“That’s not the question, son. The question is are you ready?”
“I think I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”
He smiled at me and gestured to follow him with his hand. He headed down stairs and I pulled myself out of bed and followed him. He was sitting on one of the benches waiting for me.
“Do you have a plan then?” I asked.
“Not exactly,” he responded.
“What do you mean? I thought you were going to think up some elaborate plan so that I could get in there, find Jennette, and get out.”
“Well I hit a snag, son.”
“A snag? What do you mean? You don’t have a plan?”
“Not exactly. I think we need to do some reconnaissance.”
“Why? I just want to get this done and get the hell out of Greed.” I wanted to help Phillip, but I didn’t want to waste any more time than I needed to. I might have plenty of time, but every minute counted.
“I understand that, Jon. I really do, but things aren’t working out that way. I don’t know what the palace looks like or the lay out or anything. Just go to the Palace and we can go from there.”
“You want me to go to the palace? What if I get caught out on the streets?”
“Then you’ll just have to fight your way out of it.”
“No! Absolutely not. I swore to myself that I would never fight again.”
“Jon, that’s a dumb thing to swear. Life is nothing more than a struggle to get from one point to another. If you don’t fight, then how are you going to overcome the obstacles that stand in your way? There is nothing wrong with fighting for what you want. Sometimes that just means you have to actually battle someone or something. As long as you think it’s right, then who’s to say you’re wrong?”
“Still. There has to be another way. I convinced some people in Gluttony that I was a man named Terentu. Maybe I could do that again.”
“Terentu? That’s a square there, if I’m not mistaken.”
“You aren’t. I figured that Malphalgor adopted a name, so why couldn’t I?”
“Is that so? Who exactly is this, ‘Terentu’?”
“He’s an Elohim and champion of Beelzebub.”
He laughed. “Champion of Beelzebub? I guess that might work on a few mortals, but I don’t know about the Elohim. They are a little bit harder to impress. Especially since you’ll be waltzing in there dressed like a mortal.”
“Well then maybe I could don some Elohim armor or something like that.”
“I suppose that would work, but you’d have to get it first.”
“Could it be that hard?”
“Listen to yourself, Jon. You are going to kill an Elohim and take his armor for yourself?”
“Why not? You said yourself that if I think it’s right then why shouldn’t I? I don’t see a single thing wrong with ending an Elohim.”
“Elohim are something to behold. I’ve never heard of anyone slaying one before, and I don’t know how you would even begin to do something like that.”
“Do we have any other choice?”
“Now that you mention it, I think we might.”
“I’m listening.” I really wanted to hear him out, I was in no mood to challenge an Elohim, and I really didn’t think I could take one down.
“The Elohim’s armor isn’t just a bunch of individual pieces or armor. Well it is, but at the same time it’s not.”
“You lost me.”
“Just let me finish. Each Elohim that carries armor in Greed, is bestowed the armor from Mammon himself. Now, Mammon doesn’t have an unlimited storage room in his palace, so what he’s done is create a bunch of amulets.”
“Amulets?”
“Yes, and with a few words, the Elohim can put on or take off their armor in a split second. I’m not sure how it works.”
“Ok, so how do I get my hands on one of those amulets?”
“That’s the tricky part. How fast can you run?”
“Well, that all depends.”
“If it means your life?”
“Like lightning,” I laughed.
“You’re going to have to steal it.”
“WHAT!? How am I supposed to steal it?”
“You were just talking about killing one and taking his armor, is that really so much worse?”
“I guess not.” I didn’t like the idea of fighting an Elohim any more than I liked the idea of fighting a mortal.
“I suggest that you go to the wall between Greed and Sloth. It is nearly complete, but there are a few Elohim putting the finishing touches on. I think that if you lay low and watch them long enough, you might be able to catch the words that they use. After that, it should be a cinch to get it and get back here.”
“Then that’s what I’ll do.” I got up and started for the door. As I placed my hand on the knob I turned back and asked, “How do you get to the wall, anyway?”
Phillip laughed. “Take a right out of the door, then your first left and go straight on. You’ll come up to the cave wall surrounding Hell and you can just follow that. If you don’t know already, be careful to avoid touching the wall. It isn’t very pleasant.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
I walked through the door, looked both ways, tucked my head down, and started off. I didn’t want to get caught on the streets, so I ran until I was out of Greed. I was walking through a sort of no-mans-land. Really it was just an open space between the buildings and the cave wall. I made it without incident. I was surprised. In most things I’ve tried to accomplish, I’ve always ran into some kind of trouble. That wasn’t the case this time. It made me a little uneasy, especially because it gave me some time to think. ‘It could be that I’m just having a lucky day.’ I thought. ‘Then again, are there any lucky days in Hell? Maybe I’m just having a good little bit of time so that I can come to an even bigger fall.’
I was trying not to think about it, but the more I didn’t want to, the more I did. So to clear my head, I started to run along the cave wall. I had to get to the structure so that I could get into the palace. Once inside the palace I could get Jennette and get out. After that, I can get to Sloth and continue on my journey. I could finish my original mission: get back to Shannon.
