Complications
One Shots — Soul Exchange Series
Disclaimer: NSFW, Paranormal Romance, Erotica. Contains Mature Content. READER DISCRETION IS HIGHLY ADVISED
Complications
Earth has had many mysteries, and for good reasons, humans have remained unaware. Eons ago, Immortals roamed freely and openly. Our insatiable lust for chaos and mass destruction cost numerous innocent lives from political upheavals, territorial wars, famine, and diseases. Due to this, several mythologies and legends were fabricated on our recklessness and reign of terror.
Centuries ago, Celestials and the Fallen alike, formed an alliance and proposed a power structure to address the growing turmoils. Various councils were organized to oversee their kind. These divisions were the Celestial Council, the Ethereals, the Unknown, the Astrals, the Hostiles, the Otherworld, the Void, the Seelies, the Vampyre Council, the Lycans, and the Mortal Council.
Most Immortals depended on humans for nutrition, and the humans relied on us to advance their race.
It became a symbiotic relationship.
Although, more often than not, some Immortals and Mortals would violate the Coalition and Peace Treaties. In these situations, Directors from different Councils would interfere and mitigate the lawlessness before they caused mass hysteria.
And if the matters were beyond the Directors’ capabilities or jurisdictions, the Governors of the Councils would intervene. When such an event occurred, the target was usually eradicated, or sentenced to Tartarus where they would be eternally damned.
–-
Casefile: 40 Missing Mortal Children: The Supernaturals
Casefile Origin: 40 Escaped Protected Souls
Date Received by the Celestial Council: October 31, 2022
Director(s) in charge: Eliza Villa Guerra, Celestial Council, Earth, Variant EA-3211; Katarina Tepes IV, Vampyre Council, Earth, Variant EA-3211; and Mada Y. Yuh, Mortal Council Representative, Division, Silent Ones, Earth, Variant EA-3211
Governor(s) in charge: Mikhail Vasiliev, Celestial Council, Earth, Variant EA-3211; Vladymyr Tepes III, Vampyre Council, Earth, Variant EA-3211; and Mortal Council, Africa Continent Division, Silent Ones, Earth, Variant EA-3211
Location: Los Angeles, California, United States, Earth, Variant EA-3211
Council Territory(ies): Celestial Council, Vampyre Council, Mortal Council
Case Summary:
- An emergency request was sent by the Administration in Hell, pseudonym Madamned Underworld on March 16, 2020, to all the Councils on the Third Dimension aka Earth, Variant EA-3211.
- Due to the power struggles incurred by one of the Kings of Hell, Lucifer, formally known as Helel, and one of the Queens, Lilith, formally known as The First Mortal Daughter, every 6th-millennium scheduled vacation, Protected Souls have escaped through the Gates.
- The Conspirators behind it are currently being investigated and would be sentenced to eternal damnation in Tartarus in violation of the Underworld Code, Conspirator Act, C.EA-3211, section 1, s i:
“Earth, Variant EA-3211, is deemed to be a neutral and protected dimension. Any Entity(ies) who knowingly or unknowingly endanger the dimension shall be sentenced to eternal damnation to Tartarus, or soul destruction, or whichever punishment would The Judges deem fit.”
- 40 Protected Souls were tracked to Earth, Variant EA-3211.
- Protected Souls MUST BE IMMEDIATELY RETRIEVED OR DESTROYED per the Underworld Code, Protected Souls Act, PS.EA-3211, Definition of Protected Souls, section 1, ss a, b, c, d:
“(a) Protected Souls are created from Hell’s Miasma and are vital in keeping the health of the Underworld Ecosystem.
(b) Due to their nature, they impose danger anywhere else outside of the Underworld and must be treated as a threat.
(c) They are volatile and dangerous, and if left on the Third Dimension to acquire a Vessel and evolve, they can cause natural disasters, epidemics, and mass destruction. In the worst-case scenario, they will alter the timelines, triggering the arrival of the Hostiles and causing The Great Reset or The Great Cleansing to restore balance.
(d) An evolved Protected Soul cannot be returned to the Underworld since they have undergone genetic mutation; it would be considered an evasive species and would harm the Underworld Ecosystem. If there is evidence or suspicion that the Protected Soul has evolved, immediately destroy it on sight.”
