“What!? Where did he go!?” he asked. His cronies pointed me out and he quickly turned. “How did you do that!? There will be no sorcery in this duel! Where is your honor!?”
“I abandoned it when you did.”
I ran for my sword and slid to grab it. I used the inertia to stand. Ferrum was furious and let out a roar as he ran for me. I stood there with a smile on my face using the sword like a cane. I had the upper hand now. I was going to be able to defeat him! He approached and I again snapped my fingers and appeared behind him.
“This is not fair!” he screamed.
“And neither is having your men hold me for the final blow.”
He swung again and teleported yet another time, this time though, I brought my sword down on his back. The blood sprayed from his shoulder and he fell in pain.
“Now are you ready to submit?” I asked.
“I will never submit to you!” he said as he swung his sword from the ground in an arc towards me. I stepped out of the way and swung in at his chest. I sliced clean across. It wasn’t deep enough to kill him, but it was deep enough to make him stumble back and fall to the ground.
“You’ve lost Ferrum. Face it!”
He groaned and huffed for a moment and then finally gargled, “I submit to you. You have bested me.” His crowd dispersed slowly in disappointment and he kneeled on the ground in pain and covered in blood. I walked over to him and offered him my hand. “What do you want?”
“Just take my hand and I will help you to your home.”
“I don’t need your help.”
“This is where true honor comes. I have bested you, but I won’t just leave you to die in the street.”
“I can see you are a good man. I will take your hand.” He grabbed it and I put his arm over my shoulders. I helped him back to his office.
“So you request an audience with my master?” Ferrum asked.
“Yes,” I responded. “I think that I’ve earned it.”
“Indeed you have, Jonathon Cowley. I will seek out Beelzebub and pending his approval you shall have your audience with him. Might I ask, what business do you have with him?”
“My business is my own, Ferrum.”
“Very well.”
“Will your wounds be all right?”
“Yes. In Hell your wounds heal differently than on Earth. The cuts and blood will continue much longer than you would expect, as will the pain. However, they are far less lethal. The slice I put into you will disappear in about a week. It won’t scab over, it will just go away and you will forget it ever happened. No scars to remind you of the battle you fought.”
“Well I guess that’s pretty lucky.”
“You may see it that way. My scars are battle trophies. I carry each one with remembrance of my valor and honor. You learn something from everything you do, and scars are just an easy reminder.”
“That makes sense.”
“The wounds you gave me, however, will take considerable more time. I’ve never been bested by another mortal the way I was bested by you.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. You are a great warrior, and you would do well in the ranks of Beelzebub. He offers many things. I could speak with him of this if you wish.”
“No thanks. I bow to no one. You should know that.”
“Indeed I should. As you wish.”
“So how will I know if he approves the audience?”
“I will summon one of my men to you. He will inform you of the audience and where you should go.”
“Then I guess this is goodbye.”
“Before farewells are said, can I ask a question?”
“I guess so.”
“In our little duel, you were able to move so fast that I could not see you, and yet, I was able to strike you until near the end of the fight. How is that?”
I laughed. “Someone I once bowed to taught me many things. That was only one of them.”
“I thought you bowed to no one?”
“And I no longer do. I will be waiting for you men.”
“Farwell, Jonathon Cowley. I hope that this will not be our last meeting.”
I didn’t respond. I just walked out the door with a victorious smile on my face.
I couldn’t believe it. I thought, ‘I actually beat him! Me! I’ve never even been in a fight and I actually beat him. The closest I’ve ever come was when I beat that child on the first level of Hell. I WON!’
With that done, I figured I would go seek out Stu. I had promised him that I would find him. He helped me quite a bit, so I owed him at least that much, even if he was annoying. So I headed for Terentu Square. I was walking down an alley, alone. I was a little lost. All the streets looked the same, decaying buildings everywhere. I found it a little odd that there weren’t any people about. I didn’t think it was a dream because I couldn’t remember falling asleep, but then again, one rarely does. I decided not to think much of it.
I turned a corner and finally found a familiar face, granted it wasn’t one that I was looking for.
“Marcus?” I said.
“Jonathon Cowley,” he began, “you are consorting with demonic forces.”
I was startled. “Have you been following me?”
“That is neither here nor there. I warn you, Jonathon Cowley, the demons will bring you down.”
“You know, you really shouldn’t be using that word so sparingly.”
“I fear them not. They tend to let me be.”
“Do they? Why is that?”
“That is for me to know. Jonathon Cowley, we will meet again.” He turned and sprinted into a dark alley. When I turned around there were people everywhere, as there should’ve been.
‘What is the deal with that guy?’ I asked myself. ‘He’s following me now? That’s a little creepy. I better start watching my back a little more carefully.’
I made it to Terentu without incident; however, I couldn’t find Stu anywhere. I approached a woman. She was older. Her face had been bared down to the skull, but she had a certain pleasantness about her.
“Hello, miss,” I said.
“Why hello,” she said. “I don’t believe we’ve met before.”
“That we have not. My name is Jonathon Cowley.”
“That’s such a nice name. My grandson’s name is Jon. Can I help you with something, Mr. Cowley?”
