"Oh, I see," Carl said, looking disappointed. "Big responsibility on your shoulders then, huh?"
The words struck a nerve in him. "Y- yes. But I've gone through all the rehearsals and watched every actor known to have played the role."
"Then this shouldn't be a difficult character to play." Carl reached up to him and patted him on the shoulder. "Break a leg there. I look forward to your performance." Without another word, the tall man left.
Will watched the doors shut, anxiety kicking in. He collapsed on his chair, his heart racing and his throat closing up. Indeed, he knew the role he was about to play was a heavy role. But it was his chance and he’d taken the risk. His fellow actors and the director were satisfied with his performance, weren't they? Maybe not as satisfied as they had been with Adam who was supposed to be performing on stage tonight.
No, I can't do it. He buried his face in his hands. His hands were cold, sweaty, and shaky. What was it about the words that talent agent said to him that made him suddenly feel this way? The show was in a couple of minutes; he needed to be on stage. There was no other way to ease his terrors before showtime. His eyes looked at the backpack stashed under the makeup table. Temptation was calling him, and it was only a matter of minutes before he had to make his appearance on stage.
When the curtains rose, Caelum sat among the audience members, enjoying the musical play where the actors danced and sang in their cat costumes. Will did not disappoint him tonight. When his song was up, the actor played the role as vibrantly as anyone ever could. With the help of a substance, I am certain, Caelum thought, smiling to himself. The images he saw from Will’s mind flowed back to him as he watched the stage actor seduce the female cats on stage. Caelum was getting quite bored anyway. Might as well have a new toy to play with.
The evening went smoothly with the demon enjoying the actor’s performance. But when the time came for Will Andrews to remove his costume and makeup, it was the demon’s turn to let the man enjoy his own talent. And so, in Will’s slumber, Caelum paid him a visit in his nightmares.
The horse rocked back and forth in the darkness. Its white painted body was covered in dirt and dust. The creaks echoed as if they came from the inside of his own mind. Back and forth, its round eyes staring at him blankly. Dead eyes peered into him as if it could read his thoughts. What is happening? he thought. The horse stopped abruptly.
A scream pierced through the darkness, then came the thundering footsteps. More screams. He couldn't move. He knew the voice; it was hers. Adrenaline pumped through his veins, but his limbs wouldn't obey his brain. She screamed again. He gritted his teeth. Damn it, move! He commanded himself. But it was too late.
Something cold touched his foot. He looked down at something growing on the wooden floor. No, it wasn't growing. It was spilling. Dark liquid expanded on the floor. His eyes traced the liquid to its source. And there she was, riding the horse, rocking back and forth. She wasn't sitting properly; her body was limp on the horse as if she had fallen asleep on it. He looked at the white horse, but it wasn't white anymore. It was red.
Will woke up with a start. He was drenched in sweat, and he was heaving. He buried his face in his hands, rubbing the images from his mind. It's been two years, he told himself. Two years. He found no comfort in the reminder. He threw the blankets off and stumbled into the bathroom. Will turned the faucet on and washed his face thoroughly. He stared at himself on the mirror. Without all the stage makeup, he looked as ordinary as any man in the streets. But he wasn't an ordinary man, he was a sinful one.
The dream that woke him lingered in his mind. The rocking horse, the screams, the blood. He was there. He had been there two years ago.
And I couldn't do anything. He wept. Broken sobs escaped his lips and tears streamed down his cheeks. It's been two years! He drove his fist into the wall, just beside the mirror. Two years, and the guilt only grew heavier.
Desperate, he moved out of the bathroom, storming towards the bottle that lay on his dining table. With a shaking hand, took a swig of the alcohol, and then another. The fiery liquid burned his throat and chest. He collapsed to the floor, sobbing. He stared at the bottle and thought of that night. It was your fault, he thought. Your damned fault! He threw the bottle across the room, hitting the frame of his door. The dark liquid poured out on the carpet, filling the air with its sweet hypnotic scent. But Will didn't pick the bottle up. He didn't care. He just cried.
