After he finally opens his eyes and musters the strength to look around, he finds himself in his bed. He touches his head trying to find a sign of injury but it did not exist.
"Guess it was all a weird dream after all!" He says, sighing as if in relief of the incidents not being real but a game of his sleeping mind.
Putting the thoughts behind to reflect on later he, gets up and heads straight to bathroom to freshen up before having something to eat. He had been feeling extreme hunger ever since he woke up. To reassure himself he takes a good look in the mirror to find something.
"I remember the pain being real, since when did I start dreaming so vividly?"
"Whatever!!!" He puts his thoughts behind and dresses up heading to the kitchen to fix himself a good sandwich. His definition of a good sandwich was a large amount of cheese and butter between two slices of bread. Well, it had been working out for him ever since he started school. "Why change something that is perfect already?" He used to tell himself.
As he walks into the living room with his sandwich half in his hand and half in his mouth, he suddenly yells, "WHAT THE F***!!!" dropping both of the pieces on the ground.
His eyes lay on Blaze, and for a moment, the world seemed to still. She was a vision of ethereal beauty, with cascading waves of raven-black hair that tumbled over her shoulders like a waterfall of shadows. Her eyes were a mesmerizing shade of deep emerald green, exuding a hint of mystery that drew him in. Her delicate features held an air of both innocence and wisdom, as if she carried secrets of ancient tales within her soul. A faint blush adorned her cheeks, adding a touch of warmth to her porcelain complexion. Clad in flowing, forest-green attire, she seemed to blend seamlessly with the natural world around her, as though she were a spirit of the wilderness itself. She was standing leaning against the book shelf.
"Why…" he began again, "… are you real?"
"Huh! For the same reason everyone else is real, that's a stupid question to ask though." She proclaimed while picking up an apple from the side basket and dropping it in the basket again as though denying to eat it.
"It was all real?" Umar asked in a disbelief, he could accept that he was almost dead if he needed to but to think that he actually met death and was offered immortality and the throne of hell, was something more unbelievable.
"I see you are struggling with your memory, travelling through the realms for the first time can do that, especially if one did not expect to do so, I guess that's why you were passed out for almost 5 days." Blaze explained to him while walking towards him, she puts a hand on his forehead and whispers "Meminisse" and the all the events since he entered the building starts playing in Umar's mind.
After he is done processing the truth, he realizes that his life has changed completely, now he is not only immortal but he has to figure out how to conquer hell, up until a few days ago the biggest of his worries was to get admission in a good university without having to pay for one.
As the reality settled in, Umar's mind raced with countless questions. What would become of his mortal life, his family, and the dreams he once held dear? Would he still be able to find joy and love amidst the vastness of eternity? The unknown future stretched out before him, and he couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and uncertainty.
Yet, beneath the shroud of trepidation, a spark of determination ignited within him. Umar had always been driven, a relentless pursuer of greatness. He knew that with great power came great responsibility, and he was resolved to wield his newfound abilities with a different perspective, he knew that people only respect power and respond only to that too. He had now enough to deserve all of that and he was going to claim it, no matter what happened.
"Oh, and that sandwich isn't going to do you any good…"
"That's what everyone else said." Umar cut her off mid-sentence.
Blaze rolled her eyes and continued, "That's not what I meant you are also a vampire now, you have to drink blood although not much, but you have too."
"Weird" Umar thought, one would think that they will feel at least a little uneased or grossed out about this idea. But he felt no such thing, its as if his mind knew that it is something that needs to be done. He was more surprised when re realized that his mouth started watering a little while wondering what the blood would taste like.
Blaze took her time explaining to him that what needs to be done and how he is supposed to hunt and erase the memory of the person should he wish to do that. But subtlety of course always comes in handy. But he did not need much explaining to begin with, it was as he already knew how to do it.
Blaze understood that he was ready for this and offered him to bring someone for him, so he could satisfy his anger and complete his transformation into an immortal. Yes! She explained that until he drinks human blood for the first time, he would not be able to access his full extent of powers.
"You don't have to find anyone; I have the perfect candidate in mind." His face showing an expression of anger and hate.
Saying that he put on his coat and walked outside.
It was almost midnight and Malik was getting ready to go to a welcome party hosted by the dorm. He was still in bath, engrossed in his thoughts. He turned the water off and as he turned around to grab the towel. A hand took hold of his mouth in way to prevent him from making any sound, his eyes widened with shock and fear.
"Do not shout, run or call for help!"
Umar whispered to him looking dead in his eyes, and as though out of his own accord, Malik did what he was told to do, he stood there, still afraid and shocked at what was going on but nevertheless obeying.