I finally approached the masonry. It was enormous. The stones were black as the sky above with gothic looking spikes ornamenting the top. I could see in the distance some people, or more likely some Elohim, standing about. I decided to sneak up for a closer look.
There was a row of buildings near the wall, so I decided that I would sneak through the little neighborhood and take a post in an alley that was close enough for me to hear what was going on, but hidden enough that I wouldn’t be spotted.
There were two Elohim standing next to the wall. They were both skinless and appeared to be seething, and as luck would have it, they were both wearing amulets. There was a small hole forming in one of the stones between the two. Slowly I crept into position and listened to the conversation.
“Is this the hole that Mammon wanted us to fix?” the first Elohim asked with a deep and gravelly voice.
“I didn’t see any other hole,” the second said with a booming voice that seemed to echo.
“I don’t remember asking for any smartass comments,” the first said.
“You don’t have to ask for those. They’re always free.”
“You had better watch your tone!”
“Or what? You’ll challenge me? I am unafraid.”
“You will regret those words one day.”
“You insist that I will, and yet, I still do not.”
“Let’s end this foolishness. Mammon wants his wall repaired.”
“You got off lucky with this job. If it was up to me, you’d be cleaning the prison stalls.”
“If you were in charge we might as well be living in Lust. This whole city would crumble with your watchful eye.”
“I would raise Greed to the glory that it deserves. It would be likened to Pride in its ex
travagance, and you would be unwelcome.”
“Then I should rejoice that I follow Mammon and not Lessior.”
“You will eat those words!”
“I’d like to see you shove them down my throat.”
“If that’s the way you would prefer it.”
“We need to get this wall done before Mammon sends Theodus to check on our work.”
“Unfortunately, you’re right.”
They both got to work trying to patch the wall. I was a little upset, I was hoping that they would get into some kind of brawl and I could see them use their amulets.
I watched for some time and finally they finished mending the wall. They continued arguing with each other as if they were an old married couple, but a couple that was from Hell. Unfortunately they had not come to using their fists to settle their disagreement.
‘Jon, you might not get another chance,’ I thought. ‘You have to find a way to get one of their amulets. If you don’t, then there’s no way you’ll be able to get into that palace. You’re going to have to take matters into your own hands.’ As much as I liked arguing with myself, I knew what I had to do.
I jumped from my hiding spot. Immediately both of the Elohim turned toward me.
“You aren’t supposed to be here, mortal,” the first Elohim said.
“This city belongs to the great Mammon, and he will not accept any standees or hobos,” the second added.
“Then I’m afraid that he’s going to be disappointed,” I defied.
“Is that so?” the first asked.
“Yeah, who do you think you are?” the second asked as they both started walking towards me.
“I am Terentu,” I responded.
“Terentu?” the first asked.
“I never heard of no Terentu,” the second added.
“And it is not a name you shall remember,” I began. “For you will not live long enough to commit it to memory.”
“Is that right?” the first asked.
“You don’t know who you’re dealing with,” the second added. “You better watch out, or we’ll show you what for.”
“You didn’t let me finish,” I said. “I will pull your still beating hearts from your chests and force you to swallow them with the last breath of life in the desiccated forms your call your body, and as you are squirming in agony, I will piss in your faces and drown the life from you.”
“What!?” the first exclaimed.
“You’re done!” the second spouted.
Then in unison, the both screamed “Macto Luminarium!” As they did, a flurry of lights erupted around them, and when the light faded, they were both standing in full armor. There was a wolf engraved in the chest and they helms went up on the side to form wolf like ears, and the moth protruded out to form a muzzle. The fingers of their gauntlets came down to a point like a claw. They both were brandishing a broad sword and a shield with a gold inlay of a wolf. Each were holding their weapon and shield in opposite hands.
I smiled at them and the let out a battle cry as the rushed toward me. I stood poised, knowing exactly what I was going to do. Still they rushed towards me like a couple of charging bulls. I stood stoic waiting for the right moment. On and on they charged towards me. I could feel their heavy armor pounding the ground and reverberating towards me, shaking the very ground they ran on as they charged me standing side by side. Just as they pulled back to strike at me, I snapped my fingers and moved behind them.
They brought their swords in to strike and the momentum kept them moving. They were now swinging at each other. The first pulled up his shield in time to catch the sword, but the second did not have the same reflexes. The first Elohim dug his sword into the throat of the second and he fell hard against the cave floor. As he did, the Elohim’s head popped off. He was extinguished and a giant black cloud erupted from his body. It wasn’t like a cloud in the sky, it was like he had erupted with light, but the light was black. In an instant the cloud was gone and all that remained of the fallen Elohim was a small green amulet on the floor.
The first Elohim looked at me and shouted, “You’ll pay for that!”
I smiled at him and stood in my place. He charged at me again. Same thing, he pulled back and I snapped my fingers. I moved to the amulet. I snatched it up, snapped my fingers, and went to the second floor of Phillip’s home.
