–The Underside–

"We will now pass through Purgatory where the lost souls, and the souls waiting their placement in the Ever Realms, reside," Fate said. "Please try to ignore what they say and whatever you do, refrain from touching the walls."

Fate walked down the torch-lit cavern. He was followed by the angels. Raven and Sapphire trailed after them. Behind them walked Hakan and Vince hand in hand. Sires and Marcus bickered over who should go next until Sera screamed at them—they scrambled after the group. Zoë followed in their wake, and the wall re-appeared behind them.

The road they traveled was disturbing, the dirt ever-shifting. Occasionally it grew thin, bubbling like mud, and a person's hand or face could be seen trying to press through the opaque smooth dirt. They all moaned, speaking of hardship, confusion, depression, uncertainty. Over and over they repeated how they died, why they died, who killed them, whether they committed suicide or murdered someone. The worst was the children, always confused, always scared, always crying out for their lost parents.

Finally the group reached a part of the path where it opened and widened. This led to a vast cavern that stretched for as long as the eye could see. The dirt slowly gave way to rocks, which then gave way to sand. Beyond the sand was a vast river, it's clear waters flickering against the torches. Behind them the tormented voices still called, rippling against the walls in troubled echoes.

Sitting at the edge of the riverbank was a wooden pier. A long, long line of people stretched from it. Men, woman, and children of all ages stood in a single file line, staring blankly ahead of themselves. No one spoke, adding to the disturbing scene.

The only time these people seemed to snap out of their daze was when Fate passed. Every single person wordlessly turned their heads, eyes silently following Fate as he walked by. Once he was past they went back to staring vacantly ahead. Fate paid heed to none of them, pointedly looking straight ahead as though they weren't even there.

Waiting at the edge of the pier was a being. They were recognizable immediately; they wore a long black cloak, the large hood completely obscuring their features. Two skeletal hands held a long scythe, and the being was currently leaning against the weapon.

Upon seeing this person, Marcus abruptly stopped walking. Sires, not expecting him to stop, rammed into him and glared.

"No way," Marcus said. "Nope. Uh-uh. Not doing this. I like my immortality, thanks."

Sera looked behind himself, walked over to Marcus, and then grabbed him by the arm to force him forward. "He won't hurt you, I promise. He's just a ferryman."

"Just a ferryman," Marcus squeaked, his eyes wide.

"What do you care," Sires grumbled as he stomped past them, "you're half-dead anyway."

Marcus glared. "Exactly, and I'd like to keep the part of me that's alive."

Suddenly, Fate was next to Marcus and Sera, appearing out of thin air. "I assure you, his job is merely to distribute the dead."

Without another word, Fate continued walking. Marcus swallowed thickly and then continued onward, jerking his arm out of Sera's grasp.

When the group reached the ferryman Fate bowed, much to everyone's surprise. The cloaked being returned the deep bow.

"Death," Fate greeted.

Death pointed to the angels, and when he spoke it was light and delicate, angelic sounding. All except Fate were shocked. "What are they doing here? They're not allowed here."

"I know," Fate replied, "something...Highly irregular has happened on The Surface."

"I felt it," Death replied. "Suddenly millions of souls simply...blinked into death. What happened, Fate? Where are they?"

Fate touched Death's elbow. "I am sorry for the long line here. And, unfortunately, unless we right this, there will be billions more joining this line." Fate paused, releasing Death's arm. "Death, please believe me when I say that is all you need to know, and that you need to distance your involvement from what is happening here."

Fate hesitated then. "And, I have a favor to ask of you."

"Oh?"

"I need passage into Hell."

The voice beneath the hood remained silent.

"Lucifer's realm."

A skeletal finger pointed at Fate's entourage. "Will they be accompanying you as well?"

Fate stared directly into the hood. "Yes."

Death didn't move. Fate reached into his shirt, pulling out a bag. He shook it, coins clanking against each other. A dry laugh emitted from beneath the hood.

"Fate, while I appreciate the gesture, I will not take your money. This is just..." He pointed to Sires, Sapphire, and Zoë. "There are mortals here, too, Fate. It's against the rules. You know that."

"Please," Fate replied, sounding desperate. "In all the years I have known you, all the thousands of years, I have never asked anything of you. Please Death, just this once, I need you to simply turn your eyes. I promise that whatever happens I will defend you, and I will tell the truth that I have strong armed you into this, and I am solely to blame for your gross transgression and negligence."

Death didn't reply. When Fate spoke again it was quiet, and his voice trembled. "Please do not make me beg, Death."

After a moment's pause, Death stepped aside. He outstretched his arm to the group. "Please, come aboard."

The ship they boarded was a massive, open topped boat. It was made from a dark, thick, highly polished wood. The boat could easily fit a few hundred people, at least. Both ends came up in a decorative loop, each one holding a wrought iron lantern. When everyone was situated, Death boarded, and the ship began to move away on its own accord.

Zoë peered over the side of the boat. The river was surprisingly shallow and she could easily see the rock bed below them. The water was crystal clear, shimmering in the light. The farther away they sailed, the less they could hear the wailing voices of Purgatory.

