A L M I R A

Chapter 14
Almira Davenport

My head was pounding and I looked around, finding myself in a blue and red place. This must be Hell. I looked for Cole and Ambrielle and a relief washed over me when I seen them not too far away from me.

"Almira, are you okay?" Ambrielle asked, scanning over me to make sure I was okay.

I nodded. "I'm fine. We need to find a place that has sustainable clothes for this type of climate, our earthly clothes won't suffice. They're already melting off of us," I said, looking at Cole and Ambrielle.

Ambrielle had a worried look on her face but didn't do anything but not. "Okay. I see lights over there, maybe there's a town?"

Cole looked in that direction before looking back at me. "I think that sounds like a good place to start, what do you say, Almira?"

I nodded and we made our way towards the light, which, indeed was a town full of people, or should I say dead souls. They all wore a face of either pain or discomfort, which was chilling. I spotted a sign with a shirt burnt into and pointed at it. "That seems like a place to have clothes."

Ambrielle and Cole agreed, walking to it. It was hot here, I'll say that. It was hotter than what we're used to.

We walked inside and a little old lady greeted us. "What can I get ya?"

I put my hand up to silence Cole and Ambrielle. I spoke up. "We're newcomers and our clothes aren't made for this type of climate, do you have anything?"

"Newcomers? Well, let me give you something, free of charge!" She exclaimed, rushing to the back and grabbing a couple boxes. "The clothing items are in here, you can change in that room over there."

I nodded at her, not smiling or thanking her, and walked over to the room, stepping inside. Ambrielle and Cole came inside as well, giving each other weird looks. I raised an eyebrow at the two of them. "Is there a problem?"

"You didn't thank the lady," Ambrielle noted, placing her hands together.

"I didn't have to," I shrugged, throwing her and Cole their clothing items. "Turn around Cole."

Cole did as I said and turned around, leaving Ambrielle and I to change in comfort. I slid the melted dress I was wearing off and put on the clothes the lady gave me. It was different than our realm. She gave me black pants, tight black pants. I slid on the pants and zipped them up before putting on the tight white shirt and the long black jacket. This was odd, most defitely odd. New, but odd. I slid the heel boots on and pulled them up to my knees before buttoning the sides.

"I'm not used to this," Ambrielle commented, fixing her outfit. She had the same outfit as I did and so did Cole, minus the heels. He had boots that went a bit above his ankle, otherwise, he had the same thing we did.

"We'll have to make do for now. Anyways, the thing we need is a flower called Camellia. We get that flower and get out of here," I informed, looking at the two of them.

They nodded and we walked out. Ambrielle thanked the lady and I walked up to her, leaning against the counter. "What do you know about the Camellia flower?" I pondered, looking at her sternly.

Her head snapped up and she looked at me with crossed brows. "What could you possibly want with that flower?"

"That's my business, lady," I snapped, glaring at her. "I'll ask again, what do you know about the Camellia flower?"

She gulped and shook her head. "I cannot tell you. Those who seek that flower could only be evil!" She cursed at me, pointing her finger. "You are evil! Evil, evil, evil!"

I jumped over the counter and wrapped my hand around her throat, holding her up against the wall. "I'm being friendly right now. If you want to see evil, I'll show you. I don't like repeating myself, tell me about the flower."

"Almira!" Ambrielle called out. I ignored her, tightening my grip on the lady's throat.

"You'll have to kill me before I tell your wicked self!" She defended, her hands wrapping around mine to try and release my grip. It wasn't happening.

"I can do worse things than kill you," I taunted, tightening my grasp.

She started gasping for air, smacking and clawing at my hand. Nothing.

"Okay, okay!" She caved in. I dropped her on the ground and she wrapped her hands around her throat, coughing. "The Camellia is a powerful flower that only grows in the most dangerous places. People who seek the flower in the forbiddden valley never make it out alive. It's said to have intense powers and healing properties."

I glared down at her and put my foot under her chin, making her look at me. "Was that so hard?" I teased, smiling.

She glared at me and I quickly bent down to her level. "Anything else you'd like to share?"

"I'll see you in the deepest level of Hell," She spat, glaring daggers at me.

"Indeed. In the mean time, why not have a head start?" I snapped her neck, her body falling limp to the ground. I turned to a petrified Ambrielle and a shocked Cole. "I'm going to the back to find weapons and other useful items. Feel free to do whatever, I'll be back."

I walked to the back and grabbed a bag, opening it up. I grabbed ingrediants for spells and put them in the bag. I also grabbed food, things I could use as weapons, and cash. I grabbed clothes and shut the bag, snapping my fingers and making it disappear. I made my way back to Ambrielle and Cole.

