The Devil's Belt The Final Confrontation

by Garry E. Lewis

  “Then I opened the box,” the demon said, “and took some of the books out, then hid your book inside the box and put the others back in and finding some tape inside the shop resealed the box. After that I rang the service bell, and the red headed lady came out of the back room to see who it was I introduced myself as one of Richards exchange students. Then I told her that I was walking by when the box was dropped off by a UPS driver at the front entrance of her store. I was afraid someone might run off with it, so I scooted it inside her shop so it would be safe.”

  Lucifer asks, “Then what happened?”

  The demon said, “She thanked me, and told me that was a very thoughtful thing I had done, she then told me she’d be sure to let Richard know what a wonderful student he has.”

  “Excellent,” Lucifer says, “you’ve done well my friend.

  You will be well rewarded for your service! Now go before we’re seen together.”

  “Yes Dark Lord!” The demon soon disappears from sight.

  Lucifer smiling says, “Everything is going accordingly,

  soon my diabolical plan will deliver Mr. Devine’s soul too me!

  Then I shall have my sweet, sweet, revenge.” Lucifer lets out a

  diabolical laugh as he disappears in a cloud of putrid smoke once more.

  Inside Isabella’s shop she opens the box of new books,

  unaware of the one hidden within. Looking at her watch she says, “Shit! I never realized how late it was.”

  The phone rings and she walks over and answers it.

  “Hello,” Isabella says, “you’ve reached Inner Journey’s

  New age shop, the store’s closed, but if you have something you’re looking for you can let me know, I’ll get back to you in the morning when we open for business, just leave your number and I can get back to you, or send you an e-mail.”

  The voice on the other end says, “Are you just about

  through?” Boo asks.

  Isabella says, “Oh hi honey, I’m sorry I got busy checking inventory and unpacking some new shipments and completely lost track of time.”

  Boo says, “So are you on your way out the door?”

  “Yes,” Isabella says, “just as soon as I hang up the phone.”

  “Good!” Boo says. “Remember you have that past life

  regression seminar you’re wanting me to take you to tomorrow,

  we’ll have to get a fairly early start in the morning if you want to make it to Arizona in time for it.”

  “Shit,” Isabella says, “I forgot that was tomorrow night.”

  Boo says, “Good thing I remembered huh?”

  “Thank you sweetheart!” Isabella says, “I’m on my way

  out the door now.”

  “See you when you get home.” Boo says. “Hey pick up

  some coffee and milk on the way home will you?”

  “Sure thing babe.” Isabella says and hangs up the phone. Grabbing her keys she heads out the door locking it behind her.

  Isabella calls Boo on her cell phone as she pulls away from her shop.

  Boo answers, “Hey babe what’s up?”

  Isabella says, “Just wanted to let you know after I pick up the milk and coffee, I’m going to drop by Richard and Cheri’s to let Cheri know she’ll have to run the store alone tomorrow, as we’ll be out of state for awhile.”

  Boo says, “Sounds good babe! See you when you get

  home.”

  Isabella says, “Ok sweetheart.”

  Shortly after Isabella pulls into Richard and Cheri’s drive way, shutting off her engine she gets out of her car and heads up to their front door ringing the door bell.

  Richard comes to the door holding Megan, smiling he

  says, “Hey Isabella come on in, want some tea or coffee?”

  “No thanks Richard,” Isabella says rubbing Megan’s head. “Hi baby how you doing?”

  Megan says, “Fine.”

  “Where’s your mommy?” Isabella asks.

  “In the kitchen doing the dishes.” Megan says pouting.

  “Oh my goodness, what’s that face for?” Isabella asks.

  Megan says, “Mommy says I can’t help with the dishes

  because I might break something.”

  Isabella says, “Oh honey I’m sure that’s not what she

  meant, she’s probably afraid you might get a nasty cut if one was to break, she just don’t want you getting hurt sweetie.” Isabella says, “You want to know a secret, something I haven’t told anyone else about?”

