by Tim Marquitz
I guess he wasn’t impressed, as he didn’t return. Fifty years ago, I’d have been let in so fast I’d have incurred whiplash. Today, my name and heritage didn’t carry enough wind to raise an ass hair. How quickly the past is forgotten.
I sat there for a minute longer until I decided I wasn’t gonna be let in. I’d have to make other plans. Just as I turned to leave, I heard a loud clack and the gate began to slowly rise. I looked back to see the great double doors behind the gate pulling open. Once both had cleared the way, I saw the servant waving to me from inside. I hurried through before he could change Page 129
his shriveled mind.
Short, hunchbacked, and looking far too old and feeble to be of much use, the servant gestured for me to follow him. His sharp nose and disfigured arms made him look like an under cooked chicken. I doubted even Colonel Sanders would find him attractive. He hobbled along toward the main keep as I caught up.
“So, you’re the fool who refused Satan’s offer to be the Anti-Christ?”
That’s just what I needed, the help questioning my life choices. “Yeah well, the hours sucked and there weren’t any health benefits. What can I say? I could do better.”
He looked at me like I’d just praised the Pope.
“You utter such blasphemy.” A smile crept to his twisted, cracked lips. “It would explain why Lucifer held you in such high regard.”
I think I blushed.
We traveled the rest of the way in silence. At a pair of ornate double doors made of bone, we came to a stop. The servant tapped on the door and a basso welcome roared out. The doors swung open and I was ushered in.
The room beyond looked suspiciously like a church. A great red carpet led down the center of the room, rows of red velvet chairs lined either side. At the far end was a raised dais, a monstrous throne on top. The subtle scent of singed meat hung in the air, wafting Page 130
up from the fleshy candles, which circled the room. My stomach rumbled.
Seated upon the throne was an old friend of my uncle, one of my mentors in the days when I lived in Hell. Duke Forcalor. He lifted his chin a bit and narrowed his eyes as I approached. He looked as regal as I’d remembered.
Clothed in the finest silks, he seemed the paragon of comfort. His long white hair was tied back tight, lending him a youthful appearance. His cleanshaven, unlined face added to the illusion. He waved me forward, his eyes sparkling. He seemed glad to see me.
“Come in, come in, young Trigg.” He remembered how much I hated my full name. It warmed my heart.
“It’s been ages since I’ve seen you. How are you?” He gestured to a nearby chair.
I gave a quick bow of respect, then dropped into the seat. “As well as I can be.” I tried not to sound too pessimistic. “How are you, my friend?”
“I’m wonderful, just wonderful.” He looked me over, an eyebrow creeping up. “I sense a burgeoning strength within you.” He paused a second, examining me further. A bright smile lighted across his face.
“You’ve blooded your hands.”
Though I knew it was a compliment, I felt a hint of shame well up. “I hadn’t really intended to. This war…” I left my sentence hanging.
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He nodded. “It comes to us all, in its own time. Do not regret what you cannot control. Our existence is a violent one. We can do little about that. Relish what time you have and do not let your enemies dictate your emotions.”
Forcalor had always been a soldier, but he longed for peace. He had acknowledged his role in life, though he would never accept it. Unlike the majority of demons, the duke took no pleasure in death, or in destruction. He held no animosity for the angels still on high. In fact, he envied them. He did only what he had to do to survive, nothing more. ‘Live and let live, lest the wolves come knocking at your door,’ he’d always said. And he’d meant it. That made my mission even harder.
“I’m sorry to be so direct, but I need your help.”
He leaned back in his throne. It was clear by the look on his face he’d already known that. Why else would I come to Hell now that my uncle was gone? He gestured for me to go on.
“Asmoday has enlisted the help of Gabriel in his efforts to bring about Armageddon.”
Forcalor squinted. He hadn’t known that, or at least he put on a good act. Like with most demons, it was hard to tell the difference between their lies and the truth.