—
Three months ago on October 31, 2023, Hallowed Evening…
The outfit was simple. Black fitted v-neck shirt, black jeans, and black army boots. My glamour stole the suspected Conspirator’s Counsel identity, an Adversary, that went by the pseudonym Shadow. Unfortunately for Shadow, I have eradicated his existence when I robbed him of his likeness and power.
Adversary or Satan were lower-class Daemons. Their parental heritage, a Human and Daemon, had given them the ability to stay on Earth without being dependent on Miasma―Hell’s air. Similar to Nephil or Nephilim, a child of an Angel and a Human, Adversaries were powerful, and if left unchecked just like any Immortal, they were a threat to everyone.
According to the investigations, Shadow had developed a taste for human flesh, especially of young females, and had also been involved in letting 40 Protected Souls escape. However, his knowledge of their locations had proven worthless and inaccurate.
Due to the dire situation that the lost Protected Souls imposed, the Governors of the Councils, me, Mikhail Vasiliev, Governor of the Celestial Council; the Vampyre Council Governor, Vladymyr Tepes III; and the Mortal Council Representative, Continent Africa Division, Silent Ones, Mada Y. Yuh, have been mobilized to assist the Directors, Eliza Villa Guerra, of the Celestial Council; Katarina Tepes IV of the Vampyre Council; and Mada Y. Yuh, Silent Ones Director, of the Mortal Council.
It had been more than three years since the incident and the 40 Protected Souls were still at large. Due to the increasing calamities since March 16th, 2020, it was suspected that the Protected Souls have acquired the Mortal Children, the Supernaturals, as their Vessels, and have evolved since. It was only a matter of time before one of them would accidentally alter the timeline and trigger the arrival of the Hostiles.
I scowled in disgust as I settled into my disguise. I have cornered Shadow in the washroom of a nightclub, while he was too busy devouring the flesh of an innocent underaged woman, named Cadey Laverne, aged 18. She was a tourist from Boston, New York, and had a promising future as a freshman at Harvard University.
I knelt by her corpse, marked her soul for reincarnation, and burned her remains to prevent possession or necromancy.
Then, I moved out to reach our Target’s position on time.
Death was a normal process of Life. No matter how cruel it seemed, it was our duty and responsibility to remain level-headed in all situations. Cadey’s unfortunate fate was not the first nor the last that we Immortals would encounter in our line of work or throughout the years of our existence.
Shadow was covered in ink that crawled and silently screamed on his skin. They were the souls that he had devoured, and due to corruption, the souls would belong to neither the Heavens, nor the Underworld, or have a chance for reincarnation.
The Adversary had urine-yellow eyes and slits for pupils that he hid with giant reflective sunglasses. He was stocky and his muscles bulged against the stretched fabric. His dirty blond hair was gelled back and he wore a whole bottle of cologne that made my nose scrunched up.
I glamoured the halo around my wrist with black leather bands with spikes to match his spiked choker. He wore large obsidian spacers, multiple iron piercings on his left helix, a bull piercing, and a studded piercing on his forked tongue. His teeth were decorated with gold and silver, and he had giant ram horns which added another foot to his height.
The Underground, one of the many nightclubs that were owned by Vladymyr Tepes III in Los Angeles, California, was located just below an automotive factory building, and unless one had a personal invitation to enter, they would not be able to find where it was.
According to Katarina Tepes IV’s reports, our Target should arrive by 3:33 am PST at one of the VIP lounges, room Obscurus, in hopes of satiating his Earthly lust as promised by the Vampyre Council and Shadow. If the plan panned out well, Eliza would be able to extract some valuable information and clues from him.
Mada was partnered with Vladymyr, and they were positioned at the Catacombs of Rome to find and close the dimensional divergence that was caused by one of the Protected Souls.
Katarina was partnered with one of the Celestial Council’s Venatoribus, pseudonym Roza De la Cruz, also known as Sarael, the oldest Nephil of Archangel Gabriel, to watch out for any changes in plans and to delegate accordingly.
The club was riddled with the intoxicated and gyrating bodies of the Children of the Underworld―the Vampyres, the Dark Court Seelies, the Lycans, and Daemons.