“As a matter of fact, you might be able to. I’m looking for a friend of mine.”
“What’s his name?”
“Stu. He’s a British man, a little lively. He’s blond, looks like he’s burned. Do you know him?”
“Yes I do. He’s in that building right over there.” She pointed to a plain building.
I walked over there and knocked on the door.
“Who is it?” Stu’s voice asked from inside.
“It’s Jon, Jonathon Cowley.”
“Come on in, Jon.” I did.
The building was a single room with just the door I had entered. There was a desk in the back left corner and he was sitting at it.
“I’m glad you came, Jonny. I need to talk to you about something.”
“Sure, Stu. What’s up?”
“I need your help with something.”
“Okay. Spit it out already.”
“Don’t be pushy. I need you to fight someone for me.”
I was a little stunned. “I don’t think I can do that, Stu. I’m not really…”
He interrupted me. “You will do this Jon! I’ve helped you quite a bit, and it’s time you repaid me!”
“Calm down, Stu. You don’t need to yell.”
“I wouldn’t yell if you would just listen to me. Now are you going to do this the easy way?”
“What are you talking about, Stu? I thought you were helping me because you were my friend?”
“There is no such thing as friendship in Hell. I thought you would’ve figured that out by now.”
“Well then I think it’s time for me to go.”
�
��You aren’t going anywhere, Jonny boy. I know what your plans are, and if you don’t help me, then I might just have to tell Beelzebub about them. I can guarantee you that he will not be pleased.”
“What do you mean? I thought he wasn’t too fond of you?”
“That’s what I told you. I couldn’t let you think that we were chaps. You wouldn’t do this if you knew that.”
“If you are on his good side, then why didn’t you just get me the meeting with him? I almost died fighting Ferrum!”
“That was a risk I had to take. If you could best Ferrum, then I knew you could do this.”
“Forget it. I’ll just have to convince Beelzebub that you’re lying.”
“Good luck with that, Jonny, but even if you manage to convince him that I’m the liar, what is he going to think once the sword disappears?”
“I don’t know.”
“So you have to do this for me. It’s better for both of us.”
“Better for you, you mean.”
“You’re right, but I don’t have time to care about your needs. I’ve spent enough time pretending.”
“I can’t believe you would betray me like this! I trusted you! I thought you were my friend!”
“Well, you better start believing it because it’s happening.”
“I’m not going to do this for you. I’ll just have to find some other way into the tower.”
“There is no other way into the tower. It only has one entrance that is guarded at all times.”
“Then I’ll take out the guards.”
“You’re going to take down some Elohim?” he laughed. “I’ve never seen anyone even attempt to challenge an Elohim to a fight.”
“Well you’re about to.”
“Don’t be so foolish, Jonny.”
“Stop calling me Jonny!”
“I just want you to rough up a person for me. That’s it.”
“Why can’t you do it?”
“He’s a good acquaintance of mine; I don’t want him to think ill of me.”
“So instead you send me to do your dirty work?”
“That’s right. You are nameless; he won’t know what’s happened.”
“I guess I don’t have a choice.”
“That’s the spirit.”
“So what do you want me to do?”
“There is a man in Lust that has been causing me some troubles.”
“I can’t return to Lust.”
“Well you’re going to have to.”
“If I do then Asmodeus is going to fry me!”
“I don’t care what happens to you Jonny. It’s time for you to return all of the favors I have done for you.”
“Look I said I would help you, but I can’t go back there. Asmodeus said that if he senses me there that he will hunt me down and kill me.”
“Well if he shows up, then just teleport out of there and go back later.”
“It’s not that easy. He can follow me. He’s the one that taught me to move like that.”
“I don’t care about the details. This is what you have to do. Would you rather fight Asmodeus or Beelzebub? Trust me; I think we both know the answer to that question.”
“Fine, I’ll try to do this, but if push comes to shove, I’m getting the hell out of there.”
“Fair enough. You are looking for a man named Trevor. He’s been cutting into my business and that’s just something we can’t have.”
“Your business?”
“Yes my business.”
“What business do you have?”
“I help recruit for some of the Elohim.”
“Which ones?”
“That’s none of your business. Those matters can be saved for another time, perhaps. For now, you are focused on Trevor. He stays in a building on the outskirts, near the steps to Gluttony. You shouldn’t have any trouble getting there, I assume?”
“I should be able to do it.”
“Very well, he has brown hair and is covered in bleeding lacerations. If you see him, then you really can’t miss him. He’s about six foot tall.”
“So what makes you think I can take this guy, anyway?”
“I watched your battle with Ferrum. You beat him, so Trevor shouldn’t give you any trouble.”
“I had a sword when I fought Ferrum. I won’t have anything when I fight Trevor.”
“Then find a weapon.”
“Yeah, because there are swords just lying around everywhere…”
He laughed. “I always liked that you had a sense of humor, Jonny, but like Asmodeus, your weapon issue isn’t any of my concern. Find one and take out Trevor. I suggest that you do it quickly; I know that Ferrum’s men will be looking for you. If I hear word that you are heading for the tower, then I may just have to pay a visit to Beelzebub.”
