pg 2
"Undo it." She said.
"What?"
"UNDO IT!" she screamed. "Change me back, make me human again." She sounded hysterical
I was confused ... she wanted to be human? ... Interesting.
"You're much better off now," I said, while slowly easing off the stalagmite.
Wet sounds of gore echoed off the cave walls. I tried not to look at my destroyed body.
"No, no no no no," she cried. "I was normal, I had life all figured out," she blubbered, tears fell full force down her flushed cheeks.
"You were a prostitute," I said nastily, "That's hardly having life figured out."
"But it was my life," she shrieked, "I climbed my way up from the gutter as an orphan. And I worked for years as a scullery maid til one man offered me ten silver for a night with me. The money was so good that the next day I tried to get into all the brothels in Paris." she was sobbing again, the anger had left her voice.
"I sold my body so I could eat ... so don't you tell me what I don't have figured out."
There was a lull in our conversation. The candle had almost burned down. Leaving the cave in a faint orange light. Water droplets pattered down the rock walls. Maria shivered, and clutched her arms to her chest.
With one last effort I pulled myself free of the stalagmite, however, my weak knees promptly deposited me onto the cave floor. I grunted as my back met the ground.
She looked out from behind her tangled blond tresses. "You know, for a demon you're pretty pathetic." she said. She seemed to have gotten over her terror of me. Now she made fun of me like I was her brother.
I liked the terror better
"It took a lot of my powers to awaken you, you little trollop." I said, trying once again to get my footing. I managed it this time. But I leaned against the cave wall to catch my breath.
She looked at me puzzled. "That wound would have killed a man."
I tentatively poked the hole in my stomach. "Yes it would have, but for me, it is merely incredibly painful."
She eyed my wound now. "Will it heal up?" she asked.
"Yes."
"When?"
I sighed. "It would have started immediately if I had all my powers," I said, "in my current state it will probably take all day."
She looked startled. "You mean it's day time?" she said, sounding shocked. "I've been asleep all night!"
I couldn't help but smile at her.
"No dear," I said. "You were asleep for five days."
She looked faint again.
I really couldn't blame her.
-------
-Maria-
I was just a little bit dizzy.
Five days ... but it seemed like just minutes. I glanced down at my hand again.
The blisters had healed.
I was still shocked that I got them from touching a pentagram. Apparently that's something else I can't do.
I looked past my hand to the groaning demon on the floor. He was lying face up, staring at the roof of the cave. His hand was gently resting on the dinner plate sized hole in his stomach.
He suddenly coughed, and spit up a large amount of blood.
"Gross," I said before I could stop myself.
He turned his head slightly so he could make eye contact. His red eyes pulsed with displeasure.
"Oh, I'm sorry mademoiselle, but maybe next time you could not strike me into pointy objects during a perfectly polite conversation," he said.
He apparently hadn't lost any of his sardonic charms.
"Sorry," I replied. I could hear my voice shaking. "But, I thought ... well I mean you flew so far ... and." I trailed off.
He winced. "Enhanced strength is part and parcel of your knew state of being. I've been trying to tell you what it means to be an Aethling and belonging to the Light." He said. "If you weren't too worried about missing something as insignificant as a shadow I could have told you that."
He paused.
I smiled. "I like the way I made the discovery much more..."
He coughed up more blood. "Yes I imagine you did," he said.
"Anything else I should know about?" I ventured.
He smiled, "Don't try and lie." He said mysteriously.
I blanched. "Why?" I demanded.
He smiled again. "Tell me a lie then, my dear." He said sweetly.
My mind drew a blank, how often did someone ask you to lie to them?
"Um, I don't know, what should I say," I asked quietly.
He paused. Then a big toothy grin appeared on his all too perfect face. He cleared his throat of excess blood.
"My dear," he began, "tell me that you enjoy being a lady of the night." His smile was positively evil now.
He looked at me expectantly...
I was not worried.
I couldn't keep track of how many times I had told fat slobs that they were gods beneath my sheets. I couldn't remember how many times had I told men too drunk to become erect that they satisfied me.
I drew myself up.
"Monsieur," I said, "I enjoy being a prosti..." The words died in my mouth. My throat felt dry, and a dizzy spell had come over me.
I put my hand against the cave wall to steady myself.
"Not so easy is it?" He said lightly.
