From: Leviathan Cross  [email protected]
Date: Wed Sep 20, 2000 7:54pm
Subject: NEW FIC: Of Heaven & Hell (1/?)


Hey everyone, 

   Well here's my first attempt at an Esca fic, there will be more to come
soon. 


Title: Of Heaven & Hell 
Author: Leviathan Status: WiP Category:
Action/Adventure/Suspense/Drama   (I could go on but I'm not going  
to) Summary:   A year after the Great War a new demonic shadow is cast
upon the   people of Gaia, resulting in an all out Holy War. Warnings:
Deals with mature themes, some parts may be disturbing to more  
sensitive readers, some profanity and gracious Van-Whumping. (That
poor boy)


Disclaimers: Don't own them, wish I did.   I'm not getting any money for  
this, once again wish I did. Oh, who cares I do this for the fun of it.


Personal Disclaimers: The characters Uteri Osaka and the Ghost Riders
are of   my own creation please do not use these characters without full
permission   of the author AKA me!


Authors Note: This is my first Esca fic and unfortunately I haven't seen
the   whole series yet but I've read a ton of summaries so I have a pretty
good   idea but if I make a plot mistake please bear with me and point it
out.   I'm   just going to warn you that I'm known to have bouts of writer's
block.


Of Heaven & Hell 
By Leviathan


Prologue: 


" Are you sure that this woman knows where she is going?" Gailen asked
the   man in front of him.   It seemed that they had been walking around
this   cavern for hours.


The mustached man turned giving the smaller man a harsh glare. " Uteri
says   that it's here, so it's here."


Gailen couldn't help but shutter as he looked around the cave walls.   At  
times it seemed as though the walls themselves were breathing, watching
your   every move� just waiting to snatch you up, just like the land
dragons used   in the rite of passage for the kings of Fanelia.


The leader of their troop was Uteri Osaka, also known as the demon's  
soldier. She was a master at black magic as well as took a serious interest  
in the occult. Uteri was also known to be a bit mentally unstable, but a  
genius none the less.   No one under her command ever questioned her
actions   to her face for fear of her wrath.   She had marched her men all
over the   g*dd*am planet looking for what she called 'the ultimate prize'.  
It had   been four months without a trace of the thing. Unfortunately none
of the men   under her rule knew what 'the ultimate prize' was.   Some
said it was the   largest amount of wealth ever placed in one spot, others
said it was some of   the most powerful weapons known to man, more
powerful than the legendary   Escaflowne.   But what ever it was, it was
obviously important.


Uteri suddenly stopped raising her arm signaling her men to do the same.  
Her long gray hair fluttered in the cold wind that blew through the dark  
cave.   Wordlessly she gestured to two of her men to light the torches on  
both sides of the cavern.


The light gave way to a new image.   Before them stood a vertical
gigantic   stone ring. In front of the ring was a podium-like rock.   Uteri's
eyes lit   up in excitement.


Gailen stared at the rock with a bewildered gaze. " This is what we've
been   looking for!" he yelled walking up to the monument.   " This
f*cking piece of   stone!"


" This 'f*cking piece of stone' as you so colourfully put it is the key to  
absolute power!" Uteri snapped.   " Gentlemen, behold� the Devil's
Oracle�"


Thaysis another of Osaka's pack spoke his mind, " The Devil's Oracle?
The   portal to hell? I thought that only existed in fairy tales."


" No it's real, but it's not exactly what the books say it is." Uteri then  
grasped the red gem that sat in the center of her choker necklace.   The
gem   was cut in the shape of a head with horns.   She took the gem over
to the   stone stand.   Engraved in the stone was an imprint identical to
the red   stone's shape.   Uteri's smile became wider as she put the item in
the   imprint� it fit perfectly.   The stone gleamed a bright red matching
that of   Uteri's eyes.


The sound of gears turning alerted the others to the motion of the ring. It  
spun in its space like demonic Ferris wheel before slowing down.   The
center   of the ring suddenly caught fire revealing a pair of cold red eyes.


" Who dares disturb my slumber!" a deep intimidating voice came from
fire. 


The men coward away in fear as the eyes swept the room. 


" I did," Uteri proclaimed showing no fear, " Me, Uteri Osaka," she
stated   proudly.


The eyes gave her a questioning gaze. " Why have you called me?" 


" I need your help." 


" For what purpose?" the voice growled, obviously growing tired of the  
incomplete answers.


" Revenge� I want those who destroyed the Zaibach Empire to suffer�
I want   power�" she breathed heavily as a wave of ecstasy ran through
her at the   thought of revenge.   Unknown to many Uteri once served the
Zaibach as one of   their Captains.   She led the squadron known as the
Ghost Riders.   And though   she was known as the demon's soldier she
had never lived up to becoming as   feared an opponent as Lord Dilandau
once was. Now was the time to prove   herself as a superior being.


"Revenge�" the being echoed, amused at the thought. " Not one of the
most   noble causes."


" If I was looking for a noble cause why would I come to you?" Uteri  
sneered.


The eyes seemed to almost soften and a low guttural laugh shook the
cave   walls. " I like the way you think Uteri Osaka.   I have decided to
help you   in your quest after all."


Uteri turned to her men with the look of a kid on Christmas day. " Go set
up   came at the front of the cave."


Her pack gazed back at their leader unsure of what they had gotten  
themselves into.


" Well don't just stand there GO!" 


With that the men scuttled out of the area as if the devil himself was on  
their heels� but for all they knew he was�


Once the cave was empty the being that peered through the ring
addressed the   young captain. " Now listen carefully Uteri Osaka� for
my help does not come   free.   I have the power to grant you any wish
your heart could desire."


" Any wish?" the young woman breathed. 


" Well� almost any wish, my powers do have some limitations." 


Uteri gave the ring a bitter scowl, " What kind of limitations?" 


" I am unable to kill any being, but I can revive any being.   I am also  
unable to transport a living creature here or make some one fall in love  
with some one else� other than that� your wish is my command."


The Captain couldn't help but smile, " What if I wished for a guaranteed  
victory?"


" You would never be able to pay me for that wish," he replied. 


Deciding to except the answer as a dead end� for now anyway she
continued to   gain information on this pact. " Speaking of which� what
is the price for a   wish?"


" I will grant you one wish for every soul that is given to me." 


Uteri swallowed hard at the statement, sure it was true she wanted power
and   revenge, but she wasn't too sure she was ready to sell her soul to the
devil   just yet.   But then again� that's what her followers were for.


" Are you willing to pay the price?" the voice roared. 


A placid stare lit up her eyes; " � You've got yourself a deal." 


***************************************** 
TBC...


Leviathan