by Dan Farris
“Let me go wake your friends, I’m sure you want to get back to the king,” said Elizabeth.
Elizabeth went to retrieve Achcauthilli, Marianna, and Benjamin, leaving Nelchael alone with Rebecca. “Have you met Marianna before?” Asked Rebecca.
“Yes, I remember her now. You don’t know about her? I won’t ruin the surprise. I’ll let her tell you.”
Elizabeth returned quickly with the others.
“Are you all okay?” Rebecca asked.
“Ask me that after we’re out of here,” said Achcauthilli.
“May we leave now?” Asked Rebecca.
“Give the king my regards. Tell him that his most trusted soldier wishes him well and awaits his command.”
They all headed outside. Nelchael and Elizabeth waved goodbye as Rebecca, Achcauthilli, Marinna, and Benjamin walked away from the mansion. Rebecca looked back and a demon was descending from the sky. He greeted Nelchael and Elizabeth, and the three of them entered the mansion.
“So, did you get what you came for?” Asked Achcauthilli.
“I did. Nelchael is still loyal to Pursan.”
“I hope you’re sure about that. I’d hate to end up back here. We should hurry and get out of here before they change their minds.”
“Marianna, have you met Nelchael before?” Asked Rebecca.
“No, never.”
Rebecca stopped walking. “Marianna, don’t lie to me. Have you met him before?”
“Sometimes, some of the demons and their companions have a gathering with other demons and their companions. It’s a grand affair.”
“You were a servant at one of these affairs?”
“No… I was a companion.”
“You were a companion to a demon? And now you serve Agrippa?” Asked Achcauthilli.
“He was sweet and kind. He took me as soon as I arrived in Hell and made me his companion. He said I was the most beautiful thing in all creation.”
“Where is he now? What happened to him?” Asked Rebecca.
“Centuries ago, the kings of Hell went to war. He was captured in battle and cast into The Bottomless Pit. If Pursan ever loses his power… I hope you never have to suffer my fate.” Marianna walked ahead, and the others followed.
They journeyed through the mountain through which they came. The tunnel in it was still open. After that, they went across the lake of blood and through the trees of souls until they were completely out of Nelchael’s territory. They headed toward Agrippa’s city, and they started to see more and more demons in the sky. All the demons were headed in one direction.
“Where are they going?” Asked Marianna.
“It looks like they’re headed toward Agrippa’s! We should turn and go the opposite direction,” said Achcauthilli.
“No, let’s see what’s going on. Pursan is still waiting there,” said Rebecca.
“Why are all of them going there? Do you think Nelchael was lying?” Asked Marianna.
“Maybe, or it could be another one trying to take down Pursan. Maybe Dagon had some followers that didn’t get the message,” said Achcauthilli.
Rebecca continued walking in that direction. “Let’s go.”
When they got closer to Agrippa’s city, hundreds of demons were on the outskirts of the city. Some were standing and talking, while others were in the sky above them. More and more kept arriving until there were thousands, then hundreds of thousands.
“Yep, this sure looks like an invasion force to me. What do you want to do?” Asked Achcauthilli.
“Pursan needs to know that we’re here.”
“Wait just a minute. You want us to walk right through there? If they’re here to overthrow him, I don’t think that’s a good idea,” said Achcauthilli.
“You’re right, it’s a terrible idea. I don’t know why they’re here. That’s why you’re going to sneak into the city and tell Pursan that we’re here.”
“You have got to be kidding me.”
“Do I look like I’m joking? Can you do this?”
“I am the best.”
“And if you find Pursan, make sure to tell him that I’m certain that Nelchael is still loyal.” Achcauthilli left to find a way to enter the city without being discovered, leaving Rebecca, Marianna and Benjamin behind.
I can’t end up like Marianna. Never again. I’m not a whore. I’d rather have anything happen to me than that.
Chapter 39-Rebecca
Rebecca, Marianna, and Benjamin were nervously waiting at the edge of Agrippa’s city when Achcauthilli returned to them.
