by Jack Crosby
She stretched her hands out and a circle of flames appeared around us. The Sloth demon looked quite impressed. Just as we talked about, mystical smoke appeared from the ground under me. Cassandra even added an extra touch of having some fall from my wings. Almighty she was good at this. He must’ve assumed that was my doing as he flinched as I moved forward.
“Oz, I hate to rush this, but connecting to the darkness is really draining!”
I heard the strain in her voice and sped the process up. My wings appeared again as did Asunder. “Sloth demon, you have willing asked to be reaped. Do you wish to go through with it?”
He shuttered. The atmosphere was really taking hold. “Yes Son of Death. I wish for a quick and painless exit from this world.” He dropped to his knees.
“With this sword Asunder, I vanquish your flame and send you back to whence you came!”
I had no idea what I was doing. The plan was to decapitate the Sloth demon thinking that would be quick and painless. Instead, Asunder guided me to a point in his chest and with a quick stab forward, the demon burst into flame. As quickly as he was sitting there, he disappeared.
Cassandra dropped the ruse. “That was too much magic to produce at once.”
I heard her but wasn’t listening. What happened to the demon? “Asunder, how did you know where to strike?”
The sword seemed as perplexed as I did. “I do not know master. I felt a pull and I followed it. I thought it was you guiding me.”
It wasn’t me. The Twins looked equally impressed with the showing, so I didn’t want to ruin it for them. “Well, looks like we did a job well done tonight.”
“I can’t believe you were bluffing Oz. It sounded so real.”
“He was fucking bluffing?”
Leave it to Cas to be so blunt. “Yeah, as I told your sis all we need is smoke and mirrors.” Still something that happened really bothered me. I really did extinguish the flame of a demon.
Cas already had the note out with the address listed. “Do we check it out tonight?”
I looked at my watch and it read fifteen minutes after midnight. “No time like the present to help a friend right?”
“According to the rather shitty directions the demon gave us, we need to head north for one hundred paces.” He pointed out of the alley and back towards the main street. “Once we go one hundred paces, head due east and only stop when you find the man with one thousand faces. The Nyx creature was seen in a building behind him.”
Those were horrible directions. Still, we had no other leads so we had to work with what we got. “Everyone still okay? Things will probably only get worse from here.”
Cassandra looked a bit pale but she put on a brave face. “My magic will build back up on our journey. Do not fret Oz.”
“Yeah and it’s not like a concussion will stop me!” Almighty bless his confidence.
So with that, Cas took the lead and with us following him. As we wondered out of the alley, Cassandra took hold of my hand. The touch of it in mine was comforting and I didn’t let go.
Chapter 18 – House Crashers
Cas was staring hard at the half naked blonde chick getting her face painted. I couldn’t blame him, her double d’s were about to flop out for all of us to see.
This had to be the place. Set up in front of an old Key West style mansion was a face painter who had three huge displays with faces on them. Man with a thousand faces, nice job Sloth demon. That meant the home behind him was where Jacoby was last seen. The overwhelming stench of brimstone was another key factor in making that discovery.
Dragging Cas away from the girl, “The place looks like it’s locked up tight. Any suggestions?”
“I think the front door would be just fine.” Cassandra walked by the face painting guy and right up the steps. She twisted the door and it opened. “Well, what are you waiting for?”
Cas and I hurried up after her and the three of us entered the old house. Upon entering, a giant gust of malice and hate hit me. The force actually buckled my knees.
The two of them grabbed my arms. “Oz, what’s wrong?”
“Something is seriously wrong here.”
The house immediately went a reddish color. All the color was sucked out, giving us this horrible visage. The furniture and the embellishments even shifted into a more demonic look. I didn’t know what happened, but my instincts told me where we were. “We need to get out of here now.”
“Not so fast my friends.” A black mist swirled into the room. Emerging from it was a tall man with dark skin and red eyes. He was wearing a leisure suit, which seemed to be the style for the time and place we were in. “A new acquaintance told me about the three of you. I must know more.”
