Of Kings and Demons

by Han, George

  Mathew turned and ran without caring much about his orientation. He was not sure whether he was retreating or advancing deeper into the castle. He slipped and fell and turned to find murderous talons inches away. He withdrew his limbs in time, and the talons hit the concrete floor, shattering the tiles upon impact.

  The other demon landed just yards away and lunged at Mathew, its bulging arms extended. I’m a goner, he thought.

  Then he heard a hissing sound and the Demon was smashed to smithereens. There was a ring of light that spread over him and Mathew soon realized Maganus had arrived.

  It was Maganus’s battleaxe that hit the Demon and it boomeranged back to the Guardian Angel. Maganus was heading for him with Father Bellator close behind.Mathew had no time to cheer, however, as the other Demon cuffed him by the collar. Mathew swung his Telum backward and smashed the arm to bits of clay and Bellator’s shotgun took care of the rest.

  Mathew turned to Maganus. “Glad you came.”

  The Guardian Angel nodded. “Not the end yet, my friend. Look behind you.”

  Mathew did and saw the pieces of the shattered Demons rolling back into their former selves. They had been resurrected and looked nastier, with their powerful huge claws crackling.

  Mathew shot Maganus a bewildered look as the Angel stood passive, like a spectator. “Are you going to help?” Mathew shouted.

  The Guardian Angel shook his head. “Matthew, before you fight them, I need to let you know that they are formed from your vibes.”

  “My vibes?”

  “These demons belong to a class called the Senium. When you are in Valmar, humans are trapped in the dimension of their emotional world. Demons take the form from the vibes of humans. Hence only those purest in their hearts will be unharmed. ”

  “Senium?” Mathew asked as he engaged in another round of sparring.

  “Melancholy! Senium means melancholy. These demons found strength in your vibes, and were resurrected from their emotions.”

  Father Bellator cried out, “Control your emotions and forget your sorrows, especially your worries for your sister.”

  “How do I do that?”

  “You own those vibes. You know best!” Maganus remarked wryly.

  Mathew shook his head. I have to do this on my own! How?

  He ducked the swinging arm of one creature but was hit in the tummy by the other. He waved his Telum to put the creatures at bay. He stepped back and sucked in a deep breath. Then he did it again. He calmed.

  The creatures hesitated, as if they waiting for Mathew to make the next move. Bellator was right, anxiety and worry have clogged the depths of my subconscious.

  “Think of something,” Father Bellator shouted. “Think of someone. Think of …”

  The Demons began to creep towards Mathew. As perspiration streaked down his temples, an idea bounced into Mathew’s mind. Think of a King. He turned to Maganus and winked.

  Then he shut his eyes and focused. The sharp talons came within inches of his throat but stopped. Mathew opened his eyes gradually, afraid to be confronted by the Demons. He was amazed to find the ferocious creatures disintegrated. The pair of stone demons, which was a moment earlier lusting for his blood, was now just a heap of dust. Harmless. Mastering his emotions works!

  “Good work” Magnus praised. “All demons feed on the negative vibes of any human forms. They will haunt the owner of those vibes until he dies. In Valmar, altered dimensions allow you to see these demons. In real life, they are invisible to the human eye, but Seniums are responsible for hijacking the souls of foolish men who died from suicides. The only way to counter the influence of negative vibes is to calm those vibes with faith.” Magnus explained.

  Mathew remained amazed as he tried to calm his pulse.

  “Who were you of thinking anyway?” Maganus asked as he looked at the heap of dust.

  “Fear only fear itself—Roosevelt.” Mathew said, and winked again.

  #

  Gwyneth circled the air in disbelief at the impenetrable darkness of Castle Valmar, which sat like a cancerous tumour consuming the essence of the natural forest. Her heart stirred again as she grasped the true shape of Barbatos’s ambitions. The attack on the Kings was just a prelude to a scheme to unleash the frightening forces of darkness on the human race. It had happened in the past, during the Dark Ages, the horrific One-Hundred Years War and two world wars, instances of the Demon army running amok on Earth. The Demon’s presence might not be visible to humans, but their invisible presence had infected mankind with the bloodlust to conquer, destroy, and obliterate. Human civilization had been set back by centuries, and the accompanying mind-boggling loss of human lives and property.