“Is he down there? Is he okay?”
“He’s fine, but he said we should leave.”
“We’re not leaving. Look at all those demons. He’s in danger.”
“It’s Samael. He’s calling for all the kings to raise their armies. They’re about to leave Hell and invade Heaven. King Pursan called for all his soldiers to meet here, before they all meet up at the lake of fire.”
“Why did he say leave, then?”
“He said it’s good to know that Nelchael is still loyal, but he’s received word from the other members of the council that some of his soldiers are questioning his leadership. He doesn’t want you to get caught in the crossfire if they attempt a coup.”
“What…? Where am I to go, then?”
“He said go wait by The Pit. When he returns, he’ll know to keep you safe. He said you’ll know what that means.” Rahab.
“Why didn’t he come and tell me all of this himself?”
“It’s too dangerous. Too many eyes. Doesn’t want word getting out that you’re his companion.”
“Where are we going?” Asked Benjamin.
Rebecca looked at the countless demons and turned her back. “We’re headed North. The place where defeated demons are taken: The Bottomless Pit. We’re not stopping until we get there.” Rebecca started running, and she looked back briefly, the others following her.
After traveling for many days, they finally arrived at The Bottomless Pit. It was a massive, wide hole, much larger than Agrippa’s territory.
“Don’t get close to the edge. If you fall in, there’s no coming back,” said Rebecca.
“So, we just wait here until Pursan comes for you? How long will that be?” Asked Achcauthilli.
“As long as it takes.” Rebecca snapped her fingers and created sleeping bags. “For whoever wants to take a rest.”
“I was hoping for something larger this time,” said Achcauthilli. “What if Pursan never comes? Have you thought about that? What if Samael destroys all the old kings before he attacks Heaven?”
“Why would he do that? Unless one of them were foolish enough to challenge him.”
“To show all the demons who’s really in charge. I don’t think you’ve thought this through.”
“You’re one to talk. Of course I have.”
“Then what are you going to do if Pursan is no longer there to protect you?”
“If something happens to the king, then I suppose we’ll have to run.”
“Run to where?” Asked Benjamin.
“Nowhere, everywhere. Hell is big, and it’s getting bigger as we speak. We’ll just have to keep running, forever.”
Achcauthilli laughed. “You can’t outrun demons.”
“Do you have a better plan? No, that’s what I thought.”
“Fine with me. Besides, I like running. Much better than eternal torment.”
“I don’t want to go back to that, I don’t want to go back to that,” cried Benjamin. Benjamin sat on the ground and rocked back and forth.
“Is that what happened to you before you became a servant?”
“I was a good Christian. I tried to live a good life, but when I died, I awoke here.” Benjamin started crying. “I was on fire. I screamed to God, to Christ, but he didn’t come. He didn’t come.”
“How long were you on fire?”
“It felt like an eternity. The pain, the pain… I don’t want to go back to that. The king must
not fall. He must not fall.”
“Shh, shh. He won’t. Pursan is too cunning. He always finds a way. No matter how bad it looks now, he has a plan.”
“Look,” said Achcauthilli. Rebecca looked at The Bottomless Pit, a soul jumped into it. More and more souls followed.
“Who are they?” Asked Rebecca.
Benjamin got up and walked toward The Pit. Marianna tried to stop him. “Benjamin, don’t do it! You’re all I have. Please, don’t!”
“I’m sorry, Marianna. Thank you for showing me kindness, for saving me from the torment, but I can’t go back to it. I can’t.”
“No, I won’t let you go. I won’t!”
“It’s his choice, and he’s made it. Let him go,” said Achcauthilli.
Marianna finally released Benjamin, and he continued walking toward The Pit. He smiled at Marianna one last time and jumped in.
“Benjamin, no!” Marianna turned to Rebecca. “Why did you bring us with you?”
“I told you, to provide guidance and counsel.”
“That’s a lie. You brought us with you because you felt pity for us. You wanted to save the whore. And Benjamin, a sweet boy. You thought you could save us? We’re in Hell! We’re all at the mercy of the demons, even you! You think you could just break up with Pursan?”