I briefly met John Constance’s eyes and nodded. John Constance, the newest recruit of the House of Trials, and a loyal hound to Eliza, was flirting with another white-haired Lycan, Maria Bartosz, Pack Leader in Los Angeles, California, to blend in and to keep an eye out for our Target.
From Antonius’ reports, John was infamous for bedding any willing Immortal and Mortal, an expected case from a Newborn Lycan. As insurance, Antonius was positioned as a Bartender to keep John in line and as support if chaos ensues.
I met with Shadow’s subordinates and acted as if I were him. Drank and partook in human blood, careful of draining them. Once 3:33 am arrived, a mortal man dressed in an expensive purple suit arrived at my booth with conspicuous armed security around him. Rogue Mortal Hunters.
Just like Shadow, the balding mortal man fancied heavy jewelry and extravagance. He let out a hand for me to shake as I retracted my fangs from the pane of a human girl’s neck. I grinned widely.
“How wonderful of you to join us, Mr. Smith.” I left his hand hanging as I licked off the spilled blood. Mr. Smith, an obvious fake name for a human trafficker. The mortal man kept his face neutral even when I could see the telltale signs of fear and adrenaline from excitement running through him. He put away his hand and faked a grin.
“Of course, I could not miss this invitation from my very important clients,” he laughed while his dark beady eyes remained blank. I had seen more soul and compassion in a Daemon’s eyes than him. “Because of you guys, my business is booming.”
“Now, what could we delight you with, Smith?” I hissed as I watched his lower lip quiver.
“You know what I am here for.”
“Oh?”
“Room Obscurus,” he coughed as I put a hand on my ear.
“Louder, Smith. I cannot seem to hear you due to this loud music.”
He flushed as sweat beaded down his forehead. “I am here for Room Obscurus!”
I lounged back and tilted my head. “Room Obscurus is well reserved for guests we trust.” I nodded at his bodyguards. “But it seems like you, Smith, do not trust us.”
He shifted. “They can stay out here.”
I pointed up, implying outside and he fidgeted.
“C’mon now, Shadow, be fair.”
“I. Am. Fair.” I leaned in as my subordinates stopped whatever they were doing to prepare themselves for a fight. “But it seems like you may not want it enough then. Shame. I was so excited to meet you. Vladymyr Tepes III spoke so highly of you but…glad doing business with you then.”
I turned away and ran my hand up on the woman’s leg beside me. She grinned, her eyes were glazed―high from my venom.
“Alright, alright!” He shouted before I took another bite into her. “They’re going!”
He aggressively waved them off, and even after they argued for his safety, he managed to shoo them away. Once I got the clear that they were gone, I gave him my full attention again.
“You made the right choice, Smith.”
“Don’t make me regret this.” He scratched.
“We are dealers of pleasure and regrets, Smith. It will serve you well to remember that.” I whispered into his ear as he shivered.
I let him follow me as we weaved in and out through the crowd. He awkwardly danced but kept up with me. John accidentally bumped into him to plant a location microchip into his system, as suggested by Mada. He cursed but refrained from fighting for fear of losing sight of me.
Then we reached the staircase that led deeper to the Underground where the crimson lights flickered. Smith nervously fixed his tie as he promptly read the pink neon sign: Your Pleasure Are Ours.
“Cold feet, Smith?”
He coughed as he straightened his spine. “N-no.”
I flashed him a grin. “Good.”
As we descended, the music of the club muted and was replaced by loud moans, cursing, and screams from different rooms. Smith lagged as he enjoyed the chorus of both pain and pleasure. Once we reached the end of the hallway, I stopped just in front of the door named Obscurus. Smith shifted once again as his eyes widened with anticipation.
“What are you waiting for?” His voice shook and I smirked even when disgust filled me.
“You,” I said lowly as I opened the door to a normal and sterile white hotel room. Once he entered, I closed the door behind us. In front of the king-sized bed, there was a viewing glass that allowed the attached room to watch without the participants being able to know who their viewers were.
“Why don’t I help you get settled as we wait for her arrival?” I said in a smooth voice as he rubbed his hands.
“She is coming right?”
“Who?”
His eyes widened. “Lady Elizabeth! You promised!”
“Ah, yes. Of course.” I smiled, as I tried to quiet the rage inside me.