I glared at him, and took a deep breath, and tried again ... I didn't even get the first syllable out. As soon as I even thought of lying my stomach did flip flops. Before I knew it I was throwing up. Not having eaten for five days, there wasn't much.
The demon was practically giggling.
"Let's try not to do that again, my sweet." He said playfully. "This cave floor is already filthy enough," he said, eying the circle of blood around the stalagmite.
I was beyond furious now.
"Why can't I lie to you?" I screamed. I was balling my fists and carrying on like a little girl ... but I didn't care.
He took a breath. "Lying, is another thing that those who belong to the Light can't do," he said. "At first you just become short of breath, then as it would appear you become sick." He continued. "I imagine if you tried to lie again you would pass out."
I was beyond shocked. I was trying to imagine a life where I could not lie ... ever. It did not sound like a pleasant existence.
"Is there ... well, anything else I should worry about?" I asked ... afraid to know the answer.
He shrugged. "I don't know of any other physical draw backs to being an Aethling or belonging to the light..." he said.
"But there are some benefits that you might be interested in."
I didn't care about my benefits ... my shadow was gone, I couldn't lie, and I had to be careful not to touch any demonic jewelry.
"What are the benefits?" I asked glumly.
He smiled, "Well, for starters, eternal life."
Eternal life ... wow I thought...
"You mean, I won't ever die?" I asked.
"Correct, you will never age or die ... unless something kills you." He said.
I paused, thinking.
"Wait, you mean I'll be eighteen for the rest of eternity!" I shouted.
He looked sheepish..."Correct."
I fumed at him..."What else?" I asked.
He thought for a moment.
"You probably have some sort of 'holy' powers at your disposal ... but I couldn't tell you what those are," he said.
I rolled my eyes ... he was no help at all. The demon slowly picked himself off the ground ... and staggered his way across the dingy cave. He collapsed into a black armchair. A chair that I was sure hadn't been there before. He put his head in his hands.
"This is more trouble than I thought it would be," he said quite pathetically.
I felt like fighting...
"Why? Am I more effort than you thought I was going to be?" I growled..."Don't want to put up with me anymore?"
He looked up at me with unfocused red eyes.
"No, it's not you," he said. "Though you're certainly not behaving yourself."
"What then," I said sarcastically.
His head returned to his hands...
"Well," he said, "It's just that there is an Angel outside ... and if I am reading her right, she's not very happy with me."
"Oh," was all I could say.
-------
Visitor
~May the enemies of the Dark find no place of rest in the dreaded day. May they never know carnal pleasure, or the beauty of a cold night. May they be cursed with a mortal life. May they be chained to the bidding of an uncaring God.~
Prayer of the Dark Acolytes
-------
-Devnik-
This truly couldn't have turned out worse. I thought, as a stared at my lone candle lighting the cave from my chair. There was an Angel outside. That was certainly bad. There was an angry angel outside ... that was really bad.
I took a few deep breaths, which only served to aggravate my wound.
The gaping hole had dwindled from dinner plate size to roughly tea coaster size. There was no way I could fight an angel when I was drained of all power and sporting a stomach wound.
Strangely, however, she had made no move to enter my little cave. I searched for her with my mind ... she was sitting peaceably next to a stream just outside the entrance.
I leaned back in my chair.
I glanced at my little rebellious Aethling. She was crouched in a corner, staring at her feet. She hadn't said a word since I told her we had a visitor.
The Angel seemed rather ... calm ... I thought ... though even from here I could sense an underlying fury. I wonder if she knew who I was. Hopefully she didn't, that could lead to more than one problem ... if possible I would wait out the day. My wound would hopefully be healed by then, and the sun would not be an issue.
A voice suddenly rang out in my head.
{Send her out}, the voice said with barely contained rage. I winced telepathy always gives me a headache.
I tried to summon enough power to communicate.
{What business do you have here little angel, } I said, trying to sound as intimidating as possible.
{Just send her out, I have not come to do battle.} The voice replied, suddenly sounding weary.
I thought for a moment ... my experiment was in all actuality concluded. I had satisfied my curiosity of whether or not an Aethling could be awakened by a demon ... Though as I thought about it, angels must have quite a bit of raw power. I still felt rather drained after performing my little Awakening. The sniveling girl curled up in the corner of my cave suddenly felt like quite a burden.