  Valmar served as a portal to release the hordes of Demons on Earth. Before the Demons could totally subvert the souls of men, they had to control a key member of the human race, a potential King of Men. Although such attempts had been rampant in the history of human civilization, they did not always succeed. But once the Demons did take charge, it will set on course a sequence of history-altering events that will fundamental change the fate of mankind.

  The entire human race could be polarized along the lines of race, religion, and geopolitical interests. In place of dialogue, communication, and cooperation there would be dark conspiracy and seething hatred.

  Barbatos has embarked on such a high-stake venture?

  After she landed on the rooftop of the castle, Gwyneth surveyed the scene. A heavy fog hung over the structure like a canopy that hid the castle from the outside world. The castle was a realm in itself, where the powers of Demons are at their zenith, shielded from the dissipation into the realm of humans. Angels will find it hard to exercise their powers.

  As she forded into the realm of darkness, Gwyneth sensed the lurking evil which rolled over her skin like a chill slime. The White Angel tried to locate Maganus, or the presence of other Guardian Angels with her sensory abilities but she felt nothing. Her natural ability to sense a fellow angel was being eroded by the demonic cloud.

  Gwyneth tried again. She knelt and stretched her willowy hands, they were her feelers. She focused. There was darkness initially, and then it dissipated, light fell on her and she could glimpsed the interior. It was not instantly clear, but she detected a room and a girl. The girl was beautiful as a rose and encased in a cocoon of light whose strength flickered and soon faded away.

  Gwyneth opened her eyes again. The girl is Sarah Springs and Barbatos had captured her.

  She must find her quick.

  #

  Eugene worried about the relative calm and ease at which the convoy had reached Washington, D.C. They had encountered angry breaks of snow, which he attributed to the mood changes of Lady Gwyneth. He worried but had no success in communicating with her, or any of the other Guardian Angels.

  Had something happened to the rest? Jin had promised they would rendezvous or send news, but no tidings came.

  “Eugene” Governor Walter asked.

  “Governor?”

  “You’ve been quiet.” The Governor’s voice was crisp, free of worry.

  “It has been a smooth ride. Too quiet…”

  “The lull before the storm?”

  Eugene swallowed. The governor was nonchalant, an equanimity that impressed.

  “Let it be and come what may.”

  The governor and his entourage had just arrived at Capitol Hill in preparation for his press conference. He had plans to make an announcement at the stairs of Congress. However the environment was stifling with heavy security.

  “We have to enter the building.” Eugene murmured, his eyes scanning the environment.

  “Do I just walk in?”

  Eugene nodded.

  “What about you?”

  “The security cannot see me. You head back to the office. You should be safe there.”

  The Governor nodded and headed up the stairs. He stopped midway and turned around.

  “Eugene, thank you.

  The Angel w
as silent and then bowed “It has been an honour.”

  “I could not have made this far without you.” Walter Johnson said with a wink.

  #

  Jin sighed and patted his trusty companion, Dilu, on the shoulder. “I’d be lost without you, old boy.”

  The stallion sniggered and tossed its head in response.

  “It was wrong to let them go in,” Jin continued as he eyed the castle.

  He sat beside the horse and crossed his legs. As he meditated, a slight chill crawled over him. Jin raised his head, a lock of hair falling over his crumpled forehead.

  Then it came. An alluring scent, pregnant with dark seduction, curled around his nostrils with a melody of flute accompaniment.

  His eyelids became leaden, and he began to witness kaleidoscopes of light, and images of Maganus and Mathew. Jin shut his eyes, clasped his hands and prayed.

  He had suffered from delusion? Angels seldom suffered such mental distortion. What is happening?

  Jin tried to stand but found his limbs welded to the ground. Creepers twined around his boots. When did that happen?

  He sniffed a dose of the seductive fragrance and realized a powerful spell has been cast. Only a Demon Lord has those powers!

