Paradise Lost

The cabin in the woods had been abandoned for years, but one night, a candle burned in the window. Within it, Venus’s eternal warriors gathered, a Vangel stepping up as the fire readied for a tale.

I

Strung up and tied, bleeding and feeding on salty waters, she now beamed as the figurehead of doom. She was the face of the Devil’s vengeance, and as it thrashed in the sea, waves of cold water bashing into her face, apocalypse sparkled in her eye.

Paradise was once her name, and like it, she was once beautiful. She was young and teeming with life, blossoming with promise, all the things she could be, all the good she could do, and now, all the death she bore witness as thunder roared at lightning’s strike.

‘’Ready your swords you ugly hounds, the devil’s bleeding for blood, and yea, yea are her vengeance!’’ Shouted the captain. His sword then unsheathed glimmering in the thunder’s roar.

Paradise held the ropes tightly, her eyes struck by the water’s manic sways. Giant waves formed in the middle of the once tame sea, it was like day and night. Once serene and calm, now they thrashed and writhed like rapturous beasts, blood lusted by the captain’s fury. It oozed out of him like the very waters, his eyes burning with fire, his voice deep as the ocean spouting curses and blood-tinged oracles.

He forced his fate on man, his sword pointing at the Skullkan warship. The two vessels crashed into each other, locking into one another, bonded till death.

‘’Fetch me their souls!’’ Croaked the captain, countless voices howling!

Ropes and swords flew in swing, air and blood bending to their will, Paradise frozen at the sight of it all. The Skullkan soldiers aimed their muskets, smoke and fire bursting in screams. The water bashed from the depths to the skies, tears flowing from weeping angels and bleeding flesh, Paradise swinging with knife in teeth.

On the enemy’s deck, privateers, and privates clashed, steel tinging with each bash. A swing a shove, an insult and a stab, blood gushed out and the pirate howled.

‘’Bring these weary souls the peace of death!’’ Said the captain, twirling with sword and pistol, bodies falling at his deathly dance.

Amongst the dead, Paradise crawled, the clashing steel and screaming flesh battering her ear while lightning thundered. This had been her greatest dread, the last thing she’d hoped to do, yet she knew it was coming, she was a pirate after all.

Though she walked and talked like one, deep down, she was still Paradise. A Skullkan soldier fell into her eyes, he lay on the ground his eyes frozen wide, his body shaking, his hands clasped on his musket as it tolled on his chest. She could see the fear pulsing out of him, the rain pouring on his sweaty face, his heart beating louder than the blasting guns.

No one cared for him, to them, he was dead. But that was them, not her. His eyes shot to heaven, a crimson spurt splashing as his brother fell choking at his slit throat. The snippet smacked his eyes shut, the darkness promising refuge. Yet the croaking continued, rasping through his ear, smearing his sight with the reaper’s song. When he opened them, an angel stared back.

‘’Don’t be afraid.’’

Rain plunged over her flailing hair, water and wind hissing in the air. He blinked, wondering if he’d already died. She knew he was going to die, but for those few moments before the end, she would bring him comfort, no matter how fleeting.

The two stared at one another, lying in a field of death their mouths mute, their eyes speaking a thousand words. It was all going to be okay, even the darkest night ended at dawn’s rise. As her palms rested on his chest, she felt his heart ease, his shaking ceasing and a sweet smile creasing. So young, so innocent, and so dead.

She killed him. She wandered how she could save him, her mind dived deep, pondering his escape while they shared each other’s eyes. But with all the death around them, all the soldiers shoved to the ground, hounded by bash after bash, their pain fuelling their killer’s rage. This way, he never saw it coming, he’d never have to feel the barrage of hate as the reaper’s scythe struck. A single stab and his eyes froze, a final stare into her eyes, and then he was gone.

Paradise stood up, a sea of blood and flesh streaming at her feet, the final cries silenced by the steel’s tip. She looked down and his face smiled, grateful, at least she hoped. A hand then rested on her shoulder, her only friend amongst thieves joining her.

‘’I’m sorry you had to do that; it must’ve been hard for you.’’

‘’It was either him or me.’’

‘’Yes......yes it was.’’

