The Demon On My Chest: Waking Up

by Dan Farris

  “Remember in your studies when I told you that no one ever leaves the Bottomless Pit? I lied.”

  “But you told me that was impossible!”

  “To all of Hell, it is impossible. I’m sorry I lied to you, but no one knows about Rahab but me.”

  “How did he escape the pit?”

  “The first war in Hell occurred when Hell rose up and overthrew Lucifer. Rahab fought with us, against Lucifer. We were winning the battle when he was pushed into the pit. Everyone assumed he would just come out, but he didn’t. He just kept falling and falling, or so we thought. As time went on, the kings started to throw our brothers into the pit as punishment. It soon became a deterrence to keep others in line. But when I became a king of Hell, unbeknownst to the other kings, I started sending humans in the pit.”

  “As punishment?”

  “No, out of curiosity. I wanted to know if they could somehow find my brothers. I was proven right: one of the humans I cast in found Rahab.”

  “Deep down in the pit?”

  “No, Rahab was in another space. After the rebellion in Heaven, Father closed every portal to other spaces. But Father made a mistake; the bottomless pit is a portal to other spaces. No one knows about this except me and Rahab. The powers of the space that Rahab had entered had abandoned it long ago, but they left some power in it. Just enough to imbue Rahab with certain abilities.”

  “What kind of abilities?”

  “Much more than the average angel or demon. Before he was pushed in the pit, Rahab’s brute power equaled my own. Now, Rahab may not be able to rival the powerful commanders like Samael, but he can at least give them a run for their money. And, more importantly, he can enter other spaces, through the pit, and return safely.”

  “Then use him to recover the other demons that have been sent to the pit and convince them to fight for you! Maybe they were imbued with special powers like Rahab.” Pursan kissed Rebecca.

  “Exactly. I love you.”

  “Wait, but what if Rahab encounters a demon that has powers like him, but he is unable to convince him to fight for you? What if, instead, that demon decided to come back to seize Hell for himself? Or, what if Rahab enters a space where the powers still exist? What if that power then turns its attention toward this space? Isn’t that why God closed the portals in the first place?”

  “Those are valid concerns. But I have no choice. It’s a risk I have to take. If I reject Samael, he’ll have the other kings invade, or he’ll destroy me himself. And if I join him and wage war on Heaven, Father will likely destroy all of us. Assuming Samael wins, he won’t forget what Lucifer and all of us did when we first rebelled. He’ll destroy us next. This is my only chance.”

  “Well, do what you must. I’m here by your side.”

  “Rahab, my friend, my brother. We knew this day would come. Enter the pit, go into the other spaces. Be careful, but find every one of our brothers who would follow me. I’m counting on you.”

  Rahab nodded and disappeared.

  “Do you trust him? If angels and demons are insatiably power-hungry, why hasn’t he tried to become king of Hell?”

  “The space that he went to, it changed him. His only purpose is to serve the being responsible for his freedom: me. I trust him, and if he betrays me, there’s always plan B.”

  “What’s plan B?”

  “I don’t know yet, but I will.”

  “What now?”

  “Now, I go play my part and rally my army.”

  “And me?”

  “If Samael finds out about you, about us, he’ll seize you. I can’t risk that. Please stay here until I return.”

  “You’re not going anywhere just yet. Come to bed with me.”

  “I’m yours to command.”

  Yes, you are. I’ll make sure of that, now and forever.

  Chapter 18-Sean

  Sean and Mary Ann lay naked in his bed. They were still waiting for Aadon to return.

  “Tell me about when you were alive. When were you born?”

  “1928. I was the youngest of thirteen kids.”

  “Thirteen! People didn’t mess around back then.”

  “No, they didn’t.”

  “Where exactly were you born?”

  “Keithville. I came up here after I graduated high school. I wanted to get away from my family.”

  “I know black people had it even harder back then, especially women. What made you leave home?”

  “I always wanted to be a nurse, but I ended up just being a house worker for the white folks.”

  “Did you ever get married?”

  “No, but I did love someone. His name was Mr. Earl.”

