This is the first part of my long overdue follow-up to Anijza Part 1:
"As on Earth as in Hell" released last year.  Like that one it is
supposed to be my Halloween story once any and all C&C are reviewed.
The entire story is completed, my editing in progress, but I could use
some feedback to finish a final story to post on the RAAC.
 
 

                                         Ranma 1/2
 
                                           Anijza
 
                                        Part Two:
 
                               'In Hell As In Forever'
 

                                    Nicholas Stone
 
 
 

                                     The Prisoner
 

       
Pain wracked Ranma Saotome as a cold stale draft sent chills through his
body.  He huddled in one corner of a dimly lit room, his sobs echoing
off the wall rocking aimlessly as he fought to control his emotions.
Finally, after a long spell, Ranma slowly looked around his
surroundings.
       "Where has that bitch taken me?" he muttered in a low, harsh
voice.
       Nothing seemed to make sense.  He remembered the fight; feeling
and hearing his body endure Anijza's excruciating blows that beat him
into senseless delirium.  Images flashed before his eyes, images of his
father, Ryoga, Ukyo, and-.
       "Akane!" gasped Ranma.
       That drew an involuntary response from him and he leaped to his
feet instinctively rising to her protection.  Only there was no Akane,
nor any of his friends in need of help.  Just sharp flashes of pain that
dropped Ranma back to the hard, rough floor.  He moaned and looked
groggily up again.
       A cell, he thought, and in need of some deep cleaning; slime and
moss clinging all over the stone walls.  High up on one wall set a
square window crisscrossed with thick iron rods, and suspended from a
chain in the roof hung a wooden chandelier.  The one lit torch provided
barely enough light to see the cell's iron door.  Something rank hinting
of rot and decay suddenly caught Ranma, and he wrinkled his nose in
disgust pulling himself back up into a sitting position.
       "Where am I?" he said again.
       The smell faded away and Ranma crawled across the cell and stared
up at the window.  Bracing a hand against its slick surface, he
carefully rose to his feet.  Another chill reminded him that the front
of his shirt hung open, torn down the middle during his fight against
Anijza.   A good leap, he mused.  I'm not sure if I have the strength
for it.  With a deep breath he leaped catching on to the sill and pulled
himself up.
       His muscles strained, Ranma quickly reaching out grabbing hold to
one of the crossbars.  Another pull and he finally crested the edge.  It
was then that another waft of foul air passed into the cell.  The thick,
foul miasma choked Ranma, stinging his throat bringing tears welling up
in his eyes.  Only by hanging back down out of the drifting breeze was
he able to maintain his precarious position and avoid falling back down
to the floor. Finally, the odor passed and he pulled his tired frame
back up gazing out through the bars.
        The sky was jet black not a star or even a hint of clouds, and
yet there seemed to be a haze lingering like early morning mist over the
ground and in the air dimming a clear view of the horizon.  Faint glows
of shifting red and yellows reflected off this and Ranma pulled himself
up higher straining to get a better view of the surrounding buildings.
       Cold, dark stone slab walls surrounded a castle-like fortress,
it's slopping roofs adorned with dark red spikes and shingles, minarets
and towers rose high at its corners casting a sense of resilience and
despair across everything in sight.  Escaping across the roof would be
difficult, and if there were guards in those towers and along the
battlements, nearly impossible.  Even then, where could he go?
       Ranma tried to see past the mist into the murky landscape but
could not make out any features.  "Where the hell has she taken me?" he
said.
       "Maladomini," said a voice from behind.
       YEEAAHHH!
       Ranma hit the floor hard, stunning himself in the process.  With
a low groan, he rolled over onto his side and looked at the iron door.
Through a small barred window he saw a familiar tuff of bright red hair
and innocent smile lighting up the face of the one person he did not
want to see.
       "Anijza," he growled, rolling onto his stomach.
       The smile grew brighter on Anijza's face.  She gazed upon him,
deep red eyes full of love and longing for her reluctant consort.  With
a slight gesture of her head, the bars sealing the door were thrown
back.  It creaked open and Anijza, accompanied by two tall robed and
hooded figures entered.
       "Ranma," called Anijza lightly.  He did not respond and she knelt
down.  "Ranma?" she called again.
       This time his head hesitantly rose up.
       Still the figure of alluring beauty, Anijza's features had
changed but slightly since the last time he saw her.  She appeared a few
years older, wearing a grayish-white long gown with chrome brassards on