{I will do as you ask, } I replied mentally.
'Hurry.'
I stood up quickly. I was pleasantly surprised that my wound hurt less. I pointed at Maria.
"The angel wants to speak with you, my dear," I said.
Maria looked up at me, dried tears clung to her face ... she looked exhausted.
"Is she here to take me to Heaven?" she asked, in a monotone.
"I don't know," I replied.
"Oh" ... she said..."Is she here to send you back to Hell?"
"No," I replied..."She just wants to talk to you." This entire conversation was becoming tiresome.
"Which way is out?" She asked.
I pointed to a gap in the rock wall that led to the entrance. Without response, she slowly trudged out of the chamber, and disappeared into the mouth of the cave. I slowly sat back down in my chair, and leaned back.
Feeling quite relieved.
I quickly fell asleep.
The candle went out.
-Maria-
The passage out of the cave was long and winding. I constantly tripped over loose crags as I tried to navigate my way to the surface. It was getting lighter though. With every step I took I felt as if a burden was being lifted from my shoulders. I was invigorated. I marched with a new determination, eager to get out of the demon's cave. And even though I didn't like the idea ... I was happy to meet someone who was the same species as I was ... well, half the species I was.
The light blinded me as I stepped out of the cave. Everything seemed so bright. Everything seemed so beautiful. The air was crisp and clean. The warmth of the sun bathed my face, and gave energy to my limbs.
I took a breath of fresh air and sighed.
{Seems you've been in that cave too long.} came a voice ... from ... inside my head?
I quickly scanned the small field. A young woman with strawberry red hair was sitting on a bank, dangling her feet in a nearby stream.
I made my way across the field, until I stood directly behind her.
"It's nice today, isn't it?" she asked. Her voice had a dreamlike quality to it.
A candor that could put you to sleep.
"Yes, it is..." I agreed. "I wonder why I haven't ever stopped to appreciated days like this." I said. I looked up at the clouds in sudden wonder. They were white fluffy things, moving slowly in a breeze I couldn't feel.
"Sit with me," she said, her voice soft.
I pulled up my rather dirty white shift to my knees, and sat down next to her. I put my feet into the stream. The water was cool. My body tingled.
The woman still hadn't looked at me.
"The water is refreshing isn't it?" She asked.
I simply nodded.
I was looking at her face. She was staring off across the stream, but I could still see the side. She had very pale cheeks, along with flowing locks of light red hair. Hair that seemed to move even without the aid of the wind.
She had silver eyes.
"Would you like to know my name Maria?" she asked calmly. Her gaze was still fixed on the other side of the bank where sheep grazing. In the distance a sweaty farmer was painting his barn.
"Yes," I said, "I would like to know your name."
The conversation lulled for a minute. Birds flew overhead, trilling sweet songs as they flew to warmer climes.
"My name is Cariel..."she said.
Another pause...
"Are you an Angel," I blurted out.
Her face remained tranquil at my outburst.
"Yes," she said in her dreamlike voice. "I am what humans call an Angel."
We stopped talking again. For a time we watch the trees rustle, and listened the gentle sounds made by the lambs across the water. Everything seemed so peaceful. Everything seemed so perfect.
"Do you know why I'm here Maria?" She asked
"No Cariel," I said..."I don't know why your here." I felt like I was in a trance. Her presence made things seem ... less real.
She turned her face to the sun.
"I'm here because something awful has happened," she said, her tone never wavering, her voice impassive.
"What?" I said, already knowing the answer.
A fish jumped out of the stream, startling me.
Cariel seemed unaffected.
"Why ... you were awakened Maria ... you were awakened far before your time ... the scripture says that no Aethling shalt ever be Awakened before two decades since birth ... lest they be a child forever," she said. Her tone sounded as if she were reading something incredibly tedious.
I swallowed hard.
"So, um, I've broken the rules of Heaven?" I asked tepidly.
Her face finally turned, her silver eyes met mine.
"No, dear child," she said. "The Demon is fully to blame for your misfortunes."
"But, being eighteen forever won't keep me from Heaven ... right?" I said.
Her eyes showed something close to pity ... then it was gone.
"No, being eternally ten and eight will not be what keeps you from Heaven." She said. "There are two Aethlings in history who have been Awakened before their times ... they were accepted lovingly into the fold. One was ten and nine. The other ten and one.
