Legacy of Judas - Book One

by Aragon, Christian

  These first few weeks of her new school have actually been fun and intriguing. Vic is making friends easily now and has enrolled in an unusual array of classes I’m quite sure will keep her mind very busy. Subjects such as art and creative writing seem to be her favorites, though she is also putting equal energy into mathematics and sciences I believe because she is already anticipating the possibility of following in her father’s footsteps. Though her father also has an active woodworking hobby to pull his mind away from work and relax, I suspect Vic’s extracurricular activities may fall into darker subject matter.

  We have found it an odd occurrence, in an age of humankind when knowledge is so abundant, yet people, especially these younger people, can have such destructive attitudes towards those who are different. The young ones who exhibit their parents’ jealousies and insecurities are very easy to identify now due to our previous encounter with such children. Vic is often very careful to avoid these types of people now, and I can see it in her eyes every time certain classmates stand out in this way. She is not only saddened by their unconscious appraisals of themselves, but also by whom they remind her of from her recent past. Still, she gets through her days with loving appreciation of her new friends, and she is rewarded in kind from those she has chosen to associate with, especially Tina Marie.

  While Vic has been concentrating on her priorities I must admit I have been exercising a bit of fun for myself over these first few weeks. Just the other day I put into action nearly the oldest tool in the book of demon trickery, which I happen to be, and passed on some knowledge of my own to some of these young and impressionable minds. While demons latching themselves onto mortals is obviously very intrusive way of influencing them there's always the basics; namely, sublime influence. Victoria and Tina were talking after school while, a short distance away, were some older classmen smoking cigarettes. I simply couldn’t help myself as I was quickly reminded of some of the self-proclaimed innocent souls we had sewn into the landscape of Hell. These men and women were part of the mortal realm’s great tobacco empires. Massive merchants who literally sell death for profit. Sure, they insisted these products they were producing were non-lethal as well as non-habit forming, but deep down in the coffers of their consciences they knew what they were doing to people despite what they had convinced their mortal minds of. Conveniently here were some of their newest, youngest victims...

  Casually I strolled over to the would-be tobacco connoisseurs and positioned myself a baby’s breath away from the one who seemed to be leading the rest of them down this path of use and addiction. I yelled as loudly as I could into his ear.

  “YOU SHOULDN’T SMOKE THOSE!!! YOU ARE HELPING TO SEND OTHER PEOPLE TO HELL EVERY TIME YOU LIGHT ONE OF THOSE THINGS UP!!! DON’T YOU REALIZE HOW BADLY THOSE PEOPLE STINK WHEN THEY BURN IN HELL?!? WE DON’T WANT THEM THERE!!!”

  Then I simply stepped back to see if I had any effect. It only took a moment…

  “Y’know, guys — *COUGH* — I don’t think these things are such a good idea — *COUGH* — they can’t possibly be good for us, and I’ll bet the heads of these tobacco companies are all going straight to Hell for selling them to people — *COUGH*!”

  Then another chimed in…

  “Yeah — *COUGH* — and I’ll bet they all smell bad when they’re burning down there too!”

  They all laughed about the young man’s wit while simultaneously putting out the cigarettes. All but one, but no one can influence them all. I’m sure she’ll remember this day in about twenty or so years when she's fading away from heart disease or some other carcinogen-induced death sentence.

  I turned and noticed Victoria and Tina had already left, and though I knew the route they were walking home on I was unsure of for how long they had already been walking. My question was quickly answered as I was practically given whiplash when Vic was far enough away for my tether to suddenly snap me to within two steps behind her. In a fraction of a second I had passed through two buildings, some trees, and a number of other children and adults and was suddenly just behind Vic as the two of them walked along casually. Victoria shot me a cocky smirk in response to my delinquency and I simply shrugged my shoulders at her and concentrated on the conversation at hand. Vic was finally going to broach the subject of the abuses Tina’s father had been engaging in.