  Megan says, “Uh, huh.”

  “Well,” Isabella says, “I remember when I was a little girl like you, I was helping my mommy with the dishes one day, and you know what happened to me?” Isabella says.

  “Tell me,” Megan says, “please, please.”

  Isabella says, “Ok, but it’s our secret ok?”

  Megan grins and says, “Ok!”

  Isabella says, “I was doing the dishes with my mommy one day, and I was washing a glass in the hot water and guess what happened to me?” Isabella says.

  “What happened to you Isabella?” Megan asks.

  “Well,” Isabella says, “the glass I was washing suddenly exploded in the water, and it cut my hand real bad. I had to have stitches,” Isabella continues, “and they hurt! So I bet that’s why your mommy doesn’t want you to help her, as she’s afraid that might happen to you.”

  Cheri stands around the corner smiling listening to Megan and Isabella’s conversation. Cheri waits a few more minutes then walks in, pretending not to know what’s going on. “Oh hi Isabella,” Cheri says, “I didn’t know you were here. So what have you two been talking about?”

  “Nothing mommy,” Megan says, “We weren’t even telling any secrets were we Aunt Isabella?”

  Isabella says, “Oh no, we would never keep secrets from your mommy would we Megan?” Isabella winks at Cheri.

  Cheri says smiling, “Well that’s good to know because I hate secrets.” Megan looks at Isabella and grins. Then Megan turns and skips out of the room. Cheri asks, “So what do you need my friend?”

  “Well,” Isabella says, “I forgot about my past life

  regression seminar in Arizona tomorrow night, so me and Boo are heading out first thing in the morning. Do you think you can hold down the fort till I get back?”

  Cheri smiles and says, “Sure that won’t be a problem at all. I’ll just bring Megan to the shop with me, she can help mommy run the store.”

  Megan, hearing Cheri, comes running back into the living room all excited saying, “Oh goodie! Do I really get to help you at the shop tomorrow mommy?”

  Cheri bends down and looks Megan in the eye and says,

  “You sure do young lady.”

  Isabella says, “Wow Megan, how about that!”

  Megan smiles and says, “O’ boy!” And turns and runs to tell her daddy all about it.

  Cheri and Isabella watch her as she runs off.

  Smiling Isabella says, “Well I’ll take that as a yes then.”

  Cheri says, “Absolutely!”

  “Well thanks again Cheri, guess I’ll see you when I get

  back then. I better head home before Boo has a cow!”

  Cheri says, “Have a great time!”

  “Thanks.” Isabella says as she heads out to her car.

  Cheri watches as Isabella pulls away.

  Across the street someone else watches Isabella leave. Lucifer, grinning from ear to ear says, “Well, well, well, look

  who’s leaving town. How convenient. This plays right into my hands, Cheri alone at the New age shop, my, my, my. Looks

  like I need to talk to my number one demon, fill him in on some

  details that will definitely play in our favor.”

  Having said that, Lucifer dressed in a black suit with a red shirt and black tie, along with a wide rimmed black hat, strolls down the street with his wolf head cane in hand.

  A car load of teenage girls drive by giving him the w
olf

  whistle as they pass. Lucifer turns and waves his cane at them shouting, “Thank you girls!”

  They bust out laughing at him. Lucifer has an evil grin come across his face as he turns pointing his index finger

  towards their car. Suddenly it veers out of control running off the road in to a large hedge bush, scratching the paint as it comes to a stop.

  Lucifer checks them out as the girls climb out dazed and confused by what just happened. Noticing the girls wearing mini skirts, all of them bent over checking the damage to the car, Lucifer says, “Oh my, my, how sweet, young meat.” Lucifer lets out a wolf whistle, followed by a devilish laugh then turns and disappears right before their eyes.

  One of the girls jumps up in the air shouting, “Ouch!”

