by Eric Vall
“Okay, so Divine magic is out,” I sighed. “What other kind of spell can ‘dampen the light?’”
“How about a water spell?” Eligor questioned. “With these old Latin riddles, a lot of times the answer is right there in the wording. Maybe it means we have to douse it with water?”
“It’s worth a shot,” I admitted. “But where are you going to get the water? There’s nothing but barren land around us, and the River of Souls is miles away.”
“You’ll see,” the scantily clad knight promised as she strutted over to a small clearing.
Eligor brought lime-green Hellfire into her hands, and then she held out both of her arms in front of her body. She seemed to brace herself as she aimed her spell downward and blasted it into the ground with a grunt of effort. The Hellfire spread across the desolate landscape until it finally landed on a handful of nearby tombs. As the flickering flames began to wind their way into the crevices of the sarcophagi, I started to realize what the knight was doing.
The blonde woman yanked her hands back into her body, and her spell retracted from the tombs. Along with it came small pools of water that danced within the lime-green light.
She’d just ripped the water out of the bodies of several Shades.
“You sure they’re gonna be alright?” I asked jokingly.
“They’re Shades, Jacob,” the knight retorted. “They’re already dead. It’s not like they’re going to miss it.”
Eligor guided the multiple pools of water so they were just above the tomb, and then she slowly pushed them together to form one massive body of water. She released her spell, and Mephisto’s tomb was instantly soaked with the liquid.
We all waited anxiously as the tomb’s lid darkened and its markings became more apparent. However, nothing happened.
“Fucking hell,” I grumbled. “So, it has nothing to do with ‘damp.’”
“Ya know?” Tris pondered aloud. “I’m starting to wonder if Todd was right the first time.”
“How do you figure?” the imp asked with his mouth agape. “I was nearly turned into a human steak when I touched the statue, and now you’re saying that’s what’s supposed to happen?”
“An eye for an eye,” Tristitia mused. “One of us has to sacrifice our bodies to set Mephisto free. At least, that’s how I’m seeing it. Also, it may have burned the shit out of your face, but at least something actually happened. Everything else we’ve tried has led to diddly squat.”
“But it didn’t do anything other than injure Todd,” Eligor protested. “I’m wondering if maybe I should cover the tomb with dirt or something of the like. That’d make sure it was completely surrounded by darkness.”
“Hold on, Eligor,” I said as I tried to shut down the knight. “I think Tris is on to something. I’m thinking about what the riddle says about ‘light.’ What kind of magic is composed of pure light?”
“Jacob,” Sia protested, “we’ve already been over this. You can’t use your God Bomb.”
“That’s not what I’m getting at,” I sighed. “Divine magic is composed of the same material as the human soul, correct? We have to dampen the light. Which means--”
“We have to put a damper on somebody’s soul!” Tris said as she clapped her hands together. “That’s the ‘eye for an eye’ sacrifice it’s talking about, isn’t it?”
“How exactly does one put a damper on the soul?” Eligor questioned. “Are we supposed to stand around and hurl hurtful insults at each other until the tomb opens up?”
“No … ” I said with a grim sigh. “The best way to dampen the soul is to fill it with fear. There’s only one of us who currently has that power.”
I looked over at Superbia, and the succubus madame gave me an understanding nod.
“Wait, wait,” Todd said as he tried to get a hold on understanding the situation. “Does this mean I have to get back into the literal hot iron statue?”
“I’m afraid so,” I confirmed. “Trust me, bro, I’d do it if I could. But you’re the only one who can shape-shift into a form that can fit in that thing.”
“Curse me and my perfect body,” Todd grumbled as he slapped his tiny gut.
“The statue seems to act as a switch for the tomb,” Eligor continued. “It’s the only way, Todd.”
“I’ll heal you the second the tomb is opened,” Sia promised. “Then you can owe me once again.”
The imp stroked his goatee for a moment before he looked up at the orange sky and shrugged.