"Ready?"

The two of them nodded and we walked out, walking around the town. Something felt off, and it wasn't the temperature. I ignored it and we walked into this diner, taking a seat. A waitress came up to us and took our order, which was simple. She left to get our drinks and food, coming back moments later.

An old man walked up to us, smiling. "Is the food to your liking?"

Ambrielle nodded. "It's delicious, thank you!"

I set the fork down and looked at the man, taking a sip from my drink. "What do you know about the forbidden valley? Where is it?"

"Oh my, what would a lovely lad such as yourself want to do with that horrid place?" He asked, raising his eyebrows.

"Answer the question, old man," I seethed, giving him a stern look.

"Rude much," He muttered before clearing his throat. "It's a place not too far from here, probably a hundred or so miles. It's one of the most horrifying places in Hell, really. People who go in never make it out to tell the tale. I've heard the rare flower Camellia grows there, though."

"What do you know about the Camellia flower?" I persisted, intertwining my fingers together and propping my arms on the table, placing my head on my hands.

"It's got strong properties. Said to be seeked by people who crave intense powers, why do you ask?" He interrogated, raising an eyebrow.

"Just... curious," I responded curtly.

"So who's the big man around here?" Cole questioned, looking at the man.

"You mean Sephtis? Ah, he doesn't come aorund these parts of Hell, but he has little servants or minions, also known as soul takers, who come here to keep everybody in line," The old man explained, glancing outside the window.

"Well, thank you for the food, how much will it be?" Cole politely thanked the man for the food.

"Oh for you? Free of charge, but keep your friend here in line, her questions could get her killed."

"Your attitude and answers can get you killed aswell," I mumbled, standing up and walking outside. Ambrielle and Cole followed, catching up to me.

"What is your deal?" Ambrielle cracked, looking at me with a stern look.

"What do you mean?" I sneered.

"Ever since we got here, you've been completely different from the you we knew and loved on Earth. You've killed an innocent lady and threatened an old man," Ambrielle gushed, looking at me with worried eyes.

"Ambrielle," Cole spoke up, catching her attention. "She made it here alive, correct?"

"Yeah?"

"Vira said if she didn't die, something else would happen. By the looks of it, I think Almira lost her humanity," Cole said, worriedly.

Ambrielle looked at me with eyes of horror. "How do we get it back?"

Cole shrugged. "I don't know, but this isn't good."

~-~

Cole, Ambrielle, and I decided to find an inn to stay in and get some rest. I laid on the bed and thought about Calix. How was he doing? Was the time speed here different than it was at home? Was he still alive?

I sighed and stood up, looking outside the window. Everybody was rushing to get inside a place, whether it be their home or a shop of some kind. This caught my attention and I continued to look outside, awaiting to see what was going to happen. I waited for a couple minutes before deciding to lay down and get some rest.

When I woke up in the morning, Ambrielle and Cole were already up. "Good morning," Ambrielle greeted, smiling at me.

I waved my hand in her direction and made my way to the bathroom, looking at myself in the mirror. My eyes were duller than they were on earth and I looked paler. I shook my head and went back to where Ambrielle and Cole were. "We set out to get that flower and get back home today."

"So soon? How do we even get to the forbidden valley? That man said it was at least a hundred miles away, we can't walk that far, it'd take forever," Ambrielle bombarded me with questions.

I took a deep breath before looking at her. "Easy, we take someone's horses."

Ambrielle and Cole weren't too fond of my method of getting what I wanted, but I didn't care. This was all for Calix. I had to save him, that's why we're in Hell to begin with.

We walked to the horse stables and got three horses, untying them from their posts. When their owners came to confront us, I quickly snapped necks and ripped their hearts out, dropping them on the ground.

"So let's go get that flower, shall we?" I grinned, jumping onto the horse and setting off.

~-~

We had been riding for what seemed like hours, but we made it to the forbidden valley. Trees and sulfur were all around, the flower we needed lying on the other side of this valley.

I hopped off the horse and carried the lead, the horse following behind me. I walked up to the entrance of the valley and mentally prepped myself for the challenges I was about to face. A woman came out in a red cloak, standing in front of me.

She took her hood off and I looked her face before realizing who it was. It dawned on me and I didn't know what to feel anymore. This was one of the first emotions I've felt since I stepped foot into Hell.

"Sister, so good to see you," Lyric sarcastically greeted, her voice laced with venom and hatred.

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