All three of us armed ourselves. The ‘man’ didn’t seem to have any concern for the weapons/magic that was directed at him. Instead, he found an old style chair and sat in it. Crossing his legs, “You can put those away.”
As soon as the word away was spoken, Asunder flew out of my hand and back into my pocket. Cassandra’s magic was snuffed out and Cas’s gun was emptied and floated over to a table near him. And just like that it sank in how helpless we were against this dude.
“So, let’s start with some introductions shall we?” He pointed to himself. “As the host of this gathering, my name is Mephisto, the last scion of Purgatory. And who are you time travelers?”
I’d never heard of Mephisto. Dad talked about a lot of powerful beings, but never Mephisto. “I’m Oz, this is Cassandra and her brother Caspian.” I answered honestly because something about his face told me who already knew who we were.
“An honest answer, I hadn’t expected that from Death’s child. I’m glad to see you haven’t inherited all of your father’s unsavory traits.”
“Why have I never heard of you?”
“No one speaks of me unless they have to.” He got out of the chair and paced the floor. “Purgatory is a realm where there is no time consideration. That is why I know exactly who the three of you are and what time period Merlin plucked you from.”
Power flowed off of him. There was nothing we could do to him, nothing at all. “So why have you trapped us like this?”
“Fair question. I met your brother Jacoby only hours before I introduced myself to you. He’s a bit unhinged.” He said that last part a little dismissively. “He really resents how you inherited Death’s power, or at least some of it, and he received none.”
“So he convinced you to do his dirty work? How lame.”
He chuckled at me. Even his laugh was unnerving. “No, I was prepared to kill him when he gave me something even more useful – a trap he laid to catch the three of you. With your connection to Merlin, I thought why not? Saved me the trouble of capturing all of you myself.”
Cassandra was staring him up and down like a hawk who’s measuring up a kill. Then out of the blue, “I know who you are.”
He wasn’t surprised with her statement. “Please do not use that name. I have long since shed it.”
“Son of a bitch, you’re fucking Mordred, aren’t you?” I’m not sure why Cas was laughing. “Man, does Merlin hate you.”
Mephisto, or Mordred I guess, sighed at the energetic twin. “As I said, please don’t use that name. I only took it up to keep my true nature hidden.”
Someone was going to have to do some explaining. All the names were very familiar, but I got the impression the Arthurian legend was not very accurate. “Mephisto, could you do some story telling for the one who’s not in the know please?”
Ah ha! I had him pegged as one who enjoyed spinning a good yarn. “Since you asked so politely, I will do so. I’m sure,” he glared at the Twins, “you’ve heard Merlin’s account. Now let me tell you mine.”
**Many Years Prior**
“Merlin you stubborn fool! If you insist on going after the witch, you’ll doom this land!”
The temperamental old fool was working his cauldron. “Mordred, while I appreciate your advice, fuck off.”
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This wasn’t going to go anywhere. If he only knew who I truly was. “You are doing more harm than good. If you continue to go with this plan, you will fail.”
“Enough!” Energy swirled around him, filling the room. “Do you plan on stopping me?”
When the Almighty gave me my station is Purgatory as its last scion, I took an oath not to directly interfere. I had come to this period thinking Merlin was a man of great strength and could be taught. I was wrong. It had to be done. “No, I don’t, but your king does.” The doors to the chambers opened and King Arthur stood with two of his knights behind him. “I’m sorry Merlin; you’ve given me no choice.”
Arthur walked into the room. “Is what Mordred has told me true? You wish to mobilize against Morgan Le Fey?”
The old wizard didn’t even pretend to be nervous. “I don’t wish, I’m going to. I know what she can do and the future she intends to bring. If I don’t kill her now, who will?”