  The other girls ask, “What’s wrong?”

  “Someone pinched me on the ass,” she says.

  One of the other girls says, “Well don’t look at us!”

  Then they all turn looking at each other, one of them says, “Nah, it couldn’t have been him.”

  Another girl asks, “Did just you see what I saw? He just

  disappeared right before us!”

  One of the other girls says, “Was that weird or what?”

  The one girl speaks up saying, “I’d still like to know which one of you pinched me?” They climb back into the car, starting the engine they back out and pull away.

  The one driving says, “My dad’s going to kill me when he sees all these scratches on his new car.”

  Meanwhile, back at Lucifer’s hideaway, he calls his

  number one demon to come forth. A cloud of smoke appears,

  before Lucifer stands the demon. “You summoned me Dark

  Lord?”

  “Yes,” Lucifer says, “I have some information that will

  prove useful to you.”

  The demon says, “Teach me master, what is this

  information you have for me?”

  “It appears Isabella will be out of the picture for awhile,” Lucifer says, “this will be an opportune time for you to observe the Cajun girl, maybe offer her some help at the shop. I want you to be sure that my spell book ends up in Mr. Devine’s hands. Then when the time is right,” Lucifer continues, “I’ll have you sneak into the university, enter Mr. Devine’s class room and plant my contract as instructed. Then the fun will begin!” As he breaks out into sadistic laughter, the demon joins in with him.

  Morning arrives as Cheri and Richard climb out of bed to start their day. Richard asks, “Sweetheart, do you want me to drop Megan off at the school for you?”

  “No,” Cheri says, “remember this is Saturday dear, she

  doesn’t have school on the weekend. Besides, I promised her she could help mommy at the shop today.”

  Richard says, “I forgot what day of the week it was, I’m off today too! Need some extra help at the shop?”

  “Sure,” Cheri says, “the more the merrier.”

  Richard says, “We can pick up some McDonalds on the

  way over.”

  “O boy!” Megan shouts. “Daddy can I have a mighty kids meal?”

  “Sure princess anything you want.” Richard says smiling.

  “Oh goodie,” Megan says, “they have small Barbie dolls in the mighty kid’s meals this week daddy.”

  “Well,” says Richard, “we better get two meals then so you can have two Barbie dolls.”

  “Thank you, thank you, thank you, daddy!”

  “You are very welcome.” Richard says, “Now go get in the car, we’ll be leaving pretty quick, soon as your mommy gets done in the bath room.”

  “Ok.” Megan says, as she runs out the door to the Jeep all excited about McDonalds.

  Cheri soon comes out of the bathroom, dressed and ready to go.

  Richard says, “Baby, you sure are beautiful.” She smiles and plants a kiss on his lips. Richard asks, “I guess a quickie is out of the question isn’t it?”

  Cheri gives him that look that all women have. “Your

  daughter is out in the Jeep waiting, patiently I might add, for her mighty kid’s meals her daddy promised her. So scoot mister.”

  Richard says, “Yes dear, I hear you. So I take that as a no in answer to my question.”

  Cheri says, “Get to your Jeep right now mister, you’re in enough trouble already!”

  Richard smiles and says, “Oh baby, I love it when you take charge like that.”

  Cheri says, “I’m counting to ten mister then you better get your butt in that Jeep of yours.” She says laughing as they head out the door.

  “Come on daddy,” Megan says, “I want my Barbie’s, and I’m hungry!”

  “Yes princess I hear you.” Richard says. Cheri and

  Richard climbs into the Jeep and head out down the road for

  McDonalds.

  After leaving McDonalds they soon pull up in front of

  the shop. Richard shuts off the Jeep as they all get out and head to the front door. Cheri searching her purse for her shop keys, finding them she unlocks the door and they all go inside.

  Megan shouts, “Wow! Look at all the stuff, is this all yours mommy?”