  “Tina, may I ask you something?” There was a quiver in Vic’s voice, but she knew if she said nothing she would take the regret with her to the grave. Tina’s response was unsuspecting of what Vic could be inquiring about as she was even a bit chipper with her response.

  “Totally! What’s up?”

  “Tina, I’m not sure how exactly to say this … but ... I know about your father. I know what he does to you.”

  It's a pleasantly warm day, but a chill in the air just ravaged Vic and I from Tina’s direction. Tina was clearly unprepared and was at that moment quiet as death. She stopped walking and her head bowed in shame of her secret being known.

  I reminded Vic the second most dangerous part of this intervention had just come to pass, but she could not allow the momentum to escape the moment.

  “Tina, I know it’s not your fault. I know it isn’t even your father’s fault, at least not as much as you would think.”

  Tina was still silent.

  “I know how to stop him, Tina. I know how to help make sure he never does those things to you or anyone else ever again. Do you hear me, Tina? Please say something …”

  “How do you know, Victoria?! How could you possibly know other than…?” Tina’s face suddenly flushed of its color as she gasped at some hidden revelation. Quickly I reached inside Tina’s panicking mind and found the thoughts Vic needed to touch on to continue the conversation. Tina surmised the only way Vic could know was if Vic was a victim of her father’s as well. I relayed the thoughts and emotions to Vic as quickly as I could so as not lose this before it begins.

  “Tina, I’m not a victim of your father’s. In truth I cannot say how I know these things about you. What I can tell you is that even if you don’t want to let me help you because you fear your father, then at least let me help you so no one else has to fear your father. Please?”

  Tina’s head arose slowly from her humiliation and after a few tense moments her eyes met with Vic’s eyes.

  “I s’pose if I stop to really think about what you’re offering I will talk myself out of stopping this …” with that Tina broke down, dropped her studies on the blacktop and nearly collapsed into Vic’s arms spilling all the tears of pain, anguish, disgust, and shame she had pent up for so long. Together they huddled on the side of the road uncaring of motorists passing the obviously emotional scene every few moments.

  Strange here in California, compared to our previous residence, that no one stops to help two sobbing girls on the side of the road.

  Upon regaining some of their composure, and at the realization of how they must’ve looked to the passing motorists, Vic invited Tina to stop at her house first to freshen up and go over the details of what must be done.

  Tina was understandably nervous of what this night was to hold, as was I. After the two of them went over how the night was to play out Vic instructed Tina to go home and let her father know there was going to be a classmate coming over to help with some of her studies. Vic knew once Tina told her father who was to be coming over that he would happily agree. Vic had caught Tina’s father, on numerous occasions, giving serious and somewhat obvious study of Vic during class.

  Once Tina left for her house, Vic and I went over how we were going to separate the Ebony Demon from Tina’s dad. I objected profusely since what Vic was suggesting was not only going to put her in a position of being alone with Tina’s father, but also neither of us was sure what she was suggesting for the removal of the Ebony Demon could work. It had never been attempted before. But I was unable to contradict her to the point where she would change her mind, and because mine is a position of servitude, I could only wait for Vic to shower and d
ress for the night’s festivities with great anxiousness and trepidation.

  Victoria is only a freshman in high school, and the contrast of age versus her physicality isn't lost on us when we see Vic step from the shower and towel off. A woman’s physical beauty is so often held in regard as one of the greatest beauties gracing Earth or the heavens. But so many let their baser prurient instincts interfere with such pure beauty.

  We're gazing at the blossoming of just such a beauty. Man, no, men, who don't exercise the strength to realize and know nakedness does NOT constitute sex, and don't allow themselves to simply enjoy the visage of grace and artistry of the highest regard, are missing out on one of life’s absolute greatest simple pleasures of grand complexity. It's an intellectual feast to see what comes just before what's next and simply appreciate that simplicity without the convolution of carnal contemplations.

