The Demon On My Chest: Waking Up

by Dan Farris

  “Why do you want to overthrow the Creator?” She asked him.

  “He destroyed someone I loved. A creature that lived far from this place. You remind me of her.”

  “Why was she destroyed?”

  “Angels can’t have mates. You can thank Lucifer for that.”

  “Was she the first one that you loved?”

  “No. Eons ago, long before your people existed, long before this place existed, long before this space existed, there was another. I had a companion. Delorah. She was beautiful, and powerful. We conquered countless worlds together. She was my best friend. And she gave me offspring. He was so strong. My son…he was…”

  A’isha rubbed Samael’s back to comfort him.

  “My son was always trying to impress me. His name was S’rah. He never had to; I was proud of him the moment he came into existence.”

  “What happened to them?”

  “My father. After Delorah and S’rah helped us cast Lucifer and the others down to Hell, he destroyed them.”

  “Why?”

  “He saw them as a threat.… He will pay. Do you hear me, Father? You will pay!”

  “Why does the Creator treat his own creations so terribly?”

  “Because he can. But his reign is coming to an end.”

  “And Michael? What will be his fate?”

  “Do you still love him?”

  “I want to see him suffer too. He used me and stood by as my people were slaughtered.”

  “He will, I give you my word. I’ll make him kneel before you.”

  Suddenly, a portal opened and out poured thousands of angels, all in armor. Each of them was beaten and bloodied.

  “What’s happening? Who are they?”

  “Get behind me. Brothers, did Father send you to destroy me? Who dares to challenge me?”

  “No one is foolish enough to challenge you, brother,” said one of the angels.

  “Who said that? Step forth now!” An angel dressed in splendid armor that covered his entire body emerged from the crowd; he had short red hair and a neat beard and was as massive as Samael.

  “Raphael? What are you doing here?” Two other angels joined him and walked toward Samael.

  “Uriel, Tzaphanizel? What are you all doing here?”

  “Father found out about our plans. Somehow, he knew. We don’t know how, but he knew,” said Raphael. No. Samael looked amongst all the angels.

  “Where is Gabriel? Where is he?”

  “The others were all destroyed. Michael led the attack. We didn’t realize what was happening until it was too late.”

  “Where is Gabriel?”

  “He’s gone. All the others are gone. We are all that remain. We underestimated how loyal some of our brothers still are to Father.”

  “Gabriel…no!” Samael fell to the ground. “My brother, my little brother. No! Michael, I will make you suffer for this!”

  “Where is Hell’s army?”

  “They’re being gathered.”

  “We no longer have the element of surprise, and our numbers are severely decimated,” said Uriel.

  “I don’t care. Father will fall. If we don’t attack now, then we might as well destroy each other.”

  “I agree, it still can be done,” said Tzaphanizel.

  “How did the Creator know about the plan?” Asked A’isha.

  “What is that?” Asked Raphael.

  Samael grabbed him. “Her name is A’isha. Show her some respect. That goes for each of you!”

  “Understood.”

  “Well, how did the Creator find out?” Asked A’isha.

  “We don’t know,” replied Raphael.

  “Hmm,” said A’isha.

  “What are you thinking?” Asked Samael.

  “Can I talk to you in private?” Asked A’isha. Samael and A’isha walked several feet away from the others.

  “Can they still hear us?” Asked A’isha.

  Samael created a bubble around himself and A’isha.

  “I’m sorry to hear about Gabriel. I could tell he meant a lot to you.”

  “He was my favorite brother. I can barely think straight now.”

  “How do you think the Creator knew?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “I think someone must have told him.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean that someone close to Gabriel, someone that he thought he could trust, betrayed him.”

  “I told Gabriel to be careful. I should have been more careful.”

  “Whoever it was may be one of the angels out there.”

  “If that’s true, then I’ll question each one of them! If one of them is responsible for Gabriel’s demise and Father discovering our plans, I’ll make them beg for non-existence!”

  “The first angel that tries to leave is the one that betrayed Gabriel.”

  “Sound plan.”

  “I may not be as strong as you, but before my people were exterminated, I was a queen for many years. I learned a thing or two about politics and discovering traitors.”

  “Speaking of traitors, Pursan and the others should have returned by now. Each moment we don’t attack gives Michael more opportunity to prepare Heaven’s defenses.” The bubble surrounding Samael and A’isha disappeared. They headed back to where the angels were standing.

  “This place is awful” said Uriel.

  “It was meant as a punishment. It’s designed to be the worse place in existence,” said Raphael.

  “Raphael, I need you to do something for me,” said Samael.

  “I’m yours to command.”

  “I don’t feel like explaining, but Pursan was the most powerful being in Hell before I arrived. I sent him to retrieve Hell’s army. Now that Father knows, we must attack at once. Go find Pursan, and bring all of Hell’s armies here, as quick as you can. If Pursan or any of them refuses, destroy them.”

  “Pursan the bookkeeper? This is a strange place.” Raphael took to the sky and flew off.

  “What will you have the rest of us do?” Asked Uriel.

  “Prepare our brothers and tend your wounds. We attack Heaven as soon as Raphael returns with the others.”

  Just as Samael finished his sentence, a portal appeared, and out came thousands more angels, rivaling the numbers that were already there.

  “It’s Michael!” Screamed Uriel. All the newly arrived angels coalesced behind Michael.

  Michael had a lean build and tanned skin like Samael and was clean shaven, with silver-gray hair that reached far down his back. He wore a thin blue garb that looked like silk, covering his entire body except his head. He and the others stood in the sky above Samael.

  Samael looked to A’isha, and quickly opened a portal. “Go, now!” A’isha quickly jumped into the portal and disappeared.

