"Cassie, Cassie .... I can see him too." Cassandra shrieked
"What!" Then the two girls started screaming and ran for their lives back up onto the terrace and into the house. The garden suddenly felt overwhelmingly evil - the other girls reacting to the feeling of horror, also ran for the house. Cassandra's mother held her and tried to console her. She desperately wanted to know what was wrong - but Cassandra would never say. Marianne and the other girls held each other. The party was clearly over. The girls called their parents and left with them as soon as they arrived. Marianne stayed a bit longer than the others but eventually she had to leave also. Cassandra sat with her mother in the living room late into the night. They didn’t say much. They fell asleep together on the couch - with the light on.
***************
Five years later Cassandra and Marianne were working together as strippers in a night club at Kings Cross in Sydney. Cassandra was sitting on a chair in the changing room taking a short break. Marianne came into the room looking a bit flustered. She was wearing a pale blue skirt with a matching low cut top. The skirt was cut very short. This was more or less the clubs uniform. Cassandra was wearing the same thing. Of course when they danced on the tables they were completely nude. Cassandra looked up
“Marianne, what’s wrong?” Marianne sat down beside her and shook her head unhappily.
“The judge, the big fat one, groped at my ass again.” Cassandra tried not to laugh - she could see that Marianne was upset. She tried to make light of it.
“That’s what they do here honey. Men. What do you expect?” She said the last part somewhat disdainfully. But Marianne wasn’t having any of it. She was annoyed
“Well they’re not supposed to. I’ll get security to throw him out.” Cassandra cautioned her
“I wouldn’t do that. He’s a big customer. Just put up with it. He’s a big tipper.” Marianne seemed dubious
“I don’t know Cassie.” But it was clear she wasn’t going to do anything. They sat there together for a few more minutes. Marianne turned to Cassandra
“Do you remember your birthday party? The one we had when you were fourteen.” Cassandra replied cautiously
“Yes, of course.” Marianne picked up on her friend’s hesitation.
“No, No, I don’t mean how it ended. I mean our talk about getting married. And what it would be like when we were older.” Cassandra thought about it, replying vaguely
“Yes I think so.” But she remembered it clearly – in particular the image of dancing under the moonlight with her first and only love – as yet, still to make an appearance. Marianne asked her slowly
“Well, did you think it would be anything like this?” Cassandra didn’t answer. They sat there for a while longer then Cassandra got to her feet, taking Marianne’s hand and pulling her to her feet also.
“Time to go honey, it’s our turn again.” They walked out into the main room hand in hand. Cassandra looked out over the large room full of drunken leering males. Most of the time she found them small and pathetic; sometimes, like now, just outright disgusting. In a few minutes she and Marianne would be on one of the tables, naked, dancing for them. She thought to herself
“No Marianne, I didn’t think it would be anything like this at all.”
Chapter 19 – The Department of Greed
Towards the end of the third day Jarrod and Cassandra and the troop of demons arrived back at Dis, the city at the centre of Hell. They went back through the main outer gates. The guards there, as usual, snapped to attention. The troop separated from them and headed off around the perimeter. Jarrod had no idea where they were going or why and didn’t care. He and Cassandra headed down the main pathway towards the side entrance to the Department of Hate. They were both weary and sad and didn’t know what to do next. They were holding hands as they walked - looking down. An unnamed lesser demon was waiting for them at the side entrance to the Department of Hate. He was as obsequious as the rest of them. He bowed his head and spoke carefully
“My Lord Beelzebub, His Holiness Lord Lucifer requests your presence at the Great Hall.” Jarrod stared back at him. He seemed nervous and fearful. Not for the first time Jarrod wondered ‘what do they see in me’. But he said nothing. He just nodded
“All right.” The lesser demon was clearly relieved. He replied quickly
“Yes my Lord.” Then He turned and scampered off – eager to inform his Master. Jarrod turned to Cassandra.
“We’ve been summoned.” Cassandra seemed to be concerned, eyes wide
“By Lucifer!” Jarrod was amused by her reaction.