“You better not be lying.” He swallowed hard. “I have been surveilling her movements for so long. I want nothing more than to crush her little bones or see the light leave her eyes as I wrap my hands around her little throat. My little bird.”
I stepped back, as I fought the urge to rip him apart limb by limb. Reminding myself to prioritize the mission, I helped him remove his suit jacket and told him that I would be watching from the other room just as he asked.
He lit up.
I wanted to murder him.
I entered the other room and locked the door behind me as I dropped my glamour. Knowing full well that he could not see me and that the room was soundproof, I trashed the room in rage as his words repeated in my head.
Disgusting Mortal, I growled. Once this was all done, I would personally take it upon myself to drag him to Tartarus. If we could only harvest information from him by drinking his blood, it would have been our first choice instead.
But he had taken precautions and made deals to curse his blood useless to us if ever by chance he found himself in situations like these.
I knew Eliza was strong and her name alone had struck fear into many. She never was a damsel in distress or ever would be. She rarely needed to be rescued, but the thought of his repulsive hands touching her―I threw another chair against the wall.
I would need to pay Vladymyr back later for the damages.
I brushed my hair back and took deep breaths.
I must calm down.
The door to his room opened which caught my attention.
Smith jerked up, his beady eyes widened, almost salivating at the sight of her.
My mind blanked as I also stared in awe at her.
In the many millennia I have worked with her, it never came across to me that I would ever see her in the way she was currently dressed. Eliza was practical and had a preference for more athletic wear to assist with her missions. Even when I have witnessed her bare since I had stitched and healed all her injuries, lust never occurred to me.
Until now.
Eliza wore high-heeled leather boots that went up to her thighs. She wore a black lace corset that lifted her breasts and revealed her nipples. She wore a matching lacey thong that showcased her firm ass and well-defined legs. She wore a lacey eye mask and her full lips were painted blood-red. Her tanned skin was bronzed and it shimmered under the fluorescent lights. She wore golden dangling earrings and the tips just brushed her collarbones.
She put down her tote on the bed and tilted her head to gaze at him.
“Bon soir, Monsieur Smith,” she greeted, feigning a French Canadian accent to appease his sick fantasies. He fell to her feet and worshipped the Goddess before him.
His eyes brimmed with tears, in disbelief that she was indeed real.
My rage returned but I kept it in check as I reminded myself that Eliza could snuff out his existence if she wanted to.
“You’re here.” He took a deep inhale of her feet and travelled up her legs. “You’re here.”
Her pupils briefly flashed golden, not long enough for the mortal to notice, but enough for me to tell that she was unimpressed with being touched.
“Hmm.” She glared as her long nails scratched his cheeks, leaving a trail of blood behind. He shuddered in pleasure. “Let’s not waste time. I am a very busy woman, Monsieur Smith. Shall we?”
“S-si.” He stuttered. “I mean oui? Is it oui?”
Her backhand flew across his face and I winced. He laughed as he held onto his sore cheek. “Oh God. Yes. YES.”
He backed away from her and then knelt again, this time he faced the window, allowing me to watch everything.
My fingers dug into the arms of the only couch I had not destroyed, as I watched her carefully place a blindfold around his eyes. She looked up. Even if I knew that she could not see me, she held my gaze as she kissed his neck and undressed him.
I despised every moment of it but I could not look away no matter how much I desired to.
Once she had him chained up, she pulled out her whip that she kept tucked into her boots, and brushed his skin with it before she lashed him hard. He cursed loudly but continued laughing in excitement.
“Have you been bad, Monsieur Smith?”
“No.”
Another lash that left welts.
“Fuck, woman! You hit hard.” He panted as he grew hard.
“You did not answer me, Monsieur Smith.”
“I ain’t telling you shi―”
Another lash and he groaned in pleasure.
Blood dripped from his cuts. Eliza was purposely injuring him not for the sake of fulfilling his fantasies, but to satiate her rage.
She did not ask again before she lashed him one more time. He whimpered as his blindfold soaked with tears, but his lips were turned up into a satisfied grin.
“Yes.” He heaved. His head turned, trying to find her. “I have been a bad man.”
Another lash.
“A really bad man!”
“How bad?” She whispered into his ear which nearly sent him over.
“Really bad.”
