Bay's domain reminded me of her. It was a combination of peace and spirituality with a collage of soothing colors that could lure anyone to sleep. She lacked furniture, but had a plump mattress in the center of her room. It reminded me of a gymnast’s mat, but far thicker. I sat with my knees tucked under me while Bay favored a position that kept her knees drawn against her chest.
"May I speak freely?"
Bay's brow crinkled and I realized that she wasn't any more comfortable with the situation than I. Somehow, that was a relief. "Um, yeah. Why wouldn't you?"
"It's not that you are unwanted, but rather that we are uncertain as to the best way to deal with this situation. As Hellhounds, we are similar to wolves. We run in a pack and our loyalty to one another is practically part of our DNA. To betray a sister is to betray yourself." Bay pulled a pillow closer to lie on her belly with her head propped upon her crossed arms.
"You're new to the pack. The connection is there, but it will take some time for us to find the correct frequency."
I nodded. "I get that, but why didn't anyone give me a tour or something? I'm in a foreign place and I don't even know where I am supposed to live. I wasn't even told where to find food."
"I'm sorry about that. There really isn't any excuse. We all assumed another would take on the task. We didn't want to pressure you with our presence on your first night."
I sighed and looked away, pushing back the anger that had begun to creep upon me. "Okay, I get that." I pulled my knees upwards into my chest in a halfhearted attempt at self comfort. "What am I supposed to do here? I don't know how any of this works."
Before I could complete my speech, Kali walked through the force field into Bay's domain. "Have you been helping her play catch up?"
"I barely started. Haven't you ever heard of asking permission before you enter someone else's room?"
Kali rolled her eyes in an overly dramatic display before taking her place on the mat. "Get a door and I'll knock. So, what have you told her?"
"She hasn't told me much." The gaze of both Hellhounds pierced my own. "Well, you haven't."
Kali allowed a hint of a smile to break through before taking on a more serious persona. "Hmmm ... I'm not really surprised."
Bay flashed a warning gaze at Kali. "As I was saying before Kali arrived, you are the descendent of a Hellhound, which means that your blood is diluted. You have the chemistry to be a true Hellhound, but it's as though parts of your DNA have been silent. We are going to need to activate those chromosomes to bring out your inner Hellhound."
"What? How...?" I raised my hands in surrender and astonishment. How did they think they were going to alter my DNA. I took Biology; I knew that it was possible to carry a genetic trait without actually demonstrating that trait. It made sense that if the Hellhound chromosome were recessive, it would have remained stagnant, but I still couldn't understand how they expected to flip a switch that would turn me into one of them.
They moved closer and Kali proceeded with the explanation. "I know this must feel insane, but you grew up with magic and have to know that some things aren't clear-cut, right?"
They stared at me and I could feel their need for me to agree. "I guess, but how exactly is that supposed to happen? You can say I have some kind of genetic mutation that allows me to be like you, but wouldn't I have to born with the chromosome already activated? You can't just switch out genes after someone has been born."
They exchanged glances and Bay spoke. "Not exactly. You see, Hellhounds are usually made." She sighed. "When I volunteered to explain all of this, I thought it would be easier."
Kali laughed, but covered her mouth quickly when Bay shot a serious glance her way, then spoke through her fingers. "Hellhounds aren't like other species." She then pretended to zip her mouth shut and allowed Bay to continue.
"In the beginning of time, Life and Death coexisted, they were somewhat like twins. Life became the creator and Death the destroyer. However, neither could exist without the other. Life is like a woman with a need to nurture or create. She fueled her essence into the creation of the world and the creatures that inhabit it. Everything that thrives has a piece of her within them, but she stretched herself too thin. She was being torn apart. That was when Death stepped in. He had to remove essence from her creations and restore those pieces to her. In doing so, Earth became a place of chaos. Without physical form, the souls of the dead wreaked havoc on the living."