I was confused. "Then, what keeps me from being like them ... why can they go to Heaven?
I caught another glimpse of the pity in her eyes.
"Your Awakener, is what bars Heaven from you. She said.
"So I was awakened by a Demon, what does it MATTER! I shouted..."I am just the same as any other Aethiling ... right? I ended hesitantly.
"Physically yes. But differences lie elsewhere." She said.
"So whats the problem?" I asked. "STOP being so vague!" I yelled.
Cariel sighed.
"Relax my Sister in Light, for you to understand, I must wax you a story." she said ... I grumbled. "Several thousand years ago the first Aethling was born. His name was Yadrial ... Yadrial was born just as you were. Human in every aspect ... until on his twentieth birthday his mother visited him. She was distraught and angry. She had never been able to see her son, or even talk to him. Her superior officers would not allow it. So she traveled down to Earth one night, during the winter solstice, when Heaven is always at its weakest. And she met her son.
He was a Sheppard, but he was discontent. When he met his mother, he lusted after her angelic powers. His mother, upon examining him found he had powers. Powers as strong as most of the angels. It was just sleeping. It needed a taste of power in order to emerge." She paused, and looked down at the stream.
"And so the first Awakening took place. Yadrial's mother placed her hands on his face, and kissed his forehead, all the while feeding him her Angelic powers. Yadrial's powers did indeed awaken. And he became as if he were an angel. But yet he was not. He had none of the obligations an Angel had. He did not have to obey the Arch-Angels, and he would not adhere to the word of The Lord. His 'Holy Powers' were used for his own selfish gain."
I was trembling slightly..."What happened?" I asked.
She lay back on the grass.
"He burned the village he grew up in. And he didn't stop there. He defiled churches and women, and blasphemed against the prophets, and even God himself..." She paused.
"So he was hunted. One day Michael couldn't stand the sight of Angelic power causing so much misery in the world. So he hefted his sword, and ventured down to Earth. Where he fought, and slew Yadrial. After that day the Arch-Angels acknowledged that future half-breeds might occur, as it was impossible to police all the Angels in matters of taking human lovers. So they worked great magic for over a year.
They wrought so that any awakened Aethling would be obedient to the Angel that Awakened them. This would be to preserve order..."
She paused again.
"To lessen the blow they added that the Awakener would be the Aethling's lover and spouse, so that the Aethling might find happiness with their Awakener, and not come to hate them for their control over them. So it has been in angel society. That an Aethling should live on Earth for two decades, where they could grow older and wiser. Then, an Angel without a partner would be chosen, and come down to Awaken them. From thence they would go to Heaven, and live happily, and spread Gods word."
I slowly unraveled her story.
"So you mean." I started ... too scared that my assumption was correct.
"Yes," she said, "the demon that awakened you now has a certain amount of control over you."
I began to cry..."But ... I want ... you mean I can never go to Heaven because some filthy Demon can control me?" I shouted.
She nodded. Her face still impassive.
I became desperate.
"Can you change me back?" I asked, spluttering slightly. "Make me human again?"
"No," she said. "Such a thing has never been done before." She looked puzzled though. "Certain precautions were made against this." she said. "Your powers should have had a barrier encasing them, so that until the one selected by Michael could Awaken you, you would be human. To Awaken you this demon would have had to break the power of an Arch-Angel..." she said. Her voice for once, sounded slightly uneasy.
She glanced at the entrance to the demon's cave.
"Whatever demon lives in that cave could undo what was created by Michael..." She trailed off.
It was getting dark ... crickets began to chirp their nighttime interlude. A cool day had turned into a frigid night.
Why did you even come?" I asked miserably. "Just to tell me that paradise is forever lost to me?"
She closed her eyes. "No, We take care of our own, I was to come check on you, ensure your safety, and explain your situation."
"Thats it?" I asked tersly.
"If possible, I am supposed to discover the identity of the demon in question," she said, looking at me. "How many eyes does he have? Are his hands similar to hooves? Are his teeth like that of a bear?
None of these described the twisted perfection residing under the earth.
"No," I said. "He simply looks like a very handsome black haired man ... with red eyes."
pg 3
"No deformities?" she said wonderingly. "Who are we dealing with here?"
We sat in the cold night a little longer. My mind was in turmoil. I only wanted escape.