“Yes, the one who would rather rule in Hell than serve in Heaven, but expects all of us here to serve him.” Cassandra replied simply
“You as well?” Jarrod was still amused but now more pensive.
“Well, we’ll see about that. What’s good for the goose.” Cassandra laughed and Jarrod laughed with her; it felt good. But even as he did this Jarrod found his own reaction puzzling. There was an underlying tone he didn’t want to acknowledge. Surely something more like that of Beelzebub. Not funny at all.
They made their way down to the Pit and proceeded along the path towards the Great Hall. They tried to pay no attention to the Pit as they walked around it but the lost souls were still pouring down into it – and at a rate even higher than before. They could not block out their piteous screaming. As they approached the Great Hall they could see two large demon lords there waiting for them. Even from a distance Jarrod found that he could instantly tell which one of them was Lucifer. He also recognized the other one, Belial, the head of the Department of Greed. He found it disturbing how familiar they both seemed even though he’d never met either of them – well, not as Jarrod. It was all very strange and quite unpleasant. Maybe he really was up to something - as they all seemed to suspect. Maybe he did have a plan. He wished he knew what it was.
When they arrived at the open space between the Great Hall and the Pit the demon Belial, without bothering to say anything, moved towards them and stood beside them. He stared at Cassandra and then spoke out loudly
“I am Belial, you belong to me now.” Then he attempted to grab her. She jumped back and Jarrod stepped in between the two of them. Jarrod barked at Belial
“Fuck off, asshole.” Belial took a step back but didn’t seem to be overly impressed by Jarrod’s rebuke. He was large, much larger than Jarrod, piggish and brutal looking – and right now full of lust and anticipation. Cassandra was horrified. Her instant loathing of him was almost instinctual. The standoff persisted for a few moments. Then all of them at the same time, with an eerie sort of feeling, became aware of the presence of the other entity just standing there quietly watching them. They turned. Lucifer - the Satan - was staring at them. Jarrod knew instantly that this one was infinitely more dangerous than Belial. His face was calm and expressionless, except for his eyes – they burned fiercely with pride and determination that through the ages had only grown stronger. He exuded a vast and deep malevolence that attempted to engulf and subdue everything it came up against. Jarrod and Lucifer locked eyes on each other for the first time. They stared at each other, glaring, neither of them blinking – ancient enemies, barely repressed hatred, explosive violence barely contained - but more or less evenly matched and each still of use to the other - brooding and plotting. Waiting for some final confrontation which would be as deadly as it was inevitable.
The spell was broken when Belial called out to Lucifer. He was impatient and eager to enjoy his prize.
“My Lord Lucifer, you said I could have the bitch.” Lucifer almost smiled. He wasn’t sure what would happen next. Surely one of the two was about to be destroyed. Beelzebub, the old Beelzebub, would be far more useful to him. Or the other scenario he had in mind could play out. That would be better. He would soon see. He replied simply
“Yes I did. If you want her then take her.” Belial turned back to Jarrod with a great look of satisfaction. He grunted
“You
r bitch, give her to me, now.” Jarrod stared back at him defiantly
“Fuck you.” Cassandra didn’t know what to think. They were going to fight over her! She just stood there, astonished. But she knew that she should help Jarrod and was determined to do so.
Belial punched Jarrod in the side of the head knocking him to the ground. He had moved much faster than Jarrod could possibly react. Cassandra lunged forward and tried to punch Belial in the stomach. It was a futile gesture and had no effect. Belial was seven feet tall and weighed at least three hundred pounds, all of it thick muscle. His stomach felt like a sheet of thick hard leather. He effortlessly picked her up with both hands, pulled her up into the air and then threw her, over towards Lucifer. She landed heavily but managed to get to her feet. She started to rush back but found she couldn’t. Lucifer had taken a grip of her by her hair and was holding her. In a dark voice he said to her
“Let them fight.” She tried to struggle but he held her easily. A cold shiver passed through her as she realised she was being held by Satan himself. But it passed. She continued to struggle but with no effect. Satan laughed at her.