"What surprised? .... that I am alive, I was too but whatever long story and I don't plan to give you enough time that you could hear it."
Saying that Umar bears his fangs, his eyes going black without even a small hint of white in them, and he pushes his sharp teeth inside is neck and starts drinking his blood. He was completely being driven by anger and hate that he had gathered inside him all his life. There was only one thing on his mind right now "payback for everything"
As he was engrossed in bleeding the poor lad dry, he heard Blaze's voice in his head, "Take a hold of yourself!"
He instantly jerked away from Malik, who could have died had he not stopped, Umar quickly realized the mistake he was about to make. He gathered himself, once again looked deep in Malik's eyes and began, "You will not remember anything that happened here, go see a doctor about your blood deficiency." And he disappeared from there.
He was now sitting on his doorstep, wondering what could have happened there had Blaze not stopped him. "How did she do that anyway?" He asked himself.
After sometime he went in his room to sleep instead of keep thinking about something that did not happen. He did not like overthinking even though he could hardly avoid it.
After trying for a while and realizing that he was unable to sleep, he got up to look for Blaze.
She was still in the living room, sitting on the sofa like a child who is guest in an unknown house.
"So, I can't sleep, is that one of the gifts from death?"
Blaze looked at him as if amused by his question and answered him smiling, "Not really, even Death sleeps when he wants to or she, don't know what's under that clock, anyways you are probably not tired enough, considering you slept for more than four days in a row."
Umar tilted his head his mind still wandering around the fact that he just found out death sleeps. He shakes his head bringing his attention back to Blaze.
"How did you do that before?" Umar asked her taking a seat besides her, "You talked to me in my mind."
"That.. is one of the gifts of Death, we are linked to each other, both of us can talked to each other through our thoughts, I can also sense your emotions and let you see through my eyes, even if we are on two different ends of the world completed."
That is amazing Umar thinks to himself, definitely handy, he did not notice his lingering gaze on her, but he was unintentionally watching her both intrigued and impressed by her.
"You need to be aware of all of your abilities and powers, for now you should try to rest and I'll give you a crash course on All things Umar in the morning. Although death did not give you a deadline but we should probably start getting ready for our task." Blaze tells him with a serious tone.
Umar nods to her says good night and leaves.
When Death had introduced her to him, he thought their connection would be of a master and servant. But it was not liked he thought, he could feel that this was not a bond of slavery but one of a friendship that was just starting.
Meanwhile…
The air hummed with a menacing force in the bowels of Hell, a place covered in perpetual darkness and smoldering flames. The smell of brimstone and the sounds of tortured spirits filled the air. With their eyes glinting with vengeance and desire, sinister monsters slithered through the shadows.
The magnificent throne of the reigning Lord of Demons, Mayaken, was at the Centre of this evil domain. Mayaken was a towering monster that commanded Hell with an iron fist. His forehead was covered with horns, and his eyes burned with malice. He took great pleasure in the anguish of the doomed and the anarchy that ruled the underworld.
He had only one purpose now, unleash hell on earth and heavens and make them a part of his territory. Demons have been looked down upon for far too long, now it was time for them to rule. He had gathered an army so massive that it would instantly conquer both of the realms. There was just one problem he had not yet found a way to open the gates of hell, but he was close and he was aware of that.
A seer witch, one of Mayaken's captive slaves, approached with apprehension as he reclined on his obsidian throne. Her robes were ragged, and her features were marred by an ethereal glow that revealed her affinity to the dark arts. Her name was Saria, and she was a strong seer who could see what others couldn't: the threads of fate.
"My Lord," she said, her voice slightly shaking, "I bring grave news from the realm of the living."
Mayaken's eyes furrowed as she listened to the seer's remarks. "Speak, witch," he said, his voice a terrifying growl that made her tremble.
Saria took a long breath, bracing herself for the revelation. "Death, the enigmatic ruler of the realms, has given birth to two extraordinary beings," she said to begin. "They are fated to wield unimaginable powers and rule over Hell."
As Mayaken's demonic courtiers reacted to the news, a rumbling of discontent resonated through the vast hall. The possibility of new rulers challenging Mayaken's reign instilled rage in him.
Saria paused before proceeding, her pulse hammering with anxiety. "The first is Umar, a mortal who was bestowed with immortality and enormous powers by Death himself. The second is Blaze, a fiery phoenix who has been chosen as his guide and companion. They are destined to work together to restore equilibrium to the realms and prevent evil armies from wreaking havoc on Earth and Heaven."
Mayaken's flaming stare was filled with rage, but underlying the rage was a glimmer of concern. These aliens sounded intimidating, and the threat they posed to his domain was not to be ignored.