by Joe Vadalma
As she finished the third recitation, the earth rumbled as though an earthquake was imminent, and the earth beneath her feet trembled. A small flame appeared in the triangle Morgaine had drawn two meters away from where she stood. The flame grew higher and higher until it lapped the stone ceiling. Suddenly it disappeared. In its place was a ten feet tall hellish creature with three heads—the left a bull, the middle a horrible old man and the right a ram. Although generally humanoid in shape, it had webbed feet and a dinosaur-like tail. Its skin was pock marked and leathery. It glared around the room with six cat eyes.
Morgaine knelt down and touched her head to floor like a Moslem at prayer. She stayed in that position until the ram head of the awful creature spoke in a voice like thunder, “Arise mortal."
Morgaine rose and gazed at the demon without saying a word.
The horror spoke again. “Thou hath summoned me from realms of the void at the very moment I was about to claim one who owes me a debt. That human mortal is present in this room in the form of a female."
Melody sighed and tears fell from Michael's eyes.
"Before I take this mortal's essence, tell me why thou hath summoned me."
"I wish to strike a bargain with thee, Oh Great Dark Lord. Is it not true that thou hath said that if the one who truly loves him more than life itself is sacrificed, thou would take her soul instead and grant Michael another thousand years of life?"
"That was my promise. I am true to my word."
"Very well, the female whose soul resides in Michael's mortal body is she, his lover. Return them to their rightful bodies, and I will perform the sacrifice.” She removed the knife from her belt.
The demon made a motion with its talons, and Melody and Michael were returned to their own bodies.
"I have made the exchange of essences,” said Asmodeus. “Now perform the sacrifice."
Morgaine advanced toward Melody with the knife. Melody turned white as marble and perspiration dripped from her forehead. She shivered and gasped for breath.
But Asmodeus’ voice boomed. “It is not the one thou call Melody Trent who must be sacrificed."
Morgaine turned towards the demon with a puzzled expression. “What doth thee mean?"
"The one thee were about to kill fears more for her essence which she calls a soul than for the mortal, Michael. No there is another present who loves him more than her own life, who would dare damnation, who would sacrifice anything, even do murder to save him. She is the one I want."
At first Morgaine did not comprehend, but as understanding of what the demon required came into her mind, she nodded her acquiescence. “Of course, I should've known all along.” She took the knife in both hands, raised it as high as she could reach, threw her head back and plunged it into her own chest. There was a moment of pain and shock. Then her body slumped to the floor in a pool of blood and gasped its last breath. Her translucent naked ghost slowly floated with bowed head toward the demon. When she reached Asmodeus, the creature snapped a golden collar around her neck and yanked her forward by a golden chain attached to the collar. Moments later, the demon and Morgaine's ghost disappeared from the cellar.
CHAPTER 8
THE UNDERWORLD
As the demon Asmodeus yanked on the golden chain attached to a golden collar around Morgaine's throat, she took one quick glance at Melody and Michael still tied to their chairs and at her own dead body lying in a pool of blood. She then followed without struggle; her one regret was that she did not untie the couple. She sincerely hoped they would somehow manage to escape their bonds.
After a few moments the laboratory faded away, and she found herself inside an immense room of what appeared to be the palace of an ancient Oriental potentate, with murals on every wall depicting scenes of orgiastic sex between naked humans, demons and animals; hundreds of massive round pillars holding up a domed roof also covered with murals; and a tile floor decorated with alchemic symbols. In the center of the chamber on a stage-like dais rested the enormous body of Asmodeus. Morgaine and several other beautiful naked women were attached by long golden chains to rings so that they could move about freely, but not at any distance from the dais. In addition, enormous muscular black male demons with skull heads and carrying spears stood about as guards. The women, except for Morgaine, spent their time grooming and petting the demon.
Morgaine thought, So this is hell. It isn't as bad as I've been told. I don't see anyone being tortured. Although it may get boring doing nothing for eternity except cater to this monster's whims.
