The Deal

by David Gallie

  ‘Yes. There are many different types of creatures in Hell. Some have been specifically born from the great fires to serve a well-defined purpose while others have been born from the wickedness of men’s souls.’

  The big monk came to a stop a few feet away from the fountain. I followed his gaze as he looked beyond the grotesque sculpture of screaming bodies meshed together, and at the huge stone wall which barricaded the great hall from the rest of what I assumed must be a village.

  ‘Samuel, this is the point where I must leave you. I am not able to protect you from this point forward. However, if you can reach the Monastery with the scroll you will be granted protection from anything in this region.’

  ‘Where is this monastery you are talking about?’ I asked, actually feeling a little sad that we were about to part ways. Somehow the big monk felt familiar. I couldn’t put my finger on what it was about him that would stir up that kind of emotion but there was definitely something about him that I had encountered before.

  I followed a long languid finger as it pointed beyond the wall.

  ‘It lays north beyond the great hall. There is a secret passage below Hermetia’s chamber which will get you there but again there is no promise of protection unless you have that scroll.’

  ‘I understand. And your promise to help me break the devil's deal still stands if I bring you what you want?’ I just wanted to make sure he wasn’t going to back out once I turned up at his front door with a scroll that could cause no end of chaos on Earth.

  ‘I swear I will help you break your deal. Now please hurry. Hermetia holds his counsel in the throne room of the great hall around this time each day. If he learns of Argol’s fire then he will not waste any time in destroying the scroll.’ And with that, the monk disappeared into a wisp of black smoke.

  I was now on my own and suddenly I felt very exposed. I had not noticed any signs of life on our journey to this point in the town but suddenly I felt like there were a million eyes on me. Watching, waiting and ready to pounce in a heartbeat.

  I started towards the huge wood and metal doors which marked the entrance into the lawns of the great hall. I noted that there was no way in Hell I was going to be able to get those doors open by myself, and after frantically searching around for some sort of hidden lever, I noticed that there was a smaller service door, further along, about twenty feet away from the main doors.

  Feeling certain that it would be locked tight when I reached it, I tried turning the handle on the door and was pleasantly surprised to hear it click open.

  The doorway opened out into a vast and surprisingly green courtyard dotted with withering trees. A short distance away I could see the great hall. It was more like a large block of granite with a set of grandiose doors rather than anything splendid like you would expect.

  Slowly I made my way between the trees, I was chronically aware that I no longer had the protection of the monk so every step I made towards the huge building was carefully placed. An eerie silence filled the air and all it could take to bring down a horde of Hellish minions was a simple twig breaking.

  Travelling the short distance was painstaking but as I moved closer to the main entrance I spotted two of those gargoyle-like creatures standing guard on either side of the doors, torches burning furiously above their contorted heads like the rage that must dwell inside them.

  Using a nearby tree to hide I studied their movements, hoping that at some point they would break from their stances and go elsewhere. I could feel frustration begin to well up inside me as they showed no signs of moving. Eventually, I guessed that I would have to find another way in, and that was when the idea suddenly occurred to me.

  I had gained entry to the courtyard via a small service door and I was certain there must be another such entrance into the building itself. I was already on the east side of the building so I started off in that direction, again trying to be as much of a ninja as possible.

  Fortunately, for me, the parameter of the decaying building was lined only with grass which seemed to emit a pungent odour every time I stood on it.

  My intuition had been spot on for once in my life. After a few minutes of walking I finally found the smaller door I was looking for. I approached it with caution, aware that it could take only the smallest of sounds to alert the Grimoyle’s to my presence in their realm.

  I reached out and grabbed the wrought iron handle, surprised to find that it was warm instead of cold. That meant someone or something had not long used the door and could still be close by. I was going to have to do my best ninja impersonation from that point onwards.

  Turning the handle I slowly edged the door open, trying to create just enough of a gap so that I could peek inside. I really shouldn't have been surprised by what I saw given that I was in Hell, but I could still feel my stomach lurch as I peered into what must have been the kitchen. A Grimoyle was standing near a work table, a meat clever in its hand.

  On the table lay a naked man who I did not recognise was spread out on the table, large nails had been hammered through the palms of his hands and the shins of his legs.

  I watched as the Grimoyle grabbed hold of the man’s penis and yanked it hard enough to tear it free from his body and discard it to the side like a used tissue.

  The man let out an agonised scream which briefly filled the air. My natural instinct to help him was tempered by what the monk said earlier about the woman who had endured a similar torture only a short time ago.

  No soul in Hell wasn't there for no reason. They had all done something to deserve their punishment. But still, as I watched the winged demon begin to hack at the man’s thigh with the meat cleaver I couldn't help but wonder just how long that punishment should be for.

  I continued to watch the demon heft the severed leg in its bony claws. It seemed impressed with the weight and trotted off towards a set of stairs which seemed to lead upwards. If I was going to infiltrate the building now was my chance.

