't belong here." He pauses and looks at her in the eyes. "But neither do you."

"Are you dead serious right now? Because if you aren't I'm telling you you're burning here, in Hell." Adrenaline flushed through Santi's body. Was it true? Was escape possible? Could Earth be more than an experimental petri dish to her?

For the first time in Santi's 300 years of existence, she felt hope. Hope for happiness. Hope for a chance to be better. To be human. To know her mother. To know that death and suffering were not all life had to offer her.

For the first time in her life, she felt emotions other than anger and fury.

"I bet you got your slang from your human mother." He rubs his hand under the slight stubble growing on his chin. " Have you ever met her?"

At this, Santi forgot any moment of hope. His question cut deep.

"You heartless beast!" Santi lunges forward to punch the angel on his midsection, but the inhuman creature manages to slip aside as she falls on the floor, rocking the boat. Santi hits her head and a wound gushes with reddish blobs of liquid.

Santi has never been wounded before. More importantly, she had never bled before this incident. She never could before today.

"What is this?! What sorcery have you placed on me, you insolent creature!" She instantly rises to her feet, and once again, tries to grab him. But as the boat rocks, and her head turns dizzy, Santi falls back down in a state of confusion.

"I see your father never told you about the fifth river." Archangel Michael muses. "He never told you about your possibilities as a marvelous celestial hybrid either. The perfect yin and yang of power."

"What in the damned hell are you talking about?" Santi curses as the boat comes to a stop by a dock.

The land that awaited was dark, like the insides of a cave. It had a small opening by the end of what seemed like a tunnel, that emitted a little light on them. The ferryman motioned for them to step off. Santi, while disoriented, takes the hand Michael offers, and they both step off the misty ferry ride. Just as their feet leave the ferry, the boat and the river disappear.

"Where are we?" Santi speaks calmly after having collected her thoughts. "How, how- I mean, how the hell did the river disappear? I get Hell is somewhat magical, but what the hell, man?"

"We are on the other side of the river Styx. Do you know what lies in the River Styx?" He helps Santi up on her feet, and she begins to limp towards the end of the tunnel with the aid of Michael.

"No, I wasn't made known of the river Styx. I know the other four, I thought that's where we were gonna tour." Santi rubs her forehead, noticing bloodstains on her hand. Her fall must've been bad for her to continue bleeding until now.

"The river Styx is a river full of the souls of the dead-"

"Yeah, let me stop you right there, man. I saw the screaming and shrieking useless souls. I know what lies in the River Styx."

"Oh, well, what an excellent observation, I guess. Well, river Styx is the gateway to Earth." He stops in his track, face full of glee. "And so, here we are!"

"Are you shitting me right now?" Imagine Santi's surprise and outright almost-fainting look. In human expressions, she was over the moon.

Her usually grim lips turn slightly upward. Her eyes, mystically brighter than before. Or that may have been the concussion kicking in.

"I am not. I brought you here to correct the mistake my brother made. You belong here among the humans, not in Hell."

"I don't understand. Make me understand." Santi asked, confused. Her head rang from within. She felt dizzy again. It was overwhelming to think about the possibilities. Overwhelming to know that what you have dreamt of for the past 300 years, is suddenly, in an instant, placed right in front of you.