  We have all grown so fond of this young woman we dare not disrespect her or make her to feel uneasy with our presence, because we're incapable of doing so for far more reasons than those which are obvious. It was tonight, after she had dressed, we all realized she has become very aware of her own beauty and it's affect on others too simple of thought to truly enjoy. The confidence she has in her abilities to do almost as she pleases, yet she does not abuse the blessings she has in her appearance or mind. She seems to understand humility is far better than ostentatiousness; at least she did before she dressed this evening.

  Her raven hair straight, long, and flowing down her back in a ponytail tied with a ribbon of deep blue. Her make-up was subdued in such a way she almost seemed to be not wearing any at all; not that she needs it to begin with. She accentuated the creamy color of her skin at the nape of her neck with wispy little finger curls, which will undoubtedly be noticed. Vic's ensemble began with simple white cotton undies and a non-descript white strapless bra for her still-humble bosom, and knee-high white cotton socks.

  She was obviously creating a mood within her own mind as her physical actions were a great deal more elegant, but playful, than when she normally gets dressed each morning. Vic continued this ballet by not simply putting on her button-up white shirt, but rather she seemed to glide into it as its fabric rippled and straightened as if giving its permission to adorn her. Of course she only buttoned the shirt up to the third button from the top.

  Vic completes her evening’s battle armor with a deep blue plaid skirt, a blue knit sweater left unbuttoned, and a pair of shiny, black patent leather shoes. Her theme was obvious and her prey was not going to stand a fuckin’ chance.

  I'm so thankful no one will ever read this except us. I'd hate for anyone to read this account of a fourteen-year-old girl and get some sort of perverted rise from these words. Granted; getting a rise from young girls is exactly what we expect from the tortured teacher across the street. Fucking pervert! It's always been his choice! Influence is nothing till embraced.

  We made it to Tina’s house shortly before seven PM; the agreed upon time. Tina greeted Vic at the door as if she had been standing vigil awaiting her arrival, and with a cautious smile she escorted Vic inside. Nervously Tina introduced Vic to the mother, and then with forced pleasantness reacquainted Vic with her father. This introduction was for but a moment before stealing Vic away to Tina’s room upstairs.

  “Play this cool, Tina.” Vic reassured her, “This is all going to get better after tonight. Let’s just get into our studies and see how this develops.”

  I couldn't detect any hint of insecurity in Victoria’s voice. She made a wonderful effort of calming Tina’s nerves and of drawing out more confidence from within her. The studies had only been going on for about an hour before Tina’s father found himself an excuse to make his presence in Tina’s bedroom doorway. A whole hour. Such strength...

  “Tina? I haven’t heard you leave this room since you and your guest came up here. Don’t you think you should offer her something to drink or a snack since she was nice enough to come over to help you with your studies?”

  Tina looked to Vic with a bit of panic in her expression. Vic subtly reassured her again and whispered it was all right with a knowing grin. Tina turned to her father and feigned a smile.

  “You’re right, daddy. Victoria, what would you like to snack on?” Vic placed an order like she was being waited on in a restaurant. What was Tina’s father to care so long as he thought this night was going his way? Vic knew she needed to keep Tina out of the room for a time, but we both knew Tina probably wouldn’t be far away. Tina excused herself and I readied for the first and hopefully only assault.

  The teacher stared intently at Vic as he waited to hear Tina’s footsteps get far enough away before entering the bedroom. This is when he moved with purpose and engaged Victoria in some small talk as he sat beside her on the bed. Vic stood from the bed and straightened herself up a bit from laying on her clothes while studying with Tina. Once the purposeful primping and preening ceased Tina’s father boldly began to remark about Vic’s beauty as she stood silently before him, grinning slightly, with her hands clasped behind her causing her still-modest breasts to slightly press against her button-up. I stepped in behind Vic and reached into her mind touching upon the optic portions specifically to make it so she could see the Ebony Demon attached to Tina’s father. Instantly she was having a problem with concentrating as the grotesqueness of the two melded forms became brutally more apparent and detailed than when we were prying in previously.