"Dad!"
His eyes snapped open. The voice was one he'd never forget. The voice that haunted him since that night.
"Daddy! Help!!"
"Emma!" Will abruptly got to his feet, his eyes searching for the owner of the voice. But his apartment was empty, as it always had been. "Emma..." The name escaped his lips in a whispered prayer.
"Daddy! Daddy! Help me!"
"Stop it," Will said, his hands covering his ears. "Stop it, stop it. You're dead! You're dead!" His hand reached for the chair behind him and he threw it across the room. His foot met with the edge of the bed over and over as he screamed and wept.
When the terror ran out, anger filled him. Anger at himself, at the kid that took her, and at his ex-wife. Finding his jacket, he reached for the door and slammed it shut behind him.
"Dad..."
The voice still whispered in his head as he marched out into the street. He’d find his destination four blocks from his apartment. The horizon showed the beginning traces of dawn, but the rain hadn't stopped. Three more blocks. He turned a corner, and the voice still didn't stop.
"Dad, please..."
"Enough..." he said under his breath. The quaint house loomed ahead, and he banged his fists against the door over and over until the door opened, revealing a woman in a red robe.
"Jesus, Will!" Linda Masters stood wide-eyed in front of him. "It's five in the morning! What the hell are you doing here?" Will pushed her inside, his hand curling around her shoulder. He kicked the door shut behind him as Linda fought him. "What are you doing? Are you insane?"
"It won't stop, Linda," he said accusingly. "It won't stop because YOU won't stop!"
"What are you talking about? Are you drunk?" Linda asked, bewildered, and with fear in her voice.
"This is not about me!" Will screamed. "This is about you still blaming me for what happened!"
Linda scoffed, jerking away from him. "Oh, that's just precious. You come here drunk and yelling and you bring up what happened?" She pushed him. "Get out. Get out right now before I call the cops."
Will pushed her, Linda’s back hitting the wall forcefully. "What happened- what happened was not my goddamn fault!"
"Of course it was!" Linda shot back. "If you hadn’t been so goddamn drunk, she would still be alive! You were supposed to protect our daughter! But no! You got hammered and that... that monster came and raped her. All because you were too drunk to notice— Ah!"
Will drove his fist into her jaw. Again and again. Linda cried, screamed, but Will kept going. Every hit sent blood flying. He kept muttering, "It wasn't my fault. It wasn’t my fault," in time with his punches. His ex-wife had ceased fighting.
"Now, this is just lovely," Caelum muttered sarcastically. Perhaps his judge of character was getting rusty. He'd never thought Will would be driven this far. Then again, that was what guilt does. Poor Will, a father at the age of sixteen. A father with a problem with alcohol. Too drunk to hear his thirteen-year-old daughter being raped and murdered by her fifteen-year-old ex-boyfriend. And again, because of the alcohol and the guilt, poor Will beat his ex-wife.
Despite what his nature might suggest, it wasn't what Caelum intended. He liked to toy with humans. Taunt them, manipulate them into doing things for his entertainment. Blood wasn't on that list of entertainment. That was something about him that Lili and the others laughed at. Not that he'd care.
But death is inevitable. For them, at least, Caelum rationalized. Humans were fragile. One nudge and they'd throw themselves off a cliff. His kind rarely pushed that far. Most
of the time, humans were more than capable of doing it all by themselves. He adjusted the collar of his shirt and moved away from the scene. Linda Masters’ life was over before he’d finished his musing about humans and their darkness.
Shadows enveloped the world around him. The smell of old paper and wax were comforting, signifying home. It was odd indeed for something like him to take residence in a loft overlooking the city of Chicago, but he had his preferences. Fire and blood weren't what he'd call his ideal home decors after all.
A rustle from behind caught his attention. Caelum whirled around to meet his uninvited guest. A man in a dark striped suit was comfortably sitting on his chair, flipping through his flesh-skinned notebook with a lock of dark hair covering one side of his face. The low light of the lamp next to him reflected against his thin rimmed glasses. He lifted his eyes to look at Caelum, revealing no hint of humanity.