  Movement on the grass heralded a new arrival. Jin tried to turn his head but realized his reflexes had been locked. He heard a familiar voice.

  “Jin.” Her perfume assailed the Guardian Angel’s nostril and he coughed.

  “Seraphina!”

  “My dear friend, I reside in your memory.”

  “Seraphina, I don’t remember well of you.” Jin gave her an icy stare with his dark, piercing eyes.

  She had moved closer and caressed Jin’s biceps and shoulders. Jin looking into the immaculate face of seduction, the petal-soft lips, long eye lashes, high nose, and smooth complexion. A potent combination that can tempt man and kings, and angel as well.

  “Stay away.” Jin warned sternly.

  The lady continued to caress him. “Jin, you looked better than my memory tells me.” She ran her long fingers over his face, chin, mouth, nose,—and everything else.

  “Don’t touch me,”

  “Don’t be a killjoy.” she pouted her lips in query. “I love the feeling of being with you, Jin.”

  “We are at war, Seraphina.”

  “Jin, you are too grave, always fighting and struggling. Don’t you Angels get sick of them?”

  Seraphina sat next to Jin. As she caressed his sinewy arms, the seductress bent forward and allowed the cleavage of her full breasts to be in full view.

  “Jin?”

  “Proximity does not seem to be a wise choice. Stay away or I will—”

  “You are always so uptight,” Seraphina said and smiled as her fingers reached Jin’s midriff and caressed over the spot. Jin’s body threw off rays of light, a repelling force that tossed a shocked Seraphina yards away.

  The seductress struggled to her feet, her hair disheveled. Her face turned blue and grey with bile. With teeth gritting and fists clenched, she marched towards Jin, displeasure burning in her eyes.

  “I never knew trickery is your way, angel.”

  “That is not trickery,” Jin retorted. “That was a spontaneous reaction. Angels have the holy essence in them, sustained by our faith in God and all things good. I simply called for it. You should know the power of our life force. Seraphina, you were simply careless.”

  Seraphina bit her lips.

  “Fool, you think your friends will survive in Valmar?” She shook her head and her long tresses flowed in the wind. “I could save them, Jin but now I am afraid it is too late.”

  “What are you going to do?”

  With an unblinking stare, Seraphina raised her hand and chanted. A ring of black fire formed around her as her unbridled seduction gave way to full rage. The wind picked up and sucked leaves and twigs into a whirl.

  Jin shut his eyes as he tried to raise his powers and break the spell. His legs were not compliant and a growing chill was spreading in his torso. Jin was surprised at his failure, Seraphina was indeed powerful.

  Meanwhile, the seductress had vanished into thin air. Jin knew her disappearance meant one of her other tricks was underway. A deep hissing proved him right. He swiveled around to see a giant serpent slithering towards him.

  Chapter 37

  Unpleasant Encounters

  “You were careless,” Father Bellator said as he checked Mathew’s wounds. He found superficial scratches but guessed the emotional shock was more acute than the physical hurt. Mathew’s face was a pallid mask.

  “That is how Demons conquer man—through their minds,” Maganus said, said. “Your longing for Sarah is our Achilles’ heel. Guard your mind well or the Demons will be its master. Lose your sanity, and you lose the battle and Sarah.”

  “I am sorry,” Mathew whispered as he watched Bellator sprinkle drops of holy water onto the carcass of the fallen demons, which gradually vaporized. He shuddered as memories of the encounter lingered in his consciousness.

  Maganus looked around their surroundings and said.

  “I would suggest we leave; Jin is waiting for us,”

  “Leave?” Mathew straightened himself.”

  “Jin is waiting and alone.”

  “I’m not leaving until I find Sarah. Please.”

  “There is a battalion of Demons laying in ambush, somewhere.”

  Mathew was at a loss of words.

  “Take heed.” Father Bellator said.

  “What do you have to fear, Maganus?” Mathew protested, his voice breaking with emotion.

  Before Maganus could answer, the ground shook with a rude tremor. In the background, a peculiar drumbeat accompanied heavy footsteps.