The bull head of Asmodeus’ three heads burst into loud laughter, so horrendous it startled Morgaine. It said, “So the new spirit thinks being one of my concubines will be boring. Did thee not know I couldst read thy mind, Morgaine? Stand where I may see thee, my dear."
Morgaine took a position in front of the demon, frightened that she might be punished in some way. She fell to her knees and bowed so that her forehead touched the floor. When she raised it again, she said, “A thousand pardons, Great One. I did not mean any offense by my thoughts."
The sheep head smiled. “Ah, that is what I like to see, an obedient and devoted servant. So, thou chose to become my slave for eternity rather than allow me to take thy lover. Did thee not consider that in another thousand years, some other woman will have to make the same choice for Michael?"
"Yes Master, I knew that. But a thousand years is a long time."
The bull head laughed again. “A thousand years compared to eternity is less than an instant compared to a millennium. Thou art a fool. But those who love deeply art all fools."
The sheep head asked, “Dost thou think that thy Michael will be happy with this Melody woman?"
"I hope so. I truly do."
"Bah. Thy hope be futile. He will be happy only while she is young. As she grows older, he will pine for her youth, and when she dies, he will pine for her. That is always the way it has been with him. Everyone he ever loved is either dying or dead. Dost thou believeth that be a happy life. Thy sacrifice was for naught."
"So be it. At least he will be happy for a little while."
"A very little while. I see a future where he wastes his precious years away from his beloved Melody searching for a way to make her live as long as he."
"I see. And you have given me this knowledge as punishment for my sins?"
"Punishment for sins? Thou sound like one of those stupid Christians. I have nothing to do with punishment. I told thee the truth so that thy would see what a foolish act thy death be. Besides, it be thy fate to aid him in this mad quest."
"I don't understand. I thought my fate was to be your slave forever."
"I would like that. Thou wert pretty as a mortal and well-proportioned, and so thy essence appears in my world, but ’tis not to be. Another being of great importance in this dimension hath a use for thee and has made a bargain with me for thee. She will arrive soon to collect thee."
"She? With all humbleness, Great Master, may I ask who?"
The human head replied, the first it had spoken. It had a hollow ancient voice that sounded as though it came from a long dead thing. “Lilith, dark angel and first wife of Adam."
Off in the distance, Morgaine heard the slithering of a great reptilian beast entering the hall.
"Ah, she has arrived to claim thee,” said Asmodeus’ bull head.
* * * *
Asmodeus’ prediction concerning Michael was correct. After Morgaine's death, ten years of the happiest years of his overly long life went by swiftly. He could not recall any woman whom he had been as in love with, comfortable with, and compatible with, as Melody. Morgaine, as he had known her at the University of Wizardry, had come the closest. A woman by the name of Margarete in the fifteenth century was third.
Melody and he had many things in common, the same likes and dislikes, a mutual healthy sexual appetite, intellectual interests in common, the same books, movies, plays and other entertainment. They were friends and helpmates as well as lovers. Onl
y in one particular did they differ, and that was in matters of spirituality. She remained an ardent Catholic, disdaining matters of the occult. The events that had occurred when they were first married made her even more contemptuous of the supernatural. She feared and hated anything that smacked of the arcane. Michael, on the other hand, remained a pagan and a mystic. Although he attended church with Melody, he did not really believe in the tenets of her religion. He practiced paganism and studied the occult in secret. Because he carefully kept these activities from her, they never quarreled about this possible irreconcilable difference between them.
It was Melody's own doings that he began what would turn out to be a disastrous quest into the supernatural. One day, as they dressed to go to a concert, she gazed into her mirror and remarked, “Oh damn, another gray hair. Not just one either. Time to go to the beauty parlor for a touchup.” She turned around to straighten Michael's bow tie which she could see in the mirror that he was having difficulties with. “Oh, let me do that. What do you think, Michael? Would you object if I dyed my hair?"