  “Tell me about this ‘Mr. Earl.’”

  “Well, he was really handsome. And nice, much nicer than the average white man.”

  “You were dating a white man in 1950’s Louisiana?”

  “We kept it a secret. He always worried people would find out. He was also married.”

  “Mary Ann! You had an affair with a married man? And here I thought you were a sweetheart.”

  “Now you know why I didn’t go straight to Heaven when I died.” Sean kissed Mary Ann on the forehead.

  “How did things turn out with Mr. Earl?”

  Mary Ann’s voice cracked. “I got pregnant. I thought he would be happy. I was so naive; I even thought he would divorce his wife for me. He came over where I was staying one evening. I told him, and he was quiet for a few minutes. Then, he put his hands on my neck, and the next thing I knew, I was standing over him and my lifeless body. Mr. Earl killed me and my baby. That’s how I died, Sean. Remember it like it was yesterday. It was August 1st, 1954.” Sean hugged Mary Ann and tried to comfort her.

  “Shush, shush. It’s okay, it’s okay. I’m so sorry that happened to you. Are any of your family still alive?”

  “A few great-nieces, but most are dead. I know because some of them are damned like me; I found them in The Darkness. The others, I don’t really know. I guess some made it to Heaven. Others, Hell.”

  “And Mr. Earl?”

  “I think he’s dead; I hope he’s in Hell.”

  “I’m sure he is.”

  “You know, other than Mr. Earl, you are the only person I’ve ever been with.”

  “Really? Lucky me, then.” Sean’s cell phone vibrated, Persephone had sent him a text message.

  Persephone: Just checking on you. Please let me know you’re okay.

  “Is that from the pretty lady who’s always bothering you?”

  “Yeah, we were kind of in this together, I guess.”

  “Why haven’t you had sex with her? She’s really pretty.”

  “She is really pretty, isn’t she? Why haven’t we had sex? I haven’t thought about that. I’m a big whore, you know; someone as pretty as her, I should have had sex with her by now. But…”

  “But what?”

  “But I guess I can’t stop thinking about this goofy ghost I met.” Mary Ann smiled.

  “I have an idea. Can you go to sleep?”

  “No, dead people don’t sleep.”

  “Dead people aren’t supposed to be able to have sex with living people and look at us. Close your eyes. Just do it.”

  “Okay, now what?”

  “Go to sleep. Rest, go to sleep.”

  Mary Ann slept for the first time since she had died. It worked. I can put ghosts to sleep? That angel better get back soon and bring some good answers. Sean closed his eyes and fell asleep.

  As Sean slept, he heard the words, “In you, I give the power. The power of this space. In you, I give the power. It is yours.”

  “Sean, Sean, are you okay?” Asked Mary Ann.

  “Yeah, I’m fine. Just a bad dream, I think.”

  “You were screaming; you woke me up. Hey, you woke me up! I went to sleep!”

  “I know.”

  “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  “Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. Let me go get a glass of water.”

  Sean
put some clothes on and walked to his kitchen. Plates and cups were on the floor, and the windows were cracked. What the hell? Sean’s cell phone was ringing and he went back to the bedroom to get it.

  “Hello, Persephone.”

  “Sean?! Thank God you’re okay. There’s been an earthquake; I had to make sure you were okay.”

  “I’m fine. Wait, an earthquake? In Louisiana?”

  “Yes, a mini-earthquake. It came out of nowhere. They’ve never seen anything like this. I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”

  “I’m fine. Let me call you back.” Sean hung the phone up. Did I? No, it can’t be. Can it?

  Suddenly, Sean saw a planet far from Earth as if he had suddenly left in house and traveled there. “There’s creatures, they look like monsters! So many of them. I see them, all of them. They’re talking…I can understand what they’re saying. They know about Earth. They’re making plans to invade Earth! They’re far away, but they’ll be here within the next hundred years. How can I know that? So many ships, so many of them. I can’t see them anymore… I see other planets. Other creatures. What are they? It’s so many.”