II

This wasn’t the first time she’d seen death, that honour belonged to Paradise. Back then, it truly lived up to its name, it was a land of eternal sunshine. The images still rendered clearly in her mind, as if she had always been there, like she’d never left. She remembered riding on her father’s shoulders, they would run through the fields. Her brothers and sisters would be working, crouched and lost in labour, her father would zoom by as she laughed, threats spurting as the two troublemakers terrorized the family with their bliss.

When they reached the ocean, its crystal waters flowed onto the white beach, her father would set her down, they’d then venture into its grasp. It didn’t pull them nor drown them, rather slithering past their legs, tickling their toes while shimmering in their eyes. She would play with it splashing it while she laughed, cupping it in her hands then tossing it into her father’s face.

‘’You naughty little fish!’’

A slap of water would then reply in her face, her father continuing while she returned fire. They’d play in the water while the sun shined, Paradise it was, and Paradise she was.

‘’You are as beautiful as this island my little fish, and I want everyone to know it, you are my Paradise!’’

In his arms she’d glide in the air, the world seeming so small, so possible and then it happened. She would never forget it. It would forever be entrenched in her mind, the look on his face, the death of his spirits as they plummeted like crashing Icarus.

She looked into the azure sky, the bright white sun suddenly bleeding red, it’s throne usurping in its fall, the blue smearing black. A dark night sat on the throne, it all happened in the blink of an eye. Everyone on the island froze, hearts beating as familiar fears stroked. Paradise soon found out that though strange, this had happened before, and as sure as the moon rose so too would the sun, it came at a price, however.

Gathered at the centre of Paradise, all the people looked upon a white stone altar pedestalized by a pyramid of steps. Next to the alter, with knife in hand, the chief spoke.

‘’Today, blood must be shed.’’

Heads bowed, no one daring to look at the chief, Paradise looked however, his silver dagger glinting in the moon’s eye.

‘’We have been blessed with paradise, our island is eternally graced by the sun, but this comes at a price, you all know this must be done. So I now ask, which of you shall be our sacrifice?’’

The entire island died to silence, the water’s once calm waves now writhing. The silence reigned louder, the waters growing more restless, the sky clouding in grey rage.

‘’It must feed, It must be quenched! Who shall save us, who shall sacrifice themselves!’’

Prayers whispered, silent cries cracking while the waters thrashed louder, soon the rain poured, and a storm brewed as the sky grumbled.

‘’Step forward, do not make me pull you out, this must be done!’’

Paradise’s hand was then snatched, it was her father. He held her tightly as his heart was as restless as the skies and sea, soon, thunder broke lightning zapping. The winds succumbed as this darkness had its way. Paradise did not know what it was, but she knew what it wanted, and she could feel its anger as its wants were refused.

‘’You have left me no choice.’’

The chief’s warriors entered the crowds, cries lapsing as they trudged through flesh, thirsty for blood. Paradise held her father, his arms rising her to his chest embracing her. The warriors’ shouts slipped into her ears, screaming screeching as the die was cast, a loser revealed. He kicked and screamed, Paradise watching as her father held her close, a wave of relief flushing over many as they’d survived.

‘’Leave me, I don’t want to die!’’ Shouted the man, yet he was met with silence from the people.

‘’Please! PLEASE!’’ he begged; silence replying.

He resisted, the guards beating him, taming his spirits while they flung him onto the alter. The Chief’s blade glimmered in rise, gripped tightly.

‘’Your sacrifice will not be in vain.’’

‘’I don’t want to die!’’

‘’This must be done; all men must die!’’

‘’PLEASE!’’

Lightning struck, thunder roaring. The dagger stabbed as Paradise’s eyes were covered by her father’s palm. When he revealed, the man was dead, his eyes shot to heaven, yet it was still hidden in the storm’s rage. Blood flowed from the alter, running down the steps and sinking into the earth. The gushing rains then ran red, the storm roaring on, more lightning striking as the wind swayed the trees.

‘’It is not quenched, more blood is needed, more sacrifices must come fourth!’’

The warriors then ran down the steps, their spears in hand. The crowd cried, some feet rising, men running away. Paradise’s father knelt with her, spears soaring as bodies fluttered to the ground.

The deserters were then dragged to the pyramid, thrown onto the alter and struck by the dagger, again and again, body after body, blood pouring from the steps and flushing from the skies.

