Death of a Human

Moonlight and moisture make the wall glitter as if I am about to pass
through a schism between worlds. Climbing is tricky business, but I
make it to the top. Gasping for air, I can't see the end of the wall on
either side. Fog has covered everything. Hopefully, the floor is not too
far down. My legs are not what they used to be.

Dropped like a stone. An army of a million ants is walking up and down
my feet. I am lying on wet earth waiting for my body to come to its
senses. Finally I am up. Dusting myself off, I can hear leaves
moving.

I have no money and I am out of cigarettes.

[Manchester] I have no need for that.

Voice comes from a different direction. Leaves keep moving. There's
more than one of them around. Maybe I am dinner.

Things will run more smoothly if you had the balls to face me.

[Manchester] All in good time, all in good time.

Manchester, I'd love to stay and play. I've got things to do and
people to see.

[Manchester] Insulting me on my own grounds is not something I take
lightly. Human.

Oh, did I hurt your feelings Manny?

[Manchester] You are not the demon you used to be. You are but another
ring on my food chain.

From the sound of your voice, Manny, I would say that you are even
scared. I guess I never realized that vampires do keep some of their
human features. It makes so much sense, don't you think? You get to
keep those features you hate and despise on what you were, and now
eat. He does work in mysterious ways. Then again, He might not.

I can hear armies moving, but I can see nothing but fog and rays of
pale light.

[Manchester] ENOUGH!

Two lines, one on the left and one on the right, of what I can only
guess to be Manchester's followers.

[Manchester] I am getting the nail. What you can decide is if I will
be getting fed as well.

I take out a cigarette and light it.

[Manchester] You said you had none.

I lied.

I take a drag and swallow hard.

[Manchester] Time's up.

It's my nail.

[Manchester] It's dinner time.

Did not even move. Closed my eyes and waited. It's pitch dark but I
can smell leaves and strong perfume. And blood. Back of my throat
clear pungent taste of blood. Open my eyes, Manny is on the floor and
Lucifer is walking in circles over his carcass.

[Lucifer] He's dead.

He was careless.

[Lucifer] You are stirring things up. More than what I anticipated.

I was not aware you had plans? Should we go back and run through that
scene again?

[Lucifer] Cimeries, do not TEMPT ME!

Got a light?

[Lucifer] Rhetoric was never your strong point.

Not intentional, honest. I keep forgetting your other names. Your
offer still stands, I assume.

[Lucifer] No, circumstances have changed.

So why am I not dead?

[Lucifer] Never said you were alive.

You're here, and I am not in Hell. So what is it that you want from
me?

[Lucifer] You are in a predicament, you already used Dante's nail on
Manny. Nice move by the way. Manny was so much into himself, he did
not notice your sleeping the nail along with the cigarette in your
mouth. However, you are still bound with Dante. If my sources are
correct, you even asked rewards.

Don't treat me like a bloody novice. Your head on a plate was the
extra bait I needed to re-enforce his belief in me.

[Lucifer] That's a really "political" statement Cimeries. And what is
it now?

Way I see it, you either destroy me here and now, or use me.

[Lucifer] I cannot destroy you, Cimeries.

Oh, your index finger got a cramp, or something?

[Lucifer] Seth will take you to The Byblos.

What am I, your understudy?

[Lucifer] One needs to know his enemy as good as he knows himself.

Who is my enemy?

[Lucifer] Heaven ... and Hell. Ready for a revolution?