by Craig Taylor
She stared at him. She saw the blackness in his soul and it was deep and murky. It was small and pushed back behind the light, but it was there. She felt weak after what she did, but she wasn’t going to show it to this man.
Elizabeth stepped between the two. She was afraid Patricia would attack again, especially when she saw the darkness expand, which it always did when keepers of the light tried to attack him.
David realized Patricia was feeling the effects of releasing her power and stood with his arm around her. He attempted to appear as though he was just holding her, not supporting her. He was amazed at what he had seen and was glad they found her.
Elizabeth said to them all, “This is Matthew Roper. He is a police detective working the case of the mass murders, committed by our ‘friends’ Patrick and Clara. He was once in the grip of the darkness, born into a family with a long history of serving it.”
Matthew shuffled, clearly uncomfortable being exposed in this way. Charles had explained this to him during the trip, but it still wasn’t easy to hear.
“He escaped as a very young boy and was guided here by his dark angel. This angel was in fact Charles here: he was the leader of a group of dark angels who rebelled against the darkness after serving them for hundreds of years. They came to realize the darkness was destroying everything, and they stood against it.”
“Other than Charles, they are all dead now, destroyed by their own kind. When Charles arrived with Matthew, Albert took them both in. Charles was rewarded with the power of the light, and proved himself time and again in battle. He became Mathew’s angel, protecting him and providing support. Matthew left here still a young boy, and was adopted by a couple who cared for him, not knowing his history or what was inside of him.
“The darkness has been trying to lure him back since his escape, but he has resisted, always making the righteous choice. Charles kept the darkness away as much as he could. He knows their tricks and has never yielded to the temptation of their promises if he would return to the shadows and bring Matthew with him.”
They all looked at Charles. He managed an uncomfortable smile and looked away.
“The darkness is still inside him,” Patricia said. “I can see it’s getting stronger as we stand here.”
There was urgency in her voice.
Elizabeth was about to answer when Matthew spoke.
“The darkness will always be there. I will always have to fight the temptation of all it offers me, but I will resist for as long as I live. I have seen what it truly is. I have lived within the heart of the darkness and felt the cold, all encompassing rage it contains, its delight in causing pain to man. Charles here has been a part of it and will attest to this. It is difficult to explain the darkness, words just don’t exist, you actually have to experience it as a part of yourself.”
No one spoke. Elizabeth stepped forward.
“You need to go, all of you. Time is ticking and you are in great danger.”
“Are you coming with us?” Jason asked.
She smiled and shook her head. “No, I know my destiny and am prepared for it. I’m not the important one here.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Clara watched as the demon left the body of the man. He had needed the still-warm corpse to enter the world, but now he was strong enough to no longer require it.
The remains were left in one of the spare rooms of the country house. The demon walked free on earth, in his own form for the first time in hundreds of years. Clara watched as he stretched his limbs and breathed deeply, holding the air in his lungs for as long as he could to savor the taste and relish his freedom.
He was long and lean, standing over six feet tall. He was in the form of a muscular, powerful man. His black muscles could be seen through his skin. In places, Clara could see blood flowing through his veins with each heartbeat. She could not think of a more beautiful sight.
The demon’s face was a cross between man and beast that she had never seen. The face was incredibly smooth and included a normal nose and mouth. Above that were the eyes of an animal, small and wide-set. His forehead was large and had small bumps under the skin, like a snake or lizard. He had no hair; the bumps covered his skull, pushing against the tight, black skin.
The demon’s companions had performed the ceremony which released him, and allowed Clara to watch. She would never forget. He lay on a table, still inside the body of the human. A hundred large black candles were glowing in the room. The shapes they created on the walls looked like black angels flying. Clara could see the companions as they knelt beside their master, invoking demons still on the other side who waited to rejoin this demon.
They spoke in hushed whispers, their eyes closed tight, and laid hands on the body. Clara had never heard the language before, but it resembled the ceremonial words she used to bring Patrick back to life. She knew that these were words she would never be permitted to know. They were the language of the darkness; ugly, violent and beautiful, spoken with deep guttural hoarseness.
The companions themselves were beautiful creatures; she couldn’t take her eyes off them. They weren’t like the black angels she’d seen in the past.
These creatures were stunning. Their skin was smooth, their bodies lean and strong, and they bore the visages of men. Their facial features were fine, the black hair flowed over their shoulders and their backs to the base of their wings.
Their wings were tall enough to touch the ceiling. Dark diaphanous skin covered the entire surface as they swung slowly back and forth, keeping their master cool during the ceremony.
One of them placed his wrist over the chest of the master and sliced it with a golden knife. The blood flowed thick and black. As it hit the skin of the human body and flowed down onto the table, their chant became quicker, more urgent.
Soon the upper body of their master was covered in thickening blood, which one of the angels spread over the rest of the body.
The chant increased speed. The bodies of the angels swayed up and down, perfectly timed. The angel spreading the blood moved his hands faster in time with the chant.