Bay's explanation sounded more like a cryptic children's story, told to give meaning to the unexplainable. "So, you're saying that Death, the manipulating jerk that forced me to come here, was trying to save Life?"
"If you want to put it that way, yes."
Aria and the other Hellhounds were joining us.
"If you're all just going to show up and take over, what was the point of my volunteering to mentor her? If we are going to explain this together, shouldn't we have done it last night? Or at least bothered to tell me that I wouldn't be doing it alone? Why the sudden change of heart?" The irritation that laced Bay's voice was ineffective when combined with her siren-like tone.
"No idea, I was practically dragged here." Ivy's sneer was an efficient deterrent, halting Bay's tirade.
Releasing an exhausted sigh, Bay said, "I'm sorry."
"No problem." I avoided looking at the other Hellhounds since it seemed important to Bay that she be the one to have control. The truth was that having all of them together made me more nervous. I was anxious for Bay to finish her story. Once I knew the past, they would tell me what would happen to me, and I desperately needed that information.
"All right then, if everyone is finished interrupting...?" Bay glanced at each Hellhound before focusing on me. "Yes, Death saved Life. I know it's ironic, but that is how it happened. Once chaos rained on Earth, Death tried to establish a reign, but he had limited resources. Death gathered the foulest souls that tainted the world and used their darkness to create our species."
"I thought that Death couldn't give life...?"
"Hellhounds are not exactly alive." Her grimace did nothing to distill the fluttering in my stomach. "We're sort of part of Death ... you know, how Life used her essence to create living species? Death used his to create the immortals. We are neither alive nor dead, and before you ask, no we are not the undead. We simply don't have our own souls."
I thought of Death's visit to my room and remembered him saying something about being their taker. I also remembered his mention about me being different, since I had a soul. If he was going to make me a Hellhound, did that mean I would lose my soul? The thought terrified me. How could he steal my soul? Was I going to end up like the dead whose essence is given back to Life?
Bay's story had been meant to answer questions, but instead had left me with more than I’d had originally. Conflicted, I wasn't sure if I wanted the answers or to stay in the dark where the truth couldn't smother me.
The Hellhounds’ lair was an intricate maze of worlds, intertwined and woven from each of their personalities. Aria had allowed me to visit hers after the bizarre explanation Bay had delivered. I still had questions, but it was a relief to be alone in my head once more. The information I had been given was too much to process so quickly.
Aria's realm reminded me of an ancient world with castles, dungeons, and weapons that had seen better days, beautiful in a Gothic sense, seemingly a testament to her warrior persona. Though the place was dominated by expressions of her strength, it had been balanced with a soft feminine vulnerability as well. I doubted others would see it that way, but it was a clear reflection of her maternal side. She seemed to guard over the other Hellhounds with a mother’s touch. Each sword was complimented by jeweled sheaths. The harsh cement walls were decorated with velvet tapestries, the four poster bed contained a peach canopy and white satin bedding.
Aria then brought me to the domain I would call my own. It was the closest to the library, and I could have sworn it hadn't been there the day before. My private hallway le
d towards a large wooden door that was illuminated by green orbs, hovering in the air. Sheer drapes with gold filigree aligned the walls, each drape creating a crescent that led to the next.
"What do you think?" As Aria turned to look back at me, the shadow of her hair whispered into my vision, jolting me from the awe of my surroundings.
"It's an amazing place. I still don't know what to make of it. It's tangible and yet it still feels like a dream. Nothing here seems real."
Aria nodded, gesturing to the door, signaling for me to open it. My fingers inched close, hesitating with the barest brush of my fingertips against the metallic handle. It served as a cold reminder that this was my new reality.
The door opened with a whisper, tentatively pushing aside the darkness to reveal a paradise of color. The vibrancy of each item was stark against the plainness of my previous life. It wasn't a garden like Kali's, a haven like Bay's, or a fortress like Aria's, it was so much more. Everything seemed to represent a piece of myself in ways only I would recognize. It was the perfect home in almost every way, but the echo of loneliness stood against my happiness.
