Battle of the Soul

by Carl Alves

  Asmodeus glared at him with contempt. “Oh, Andy Lorenzo, this will be my crowning achievement. It will give me great pleasure to put an end to your dismal existence.”

  Andy wanted to respond but decided to save his breath.

  Asmodeus lashed at him with his whip. Andy froze as electricity ripped through his body. The pain was beyond intense. He could only imagine that this was what death row inmates felt like when they sat on the electric chair.

  On the second strike of the whip, Andy’s teeth chattered so hard that they cracked. He couldn’t imagine taking a third blow.

  Asmodeus attempted to strike him again. This time Andy avoided it, only to run into Baphomet’s hulking figure a few feet away.

  Baphomet wore a child-like grin. He grabbed Andy by the neck and began to choke him.

  Andy held out his right hand and instantaneously grew claws. He used the claws to slice Baphomet’s face and chest. Baphomet let go, his upper torso drenched with blood.

  The crack of the whip came from behind. Andy turned and slashed at it with his claws, slicing off the top of the whip.

  Without his weapon, Asmodeus no longer seemed so formidable. Andy dug his claws into the demon’s chest, tearing off chunks of flesh. He then gave the demon a backhand slap to the face that rocked his head, sending him falling backward. Andy followed this with a soccer kick to his head. He picked up Asmodeus and hurled him into a huge block of ice. The ice cracked down the middle, giving Andy an idea.

  He continued to splinter the ice. When there was a wide enough opening, he grabbed one end and began pulling it apart. He heaved and huffed and puffed as it broke.

  When Asmodeus got to his feet, Andy punched him in the head until the demon fell to the ground. He then lifted the demon, carried him, and dropped him in between the two massive chunks of ice.

  Standing between the two blocks, he pulled apart one side. Despite its mass, it slid easily. He walked across to the other side of the ice block, making sure Asmodeus had not moved. Andy ran backward. When he was far enough to build momentum, he charged the block of ice and slammed into it, moving it forward until the first block of ice smashed the second with Asmodeus in between. Asmodeus gave a loud shriek, followed by a crunching sound that might have been bones breaking.

  He’s coming for you, Kate cried out in his head.

  Andy couldn’t worry about her warning. With Asmodeus out of the picture, Andy turned his attention to Baphomet. Before he could do anything, Baphomet slammed into him. Andy’s skull ricocheted off the ice.

  Andy tried to stand, but his equilibrium was shot to hell. He took two steps forward and fell face-first. The world around him spun out of control. Looking up, he found Baphomet’s hideous face giving him a smile that featured a dozen missing teeth.

  Baphomet picked him up by his waist and smashed him against the block of ice he had used to sandwich Asmodeus. The demon raised his fists and yelled.

  Baphomet grabbed his axe from the ground. Meanwhile, Asmodeus managed to stand.

  Heavy footsteps shook the ground. A cold dread started in the pit of Andy’s stomach and spread throughout his body. Kate’s warning was materializing. Baphomet raised his hands and howled in triumph. Asmodeus, beaten down only a few moments ago, seemed to have new life as he rubbed his hands together.

  Andy groaned. Emerging in the background was the big boss demon. Malachai followed him, bleeding and battered but still intact.

  Andy sunk his head back and closed his eyes. “Oh shit.”

  Chapter XXIV

  The big demon was about ten feet tall and had the girth of a redwood. He had flaming red hair with penetrating blue eyes, sharp facial features, and a commanding stare. Going face-to-face with him, Andy lost his nerve.

  “I see you have come back for more. You have proven to be a worthy adversary. Unfortunately, this will be your final stand.”

  Andy wanted to attack. He wanted to take the fight to his enemy just as Lucas had suggested, but he was paralyzed with fear. Battling the demonic trio was one thing. Fighting this demon was a different story.

  The demon folded his hands and lowered his gaze. “It doesn’t have to be this way. I wish it weren’t, but what option do you leave me? I cannot allow you to destroy all that I have worked so hard for. As much as it pains me, I will crush you if you stand in my way.”

  Kate’s voice rang in his head once more, I’m here with you. Don’t give up.