Her nails dug into him and he cried out in pain.
“Would you like to confess to me, Monsieur Smith?” She purred as her hands travelled up his thigh.
“Yes,” he moaned as she brushed his member.
She moved away and before he could complain, he received another lashing. Panting, he confessed all he ever was. Every sickening desire he had. Every crime he had committed.
And the interesting children he had acquired and sold to a mysterious group. Eliza looked back at me, pointed at her earpiece to indicate that she had been recording everything, and continued with her process.
“Tell me about these interesting children, Monsieur Smith.”
“Why?”
“Because I love punishing bad men.” She squatted in front of him as she tilted his chin for a kiss. He moaned and shivered. “And I hate terrible children.”
Giddy with her taste, he went into great detail about the ordeal, the location, and all those who were involved.
But he was not satisfied with his confession. He continued to brag about his kills and described them in graphic detail with her. He confessed how he relieved himself while he recalled the memories.
Once he was done, Eliza silently removed his blindfold.
He blinked to adjust to the light.
Eliza then tossed out the whip as she pulled out her Silver Dagger from her boot to scratch off the runes on her halo.
“This is exactly what is going to happen next, human,” she seethed through her teeth and I jolted up to run to the door.
For the first time again in six thousand years, she snapped.
She was going to murder him and everyone else.
Eliza was the least temperamental Celestial. She was usually level-headed and calm, which made her perfect as the Director. It was also for that exact reason, that many of us have long forgotten that the Void had chosen her as a Vessel and it had existed within her for thousands of years.
For the first time, fear engulfed him as the hand of justice stood before him.
She was no longer an object of pleasure. But the most feared Celestial that Immortals told their children to be wary of. The unforgiving God that turned cities into piles of salt. The vengeful spirit that starved nations. The God that devoured worlds because they offended Her. The reason why the Councils allied was so they could control Her.
We all had forgotten that she was a ticking bomb that we so carelessly endangered and used. We all had forgotten about Her.
The lights in the room flickered as shadows appeared from the corners and stretched toward them.
I tried to sprint toward them, but what should have been a short distance, warped into a few feet away. No matter how hard I pushed my legs forward, I remained in the same spot. The objects closest to them stretched and orbited around them, gaining speed for every full rotation.
“Who are you?” Smith tried to back away as he stared at her in terror.
“Excellent question, mortal.” She growled. “I, too, ask myself that all the time.”
“Eliza, stop!” I shouted but she was not hearing me.
“So many names.” She took a deep breath. “So many memories that I cannot comprehend myself.”
The human shook as he saw his skin melt off his meat.
“I hear so many voices here in my head, asking and praying for so many things! It’s deafening! But for once, it is clear, and now I know why.” The halo on her left wrist, which kept our powers in check, glowed brightly as it struggled to contain the Void. I never anticipated this to happen.
No one did.
“Eliza enough!” I yelled but she could not hear me. This was no longer Eliza. It was Her.
“You are a mistake. Just like many others. But that is okay. A God can always start again. So, I am going to erase your existence, mortal. And everyone else who is…Just. Like. You.” Her voice sounded sickly sweet. “And I will enjoy every moment of it like you did with your kills. Every time you scream as I break you down atom by atom, I will pleasure myself at the thought of it while I devour this world just like I did with others before yours.”
In desperation, I severed my wrist to release myself from the halo that bound me. I had about three seconds before the wrist grew back along with the halo that chained me. But three seconds was enough to stop her and bring Eliza back to control the Void.
A bright light enveloped the room as it fought for dominance against the shadows that disintegrated the objects it touched.
As the shadows retreated, the warp of time and space that repelled everything that entered its radius, halted, which allowed me to get closer. I drew out the sword, the Flame of Death, and directed it to her heart.
Her head turned to me as she grinned widely. Her eyes glowed golden as she stopped the sword with a tap of her finger.
Time abruptly stopped, as she carefully examined me.
“Hello, my love. Great to see you again.” She softly spoke. “How upset do you think she would be if I killed you too?”
Before I could respond, the impact threw us back in opposite directions. Her head hit the wall and knocked her out. Then she fell into a heap and the shadows evaporated.
I winced as my hand grew back but the hole in my chest gaped wide open.
I was not healing where She hit me.
