“I told you old woman, go away!” Nabal replied, waving his had dismissively.
“Perhaps the gods were wrong about Nabal. Maybe there is nothing they can do for you.”
The old woman turned to leave. Suddenly curious, Nabal sat up. “Wait old woman! What gods do you speak of?” he yelled, wanting her to return.
The old woman grinned. “I was asked to bring Nabal a message from the gods of the underworld. They have seen your plight and wish to help you.”
Nabal stood. “Why would the gods help me?”
“I serve powerful gods who hate the Sons of God. Help us destroy them and regain your honor.”
“And what is the price to regain my honor?”
“Is there a price too high to have your revenge and regain your honor?
“Nothing comes without a price for those who use your arts old witch.”
The old woman laughed. “Yes Nabal, but I know you would give anything to have your respect and honor again. You would give anything to have Carissa again. Even now she lies in Caelan’s arms, her memory of you long forgotten.”
Nabal gritted his teeth and clenched his fist in anger, then nodded in affirmation. “What must I do?” he asked.
“So you want revenge?”
“Yes” Nabal muttered through clenched teeth.
“Do you want the Sons of God dead?”
“More than anything!” he shouted.
The old woman cackled. “Then let us get started.”
Deep, in the lower bowels of Hell, Lucifer walked toward a large gulf burning raucously with fire and brimstone. Every few moments, flames rose high enough to touch the bottom of a rusted iron bridge leading to the other side. Accompanying him were four large, fierce looking demons similar to those who guarded his throne room. Two of the demons carried a thick, eight-foot black chain with two shackles on one end. As they arrived at the entrance to the bridge, two large ten-foot demons holding spears and shields stood to attention. They looked at the chain, then back at Lucifer. Both demons bowed their heads and quickly stepped aside after receiving a sharp glare.
As he and the demons with him walked across the bridge, tormented voices cried from below.
“Save us, please save us Lucifer,” the condemned souls bellowed from below amid tormented cries. Lucifer ignored their pleas, delighted in their agony. The bridge spanned fifty feet across a flaming river spanning several miles. Two more large demonic guards stood on the other side. The demons turned to block his group. On recognizing Lucifer, the demons bowed and quickly stepped aside. Just ahead, a large, hill of black, jagged volcanic rock faced them. Molten lava poured down the sides and around the edges. Large snakes and rats slithered by, instinctively parting to form a path allowing Lucifer and his group to enter the cavern unmolested.
Inside the cavern, an overpowering stench of death and decay forced group to cover their noses. Usually able to bear the constantly rotten smell of hell, the group was not ready for the poignant and disgusting odor that filled the place. The cavern housed the worst of the damned drawn from humanity, the rebellious and demons, condemned to suffer the gravest of torments. Moans of agony, regret, screams and the constant rattling of chains mingled with saddening taunts and the laughter of demons.
Lucifer's group walked down a long, dark corridor lined with cells carved into each side with iron doors. Flames intermittently emanating from each cell lighted the cavern. Midway through the corridor, Lucifer peered into a cell on his right. The cell was six feet wide by ten feet tall. Inside a man struggled to free himself from the grasp of a large, black snake. The snake wrapped itself around his left leg, torso, and neck, slowly squeezing him. The man pulled at the snake's body as it coiled around his neck. He bit into the snake’s body, but lost his teeth one by one to thick scales. Large white maggots ate their way out of his eyes and nose as the hapless soul continued screaming and struggling.
Noticing someone staring through the small window, the man stretched his arm out, pleading for release. He quieted as a small hole suddenly opened above him. Knowing what was coming, he resumed pleading, only louder. His cries dampened out by molten lava pouring on his head and body, searing his flesh and skin to the bones. The man screamed louder and louder, his body convulsing violently as lava poured on his body and the floor below. He bounced from wall to wall trying unsuccessfully to find a place to avoid the burning lava until half his body was gone. When the flow ceased, he lay on the floor, a smoldering heap, unable to scream as the unharmed snake and maggots continued to crawling throughout the remains of his body. His skin, face, and missing limbs slowly and painfully grew back moments later.