"Take me with you!" I cried.
Cariel shook her head slowly. Something inside of me broke.
"But then you condemn me to be a slave to that DEMON." I screamed.
The moon was rising, and the water reflected its milky rays.
She looked at me again, a blank look on her beautiful face.
"It won't be that bad. Your body will begin to crave his touch. The magic of the Arch-Angels will see to that ... He is your Awakener after all. You might even come to love him.
I stared blankly at her.
Her voice became far away. "In fact, you'll probably be begging him to take you to bed by the week's end." she said matter of factly.
She turned, and began to walk towards the stream.
"Wait!" I shouted..."I have so many questions."
I don't know if she heard me, because she had already disappeared.
I sighed.
I sat down heavily. Hitting my butt hard against the ground. I flopped onto my back, and listened to the night.
My mind was troubled...
After an hour, I felt a draw to go back to the cave. At first it was almost like an itch. An urge that was annoying, but manageable.
Soon that itch became overwhelmingly painful.
I stood up, and padded across the grassy field back to the cave entrance.
I took one last look at the moon lit sky.
Then I began my descent.
-------
Voyage into Slavery
~Demons are creatures of Earth and Fire, Blood and Bone. These are their attributes, and they are at their strongest in the presence of these things. Angels are creatures of Air and Water, Tears and Spirit. These are their attributes, and they are at their strongest in the presence of these things.~
First Year Magician Lesson
-------
-Devnik-
I awoke to total darkness.
The cave smelled foul. Blood and vomit had mixed in the air, creating a putrid odor.
Water still dripped from the ceiling, and the cold was fierce and biting. My hand strayed back down to my stomach. My gut wound had closed, leaving nothing but a hole in my shirt to remember it by. I tried to stand and I managed to rise with something resembling grace.
I stretched and yawned. I felt muscles uncoil as the fog of sleep temporarily lifted from my mind. I held up my hand and concentrated.
Red sparks danced across my finger tips, sending a lurid red light dancing across the cave walls.
I did a silent little jig in the dark.
My powers had returned.
I quickly turned my attention to the squalor I had to endure while my magic was depleted. With a sweep of my hand the blood and vomit disappeared. With another wave I removed all stalagmites. I wasn't taking any chances with those pointy bastards...
I then focused on making the place more livable. I replaced the cave floor with a plush black rug. I created a table with some chairs around it. In the corner where my stalagmite had been I erected a marble fireplace complete with fire. Then I moved my comfy armchair so that it faced the hearth. Finally to round off my new luxury accommodations, I created a king sized four poster bed, with red silk canopy and red silk bedding.
I stretched again.
I threw myself onto the bed and sighed. No matter where I was I always created the same room, with the same furniture. It felt very ... comforting.
I yawned. The fog of sleep was resettling
I was tired enough to sleep for a year. I still wasn't completely recovered, and with my new furnishings I felt very contented.
Very contented indeed ... I gazed at the crackling hearth.
And I drifted back to sleep, with flames dancing before my eyes.
-------
-Maria-
The trip back down was horrible. With every step I took I felt like I was damning myself. My footsteps grew heavier and heavier, and it felt like a great weight was being pressed down onto my shoulders.
Why did my supposed eternal husband like to live in a cave I wondered?
Then I remembered.
Oh, that's right; he's a filthy demon, that's why he likes caves. Oh, and he stole me away from my true Awakener, who would have been my true angelic love.
I sighed, and continued my trek down the long winding passage ways. While the trip to the surface had been an exhilarating sense of freedom, this journey back down seemed like a voyage into slavery.
I shook my head, and put such thoughts out of my mind. I concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other, while my hands stayed close to the cave wall, ready to lend support should the path prove treacherous.
It did, numerous times, but finally I began to see the familiar flickering of orange light. I silently sent up a prayer, blessing that lone candle for lighting my path. I moved through the gap between the two rocks.
My jaw dropped.
This was not the same sordid cave that I had left behind.
The room looked like a noble's chambers.
A soft rug of black wool lay covered the hard cave floor. A dinner table and chairs set with silver plates and cutlery occupied a corner. What I had mistaken for the lone candle was actually a roaring fire, set in a breathtaking white marble fireplace. But that's not what caught my attention. Sprawled on a four poster bed was the demon. His dark hair a tangled mess over his perfect pale face. He was shirtless. His body was well defined, and his alabaster chest was hairless.