‘’MORE IT NEEDS MORE!’’

Said the chief, cloaked in crimson, stained by his deeds, a voice then came from the crowd.

‘’Why should we die, why don’t you sacrifice yourself!’’

A young man stood tall, speaking greater than his age. He looked amongst the people.

‘’Why should we die! It’s easy for him to stand there and demand more blood, because he doesn’t have to shed it!’’

‘’I’m trying to save us!’’

‘’By killing us, if you care for us so much why don’t you lie down on your own alter. Why don’t you let your sons sacrifice themselves, how about your brothers or your father!’’

‘’My duty is to lead.’’

‘’And ours is to die!’’

‘’Silence him at once.’’

The warriors then sped for the man.

‘’We don’t have to die, we are far greater than him, we don’t serve him, he serves u – ‘’

A spear then pierced his chest, sending him to the ground. He arose weakly, the guards pouncing on him with fists and kicks, beating him to a pulp. He was dragged to the alter, looking at the people, his eye falling on Paradise as the two shared a moment. His eye was stricken with a scar that ran from brow to cheek, his unshaven face cut with crimson. He then fell onto the alter and the dagger struck, his eyes shot to heaven.

This time, Paradise saw it all, and yet, the storm brewed on, blood raining while a red river flowed from the pyramid reaching the edges of the island as it slipped into the writhing seas.

‘’It needs more.’’ Said the chief, trembling at its unquenchable thirst.

The crowd then rioted, screaming in fright.

‘’We have no choice, it will destroy us all, it’s either one of you or all of us!’’

‘’Why not you then!’’ shouted Paradise’s father.

‘’We have daughters and sons, we must all sacrifice, even you!’’

‘’Fetch me his soul!’’

The chief’s warriors descended on Paradise’s father. She didn’t want to let go, she latched onto him like glue, refusing to let go. So, she was pulled away from him, thrown to the floor while he was dragged away. His hand stretched out and her finger grasped it, yet her mother pulled her from him tearing them apart. Blood rained as she screamed out her lungs, her father shouting, and resisting.

The warriors pinned him onto the altar while the dagger rose, lightning striking behind it, the thunder roaring as the tip begun soaring

‘’PARADISE!’’

That was his death cry. Paradise saw nothing, her face imprisoned in her mother’s bosom. Her mother locked her in while the killing went on, the screams and cries screeching and then it was over. The rain ceased and her cold wet skin was warmed by the sun. When she was let free, the sky stared back, blue and bright, the thrashing waters now calm, the transformation as stark as night and day. Yet the evils of the moon remained, the white pyramid stained red, the alter drowning in bodies that ran from top to the bottom of the steps. There were many, and amidst that heap, her father lay dead.

III

‘’I returned to the beach and the white sands were now red.’’

‘’Christ..........’’

‘’The waters were clear, but beneath the serene veneer, there was blood, lots and lots of blood.’’

‘’I’m so sorry, I can’t even imagine going through that, and you were so young.’’

‘’I wasn’t the only one though, many other kids lost their fathers that day, I was just a drop in an ocean of red.’’

‘’Still, what you went through, that is hell, in every sense.’’

Paradise then stared at the ocean, resting her arms on the edges of the ship, her only friend standing beside her. in that silence, the pain of the past crept up, resurrected by her reminiscences. How terrible and evil the world could be, all the horrors she had to bear witness. Yet what was more frightening was that evil, that red ethereal sun. She stared at the sun, how it now shined brightly, the eerie feeling floating by as she thought on how it could all shift in a mere blink. How all it took was one bad day and an entire world could end in the blink of an eye.

‘’So do you have any clue what it was.’’

‘’The one sure thing I know in this life is that I know nothing.’’

‘’I can’t argue with that, but we need to try and understand, was it always like that?’’

‘’The elders told stories about a time long ago when were not ruled by it.’’

‘’Must’ve been an amazing time.’’

‘’Not at all.’’ she said, resting herself onto the edge as the sea stared at her back, her eyes on her friend.

‘’Back then, our island was a seating duck surrounded by contentious neighbours and hungry empires, don’t forget pirates too.’’

‘’Hah!’’

‘’I know.’’ She said, her face warm.

‘’In order to survive, we got very desperate...’’

‘’Do you mean…….’’