"Baron," Caelum addressed his visitor. He chuckled, placing his hand behind him. "Did Lili speak to you?"
"Lili did not need to speak to us," Baron said in his soft voice. "We never lost you, Caelum. Just extended your leash."
Caelum was disappointed. "Ah, well. There goes my attempt to piss off the boss." He sighed. "What brings you to my den?"
Baron smiled, closing the notebook in his hands. He stood up from the seat and walked around Caelum, as if studying him. "You've changed."
"For the good or for the bad?" Caelum dared him.
"For the worse," Baron answered, making Caelum chuckle once again.
"That's good," Caelum said. He walked over to his seat and weaved his fingers together. "So, business?"
“Azazel needs you for something.”
“Need?” Caelum repeated, a smile growing on his lips. “Is that what he said or is that just you?”
Baron gave him an apathetic look. “I’m extending an invitation to you, Caelum. One that most other demons would kill each other for. Something grand is upon us, and Azazel is choosing the demons that get a hand in it.”
“Something grand?” Caelum repeated his words again. “And what does that mean?”
“It means it’s not something we should be speaking about here in the land of mortals,” Baron replied. “We don’t know what might be listening.”
“Humans?” Caelum suggested. “Maybe a wraith or werewolves. Heard they have pretty good ears.”
Baron smiled. “You’re naive.” The comment brought a frown on Caelum’s face, much to Baron’s intent. “Drop by the office when the time is convenient. Considering your last target is already on his way to jail, I’d expect to see you soon.” And just like as he’d come, Baron disappeared suddenly.
The tinkering of a bell caught Caelum’s ears, and he welcomed the gray cat from its hiding place. Caelum stroked the cat’s ears and considered his options.
“Something grand, huh?” he muttered. The cat looked up at him with big yellow eyes, its purr only a soft rumble in the room. Caelum smiled to himself and lifted the cat off him.
“I guess I’m going to Hell.”
Chapter Two: Land of the Sinners
The sound of horns and the stench of smoke and rain filled her senses upon descending to the land of mortal men. Ariel squinted her eyes against the stark orange and artificial light over her head. Everywhere she looked, there were people hugging themselves against the cold air, making their way in a rush from the drizzling night. The angel cocked her head to the side. It had been centuries since she last stepped on the mortal world, however, she found it curious how the world below Heaven had drastically changed.
Towering towards the sky were structures of concrete and glass. Many of them were too far up into the skies as if meaning to reach Heaven. A flash of red and yellow lights moved above the dark clouds, a new mode of transportation where humans soar through the clouds like birds in flight. The roads were no longer soil but asphalt, solid and flat that let the beast-like vehicles to speed through. Here and there were candle-less lights that shone like the sun.
But what displeased the touring angel the most was the pollution that enveloped the entire land. Not only the pollution in the air, land, and water but of the minds she passed by. Greed, pride, and lust. So many sins in one mind that it was slowly destroying itself. How the humans have degraded over the generations. She did not want to be involved with them any longer. But orders had been given, and she had no right to object.
A glass wall filled with light brought her attention to strange statues garbed in clothing like none other she’d seen. She stared at the fabrics, studying the intricate designs of the garments before copying them on herself. Through her reflection, Ariel saw herself wearing the modern clothes of women. A brown jacket that had far more pockets than necessary over a thin cream-colored dress with crocheted laces at the hem. She felt cold in them. The wind seeped through her jacket and the thin fabric of her dress. Ariel copied the footwear of one teenage girl who passed behind her, dark brown boots that added three inches to her height. It was rather uncomfortable for the angel, but it kept her warmer.
Twenty minutes had passed since she’d descended from Heaven, yet no whisper came from the archangel. Ariel was lost in the world of noise and blaring lights. Perhaps they intend for me to familiarize myself with this new age first. Although it wasn't in her interests to explore this land, she may not have any other choice.
In her memory, the humans retired before the moon hung over their heads. But in this age, people still filled the streets, bustling with energy. Bit by bit, she read their thoughts and educated herself with the new world and the people in it.
