by J. J. Egosi
He stopped in his tracks, met now by a materializing shadow of demonic faces. They grinned maliciously from every direction, like a prison with no escape.
“Embrace yourself, Michael. For it is only through reconciliation that you may find any salvation.”
“Damn it. Just shut up,” Michael screamed as he fell to his knees.
“Hey, Michael? Earth to Michael?” said Ursula.
He suddenly realized someone was calling out to him and he turned around, only to find himself far from any dream. The world around him had now transformed into a woodland where he saw Ursula and the other girls.
“Hey, are you alright?” Ursula asked.
“Yeah, sorry. I guess I got lost in my thoughts,” said Michael, realizing he’d dozed off again. He took a sigh of relief.
She and the other girls looked at him with visible concern as they continued walking through the forest in search of firewood.
“You seem to daydream a lot these days,” said Isabella.
“Yeah, things have been a bit weird for me, lately. I guess it’s because I haven’t been drinking anymore,” Michael said, collecting his thoughts.
“I know things can’t be easy for you now, but we’re proud of you. You’ve gone a whole week without drinking and we’d like to celebrate with a bonfire tonight,” Julianna said, resting her hand on his shoulder.
He looked over at her and smiled. “Thanks. I appreciate it.”
“No problem at all,” she said, smiling back.
“Anyway, do you guys have any idea what you want to eat tonight?” Alexa asked.
“Oh, I have an idea,” Julianna said, snickering.
“Really? What did you have in mind?” Unamused, Michael looked at her. He knew exactly what she was going to say.
“How about a nice roasted black bear,” Julianna said with a laugh. Isabella joined in on the laughter.
“What’s so funny?” Ursula inquired as she and Alexa looked at them, confused. Isabella and Julianna whispered something in their ears. Michael didn’t have to hear it to know they were talking about his history with black bears. The girls looked at him and giggled.
“Hilarious, guys. I told you that in secrecy. And for the record, that baby bear was way stronger than it led on,” said Michael. The girls burst out with laughter as they pointed at him. “It’s not that funny, guys.”
As Alexa’s laughter dwindled, she placed her hand on his shoulder, hoping to say something that could distract her from the amusement that coursed through her. She succumbed to even more laughter that she could do nothing about.
“I preferred when we were talking about my drinking problems,” Michael muttered to himself.
“Alright, I’m sorry. But if it’s true a couple of bears beat you, you and I have to battle again. I can’t allow myself to share in your shame,” said Alexa.
“Glad to know you’re worried about how I feel,” Michael said with a dim-eyed glare. “Although, a rematch isn’t all that important at the moment.”
“Unless you want to get your ass kicked for a second time.” Julianna snickered.
“Do you want to get your ass kicked?” Alexa tightened her hand into her fist with eyes flaring in Julianna’s direction.
“Michael’s right,” Isabella began, “We’ve got bigger things to worry about, like preparing a counterstrike against the legion of Morningstar.”
Michael gulped, remembering he still hadn’t told them.
“That’s a good point. We have no clue when they may strike. Though with four titans against their two, we should be fine,” said Ursula.
“Just in case though, we should recruit some extra teammates. Maybe some black bears,” said Isabella.
She and the girls burst into laughter again. It didn’t bother Michael this time as he drowned in guilt and fear for not disclosing his encounter with Lucifer yet.
Why haven’t I told them? Am I afraid?
He could only recall the demonic faces from his previous dream. He shuttered at the memory of them. He couldn’t take it any longer. When he turned towards the girls, their faces morphed into the very faces in his dream.
“Michael?” Isabella asked.
“Hey, we’re sorry. We’ll stop making fun of you. Really,” said Julianna.
His vision faded. His breathing heightened as he prepared to storm into the woods, as far away from them as possible.
“Just where do you think you’re going?”
Michael’s heart raced as the grip of his nightmares took hold. He looked over his shoulder, seeing Alexa’s worry-ridden face. His breathing slowly calmed.
“Just what’s your deal? Are you really that enamored by a silly joke you’d try running away like a child?”
Michael looked at their faces, seeing they had returned to normal. He took a deep breath and smiled.
“My apologies. I’ll try to build thicker skin,” he said.
…and hopefully, fast. I can’t keep hiding this secret from them forever.
“No, I think we should just try to refrain from teasing you. Funny as it is.” Ursula covered the snicker coming from her mouth.
“Don’t worry about it,” Michael replied in a startled state. “Besides, we’re making terrible progress with wood collecting.”
“Well, that’s because you’re hardly contributing,” Ursula said, looking at the lone twig in his hand. The rest of the girls laughed.
“Yeah, is that all you can carry?” Alexa said, annoyed.
“Maybe all the whiskey numbed his muscles?” Ursula suggested.
“That makes no sense,” Julianna replied.
“Clearly, you’ve never been drunk,” Ursula said with a grin.
Michael only realized how much wood the girls carried. Each of them held considerable amounts of logs on their shoulders. He looked down at the single twig in his hand and frowned, realizing he’d allowed his nightmares to distract him.
“Sorry. I guess the wood collecting got away from me with all my dozing off.”