Finally, sparse conversations broke out in hushed voices. Sera had asked Raven to converse with him, so the seat next to Raven was taken. Sapphire sat by herself on her own huge bench that could accommodate at least fifteen people, arms wrapped around her waist.

She stared out at the water, still trying to process everything that was happening. Footsteps hit her ears and she looked up, Death walking past. Death stopped a moment to look directly at her. Sapphire's mouth fell open.

She had caught a glimpse under his hood.

Death was literally the most handsome man she had ever laid eyes on. His jaw was strong, his skin a radiant, healthy, olive color. Thick auburn curls spilled about his perfect face, and his eyes were bright and hazel. His lips were full but masculine all at once, supple and seductively red. When he looked at her a flush touched his cheeks, making him all the more attractive. Wordlessly he yanked on his hood so it covered his face better and then quickly strode away. Sapphire gawked at his back.

Someone sat besides her then. Blinking, Sapphire looked to her right. Fate adjusted his sleeves, fussing over them. He looked at them as he spoke, not at her. "I suggest you refrain from touching the water. It looks inviting, but I assure you it is not."

"Fate," Sapphire whispered. "I saw—I saw Death."

Fate continued to fidget with his clothes.

"He's gorgeous!"

Fate looked at her, his expression a mixture of amusement and sadness. "What, you thought he was a skeleton?"

"Well, yes. I mean, his hands and arms confirmed it—"

"Death," Fate interrupted, speaking in a hushed tone, staring at the back of the cloaked ferryman standing at the bow, "is a very conflicted being. Though I am the one tasked with the actual deaths of people and guiding them to the afterlife, he is the one that delivers them to where they belong. He feels severe guilt, especially when it comes to delivering people to Hell."

Fate's expression changed, full of sadness. His voice grew gentle, brimming with sympathy. "Death was one of the originally beings created, along with all of the deities and lesser Gods and Goddess'. He always has Been, just like I always have Been. The guilt of his job was always a heavy burden for him, until one day he tried to kill himself."

Sapphire's eyes grew, but she remained silent.

Fate gestured to the water. "This is not water—it is something akin to acid. It is a safeguard so mortals cannot get past Purgatory. If flesh touches it, it immediately begins burning the skin away. Death was too fearful to just jump in, so he started with his hands. The pain became unbearable at the elbows, so he is now forever cursed with skeletal hands and lower arms."

Sapphire looked at Death's back. "That's so sad."

"It bothers him that someone with such a ugly job was gifted with beauty. He loathes his face, and he occasionally talks about one day dipping his face in the water."

"I don't understand. He literally is just the ferryman...He shouldn't feel bad. It's not his fault."

Fate shrugged. "He's also the Bookkeeper. My job is to follow people, guide them, from the time of their birth until they die. I am the one who speaks to their soul and convinces them it is okay to depart from their body. I am the one that weaves their lives."

Fate's expression grew grim. "Death, however, is the one that listens to their tales. He is the one that hears their laments, their guilt. He is the one that hears their side of the story.

"I am an indifferent spectator, making sure everyone's life goes according to Plan, or as close to it as I can manage. Death is the one who becomes burdened with their sorrows. He listens to their personal perspective of their lives. He is the one who checks their name off the list when they go onto his boat." Fate narrowed his eyes slightly. "And it is a very, very, long list."

"Fate..." Sapphire spoke carefully, looking into the deity's face. "I don't understand why I'm here. Everyone else has a special ability. What am I supposed to do?"

Fate smiled and patted her knee. "Honestly, I loathe to say it, but you were merely an innocent bystander along with Zoë. You were there when I collected Raven. If you would like, when we reach the shores of Hell I can bring you back with Death and I."

Sapphire jolted. "You're not helping them?"

The sad expression returned. "It is not my place. My job is to remain neutral."

"I don't understand. How can you claim neutrality when you collected us all to fight and put an end to Evil? That seems pretty biased to towards the Good."

Fate sighed. "It is complicated. I have power over everything living, everything that has a soul. However, when outside forces, such as Lucifer, interfere, I lose that power. This is why vampirism is still such a plague; I have no control over vampires. They are not mortals. Once they are turned, I lose my connection to them, and I move onto the next being to guide."

He began to fidget with his clothes again. "When Lucifer destroyed LA, that was not The Plan. Not only did he kill millions of lives—lives that I am going to eventually herd if we do not set things right—but he destroyed the very reality of time."

He grew even quieter as he spoke, sounding almost embarrassed. "Father Time is the only friend I have in the universe, and when a part of his realm was destroyed it upset him greatly. While I know there shall be consequences for my roll in this attack on Lucifer, it will be worth it to help my friend."

Tears stung Sapphire's eyes. "That's very noble of you." Tentatively, she reached out and touched Fate's hand. "I'm sorry you are tasked with such a lonely job."

Fate stared at his hands a moment, looking surprised at the touch. He then raised his head, staring across the boat at Sera. "We all have jobs that isolate us and make us lonely..."

Just then the boat hit something. Everyone jolted. Sapphire looked up, surprised to find them docked. The dock itself looked wrong; it was made from a black material, twisted and sickly. Strange growths, looking like some sort of large, purple spores, hung from the dock, dripping with green goo.

Death opened the door to the boat, stepping out onto the dock. He stood before them, outstretching his hand.

"We have arrived."