  The images vanished, and Sean was back in his bedroom with Mary Ann. Aadon appeared.

  “Sit down, kid, we need to talk.”

  “I…I…saw aliens, I think! And spaceships!”

  “When?”

  “Just now, in my room! Aliens exist?”

  “Of course. You think this is the only rock that holds life? Humans, so arrogant.”

  “They’re going to invade Earth! In a hundred years. You have to do something!”

  “I wouldn’t worry about that if I were you. God will make sure you precious humans are protected. Besides, you’ll be dead by then anyway.” Aliens…this is getting to be too much.

  “Let’s discuss something important. I told the big guy about you and everything that’s happened to you recently, and unsurprisingly he didn’t believe me. He’s a commander and he’s never heard of anything like this either.”

  “That’s not what I wanted to hear… and what’s a commander?”

  “You humans call them archangels. They run everything, tell us worker bees what to do.”

  “So, you can’t help me? You can’t tell me what’s happening? You’re an angel!”

  “Exactly, an angel. I follow orders, which mostly involve killing jinn that stray from the darkness. Who do you think I am, a magician?” Sean shook his head in disbelief.

  “It’s okay. I’m not going anywhere. I’ll stay with you,” said Mary Ann.

  “That makes two of us,” said Aadon.

  “You’re staying?”

  “I’ve been ordered to watch you and report any updates to my superior. Actually, I suggested it.” Aadon shrank in size until he was only a few inches taller than Sean. Then, his clothes transformed from a golden robe to shorts and a tank top.

  “I haven’t had the chance to interact with live humans in thousands of years. I’ll take the couch. Can we go to the mall? There’s always hot chicks walking around the mall.” God help me. At least I got an angel watching over me now.

  Sean was comprehending everything that had just happened when he his door bell ring.

  “Ooo, I’ll get it. I bet it’s a chick,” said Aadon. Aadon vanished.

  “Who do you think it is?” Asked Mary Ann.

  “I think I know,” said Sean. Sean and Mary Ann headed to the front door and saw Aadon, now disguised as a human, talking to Persephone.

  “I came to check on you. Didn’t know your cousin James would be here,” said Persephone.

  “Cousin?”

  “Yeah, I told Persephone you called me down here because you’ve been going through some things, apparently. I told her that I’ll be crashing here until you get your mind right. Are all of your friends this beautiful? You lucky dog. Sean was always the nerd when we were kids, now look at him. Having a supermodel come to check on him.”

  “Yeah… lucky me. Thanks... James.”

  “Don’t mention it. What are cousins for? Are you guys hungry like me? I’m famished. What say we go to the mall to grab a bite to eat?”

  “That’s fine with me,” said Persephone.

  “Great, what do you say, cuz?”

  “Sure.”

  Sean, Persephone, and Aadon all went to the mall and ate at a hot dog stand. Mary Ann stood next to Sean, visible only to Sean and Aadon.

  “That’s what I’m talking about. That is a good dog,” said Aadon.

  “So, uh, are you and Sean cousins through marriage?”

  “We’re first cousins, by blood. Why would you ask that?”

  “Not to be rude, but aren’t you Asian, James?”

  “We’re actually cousins through marriage. And what James meant to say is that we’re so close, it feels like we’re first cousins by blood. Right, cuz?”

  “Oh, uh, yeah, that’s what I meant. Sorry, a good hot dog messes with my brain. Did you guys check out the chick who’s back there? Whew, call me a hound, because she’s a fox. I’d break the rule for her.”

  “What?” Asked Persephone.

  “Oh, uh, nothing. She’s hot, that’s all I mean. You know what, Persephone… There’s something about you that I just can’t quite put my finger on.” Aadon stared at Persephone as if he was examining her.

  “Sean, your cousin is a bigger flirt than you.”

  “Yep, runs in the family, I guess.”

  “This was a good idea. So much has been happening, I forgot what it feels like to relax. Speaking of relax, I need to stop by my bar tonight, check in on the business.”

  “Bar? When are we going?” Asked Aadon.

  “We’re not,” said Sean.