‘’Yes, that thing was our very own making.’’

‘’How?’’

‘’Like I said, this world is very strange my friend. It has many secrets that very few ever get to fathom.’’

‘’So, was that magic, sorcery?’’

‘’The very hands of the devil indeed, we summoned hell freeing it from its shackles. Our hubris led us to believe that we could control it, it would protect us in exchange for its freedom. But of course, the only prisoner was us.’’

‘’So, paradise for blood.’’

‘’Paradise for blood.’’

It was a story as old as time, the hunter becoming the hunted. For years the island suffered, enjoying the fruits of heaven in exchange for a night in hell.

‘’As time went on, its thirst grew more and more. It would be years until it demanded blood, then it was months, then days, then hours, soon, we were forever in hell.’’

The images begun flashing in Paradise’s eyes, she could hear the screams once again, but most importantly, she could feel it. That dread that came whenever things went dark, the realization that blood had to be shed.

‘’So how did you escape.’’

‘’We made a deal with another devil.’’

‘’The Skullkans.’’

‘’They had become an empire by mastering these dark forces. They knew what it was, and they drove it away.’’

‘’A chain for another chain.’’

‘’At least under the Skullkans, we only lost in gold and title, our blood still flowed in our veins.’’

‘’But you would spend the rest of your days as slaves to an empire that saw you as less than human.’’

‘’At least we were alive, we are alive.’’

‘’I understand, I don’t blame you.’’

Paradise couldn’t blame him either, everyone hated the Skullkans. The pirates she served amongst where united not by glory, nor a hunger for treasure and gold. Rather, they had banded together in pursuit of Skullkan blood. The Devil’s Vengeance was a ship feared among Skullkan waters, its sight meant death and only death. No amount of ransom nor gold could spare them from the Devil captain’s vengeance, only their souls could quench his thirst.

‘’What do you think they did to him?’’ she asked

‘’What did they do to you?’’

Paradise nodded her head, running away from the question. Everyone hated the Skullkans, but the Skullkans had saved her people. Had the deal been made earlier, her father would still be in her arms. In her mind, it was better the devil you knew, than the one you didn’t, it cost her father, her innocence.

‘’Do you think their sacrifices were in vain.’’

‘’What do you mean.’’

‘’Well, the elders unleashed this evil in order to protect you from the Skullkans, but in the end, you ran back to the Skullkans. All those lives, all that blood, what was the point.’’

‘’I....uh......’’

Paradise ran speechless, then she spoke.

‘’What other choice did we have?’’

‘’ What other choice did they have, all those people died for nothing, and you let it happen.’’

‘’What are you talking about, what could we do. We were also victims, everyone lost something.’’

‘’But you’re still alive, they aren’t.’’

Paradise then looked at him, no longer believing his friendship.

‘’I’m sorry, forgive me, it's just, all these chiefs and Skullkans. They’ve gotten away with so much, and we’ve just let them do it. We’ve taken their beatings again and again knowing full well that we have the power!’’

‘’What power! What power did I have when my father was ripped away from me?’’

‘’It wasn’t your fault, but your brothers your mother and all the other fathers that stood by and watched. All of them could’ve done something. Again and again, victim after victim and they just bowed down. Taking it.’’ He then snarked.

‘’As long as it wasn’t them, they had no problem letting you die!’’

‘’That isn’t true! We didn’t kill them it was that devil!’’

‘’Deny it all you want, but in the end, their blood is on everyone’s hands. The chiefs and the peop – ‘’

BOOM!

IV

Paradise woke up with a ringing in her ear, the pain stung as swiftly as her blinking eye, her red vision wet by blood as her face bled at her brow’s cut. Another boom exploded as her ear deafened, the strike sending her hands onto her ears as she tried to shut it all up. with her back shooting up, she then set on the deck, watching as the Skullkans took their revenge. The Skullkan ship blasted the Devil’s vengeance with canon fire. The explosion sent bodies whizzing across the air as they broke into a thousand parts with wood and steel clattering about in mad chaos.

Her fazed eyes then surveyed the floors as bodies landed, her friend falling into mind, where was he, had he died in the blast. She called out his name, stumbling to her feet as she leaned against the edge, her lungs calling him out while the cannons readied another blast. As she wandered in woozy walk screaming out his name with darting eyes, the sky then turned, melting grey. A sudden spike sparked in her heart as a familiar fear stroked her soul.

