“Let me out of here,” Mara said, a bit louder than before. “Let me out! You can’t leave me down here!” she shouted but Belial had already sealed the door and was gone, leaving her to mope on the dungeon floor like a trapped mouse in a snake pit.
***
Preparing his pets for flight, Belial boarded his chariot to make his way to Lucifer’s domain as were his orders. The flight was smooth, as Belial was quite confident that Inigo would not pull another stunt for awhile after the last incident, and they touched down upon Lucifer’s platform resting high above the infernal grounds.
***
Already stir crazy, Mara began devising ways to get herself out of the dungeon while Belial was away 'on business'. Figuring she could make her way to the hidden catacombs again where the 'treasure,' which she was almost positive that it was the sword, or something like it, to be guarded and locked away like it was. And as soon as she had the relic in her grasp, her mission would be complete and she could go home. And right now she wanted that more than anything her mind could fathom. And she was willing to sacrifice her virtue if the gatekeeper called for it. Anything but this, anything but being locked in a dark, dank cell with nothing but punishment waiting around the bend. She feared Belial’s return more than anything at this point, and she was willing to get away by any means she could.
***
Lucifer’s castle was a twisted maze of architecture, with tall towers reaching into the sky each equipped with a torch at the tip that burned consistently, impossible dimensions and more rooms than one could count, some of which were hidden to the naked eye of course. But Belial found its structure stimulating, far more entertaining than that disgrace belonging to Bael. Its darkened exterior matched its interior with every bit of menace it could conjure up. He entered with no trouble as he had been invited and found Lucifer in his 'tranquility room.'
Walking through the tall doors, Belial saw the emperor lying flat on his back, resting upon a burgundy chaise and staring up into the high ceiling with a sense of peace surrounding him. Not wanting to disturb him just yet, for to do so could bring upon his wrath, Belial stopped and stood still in the room’s center, gazing up at the ceiling on his own. He let out a sigh of repose and smiled. The ceiling in this particular room was composed of hundreds of souls, trapped in a whirlpool of torment. Around and around they would go in this sort of upside down suspended pool, each undergoing his or her own unique penalty of eternal anguish that was brought about by their selfish ways as a mortal. Their screams could be heard throughout the room, but if one were to step beyond its closed doors they would hear not a sound, even though the high pitched wails and low moans were deafening to the ears of one occupying this room to gain some peace of mind. Lucifer came here to de-stress himself, as he would say, and everyone could agree that the twisted idea of tranquility fit Lucifer’s sadistic sense of humor like a glove. Eventually he had enough of the peacefulness and turned to Belial, a look of recognition showing on his hardened face.
“Ah, you’re here,” he said as he sat up, swinging his legs off the chaise.
“Yes, you said it was urgent,” Belial answered.
“Indeed I did,” Lucifer replied, standing up and grabbing his scepter that had been leaning against the chaise as he lounged. “How is your assignment coming along?”
“With difficulty,” Belial answered, showing a bit of injured pride on his face.
“Oh?” Lucifer arched an eyebrow, “don’t keep me in suspense, Belial, tell me. What has she been up to?”
***
Eventually Mara had crawled her way out of the dungeon by taking one of the steel neck collars Belial kept chained to the wall and repeatedly throwing it up at the trap door in the ceiling until she managed to throw it hard enough to make the door swing all the way open on its own. It had been difficult unbolting the collar and her fingers were now ragged messes of blood and chafing, but she had finally succeeded. After that, it was only a matter of jumping and since the door was no more than eight feet from the ground and she measured close to six feet from her head to her toes, she did not have to jump that high to pull her body up. Belial had most likely forgotten about her height when he left her down there unchained. Knowing exactly where to go, she made her way to the kitchens and got through the hidden door without much difficulty. She only had to give the gatekeeper a bit more blood than last time, but she was all right with it. Hurriedly she made her way through the maze, remembering to turn left at the intersection until she came upon the second door, flanked still by the two statues.
“I’d like to pass,” she called out to the door. The gatekeeper’s face appeared soon after.
“Are you willing to give up your virtue this time?” he asked wearily, as if she were playing some game that he had grown tired of.
“Yes,” she gulped, finding it hard to stand still and keep from trembling as she watched the statues once again step down from their posts.
What happened next was something that she would never again be able to drive from her mind as she was taken from every position and in every steaming orifice her body possessed. Their skin felt like rubber and was cold to the touch, and as they entered her she felt frozen from the inside out. But their physical temperature did nothing to ruin her pleasure, which only made her feel ashamed at her blatant desire to take whatever they could give and then beg for more. Taking every maniacal thrust from their newly flexible bodies with heated encouragement, Mara spent the next hour being devoured by the gatekeeper’s flunkies and being subjected to their every carnal whim while feeling a deep guilt and disgrace begin to form inside her belly. The fact that she was getting physical enjoyment from their rock-hard pricks and endless erections only made the shame grow at an even steadier pace. Nearly gagging from the one’s long length being shoved down her throat as she lay on the cold ground while being grinded in her nearly numb snatch by the other, she soon found herself convulsing with multiple orgasms as they continued to pump her into exhaustion. After it was all over, she lay there, thoroughly spent, as the two statuesque guards returned to their posts to await another soul eager to gain access to the other side of the door.