“Listen to yourself! You know what her powers are and you still wish to go through with this.” The witch had gained incredible strength from unknown sources. It even perplexed me and I was a being of vast knowledge. “What you are planning in suic-”
A sword jutted through my chest. The blade Excalibur found its mark. “I’m sorry Mordred, but I side with Merlin. We find the witch and we kill her.”
My human body dissolved away, sending me back to Purgatory. Merlin, the arrogant dullard he was, he’d be the end of this world.
**Key West, 1983**
“After Arthur returned me to my realm, Merlin led him and the knights into battle against Morgan. It was a slaughter.” Mephisto seemed genuinely upset. “Had I broken my oath, a lot of needless suffering would have never fallen to this world.”
“Merlin said it was you who ruined their chances by poisoning their chalices. Arthur killed you only in self-defense.”
He threw his hands in the air. “Lies, all of it. I would never poison the Round Table.”
It was really hard to believe the powerful demon standing in front of me. Sure he hadn’t killed us yet, but something told me that encounter, whether his version or Merlin’s, broke the man. “Maybe over the years you’ve forgotten a piece or two.”
“Never.” He turned his back to us. “I wouldn’t expect fools who have fallen prey to Merlin’s honey coated words to believe me.”
Cassandra and Cas certainly seemed to think he was a liar. I, on the other hand, thought something more was hidden just beneath the surface. Maybe it was my mom’s Lust demon intuition, but, “Someone you loved died because of his actions didn’t they?”
Even though he wasn’t facing me, I knew there was a look of shock. “How can you perceive such things?”
“I might be a product of my dad, but my mom’s side runs stronger. So who was it? A princess or some other royalty?”
“No.” He faced me again, his face set in stone. “If you must know the truth, my heart belonged to one of the knights of the table, Sir Bors.” His red eyes burned in hatred. “Merlin’s actions killed him and I want revenge for his death.”
Chapter 19 – The Choice
Well it seemed we were in a pickle. Mephisto wanted revenge for the death of his lover and we were connected to the one he blamed for it all. “So if your beef’s with Merlin, why don’t you go work things out with him?”
“I wish it was that simple Son of Death.” The anger faded. “He discovered my true identity the first time I broke the Almighty’s oath and tried to kill him. He’s protected himself with shields that blur his existence to me.”
Ahhh, now I saw why we were such prizes. “Well I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but we’re stuck here as much as you are.” Speaking of which, “Cassandra, how do we get back to our correct time when the job is over?”
“I trust Merlin has a plan for that.”
“Wait,” her brother looked positively alarmed, “you’re telling me he never told you how we get back?”
The three of us took this opportunity to forget about the Last Scion to Purgatory and began to bicker. “You’re telling me there’s a chance I’m stuck here?”
“Oz, it’s not that simple.”
“The hell’s it not!”
Mephisto seemed to be really enjoying this. “As much as I’d like to say I’m surprised, I’m not.” He retreated back to his chair and calmly addressed us. “The way I see it, you have very few options.”
“Let me guess, you’re going to make a bargain with us?”
“Very good Oz. As a matter of fact, your lives depend on your answers.” He opened his mouth and stuck his hand down his throat. I wanted to gag as I watched his. When his hand withdrew, it was holding a long, sharp, red rapier. If you looked up wicked in the dictionary, this sword would be next to it.
Cas jumped forward. “Are you threatening us? Do you have any idea who you’re fucking with?”
Mephisto knew and didn’t give a damn. “I see a semi-powerful witch, a demi-god who one day might be powerful, and a foul mouthed human who’s very attractive when his jaw is shut.” Boom, that shut up Cas. “Let’s get back to your choices shall we?”
“Well it’s obvious – we either help you or you kill us.”
He mocked clapped my answer. “Your father is an imbecile, but I’m glad you’re not. IF you refuse what I’m about to offer, then yes, I shall kill you here and be done with it.”