Blood flooded my airways as I struggled to breathe. My vision blurred and the last thing I saw was her, regaining consciousness, and sprinting toward me in panic.
She said something.
I could not understand it.
I did not understand true Death. I wondered if She had decided to reabsorb me.
That was not the worst, right?
Oh, who cared at this point?
I shut my eyes and gave into the cold blanket that weighed down on me, lulling me to rest.
Mikhail. I heard a sob from a distance. Wake up, dammit!
My eyes fluttered open as I felt a deep hunger overwhelm me. Then I saw her. She was kneeling before me, her wrists were sliced wide open as she poured her silver blood into my chest.
Don’t leave me. Please don’t. I-I don’t know what happened. No, no, no. Please.
She sliced herself again when her wound healed. Fuck. Fuck! It’s not healing! Mikhail, wake up, please! Please don’t leave me. Please. Not you. Not you too. Come back to me. I can’t lose you. Not you. Please.
My limbs felt like lead but I managed to grab her and brought her closer to me. She sobbed, her neck was only a few inches from my mouth.
Don’t leave!
Leave, yes. Don’t leave, she said. Why?
Weakly, I leaned closer to her. She smelled nice. Strawberries and Chocolates. I bet she tasted nice as well. Ah, yes, taste. That’s it. I want to taste it. I’m hungry. So hungry.
“Mikhail?”
My fangs sank into her neck as I greedily drank. My fingers dug into her back―hoping to ease the hunger that demanded to be fed.
Hoping the pain would finally cease.
Hoping to be one with Her again.
Nothing else mattered at that moment.
Nothing.
Just Her.
— -
Hi, I’m CyCy!
Thank you for reading!
This story is progressing with a lot more intensity as we dive into the world of the Immortals…I hope you are enjoying it so far!
Do you guys like Mikhail? I will admit it here. I had to focus to get into his head yesterday.
He is so surgical when he speaks, and because of that, I felt like I was back in College again, writing essays for my Law and Business Courses.
There were a lot of frustrated screams while I wrote and deleted…then I did it all over again 😂
I also will be releasing the new updates on Monday since I have work this weekend and will be quite busy!
I need to sleep as well ahahha I have been staying up until the birds are screaming at my balcony to remind me about adulthood. LOL
Anyway, let me know what you all think! I appreciate all your support and I cannot wait for you guys to read what is going on in my head.
Additional note from me:
I will be working on my website to provide a glossary for you all!
Soul Exchange is my version of Marvel Universe and DC Universe. There are so many characters and events involved and it can get confusing without the reference.
I thought that it would be great to have something for you guys to reference when you can’t remember who that character was and which council they belonged to.
I’ll keep you all updated once I get it all together!
As a little side note, here are the songs that I listen to whenever I write about Eliza 😝🖤 Give them a listen!
Special Shoutout To:
My Bro YaYuh for enduring my word vomit and having to listen to my crazy plans for this universe. Thank you for supporting my Super Evil Master Plans and having to go through edits with me. If something were to happen to me, you have the responsibility to continue everything!
My other Bro Pikachu since I had to sit down with you and pick your brain about everything while Bro YaYuh and I took notes.
My SO because I know you get uncomfortable when I watch your movements like a hawk while I take notes. 😏 hehehehe
My awesome besties: Mike Steward and E.C. Bestie (E.C. is an amazing author guys! PLEASE CHECK OUT HER WORKS! LOVE LOVE LOVE THEM!) who cheer me forward! ILY two so much!!! Your supportive words mean a lot to me 🖤
Also to Aphrodite 💋, Apollo, and Hermes. ILY you three.
— -
You will also find that everything is interconnected, and as you start reading the future work, you will find me referencing everyone. 🖤
Moreover, Soul Exchange was originally planned as a series of graphic novels, but since my art skills are not quite there yet, I began writing instead. I have been practicing and it is my life’s goal to get the designs out.
Anyway, check out Of Earthly Sins as well! It is the previous issue and very much connected with this one.
P.S. I’m a multi-genre writer and if you like a little bit of everything, then you have found the right person!
P.P.S. For my horror readers, I will update Wake Up as well. As it turns out, I do not have to worry much since Wake Up is a creative horror and as long as I add disclaimers, it should be just fine.
