In Destiny’s Hands

Breath, an elusive beast. A thin, withered figure twisted and turned in a pool of complete darkness.

"Ah!" the figure jerked to life again, and looked around the dark. It was hot here. Where was she?

A slight giggle as the darkness coursed through her. "Hahahaha… Darkness… is my friend…" she laughed and sang. "Nothing scares me… hahahahhahaha."

She stood, and carefully brushed off tattered, bloodied clothes. Ninja raiments. Where could she be now? Where had she last found herself? She closed her eyes, against the pronounced darkness, and found her last memory. A cliff… That… bitch Rae. She had sent Loa into the dark and mad, driven sea. Then Loa twitched. She could feel the ice cold water against exposed skin, the water going up her nose, the rubble from the cliff…

Smashing her. Smashed her into the rocks and water.

So how could she be here? Her body should be still trapped beneath a rock, near the coral of the Amazon Island. She clenched a fist. She was still… Alive?

No, not alive. Hell. Yes. Hell. This must be it…

Loa chuckled softly. Hell… This place would probably suit her. Surrounded by the dark souls of the underworld. Yes. That about fit Loa’s current… Personality. She walked a bit, into the suffocating darkness that pressed into her. She wasn’t afraid. Not at all, actually. What could she fear? She was dead, and what could hurt you once you’re dead? Besides, she thought callously, as she flipped back matted black hair, it wasn’t like I feared anyone in life either.

She was indeed in Hell now. A realm of lost and lonely spirits, where your old physical self was lost and all that remained was the shadow of your will and spirit. If spirit was measured in fire, Loa’s would be black, and towering. Her mind whirled now, in uncontrollable circles, and she felt like she would throw up, just from the pure energy and madness that swirled in her veins. Her beating heart…

How could your heart beat if you’re dead?

She cast the thought aside, and now looked before her, at the pits, the fiery depths that now revealed themselves to her. She controlled her own spirit now. She was too powerful to be tossed about lightly, and the ruler of this domain, Hades, knew that. She could feel his submission to her, in her heart. Now, all Loa could do was to wander this fire-ridden wasteland and search for more souls to torment. That was, after all, her ultimate goal. Or so she thought. She would destroy everything… Maybe even Hell itself. Then she could bring the Kingdom of the Underworld from beneath the living’s feet and into reality. Her as supreme Goddess…

She giggled once more, fanatically. She liked this place already. She could never again be "punished" by the so-called righteous. But first thing was first. She had to find a home. And set a goal. There were always goals… Loa grinned wildly, and looked at the cavern floor. Then her head flew up. Something, something was close. It was powerful. Extremely so. Loa clenched a tight fist and suppressed another laugh. She wanted this power. Right here. Right now. She wanted to feel that power as hers. It was so bright. So strong…

Who possessed it?

Loa glanced around, and then found her way. She new who lit was before she even could see the ethereal glow of purity.

"Lao Ma…" she growled.

The coward who had sent her back to Ni Shang. The coward who had stolen Loa from Japan, but only sent her back to the lion’s den, where she learned the truth behind herself. It was sickening. Lao Ma was the person responsible… For the island, for Japan, for Loa.

Loa would kill her.

Not just simply kill her, but eliminate her soul, her spirit, from ever being reborn unto the living earth. But as Loa looked around, and the grim realization of where she was hit her, she wondered… Why would a woman so "ethereal" as Lao Ma be here? A place reserved for the evil and sick. The psychos and the perverts… Why was she here? Loa lips hardened into a thin line. But wait… Her mind cried quickly… Wait. If she’s here… Then I can…

Karma.

Yes. She had been told about that several times during her short stint on the island. When people die, their souls, if they had repented for their sins, eventually were reborn, into new, fresh bodies. Every soul, save the most tortured, evil ones, were reborn. The ones condemned to eternity, they were sent to Tarturaus. The land for sinners. But Lao Ma… She could not be one who was to be held in Tarturas. Loa sneered. Lao Ma was too "pure." She would be reborn, and given a second chance… Unlike Loa, who would probably dwell in this dark realm forever.

But maybe… Maybe… Maybe Loa could destroy Lao Ma’s chance. Seek revenge! She smiled. Yes, bring hell once again to Lao Ma. Wreak havoc again. Condemn Lao Ma to the suffering Lao Ma had hexed Loa with.

That was what she would do. She could do it too. She could still feel the Black Dragon’s power in her veins. She knew it was still there, dormant, waiting for her to command it. She knew it was hungry… Hungry for souls.

She would feed it.