Carl Prescott and the Demon Queen

by Karl Morgan

  “Amen!” the other owls exclaimed and then squawked and flapped their wings.

  Devin nodded to the other bird. “Thank you, Brother Balthazar.” He turned to Carl. “That is how we know about your plan. Please respond.”

  “Frankly, I’ve been so preoccupied by the demon that I haven’t had time. She’s so intent on stealing Barbie’s body that I don’t have time for anything else.”

  All the owls shook their heads. “That’s not nearly good enough, Carl,” Devin replied. “The next time she comes for the girl, the school would again be unprotected. The collapse of several buildings will be your fault.”

  The white owl with the spots said, “Devin is correct, Carl. By the way, my name is Ezekiel. Do you recall why Aida Whitehall was so adept at becoming an Invisible Hand?”

  Aida replied, “The book said it was because my soul was ripped out and discarded.”

  Ezekiel nodded and blinked his eyes. “That is correct, and it is an honor to know you. As I recall, your separation was only a few days. Perhaps you’re all forgetting someone who had a similar fate but suffered much longer.”

  Grace gasped. “You mean Beatriz Cardenas.”

  All the owls nodded and blinked. Devin continued, “That poor woman has had a difficult life, and it remains so. Her chief tormentor has faced little repercussions for his actions. If he can get in good graces with one or more of the demons on this planet, we fully believe she will be a victim again.” He turned his head to look at the other birds. “Was there anything else we needed to discuss with these children?” The others shook their heads. “Good luck. The future of mankind is again in your hands.” The owls jumped into the air, made two circles around their location, and flew away into the distance.

  “Let’s finish eating and go see her,” Carl said and then took a bite out of his sandwich.

  Chapter 5

  After the students returned to the school, Carl went to his room to shower and change his clothes. When he stepped out of the bathroom, Aida, who had been seated at his desk, stood. “Let’s go see Bea,” Carl said. They left his room and walked down the hall to the last room on the left before the hallway turned toward the hidden storage rom. Carl stood staring at the door.

  “You big chicken,” Aida said and knocked on the door. They waited a few moments, but there was no response. She knocked again and waited another short period. “I guess she’s not here. Let’s go.”

  “She’s there, and she’s not alone.”

  Aida grabbed his arm to pull him away. “Let’s give her some privacy.”

  Carl brushed off her hand and then pushed both arms straight out in front of him. The door exploded off its hinges, flew across the room, and smashed through the windows, sending the door and glass raining down outside of the Gratia Dei Hall.

  Eight was standing over Bea, who appeared to be frozen with a small orb of light floating just above her chest. Eight turned to Carl, his eyes glowing red and the Devil’s Heart hanging around his neck. He pointed at Carl and a bolt of lightning shot out, struck him in the chest, and knocked him back against the opposite wall of the hallway.

  Lasers flashed from Aida’s eyes and knocked Eight back against the wall.

  Eight growled, and the sound reverberated through the room. He was about to charge when Carl flew into him at top speed, propelling both out through the broken wall and down to the ground outside. When they landed, the both rolled to a stop and stared back at each other.

  Aida rushed over to Bea and took the floating orb in her hand. She gently pressed it into the woman’s chest. Bea sat up and gasped for air. “It will be okay,” Aida said and then jumped out the window as well.

  Eight was back on his feet first and shooting lightning bolts at Carl, who was trying to hurry away on his hands and knees. Aida pushed outward at Eight, launching him across the grass and into the trunk of a large tree. Aida closed her fist and the branches of the tree moved to hold Eight in place. Eight burst into flames, engulfing the tree in fire. The tree released him, and Eight flew toward Aida, ready to strike.

  Bea appeared next to Aida and smiled. They both extended their right arms and clenched their fists. Eight was frozen in the air, screaming and trying hopelessly to get free.

  Carl now stood just behind the two women. “Do you think you can hold him for a moment?” Both nodded.