“Please, please stop this torment,” he begged Lucifer, who laughed before continuing to proceed down the hallway.
Lucifer and his entourage stopped at the end of the corridor. They stood before a large iron doorway with thick black padlock, guarded by two more large demons identical to those guarding the bridge and cavern entrance. An engraved seal on the door warned of the consequences for opening the door. Lucifer nodded and immediately, one of the guards produced a six-inch key from his belt and nervously inserted into the lock. As he turned the key, the engraved letters sizzled and burned bright orange. The demon looked to Lucifer, who nodded for him to continue. Both guards laid their spears down, grabbed the four-foot long handle, and pulled the door with all their might. They groaned and pulled for several seconds, unable to budge it. The demon holding the key turned to Lucifer, “My lord, the door has been closed for too long.”
Lucifer motioned his four escorts to help the guards. They laid their weapons down, grabbed the handle, and began pulling. After several seconds, there was a loud crack and the door opened slightly. Thick, black smoke poured from the openings. Slowly, the door gave way as the demons continued pulling. After the door swung open, the demons quickly grabbed their weapons and stood back cautiously. Thick smoke poured out of the door for several seconds before thinning.
Lucifer removed the keys from the lock, then grabbed a torch from the outside wall and cautiously walked through the door. He went down twelve steps, and into a dark room twenty by twenty feet with another locked iron door. A deep, menacing voice screamed threats and profanities.
“I hear you outside. Come closer so I can kill you,” a twelve foot, muscular, demon roared from inside the cell.
The demon stood naked, with dirty red skin covered with curly black hair throughout his chest, back, head, and forearms. Two small, white horns protruded from his forehead with a row of three-inch horns starting at the base of his head and proceeding down his back. His mouth foamed while he viciously jerked his arms and legs trying to tear free of the thick black chains binding him. The demon lunged forward and roared after seeing Lucifer peer inside the small window. The other four demons jumped backward. Lucifer turned and winced at the demons with disgust.
The demon's hulking chest heaved as he breathed heavily and stared furiously at Lucifer. He lunged forward again, tearing into the air with both arms in another unsuccessful effort to free himself. Frustrated, he stopped, mouth foaming and breathing heavily for several more seconds before speaking. “What do you want?” he said.
“Relax,” Lucifer replied coolly.
The demon defiantly lunged forth again. “Free me!” he yelled while still struggling.
Lucifer laughed, to which the demon screamed louder, uttering expletives and jerking at the chains to get free. Lucifer watched him struggle for several moments until he was past waiting. “I am here to offer you freedom, but there is a price,” Lucifer said invitingly.
“Liar!”
“Have it your way,” Lucifer uttered before turning.
“Wait!”
Lucifer smiled, then faced the demon.
“What do you want from me?”
“Will you serve your master?”
“Yes, my lord, if you free me.”
“I can free you, but there is a condition. You will do exactly as I command or you will b
e thrown into the Pit of Fire and tormented forever. Do you understand these terms?”
The demon nodded.
“Do you understand I said?”
“Yes my lord”
“Excellent. I have a job for you involving death, mayhem, and destruction. Are you interested?”
The demon smiled devilishly then nodded.
13
POSSESED
In the three months after Caelan and the Sons of God defeated Nabal’s army, tribute of gold, silver, livestock, food, and slaves began to flow into Bethyir from Nirim and the surrounding city-states, which had been defeated. The increase of wealth allowed the building of a new palace, better weapons, and more money flowing into the hands of the Sons of God. A legend spread throughout the land of Canaan that the Sons of God were divine gods descended from heaven. Things were going well and no human dared to challenge their rule, until now.
