Far from the Colosseum and many levels below the surface of Hell, hair-raising screams and soulless wails sang through the air. Here, the air felt like a living being of heat pressing against the skin, trying constantly to sear the flesh through to the bones. Here, the damned writhed in eternal agony, a mass of clawing limbs and faces forever contorted in excruciating pain. Here was the place for those who had no place, a place for those who had been rejected by all other levels of hell. This was just the beginning, one of the many places in Hell where chaos reigned freely.<br/><br/>Even the underworld had its outcasts, and many were bent on crawling their way back up.<br/><br/>Like all other outbreaks of infestations, this was not left unmanned. Hunters of all sorts amassed here in hopes of making a name for themselves. Whether it be bragging of how many they killed, managing to slaughter a specific bounty, or just to sate one's blood lust, this was the place to go.<br/><br/>Most never returned.<br/><br/>One such hunter trudged away from the echoing screams, weary and relieved that her task was finally over. Blood still trickled from her many wounds, blackened tongue slipping out to lick at the blood along her cut lip, yet there was a gleam of pride behind her glassy eyes. She'd survived.<br/><br/>Crawling behind her, a damned soul shuffled along on his hands and knees. Led along by a makeshift leash, the bladed leash ended with dull hooks that were now lodged into the man's face (http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/b/b4/Ntginspiration03.jpg). Pale skin that had once been taut was now loose, cut, and flapping. His left eye had been dislodged, the remnants of a flattened eyeball clinging to the tip of a hook. Blood-coated saliva dribbled out of his mouth as another hook lodged up through the bottom of his chin and through his mouth. He had no choice but to follow, though the extent of his injuries -- deep gashes and cuts all along the length of his body -- told how he had resisted.<br/><br/>Leading her new captive along, the huntress's spirits lightened. She'd passed the test. Once she brought the soul to the Prince, it would show that she was able to complete further tasks. Tugging impatiently on the leash, the soul gargled out his objection which only added another cut to his collection. "Hurry it up, I haven't got all day."<br/><br/>She gasped as heat suddenly seared through her abdomen. Glancing down, she gaped at the length of sword jutting out of her stomach, the gleaming metal covered in her own blood. "You're right, I haven't got all day." The voice murmured in her ear before twisting the blade and swiftly pulling it to the side, effectively slicing her stomach open. "You have failed. A weakling such as yourself doesn't stand a chance to continue the Prince's bidding."<br/><br/>As the huntress fell to her knees, a hand clutching at the gaping wound, loss and despair raged through her. "Master Vetis (http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs23/f/2007/365/7/8/Dynasty_declining_by_feimo.jpg)...please...please, give me another chance..." The soul that she had captured, realizing its captor was severely weakened, took the chance to pounce on her. No longer minding the hooks that tore against its flesh, it sunk its teeth into her neck until it felt the crack of bone...then it feasted as it tore a chunk of her flesh away and gobbled at it greedily.<br/><br/>His duty done, he returned to his Prince's side.<br/><br/><div align="center">*    *    *    *</div><br/>Lounging atop a massive amount of black silk pillows, Mnemosyne (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3486/3932087302_5439277965.jpg) idly watched the fighting within the arena. She was currently watching the Valkyrie and chimera as they were the closest pair in sight, yet already, she was trying not to yawn outright.<br/><br/>Mnemosyne hated these silly social gatherings, she never saw the point of immersing herself within demonic politics, much rather preferring to spend her days enjoying herself instead of tipping polite nods and fake smiles towards the other Princes. But she was no fool.<br/><br/>Rumors of an uprising had reached even her ears, and now was no time to appear weak and uninterested. She didn't care for any of the other Princes and had no intention of dislodging one from their throne. All she cared for was the keeping of her own, her Mistress's throne, the Queen of Darkness's throne.<br/><br/>Vetis appeared at her side just as the crowd erupted into a frenzy of cheers as the Valkyrie nearly fell off the floating platforms. Kneeling with his head lowered, he waited for her word.<br/><br/>"And?"<br/><br/>"None of the candidates were worthy."<br/><br/>"Ah, pity. And they were all taken care of?"<br/><br/>"Yes, my Lady."<br/><br/>Readjusting herself as she shifted atop the pillows, she stared thoughtfully out at the Arena. After becoming Prince, her previous occupation as Hunter was no longer her priority. However, it was one of the tasks that the Queen of Darkness had overlooked, and now that task was hers. Curbing the levels overflowing with the damned. As much as she loved the feel of her blade bringing death to another, she just didn't have the time for it as she once did. She needed skilled hunters to take her place.<br/><br/>Eyes fixed on the fights before her, a small smile curled her lips. "Perhaps one of these will do..."