“I love him.”
“You have to love him! We’re all slaves. You can’t save anyone. You can’t even save yourself! Without Pursan, you’re nothing!”
“I’m... sorry.”
“I’m going back where I belong, to be a whore for Agrippa and anyone else he commands. That is my fate.” Marianna walked away from them.
“You want me to get her?” Asked Achcauthilli.
“No, she’s made her choice, like Benjamin. You can leave too if you want. Go wherever you’d like.”
“Are you kidding? And miss all the fun? I don’t think so.” Achcauthilli grinned slightly.
Rebecca and Achcauthilli continued waiting by The Bottomless Pit; they continued to see more and more souls show up to jump.
Chapter 40-Rebecca
Rebecca waited by the Bottomless Pit for Rahab to emerge for some time. Achcauthilli remained with her.
Rebecca was resting when Achcauthilli woke her. “You won’t believe this.” Rebecca looked toward The Pit, Rahab flew out of the hole along with ten other demons. They were all nearly twenty feet tall.
“It’s Rahab! Rahab, over here!” Rahab and the other demons flew and landed before Rebecca and Achcauthilli. They all had dark eyes, and their clothes were light and dirty.
“How? No one comes back from the Pit. It’s impossible,” said Achcauthilli.
“Rahab, do you know who I am?” Rebecca asked.
Rahab nodded.
“Is this all the help you could bring back?”
He nodded again.
“You knew they would come out of the Pit? This is what the king meant?” Asked Achcauthilli.
“It’s Pursan’s only chance of defeating Samael,” said Rebecca.
“Samael, he’s… I don’t think eleven demons will make any difference,” Achcauthilli replied.
“These aren’t ordinary demons.”
“Can they defeat the second strongest thing in existence? A commander with incalculable power?”
“We’ll find out. Rahab, we need to go to Pursan. He’s at Agrippa’s.” Rahab quickly picked up Rebecca and Achcauthilli and headed toward Agrippa’s.
“Next time, a warning would be nice,” said Achcauthilli.
When they arrived at Agrippa’s territory, there were demons as far as Rebecca could see. Millions of them. In the middle, away from Agrippa’s city, was a large tent. “There, Rahab, land there.” The cluster of demons standing beneath them dispersed as Rahab and the other demons from the Pit landed.
“It’s impossible! It’s Rahab? And Iomuel! Orus, Penamue, Tabet, Chobaliel, Busasejal, Kasdaye, Penemue, Mulciber, Omiel! They returned from the Pit!” The other demons stood in shock.
Rebecca walked into the tent, Pursan was sitting at a large table. To his left were all the members of his human council, and to his right were all the members of his demon council, including Nelchael, who smiled when he saw Rebecca. The other members of the demon council were Styri, Verrine, and Gressil. All of the demons, including Pursan, were in their war armor.
“My king, Rahab has returned.” Said Rebecca.
Pursan started to stand when he saw Rebecca but quickly caught himself. “Good.”
“It can’t be,” said Styri. He was clean shaven and handsome like the other demons.
Rahab and the others entered the tent. “Looks possible to me,” said Nelchael.
“Brothers, it’s good to see you after all this time. I tasked Rahab with saving you from the Pit. Will you follow me?” Asked Pursan.
The demons that returned with Rahab from The Pit all nodded.
“Good, we have work to do. Samael has seized Hell, and he wants to lead us into another losing war against Father. I won’t allow that.”
“Forgive me, my king, but I cannot approve,” said Styri.
“I’m not surprised to hear that, coming from you. When were you planning on making your move?”
“Are you questioning my loyalty?” Replied Styri.
“I believe so.”
“I have always been loyal to you!”
“Until Samael arrived.”
“You have been mis-informed.”
“I trust my sources.”
Styri remained silent, and then stood. “Are you sure you want to do this? May I remind you that I’m a commander, and I control the most soldiers in your grand army now that Dagon has fallen?”