“Oh, don’t worry about it,” Ursula said, smiling.
“Really. To thank you for the other day, let me take care of the wood. I’ll even handle the hunting,” Michael said.
“You? Hunting?” Isabella smirked.
“I think you mean getting hunted,” Julianna joked.
“You walked into that one, I’m afraid.” Alexa laughed.
Michael groaned. “Laugh all you want, but I’m serious.”
“Michael, do you have any idea what you’re even saying? You can’t handle wood collecting and hunting on your own. Even with all of us, it could take hours upon hours,” said Isabella.
Michael smiled. “Perhaps that was true before. Now that I’ve realized my abilities as the archangel, I think I can get it done in five minutes.”
“That’s rather arrogant,” said Alexa.
“Like you have any room to talk,” Isabella said.
“Just get your infinity bags ready, everyone,” Michael said with finality.
The girls looked at him in confusion, shrugging his comment off. Michael transformed into his angel form. He materialized his scepter in his hands, bringing a burst of wind with him. The girls watched him in awe and shock.
“You realize magic is outlawed in the twilight realm now because of recent bans placed from the village we destroyed, right?” Alexa said.
“A quick spell won’t hurt anyone, right?” said Michael.
The skies filled with lightning strikes. The winds grew intense as the animals flocked for safety.
“Why not? Fuck the church, I suppose,” Alexa said. The others nodded.
With a smile, he held up his scepter and pointed it at the trees. “Light beam slash!”
With outward curve-like slashes, he cut every tree in front of himself and the girls down to size, leaving the logs laid out in neat stacks.
Michael then turned around. “There. Now, it’s time for the hunt.”
The girls marveled at the neat stack of logs bef
ore watching Michael fly into a part of the woods that was unaffected by his spell. He rustled past the trees as he disappeared into the thicket, leaving the girls waiting eagerly. The sound of roars and squeals from the direction he went stopped before Michael returned with slaughtered bears and hogs in his hands.
“Alright, this should be enough food and wood for a few months. Let’s say we get this all in those bags of yours and head out!” said Michael.
His display left the girls lost for words. They simply nodded in acknowledgment.
As the five of them walked over to their campsite, Alexa looked around at the group. “So, with the five of us teamed up now, does anyone have any plans on how to defeat the Legion of Morningstar?”
“A battle between two titans could prove dangerous. And we have no clue what the demon king is capable of,” said Isabella.
“Indeed. And let’s not forget that their leader has business with Michael,” said Julianna, looking at Michael.
Michael nervously laughed with a nod.
“Well, their leader will never take us down!” said Ursula.
“Hey, I’ve been meaning to ask you something…” Isabella started.
“Yeah, what?” Ursula wondered as everyone looked at her with curiosity.
“That day you fought Michael. Your eyes. They turned black. What was that all about?” said Isabella.
Ursula looked at her. Her cheeks turned rosy in embarrassment. “Oh, right. I’ve been trying to reach this thing called etheria. Something about conquering your inner demons. I don’t know. The whole idea seems really offensive to our kind. It hasn’t been going too well so far.”
“Oh, I see. I ask because I recently reached a similar state, only I had horns and a tail.” Her response earned her stunned looks.
“Sounds like you fully reached the form. Very impressive. I can see how you won your titan ring now,” said Alexa. “Perhaps once I trounce Michael and his army of cub scouts, I’ll see you on the battlefield.”
“Maybe you will,” Isabella said with a proud smile.
“Etheria? Interesting. So, you know of it in other dimensions?” Michael asked.
“We sure do. It’s the legendary state of demonkind,” Ursula said.
“What else do you guys know about it?” Michael asked.
“I think everyone interprets the form a bit differently but I believe etheria is a state achieved by reaching inner peace with oneself…”
Peace with oneself? Michael thought.
“…that’s only a part of it. Knowing your purpose and focusing on your endeavors is another part—qualities that Ursula lacks, which is why she still can’t power up,” Alexa said, looking at a saddened Ursula.
Michael flashed a comforting smile at Ursula and said, “Cheer up. I’m sure you’ll get there soon.”
“And what is the significance of this state, if you don’t mind my asking?” asked Julianna.
“I would think a fellow demon would know that. Maybe the form isn’t so well known here in the dark ages, but if you’re a dimension walker, everyone knows it as the ultimate prestige of a demon. Only the greatest can reach this form,” said Alexa.
Isabella blushed, before meeting the frustrated and envious look on Julianna’s face.
“Oh, don’t feel so bad, Julianna. You’re plenty strong,” Michael said, placing his hand on her shoulder.
“Yes, but I want to be stronger. A demon never settles for anything below the highest tier. That’s how we’ve evolved to the highest echelons of beauty, power, and wealth over the years. We strive for perfection and if we can’t reach it, then we’re failures,” said Julianna.
“That’s pretty harsh. Well, this probably doesn’t mean much, but I don’t think you’re a failure,” Michael assured.
“You don’t?” Julianna asked with an expectant look.
“Of course not! You have an incredibly successful sword business and a great job as an assassin, to boot. You’re great at what you do and, if I may be so bold, you surround yourself with equally great people. You’re a total success, as far as I’m concerned,” said Michael.