“You are not a combatant little one, you are the prize.” She looked back at him savagely and defiantly. Just one more asshole! But she still couldn’t move.
Jarrod had got back onto his feet. He faced off with Belial. He tried for a quick snap kick to the groin. Belial didn’t even bother trying to move. As the foot hit he just grunted
“Ah, feels good. Do it again.” He smiled malignantly at Jarrod. Then he grabbed Jarrod’s head pulling Jarrod up and towards him - and then head butted him as hard as he could and threw him to the ground again. Jarrod hit the ground very hard, and lay there for a moment, dazed. He could see Cassandra being held by Lucifer and he could see Lucifer watching him with a strange evil smile. Belial kicked him in the side of the body several times, savagely, then stood back to survey the results with some satisfaction. He had hated, envied and feared Beelzebub ever since the Fall. Now this was his chance. He was going to enjoy it thoroughly and then he was going to cast Beelzebub into the Pit.
Jarrod struggled back on his feet and stood there defiantly. He faced Belial – glaring at him.
“Is that the best you can do, asshole?” He was fearless and determined. He felt a deep anger slowly building – a strange feeling – almost of another persona awakening – something truly savage and ugly. He realized what this was and fought it, repressing it with all of his strength. If he reverted to Beelzebub now, he might win the battle but he would lose Cassandra. He’d only known her for a few days but he felt as if he’d known her forever. He loved her! He couldn’t live without her. Belial advanced on him and began rapidly punching him in the head and body, side to side, driving him back towards the Pit. Jarrod tried to block but Belial moved inhumanly fast. He staggered as he took blow after blow – each one crushing into him with immense force. He could hardly breathe. He tried to strike back but with no effect. He tried to think of some trick but could come up with nothing. Belial kept striking him and kept driving him back. Each time he hit Jarrod he grunted loudly. He was enjoying his triumph and in just a moment there would be the finale.
Cassandra watched on with growing anguish. It couldn’t just end here, not like this. She saw Jarrod fighting, hopelessly outclassed, and taking vicious blow after blow, clearly in great pain. She knew he would never surrender or give up. The thought of it would never even occur to him. But he could not win. She admired his spirit - more than that she loved him. She wished that they could have lived a life together. But now she had to save him. There had to be a way. Somehow. She looked up at Lucifer. Surely none of this could be happening without his consent. He could stop it. But to her dismay she could see that he was enjoying it too. He wanted it. He turned to look at her with a twisted evil smile. She could almost smell the sickly sweet pungent essence of absolute evil. She shuddered. He was still looking at her. He wanted something from her, he expected something. Then suddenly she knew what it was – and it was the only way to save Jarrod.
Belial had continued his unrelenting torrent of strikes. He had knocked Jarrod to the ground. They were now perilously close to the edge of the Pit. Belial closed in on him and kicked him in the head several times then stood back. Jarrod got back to his feet somehow. He stood, very unsteadily, facing Belial. He was still defiant
“Big dumb fuck. I spit on you.” He could see Cassandra watching, held by Lucifer. So close. She was all he could think about. Belial moved forward and picked him up, brushing away Jarrod’s ineffectual attempts to grab at him. He held Jarrod up over his head and moved towards the Pit intending to throw him into it and finish him once and for all. His face was flushed with joy and triumph. Cassandra cried out desperately
“No, stop. Please stop.” No one paid any attention to her, and Belial took an extra step bringing himself right up to the edge of the Pit. He raised his arms as high as he could, holding Jarrod up high, preparing to cast him into the Pit. Cassandra screamed out
“I choose Belial, I’ll go with Belial.” Satan laughed with delight. This is what he had wanted all along. How exquisite. He barked out an order
“Belial. Stop. Now!”