I edged closer to him, trying to get a better look. While sleeping he looked utterly harmless. With his taunting red eyes closed he seemed more like a boy of eighteen-years, rather than the twenty-year old I had mistook him for. I slowly reached out a hand, and I brushed his hair out of his eyes. His eyelids fluttered, but he stayed asleep.
He was so beautiful.
I quickly realized what I was doing, and yanked my hand away from his face.
This was getting out of hand, I thought. An angel tells me that I am going to be a mindless lusting animal for this vile creature, and the first thing I do is start clucking over him like a mother hen...
This was not the way to prove Cariel wrong, this was not the way to get back to my old life. I glanced at his sleeping form one more time. Then I quickly turned away.
I made my way through the opulent decorations to the fire place, and eased myself into the the plush black arm chair. I gazed into the hearth.
The chair was warm. Either from the fire, or from ... him.
The latter gave me goose bumps ... and that worried me.
-------
-Devnik-
I woke with a start. I had been having the most erotic dream. The dream starred a beautiful golden haired girl. It had been a gripping fantasy. A sheen of sweat covered my bare chest.
Maria...
I was almost sorry the angel had taken her away. She had been such a pretty half-breed. I rose from the bed, and summoned my black silk sleeping shirt. It materialized around my body. It felt good to have my powers back, I had missed the luxury that they afforded.
The cave was warm. The fire had burned down to a low ember, setting the cave in a calm dim glow.
And there was a girl in my chair...
I blinked.
There, curled up like a cat, was Maria. Her blond hair fell in disorganized waves over the arm of my chair. Her slim face looked stunning contrasted with the firelight. Its dull light played off her high cheek bones. She looked innocent, she looked peaceful. The silver eyes that looked upon me with such hatred were closed. I watched her for a minute.
Her breathing seemed to get faster.
Her cheeks flushed, and her bosom was heaving. I found my gaze straying towards her breasts. They were two mounds of female perfection. Roughly the size of grapefruits, they were quite large for the eighteen years that she claimed. I drew my gaze away, and looked at her more closely. Why was she still here? Why hadn't the angel taken her to everlasting happiness? A place forever denied to me.
Did the Light think she could serve as a spy? Surely they knew I hadn't played a part in Lucifer's war on God for six centuries ... but what if they didn't know who I was...
I tried to remember if I had ever told Maria my name. Did I? At the brothel perhaps ... no, during our talk ... no. I had never told her my name ... I paused ... maybe she could be a spy, attempting to figure out why a demon awakened one of their own.
Fools, I thought. They must think I have some personal connection to this girl. I would have to prove them wrong ... if she turned out to be a spy I would show no mercy.
I clicked my fingers.
A spark of red flashed, and a whiff of sulfur appeared in the air. Sulfur ... the stench of Hell.
The space in front of me became distorted, until it reorganized itself into a crouching mass.
"Hello, Turkik," I said.
"How may I serve you Lord Devnikolus?" he said. His voice sounded oily, and his speech uncouth.
Turkik possessed the body of a human baby, with hands shaped like bat claws.
I pressed my finger to my lips, and motioned to the sleeping girl.
He bowed low to acknowledge his understanding.
"Turkik, earlier today an angel and this girl talked outside this cave next to a small stream. I want you to discover who this angel was." I said, keeping my voice as a whisper.
Turkik bowed again, "It will be done."
With a small pop, he disappeared.
I exhaled.
If Turkik discovers that the angel Maria talked to was Terial, the leader of the angelic spies, or one of her agents, I would kill her.
With a wave of my hand another black armchair appeared. I turned it so it would face the sleeping girl.
I watch her breath in and out.
I watched the way her rumpled white shift clung to her young nubile body.
I watched her delicate face.
All the while I pondered the most entertaining way to kill her...
-------
Blessed are Thou
-Daniel Fleeting-
(1097 AD. Somewhere outside Jerusalem)
"Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum.
Benedicta tu in mulieribus,
Et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Iesus.
Sancta Maria, Mater Dei,
Ora pro nobis peccatorbus, nunc,
Et in hora mortis nostrae.
Amen."
I moved to my next bead. And I began again. Battle was nigh, and I alone continued to say my prayers.