“Fuck it,” he chuckled. “I guess the Toddster is gonna play hero today. But one thing, Jakey.”
“Anything,” I answered.
“Please, please, please burn all the shit in my room if I die,” he ordered. “I’m not joking. Douse it with gasoline, toss in a match, and walk away. Your virgin eyes don’t need to see any of that shit.”
“You’re not going to die,” I laughed. “But yes, I’ll keep that in mind.”
Todd walked back over to the statue, hoisted himself up onto the lip of the pedestal, and took a deep breath.
At the same time, Superbia called forth black Hellfire into her hands.
“I’m going to blast you the second you touch the metal,” she promised. “If this really works, you shouldn’t have to be on there for more than a few seconds.”
“A few seconds is still enough time to burn off my entire epididymis,” the imp explained with worry in his voice.
“Don’t you mean ‘epidermis?’” I retorted. “The epididymis is something waaaay different.”
Todd just chuckled and clicked his tongue.
“Like I said before, Jakey,” the imp mused, “the public school system totally failed you on the anatomy front. Alright, Strawberry Shortcake, I’m going in!”
Todd thrust his body forward, and the second he hit the inside of the statue the sizzling sound began. The imp gritted his teeth and grunted in pain as his flesh was seared against the heat of the metal.
Sia let out a cry of anger as she blasted the statue with her black Hellfire.
The fear-spell engulfed both the metal figure and Todd, and the imp’s grunts soon became gasps for breath.
“He can’t breathe!” Eligor gulped. “Release the spell, Superbia!”
“No!” I commanded. “Keep it going. Look, it’s working!”
I pointed over at the lid on Mephisto’s tomb, where the large, engraved “M” had now begun to fill with black Hellfire.
The second the letter was completely filled with the enchanted flames, the lid of the sarcophagus cracked and then splintered into a million pieces.
I threw up a wall of purple Hellfire over our heads to dispel the incoming debris, and chunks of brimstone smashed against the barrier. When the coast was finally clear, I released my spell.
Sia de-cast her spell, and Todd’s charred body fell away from the scalding-hot statue. The succubus was nearly in tears as she ran over to the fallen imp, and we were close on her tail.
This time, Todd was much worse for wear. He was covered from head to toe with gnarly third-degree burns, with large patches of his muscle showing through his skin and oozing blisters all over his tiny figure. He was still breathing, but each breath came out as a desperate gasp for air.
Superbia called on her healing touch and got to work immediately as the rest of us watched with concern.
The imp’s body healed fairly quickly. The golden Hellfire forced the skin around the open sores to slowly pull itself back together and then fuse. The liquid that oozed out of Todd’s boils evaporated into thin air as the wounds themselves stretched out and reintegrated themselves as part of his skin. Finally, Todd’s breathing returned to a normal pace, and he was completely good as new.
“Did … did we do it?” the imp panted.
Thank you, my friends.
The five of us spun around to face the Master of Whispers, and my hand instinctively grabbed the hilt of the Unhallowed Sword.
There is no need for that, Jacob. I am a friend, not a f
oe.
“Are you guys hearing that?” I asked aloud. “Or am I just finally losing it.”
“We all hear it, Jacob,” Superbia explained. “That is how Mephisto communicates.”
I started to ask what the madame meant by that comment, but I would get my answer soon enough.
A large figure rose up out of the darkness of the newly opened tomb. He stood seven feet tall, with skin the shade of a blood orange and limbs as lanky as a gazelle’s. Upon his back rested two large, curved wings that looked like a cross between a bat’s and a bird’s. There were two slender horns on his wide head that curved out to the side, twisted forward, and then came to a point a foot or two in front of his head. The demon’s eyes had no irises nor whites, they were simply pitch black.
Most jarring of all, however, was his mouth. This guy’s lips had been sewn shut, and the black thread that twisted around his mouth gave him a scarecrow-like appearance.
This was Mephisto, the Master of Whispers.