  Cheri says, “No honey, this is store merchandise. Me and your Aunt Isabella sale this stuff, so I can make money to buy you the things you like, such as Count Chocula cereal and other things like that. In fact,” Cheri says, “I’m pretty sure if you look in our back room by the microwave next to the refrigerator, you’ll find a box Isabella has back there just for you. So help your self young lady.”

  “Oh goodie.” Megan says as she runs off into the back

  room.

  Cheri says, “That should keep her occupied for awhile.”

  Richard comes out of the bath room and says, “Ok what

  can I do to help?”

  Cheri says, “Oh I know, Isabella had a shipment of new

  books come in yesterday that she didn’t have time to sort and put away. Could you start unpacking those sweetheart?”

  “Sure thing babe.” Richard says.

  Cheri says, “They’re in the storage room over there.”

  “Ok sweetie.” Richard says, as he heads into the back

  storage room. Locating an ash tray, Richard lights one of his little cigars, taking a long drag off of it he sets it down in the ash tray. “That’s better.” Richard says, as he slowly starts unpacking the books sorting them and placing them in their proper category on the shelves.

  Cheri sticks her head in the door way and says, “Bring

  several of each title out for the display out here, the others place them in their proper category on the storage shelves back here.”

  “Got it,” Richard says, “hey where’s Megan?”

  “Oh,” Cheri says, “she’s in the kitchenette having a bowl of Count Chocula cereal.”

  Richard says, “Good choice, my daughter has good taste.” as he takes another drag off his little cigar.

  Cheri returns to the front of the store as Richard continues to unpack the books from their box.

  Richard reaches into the box for another book when he

  feels something odd. Looking down inside the box he sees it. A

  strange feeling comes over him as he lifts it out of the box, as he focuses on the strange book he suddenly has a flash back to

  another time and place.

  He sees himself standing in the Hidden Treasures book store looking down on the dead body of Mr. Von Streussman lying in a pool of blood.

  The memories all start flooding back into his mind.

  Lucifer standing in front of him, taunting him to accept the

  seductive urges coming over him. To sign a pact whereby he will receive powers unimaginable, as Lucifer holds the Wolf Strap out offering it too Richard.

  Shaking the thoughts from his head, Richard tries to clear the memories from his mind. Cheri suddenly sticks her head in the door way and asks, “Everything ok back here sweetie?”

  Richard
says, “Yea babe, everything’s fine just finishing up sorting these books.” as he hides the spell book from her sight.

  Once Cheri returns to the front of the store, Richard pulls the book back out, as he examines it, running his hand

  CHAPTER THREE

  over its strange cover. Richard looks for a place to store it, till he can return for it later.

  Finding a secluded spot on a top shelf he tucks it away for safe keeping. Unnoticed hiding behind a stack of boxes at the back of the storage room stands Morgan the demon in disguise.

  As Richard walks out of the storage room carrying an arm load of new books to be displayed Morgan vanishes in a puff of smoke.

  Back at Lucifer’s secret dwelling place, the demon

  materializes and steps up to Lucifer’s throne. The demon bows his head to Lucifer.

  Lucifer speaks, “So my faithful servant,” Lucifer says

  smiling. “You have some news to tell me about our friend

  Professor Devine?”

  “Yes Dark Lord,” the demon says, “the professor has your spell book, and has hidden it away on a back shelf of the storage room at the shop.”

  “Ah excellent,” Lucifer says as an evil grin spreads across his face. “Even now my spell books powers germinate inside of him; my book has cast a spell over the professor, see how he attempts to hide it even from his own wife.”

  “So, oh Dark one,” the demon asks, “what’s our next move? Do we steal his daughter, or wife and hold them as hostages?”

  Lucifer says, “That won’t be necessary this time around as we have something better.”

  “What’s that oh mighty one?” The demon asks.

  Lucifer grins and says, “We have the professor himself.” As Lucifer holds up the cursed wolf strap, it dangles before his demons face.