All around me men sat by the campfire.
Weeks of forced march had made their minds weak and their spirits corrupt. They sat and drank their ration of beer, and spoke of carnal pleasures outside of wedlock, and boasted of how many men they'd slain. And they claimed to be soldiers of God ... pathetic.
Most had already discarded or lost the cross given to them by their legates. Mine lay safely in a pine box I made with my own hands.
But I was different. I believed in our cause. The rest were mere sell swords. They offered their blades like a whore offered her body ... if the price was right. They were all of them sinners.
I looked up from my beads. Father Fredrick the legion's priest sat before me.
I hadn't heard him approach.
"My child," he said. "Are you aware that before dawn that we march into battle." His voice was soft and wise, like a Father's should be.
"Yes Father," I said. "I am not afraid." If I die, then I would go to Eternal Happiness, Pope Urban the Second himself said this to be true.
Father sighed.
"And yet, it saddens me that you alone spend your time with your rosary and with God," he lamented. "The rest seem to find more comfort in the devil's debauchery."
I replied with fire, "I am not like them Father, I will see God's will done. Deus Vult!"
He raised his hand to calm me. "Yes, I can see that. That is why I have come to you out of so many others."
"What would you ask of me Father?"
"Tell me child, have you ever wanted to be a Priest?" he asked.
I treated this as a test of faith. "Good Father, I am not worthy to be the voice of God," I replied. I diverted my eyes down to my hands, which were clutching my rosary.
Father gently shook his head. He reached out and calmly took my chin in hand, and lifted my eyes to meet his.
"No child, you are worthy, and God needs you this night," he said, his voice grave.
I tried to speak. He cut me off.
"No, my boy, time is short, and you must know the dangers that you face."
I nodded, and remained silent.
"Tonight we will lose the coming battle," he said calmly.
I leapt up to protest.
He waved me back down. "Peace, child, peace. Let me say my piece."
I returned to my seat.
"As I was saying, we will lose tonight's battle, lest you take up the challenge I must present you." He paused. "Tonight, leading the forces of the Seljuk army is a demon."
My jaw dropped. "Satan himself meddles in this Holy War," I cursed.
Father shook his head. "We do not know how involved the devil is in these affairs," he said. "But this demon stands in his inner most of unholy circles."
I was in shock.
Father drew himself up. "That is why we need you Daniel. This demon and his army shall slaughter us this night lest you give us your arm in battle. You alone are pious amongst these barbarians, so only you have a chance of success."
He paused to draw breath. "Though priesthood normally requires a life of devotion to God to achieve, my order has sent me to extend it to you. If you should accept, you will become the first warrior Priest, of the Order of the White Cross."
I bowed, "What would you have me do Father?" I asked.
"Come with me." He said.
Father Fredrick rose, and made his way through the dusty camp ground. I hurriedly moved to follow him.
The men all around were drunk. They drowned their fear in drink, to numb themselves to the coming battle.
By now, the enemy banners were visible on the dark horizon.
I paid the men no mind. Sinners are nothing in Gods eyes, and they were nothing in mine.
I continued to follow Father Fredrick, his billowing white robes helped me keep track of him, as the fires about the camp were fading, and none bothered to rekindle them. Battle was too close to think of such things.
Father Fredrick entered a brown tent on the outskirts of camp. I followed him in.
An altar occupied most of the tent. A wooden cross hung above it, attached to the material of the tent.
Father turned to look at me.
"Kneel before the altar Daniel," he said.
I kneeled.
Father Fredrick smiled. "Now, child, don't move during the ritual unless I tell you to."
I nodded.
Father Fredrick reached down under the altar and produced a censer. He lit it with flit and tinder. Smoke began to rise, and the most wondrous smell filled the tent. He began to swing the censer, and he slowly began to walk around me and the altar in a circle. All the while swinging the censer.
A certain peace filled my mind.
The incense smelt wonderful, and my mind became foggy. Father Fredrick began chanting. At first it sounded like Latin. But then I realized it was something else. Something better. The words of the mysterious language filled my heart with joy.
The chanting lasted five minutes.
Finally Father stopped his circling and chanting. He stepped behind the altar and produced a book. It was not the Bible.
The Father looked at me kindly. "Daniel, I am going to ask you some questions, and I want you to respond, 'I do'. Nothing more, nothing less."