I was sitting in the bed examining my new trinket. The amulet was a green stone with a gold chain wrapped around it in such a way as to lock it from moving. Inside the stone was the image of a wolf howling. The amulet felt powerful in my hands. A strange feeling poured over me as I was holding it. I pulled the gold chain out and placed the amulet around my neck, smiling at my victory. I got up and started to walk towards the stairs, but as I approached the top, I could hear voices coming from the first floor. I recognized one as Phillip’s, but I didn’t know who the second was. It was deep and gave off the sense of dread.
“I’m pretty sure it’s done,” Phillip said.
“He’s been eliminated, then?” the mysterious voice said.
“I can’t say for certain, but I doubt he’ll be getting in your way.”
“This pleases me, Phillip. You shall be rewarded tenfold for your efforts.”
“You know the only reward I want.”
“Yes. Your wife shall be returned to you shortly. She is taking care of another matter that is at hand.”
“May I ask of what she is doing?”
“She is currently acquiring another female.”
“Another female?”
“Yes, the woman that was accompanying this Jonathon Cowley. She is of much interest to me.”
“I understand. Jennette should be able to acquire her with ease. The girl thinks fondly of the two of us.”
“Yes she does. Tell me, Phillip. How exactly did you tend to our little nuisance?”
“It was easy,” he laughed. “I convinced him to steal an amulet from one of your men. If they haven’t yet, they’re going to tear him to shreds.”
They both laughed.
“I am happy to hear this,” the voice said. “Your wife should be here shortly, but I must attend to other matters.”
“I understand,” Phillip responded. “I am glad that this venture was beneficial to both of us.”
“As am I, Phillip. We shall do much good together.”
“Goodbye, Master.”
I was enraged. ‘He sent me to die!?’ I asked myself. ‘After everything I was risking to save his precious wife, this is how he repays me!? With lies!? How could he do this to me? Wait, what about Callista? She has no idea what’s going on. I have to find her before Jennette does. I can’t let her be taken by whomever that voice belonged to. I have to confront Phillip.’
I walked to the opposite side of the room and recited the words, “Macto Luminarium.” I could feel my skin being ripped apart as the light surrounded me. I felt like I was being pushed into the floor by a massive boulder. The light dissipated and I rose to my feat, huffing and moaning. The weight of the armor felt like I was giving a piggyback ride to another man. It was heavy, but I was able to move freely like there wasn’t anything restricting my movements. The sword was about the same weight as the one I got from Ferrum, so I was a little familiar with it. It had a pearl handle and there was a wolf head in the pommel. The rest of the armor matched up with that of the Elohim that wore before me.
I took a step and my boot “CLANKED” on the floor.
“What? Is someone there?” Phillip asked from downstairs.
I didn’t move. I was hoping that he would forget about the noise and go back to sitting and waiting for Jennette to return, but that wasn’t the case.
“I’m coming up, whoever you are!” Phillip announced.
I rushed to the stairs and as I reached the top, he was half way up. I jumped from the top landing and tackled him down the stairs.
“What are you doing, fool!?” Phillip demanded. “I’m in cahoots with Mammon. He’s going to have your h
ead for this!”
“He isn’t going to have anything from me!” I screamed as I put the tip of my blade a to Phillips throat.
“What? Who are you?”
I pulled my mask up and revealed my face. “My name is Jonathon Cowley. I believe we‘ve met.”
“Jon!? What!? How!?”
“I’m the one that’s asking the questions, Phillip!” I said as I pushed the blade harder onto his throat, cutting enough into him that blood began to seep out.
“Jon, let me explain.”
“That’s exactly what you’re going to do! I heard everything you said. Who was that?”
“That was Mammon.”
“Mammon? You know him?”
“Yes. The truth of the matter is that he took my wife and I had to bargain you away to get her back.”
“Don’t lie! NO MORE LIES!” I pushed harder on the blade and Phillip coughed and choked.
“Okay! Just let me up and I’ll tell you everything. Don’t kill me.”
“I’m not going to kill you.” I said as I got off the man and helped him up. “Yet.”
“I’m sorry about everything, Jon. I’ve been working with Mammon for some time. He approached me a while ago and was going to take my wife.”
“I said don’t lie!”
“I’m not! Please, just listen to me!”
“You have one minute to tell me the truth.”
“He was going to take Jennette so I pleaded with him to take me instead. He denied my request, but recruited me into his legion. I’m no warrior, so he decided that I could instead help him with other issues regarding mortals, but decided to keep my wife as collateral until I could prove myself. That’s when the two of you showed up out of nowhere. After you fell asleep I went to the palace to tell him about you. He had already heard of Jonathon Cowley. You’ve made quite the name for yourself.”
“Flattering me is not going to save your life. Only the truth will.”
“Okay. I told him about you and he decided that I could take care of you and he would return my wife.”
“Take care of me? You mean to kill me!”
“Yes, he wanted me to have you killed. That’s why I sent you to get that amulet. I didn’t think you could pull it off. I see why Mammon was so determined to get rid of you.”
Hellbound: Chronicles Page 23