  Just then the teacher reached out his hands, palms up in a non-threatening way to see if Vic would respond in kind. Vic was trying desperately to not focus on the demon whose sin-blackened flesh pulsed and its many tendrils quivered and squirmed into the teacher’s skull and body. It's deeply seated itself into his soul. Its glossy black eyes and decay-dripping mouth grinned at the prospect of such beauty and intelligence being corrupted on this night. Through this man the demon could feel everything its infected mortal host could feel allowing it to always keep its arms and hands free, and its fingers occasionally dancing in anticipation as if playing a piano in mid air.

  Victoria glanced at me over her shoulder while pretending to check her surroundings for unexpected company, and then she drew her sight back to Tina’s father and placed her hands in his hands. That was my cue. Victoria gripped his hands as tightly as she could. At first both the teacher and the demon both grinned upon feeling Vic’s warm hands, and then I hit the demon with all the strength I could muster. I believe the attack I made is called a haymaker, which is ironically enough named after the motion made when using a scythe; Chronos would be proud. I surprised myself; I almost didn’t need to try so hard as the force of impact smashed square into the demon’s face. As he was pushed back the impact caused the sores in his mouth to explode blood and puss in viscid strands all over the ceiling and wall behind him. The demon cried out in pain and fear whilst glancing about trying to catch site of what just hit it.

  Vic’s grip remained strong as the demon immediately panicked and began lashing out trying to catch hold of something it would never find. Throughout all the screams, shrills and thrashing about of the demon and I, we were invisible and muted to all but Victoria. The force I was exerting to remove this demon, and the force it was using to hold onto its prey, began causing convulsions and violent spasms in Tina’s father.

  The demon and Tina’s father both looked to Victoria confused about the sensations they were experiencing. Victoria looked into the eyes of Tina’s father and told him quietly this was going to help him. It was then I heard several of the roots the demon had within this mortal body give way and snap. I readjusted my grip, made sure to keep an optical link for Vic while still gaining leverage with the demon by placing my feet against this man’s soul and pulling the demon from above. The beast squealed and screamed and thrashed its arms about in an attempt to thwart my attack, but couldn't find me; couldn't even touch me. Had it known it was the Book of the Damned launching this siege it would probably have given up more easily once realizing I
cannot be stopped by any except by those whom I serve. But though this beast could not harm me I did not think far enough in advance of Tina’s father, or, more importantly, Victoria who is sitting calmly on the edge of this altercation.

  The demon’s arms swung broad and without thought of what they may strike. In its confusion one swipe passed through its mortal prey and severed some of its own roots, but it also struck through that man’s soul, and both Vic and I saw a swash of his spirit’s sin-tainted essence splash against the bedroom wall. Now there will always be a presence here. A remnant. The spatters of his soul still possessed a bright golden hue though swirled with dark greenish-yellows and putrid browns and blacks.

  With another swipe a fear was realized as this time the demon hit Vic across her chest. On another wall I saw a spattering of her spirit’s essence splash and I couldn’t restrain myself as I cried out to her. The impact against her soul sent a shock and a shiver through her, but she did not allow herself to let go of the teacher’s hands. She simply nodded to me once with her brow furled, lips a bit pursed and teeth gritting; a look of complete determination to see this through and help Tina Marie.

  I called to strength every soul within the book to finish this before more damage came to Victoria. My pages twitched and contorted and my form once again changed as the pages rolled, reshaped, curled back like asps preparing to strike. The power of these hollow extensions of our form was unexpected. They extended outward with lightening speed and coiled the Ebony Demon, while also reaching outward and finding new points of leverage against the teacher’s soul. The roots of the beast all began to pop and snap and fountains of thick brownish-black sin spewed all about from the burst veins protruding from the frayed root ends like small fire hoses with no one to hold them down. Quickly my pages shifted to contain these small geysers and keep their infectious contents from making its way into the two mortal souls before us.