My room was the shape of an arch, with my bed against the center wall. Four doors on either side of my bed led to the rest of my suite, but what lay between and above them made me breathless: books. Bookshelves cluttered with old, dusty books aligned the walls up to thirty feet high. Winding staircases resided next to each door, leading up to many levels that were supported by balconies. Along one balcony, I could make out a tunnel, which Aria informed me led to the library itself.
I found that my main room contained all of my essentials, as if my personal objects had been cloned and placed there. In addition to my possessions, I found weapons, a new wardrobe that seemed to have been designed for combat, and gadgets to keep me busy.
"Here, you'll love this." Aria pressed gently against my back to prod me towards one of the doors.
Walking forward, I found myself standing in an atrium. The room was bright with light and exotic plants. A clear, iridescent lagoon resided in the far left corner. The water was an array of aquamarine, sea-foam green, and a deep sapphire blue. Birds flew between trees, and animals wandered freely.
"Wow." I was surrounded by a place directly out of my inner sanctuary. Many witches had a place to send their mind when they meditated or needed to calm their nerves prior to a circle. This was mine. "How did you know?"
Aria's brows furrowed. "Know what?" Her gaze traveled across the room as though looking for a key to understanding my question.
"This place is my fantasy haven." Walking to the lagoon, I sat on the stone exterior and trailed my fingers through the cool water. The atrium intoxicated my senses and I breathed it in, savoring each moment, until Aria's voice interrupted my peace.
"I didn't do this." Aria paused, as if she expected further questioning on my part. "Come."
I followed Aria, taking one last glance at the cascading waterfall that fueled the lagoon.
Aria lingered in the center of my bed chamber, pointing to a door on the right side of the room, closest to the entrance. "When you're ready to visit your friends, walk through that threshold." The door was made of dark cherry wood with thin gold veins threaded throughout.
I was sure I’d heard her wrong. My agreement with Death had been that I would be allowed to visit home, but I thought I would need to fill out a request time off sheet or something. "Do you all have doors like that?"
"This may surprise you, but we don't have many reasons to join the mortal world. Our family is here, this is where we live; we have few connections outside our sisterhood. When we do find the need to cross the threshold, we use the one in the common hall."
"Oh." Suddenly, fatigue swept over me. This place, the entirety of what it represented, was astounding. This small piece of the Hellhounds’ lair felt right. Would it be a betrayal of myself to accept the domain? I shook the thoughts from my mind.
My entire life, I had felt that I never truly belonged. The people around me never allowed me to forget it. They allowed me to trace the edges of their world, as if I were drawing a sketch, but color was forbidden to me. In the Hellhounds’ domain, I was beginning to realize that I felt like part of the portrait. I might not feel comfortable with the other Hellhounds, or with the uncertainty of my future, but there was an undeniable connection.
I forced myself toward one of the other doors, balancing between the need to move forward and the fear of what might lay behind it. Grasping the knob, I turned it and swung the door open as quickly as possible. I didn't want to second guess my decision.
Behind the door was a bathroom that I was certain came straight from heaven. It was as large as the main room. A pool lay inside, along with a whirlpool bathtub, a shower with six showerheads, a closet for the toilet, and a sink. Makeup overwhelmed the shelves on the walls, along with toiletries, and more soaps than I thought existed. Behind the door I found towels, robes, and slippers that rivaled the softest teddy bear. The bathroom was paradise.
I turned to ask Aria how they managed to come up with something so luxurious, but she had disappeared. I peered outside the bathroom, but found that she had left me to my thoughts. A miniscule part of me was irritated because I still had questions, but another glance at my bathroom made me glad I was alone. How could I deny myself a little spa treatment?