None of us spoke. Mephisto took our silence as compliance and opened up the jacket to his suit. Inside one of the pockets, he pulled out a small blinking gadget. He tossed it to me and I plucked it out of the air. “What’s this?”
“That is an interdimensional tracker, very rare. A Greed demon by the asinine name of Speedy made it for me.” He digressed and came back on topic. “By holding that, when I send you back to your right time, I’ll be able to follow you to Merlin’s.”
Cassandra snatched it from my hand. “Absolutely not! You will have to kill us!” Black magic filled her hands which Mephisto again quelled with just the wave of his hand. “Stop doing that!”
“If you survive this encounter, one day you’ll rival Morgan Le Fey in power.”
“I’m with Cassandra, I just don’t think this agreement will work out.”
“Very well.” He stood up and hoisted his rapier in the air. “I did hope to avoid bloodshed this day.” He charged us quickly and knocked all three of us over before we could even move. I crashed into a small table holding candles while the other two went in opposite directions. I was able to get back to my feet just in time to see him grab Cas by the throat and lift him high in the air.
I didn’t want to see a friend die today. “Wait!”
Mephisto, still holding Cas, gave me his attention. “Speak Son of Death and make it worth my while.”
“There has to be another deal we can make. One that will give Merlin a fair chance in a fight against you.”
Pride filled him as he puffed his chest out. “You think I wouldn’t give Merlin a fair fight? How dishonorable do you think I am?”
Cassandra was still down; in her hand was the tracking beacon. “Using that isn’t honorable. Merlin would have no idea you were coming and you’d have the upper hand.”
Cas tried to say something, it just came out as muffled nonsense. “Quiet you, I’m thinking.” He put Cas back on the ground, who looked incredibly relieved to be alive. “Do you have an alternative proposition for me?”
“Look, I get your pissed with Merlin and for good reason, he’s responsible for the death of your love.” There was no bullshit this time, just straight shooting. “This is between the two of you. Why don’t you deactivate the beacon and let us take it to him. We’ll give him your demands and let’s give him the chance to stand up to you.”
The tall celestial took a moment to consider my counteroffer. “What’s to say Merlin will man up as the humans say?”
“Let me be your insurance policy. If in a respectable amount of time he doesn’t, come find me and I�
�ll agree to take you to him.”
Cassandra and Cas looked mortified by this. I wanted to apologize, but I couldn’t. Their lives weren’t going to end today. Besides, Merlin could defend himself.
The rapier disappeared and Mephisto smiled. “When you return back to your time, Merlin has two weeks to accept my challenge before we cash in that insurance policy. Fair deal?”
“And you’ll let us go, no more interference?” This was the important part. We’d already missed a chance to find Jacoby and Darina.
“You have my word, which I can attest is worth quite a bit.” He took two long strides over and extended his hand towards me. “Let us seal this as gentlemen.”
I obliged and took his hand. His aura was a weird one, like nothing I’d experienced before. When I saw my dad, I needed to ask him about this guy. With a firm shake, the parlay was over. Mephisto called the beacon towards him and he waved a hand over it. “It is no longer active. If Merlin choses to face his fate, all he must do it say is challenge accepted into it.”
He tossed it back to me and I stuck it in my pants pocket. “So can you let us go?”
The red began to recede from the room. “I can do one better. Since you’ve been so gracious towards me, allow me to send you back to the moment before you enter the house. Instead of triggering this trap, head east and you’ll find your target.”
He clapped his hand twice and just like that, once again we were thrust into the time stream. As we went backwards, Mephisto’s voice reached us one last time. “When your mission is accomplished and you wish to go back, speak my name into the beacon. The moment your feet touch the ground, he countdown begins.”
When his voice was finished the world swirled back into view and the three of us were back in front of the mansion. The busty blonde girl was there getting her face painted and there was no sign of Mephisto.
We all looked no worse for wear. “Everyone okay?”
Cas touched his throat, the marks from Mephisto’s hands were gone. “Yeah. That was some freaky shit.”