I gave a nod.
He began.
"Daniel Fleeting," he intoned.
"Do you renounce Satan, and all his works?"
"I do."
"Do you fear God, in accordance with the scriptures?"
"I do."
"And do you accept by choice, the life of the Judicar."
"I do."
"Then stand child, and take up your sword..."
-------
(Paris 1623)
I awoke with a start. The night's chill wrapped my sweat covered body with its caress. I dreamed that dream again. It was the dream of that night, so many years ago, when everything had changed.
I only had that dream when he was close.
I smiled to myself. I would find him again...
He would never escape me.
-------
Lust
(Outskirts of Paris 1623)
-Maria-
Consciousness returned to me slowly.
I stretched out on the black arm chair, and sat up. The room was warm, but the fire had all but gone out. A few smoldering coals provided nothing but a dim light to see by. A faint outline of a man was visible.
Sitting on an identical chair was the demon. His glittering red eyes were trained on me.
"Glad to see you in the land of the living," he said sarcastically.
I blushed. "Umm, good morning," I said.
He smiled.
"Actually it's evening, my sweet," he said lightly, "you just can't seem to keep track of time,"
I harrumphed.
He continued unabated. "So, why did you come back?" He said. "I thought the little fairy that came and visited would have spirited you off to the land of eternal sunshine...? Or are there currently no vacancies?"
His words rang in my already muddled head. What he just said was technically not a command, but I could feel my bodies' desire to give him an answer, even though my mind was loath to describe my situation.
"Tell me why you returned", he said very calmly.
That was a command.
These words rang even louder in my head. So loud it was almost deafening ... it took all my strength of will just to shake my head.
I never saw him move. But suddenly his right hand was around my throat, and my legs were dangling in the air.
"I'm going to ask you again," he said. "And I will be very displeased if you don't answer me."
The ringing now sounded like a church bell. I could feel my mind caving ... and my body leapt at the chance to obey his orders. My mouth started moving, even though I didn't have enough air to talk.
He set me down. "Try again," he said.
"The angel said that they would not accept me because I was awoken by a demon," I said in a rush. I had enough control left to leave out the part where he could give me orders and expect me to obey them ... that would just be uncouth for a young girl to say.
It seemed that my status as a creature of 'The Light' prevented me from telling direct lies, but lies of omission didn't seem to be a problem.
The beautiful dark haired youth returned to his seat, and put his chin in his hands.
"Yes, they would be suspicious of you wouldn't they," he mused. "Or maybe they're just prejudice ... I should have anticipated this ... anything else you want to tell me?"
This caused some slight ringing, and I could feel my body eager to tell him of his control over me. My mind, however, was able to make the wanton thing shake its head.
He continued muttering to himself... "Yes, well, it'll be more fun to wait for Turkik to return anyway..."
While he was talking to himself, I started at him. I locked my gaze on his perfect face.
I curled up on the chair again, and watched him like a dog watches its master.
My sex was dripping wet. But I ignored that.
-Devnik-
She seemed uncomfortable in her chair.
She was constantly fidgeting like she couldn't get comfortable ... hmm, I thought, maybe she knows she's in danger? I didn't know ... it was hard to tell with this girl.
For one thing, I still didn't understand her reasoning for returning. Even if the angels didn't want her, why not run back to Paris? Why run back to me, a demon? I was by nature an enemy to her kind. I didn't doubt her explanation of why they wouldn't let her into Paradise.
As a member of the Light she couldn't physically lie ... but if she was a spy she would hardly tell me. The angel would have certainly taught her how to avoid telling me of her true intentions...
The one thing I did notice, was that she smelled. Not terrible, as it was my opinion that a sweaty dirty girl could never smell bad. But she did have a certain air of musk to her. I decided to help her with that.
I concentrated.
A red spark popped in front of my nose.
The white shift that had become filthy with a week's worth of grim began to glow red.
Report Story
byNoble_Truth© 52 comments/ 68053 views/ 127 favorites
View User's Journal
mm
♥ ❤ ♥ ❤ ♥ ♥ ❤ ♥ ❤ ♥ ♥ ❤ ♥ ❤ ♥ ♥ ❤ ♥ ❤ ♥ ♥ ❤ ♥ ❤ ♥ ♥ ❤ ♥ ❤ ♥ ♥ ❤
 |
