SOMEONE DEMOTED.

"So you remember your worthless mortal life as a slave, yet the curse's origin eludes you?"

The voice's bewilderment and anger verged on a scream. I longed to cover my ears, but they were absent—like my hands.

"You're not focused, are you?" the voice snapped, annoyed. "Attempting to guide you is like navigating a fog-shrouded forest. Concentrate!" it ordered. "Your mind is blind, just like you. Figure it out quickly before the Abyss claims you irrevocably! What if I'm dragged down too due to your stupidity?"

The Abyss… The Abyss was one way only. But Darkness… Darkness was a border zone, you could hang out here like in prison, and no one ever could sense or find you, even with heavenly artifacts. But you could not escape, just wait. Either punished or cursed, your stay here had a statute of limitations. The question was, how long was mine? And if I was cursed, when this curse had started…

"Well, you've finally started to think in the right!" At least this creature could cheer me up.

"You're thinking and that's good," the voice noted. "I can't interfere."

"What are you?" I finally asked. "Voice? Some Celestial Creature? Daemon? My imagination?"

"You cling to ignorance like moss on ancient stones. Can't I be more than a creature or demon?" The voice sounded offended.

Perhaps a demon, I thought—impatient, conscienceless, too sensitive. That was definitely close to that one I was hearing.

"What a cursed bastard here!" He retorted.

"You seem a demon to me! I can't help it! Just endure it," I paused, "Or explain yourself."

Annoyance surged. "Stop making me the focus of your thoughts. Concentrate and connect your consciousness."

"So, you expect a little bit of work from me, don't you?" I pressed. "Or do you avoid questions about yourself?"

"Tooting!" it replied. "About me…"

But it didn't matter at all as I needed answers.

"So… Who are you?"

"Just immortal," it confessed.

"An immortal? Like immortal-immortal God?"

"Not quite..."

"What's complicated about that?" I scoffed. "Or… Or you were once a God? Now demoted? Demoted to what? Demoted to just immortal? Wow!"

"That's none of your business," the voice snapped. "My patience wears thin, like a well-trodden path eroded by rain. Start thinking for yourself!"

I sensed anger, and still proved once again that it felt demon-like.

"Answer for the demon," he suddenly threatened. "I'll push you into the Abyss myself and tell the Master you perished."

A twist—he fled here due to the Master's order?

*Thx for reading.