  As quietly as I could I snuck into the kitchen and closed the door behind me. I noted that the demon had left behind the bloodstained meat clever. I quickly made my way over and grabbed it. Holding it in my right hand I could feel the power of the gold ring work its way down my hand and connect with the clever. Suddenly I felt like I had a fighting chance, albeit not a big one.

  ‘Please help me.’ The choked cry came from the man on the table. I turned to face him and recognised that he couldn't have been any older than twenty. Still a kid in my eyes.

  ‘There's no point. There is nowhere for you to run to.’ I said, sounding more callous than I had intended.

  ‘I know, but you could at least give me a fighting chance?’ He asked, pleading in his voice.

  I looked down at the ragged wound where his manhood had been and then at the blood soaked stump where he was now missing a leg. I couldn't see how he was going to do any kind of fighting at all.

  ‘They grow back after a time and then it starts all over again. Please, I'm not asking to go back home I just want a chance to defend myself from those things.’ He said, his voice soaked with tears as he noticed me checking out his wounds.

  I glanced towards the stairwell listening for any footsteps or other noises that might signal someone was coming. I already had the feeling that if Satan found out I was helping the monk then I could very well end up worse off than the wretched soul on the table. But the human side of me, the side that still actually gave a shit about anything wanted to let the man go.

  ‘Please!’ He cried and it was then I decided that it might be a good idea to let him go. Although one part of me wanted him to at least survive the night, if there was such a thing in Hell, but also he could very well be a handy distraction.

  He screamed through gritted teeth as I pulled each nail out until all his limbs were free. I could feel a thick layer of sweat form on my forehead as I took a step back and glanced over at the stairwell again. There was no way all that noise had gone unnoticed, not in a place like this where they acti
vely sought out anything breathing to kill just for the sport of it.

  I kept my eyes on the stairs as the wounded man swung his good leg off the table and let the weight of his body pull him to the floor. I turned just in time to see him crawling towards the door and I couldn’t help but hope that his missing body grew back quicker than he said they did or he wasn’t even going to be much of a sport for the smaller winged demons.

  ‘Thank you. I won’t forget this.’ He said, gasping as he clawed his way towards the door.

  ‘Good luck.’ I thought, before deciding it was time to head upwards.

  The stairwell was narrow, even for me, there was only single lit torch every few feet making it hard to tell if the shadows dancing on the moss covered walls belonged to me or something more powerful.

  The air became more stagnant as I made my way upwards and I figured by the overpowering aroma that I must have been getting closer to an entrance. Sure enough, a few steps later and the last of the torches illuminated yet another closed door.

  Feeling claustrophobic by that point I gratefully reached out to grab the handle and almost fell backwards as the door was whipped open. For a few moments of silence I couldn’t quite comprehend what I was looking at, and then it suddenly dawned on me.

  I was staring straight into the huge black eyes of the Grimoyle that trotted off with the freshly cut leg of a human. I gripped the machete tight in my hand as it too seemed to come to the same realisation.

  Better make a move now Sammy boy. I thought to myself as I saw its mouth open, ready to scream.

  Without any further hesitation, I brought the blade of the machete down as hard as I could on its head. There was no noise except a soft wet explosion of blood as the razor sharp blade sliced down the centre of its head like it was made of butter, leaving behind it a bloody stump.

  I raised the blade again, wiping globules of blood from my eyes, ready to finish the job. But just as I was able to clear my vision I could see its now lifeless body fall to the floor in a heap.

  Just because my little encounter was quite possibly the quietest killing I had ever performed it did not mean that others would not come looking for it once they had waited too long for fresh body parts. I was going to have to get moving quickly now.

  So I stepped over the fallen demon and into a long hallway which after a few feet opened out into the great hall. I continued to edge my way forward, listening and watching for anything that might pose a threat.

  As I moved and was able to take in more of the hall, I noticed that it was actually pretty barren. In the centre was a huge pit that roared with crimson flames. I assumed this was Argol’s fire, the very thing that could destroy the scroll Hermetia had stolen.

  Other than the fire I couldn’t see any other forms of light, although there definitely seemed to be more light shining outwards in the direction I was moving. As I got closer to the end of the hallway, I came across an opening and that probably once had a door on it but had long since been removed.

  This time, I could hear something. A voice that sounded like fingernails being drawn down a chalkboard with each word that was spoken.

  ‘Sire, we cannot find the means needed to destroy the scroll. We have been unable to get any more information from the monastery and the sacred texts have offered no guidance.’ Flattening myself against the wall I peered round and through the opening.

  I found myself looking into a large, brightly lit stage area which looked out towards the rest of the hall. Sitting on a throne made entirely of human skeletons was this huge, obese creature with massive razor sharp horns protruding from the top of his head. Its skin was a mottled green colour with a constant greasy shine.

  Standing before, who I was certain was Hermetia, was a much smaller minion of darkness. This one wore a robe just like the monk but it had none of the fancy embroidery around the hood or the cuffs and the quality of the material did not look as luxurious as my good friends.

  ‘It has been two days and not you or your brothers have been able to find a solution to my problem, Azry. I am beginning to lose patience with you, and I can’t help but wonder if I should just through you into the mighty fire.’ Hermetia was a stark contrast to the other demonic creatures in terms of the way he spoke. His words were softly spoken.