“Between them, they’re drawing power from the Demonarch, using an angel to store it until Asmoday Page 132
can claim it as his own. He intends to kill Baalth.” I paused to let him take everything in.
“With Baalth’s power alone, Asmoday would be a formidable opponent. Add in what they’ve stolen from the Demonarch and he would be nigh unstoppable.”
The duke rubbed his hands together. I could tell he was thinking about the possible consequences of such a brazen move. “It makes no sense Gabriel would allow Asmoday to claim such power. It does nothing to benefit him, quite the opposite, in fact.”
I didn’t understand it either. “They’ve also badly weakened the dimensional wall through their rituals. It may soon break open, but I’m sure you’ve noticed.”
“I’d sensed the damage, though its cause was a mystery to me.” He shrugged. “However, I trust in the wall to hold. It is far more resilient than most think. They’ll have to do much more to it before they run the risk of its collapse.”
That, at least, was a dab of good news floating in a sea of shit. “Even so, Asmoday is on the short track to bringing about Armageddon, wall or no wall. We’re hanging on the edge here.”
The duke leaned forward and met my eyes. His mischievous smile sparkled. “Aren’t we always? What is it you’re asking of me?”
Here came the hard part. “I know you’d rather remain uninvolved, as has been your wont since Lucifer vanished, but the time for neutrality has passed. Page 133
Asmoday is on the cusp of ending the world and those of us who know, don’t have the means to stop him. We’re all looking at being dead or enslaved, and that includes you.”
Forcalor sat back, but said nothing. I couldn’t read his expression. It was frustrating. I continued. “I know this is a lot to drop in your lap, but I’ve nowhere else to turn. You’re the only person I know who has the power to challenge Gabriel, giving us a shot at taking Asmoday down.”
“I have much to lose in a confrontation of that magnitude.”
“You have much more to lose if you do nothing.”
I couldn’t tell if I was getting anywhere. It was like trying to talk a woman into giving it up. The answer was always no until you weighted the offer sufficiently.
“Defeat Gabriel and there’s a chance you can return to Heaven.” The bait had been cast. I was looking to reel in a whopper.
The duke’s eyes glimmered. “How so?”
I felt a nibble. “Without God around, Gabriel is the final word in Heaven. Show the Angelic Choir his true intentions and take him out before he can drag them down, and you’ll be hailed as a hero. You’d be welcomed back in a heartbeat.” I stopped talking. I didn’t want to overplay my hand.
Forcalor grinned wide and clapped his hands.
“You’ve learned well.”
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“I had an excellent teacher.” I lathered it on thick.
The duke laughed at me. “Had your teacher been so good, he would have taught you when to stop.”
I shrugged apologetically. We both knew I was a
‘C’ student at best.
“I will assist you, but as always there is a price to pay for my help.”
Oh great, here we go again. I knew I didn’t look excited at the prospect of selling another piece of my ass. “Of course there is. Put it on my tab.”
He called his servant to him. Old and chatty arrived with contract in hand. The little guy handed it to me and I took it without too much complaint. I looked it over real quick. It didn’t matter how close Forcalor and I were, yo
u never, never, signed a contract with a demon without reading the fine print. I ran down the line; favor to be repaid later; first born son; blah, blah, blah; standard. I bit my hand and made my mark. It’s a good thing self-inflicted wounds healed quickly, otherwise I’d have some seriously mangled hands with all the wheeling and dealing I’d been forced to do lately.
My ass in yet another sling, I handed the contract to the duke.
He looked it over and smiled. “We have a deal.”
The servant handed him a small, black box. From within it he pulled a round gemstone, glistening blue Page 135
in the dim light. He passed it over to me. “Understand first I can only aid you once, so choose your moment wisely.”
Hey, look at that, a catch.
He saw my disappointment. “Like any good teacher, we cannot help but continue the lesson.”
“With all the hot teachers banging their kids these days, why’d I have to get stuck with you?”