  Carl flew into the air and over the residence hall. Seconds later, he rocketed past them and toward Eight. Desperation filled Eight’s face, but he could not stop the attack. Carl shot into Eight’s chest and out through his back. Aida and Bea stopped their attack, and Eight crumpled to the ground.

  Carl was rolling across the ground with some kind of creature that had taken over the other man’s body. When the two jumped to their feet, the creature was about three feet tall with smooth, grayish white, almost translucent skin. Its arms had long claws and touched the ground. Its bald head was oversized for the body, and its face was totally nonhuman. It appeared to be some kind of ghoul.

  “What do you want?” Carl asked.

  “Only that which is my right to obtain?”

  “What exactly are you talking about?”

  The ghoul bowed slightly. “You have already started to right the wrongs, and for that I am grateful enough to ignore your current debt to me. When you finish the job, I will grant you the gift of my absence from your life and those of your loved ones.”

  “I still don’t understand, and I don’t even know your name.”

  “You will understand when the time is correct. You may call me Mort, although I am known by many names.” The ground around the ghoul turned into black tar and the creature began to sink into it. The circle of black tar expanded until it passed Carl, and he began to sink along with several nearby trees. Carl floated up into the air and motioned with his hands. The trees returned to their normal positions, and the tar reverted to dirt and grass.

  Carl sat under a tree with Bea and Aida, not far from where the ghoul had disappeared into the ground. Eight’s body still lay where he had fallen. “Did you see that thing that was inside of Thorndike Eight?”

  “What about Eight? Is he dead?” Bea asked.

  Carl shook his head. “No, he’s wearing the Devil’s Heart, and his soul is inside the stone.”

  “Shouldn’t we restore him?”

  “Not just yet, Aida. Right now, we don’t know how he got involved with that thing,” Carl replied. “Did you see it?”

  Bea looked down. “I’ve seen it before.”

  “Yea, me too,” Aida agreed.

  “What? Where?”

  Bea glanced about to see who might be around. “When Greenleaf stole my soul, I’m sure I saw him, and he looked very angry.”

  Aida sighed. “I’ve seen him twice, both when Greenleaf removed my soul and after the Beast did as well. He was angry the first time, but the second time he seemed very happy to see me. When I floated away, he followed. After Sylvester dropped my soul toward you, I thought I could hear it screaming no.”

  Carl’s sat bolt upright and his eyes opened wide. “He’s the Grim Reaper. He said I could call him Mort.”

  “That means death in French,” Bea replied.

  “Everything he said makes sense now.”

  “Tell us, Carl,” Aida suggested.

  He stood. “I think we need to restore Eight first. Perhaps he can tell us how that thing found him.”

  Dean Whitehall and Headmaster Dorchester were rushing toward them. Bea and Aida stood with Carl and waited for their arrival. Dorchester asked, “What happened here? Bea, what happened to your room?”

  An hour later, Whitehall and Dorchester sat across the table from Aida and Bea. There was a knock on the headmaster’s office door. It opened, and Carl Prescott and Bert Thorndike VIII stepped into the room. Dorchester motioned them to sit down. “How are you feeling, Bert?”

  “I’m grateful to be alive, Headmaster. Thank you, Carl.”

  “You’re welcome, Eight,” Carl replied. “W
hat can you tell us about Mort?” Eight appeared confused. “The creature that took over your body.”

  Eight shivered, convulsed involuntarily, and started to cry. “Oh God, it was so horrible. It said I had cheated him and that my soul would pay for the theft. I didn’t know what it meant. An instant later, I couldn’t feel anything and felt so lost and alone. Did that thing take over my body?”

  Carl nodded. “Yes, he did.” Eight covered his eyes and cried. “When we dealt with the Beast, we misinterpreted the writing on the setting of the Devil’s Heart. We thought that the Soul-Ripper and the monster Viszreaagh were one and the same. The ghoul who removed your soul was the Soul-Ripper. He said he is known by many names. One of those names is the Grim Reaper.”