‘’No, no, noooo!’’ she muttered

‘’Blood, I want blood!’’ shouted the captain.

Paradise then turned to him; his ghastly sight wet by sudden rains as thunderous grumbles roared at his howl. His face was hairy and draped in a black beard, his eye struck by a scar that ran from bow to cheek.

‘’Let the devil have her vengeance!’’

A silver sword glimmered unsheathed, bright lighting striking as the attacking ship burnt at Zeus’s bolt. Paradise watched as a great wave grabbed the blazing vessel, its mammoth height ensnared the entire sky as it crushed down in slow motion, Paradise’s eyes big and wide. She held her breath then –

BOOM!

V

The water slithered into her mouth and nose, her eyes squeezing shut as her lungs flooded. She coughed and croaked, choking in the water’s strangle, then a powerful hand scooped her up, the bright blue sky blaring into her open eyes.

‘’You’re okay, you’re okay.’’ He said, Paradise replying with heavy coughing as her body heaved. He pat her back, rocking her about a sweet song slipping past his tongue. With each syllable, the water loosened its hold, soon, she was now seating in his arms as they rested on the white beach.

‘’It’s okay my little fish. You’re okay.’’

She held onto him, his sweet song streaming into her ear, a sudden peace embracing her as a bright warmth weighed down her eyes. Sweeter and sweeter sang the song, deeper and deeper she drowned, taken by slumber’s peace. Soon, she was snoring in her father’s arms, the sun’s heat searing the scene deep into her mind.

She now woke up, resting against the edge of the ship, her eyes looking around her as her hands fell into view. She hadn’t been scarred. Her clothes were wet, and her hair hung low, dripping with water. She cupped her palm and the water dribbled, crystal clear.

‘’Are you ok?’’

Her head turned and it was her friend.

‘’What happened.’’

‘’Miracle, that’s what happened.’’

He then sat beside her, sighing in his set.

Paradise then looked on at the ship, the deck which had once been red and littered with wood, steel and flesh. now glimmered looking freshly polished in the sun’s gaze. There was not a single body in sight, and all the crewmates walked about, unharmed and all accounted for. All accounted for, what happened to all the dead bodies...

‘’How long was I out.’’

‘’Its hard to tell, hours likely.’’

‘’Weren’t we just attacked.’’

‘’We were, nasty one, bloody Skullkans. Will get them, don’t you worry, will get them all!’’

‘’But, how, the ship, everyone’s here.’’

‘’And thank heavens for it hey, they must be pissed those Skullkans, didn’t even take one of us down.’’

‘’But they did.’’

Paradise then turned to her friend, looking him dead in the eye.

‘’I saw it, I saw them dead, lying on the ground missing limbs and bleeding. They hit us, badly.’’

‘’That they did my dear, but we’re alright, a few cuts there and there but the bleeding’s sure stopped. No need to worry, we’re all right.’’

He then held her hands, his eyes reassuring her. Yet she couldn’t shake it, she knew what she saw, was it all a dream, had she imagined it? Maybe the ghosts of her pasts were now haunting her mind, was she going mad.

‘’You need rest my dear, come on, you can lay on my lap.’’

His arm insisted as Paradise lay facing him, the bright sky staring her back. Azure had now calmed, the grey brewing storm out of sight. As she lay on him, he ran his fingers through her hair, a familiar song slipping out of his mouth.

‘’How do you know that song.’’

‘’My mother used to sing it to me when I was a wee little lad.’’

‘’It was my father for me.’’

‘’Well, lets hope it worked on you as good as it did me, I’d be as dead as a possum whenever she sung it.’’

The song then sifted through her ears, her mind’s loudness quelling as clarity couped the madness. Sweet sleep was nigh, his smiling face being the last thing she saw.

‘’Sleep now my little fish, it’ll all be alright.’’

VI

Paradise stared at the red sun, its crimson hue smearing the rest of the sky, a familiar fear simmering as it set.

‘’Beautiful isn’t it.’’ said the Vangel captain as she joined her at the edge of the ship. Paradise merely nodded her head, desperately chasing away the ghosts of yesterday.

‘’I know you’re scared, that’s why I must remind you, you don’t have to do this.’’

