The Hall of Lost Souls
The smell of old paper and lukewarm coffee permeated the room, a peculiar combination for what Daniel assumed was the final destination of souls. There were no fluffy clouds or angelic harps, just a large, monotonous room painted in faded beige tones, more like a registry office or a government office from the 1980s. Rows and rows of gray plastic chairs stretched as far as the eye could see, filled with translucent figures waiting patiently, some with lost looks, others with a disturbing serenity. The hubbub was a continuous whisper, a tangle of voices that seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere at once. Daniel, or what was left of him, floated amidst that ethereal crowd, feeling a strange weightlessness, almost as if he were empty.
He clearly remembered the smell of hot asphalt and burning rubber, the child's shrill scream, and the glare of the truck's headlights. A primal, almost instinctive impulse made him throw himself forward. There was no pain, just a sudden void, a darkness that opened onto that dull, bureaucratic light. He looked at his hands, which now seemed more like a mirage than flesh and bone. What was this? Purgatory? Limbo? It certainly wasn't the Heaven his grandmother preached so much about.
Finally, a metallic voice from a loudspeaker cut through the murmur: "Daniel Silva. Next."
A gentle, ethereal push guided him to a polished, dark wood counter, where an angelic young woman with wings that seemed woven of light awaited him. She had long, golden hair that fell to her shoulders and bright blue eyes, but the smile on her face was forced, almost robotic. Before her, an old-fashioned terminal with a green screen glowed, displaying unintelligible lines of code.
"Full name, please?" she asked, her voice soft but emotionless.
"Daniel Silva," he replied, his own voice sounding strangely distant.
The angel typed swiftly, her fingers fluttering over the keyboard. A minute passed. Two. Her expression began to change, the artificial smile fading into a worried frown. Her eyes scanned the screen, returning to Daniel's name again and again. A drop of heavenly sweat seemed to trickle down her temple.
"This... this isn't possible," she murmured, her wings fluttering slightly. "Your name isn't here. There's no record of your passing. None." Panic settled over her angelic face. "Gabriel! Gabriel, please come here!"
Minutes later, an imposing being appeared behind the counter. An archangel, presumably. His hair was like molten silver, his eyes electric blue orbs that seemed to peer into the soul. He wore a simple robe but exuded an aura of authority that silenced even the most vocal souls. Gabriel had a serious, almost stoic expression, but there was a frown of worry on his forehead.
"What happened, Lyria?" the archangel asked, his voice a soft thunder.
"Archangel Gabriel, the... his record doesn't exist. There is no Daniel Silva in our files," the angel stammered, pointing at the screen with a trembling hand.
Gabriel frowned and leaned over the terminal, typing a sequence of characters with astonishing speed. The screen flickered, and new lines of code filled the space. He scrolled up and down, his eyes scanning the information with astonishing speed. His skin, normally a perfectly translucent shade, began to pale.
"This... this is impossible," he murmured, his voice barely audible. He looked at Daniel with an expression Daniel had never seen on an angel: pure, genuine shock. "Just a moment."
Gabriel turned abruptly and disappeared through an ornate door made of a material that looked like polished obsidian. Daniel heard muffled voices coming from inside, laughter that seemed unlikely in this atmosphere of eternal bureaucracy. And then, a particularly vibrant, warm laugh, one that Daniel felt in his bones, echoed through the door. It was a familiar laugh, yet at the same time too grandiose to be that of a mere mortal.
The Creation Room and the Divine Café
The obsidian door opened again, and Gabriel reappeared, his expression even paler. He nodded to Daniel, a silent invitation to enter. Daniel, feeling a mixture of apprehension and curiosity, floated through the portal.
The room was a striking contrast to the hall of souls. Instead of rows of chairs, there was a round table of dark wood, polished to a shine, with three comfortable chairs around it. A pot of coffee steamed in the center, and the rich, earthy aroma filled the air. Seated in one of the chairs was a middle-aged man with slightly tousled brown hair and eyes that shone with ancient wisdom, but with a warm, genuine smile. He wore a cozy knit sweater and held a mug of coffee in both hands. It was, without a shadow of a doubt, God.
Facing him, sitting casually, was a slender, elegant figure, wrapped in a dark cloak that seemed to absorb the light from the room. Her face was ethereal, almost featureless, but her eyes, two points of deep darkness, seemed to contain all melancholy and the end. It was Death. She had a wry smile on her thin lips, and her long, pale fingers played with a sugar cube.
"Daniel, please come in," God said, his voice resonating with a pleasant melody. He seemed perfectly at ease, as if he were just having a casual get-together with friends. "Gabriel told me about the little incident. I'm sorry, son."
Daniel felt a lump in his throat, even though he didn't have a physical throat. "Incident? I died saving a child from a truck."