I owe you a debt that can never be repaid, Jacob. How can I be of assistance to you now, my friend?
“You were inside my head a few minutes ago,” I grunted. “You tell me.”
You wish for me to help you amass an army to defend your home against Beelzebub. I must admit, it’s quite the task. But, serving as one of your representatives would be the least I could do after you cut my sentence short by about two-thousand nine-hundred and ninety-eight years.
“Glad to hear it,” I mused as I stepped toward the demon.
I released my grip on the Unhallowed Sword and extended my hand to Mephisto. The demon didn’t even hesitate before he grabbed it and began to shake vigorously.
The pleasure is all mine, King Ralston.
“So, you will help, then?” I asked. “You’ll help us convince other Demon Lords to join our cause?”
Mephisto nodded his head and then took a deep bow.
For as long as you should rule over the Fourth Circle, I will be your humble servant. Long live King Ralston!
I turned back to my friends and grinned from ear to ear. After a long journey, some obstacles, and a puzzle that nearly forced us to sacrifice one of our own, we’d done it.
Mephisto was now on our side, and soon my forces would be stronger than any Demon King of Hell.
Chapter 14
The trip back to the Fourth Circle was mostly uneventful. After swearing his allegiance, Mephisto returned with us to the River of Souls, where our dinghy was waiting. The Master of Whispers soared above our boat as we pushed through the fiery exit to the Sixth Circle and back through the swampy lake that composed the Fifth. Finally, we exited through the cave and found ourselves back in the Fourth Circle.
It only took us about an hour to get to the castle, and the mute demon couldn’t hide his excitement as we approached the shiny black structure.
Azazel always had the flashiest castle. There was always something that screamed “regal” about it. I look forward to seeing the improvements you’ve made to the place.
“Thanks,” I chuckled as we floated up to the pier, “but don’t get too comfortable. We may have bought ourselves some more time with our little stunt in the Fifth Circle, but we need to get to work if we really want to grow our forces.”
Understandable. The imp explained your strategy to me, and I agree it is the way to go. Moneyball, he called it? I already have multiple low-level Demon Lords lined up to be a possible first target, and I’m only waiting for you to give me an order.
“We have a little bit of time to relax,” I answered the Master of Whispers. “We did just go through a whole lot of bullshit to save you. I think we’ve earned some rest and relaxation.”
“And some of Gula’s food,” Todd added as he rubbed his potbelly. “Going through a near-death experience makes a guy really fucking hungry. I bet demonic Oompa Loompa here feels the same way. Don’t ya, ‘Phisto?”
The Master of Whispers simply crossed his arms over his chest and looked down on Todd with a glare that pierced into his very soul.
The imp’s eyes trailed to Mephisto’s sewed-shut mouth before Todd held up his hands in defeat.
“Sorry, bro,” he apologized. “I totally didn’t mean any offense.”
Apology accepted, imp.
As our dinghy pulled up to the dock of our castle, my mind raced with possibilities. Asmodeus was generally considered one of the weaker Demon Kings, and his army was filled with mostly mindless grunts. That, combined with the fact that I was a mere mortal, made for lots of skepticism within the minds of Hell’s Demon Lords. Now that we had an honest-to-god Demon Lord on our side, maybe we’d finally have a shot to recruit others.
“Who are you thinking of contacting?” I asked the demon curiously.
Moloch is one of the first demons on my list. He’s extremely stubborn and bull-headed, but he’s also the definition of a “true neutral.” At least, as true neutral as one can be when he works for Belphegor, the King of the Third Circle.
“If he’s serving the King of the Third Circle,” I inquired, “then how will you get him onto our side?”
Leave that to me, King Ralston. I have certain… methods that will encourage him.
“Jakey has a history of converting over those ‘true neutrals,’ ya know,” Todd interjected. “That’s how we got Charon and Plato on our side.”
Mephisto quirked his eyebrow at the imp.