***
Belial had spent a good while relaying the current events to Lucifer as they walked about his castle. Belial did not miss Lucifer’s anticipating grin as it sprung up several times during the course of their conversation.
“You said she was searching around for the sword?” Lucifer asked as he retraced Belial’s report.
“I don’t know if she was searching for it. I found her in the catacombs; she claimed she was down there out of curiosity,” Belial replied.
Lucifer nodded absently.
“How would she know about the sword, anyway?” Belial asked, perplexed.
“That’s what I’d like to know,” Lucifer revealed to his old comrade, holding his scepter to him protectively. “I’ve had my suspicions about her since she arrived, but now her so-called curiosity is beginning to work against her. You’re sure she’s detained?”
“Yes,” Belial nodded, “no one’s gotten out of my dungeons yet.”
“Your confidence is reassuring, but it might be better if from now on she is watched at all times. That sword, while not the sole source of my powers, gives me the advantage I crave over those blind despots and their hypocritical views should the war begin. I’d hate to lose it. Do you need me to assign a guard to your chambers?” Lucifer inquired.
“No,” Belial replied adamantly, “I can handle it on my own.”
“Yes, well, you better,” Lucifer warned quietly.
When Belial met the warning with a chesty look, Lucifer turned his sapphire gaze on him and said, “After all, if I can’t count on you, who can I count on?”
Belial accepted Lucifer’s compliment with as much elegance as he could display and continued walking.
“I just hope you’ve been taking this seriously, Belial,” Lucifer said after a moment, “one hates to be disappointed.”
&
nbsp; ***
After the taking of her virtue, Mara was granted access to what waited beyond the second door of the catacombs. Stepping inside, the door closed behind her and she was left alone with the contents of the room. Darkness surrounded her except for a golden light emitting from a cabinet against the far wall. Approaching it, she found the golden rays growing stronger as she neared, peeking out from the center crack of the cabinet doors. Upon opening them, she was temporarily blinded by the overbearing luminosity of the object inside. Inside shone the most beautiful piece of weaponry she had ever laid eyes upon. The handle adorned with jewels and shrouded in gold, it gave introduction to the finest silver blade ever crafted. It was without flaw and its glorious power could be felt radiating off the relic even from a distance. Afraid to touch it because of the corruption she had faced, she inched her hands closer to it but drew away in fear at the thought that she might be too damaged to hold it. It seemed as if only purity could touch something of such divine creation, and she now considered herself to be far from pure. But she also knew that she would have to take it into her possession to rid herself of this dreadful place, and only then would she be called back home to serve her lord and ask for forgiveness for all of the sins she had committed to gain access to the holy relic. So, with a prayer on her lips and hope in her heart, she closed her eyes and reached out for the sword.
***
Opening her eyes, she found herself standing on a white cloud, far beyond the dank and dark walls she had been trapped in. Looking around, she felt sweet relief that her mission was over, that she had proven herself capable of her assigned task and didn’t let her fellow angels down. In her hand she held the sword, and it did not burn her or banish her like she thought it might, and she stared at it a long while, hypnotized by its sinless symbolism. After awhile she looked up to see Michael standing before her. He wore a small smile, but it seemed bittersweet in a way and she couldn’t fathom why he would feel the need to be so sad in this time of joy.
“Oh, Michael,” Mara exclaimed as she came toward him quickly, wanting to take solace in his innocence. “What saddens you so?”
He looked at her with his brown eyes, big and beautiful, and his smile widened but it was forced. “You found it,” he said, trying to sound joyous but the fading light surrounding him betrayed his outer portrayal.
“Yes,” she confirmed, handing it over to him. He took it and looked out to the surrounding sky, as if he was searching for the right thing to say but couldn’t quite grasp it on his tongue.
She studied his face as it glowed in the rays of the sun and suggested that they go home, but his words interrupted her.
“Mara, you have to go back,” he said, still looking away.
“What?” she asked.
“It’s not over yet,” he replied as he looked down at his feet.
Mara couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Shaking her head to clear it, she asked, “What do you mean, it’s not over yet? I completed the mission. I retrieved the sword--.”
“Something has been brought to the Order’s attention. Something is causing a disturbance in the balance, and it's stemming from the infernal regions,” Michael said.
Mara looked at him disbelievingly.
“Now, as far as we can tell it’s not because of this sword. But whatever is doing it is almost equal in its power. Where did you get this?” Michael asked gesturing to the sword. “Did you retrieve it from Lucifer?”
Mara shook her head, “No, that was in Belial’s chambers, hidden deep down in his catacombs. In fact, I never saw or met with Lucifer the entire time I was down there.”
“Well, then that’s it. Now listen carefully, there is something I never told you. When you first received your assignment we were aware of the disturbances coming from the infernal regions, something causing a shift in the balance. It was a small shift, but we picked up on it just the same. Now we originally thought that power was coming from this,” he held up the sword for her to see, “but now that you have brought it back to us, it’s obvious Lucifer is gaining power through another source, for the chaotic disturbance is still going on even as we speak. Unfortunately, we don’t know what it is he is drawing from. And that’s where you come in,” Michael explained.