God nodded with a heavy sigh. "Yes, yes. A noble act, I must say. But the problem is... well, you shouldn't have died. Not now, at least." He looked at Death with a raised eyebrow. "It was you, wasn't it? One of your little detours?"
Death chuckled softly, a dry sound like dry leaves falling. "Me? Oh, my dear Lord, I was here with you the whole time! I remember well our discussion about the irony of life and death... such a fascinating conversation, don't you think? It wasn't me at all."
God massaged his temples. "So how did he get here early? This is chaos! Don't tell me it was... the Good Deeds call center outsourcing again?"
Death shrugged, an elegant gesture. "Well, when you decide the bureaucracy needs to be more 'efficient'... That was probably your 'good deed.' Sometimes the system has its flaws, you know? Especially when it comes to divine interventions with a human touch." She sipped her tea, an amused glint in her eyes.
God sighed again, more deeply this time. He looked at Daniel with an expression of sincere regret. "Look, Daniel, I'm truly sorry about this. It's a grave mistake, and I apologize on behalf of the entire operation. The truth is, your body... well, it's beyond repair. The miracle of bringing you back to life as you were is simply not possible. But as an apology, I have some options for you."
He held up three fingers, one by one. "You have three choices. The first is to return to the normal cycle of reincarnation, or if you prefer, you can go to Heaven. A pleasant place, full of peace, with no more worldly worries."
Daniel hesitated. Heaven? That's what everyone was looking for, wasn't it? But after seeing the "government office" and hearing about "outsourcing," he felt like maybe Heaven wasn't as exciting as it seemed.
"The second option," God continued, "is to go to the world you call on Earth 'the world of Magic and all that.' A place where dragons fly, spells are cast, and adventure awaits around every corner. A world of fantasy, like in the books and movies you so love."
Daniel's eyes widened. Magic? Dragons? That sounded much more interesting than clouds and harps.
"And the third option..." God paused dramatically, a small, mischievous glint in his eyes. "This one, curiously, no one has ever chosen. It's a... different option. In it, you would have the ability to shape your body, to merge the magical world with the normal world, in a way. To help us correct some anomalies that have been occurring between the planes of existence. It would be a... collaboration. All to help us, and so that you can live the life you truly desire."
Daniel thought for a moment. The first option was safe, the second, exciting. But the third... the third sounded like a chance to create something new, to have control, to be more than a spectator. And the mention of "anomalies" and "helping" sparked a deep curiosity. He'd always felt a little... pathetic in his previous life. An ordinary guy, with ordinary ambitions, who died heroically, but ordinary nonetheless.
His gaze fixed on God. "I choose the third option."
God smiled, a genuine smile of satisfaction. Death beside him raised an eyebrow, a gleam of surprise in his empty eyes.
The Desires of an Ancient Human and the Divine Confessions
"Excellent choice, Daniel!" God exclaimed, clapping his hands enthusiastically. "Now, about how you want to shape yourself... and what exactly that third option entails for you. No limits. No restrictions. Think of everything you haven't been, everything you dreamed of being. This is your moment."
Daniel hesitated, then a sly smile formed on his lips. "Right. So, to begin with, I choose to be avampire who walks during the day.No coffins and darkness for me."
Death nearly choked on his tea. Gabriel, who had been standing silent until then, widened his eyes. God just shook his head, a glint of amusement in his eyes. "Interesting. Daytime vampire. Noted."
"And I want magic. Not just any magic," Daniel continued, growing animated with each word. "I wantBinding magic. To hold things that shouldn't be loose. And I wantMagic of manipulating the unreal into the real. Like, turning thoughts and ideas into something tangible, or manifesting things from the magical world into ours."
God waved his hand, and a small, ethereal scroll appeared before him, where he began to scribble with a feather of light. "Imprisonment... unreal to the real... Very specific powers. I like that."
"I also want thepower to read minds" Daniel continued, his voice gaining confidence. "To know what people really think. And please give me thepower of a Hacker. Not a skill, a real power. To manipulate systems, information, whatever."
Death chuckled. "A hacker... that's a new one."
"I want to rememberall natural disaster events" Daniel said, his voice more serious now. "Every detail. The exact moment, the force, the consequences. And I want to remember thecorrect details of the stock exchanges, all the fluctuations, the peaks, the troughs. To know exactly when to invest and when to withdraw." A small glint of guilt appeared in his eyes. "I was a guy someone forgot to tell death that a two-year-old watching his parents die in a car accident is not cool. I want to be able to help, yes, but I also want to have the life I didn't have. I want to be everything I wasn't in my other pathetic life. Sorry, God, but I want to be rich. With a house, a car, and everything I want."
God laughed, a warm, sincere laugh. "Daniel, there's no need to apologize. I understand perfectly. And you deserve it, after what you've been through. Your wish is my command."