“And what if I decide that I will just take care of you now?”
He approached me. “I don’t think that would be wise, Jonny.”
“Why not?”
He shoved his finger into to the open wound on my arm and twisted. The pain seared from my arm to my hand and then crept into my chest. “That’s why. I know where your weak spot is, and I won’t hesitate to take advantage of it.”
“Fine, I’ll do this, and then we are even.”
“Agreed.”
He let go of me and I left the building, slamming the door. Blood was trickling down my arm and dripping from my fingertips. The pain in my wound started to subside.
‘I can’t go back to Lust,’ I thought. ‘Asmodeus was very clear in that. What if he does sense me when I arrive? I’m really not sure how I’m supposed to get a weapon either. All I want to do is get inside the tower. Why do I have to jump through so many hoops? I really don’t want to have to face Asmodeus. He is obviously stronger than I, and I know he isn’t happy with me. How long do demons hold grudges? I imagine that they don’t ever stop.’
I didn’t know what to do, but I knew I had to procure a weapon, so I headed for Ferrum’s place.
“Jonathon Cowley…” a whisper came from behind.
I turned and saw nothing.
“Jonathon Cowley…” again, coming from behind.
I turned and standing in front of me was Marcus.
“What do you want?” I asked.
“Why are you doing this?” he asked.
“What are you talking about?”
“Why are you doing what that man wants? I know that’s not the kind of person you are. Can you not see that you are changing?”
“I’m not changing.”
“Yes you are, Jonathon Cowley. You are not a man of violence. You never have been. Can you not see that those surrounding you are changing you for the worse?”
“I am not changing! I am doing what I have to do to see my wife.”
“You do not need to set aside your humanity to do that. You simply need to complete the tasks set in front of you.”
“What do you know about my tasks? What do you know about me, for that matter?”
“I know that you are Jonathon Cowley. You are trustworthy, you are honorable, and you are no killer.”
“I don’t know how long you have been watching me, but I have done my fair share of killing.”
“You have not killed anyone, Jonathon Cowley.”
“I have.”
“Niles Braddavir did not die by your hand. He died by his own unwillingness to conform. You cannot be held accountable for that.”
“How do you know about Niles?”
“I know many things.”
“Who are you?”
He just smiled and said. “You don’t need to do this. There are ways around it. We will meet again.” Then he ran off into an alley.
“Hey! Wait!” I ran after him, but he was gone as soon as I turned the corner.
I didn’t know what to think about this Marcus. ‘How did he know all those things? Am I going crazy? Is he just a part of my subconscious? Do I have a subconscious anymore?’ I couldn’t worry about him. What h
e had told me about other ways to do things did stick in my mind, but I had a job to do. I couldn’t let some crazy person stand in my way; even if he did seem to know a lot about me.
Finally I arrived at Ferrum’s house. The guard nodded at me when I approached and reached to open the door for me.
“Thanks,” I said.
He just nodded and I walked past him. Ferrum was sitting behind his desk. He had discarded his shirt and was wearing a blood soaked cloth draped over his wounds.
“I told you that I would contact you when Beelzebub is ready to receive you,” he said.
“I know,” I responded. “That’s not what this visit is about.”
“Very well, how can I help you?”
“I need a weapon.”
“More fighting? I’m always up for a good duel.”
“This isn’t going to be a duel. There is no honor in what I’m about to do.”
“You have proved your worthiness to me. I don’t need to know the details of your plans. Feel free to take one of the weapons from my collection. Just be sure that you return it.”
“That won’t be a problem.”
“Very well, you know where I keep them.”
“Thank you.”
He didn’t respond, he just fiddled with the makeshift bandages on his chest and stomach. I went up the stairs and to the wall of swords. I grabbed the same sword I had used when I fought Ferrum, the golden colored one.
I walked down the stairs and past Ferrum without saying a word. I had already said everything that needed to be said to him, so there was no sense in striking up a new conversation. I was sure he was busy attending to his wounds anyway. I walked out the door and past the guard.
“Do I need to check on Malphalgor?” he asked.
“No, why?”
He motioned to the sword.
“Ferrum is fine. Check on him if you want to, I have no quarrel with him.”
He posed himself like a statue and went back to watching. I sped up my gate as I headed for Lust. Marcus was right about me not being a killer. I was nervous to fight again, especially so soon and with a pained arm on top of that. I was no fighter, but I had proved myself when I bested Ferrum. It felt good to win that fight. I didn’t think I could do something like that, and then I did. I best a man that had been bold enough to challenge a demon to a duel, and I won. I was a little high with power, so this small task of roughing someone up seemed minuscule in comparison. In any case, Shannon was more important than my morals or beliefs, but I had to do what had to be done. I needed to get into that tower, and it looked like that was the only way to get there, despite what Marcus had told me. After realizing all of that, I thought, ‘Maybe I am changing. I don’t feel different, but I do feel a little more indifferent to fighting. I need to stop this before it’s too late. This will have to be the last fight I have, at least for a time.’
Hellbound: Chronicles Page 15