  “Come on, kid, you only live once.”

  After they left the mall, they all went to Persephone’s bar. Persephone was bartending while Sean and Aadon sat at a table.

  “What are you doing? Why don’t you just come out and say, hey, I’m an angel.”

  “Maybe I should. We’re not supposed to expose ourselves to humans, but she knows about all the other stuff that’s happened.” Aadon burst out laughing.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “I just said ‘expose myself to humans.’ Between me and you, I’d like to expose myself to Persephone in other ways. No offense, Mary Ann, you’re cute, but Persephone is what you call a ten. I’d love to break the rule with her.”

  “That’s the second time you’ve said that. What does that mean?”

  “Haven’t you read the Old Testament, kid? Us angels, we can’t get freaky with humans. We can’t have any companions, humans or otherwise. Not anymore. Sucks how a few bad apples can ruin it for the rest of us. You know what happens to males when you wake up first thing in the morning? Now, imagine having a boner for all eternity and you can’t do anything about it. Well, not counting jacking it. You know how many socks I’ve wasted?”

  After spending several hours at Persephone’s bar, Sean, Aadon, and Mary returned to Sean’s house. It was late at night. Sean, Mary Ann, and Aadon stood in the kitchen as Sean attempted to move a cup on top of his refrigerator with his supposed powers.

  It’s not working. I think I caused a mini-earthquake, I sent a demon to hell, my girlfriend is a ghost, I saw aliens on other planets, but I can’t move a stupid cup.

  “Why isn’t it working?”

  “Beats me, kid. Besides, I’m just supposed to watch and report, not help. Speaking of watch, let’s see what’s on T.V.”

  “There’s no time for that!”

  “There’s always time for T.V.” Aadon vanished, and Sean heard the T.V. come on in his bedroom.

  “It’s okay, you’ll get it down,” said Mary Ann.

  “I don’t know. None of this make sense. Let’s go see what he’s watching on my T.V. Probably a bikini contest.” Sean walked into his bedroom, a breaking news headline appeared on the T.V. screen.

  “This just in. A home invasion turned homicide has rocked a local neighborhood
. Local physician Dr. Christian Jones, his wife, Deborah Jones, and his three teenage kids have all been slain. Authorities are still investigating. We’ll keep you posted as we receive more information.”

  “It can’t be…Mrs. Jones.”

  “You know those humans?”

  “My foster mother. She married a widowed doctor awhile back. Who would…? Is this connected to me in any way?”

  “The timing is too much of a coincidence not to be. I’ll look into it. May lead to some useful information.”

  “Find out why this happened.” Aadon vanished.

  “Are you okay?” Asked Mary Ann.

  “Mrs. Jones was the first woman I ever loved. The only woman. But I’ve hated her for so many years. And now, she’s dead. If I’m responsible in any way…I don’t know.”

  “You can’t blame yourself for this. The angel will find out what happened.”

  Less than an hour later, Aadon appeared before Sean and Mary Ann. They were sitting on his living room couch.

  Aadon crossed his arms. “Your little displays of power have not gone unnoticed.”

  “What are you talking about?” Asked Sean.

  “Sending the demon to Hell, every coven on the planet sensed it. Including the covens in this city. The power that you used to send the demon to Hell, it was only a matter of time before a coven pin-pointed where it came from.”

  “What’s a coven?”

  “Yeah, kid, don’t you watch movies? The witches, warlocks, shaman-people who practice black magic. You thought all that was make-believe?”

  “Shit.”

  “Yeah, shit. Demons are loser douchebags. Who would sell their souls to them? I don’t get humans sometimes.”

  “Why did they kill her? She had nothing to do with me sending the demon to Hell. Unless….they’re finding everyone connected to me?”

  “Now he’s catching on. You are officially the most wanted man in the magical underworld. You’re the Bin Landen of the underworld. You should start packing. You can’t be here anymore.”

  “I’m not leaving. This is my home.”

  “You don’t understand. These people will hunt you, and whoever has been connected to you in any way, to the ends of the earth.”

  “Why?”