“Consider yourself lucky. Were your teachers these women you so profess your lust for, you would most certainly be fucked. Given the current circumstances, what could they do for you?”
I gave him the golf clap. “Good one.” Snappy comebacks were not the duke’s strong suit. He chuckled before continuing. “I cannot simply confront Gabriel without provocation. I must be drawn into the fray. More importantly, I must be drawn in by him.”
I groaned as I thought about the logistics. “It’s not like he’s gonna rush down here and pick a fight. By the time he does return to Hell, the damage will have been done.”
“It’s really not complicated, Trigg. My favor is that you serve under me until this conflict is resolved.”
I didn’t quite get it. I’d failed my Infernal Politics class. “Not sure I see what you’re getting at.”
“As my servant, an attack upon you by Gabriel is an attack on me.”
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“Uh, so I’ve got to get him to come after me?”
That wasn’t exactly what I’d planned when I thought this whole scheme up. I was looking for a way to avoid having to mix it up with Gabriel. Now, I was giftwrapping my ass for him. My simple plan was becoming way too complicated.
“In essence, yes, but you must not initiate the confrontation. I cannot defend you if he is in the right in your conflict. You must find a way to provoke him without appearing to do so.”
“Excellent.” For a guy who rarely gets laid, I sure did get screwed a lot. I was beginning to regret having come here.
“Speak my name once the conditions of our agreement are met and I will come to your aid. Keep the gem close, for it is the portal through which I will arrive.”
Strapped for time and having gotten all I was gonna in the way of help, I stood. “Thank you. For everything.” I bowed to Forcalor, trying my best to hide my disappointment. I really was grateful, I had just come there hoping for more direct help, fool that I am. Duke Forcalor stood and extended his hand. I took it. “Should our fates align, we will see each other soon. If not, it was an absolute pleasure to have known the only man to have ever refused the office of AntiChrist.” He smiled wide. Devils loved rebellion, just as long as it’s not them you’re rebelling against. Page 137
I took my leave and left the castle, Forcalor’s servant showing me out. In a daze, I went back to the arrival point to trigger my departure. On the walk there I wondered if, what with all the holes I’d been digging myself into lately, I needed a longer shovel. Page 138
Confession
Back on Earth, I didn’t have a whole lot of faith in what I’d done. While the duke would honor his word and come to my aid, the conditions he set were going to seriously limit my options in ways I hadn’t planned for. I’d hoped to pull a fast one, using our relationship to get a freebie, but I should have known better. Forcalor didn’t get to be the Demon Trainer because of politics. He got it because he was a good demon. In the end, he’d proven once again why he was the teacher and I was still the student. He’d been given the opportunity to return to Heaven while I got shipped back to the front lines and offered yet another chance at coming home in a body bag.
Life was so unfair.
My brain in a haze, I left the house and stopped off for a cup of coffee. I needed a fix. I hustled down to the Coffee Hut and ordered up a grande latte. After mortgaging my house to pay for it, I dropped down onto a way too colorful couch whose design challenged my manhood, to enjoy it. Just as I took my first sip, I felt a booming presence in my head.
“Where the hell are you?”
It was Abraham and he sounded pissed, the telepath projecting his emotions through the link. “I’m Page 139
at the Coffee Hut. What’s up?”
“Stay there, I’m on my way. We need to talk.”
I felt the connection sever. A chill ran down my spine when it did. It’d been a long time since I’d heard Abraham angry. It didn’t bode well for me. I took another sip and saw him outside the store windows, coming inside. He wasn’t wasting any time. The lines in his face were etched in stone, his eyes narrow and dark behind his glasses. I could see the pulse at his temple dancing like a two dollar stripper. His upper lip curled when he saw me, waving for me to come outside. The door hadn’t even closed when he stomped back through it, the bells jingling wildly.
I set my cup on the table and followed him out, feeling like a kid who had just been called to the principal’s office. Abraham went around the corner into a narrow alley without looking back. Reluctant, I went after him. Halfway down it, he stopped and turned to face me as I caught up.
