Split WiP Chapter 2 Changes
Sorry for the absence here. After a brief, brutal fight with cancer, I've lost my oldest supporter, proofreader, and constant source of encouragement. Getting back in the groove of... anything hasn't been easy.
But, here's a brief snippet proposing a re-write of a scene from chapter 2 from Mephisto's PoV.
Mephisto smirked to himself at the open hunger in the boy’s face. So predictable. For a demon or a human. Power was surprisingly universal. Now, the way the boy had woven bits of Gehenna around him into a twisted facsimile of Assiah was purely human. Forcing corporeality and stability into a realm that knew neither. Unknowingly imitating the reality his human self knew.
Mephisto smirked and let the boy see it. “I’d imagine a good half of your true power is sealed,” he said.
“If you sealed my power, why would you give it back now?” Rin growled. “What’s the catch? What do you get out of it?”
A wise question. But, the curiosity in it was tangible.
Smile widening, Mephisto kicked his legs and waved a negligent hand. “Let’s just say that Father’s plan to conquer Assiah would be monstrously inconvenient for me.” A truth. “With your full power, you could be quite a threat to that plan.” Also true. With time and good fortune.
The boy eyed him warily for several long minutes.
“Who are you?” he asked at length.
Checkmate.
Carefully hiding the triumph he felt, Mephisto laid a genteel hand over his polka-dotted cravat. “You may call me Mephisto Pheles.”
It was false name, but well-used enough it should ring with some hint of truth.
“I'm listening.”
Mephisto let his face stretch in a grin. Glee would be expected, and there was no need to hide now that the boy was snared. He leaned closer. “Then, let me tell you of Assiah and where your power is kept.”
But, here's a brief snippet proposing a re-write of a scene from chapter 2 from Mephisto's PoV.
Mephisto smirked to himself at the open hunger in the boy’s face. So predictable. For a demon or a human. Power was surprisingly universal. Now, the way the boy had woven bits of Gehenna around him into a twisted facsimile of Assiah was purely human. Forcing corporeality and stability into a realm that knew neither. Unknowingly imitating the reality his human self knew.
Mephisto smirked and let the boy see it. “I’d imagine a good half of your true power is sealed,” he said.
“If you sealed my power, why would you give it back now?” Rin growled. “What’s the catch? What do you get out of it?”
A wise question. But, the curiosity in it was tangible.
Smile widening, Mephisto kicked his legs and waved a negligent hand. “Let’s just say that Father’s plan to conquer Assiah would be monstrously inconvenient for me.” A truth. “With your full power, you could be quite a threat to that plan.” Also true. With time and good fortune.
The boy eyed him warily for several long minutes.
“Who are you?” he asked at length.
Checkmate.
Carefully hiding the triumph he felt, Mephisto laid a genteel hand over his polka-dotted cravat. “You may call me Mephisto Pheles.”
It was false name, but well-used enough it should ring with some hint of truth.
“I'm listening.”
Mephisto let his face stretch in a grin. Glee would be expected, and there was no need to hide now that the boy was snared. He leaned closer. “Then, let me tell you of Assiah and where your power is kept.”