  I watched as the massive creature chewed on the freshly chopped leg I had seen the Grimoyle preparing for him.

  ‘I beg your forgiveness sire. We are still searching the texts but the dark lord keeps a lot of information hidden from us.’ Said Azry, keeping his head bowed in front of his master.

  ‘Yes, the dark one did not create all of us with the knowledge he has, but that does not mean we are too stupid to learn Azry.’ Said Hermetia, gulping down the remainder of the leg.

  I quickly ducked back into the hallway when the huge demon turned to face my direction as if he had sensed my presence.

  ‘Where is my food? Why is it taking so long!?’ He demanded, and when no answer came I could hear him direct his anger at the small minion. ‘Azry, go and see what is keeping my food from being brought to me or I will eat you instead.’

  I peeked back through the opening to see Azry the minion bow and mutter something in his own language before heading in my direction. It was as I glanced back that I noticed the ornate gold case of the scroll, tiny compared to the throne it had been placed under, but at least I now knew where it was.

  Pushing myself as far into the darkness as I could, I waited for Azry to come through the opening, machete ready. I had no place to run or hide, and since the clock was ticking my only option left was to stand and fight.

  Sure enough, the brown-robed minion stepped through the doorway and once he was just about to step past me I lashed out with the machete. The blade connected with the spot where its neck should have been and sliced all the way through.

  There was a brief gush of blood from the headless body before it fell to the floor and without wasting any more time, I turned my attention back to Hermetia. There was no sneaky way of getting my hands on the scroll. Frustrated I realized that the only way to get to it was to show myself.

  I looked down at the blood soaked blade in my hand and the gold ring that was providing that extra supernatural power. I quietly prayed it would be enough to keep me from the same fate as the last two demons I just dealt with.

  Taking a deep breath I stepped out of the darkness and into what was basically the throne room for a very old and very pissed off demon. I managed to get about five steps forward into the room and closer to the scroll before my presence was finally noticed.

  ‘I know that smell.’ Said Hermetia, sniffing the air.

  I held my nerves and continued walking towards his throne. As I got closer I realised that massive wasn’t quite the word to use to describe his size. Gargantuan was apter and I quickly realized that going toe to toe with him was probably a very bad idea.

  Scanning the area around me I could see nothing that I could use to give me the upper hand in the battle that was about to take place. A sense of hopelessness started to wash over me. That was until he actually turned to face me and I saw that his neck area was the most exposed part of his body. I glanced down at the machete which was tiny in size, but if I aimed it correctly and with the power in the ring, I might just be able to disable him long enough to grab the scroll and make a run for it.

  ‘Is that the rest of my food?’ He asked, and this time, he stopped sniffing and instead his head snapped round to face my direction.

  ‘Fuck me you are one ugly bastard even for Hell.’ I said with a smile as he looked down at me. I could see unbridled rage well in those stagnant and hate filled eyes of his.

  ‘A human, walking freely in my domain. I have never been so insulted in all my life. I’m going to have a lot of fun punish…’ He stopped suddenly mid-sentence as his gaze took in everything about me. ‘You’re his new toy.’ The words cut through me like a knife.

  ‘I’m no one’s toy.’ I stated bluntly, trying hard
to mask how offended I felt.

  ‘You are his new play thing. Our lord’s very own little hitman. How does it feel to be the plaything of a spoiled child?’ The big demon chuckled and I was actually starting to get quite pissed.

  A head-on fight was sounding more and more like a good option because I really wanted to kick his ass all over the hall.

  ‘Listen, dickhead, I am no one’s plaything.’

  ‘Has he sent you to kill me too? I serve him for millennia and this is the thanks I get for it?’ The laughter was quickly turning to anger and I decided to capitalize on that.

  ‘Yeah well, he is seriously pissed that you stole that scroll from the monastery.’

  ‘How could he have possibly known it was stolen? Even he does not have the privilege of entering the Monastery.’

  I wasn’t expecting that and now it was my minds turn to try and come up with something believable or at least creative enough to pass as the truth.

  ‘You really think that he is going to be locked out of any place in his own kingdom. The kingdom that he created and has controlled since the dawn of time. Did you really think he wasn’t going to notice you trying to break your way out of this place without his permission?’

  There seemed to be some sort of brain in that massive head because he took some time to think about what I said and I could see that if nothing else he did at least understand the logic of what I was saying.

  ‘The monks are bound by sacred scripture. They are untouchable in many ways, but even they have to answer to our lord, and I feel pretty certain that they would not bring down his wrath upon them by alerting him to the fact the scroll was missing.’ Damn this guy was good. ‘Which means that they have sought your help in getting it back. Yet another sin that will count against them when his lordship comes to judge them.’

  ‘Oh, I’m taking the scroll back fat boy.’ I said defiantly. I kept my eyes on that soft, sagging area just under his chin. There was no way I was going to be able to kill him, but I should be able to wound him. Which would buy me enough time to grab the scroll and get out of this miserable place?