Chapter Text
Chapter 1
The Vain Servant
(Abby ends up in hell)
(skip to the next chapter if you want the juicy bits)
The air around Abby vibrated with a thousand screams of victory and adoration. He sat atop his horse and basked in it. Raising his sword in the air he joined in the cheering, a perfect specimen of a warrior, his biceps flexing imperceptibly for the crowd. For the last 7 years this was his life, a strong leader in the king's army, his courage and sculpted physique always earned him the loudest cheers. But then a new sound joined in, a low hum, not from the crowd but from beneath him.
The sunlight that reflected off the soldiers armor seemed to flicker and cast long, distorted shadows that writhed like hungry snakes. The cheers and shouts of the crowd turned into a chilling whisper. Abby had heard that voice before, a long time ago. Panic cut through his thoughts and he tried to move, to run, to get away, but his muscles betrayed him, suddenly useless.
From the shadows a form began to coalesce below him. At first it was indistinct but when it sharpened and the horrifying visage of Gwi-ma stared back at him. The horse bucked, spooked by this display and threw Abby off. He hit the ground hard, his body working against him and not softening the landing. For a moment he blacked out but the ancient voice of Gwi-ma ringing in his head brought him back to awareness. “Your debt is due.”
Abby wanted to scream but no sound escaped his throat. The ground itself seemed to melt beneath him, the dirt transforming into a viscous substance with a life of its own. It coiled around his ankles and then his waist, not merely pulling him down, but absorbing him, stripping away parts of soul. The last image burned into his mind was not the victorious army cheering for him but the triumphant grin of Gwi-ma claiming his newest asset.
“Rise.. my warrior.” Gwi-ma's command brought Abby back to his senses. Expecting pain and fire to greet him he was surprised to feel... nothing? Abby started to rise but an oppressive presence kept him on his knees. “You have served your king well Abby, now it is time to serve me.” the same commanding voice spoke, but this time it was aloud and not just in his head. “Please me and you will be rewarded, fail me and you will lose EVERYTHING!” the shouted last word rang and echoed over and over. Abby tried to turn, to look around but he couldn't. Something or someone was pinning him where he knelt so he did the only thing he could: answer: “Yes Gwi-ma.”.
Fire swirled around Abby, making him uncomfortably hot. “You will address me as Master. That is what I am and will be for the rest of your pathetic life. Do you understand?”.
He would not, could not call this monstrous thing, or anyone for that matter, master. With or without his “gifts” he has who he was and would never bow down to anyone so completely. Seconds ticked by and Abby gritted his teeth against the pain as the fire surrounding him drew in closer and closer. Smoke began to rise from his clothing and he could feel his skin begin to blister but still he did not answer.
The swirling flames lifted Abby from his knees and turned him around to face the mass of demons gathered at the base of Gwi-ma's throne. In a sinister whisper that seemed to come directly from behind Abby, Gwi-ma spoke: “Look around Abby. This is what remains of those who defy me. Forgotten ambitions, echoes of who they once were, nothing but scattered thoughts in a hideous body. You will be no different. Speak the words Abby.”
The fire engulfing him was too hot, Gwi-ma's presence was filling him with fear but he still refused to call him master. Instead he focused on controlling his traitorous muscles, tried to struggle, to get away from the pain. Gwi-ma's laugh was deafening and his voice malicious: “Go ahead, struggle. You'll only exhaust yourself. Your strength, your desires, your ambitions, they mean nothing here. They are phantoms, just like the freedom you still think you have. You are MINE! And you will serve, or you will simply... cease.”
A powerful shove freed Abby from the flames but it flung him down from the throne, landing him against the hard packed dirt and causing him to skid along until his momentum was halted by a towering jagged shard of rock. His entire body hurt, he could never remember being in so much pain, even when on the battlefield. Unable to move, he lay at the bottom of the pillar of stone and gazed up at the red sky, counting the sickly green flashes of light.