  Andy stepped back. The cold, which had not affected him while battling his foes, bit deep into him. Without him, Kate would be defenseless. When he had seen Kate in his first visit to her soul, her body had shown obvious signs of abuse. She had cuts, lacerations and bruises. Even more damning was the hollow look in her eyes. She didn’t want to speak about it, but he knew they had committed horrible atrocities to her.

  Thinking about this motivated him to move forward. “I won’t let you beat me.”

  The big demon laughed. “You won’t let us beat you? You are a brave one. I will give you that. And quite daring; not that it matters. You will lose all the same.”

  Andy gritted his teeth. “I won’t let you beat me.”

  The big demon turned to his compatriots. “Did you hear that? He won’t let us defeat him. I guess we should leave now. What do you think, Asmodeus?”

  Asmodeus folded his hands and cowered. “Big, bad Andy Lorenzo is getting tough with us.” He snarled. “I have been waiting to tear into your flesh for far too long. I will have my revenge. I will torture you for all of eternity.”

  “What about you, Baphomet?” the big demon asked.

  Baphomet smashed his fist into his palm repeatedly. “You will pay.”

  The big demon motioned to Malachai. “I don’t think you will get much sympathy from him after all the undue suffering you have caused. I am afraid you lack suitable allies here.”

  He had one, but Kate would be of little help, save to inspire him. Maybe that was all he needed to conquer these insurmountable odds.

  Without further thought, he charged at the big demon. Perhaps he caught him unaware, or perhaps his newfound strength allowed him to overcome what the big demon used to repel him before, but Andy managed to tackle him off his feet.

  Malachai, Baphomet, and Asmodeus stared in stunned silence.

  He used his fists to smash the big demon’s face. It felt good to hammer blows on him. He wasn’t so invincible after all.

  That good feeling did not last. The big demon raised his arm and threw Andy off him as if he were nothing more than a yapping puppy. Andy flew and landed against the block of ice he had split open earlier.

  He slumped to the ground, his head and neck jarred, his teeth rattling. He looked up and saw Baphomet’s nearly toothless grin. The demon’s face looked like it had lost a fight with a meat grinder.

  Baphomet swung his axe, but Andy grabbed its hilt. Sweat slithered down his face. He kicked Baphomet in the gut, causing the demon to grunt. After kicking Baphomet in the same spot, Andy ripped the axe from him. Using a two- handed grip, he sliced into the demon’s chest and shoulder.

  Blood spurted onto Andy’s face, blurring his vision. Before he could take advantage of his momentary edge, Asmodeus hurled black bolts at him. Andy did not know what these bolts were capable of doing and didn’t want to find out, so he dove behind the block of ice. The bolts shattered the ice, blowing large chunks into the air.

  A thud sounded above Andy. He looked up and found Malachai standing on top of the ice, a wicked gleam on his face. The blue demon, naked despite the frigid conditions, lunged at him, bearing his claws.

  Andy could not do anything to hold him back and took the full brunt of his attack. Malachai clawed at Andy’s face, slicing into his cheek, neck, and forehead. Andy screamed in agony. Before the demon could attack again, Andy used his legs to propel him away.

  Andy stood on shaky legs, not sure where the next wave of attack would come from. He did not have to wait long. Baphomet speared him from behind, jarring his spine. F
or a moment, he could not move and could hardly breathe.

  When Baphomet grabbed his shoulders, out of desperation he landed a spinning back kick to the demon’s abdomen. That bought him a few seconds as Baphomet slipped on the ice and careened backward.

  Asmodeus swung his clawed hand at Andy. This time Andy was quick enough to avoid the blow. Asmodeus again tried to claw at his face. Andy grabbed his hand and head-butted the demon. Blood spurted from the bridge of Asmodeus’s nose, so Andy head-butted him again. He lifted Asmodeus by the neck and slammed his head into the wall of ice.

  Malachai stood ten feet from him, grinning. “Are we having fun yet, Andy?”

  The demons attacked in waves, never relenting.

  “I’ll be having fun after I kill you.”

  Malachai smiled. “A tall order, don’t you think? You don’t seem to be faring well. I, on the other hand, am enjoying myself immensely. The last time I had this much fun is when I killed your Father Christopher. The old man was so overmatched.”