“What were you thinking?” His voice trembled. His glasses were misty. I almost expected steam to come out his ears.
Considering all the things I’d done that would warrant that question, I wasn’t going to walk into an admission of guilt until I knew what he was referring to.
“What do you mean?” I’m all about not incriminating myself. I had the right to play dumb, and by Starbucks, I was gonna exercise it.
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He shook his head. “Forcalor.”
“Oh, that.” Rachelle must have been watching the gates still for him to know about my trip so soon afterward.
“Yes, that,” he growled. I thought his head was going to explode. His cheeks were a deep shade of red.
“Why on earth would you drag another demon into this confrontation? Do we not have enough problems with the ones already here?” I started to answer, but he waggled a finger to cut me off. “I swear, Frank, I sometimes wonder just how dedicated you are to avoiding Armageddon.”
That stung. “Hey! Don’t go there. I’ve gotten my ass kicked for the cause more often than I can count.”
Insert ‘how high I can count’ jokes here. “I’ve spent the last thirty years putting my head in the cross hairs, shedding blood for you guys. I’ve even killed for you, so don’t you dare question my dedication.”
Abraham stared granite-faced at me for a moment, then sighed. The tension in his expression eased a little. “You’re right. I’m sorry.” He put his hand on my shoulder. I felt it shaking. “I just don’t understand what you’re doing. Forcalor has no loyalty to us. By involving him, you’ve opened the door to God only knows what.”
“That’s just it, Abe. He’s the wild card we need. Asmoday won’t be expecting us to go to Hell for help and we need someone who can take on Gabriel. Page 141
The duke is our guy.”
It was clear he wasn’t convinced. “Can we trust him?”
I laughed. “As much as we can any other demon. For that matter, as much as we can Baalth.”
I hated throwing that in his face, but I wasn’t gonna take shit for something he’d set the precedent on. “At least Forcalor and I have a contract, so he’ll live up to his end of our deal. After that, things are up in the air, but that’s not any different from how things are now.”
I shrugged. “Besides, isn’t my connection to Hell one of the reasons you brought me into DRAC in the first pla
ce?” I figured I’d try some of stuff they call reason. I heard it works sometimes.
“Yes, that is true.” He did his best Spock impersonation. “However, some advanced warning would have been nice. We might have found another way to go about dealing with Gabriel without engaging another of the old guard demons.”
“Maybe, but you and I both know we probably wouldn’t have before it was too late. For all DRAC’s talents, Gabriel is beyond us. That’s a fact.” I met Abraham’s steely gaze. He knew I was right. “Forcalor is our best bet at neutralizing Gabriel while minimizing the cost to us, after the fact. Like it or not, we’re out of our depth here. We need the duke.”
Abraham shuffled in place. I could tell he was thinking about what few options were left to us. Page 142
He didn’t look happy with any of them. “We will play the cards we have been dealt.” He gently pushed me forward. Abe was a man who knew how to bow out gracefully. “Since I interrupted yours, let me buy you another cup of coffee. I could use a bit of the mud myself. It’s likely to be a long day.”
He was still mad at me, but I could tell he at least understood why I did what I did. Abraham was a good man, but he felt things too deeply, took things too personally. He carried the weight of the world on his aching back and every day it wore him down further. He’d envisioned the end of the world and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t see the way to save it. It had to drive him crazy. Every time he closed his eyes he saw existence crumble, like a sand castle being swept away by the rising tide. But Abraham was a warrior. He would stand his ground until his vision either showed him the way to salvation or his heart stilled within his chest. Sadly, I believed it would be the latter that came to pass first. I hoped he’d find his peace before that day came.
“Sure.” I strode a short step behind him as we headed out of the alley. I could see how tired he was. When we reached the street, I heard a screech of tires as a black van shuddered to a stop in front of us. I went to pull Abraham out of the way as the side door slid open and we were staring down the barrel of several guns.