"Dye your hair?” It startled him that she should consider it. Her hair was a beautiful chestnut shade.
"I wouldn't even think about it, except that you look so young. I don't want people to think I'm one of those middle-aged women who takes on young gigolos."
He stared at her lovely face. He hadn't noticed before, but fine lines and wrinkles had appeared on her skin. She looked middle-aged. The thought brought out his old fears of losing her to that destroyer of all his past loves, the grim reaper. He kissed her and whispered, “I'll fix it. Don't worry, no one will think that."
"What do you mean?"
"Never mind, dear. Come. Time is marching on. We'll be late for the concert."
From that day on, Michael searched for a magical formula that would halt and perhaps reverse the aging process in Melody. He studied all sort of literature, both scientific and occult, ancient and modern. He found clues, but nothing substantial. The most promising were hints in certain texts on alchemy. Doctor Jonathan Dee, especially, seemed to be on to something. There were also obscure references in certain fictional novels, references that hinted that what was described might not be fiction after all. He wondered whether what Morgaine had discovered in the Asmodeus files would help in his quest. He decided that he must pursue all these avenues away from Melody and her anti-occult prejudices.
* * * *
One day Melody returned home from work to find Michael gone, his favorite sports car missing and the following note on her pillow: “Dearest Melody, I must go away for a while. I need to locate Doctor Dee's formula for the fifth element. If I fail, I may not return. Have a good life. I love you more than life itself, but cannot bring myself to watch you wither and die. Love always, Michael.” She found the note puzzling and hurtful. Nonetheless, she waited four days to hear from him before calling the police. The only thing that they turned up was his car in the long-term parking lot at Kennedy Airport. At first, they were of the opinion that he had ran off with another woman. When, after two months, there was no sign of him, and none of his friends, acquaintances or business associates had heard from him, they questioned Melody more closely and followed her around. She realized that because Michael was wealthy, they suspected her of murdering him for money. This seemed so ridiculous and ironic that she wanted to spit in their faces and cooperated with them less and less.
Two years went by without a word from him. It was obvious that the police had given up, and she decided to hire a private detective to find him. She recalled that during a conversation with Morgaine, her rival had mentioned a friend, Raven Lenore, who was a policewoman. She had even given Melody the woman's card. Melody searched through a junk drawer and found the business card. All it contained was the name Raven Lenore and the web address of a Wiccan society. She e-mailed the woman who ran the web site asking her to put her in touch with Lenore. The woman replied by inviting her to a meeting of her Wiccan coven. She assured Melody that Lenore would be in attendance.
Raven Lenore turned out to be a PI who had been a tough cop and was anxious to take the case. She assured Melody that she could locate Michael in three months or less, whether he was alive or dead. Impressed by her self-confidence, Melody gave her a thousand dollar retainer.
* * * *
One of the first things that Michael did after he left Melody was to ask a woman acquaintance to impersonate Melody and remove the Asmodeus diskettes from their safe deposit box. He did not dare go himself for fear that Melody might be at the bank on the same day. Once in possession of the diskettes, he drove to Kennedy airport and left the car in the long-term parking lot. He rented a compact under an assumed name and drove it to the Westchester Institute of the Occult, the occult teaching facility that he and Morgaine had once owned jointly. There, he contacted two associates, Rhami Deju and Robert Longfeathers, swore them to secrecy and set up a laboratory in the institute's basement.
He performed various occult experiments, some derived from information in the Asmodeus files. They were all blind alleys. He decided that only one person had the knowledge he needed, and she had taken that knowledge to the grave with her when she committed suicide in such a spectacular and gory way.
* * * *
In the murky atmosphere of Asmodeus’ throne room, Morgaine watched the arrival of Lilith. She rode a horrible lizard thing similar to an iguana only larger than an elephant. The demon appeared as a beautiful dark-haired but pale naked woman with strange hypnotic dark eyes, enormous bat wings and talon-like fingers. As her lizard slithered into the chamber, all of Asmodeus’ retinue and Asmodeus itself bowed. “Welcome, Great Queen,” said the bull head.