I worked my way through the bathroom supplies, deciding to try out various exotic brands, and sank into a warm bubble bath. Tension eased away and I wondered what the fourth door would reveal. I couldn't fathom anything more than what I had been given, and I was beginning to think that I had underestimated Death. If he had been the one to design my domain, I was going to have to make a point to be kinder to him. It was really a shame, because he grated on my nerves and I wasn't certain I could restrain myself. I shrugged, accepting the new hardship.
Slipping beneath the bath water, I resurfaced, giggling as I pushed the bubbles away from my eyes. If this was my payment for being nicer to Death, I would gladly to do it.
After my bath, I took to a plush robe in a dusty rose shade. I hadn't felt so amazing in a long time. It was as though the water had cleansed away all negativity, giving me an alternate perspective on my life. I still wasn't thrilled that I had been thrust into this world with little choice, but realized that I was experiencing something that most people could only experience through their favorite books. Besides, I was relieved that I wasn't in danger here – well, other than from Ivy's venomous attitude and Death's arrogance.
Walking over to the enormous bed, I jumped on top, curling myself in and around the comforter, soft as pillows. The mattress slowly changed shape beneath me, molding to the contours of my body. I was fairly sure that I now knew how babies felt in the womb: warm, protected, and loved.
The bed’s comfort had been a well-laid trap. I had wanted to examine the fourth door, hunt down the answers I needed, and explore the lair some more, but soon I was drowned in a deep sleep instead, and found myself startled awake by someone intentionally clearing their throat.
Shooting up from my rest, I looked around dazedly, taking a few moments to remember where I was. My puzzlement was furthered when the culprit who had awoken me from my forced slumber was nowhere to be found.
I moved around my chamber, half asleep with growing irritation before realizing I was being watched from above. Squinting, I searched for my intruder and found Death standing on the balcony at the entrance to the tunnel. Ignoring my earlier promise, I sprinted up the stairs, intent on removing his presence from my room. After all, what was the point of having my own domain if he could come and go as he wished?
Ready to unleash a hailstorm of anger on his smug face, I came up short at the uncertainty in his eyes and the gift he held in his hands.
He cleared his throat, avoiding my gaze. "I believe it is customary to present a housewarming gift when a person moves someplace new."
I spoke through pursed lips, irritated with his gesture. "It's the custom when the
move is voluntary and the resident is happy with her new home. Besides, gifts are supposed to come from the people who care about them. Not the ones who essentially imprisoned them after tearing them from everything they care about!"
Death backed away as though I had slapped him. His gift dropped to the ground at his feet and I watched his fists clench and unclench. It was obvious that my tirade had invoked strong emotions in him, but I couldn't tell if he was hurt or angry.
Through a tightened jaw, he spoke with emphasis. "This isn't a prison. If it were, I wouldn't have personally installed a threshold within your room." He advanced towards me and gestured to the walls around us. "You wouldn't be surrounded by every book you ever coveted."
His proximity made me uncomfortable, and in my efforts to back away I nearly tripped, but he caught me around the waist and pulled me to him. His eyes blazed in tightly coiled anger.
"I wouldn't have bothered ensuring your comfort. I wouldn’t have set up that damn atrium! Do you think it was easy doing all of this?" At his last words, his hand gently wrapped around the outer edge of my neck, forcing me to look him in the eyes. "You think I am a monster – fine. Just think on this: I am not the one behaving like a childish brat."
His statement was punctuated by the distance he placed between us. I began to speak at his retreating back, but snapped my mouth shut when he slammed the tunnel door behind him.
I hadn't expected my words to hurt him. The thought that Death might have feelings had never occurred to me. I saw him as someone who took what he wanted without any thought as to how it affected others. Looking down at the forgotten gift, I wondered if I had been wrong.
Pulling at the silken bow, I removed the peach-colored wrapping paper. Somehow, it was difficult to imagine Death shopping at Macy's and having this gift wrapped. In the corner of the wrapping paper, I noticed a small blot of blood and admitted to myself that he must have wrapped the present himself. The thought of Death dealing with bows and peach-colored anything was quite possibly the most ridiculous picture ever.