  Bea gasped. “That’s why he attacked me. Greenleaf and Eight stole my soul, but the Reaper is the one who is supposed to take the soul and deliver it to Heaven or Hell.”

  “Yes, that is right,” Carl replied. “After I tore him out of Eight’s body, he said he forgave my debts to him for righting some of the wrongs of others.”

  “What the heck are you babbling about, Prescott?” Whitehall asked.

  “When I killed those demi-demons in the atrium, their souls were returned to the Reaper. They should have been his when the queen separated them from their bodies in the castle. That was the fix he referred to.”

  “And your debts?” Dorchester asked.

  “I believe those are the Sleeping Ones I restored, possibly my mother, and those agents I saved in the Philippines. It might even include the insects I restored after Eight incinerated them.”

  Aida raised her hand. “Carl, you said there were two other beings trying to take over the world besides Sylvia. Is Mort one of them?”

  Carl sighed. “I sure hope so; otherwise, we have four instead of three to deal with.”

  “Carl, do you think I’m safe now?” Bea asked.

  “I think so. He may not have known who I was until I fought him.”

  Bea looked down and dabbed her eyes. “Or he might be back.”

  Carl smiled at Bea. “Don’t worry. That’s why we came to see you. We want you to be an Invisible Hand too.” He turned his attention to Eight. “Was Mort one of the other two demons who was trying to contact you?”

  Eight looked up from his misery. He turned to Carl and shrugged his shoulders. “I can’t be certain, but I don’t think so. The others were looking for help. That thing just wanted to kill me.”

  Carl stood. “Headmaster, may I be excused? I was reminded earlier than I am late with an important task.”

  “What task is that, Prescott?” Dorchester responded.

  “I need to make a deal with the devil.”

  Dorchester smirked. “What kind of nonsense is that now?”

  Carl looked at Aida, who smiled at him. “Headmaster, I want to bargain with Satan to protect the school. The demon Sylvia wants her castle returned to its original location.” He pursed his lips and thought for a moment. “We probably won’t be able to stop that. When it happens, several of the school buildings will collapse into the opening. I want to make a deal to replace the castle with something else, so that the school remains unharmed.”

  “Interesting. What exactly do you have to bargain with in exchange?”

  “I don’t know,” Carl replied. “At least, I want to find out what he thinks it’s worth.”

  Dorchester stood. “As Headmaster, I think I should go with you. Is it safe?”

  “I believe so, but it is Hell, so who can say for certain. For myself, it doesn’t matter. The problem is more important than my life.”

  Later, Carl Prescott, Headmaster Dorchester, and Dean Whitehall stood at the entrance to the throne room in the underground castle. Something had changed. Light poured in through the stained-glass windows. “We’re still underground, aren’t we?”

  “Yes, Headmaster. Frankly, I don’t understand it either,” Carl replied. He headed into the room with the others behind him. As they approached the dais and the two thrones, the demon Sylvia materialized out of thin air on her throne. Carl smiled. “Now, I understand. Why are you here, Sylvia?”

  The demon laughed. “It’s pretty obvious why you’re here, Carl. I wouldn’t miss this discussion for the world.” She stood and motioned for them to follow her. “Come along, don’t be shy. My father is waiting for you.” She headed to the exit that led to the stairway that descended into Hell.

  “Prescott, wait!” Whitehall exclaimed. “This is a trap. I can sense it.”

  Carl turned to face her. “You two can go back if you want. This is my only chance to save the school, so I’m going.” He followed the demon. After a few moments of thought, Dorchester and Whitehall followed him into the hallway.

  Without turning, Sylvia said, “Carl, you said you understand why there’s sunlight outside the throne room. Tell me what you think.”

  “It seems obvious that you are about to relocate the castle, so in a sense, it’s already on the surface in Bulgaria. I have a question for you too. What can you tell me about Mort?”

  Sylvia spun around and pointed an angry finger at Prescott. “That piece of crap isn’t worth the breath. Do not mention him again.” She opened the door and began walking down the spiral staircase.