her shoulders, a matching cape, her hair tied back in a long ponytail
draped behind her head.
       He gulped and then asked, "A-A-Anijza... where in the hell have
you taken me?"
       Laughing, Anijza stood back up.  "Your wit and humor will always
be my favorite thing about you, Ranma.  At least you got the Hell part
right."
       Ranma took in a few breaths, and then drew up onto his knees.  He
stared at her, trying to make some sense out of what she said.
       "Hell?" he finally said.  "-what, what level?"
       Again Anijza burst out into her familiar titter cutting looks
back at her companions who also appeared to be laughing as well.
       "Ah, yes, the human imagination.  They couldn't get the
information right when it was dictated to them, and now look how it's
all turned out."
       She stopped, leaning towards him.  "There are no 'levels' in
Hell, Ranma-chan.  Just a large, infinite realm of perpetuality."
       The shock kept Ranma from saying anything, his fear growing.
Anijza casually walked over to the window, mysteriously lowered down to
her level.  She peered out its checkered facade before facing him again.
       "I have brought you to my portion of Maladomini.  My... nitch, to
say, in this existence."
       "You're 'nitch'?" said Ranma.
       "Yes.  I am one of The Master's caretakers, charged to oversee
some of his worldly endeavors into your old world."
       "So, so what do you want from me?"
       "Why is that not obvious, Ranma-chan?  I want you."
       She's insane!  Ranma thought.  He started to stand, but the two
robed figures moved up stopping him.  He eyed them, sizing up this new
opposition and knelt back down.  "Why me, Anijza?  Why did you pick me?"
       There appeared a warm smile, and the red glow in Anijza's eyes
dimmed.  She moved towards him body swaying with a teasing rhythm.  One
brow arched up and she said, "Because I've wanted you for a long time,
my dear sweet love.  Longer than you'll ever know."
       "But, but I've never met you before your visit to Nerima!  How
could you have-?"
       "It will be all explained in time, Ranma," Anijza cut in.  "Right
now you must accept the fact that you are here in my realm and that this
is now your new home."
       Ranma's jaw fell open.  "M-m-my new home?"
       "Yes, my love.  You are to be my new consort here at my palace.
It will be so perfect!"
       But Ranma was not listening, his mind tuning out everything
around him.  The word 'Home' continued to ring in his ears, unable to
believe what she had said to him.  No, this is not right.  I must...  I
have to get out of here, away from this crazy woman and back to Akane!
       "Ranma?" called Anijza.
       He turned; Anijza drawing back as his expression turned to one of
rage.  With a loud cry Ranma launched himself at her with arms stretched
out, fingers barred ready to throttle her.  Two swift blurs immediately
interposed themselves in front of him.  He jerked sharply as a pair of
gnarled hands grabbed him by each shoulder, shoving Ranma back across
the cell.
       Ranma hit the cold wall with a painful thud and slid to the
floor.  He moaned and then stared up at them with surprise.
       "You cannot hurt me here in my realm, Ranma," Anijza told him.
The fire in her eyes was glowing bright again.  "My servants will
prevent you from doing anything to harm me, and they will keep you here
whether you want to or not."
       A sharp pain shot through his right shoulder; Ranma grimacing as
he pushed away from the wall.  "I'm not staying here, Anijza," he said,
nursing the injury with his left hand.  "I'll get out of here... my
friends will come and get me... you'll see!"
       "Your friends," scoffed Anijza.  "They can't get into this realm,
Ranma, and even if they do how would they find you?"
       "They will!"
       Anijza's lips drew tight, brows furrowing as she crossed her
arms.  "If they do, Ranma, then they will endure untold pains and
suffering.  Do you want that?"
       Ranma swallowed, unsure how to answer her.  He did not reply and
Anijza smiled.
       "Did not think you would."
       She turned and headed back out the door.  Ranma watched
helplessly as it closed behind them.  The hard clack of the bolt locking
shut chilled him, and he sat staring lifelessly out across the cell.
       "However," called Anijza through the window in the door.  "It
would be nice to see Akane Tendo again.  She and I have some scores to
settle.  I'd enjoy getting another crack at her."
       "You leave Akane alone," said Ranma.
       "Only if she does not cross my path, Ranma.  Otherwise, I will
have to... 'Deal' with her, and that would be so much fun."
       "I'll get you, Anijza, and I will get out of here."
       Anijza laughed.  "Give my palace a chance, Ranma.  You will come
to accept your fate with time.  There is plenty of that to go around,
trust me."
       Ranma grit his teeth in rage.  "Never, Anijza... never," he
seethed.
       "We'll see, Ranma.  We shall see..."




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