Hellraiser: Beyond the Gates of Hell

Disclaimer: Well, well, well... My first Hellraiser fic. Look at that. It's about time I did one of these. Remember this, readers: I take CONSTRUCTIVE criticism, but not flamers. So kindly step away if you feel such an urge. This story is going to be written for the fun in it, but I have done as much research as one can. Clive Barker owns all things flesh and blood in Hellraiser, but I own the plot and the few characters he DIDN'T make.

"The flesh endures the storms of the present alone, the mind those of the past and future as well as the present."

-Epicurus

"Do not bite at the bait of pleasure, till you know there is no hook beneath it."

-Thomas Jefferson

By: VampireQueenAkasha

We have such sights to show you...

Prologue

Within the darkness of the stone walls that went on forever, there came a blood-curdling cacophony; the high - pitched squealing of winches that lacked any form of oil, the rasping of hooks and razors being sharpened and worse, the home of tormented souls. Above the massive catwalks, dominating the huge space, lurked the very master of the labyrinth. The great God of Flesh, Desire and Order, Leviathan; a monumentally huge, white, multi - faceted diamond, spinning on its own axis, entirely unsupported by any physical means, above its territory. Apart from its very immensity, the most unsettling thing about Leviathan were the beams of black light that flashed out from the corners of all its many facets. Due to the fast spinning of the master, the beams shot and swooped around the chamber, like a negative laser display of dazzling complexity.

Eerie sounds echoed throughout the corridors, magnified to this specific point.

The sound of Leviathan's breath.

Standing before the God were the Cenobites Balberith and the Female Cenobite known by her human name, Nikoletta.

Balberith was an elderly Cenobite who had large circular glasses that were tightly stitched to her face and pointed teeth. She commonly carried around a book made out of human flesh, due to her love of reading and her job as Hell's Librarian. She was honored and loved by many other cenobites, including Pinhead. Unlike other Cenobites she did not wear a leather bound suit, but instead wore a black dress. Of course, she was also one of few Cenobites to have hair, despite the gray tone to it.

"They just don't make them like they used to ... " the older Cenobite murmured, dismay in her voice.

"No. They still have much to learn ... " Nikoletta replied, her eyes catching a side glimpse of the younger, fresh group of new recruits who were piling into the Leviathan's circle.

Two Cenobites had started in on verbal argument; the Pistonhead Cenobite formerly known as J.P. Monroe. As his name implied, he had two pistons put through his head which were constantly moving back and forth. Hunger was a Cenobite with pale blue skin, bald and a tight leather, spike-covered suit that clung to his dangerously skinny body. His mouth was outstretched, much like Chatterer's and he had many sharp and pointed teeth. Hunger also had large bulbous, but threatening eyes and he wore white gloves.

"Move out of my way, bone boy or I'll plow ya'!" Pistonhead snarled.

Hunger's fat gaze darkened and he pointed a jagged finger at Pistonhead's chest. "Call me that again, wretch and I will make a jacket from your hide!"

Pistonhead laughed and withdrew a night stick from his belt, eager to engage in a long - desired fight. "Bring it on!"

Nikoletta and Balberith sighed with dismay at the sight. Oh the young ones were always trouble ...

"Enough!"

The command had come from the very Lord of Pain himself, Xipe Totec, or as he was referred to by many of his victims, Pinhead. He was strolling up to the two Cenobites and they retreated meekly from his sight when he stared harshly down at them with his pitiless black gaze. It was a look meant to chill the remaining fluid in their bodies, but a chiding one much like the way a father would chastise his children for disobedience.

Moving past them, Pinhead faced the Lord of the Labyrinth and dropped onto two knees, raising his thumbs and forefinger together to his forehead in a peculiar salute or tribute to the God before him.

"My lord ... you have summoned me?"

The Leviathan was silent, turning, ever so quickly. Finally, a single female Cenobite among the group began to choke and spasm and those surrounding her backed away quickly with amazement as Leviathan took control of the being, speaking through her in a tongue meant only for their ears. It was metallic almost, blended in with the female Cenobite's voice as well as the voice of the Lord of the Labyrinth. When He spoke, every Cenobite shuddered in delight and fear.

"MY CHILDREN, HEED MY WORDS. I BEAR NEWS FOR YOU ALL. THE HUMAN KNOWN AS KIRSTY COTTON IS DEAD."

Pinhead's great immobile brow puckered at the news. His great nemesis and worthy adversary was dead? How was this so? The other Cenobites were familiar with the name, but not the deeds of the woman.

"My lord ... how has this come to pass?" he asked, choosing his words carefully. He always spoke with great care when it came to his master.

The possessed Cenobite turned to him. "HER HEART WAS WEAK, MY SON. AS HUMANITY OFTEN IS. BUT ... SOMETHING ELSE ... INTRIGUED ME. HER OFFSPRING ... SHE HAS BEEN MENTIONED IN THE DICTIONNAIRE INFERNAL ... "

The Cenobites reacted with murmurs of disbelief and confusion. Since when was Leviathan intrigued with a human? And since when was a human mentioned in one of their tomes? Pinhead seemed extremely fascinated with this news. A new Cotton meant a new toy to play with. Ahh, he was looking forward to unleashing his revenge on the family member who had humiliated him all of these years. If he couldn't have Kirsty, then he would take her precious daughter.

The possessed Cenobite looked over at Balberith. "SHOW THEM."

Immediately, Balberith summoned up the book that the Leviathan spoke of; it had the face of a human man stretched over the binding and the hair kept the book tightly together. She quickly found her needed page and sure enough, there it was.

"Ah yes, Alice Cotton," she read, "19 years, 11 months, 27 days, 12 hours, 28 minutes and 30 seconds old. She is the only Cotton daughter to have been born after Kirsty Cotton died of a car crash where she was sliced open at the chest from the glass of her vehicle. Her heart gave out 29 hours, 14 minutes and 10 seconds later. Alice Cotton is to inherit her mother's fortune in 7 days, 4 hours, 17 minutes and 60 seconds."

"My lord?" Nikoletta said, carefully, interrupting Balberith before she could continue, "What purpose would this human serve us?"

"I FORESEE GREAT THINGS WITH THE HUMAN AS WELL AS WITH ... YOU ... MY SON." The gaze of the Cenobite landed onto Pinhead. "YOU MUST LET HER COME TO ME. SHE WILL HAVE MUCH TO LEARN."

"And if she refuses, my lord?" Pinhead inquired.

"SHE WILL NOT REFUSE. TRUST ME, MY SON. ONCE SHE LOSES HER WILL TO REMAIN MORTAL, SHE WILL COME TO US ... IN TIME."

O

Note-So...what do you think thus far?