"And where is the sorceress that thee promised me?” said Lilith.
"Here. Step forward where Her Majesty, the Queen of the Underworld, can see thee, Morgaine."
Morgaine hesitantly stepped toward the awful lizard and its mistress with her head bowed.
"Unleash her,” Lilith ordered. One of the skull heads did something to the collar around Morgaine's neck. It fell away. “Come to me, my dear. Do not fear my pet. It will not harm thee."
Morgaine approached the area of Lilith's enormous lizard. Lilith reached out a talon. “Come sit by me.” With dark creature's aid, Morgaine mounted the lizard. They slithered out of Asmodeus’ palace and through a labyrinthine of caverns and tunnels until they entered Lilith's ornate palace, which resembled Asmodeus’ abode. Lilith and Morgaine dismounted the lizard, and the demon led Morgaine into a chamber lined with many, many mirrors. “Gaze into this one,” she said.
Morgaine looked into the looking glass. Instead of her reflection she saw a handsome muscular young man. “Who is this?” she asked.
"His name is Keith. Is he not handsome? He will be your slave shortly."
"What? Why?"
"Because I have decreed it. I shall send him a dream concerning myself and thee. Not long after, thou will return to earth, where thou may try to regain the love of thy former lover, Michael."
"But what of Melody?"
Lilith smiled evilly, a grin to send a person into spasms of terror. “It will be thy choice what becomes of that one."
"Why are you doing this for me?"
"I watched thy progress as a sorceress and was pleased. One such as thee I would desire to become a protege. Look in the mirror again, and I will show thee how much I admire thee."
Morgaine turned her gaze back to the mirror. It showed her reflection this time. But as she watched, her image gradually changed until she was the identical twin of Lilith, minus the wings and talons.
"Art thou not beautiful,” the elemental remarked. “It is in this guise thou will return to earth."
CHAPTER 9
SEANCE
The room was dark except for a single candle upon the small table. Rhami Deju said to Michael Ellul, “Before we start, I ask again, do you think it is really a wise move to contact Morgaine. The way she died, she most certainly is in an evil dark pl
ace or has moved on to her next reincarnation, probably that of some noxious insect because of the evil she had done in her recent life."
Robert Longfeathers replied for Michael, “In my religion, there is no hell or similar darkness where evil spirits are assigned after death. All yet wander the earth. If what you believe is true, however—in other words, that she has been reincarnated—we simply will not be able to contact her. Am I not correct?"
Michael sighed. He knew that these two men loved to argue philosophy and religion. He must stop the discussion, or they could go on all evening about what happens to a person's ego, soul, aura or whatever after death. “Nevertheless, we must try. The Asmodeus files are useless without Morgaine's knowledge."
Longfeathers said, “Do you really think she'll pass that knowledge on to you knowing that you'll use it to extend Melody's life?"
Michael shrugged. “She killed herself knowing that Melody and I would be together afterwards. I believe she really cares enough for me to desire my happiness. No more chitchat. Let's get on with it."
All three were familiar with the procedure to conduct a seance. They held hands and concentrated on their memories of Morgaine. Deju was to be the medium through which Morgaine was to speak. The emigrant from Bombay put himself in a trance while Michael called out Morgaine's name. “Morgaine, wherever you now reside, please speak to me through your friend, Rhami Deju. Morgaine, Morgaine, do you hear me."
He repeated this formula until Deju spoke in Morgaine's voice. “I hear you, Michael. Where are you? I cannot see you."
"I am right here, Morgaine, holding your hand. Can you feel it?"
"Ah, yes Michael, but why can't I see you? Oh. The others tell me that you are among the living and are calling me from the earthly plane. Why do you call me?"
"I need to know how to interpret the Asmodeus files. Will you help me?"