Julianna took a moment to absorb the compliments. She blushed before kissing him on the cheek. Michael returned the sentiment with a smile.
“Now, let’s hurry. It’s getting dark and we’ve hardly enough time before the bears I didn’t kill come back out,” Michael said.
The girls snickered, leaving him groaning with the very thought as they all continued walking with their wood and their bounty of food.
The group returned to the campsite and immediately got to work, constructing a fire pit out of stray stones. The atmosphere brimmed with laughter and smiles as they teamed up to build the bonfire. Once they ignited the fire, they gathered around it and watched the mesmerizing glow of the dancing inferno in the night.
“Hey, Michael…” started Alexa.
“Yeah?” he replied.
“…how’d you do it?”
“How’d I do what?”
“From everything I’ve heard; you came from nothing. You were beaten to near-death every day and drove yourself into heavy drinking, and yet you have such a positive outlook on life and the people around you. How do you do something like that?” she asked, as the other girls looked at him, curious for an answer as well.
“I don’t know. I guess I never got a lot from life but wanted to change that, one day. Life hasn’t been very kind to me, but it hasn’t stopped me from striving for more. And you know, some days are better. I’d often get depressed until I’d drink myself into a coma,” said Michael.
The girls looked at him with frowns and tears forming in their eyes.
“But even on my darkest days, I never lost sight of the light waiting for me. I knew I’d achieve something one day. I didn’t know how, but I just knew. And with the four of you, well, I see people who have made something of themselves. Billion-gold empires in a world that discriminates against your kind. That sense of feeling like a pariah is something I share in. And seeing your success makes me think anything can happen for me if I work hard enough. You’re all so inspiring. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“Oh, Michael.” Isabella smiled.
“Maybe it’s childish envy or whatever. I just know there are great things out there and that no matter what my mind tells me, my heart says it’s out there waiting for me,” Michael said with a wholesome smile.
The girls smiled in response to his words. “All the money we could ask for, and I think it’s you who could teach us a lesson,” said Julianna.
“Well, I don’t know about that. I think there’s plenty I could learn from you. Making money, for one. But, also caring a bit more about myself,” Michael said with an awkward laugh.
“Which is what I think you need,” said Ursula.
“Making money is easy. Being happy isn’t. I know you’re used to throwing your health down the drain, but there are people who care about you now, so you’ll need to pay attention to the way you treat yourself,” said Isabella.
“In other words, you have something to live for. Something to drive you towards that extravagant life of purpose and opportunity you desire so much,” said Julianna.
Alexa commented, “Well, if that isn’t the truth, I don’t know what is,” wrapping her arm around his.
Michael smiled. “Thanks, guys.”
“Don’t thank us. Thank you for your honesty,” Ursula said, matching Alexa’s grip on Michael’s other arm.
“My pleasure,” Michael said, blushing.
Michael and the girls watched the fire lose its vigor as dinner ended.
He stared with wonder in his eyes and a smile across his face, imagining the world ahead of him—a life of wealth and opportunity with his friends all by his side.
A goal for me to strive for, he thought. I’ll make that dream a reality and wash away the nightmares.
A strong wind snuffed the hypnotic flame. Everyone looked up and around the campsite, looking for the source
of the unusual weather. As the winds grew aggressive, the group’s collective confusion turned into panic.
“What’s going on?” Ursula asked.
“Your guess is as good as mine,” said Julianna.
A thick blanket of shadows slowly enfolded the moon, twisting and turning as the screaming winds echoed from every corner.
“Some kind of freak storm, you think?” said Isabella.
“I think not,” a strange voice responded.
“Who’s there?” Alexa said, scanning her surroundings for the source of the voice.
“That voice? It can’t be,” said Michael.
“Oh, it is,” the voice replied, as a great crow circled the tree line, descending gracefully towards them.
“A bird?” Isabella said, confused.
“That’s not a bird,” said Michael.
“How right, you are!” the voice replied.
The crow landed before them, staring with a chilling set of crimson eyes, before transforming into the masked demon of Michael’s nightmares: an imposing man whose blackened aura chilled the once warm air, plaguing it with his dark miasma.
“Who are you?” Julianna said, panicking.
“You don’t recognize me? My feelings are hurt. I thought a demon such as myself would be known across all the omniverse, especially to those seeking my titan rings,” said the man.
“Omniverse? Titan rings? Are you?”
“That’s right,” the man said in response to Alexa’s questions. “I am the leader of the Legion of Morningstar and I have come for your titan rings, and the man you harbor.”
“Yeah, well, you can’t have them,” Isabella refuted. “Not the rings and not him.”
Julianna lowered her voice to say, “Isabella, I don’t think you want to mess with this guy; this is the demon king we’re talking about. Legend says he’s wielded the strongest armies the world has ever known. Some say he’s the only demon the church truly fears.”
Michael looked at the man, completely mortified, as all color left his face. The girls directed their looks at him.
“Michael, are you alright? You looked incredibly pale,” said Julianna.
Alexa waved her hand in his face and nudged him. “Michael? Michael?!” Said Alexa. He simply stared on, fixated by the figure before him.