Belial obeyed him instantly, stepping back from the Pit. He let Jarrod drop to the ground beside him and glared at him angrily. He despised him, he wanted to destroy him but he dare not disobey the Satan even for a moment - not yet anyway. Lucifer spoke out, smoothly and sleekly
“I need you both. Belial, you can have the bitch”. He smirked. “Apparently she wants you. In any case, to the victor go the spoils.” Jarrod tried to get to his feet. Belial kicked him in the side of the head again knocking him back onto the ground. He tried to protest Lucifer’s decree. But he found that his throat was dry and raw and he could barely make a sound. Ringing in his head was the terrible phrase ‘I choose Belial.’ How could she do that? How could she say that? It was not possible. Dazed and confused he saw Cassandra walk towards Belial, meekly and submissively. She didn’t even look at him. Belial grunted with satisfaction. He stared down at Jarrod, gloating
“Fuck you.” Belial then took a few steps towards Cassandra, grabbed her, hoisted her over his shoulders and strode off. Lucifer watched all of this with sly amusement. Jarrod didn’t have the slightest concern for Lucifer or for Belial. He was thinking only of Cassandra. He watched her being taken away – he couldn’t believe that she had chosen Belial. She was his first and only love. But she had betrayed him so easily and now she was gone. How could she? His soul darkened.
Cassandra couldn’t see much as she was carried off. Sporadically, she tried to struggle but with no effect, Belial held her tightly. He was moving quickly along the large path around the Pit, back to his department, keen to enjoy his prize. Cassandra wondered what Jarrod was doing. She knew that he wouldn’t understand what she had done just as she knew that it was what Lucifer had intended all along. She felt wretched but it had been the only way. Right now though, she had a more immediate problem. A very large overly muscled thug, a demon, who regarded her as property, had her slung over his shoulder and was carrying her off. He intended to keep her as a slave and then well all the rest of it. Ugh, she couldn’t even bear to think about it. She tried to squirm out of his arms but could hardly move. She tried to kick her legs about – nothing. Frustrated, she stopped trying to move, she would have to wait for some kind of opening, a chance to get away and then run. But run where? Find Jarrod, but then what? It all looked so hopeless but she too would never stop trying.
They reached the entrance to one of the large main buildings surrounding the Pit – the Department of Greed. It was similar to the others, very large in size, grey and featureless. Once they were inside Belial put her down and let her stand beside him. He still held her by her hair pulling her in close to him. Cassandra looked around. They were in a large spacious foyer covered with thick plush red carpet, polished marble walls and with several large central columns of pure silver studded wi
th diamonds. On the walls there was a collection of fabulous paintings: the old masters Raphael, De Vinci, Rembrandt and others. A cascade of colour and a faint smell of overly sweet perfume from all directions combined into an assault on the senses. It was too much. The net effect was tasteless and Cassandra grimaced. High on the far wall she could see some kind of banner and on it the motto of the Department of Greed, clearly written in large golden letters.
“Pedicabo ego vos, suus mea omnia.“ She couldn’t read Latin but somehow she knew exactly what it said.
“Fuck you, its all mine.” She sighed, thinking to herself
‘How appropriate.’ Below the banner there was a row of heads on spikes. They were conscious and looking about - all men, most of them elderly. They were all checking her out with great interest and enthusiasm. She didn’t recognize any of them. But they were the heads of various conservative economists and libertarian propagandists. Former members of the Chicago School of Economics figured prominently. Belial collected them as trophies - sycophantic apologists for the absolute priority of greed. He found them amusing. For them it was a reward of sorts - though not intended as such. Anything was better than the Pit.
Not for the first time, Cassandra felt like screaming. Was there no end to this terrible place? Belial had paused for only a moment. He tightened his grip on her hair and then walked rapidly across the foyer. She struggled to keep up. She knew that if she slipped and fell he would simple drag her along behind him. He led her up several flights of stairs, down a wide corridor and then into a large room. There was a king size bed on the other side of the room and standing next to it a young woman, completely naked except for a bright metal collar locked around her neck. She stood there meekly – just waiting. Belial pushed Cassandra over towards her. Cassandra stumbled and fell, but Belial ignored this. He barked an order at the unknown woman
The Department of Hate - A Love Story Page 21