When it appeared the chant could get no faster, the angel spreading the blood let out a piercing shriek that made Clara jump. He plunged his hand through the body’s chest. The red human blood mixed with the black angel blood.
The four remaining angels all plunged their hands into the human’s chest. Soon they all had both hands in the human. Gently, they pulled the chest open, exposing the human’s heart. It was black and swollen, twice normal size since the possession.
They placed the heart on the human’s stomach and raised themselves up, hovering over the body. They had never stopped chanting in their haunting tones and continued at a frenzied pace while drifting in a circle around the body.
One of the angels picked the heart up, holding it above their heads. The whispers turned to booming screams. Clara knew they were invoking the demon himself, pulling him into the world.
The body disintegrated, melting into a flow of blood and liquid flesh and fat. In its place now lay the body of the demon. For the first time, Clara saw a true servant of the darkness. She felt blessed. Covered in the liquid remains of the human, the demon lay perfectly still, then stretched his limbs and opened his eyes.
One of the black angels turned and ordered Clara from the room in a spitting, hissing voice. She was told that she was not allowed to watch the bathing of the master, and to wait for his instructions outside. She left the room on a high.
Not long afterwards, the demon approached her. He placed one hand on her shoulder and kissed her gently on her lips, before whispering in her ear.
“You have been a perfect helper and you will be rewarded.”
Clara’s knees felt weak. She had never sensed such power and wickedness–and never felt so vulnerable. His touch was gentle, his skin warm and comfort
ing, but she could sense his hatred of humans.
When he released her, she was steered outside and scooped into the arms of one of the companions. They took flight, flying high and fast, led by the demon. She watched, cradled in the arms of the angel. The demon’s wings sprung from his back, previously invisible, as they soared over the earth below. Clara could see the world passing below her and felt happier than she ever had. She was in the company of a demon, carried in the arms of his companion as they soared over the fools below.
Fields of corn, animals, farm houses and cars passed from view, until they flew even higher into the clouds. They rose higher and Clara could see the curvature of the earth as the sun rose in the east. She pulled herself closer into the angel and breathed in the sickly aroma of its body.
The wind was cold and strong, but she was warmed by his body heat. She could feel his chest rise and fall as he held her tightly to his muscular torso. His wings flapped quickly, and easily carried them through the air. He looked down at her; his eyes were a deep yellow. He had no expression on his face.
They descended a little, and Clara could see they were over a forest of pine trees, above a building that looked like a log cabin. A plume of soft white smoke rose from the chimney. An SUV was parked near the front door. There were a couple of outbuildings in the clearing around the cabin, but no sign of people.
The demon was high above, circling. The companions followed him, round and round. The demon seemed agitated; his wings flapping rapidly. Their beating created a thunderous roar around them. He turned to the companion carrying Clara and shouted something in the language of the darkness. He was furious.
The angel looked down at her. His face was still without expression, but a slight smile appeared as he released his grip. Clara hung on briefly, then fell towards the earth. She was confused. She wondered if this was a test, and the demon would swoop down and save her.
As she plummeted to the ground, she realized no one was going to save her. She was going to die. She didn’t know why, but knew there was a purpose; the darkness would reward her for all she had done.
She fell with her back toward the earth. The wind in her ears was deafening. The sensation of falling began to overwhelm her and she panicked. Her legs and arms moved uselessly in the air. High above she could see the demon and his angels, circling in the sky; black silhouettes against the wispy clouds of the morning sunrise. She felt herself fall, faster and faster, then felt the impact, followed with searing pain.
She couldn’t raise her head but turned it sideways. Blood flowed from her nose and mouth onto the ground. One of her eyes dangled uselessly on her cheek, popped from its socket. Most of her teeth were either smashed or lying in the dirt around her. Her back and legs were numb and she couldn’t feel her hands.
She looked up one last time. The demon and his companions still circled above her like vultures. As she lay there, she realized they were waiting for her to die.
Moments later she was standing upright on the ground. At her feet lay her lifeless body. She looked up again and saw them circling, demon and angels, slightly closer than before. This was different from her previous deaths. This time there was no black angel assisting her back to life
She was alone; no one was there to meet her. She was dead, had left her body, and stood wondering what was happening. Another look above and she saw they had not descended to her as she expected.
She heard a voice behind her and spun around. It was Elizabeth.
“They have abandoned you.”
Clara recognized her immediately.
“What are you doing here?” she spat. Her hatred for Elizabeth was plainly written across her face.
“This is the sanctuary,” she replied. “You are the sacrifice, so to speak.”
“What are you talking about, bitch?”
Elizabeth shook her head. “I see your intelligence hasn’t improved over the years. They can’t enter the sanctuary without the blood of an evil human being spilled on the ground, soaked into the hallowed earth. They have never been able to get in before. That demon up there arrived with enough power to fly over us. He dropped you to ensure your blood allows them entrance.”
“Then I am no sacrifice,” Clara replied. “I am a tool for the success of the darkness. I will be rewarded when the demon descends and slaughters you.”