A messenger with a letter from the Sheriff of Nirim arrived in Bethyir describing terrifying attacks being perpetrated by Nabal. In the past month, Nabal began stealing, raping and indiscriminately killing city residents. A group of twenty armed men located Nabal, but he somehow managed to kill all but ten of them, with five severely wounded. They description of Nabal was as a man stronger and faster than he normally was. Several men bound him with a chain, from which he broke free. Now, the local population feared for their lives. Nirim was now under the dominion of the Sons of God and the sheriff demanded soldiers to protect them.
Nabal ambushed a tribute caravan on its way to Bethyir. Despite Azazel’s objections, Caelan took two men and traveled immediately to Nirim to deal with Nabal. Caelan, Demetrius, and Menaus sailed down the Kidron River to a small fjord in the river. By doing this, they avoided having to spend an entire day crossing Mount Carmel. From there, they rode on horseback to Nirim. Caelan, Demetrius, and Menaus arrived in the city at evening, riding on large, specially bred horses. The sight of Caelan and his large companions riding on their equally large horses riding down the main street in gleaming brass armor, spears and shields to their side was an impressive sight. As they arrived in the city square, the sheriff ran out to greet them.
“Lord Caelan, please forgive us for us not being properly prepared to receive you. No one told us that you were coming,” the Sheriff Menyour said nervously, before kneeling to the ground.
“Sheriff Menyour, I have come to bring order to my realm,” Caelan said proudly, looking about the city at his subjects. Before leaving Bethyir, Azazel insisted Caelan, as king, not travel to Nirim to handle such a small matter, but send other lower ranking soldiers. Caelan disagreed. He wanted to curry favor among the people of Nirim by spending time among them. This, he thought, would show them that he cared for them by leading humanity through heroic acts rather than military dominance.
“My lord, please forgive our lack of preparation,” the Sheriff responded.
“Sheriff, tonight we shall have ale and dine in the tavern. We will hunt Nabal in the morning.”
About one-hundred people in the city gathered around to see Caelan and his men. Caelan's statement about the tavern prompted whispers and smiles. He wanted the people to see him as more than a god and a king; he wanted to appear amiable.
“Yes my lord,” the Sheriff said. He snapped his fingers and several servants came running to take the horses of Caelan and his men. Caelan and his men dismounted and followed the Sheriff into the tavern, where a large table had been set up in the center, filled with ale, wine, fruits, vegetables, and meats.
“My lords, forgive us for not-“
“We are fine Sheriff,” Caelan interrupted. “But we will need more ale,” he said and then laughed loudly.
Demetrius and Menaus erupted into laughter, followed by the rest of the tavern.
Caelan, Demetrius, and Menaus spent several hours telling stories, drinking heavily and entertaining the crowd. Caelan enjoyed getting away from the pressures of Council politics and ruling his new kingdom. For the first time in a while, he was having fun. Just after sundown, a man came running through the door and shouted, “My lords. Nabal is outside!”
The mood in the tavern changed. Smiles turned to looks of concern as all eyes turned to Caelan. He slammed his cup of ale to the table. Without a word, he grabbed his brass helmet and shield, then marched toward the door
Demetrius and Menaus quickly retrieved their spears and shields from beside the table and followed Caelan. Nabal stood across the street staring at Caelan. His hair and beard were long, frayed, and covered in dust. He wore a torn brown vest and tattered brown, knee length trousers tied about his waist with rope. He was barefooted, breathing heavily and smiling. Caelan started across the street, and then stopped. He sensed a eerie, familiar demonic presence.
Demetrius and Menaus felt it as well. Standing several feet behind Caelan, they turned in all directions, trying to find the source.
“Here you fools!” Nabal shouted, his voice deep and raspy.
Caelan’s eyes widened. “Abomination,” he whispered.
“Are you afraid my king?” the demon said. “Nabal is no more.”
Caelan sniffed the air. The distinct, putrid smell of rot and decay confirmed his fears . . . Nabal was filled with a demonic spirit. Caelan missed it earlier, his senses dulled by the generous quantities of ale he had consumed. “Careful men, the hand of Lucifer is at work here,” he warned.