‘’I know, but I want to.’’

‘’You don’t have to prove anything Paradise, human or not you’ll always be a Syren, you’ve earned it.’’

‘’I know. But I still have to do this.’’

The captain then sighed, bowing her head in defeat.

‘’Ok, if this is what you wish.’’

‘’It is, thank you.’’

Paradise then smiled, holding the captain’s hands.

‘’So, all you have to do is observe that’s it, do not kill anyone and do not put yourself in any danger, I don’t want to lose you Paradise.’’

Paradise nodded.

The captain then smiled, holding Paradise by her shoulders.

‘’Your father would be very proud of you.’’

The captain hugged her, the red sun disappearing as it sunk into the sea. That’s why she was doing this, she couldn’t do anything when her father was taken away from her, but now, she was going to do something. The Devil’s Vengeance had terrorized enough people, and she was going to put a stop to it.

VII

Paradise now looked at her friend face, anxious to how he would take her truth. He looked at her with a great sadness as she feared she’d made a mistake.

‘’I’m sorry, I just couldn’t lie to you anymore.’’

‘’Why?’’

‘’Like you said, my father’s blood is on my hands because I did nothing, this time I will do something.’’

‘’But we’re killing the Skullkans, they are the evil.’’

‘’No, they saved my people. The real evil is that damned Devil. The Skullkans aided by the Vangels drove that demon away. For that they’re heroes.’’

‘’And I’m the monster.’’

‘’No, you’re not. You want to do good, but there’s other ways of fighting back.’’

‘’So, what do you want me to do.’’

Paradise then held his hands, hoping desperately to earn back his trust.

‘’I have all the intelligence I need. Together we can leave. We can grab a boat and run.’’

‘’So, you want me to just abandon my ship, abandon my brothers, my vengeance.’’

‘’Hasn’t enough blood been shed; how many more must die.’’

‘’All of them, they all must die!’’

Paradise then went on her knees, begging him.

‘’Please, after my father, you’re the only other person that’s ever cared for me. you saved me, let me save you, I don’t want to lose you.’’

Her friend then knelt, joining her.

‘’You haven’t lost anything, little fish.’’

Paradise then blinked. As they knelt at the side of the deck, Paradise suddenly felt everyone’s eyes on her. her heart begun to pace as things no longer felt right, a cold wind rustling as the calm sees soured. She looked to the sky and azure had been overthrown, replaced by a bleeding blackness.

‘’No.....’’

‘’Yes.’’

Her friend then rose her to her feet, leading her into the centre of the ship, the whole crew surrounding them.

‘’What is this.’’

‘’you’ve told me your truth, now you shall hear our truth!’’

Thunder then roared as Paradise stumbled to her knees, red blood rain flowed from the heavens, the crimson tears tearing away the flesh of the pirates as skeletal bone revealed. Paradise shuddered in fright.

‘’Who are you?’’

‘’We are the devil’s vengeance!’’ shouted the captain, joining her friend.

‘’Years ago, we were murdered by our own people, our own mothers and fathers watched as we bled, our hearts stabbed in their names!’’

Paradise begun to crawl backward, her heart beating out of her chest as the dead men etched closer.

‘’Our own daughters, our sons. They watched us die right before our eyes.’’

Paradise’s heart then dropped...

‘’No, it can’t be.’’

‘’Yes, my little fish, it's me.’’

‘’No! You’re dead, you’re all dead!’’

Shouted Paradise, screaming to her depths. The captain then lunged into her face.

‘’We are dead! and we have been dead for ages. Amidst it all, vengeance has burned within us, now we finally have a chance to grasp it, we can make sure our sacrifices were not in vain.’’

‘’Please......’’

Cried Paradise, her spirits shattered, her father then knelt down, sliding his skeletal finger across her flesh.

‘’I’m sorry my little fish.........all men must die.’’

‘’NOOOOOOOOOOO – ‘’

When paradise awoke, she was strung up and tied, hanging as the new figurehead of the Devil’s vengeance. An island came into view, and she watched as its clear blue skies suddenly soured into a raging black storm. Screams cried as bodies fled, a lone little girl staring back on the white beach. Apocalypse marched onward as the pirates howled. She soon realized that this island was Paradise, and like her, it was lost.