  Carl stood at the top of the stairs with the two teachers behind him. “You two don’t have to go if you don’t want to. I’ll be okay.”

  Dorchester put his hand on Prescott’s shoulder. “As long as I am headmaster, the institution is my responsibility. Please lead the way.”

  Whitehall remained at the doorway as the others headed down. “I’ll wait here, Alex, to make sure the door stays open.”

  Carl was surprised when he arrived at the bottom of the staircase. Instead of the cavern, he was standing at the open doorway to an opulent office. Luce was sitting behind a large blood-red desk, and several demons were seated on two couches. Sylvia stood behind her father. A tall figure wearing a floor-length, black robe stood at the window looking at a city skyline. Carl shrugged his shoulders and walked into the room with Dorchester behind him.

  Luce stood up and extended his hand. “Good to see you again, Carl Sandberg Prescott.” After Carl shook his hand, Luce shook hands with the headmaster. “Alexander Clement Nottingham Dorchester, it’s a pleasure to meet your acquaintance. Please, just call me Luce.”

  Dorchester shook his hand. “Luce, this is an interesting place. I was led to believe this was Hell. If I’m not mistaken, that’s the skyline of London through the windows.”

  The devil laughed. “Well, I suppose Hell is what one expects it to be, right? I thought this setting would be more appropriate for our gathering. This is a business meeting after all. Gentlemen, please be seated.”

  Sylvia growled and pointed toward the robed figure by the window. “What is he doing here, Father?”

  The robed figure turned around. It appeared to be a skeleton. “Your debt is why I’m here.”

  Luce rolled his eyes. “I’m not certain that’s relevant to this discussion, old friend. All debts will be resolved in due course.” He turned to Sylvia. “What do you say, sweetheart?”

  Sylvia stamped her foot. “You’re always taking everyone else’s side. You never even try to see things from my viewpoint.”

  Luce exhaled heavily and turned to the others. “Let’s get this over with. Please state your request, Carl.”

  “I would like to have the castle replaced by bedrock so that the school is protected when the castle relocates to Bulgaria.”

  Luce nodded and turned to his daughter. “Dearest, what do you want in return?”

  She pointed at Carl. “I want the school destroyed and his soul for killing fifteen of my followers.”

  Death stepped toward the desk. “That is not acceptable.” He pointed his bony finger at Sylvia. “Carl has already returned those souls to me, as you should have done centuries ago. He partially resolved your debt and harming him will not lessen your crimes.”

  S
ylvia stuck out her tongue and pointed both middle fingers toward Death.

  The demons on the couches were whispering among themselves. They pointed at their sister and giggled. Luce waved his hand, and they vanished. He then looked at the headmaster and said, “Kids, what’s a parent going to do, right?” He turned his attention to Death. “Mort, why are you involved in this meeting? All souls eventually come to you. What’s a few years more of waiting?”

  Death replied, “We have a contract. When Emmanuel started this universe, He, you, and I agreed that all souls must come to me first, so that I can help them with the transition from life. It would then be up to Him and you to decide what comes next. Please do not tell me that you’ve forgotten or decided to break our deal?”

  Luce raised his hands in contrition. “No, I don’t want to break the contract. But you can see what I’m up against,” he replied while pointing at Sylvia.

  “Your children are your problem, Lucifer,” Death noted. “I have already made a pact with Carl Prescott, which I will never break.”

  Luce raised his eyebrows and stared at Death. He then looked at Carl. “What pact?”

  “Mort said that if I returned the other souls to him, he would never visit me or my loved ones.”

  Luce stood up. “Whoa there. Mort, are you saying you will make them immortal? Can you even do that? I thought only the big guy had that kind of power.”

  Death shook his head. “I never said that, Lucifer.” He put his skeletal hand on Carl’s shoulder. “I vowed to protect him and his loved ones from accidental, violent, or disease-related death. I imagine all will live long lives, but eventually they will pass. At that point, they will ascend to Him without the need to be brokered by me.”

  Luce grunted and sat back down. “That seemed excessively generous, old friend.”