The great Ferryman of Hell is on your side? As is Plato? Perhaps we can pull this off after all.
“You can’t go around telling people they’re with us,” I warned. “Plato might be safe since he lives in Asmodeus’ Circle, but Charon broke his sacred vows to help us out. Lucifer will have his head if he finds out.”
You think he hasn’t?
Even though the thought had crossed my mind before, hearing it from the Master of Whispers made my heart drop into my stomach.
“N-No,” I stammered. “If Lucifer knew about all the shit we’ve been doing, he surely would have acted by now.”
The orange demon floated down, landed gently on the pier, and then folded his wings behind his body.
Unless it’s all a part of his plan. Not much goes on in Hell without the Prince of Darkness finding out about it.
“We’ve been able to stay under the radar this far,” Eligor explained. “Perhaps Lucifer simply has too much on his plate?”
Perhaps. But I wouldn’t count on it. You think he wouldn’t notice the knight who works for his right-hand demon is off on an adventure with the new King of the Fourth Circle?
“So, what?” I asked as my heart pounded in my chest. “You think Lucifer is just biding his time, waiting to strike when the time is right?”
“That’s not like him at all,” Sia explained. “If he does know about all of our endeavors, there’s only one reason he hasn’t retaliated yet.”
“And what could that possibly be?” I demanded.
Sia looked over at me, and a grim expression spread across her face.
“He’s interested in you, Jacob,” she warned. “And if that’s the case, we are in far more danger than Beelzebub and Baphomet could ever pose to us.”
I felt a sensation like cold steel twisting in my gut. I’d never even considered that option before, that the Prince of Darkness, the Master of Hell, was interested in our story. Were Superbia and Mephisto right? Did we really have the Devil in our corner?
And if we did, why was that a bad thing?
My thoughts raced as Todd, the succubi, and I exited the boat and made our way up the steps of the castle with Mephisto right behind us.
Do not fret, King Ralston. We could use the very knowledge that you fear to our advantage.
I whipped around on the staircase and shot Mephisto an angry look.
“You’re not still in my head, are you?” I questioned.
Of course not. Any control I had over you vanished when you arrived at my tomb. But you’re wearing your anxiety like a cloak of emotions, and I just wanted to rea
ssure you there was nothing to be worried about.
“You’re saying that the literal Dev--” I started, but Sia slapped her hand over my mouth.
“Lucifer, Jacob,” she reminded me. “You must call him Lucifer.”
“Fine,” I grumbled as she pulled away. “You’re saying Lucifer might be watching us right now, but there’s nothing to worry about?”
There is not. If anything, this will help my recruitment efforts. It’s one thing to tell the other Demon Lords Asmodeus and I support you. The game completely changes if I can tell them Lucifer is aware of your endeavors, yet has remained neutral. Even if I am wrong, and the Prince of Darkness is completely oblivious to your plight, it will look like he approves of your work.
“That’s a very dangerous game, Mephisto,” Superbia warned. “If you’re wrong, and Lucifer has no knowledge of what we’ve been doing, then he will be quite displeased when he finds out you’re spreading rumors about him. That will end unpleasantly and probably very messily for you.”
The Master of Whispers shrugged.
What’s he going to do? Lock me in a tomb for three-thousand years? My king will simply rescue me once more.
For the first time, I didn’t correct the person who referred to me by that term. It was different when one of my closest friends or lovers tried to put me on a pedestal and act like I was higher-up the ladder than they were. It was another, however, to hear the words uttered by a mighty Demon Lord.
Mephisto’s simply uttering of the word nearly gave me goosebumps.
“That’s right,” I promised the orange demon. “You’re on team Ralston now, Mephisto. Anyone who comes after you, they have to deal with me.”
“They have to deal with us!” Todd interjected weakly.
“Welllll,” Tris said with a groan, “maybe all of us. It depends on how much motivation I can muster up at any given time. And that usually has to do with how high I am and what exactly is on TV at that point.”