  “You just brought on the next set of Demons, Mathew,” Maganus whispered.

  Mathew cursed himself and turned to the Guardian Angel, but Maganus simply stroked his beard and whispered, “You got to have courage to face what you created.”

  “I…” Mathew stammered as he looked down the long corridor where the tremours seemed to have originated. Suddenly, a mid-sized, familiar spirit popped up through the semidarkness, its wings beating incessantly. The creature had an elongated head with a pair of ram-like horns. Whiskers at its mouth which gave it a rodent look like a winged rat with a foul temper.

  Mathew noticed a drum strapped around its neck as he ducked and tried to ward off the attack, but the familiar flew past him and went to Maganus.

  “Lord Maganus,” the familiar said.

  “Harry?” Maganus said. “You are that little familiar we met? Which year was it?”

  “Sometime in the eighteenth century, the English countryside,” the beast replied and beat on his drum.

  Maganus squinted into space as he reminisced. Then he nodded tentatively. “I remember. You brought your beasts to kill …”

  “Failing memory, Maganus?”

  The Angel shrugged it off “What kept you awake at this hour?”

  The familiar frowned and let fly with a stern tone “Your friend here has made my pet restless,”

  Harry eyeballed Mathew. “He is a nuisance. He is one of those humans who

  think too much of themselves.”

  There was a difficult silence before they heard heavy footsteps. Behind Harry emerged a gigantic figure with heavy arms hanging at its side. The creature was about three times taller than Maganus. The giant only had one eye located high on its forehead.

  “That is—” Mathew began but Maganus cut him off. “Cyclops. The Furor. Angry beasts”

  “Lord Barbatos seems to have the entire ensemble of Demons here on Earth,” Father Bellator mumbled.

  “I should have brought my zoo from heaven,” Maganus replied.

  “Good humour! Now what?” Mathew said.

  “Like Senium, Furor can only be put to rest by you.”

  Harry intensified the drum beating, and the Cyclops headed towards Mathew. The creature roared. The power of the echoes swept dow
n the hall, an invisible force that threw Mathew to the ground. He landed on his back and groaned in pain.

  Father Bellator was flung to a nearby pillar. He regained his foothold but there was blood streaming from his right temple.

  Only Maganus was untouched, unmoved, battleaxes in his hands. With a steely calm, he turned to Mathew. “Your emotions, Mathew. Find them and calm them. I am not going to do anything. I suspect the more I did, the angrier this Demon will get. Furors cannot be destroyed. They can only be tamed.

  “I will try my best,” Mathew said he stood up and then moved towards the Cyclops in small but steady steps. The Cyclops unleashed another roar but Mathew stood firm, then as resumed his steps after the blast of foul air dissipated.

  “Steady. Peace,” Maganus whispered.

  Mathew stopped before the giant, greeted by a stare of boundless rage. The single eyeball was a monster in its own right. Mathew felt chill in his limbs and deeply inhaled to calm his nerves.

  “What … what is your name?” Mathew asked.

  The Cyclops’s next roar hurled Mathew to the ground. The creature raised his right foot but Maganus intervened and grabbed the creature by the Achilles’ heel. With a determined thrust, he pushed the Cyclops off balance.

  The Furor struggled to stand, paused, and then remained still. The lid fell over the huge eye. The Furor had slept, and it snored furiously away.

  Maganus turned to find Mathew seated, with his legs crossed and in quiet meditation. The boy’s eyes were shut and there was a sheen of serenity over his face.

  “A lesson learnt, Mathew.”

  Mathew smiled. He had done it. He had sedated the Furor, at the nick of time.

  “I am sorry for awakening the Furor.”

  “Anger is highly destructive,” Maganus said. “Anger corrupts the mind and free will, and compromises a King’s ability to master his fate. You have a duty to the human race to keep your emotions in control.”

  “Do not be disheartened with moments of lapses,” Maganus explained. “All Kings experience that. We do not become masters of our emotions overnight. But the Demons can be always be tamed.”