"And I want children, not just a wife," Daniel added, a touch of emotion in his voice. "A big, happy family. I want to be able to taste the world's delicious food, not just blood. And I promise not to kill innocent people. But the bad guys, I'll skin them."
"Write this down, Gabriel," God instructed, a smile on his lips. "Vampire who likes to eat and has a very particular sense of justice."
"Oh, and the return location," Daniel continued, his enthusiasm growing. "I want to go back to when the Earth was dinosaur-like. I want to see the passage of time; maybe that will help us understand some things. And I'm also into dinosaurs."
Gabriel, who had recovered from the initial shock, took diligent notes.
"I don't want to be able to fly, it's boring. I'll buy a jet and it'll be better," Daniel said, and Death burst into laughter, the sound echoing through the room. "But it could be a power, with a thought I could teleport to the place. That way, if this anomaly were to occur, I could help immediately and arrest what you think?"
God nodded. "Instant teleportation. An excellent idea, considering your new mission."
"Now, about the bodybuilding," Daniel continued, his mind already visualizing the new shape. "I want to be 6'2" tall, 25 years old. I want a face like the angels women love. Sorry, Gabriel, envy kills." He smiled at the archangel, who just rolled his eyes with a slight smile. "White hair, and eyes that are half blue and half gray. Not a bodybuilder's build, for God's sake. I want that ripped body, you know, with a toned abdomen, muscles in the right proportions. And the rest is up to you, God. Surprise me!"
The Implications of Daniel's Choice and the Truth Behind the Myths
God looked at Gabriel and Death, who was still chuckling softly. The atmosphere in the room, which had previously been one of divine bureaucracy, had transformed into a lively debate about the ramifications of Daniel's wishes.
"Gabriel," God began, a hint of seriousness in his voice. "Don't you think you should have warned him? That the movies 'Underworld' and 'Blade' really exist? That there will be real vampires and werewolves?"
Death interjected, his voice full of amusement. "Exactly! He doesn't understand! Why didn't you tell him that many of the movies are real?"
God shrugged, a mischievous smile on his lips. "Ah, it's much funnier to see those who think they're strong vampires and werewolves and the 'gods of the night,' isn't it? Especially now, in front of Daniel. He's the first, but reality has bent, and some of these monsters have left the Wizarding World and come to Earth. The father of two sons, a vampire and a werewolf, and then there's the one who thinks he's the God of Blood, hahaha!"
Gabriel sighed, shaking his head. "But he'll be the strongest being on that planet after he trains his body in the age of the dinosaurs. If you add all the vampires, werewolves, and those who think they're blood gods, they won't even come close to him. That's like sending the Antichrist to Earth!"
Death beside him burst into laughter again, a sound that echoed through the room. "He'll see the time pass, he'll adapt his body, Gabriel, sooner than you think. And yes, the movies 'Underworld' and 'Blade' really exist, only humans don't see them, and when they do, they want to become one of them. Just imagine, vampires die with silver and a stake through the heart. Daniel, on the other hand, is completely immortal. If there's even a drop of his blood left, he'll come back to life."
God, Death, and Gabriel began to talk excitedly about the implications of this, the waves of energy that would be generated, the new paradigms that would be shattered. Daniel, still floating slightly, felt a growing excitement. He would be unique. He would be powerful. And he would have the power to rewrite his own history.
The Passage of Time and the New Existence
The sensation of being remade was strange, as if millions of tiny threads of light were intertwining to form his new self. There was no pain, only an intense awareness of every cell, every muscle fiber, being meticulously sculpted according to his desires. When the process was complete, he felt a pleasant weight, a solidity he lacked in his ethereal form. His eyes fluttered open.
The air was hot and humid, saturated with the scent of lush vegetation and something wild, ancient. Above, a gigantic sun, blazing orange, hung in a sky that seemed vaster than he remembered. Around him, dense, impenetrable forests stretched for miles, teeming with immense trees unlike anything he had ever seen. And the sound... the sound of life was deafening. Distant rumbles, ground-shaking roars, the chirps of unknown creatures.
He looked at his hands. They were the hands of a 25-year-old man, with subtle veins and well-defined tendons, neither too big nor too small. His skin was smooth and pale, with an almost ethereal glow under the prehistoric sunlight. His muscles were there, defined but without the excess of a bodybuilder, just as he had requested. A toned body with a toned abdomen reflected the light. His hair, now snow-white, fell to his shoulders. As he ran his hand over his face, he felt the smoothness of his skin, the contours women would love, just as he had requested.