  Andy gritted his teeth. “He was a good man. He didn’t deserve to die like that.”

  “He died because he stood in our path. A very unwise move as you will soon learn. But fear not, Andy. You will soon be joining Father Christopher in his eternal rest.”

  Andy conjured a gleaming silver sword. It was incredibly sharp, more like a ninja sword than a medieval one.

  “Oh, Andy, I was so enjoying our discourse. Why did you have to ruin it by brandishing a weapon?”

  Malachai produced his own red sword. Its blade was made of glowing light. In the world of the soul, if one was powerful enough, anything was possible.

  Through trial and error and the physical gifts he possessed, Andy had become a master swordsman. If he tried to use such a weapon in the real world, he would probably trip over himself and accidentally chop off a limb due to his lack of coordination.

  Their blades clashed. Malachai tried to meet his charge, but before long, Andy’s speed and power overtook the demon. He landed several strikes on Malachai, while receiving none in return. As the battle raged, Malachai began pressing in a desperate attempt to gain an advantage. Andy used the demon’s momentum to knock him forward. When Malachai tried to regain his footing, Andy cleaved his sword hand.

  The normally refined demon unleashed a litany of curses. Just as Andy was about to finish him, a surge of energy struck him from behind, sending him flying forward.

  Andy slid down the trail of ice, beyond feeling pain. All he felt was numbness and tingling throughout his body. He turned to find Asmodeus howling with laughter. He wished he had the energy to shut him up, but he felt so depleted.

  Asmodeus shot a black bolt at him. Andy did not have the strength to conjure a shield or launch a counter attack, so he crawled away.

  Andy struggled to his feet. Asmodeus shot another black bolt. This time, Andy summoned forth a blast of blue energy to deflect the demon’s attack. Asmodeus continued to fire at him, and Andy deflected the black bolts, trying to buy time to regain his strength.

  Every time he mounted a sustained attack on one of his foes, another demon thwarted him. It was an impossible situation. “Kate, I can’t win,” he muttered. Despair darkened his heart and clouded his mind.

  He leapt high in the air and did a somersault. Asmodeus looked at him wide-eyed as he landed on top of the demon, indenting him into the snow.

  He used his boots to stomp Asmodeus’s head, causing the demon to scream. Intent on beheading Asmodeus, Andy dragged him over to block of ice and picked up the sword he had used earlier.

  Baphomet charged at him. He was too slow to meet the demon’s charge and got speared. Andy felt like crying. This was hopeless. Baphomet hammered him with knees and fists. Andy put up his arms to fend off the blows, but he could only block half of them shots.

  Asmodeus and Malachai joined in on the fun. The three of them gave him a thorough beat down. Andy tried to defend himself, but they overwhelmed him, and in the end, all he could do was curl into a ball and absorb the punishment. By the time they were done, he felt broken down and useless. He bled everywhere. His skin was shredded, his bones undoubtedly shattered. He had no fight left in him.

  Asmodeus lifted him to his feet, got in his face and screamed. “You don’t look so tough now, Andy Lorenzo. You have always been so arrogant, so sure about your abilities, but they amount to nothing. You are a worthless piece of feces.” He shoved Andy to the ground. “Beg at my feet. I want you to beg at my feet now.”

  In a haze of agony, Andy could do little more than stare at his captors. He would not beg. They might torture him. They might kill him. But he would not beg.

  Asmodeus motioned to Malachai. “Make him do it.”

  Malachai smiled. “It will be my pleasure.” He dug his claws into Andy’s back.

  Andy screamed. Just when he thought they couldn’t outdo themselves, they found a way to ramp up his misery.

  “Are you ready to beg yet?” Asmodeus asked.

  Andy shook his head.

  “Do it again.” Asmodeus motioned to Malachai, who obliged his demonic brethren.

  This continued until Malachai grabbed Asmodeus. “I know you are enjoying yourself, but I think our master would like to have a word with Andy before we kill him.”

  Asmodeus folded his arms and sulked. “Well, I want to be the one to kill him. He has done me more harm than anyone else.”