The city was called Chicago, in the state of Illinois. It was the twenty-first century. The vehicles that sped through the roads were called cars. The humans had communication devices called cellular phones that allowed them to send messages and talk to others no matter how much their distance is.
Must I acquire such a device to communicate with Heaven? Ariel wondered, but found herself pitying her own thoughts.
A low humming sound caught her ears, and the angel proceeded to investigate. Lights of different colors shone from an establishment where people lined up to enter. Strange music blared from large speakers that flanked the entrance, and everyone moved to the music. Ariel crinkled her nose at the noise they called music. She turned her heel to leave when a man approached her from behind.
"Hi," the man greeted her. He had blonde hair that was oiled up so as to remain flat against his scalp. An odor that was as powerful as it was irritating assailed her nostrils from his direction. His breath smelled of cigarettes, making his overall presence a disgusting one. "New here, aren't you? What's your name?"
Ariel kept her lips shut. Names were powerful things and she did not wish to give it to the mortal. He leaned in closer, making her step back. "I'm sorry, I'm being rude. My name is Christoph. And you, miss?"
"I do not wish to be acquainted with you, sir," Ariel warned him, seeing the vulgar thoughts that were in Christoph's mind. "Please return to your group as they would be more interested in your company."
"Oh, my apologies, princess," Christoph said, though his expression was far from apologetic. "Maybe you're lost. I have a carriage waiting in the parking lot. May I have the honor of taking you to your castle?"
"Do not mock me." Ariel’s warning seemed to have gone unheeded. Her eyes were piercing blue, deadly as they were beautiful. But the man did not back down. He smiled at her even wider, accepting her challenge.
"I've always believed that the best things are the ones that are difficult to get. And that's why I like my girls feisty," he announced. His hand reached up to her, aiming for her arm. Before their skin made contact, Ariel grabbed his forearm and pulled him down. She reached around the back of his collar and curled her other hand on it. She pulled him again, making him turn around and pushed him away towards the crowd. She turned to make him leave again, but the man was persistent. The sound of his footsteps caught her ears, and Ariel evaded his hand, reaching again for her arm.
She turned around and sent her foot against his ankle, making him stumble.
"You bitch!" Christoph bellowed, cringing at the pain in his foot. Ariel decided to ignore the pathetic man, but anger fueled him to stalk towards her. He made to grab her once more, and Ariel's patience left her. She clutched the man's forearm and twisted it. He screamed in agony as she sent her knee into the small of his back. He landed on all fours against the wet pavement.
"Do not call me such a vile thing again. You are a lowly being who has no authority over me or anyone," Ariel declared. The man looked at her with defeat in his eyes, yet pride took over and set his anger aflame. He struggled to stand, fishing out an item from his jacket when a familiar face appeared behind him.
Daniel stepped in and held the man by the shoulders. He whispered in his ears and confusion filled Christoph's eyes. Ariel watched impatiently as Daniel patted the man on the shoulder as if congratulating him. The human walked away without giving so much as a nod.
"You have arrived after centuries of absence and you have already caused a commotion, Ariel." Daniel shook his head in feigned exasperation. . "Things are different from when you last set foot here, Ariel. The humans have grown less... pleasant. It is best for you to keep yourself hidden."
Because of the extra three inches given by her footwear, Ariel stood taller than him. She looked down at him. He wore a button-down shirt and scarf under his coat, with jeans and boots to finish a very modern outfit. His dark eyes looked over at her and she could see his displeasure.
"Thank you for the warning," Ariel said, and Daniel found her sarcasm unsettling. Ariel walked away from the scene, blanketing herself with her energy to keep human eyes from detecting her presence. Daniel did the same, walking by her side. "Substance abuse, violence, lies. I don't understand how the humans have been led to such sins. They were never perfect, but they are God's children. How could we have left them to waste their own lives for these temporary pleasures?"
The Damned and The Pure Series: Books 1-4 (The Damned and The Pure Series Box Set) Page 2