“I believe you have given me no choice.”
“Fine, have it your way, bookkeeper.”
Rahab launched at Styri, grabbed him, and released a dark cloud of power from his mouth. It consumed Styri until he was gone.
Rebecca turned to Achcauthilli. “Does that answer your question?”
“Thank you, Rahab.” Pursan walked outside the tent. His wings appeared, and he flew into the air. Rahab and the other demons from the Pit joined him in the sky.
“Brothers, Styri has just been destroyed,” said Pursan.
“Impossible. Only Samael can destroy us in Hell,” shouted a demon.
“No. You see that Rahab and more of our brothers have returned. Each of you thought that too was impossible, yet here they are.”
“Why was Styri destroyed?” Shouted another demon.
“He was going to betray me. And he was not alone. I have a list here of every demon who was planning on betraying their king.”
Pursan read the names one by one; the demons that he called all flew away. After he was done reading, he looked to Rahab. “Destroy them.” Rahab and the demons from the Pit flew away and quickly returned.
“Now, each of you that remain are loyal to me. Will you always be loyal to me?”
“Always, now and forever. But what about Samael?” Shouted the demons.
“We now have the power to destroy him. And we also have the advantage of surprise. He has called all of us to the lake of fire to launch his attack on Heaven. Do you remember the last time we decided to rebel against Father? It led to a former bookkeeper becoming the most powerful king in Hell.” The demons laughed.
“We will lose our war with Father, and each of you will lose your companions, like last time. I say we don’t go to war against Father, but we go to war against Samael.”
“But he is too powerful, and the other kings are at his command,” said a demon.
“Only because he has their companions, but not for long. At this very moment, I’m in the process of acquiring them. Once I do, the other kings will join us and turn on Samael, especially once they see the power of Rahab and our other brothers.”
“We are with you, King Pursan! King Pursan, King Pursan!”
“Let’s go, then. We’ll meet Samael at the Lake of Fire, and when I give the signal, we
will send him and anyone else who stands in our way into oblivion!” The demons all shouted in agreement and took to flight.
Nelchael walked to Rebecca. “Good to see you again. The king wisely puts much faith into you.” Then he also took flight. The other members of the demon council followed him, leaving Rebecca, Achcauthilli, and the human council alone in the tent.
Rebecca went to Stalin. “I didn’t know Pursan was getting the companions back. How is he doing that?”
“The king has influence everywhere: Hell, Earth, and Heaven.”
Pursan walked into the tent and hugged Rebecca. “Everyone out.” Everyone in the tent left except Rebecca.
“I’ve missed you,” said Pursan.
“What did we say about keeping secrets? Why didn’t you tell me about your plan for the companions?”
“I thought of it while you were away. I promise I’m keeping no secrets from you.”
“How exactly are you getting the companions back?”
“I have an angel looking for them. They’re somewhere in the universe. He’ll find them. Once we have them, Samael won’t have leverage over the other kings, and they’ll join us.”
“Will that be enough to defeat him?”
“With Rahab and the others, I believe so. Is something bothering you?”
“When I was in Nelchael’s territory, I… I saw things.”
“He remains loyal to me.”
“I don’t mean that. There was a girl.… Elizabeth hunted her for sport.”
“We talked about this. I can’t dictate how my soldiers choose to manage their territory.”
“She was a child! A child, Pursan. How many more like them are in Hell? Have you met Benjamin? He was innocent! How many are raped, tortured, and abused in Hell that don’t deserve it?”
“My Father thinks they deserve it.”
“I don’t care! How does he choose? Do you even know? Whatever it is, it sounds arbitrary and flat-out wrong. Why am I in Hell? Because I was a whore? You know my life on Earth. How else was I supposed to turn out? What about the brute? He’s held responsible for the actions of his people? He was taught to act the way he acts!”
“I promise you, after we handle Samael, we’ll discuss all of this, but I can’t do anything about it now. Even with Rahab, my power is still shaky. Any change I try to make now would be catastrophic.”