“No,” Mara said flatly. “I am not going back down there, Michael.”
“You have to Mara. You are the only one who has infiltrated the lower regions. And you succeeded,” Michael argued.
“You don’t know what it’s like down there. You don’t know what I’ve been through. I was trapped down there. If I go back now I don’t want to think what will happen to me if Belial finds me in his catacombs,” Mara said frantically, not wanting to concern herself with thoughts on it any longer.
“If you go back down, we can place you out of Belial’s domain. Then you must make the journey to Lucifer’s alone,” he responded.
“I said no,” Mara answered.
“Mara, please, you don’t know how hard it is for me to ask you. I’m the one who didn’t want you volunteering in the first place, remember? But you knew the risks, and you marched straight ahead into the fire anyway, for the sheer chance to prove that you were the right one for the job and that you were strong.”
“But I’m not,” she admitted. “I was wrong. It took nearly all my strength to survive this assignment.”
“It’s only going to get harder, Mara. You’ve got to be strong. You must not be that faithless, you accomplished your first assignment,” he reminded her.
“But I had to give up so much,” she said, almost forlornly.
“I know,” he said. “But it is for the greater good, Mara. You must ask yourself, which is more important? That which you must sacrifice from within yourself or the benefits for all that your sacrifices bestow? Selfishness or selflessness?”
Knowing that she couldn’t argue with his argument, she turned to him and said, “When do I leave?”
Smiling at her courageousness, Michael informed her that it was to be right away. “Once back in the lower regions, the same rules apply, nothing will have changed. Whoever you knew will recognize you. Whatever you did will be remembered, just as if you never left. I really do admire you, Mara. Your display of courage is admirable. You will not be forgotten for this.”
“Just because I agreed to go back doesn’t mean I’m not scared,” she responded.
“Of course you’re scared. This is all a part of your test. But I have a feeling you won’t let yourself down. Just keep your faith. We will all pray for you. Pray for the day that you return safely to us, which will be soon, right?”
“Right,” Mara answered, holding on to every last drop of faith she still held for the journey ahead. Building her confidence back up, she prepared for departure.
“Godspeed, Mara,” Michael said as he watched her disappear from the billows of moisture they were standing in.
“See you soon,” Mara replied, and with that she vanished.
***
Belial had since stopped stewing over Lucifer’s warning and just decided on going back home to perhaps pull his little captive from her dungeon and begin soothing that pain he had been forced to inflict on her before his departure. But before he could say his farewell to the emperor, Lucifer was told by a sentry that he should come have a look at something beyond his palace walls. Belial quickly followed Lucifer to his spying orb, which allowed him to see all across the regions. Upon gazing into it, they glimpsed a solitary figure curled up on the ground. As it moved, Belial was stunned to see that it was Mara.
“That little wretch, how did she get out?!” he exclaimed.
“Calm yourself, Belial.”
“But--,” Belial started.
“It seems you’ve underestimated this so-called changeling,” Lucifer calmly said, glancing at him in a taunting manner.
“Where is she?” Belial inquired in a grave tone.
“Not that far,” Lucifer replied, “she should reach the castle walls within two days if she
keeps up a good pace, three if she’s slow.”
“I’ll go get her,” Belial announced sullenly, turning to leave.
“No,” Lucifer responded. “Let her come on her own. I want to see just how much spirit this female has.”
“But I’m not finished with her coaching yet,” Belial almost whined.
“Then you may continue it here,” Lucifer answered, “I’ve always wanted to watch you work up close and personal. Perhaps you won’t mind my joining in every once and awhile.”
“Yes, of course,” Belial said.
“After all, why should you have all the fun?” Lucifer poked before turning back to the orb with a wicked glint in his eyes. Mara had now gotten up from the ground and was hugging herself, trying to walk through the stormy weather outside. “That’s right,” he said quietly, “come to me, my cherub.”
***
Waking up on the ground, Mara came to outside with the wind pounding her from all sides as she lay in a fetal position to protect her body from the fierce weather. Having no idea where she was, she stood up cautiously looking around in all directions. She could see nothing in either direction as far as she could see, just a flat plain of deserted land stretching out for miles, with the gray sky thundering overhead. Steeling herself for the journey ahead, she wrapped her arms around her to shield her from the biting wind and began walking in a straight line across the cold desert plain.
She knew that no matter which direction she chose, she would come across her destination one day. Whatever path she decided to take, she would be met with hardships and setbacks, but she would still charge forward, her faith would be intact. And in each direction there would be old foes again, for friendship was a hard thing to come by down here in the infernal regions. She knew the missions were only going to get harder, but that wasn’t going to make her turn back. Nothing would make her turn back. Because perseverance is what it all came down to, right? That and keeping your faith, secure between your confidence and selflessness. So it didn’t matter which way she went, or which foe she may come across, or what hardship she faced, she wasn’t going to lose the fight… or her faith.
The Threshold Page 16