Demetrius drew his bow and shot. Nabal quickly darted out of the way and laughed. “Impossible,” Demetrius muttered.
“It will take more than arrows, foolish angels,” he screamed, then scampered down the street and disappeared between two buildings.
Demetrius loaded another arrow. “I will go after this creature,” he said.
“No,” Caelan said. “Something is not right. We will hunt him together. Follow him from behind and flush him toward me. This ends tonight.”
“Aye, my lord,” Demetrius and Menaus responded together before running down the street and into the alley behind Nabal.
The two men crept slowly through the damp, narrow alley, Demetrius in front with his bow drawn and Menaus followed with his spear ready. The alley was small, with barely enough space between the two level tenements for a normal size human to walk down, let alone two seven-foot men. It was dark and both men’s vision were obscured by the nasal guards between their brass helmets. An evil, eerie presence caused the hair on their necks to rise.
Sensing an evil presence, Demetrius stopped.
Menaus looked at Demetrius' trembling hands. “Don't be afraid brother," he said. "Remember who you are and what this creature is. Tonight, he goes back to hell.”
Demetrius raised his bow and panned the tenements above.
Several tense seconds passed before a linen sheet moved slightly. Demetrius fired, knocking the sheet off the line, and pinning it to the wall. As he drew another arrow, a dark figure fell on them. Menaus raised his shield, deflecting the blow from Nabal’s short sword, but falling back into Demetrius and knocking him to the ground. Menaus yelled and thrust his spear forward. Nabal dodged right, grabbed the spear, and broke it in half. He pulled Menaus forward with the spear and slung him against the wall. Menaus tried raising his shield, but Nabal was quickly on top of him, standing inches from his face. He drove the blade through the rib cage and into his heart. Menaus closed his eyes and slumped against the wall.
“No!” Demetrius screamed. He sprang to his feet and drew his broadsword.
Demetrius glanced at his friend's dead body sagging against the wall. His eyes filled with rage as Nabal gave a taunting laugh.
“Demetrius! Menaus! Where are you?” Caelan yelled.
“Call to him,” Nabal whispered.
“What is you name demon?” Demetrius demanded.
Nabal grinned wryly.
“Your name foul creature!” Demetrius shouted.
Nabal laughed. “Your friend had the honor of being killed by the Destroyer. Soon, you will join him.”
Demetri
us’ eyes widened.
It made sense now. Nabal’s supernatural strength and speed were the result of possession by a powerful and destructive demon. But how had he been released from the lowest levels of hell Demetrius wondered.
“You are not supposed to be here,” Demetrius said angrily.
“And neither should you Watcher," the demon shouted. "Don’t worry; you will not be here much longer. Did you think that you and your brethren could upset the spiritual balance on Earth without consequence? Where there was order, you have created disorder.” Nabal thrust at Demetrius. He deflected the blow, then swung with both hands. Nabal dodged and then leaped onto Demetrius. He dropped his sword, grabbed Demetrius by the wrists, and drove him back into the wall. Demetrius kicked Nabal off him and as he fell backward, lunged forward and swung at Nabal’s head. Nabal ducked, and then struck Demetrius in the face with a backhand, sending him flying backward into the wall again. Demetrius dropped his sword and fell to the ground. Dazed, he saw red, blue and green lights swirling about in front of him as Nabal slowly moved forward. Blood spilled from his nose and onto his mouth and chest.
Nabal drew closer and removed a small dagger from his waist. He smiled as Demetrius searched the ground trying to locate his sword. Nabal kicked him in the face. Teeth, blood, and spittle flew from his mouth. Nabal laughed loudly, and then grabbed Demetrius by his shoulder length brown hair, spit in his bloodied face, then flung his head backward into the wall. He drove the dagger into Demetrius’ shoulder and into the clay wall. Demetrius screamed.
“That’s it angel, scream! Scream louder for me!” the demon shouted. He turned around and picked up Demetrius’ sword. “Would you have left heaven if you had known that you would die by your own sword?”
Sons of God Daughters of Men Page 8