He walked for hours, days, weeks, months, maybe even years—the notion of time was fluid in that place. He watched giant herbivores graze peacefully, felt the ground tremble as colossal predators passed. He hid in caves, climbed ancient trees, and drank from crystal-clear streams. And, to his surprise, the food tasted good. Exotic fruits, meat from small animals he hunted with newfound agility. Blood, yes, was an innate drive, but not an exclusive one. He learned to control his thirst, to channel it, to use it as a tool, not an overwhelming need.
His powers began to manifest. Teleportation was almost instinctive. A thought, and he was there, on another hill, at the edge of a lake, or inside a dark cave. He began practicing his binding magic, creating invisible barriers around trees, testing the limits of his ability. And the ability to manipulate the unreal into the real was a delight. In a moment of boredom, he thought of a small flower garden from his childhood, and it appeared, vivid and fragrant, in the middle of the primeval forest.
The millennia passed like seasons. Daniel saw the Earth change, forests give way to new geological formations, dinosaur species evolve and disappear. He witnessed asteroid impacts, the emergence of new life forms, the first ice ages. He was a silent observer, a time traveler, accumulating knowledge and experience. His body adapted, becoming stronger, more resilient, faster. He became the pinnacle of existence, a being who defied death itself.
From Dinosaurs to Gold Coins: The Beginning of Wealth
Centuries turned into millennia, and Daniel observed the slow, inexorable march of human progress. He saw the first nomadic tribes, the rise of ancient civilizations, the invention of the wheel, the discovery of fire. His powers honed with constant use. Mind-reading was a powerful tool for understanding human motivations, fears, and desires. His hacking skills, though initially useless in an age without technology, adapted to manipulate the very essence of information, symbols, and emerging social systems.
He learned to anticipate natural disasters. He sensed the Earth's energy before an earthquake, the shift in the air before a hurricane. And he used his teleportation to be there, not to prevent the inevitable, but to mitigate suffering, to guide people to safety, to minimize losses. He was not a public savior, but a shadow in history, a whisper of help where chaos reigned.
When the first forms of economics emerged, Daniel saw his opportunity. He cared nothing for political power or fame. His goal was wealth, stability, and the ability to live the life that had been taken from him. He remembered the details of the stock markets—not the ones of his time, but the principles, the patterns, the psychology behind money.
He started small. In the 17th century, when the spice and commodities trade was booming, Daniel was already there. Using his mind-reading ability, he identified the most cunning traders, the most promising deals. With his power to manipulate the unreal into the real, he could subtly influence the flow of information, the perception of value. He never stole, never outright cheated. He just... optimized. A shipment of silk that should have been lost in a storm magically appeared intact. A land deal that seemed disadvantageous revealed a hidden vein of gold.
His investments were like Midas touches. He bet on gold at the right time, when great discoveries were still a secret kept by a select few. He bought land that would become prosperous ports and invested in shipping companies that would dominate maritime trade. He didn't hoard treasures in vaults. He invested, diversified, and made his money work for him in a way no one could replicate or understand.
By 1790, he had already made a considerable fortune from gold stamps, identifying the most skilled craftsmen and the most promising markets. He financed railroad projects that would connect continents, knowing the revolutionary impact they would have on the future. It wasn't just luck or intuition; it was absolute knowledge of what was to come. And he used it discreetly. He didn't want to show off, just build a solid foundation for the life he planned.
As the 20th century approached, his fortune was already unimaginable by the standards of the time. He already had a certain fortune of3 billion dollars, an amount that would have been enough for generations of comfort. But Daniel didn't stop. He knew the world would continue to change, and he would be there to keep up, to invest, to adapt.
London, 1990: A New Horizon
Time had flown by, or rather, Daniel had. He was in London in 1990. The city teemed with the energy of a modern metropolis, a cacophony of taxi horns, the buzz of conversations in various accents, and the unmistakable smell of fish and chips mingled with exhaust fumes. Neon lights flashed in Piccadilly Circus, and giant billboards advertised products Daniel had seen rise and fall over the centuries.
He stood on a busy street corner, watching the crowds hurry past. His white hair, which many thought was a fashion eccentricity, fell to his shoulders. His blue-gray eyes absorbed every detail: the fashions of the time, the hairstyles, the cars gliding through the streets. He blended in perfectly, an elegant ghost of the past in the vibrant present.
"Let's visit England," Daniel thought, a faint smile playing on his lips. His billions were safely stored in international accounts, investments diversified across every conceivable currency and market. He had learned to use modern financial tools masterfully, as easily as he wielded his powers.
He was no longer the pathetic boy who had been run over. He was an immortal being, a daytime vampire with powers that defied comprehension, a mind that recalled centuries of history and finance, and a fortune that could buy kingdoms. But most importantly, he was free. Free to choose, to live, to explore. And 1990s England, with its rich history and cultural effervescence, was just the next chapter in his extraordinary journey.