  Baphomet scooped up Andy, hoisted him over his shoulder, and carried him. Andy could not tell where they were going. All he could see was the tundra beneath him.

  Andy closed his eyes. He had to escape. He couldn’t die like this. Kate depended on him.

  Chapter XXV

  Baphomet unceremoniously dumped him at the feet of the boss demon.

  “Stand before me.”

  Even though Andy felt utterly spent, he did as he was told. The boss demon had a commanding tone and a charismatic demeanor. Even Andy could not deny his power. Despite himself, a small part of him actually wanted to please the demon.

  Mountains surrounded them. The edge of a cliff stood the length of a football field away. Cold bit through him, a reflection on Andy’s weakened state.

  “What am I to do with you?” The demon circled around Andy. “Of course, I could have my three friends kill you. They would be eager to do so.”

  “Please let me,” Malachai said.

  The big demon raised his hand, and Malachai went silent.

  Andy marveled at his authority. It was hard to imagine Malachai acquiescing to anybody.

  “Do you have any idea how much it would pain me to see you die?”

  If it pained him so much, then why were they so committed to ensuring his demise? “You have a funny way of showing it.”

  “Why have you strayed so far from the path I set for you? It was the priest who did this. He’s responsible for the abomination I see before me.”

  Andy felt dizzy. He had to keep himself from falling. “Monsignor Curran’s a good man. If it wasn’t for him, who knows where I’d be. Probably drifting into the gutter.”

  The demon shook his head. “He has ruined you. He has destroyed my vision for you, and for that, he will pay.”

  “He’s got nothing to do with this. Whatever’s going on here is between you and me. Kate’s got nothing to do with it, either. If you want me dead, then kill me, but leave them alone.”

  The demon grunted. “Compassion is not a quality to be admired. Compassion is an insidious disease that must be eliminated with extreme prejudice. Do you understand what true power is?”

  Andy did not respond.

  “I will enlighten you. True power is being able to do what you want, when you want, without having to answer to anyone. I have true power. It is a glorious thing.” The demon turned his back on Andy. “I had such high hopes for my reunion with my son.”

  “Who’s your son, anyway?”

  The big demon turned, a deep frown on his face. “Surely you jest.”

  “I’m not j
esting anything.”

  “You truly don’t know?”

  Andy shook his head.

  “So, your Monsignor Curran never told you?”

  Andy looked at the other demons, who began to laugh. Their faces held eager anticipation, as if the joke was on him, as if beating him to a bloody pulp wasn’t enough.

  Andy gritted his teeth. “I’m glad you guys are having a good time.”

  “Oh, Andy, you have been fighting against us all this time and you don’t even know why.” Asmodeus grabbed his knees and howled with laughter.

  “What a fool,” Malachai added, doubling over.

  The big demon raised his hand once more, silencing the demonic trio. “I feel sorry for you, Andy. You have been living a lie.”

  Andy clenched his fists, his agitation growing.

  “What has your priest friend told you about your birth, how you came into being?” the big demon asked.

  Andy hesitated. What did this have to do with anything? “My mother died when she gave birth to me. She didn’t have any family or anything. She was a drifter.”

  “I see,” the big demon said. “Your priest did not tell you the entire story. The part he failed to mention is about your father. He left out that one crucial detail that has shaped your entire life, that has made you what you are. What he failed to tell you is that I am your father.”

  Andy stepped backward, unable to breathe. Andy searched his eyes for the truth. He looked at the unholy trio, who stopped laughing. Could it be true? Monsignor Curran had never mentioned anything about his father. Andy had always assumed it was because he did not know who he was. His mother had no family ties. Monsignor Curran and the parish were just looking out for him when they had adopted him.

  Andy trembled. “That’s not true. You’re not my father.”

  “Look inside yourself. Look deep inside. You know the truth. How is it possible that you can enter a person’s soul, and no human being alive has ever been capable of doing this? How is it possible that you have been able to destroy demon after demon, yet priests who have been attempting to use the old rites of exorcism perish when they try? Why have you never fit in with the rest of society? It’s because you don’t belong to them. You are the fruit of my loins. That is why your power is so vast. You belong to me, Andy.”