“You are right about one thing,” Elizabeth replied. “The demon will come down and kill me; that is my destiny. You are wrong about the other. You are a sacrifice. Evil that dies within the sanctuary can never escape. You can’t get out. You will wander this forest forever, never able to walk over the boundary of hallowed land. You will be here for eternity alone. The darkness has abandoned you. It has used you for its own purpose, and has now discarded you, just like you discarded so many people over the years. This is your reward. See now your true form.”
Elizabeth waved her hand gently in the air. A light appeared in front of Clara, allowing her to see her own reflection. She screamed. What was mirrored was an ugly, obese hag with limp, straw-like hair, crooked teeth and patchy skin covered in dark moles.
“Your reward, Clara,” Elizabeth repeated. “Your true self. You will never leave here. You will forever be alone. You will forever be you.”
Clara swung at the light in front of her. Her hand passed through and she felt a searing pain as it danced over her putrid skin. She stared at Elizabeth. She charged at her, screaming.
Elizabeth raised her hand, sending Clara flying backwards across the ground. The force was so strong it felt like the oceans of the world pushing against her. She couldn’t fight it, so stopped struggling and lay still. She saw the demon swooping down and smiled. He was coming for her. Elizabeth was wrong.
She watched as he landed and stood in front of Elizabeth. He was nearly twice her size. The blackness of his skin contrasted the snow white of hers. The demon breathed heavily, visible in the cool morning air. His companions landed and stood behind him. They stared at Elizabeth, their hatred clear, but so was their fear. They kept their distance behind their master.
“Elizabeth, where is he?” he said, his voice hoarse and dry.
She smiled. “Long gone, Cre.”
His face contorted with anger. “Don’t call me by my name! Why do you resist?” he screamed. “The victory is ours this time, you know that!”
“It will never be yours!” she shouted back, raising her hand when she saw one of the companions move to flank her. The angel screamed in agony as light penetrated its chest. It exploded in a cloud of black dust.
The demon laughed.
“Your magic tricks are getting old, just like you, Elizabeth.”
She pushed her hand at him. The light hit his chest and bounced off, ineffective.
He inhaled deeply. His chest almost doubled in size and his eyes bulged. He raised his arms in the air and screamed; his voice roaring in her direction. From his throat emerged thousands of black souls, swirling and dancing in the air. They looked like smoke in the wind.
They encircled Elizabeth, spinning around and around. The pressure they created against her body was too much for her. She fell to her knees, then to her side.
The evil vibrations created by the swirling demons forced its way into every pore of her skin. It flowed though her veins, beat in and out of her heart and infected every organ in her body. She could feel herself dying, her life force and light slowly, painfully slipping away, dissolved by the darkness.
Clara watched as the demons circled, creating a black cloud so dark and deep Elizabeth disappeared in it. She could just see her outline inside the swirling mass of bodies. Elizabeth’s agony was clear as she vainly attempted to strike out at the mass.
Clara saw the light from Elizabeth’s hand as she struck at the demons. One or two vanished, but the mass of bodies was so thick it made no difference. Gradually,
the demons slowed and then stopped. They rose into the air, exposing Elizabeth’s remains. Her body was mutilated beyond recognition, bones charred from the searing heat of the darkness, smoking in the coolness of the morning.
“This is legion,” Clara said out loud, looking at the demon. Even she was surprised. She knew the day of Legion would happen, but had no idea she would witness the beginning, or that this demon was the vehicle. The day of Legion had been in her mind since the beginning.
She remembered the teachings she had received in the early years. One day a legion of beings, so dark they could not spend long in the light, would emerge from the shadows and wipe out the righteous.
They had been in the shadows since the beginning of time, watching and waiting for the right moment. They influenced the demons themselves and were the source of all pain and misery.
They were as old as time, powerful beyond imagination. She knew the day of Legion would be the beginning of the reign of darkness, and that anyone who helped would be rewarded greatly.
The Legion of black souls returned to the demon through his mouth. Their bodies flowed in dozens at a time, until they all disappeared. Clara ran to the demon and threw herself at his feet.
“What of me?” she asked.
He looked at her, his eyes devoid of any compassion. He appeared annoyed. His companions flapped their wings and hovered above him, impatiently waiting for his instructions.
“You will remain here for eternity, Clara. We needed your blood to soak into the hallowed ground, but now you are trapped. Your blood has taken long to become dark enough for this task.”
“You made me more evil only to use me like this?” she screamed, touching his feet. She was convinced this was still all a test of her loyalty.
He motioned lazily with his hand, sending her flying backwards. She fell into Elizabeth’s remains.
“You have been rewarded many times over the years!” he shouted. “You have lived hundreds of years and done whatever you wanted. We gave you beauty, strength, immortality and power over others, but you are ultimately nothing to our plans. All we needed was to get your blood black, which has taken hundreds of years, during which we provided you everything you needed. You enjoyed yourself immensely over the years. Now, you are trapped here. Hundreds of years ago, three white angels blessed the land with pure light energy, creating a border no darkness would ever be able to enter—or, in your case, leave.”