  Samael’s wings appeared, and he took to the sky to meet Michael. Uriel and the other angels coalesced behind Samael. The two sides were only a short space apart.

  Samael looked at Michael. “You destroyed Gabriel!”

  “He was plotting to overthrow Father. You thought I would let that happen?”

  “You should have joined us. You lost just as much as we did after the rebellion. Or have you forgot about them? Our offspring, our companions.”

  “The past is the past. Father did what he thought was best. It’s not my place to question. I serve, just like you taught me. Or have you forgotten? What did you always tell me? Father first, everything else second. Everything. Your words. Now you’ve declared war on Father? You’re no better than Lucifer!”

  “Lucifer rebelled because of pride. I want vengeance.”

  “For your companion and offspring?”

  “And Zethera.”

  “I’ve heard about the creature.”

  Samael seethed with rage. “Foolish of you, coming here to challenge me.”

  “You know me, never afraid to take strategic risks.” Michael looked back to the angels that followed him. “Destroy them all. No one escap
es.” Michael created an energy sword and rushed at Samael, and they began fighting. The angels on each side followed suit.

  Samael and Michael traded blow for blow; while the other angels were destroying each other all around them. The angels created power swords and launched energy beams at each other.

  “What was your plan? To launch a sneak attack against Heaven? How did you expect to keep it a secret? That was always your weakness. So much raw power, but terrible at strategic planning,” said Michael.

  Samael knocked Michael to the ground, but he quickly flew back in the air. “Why are you still loyal to Father? You destroyed Gabriel for him?”

  Michael relaxed his guard. “Who said Gabriel was destroyed?”

  Samael then hesitated. “He still exists?”

  Michael slashed his power sword across Samael’s mid-section. Samael yelled in pain. Michael attempted to continue his attack on Samael until he was stopped by Uriel. Uriel launched quick attacks at Michael and kept Samael from falling over as Samael landed back to the ground.

  “Are you okay, brother?”

  “Don’t worry about me. Destroy Michael and the others.”

  “I’m afraid I can’t do that.” Then, Uriel created a short power blade and stabbed Samael in the stomach.

  “You’re the traitor!”

  “No, you are. Father will never be defeated. You declare war on Father after all this time, just because I killed that vermin.”

  “You? You killed Zethera?”

  “A honor.”

  Samael was about to fall to the ground, but he summoned all his remaining strength and launched an attack at Uriel. He battered Uriel into the ground with his bare hands until he ripped his head off and destroyed him completely with a power ball. He flew back into the sky, trying to find Michael. Samael was overtaken with rage and slew scores of angels. Finally, there was Michael.

  “How is it that you still stand? The Mighty Samael. Back to Heaven, now!” The angels that followed Michael created portals and disappeared.

  “Does Gabriel still exist?”

  Michael did not utter a word and disappeared into a portal. Samael, holding his wounds, descended back to the ground.

  Samael created a portal and called for A’isha, who walked through. She ran to Samael. “You’re hurt? Are you okay? What happened?”

  “Michael attacked us.”

  “That doesn’t make sense. Why wouldn’t they be defending Heaven if they knew an attack was coming?”

  “He did the unexpected. I should have thought of it.”

  “Will you be okay? You’re hurt very badly.”

  “Yes. Just need time to heal.”

  “Tzaphanizel, how many of us fell?”

  “Too many, but many of Heaven’s army fell as well.”

  “Did you know about Gabriel? Michael said that he still exists.”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Why wouldn’t the Creator just destroy him?” Asked A’isha.

  “Look around us. My father prefers long term punishment versus a quick destruction. If he is in Heaven, I’ll get him back as soon as we attack.”

  “Brother, maybe we should reconsider. With Uriel’s betrayal, and our numbers now so low…” Samael punched Tzaphanizel, causing him to fall to the ground.

  “Hear me, each of you. After everything that we’ve lost, there is no turning back! You think Father will just let us walk away? If we fall, then we make Father suffer, one last time! Do you hear me? Heaven will fall! Michael will fall! Father will fall! I am Samael. Are you with me?”

  All the remaining angels yelled and pledged their loyalty to Samael. A’isha hugged him. Gabriel, I’m coming for you, brother. Michael, you are mine.

  Chapter 46-Rebecca

  Rebecca was sitting at a table in her library when Achcauthilli entered.

  “I have her,” said Achauthili.

  “Good, let her wait a while.”

  Achauthilli nodded.

  “Remember when we first met?” Asked Rebecca.

  “I do.”

  “And the second time, in this library?”

  “I do.”

  “You were going to rape me.”

  Achcauthilli looked away. “I was... forgive me.”

  “How many women have you raped?”

  “In Hell and my time on Earth? Countless.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I could. It was how I was taught, to take what I wanted.”

  “But it’s wrong; you have to see that.”

  “Right, wrong. We’re in Hell, what does it matter?”

  “It matters! When you were on Earth raping and pillaging, did you think you were evil?”

  “No. It was the way of my people. It was the age I was born into.”

  “Well, maybe some of those women you’ve raped while you’ve been in Hell aren’t evil. They didn’t deserve what you did to them.”

  “God thought otherwise, or else he wouldn’t have cast them down here.”

  “I don’t care what God thinks! It was wrong when you did it on Earth and it was wrong when you did it down here.”

  “I give you my word, I’ll never wrestle another woman without her consent.”

  “You’re just saying that because you’re afraid I’ll cast you into the Bottomless Pit.”

  “That’s not what I’m afraid of.”

  “Then why give up something you love doing?”

  “It’s evil, like you said.”

  “You don’t believe that.”

  “But you do, and that’s enough for now.” Achcauthilli went outside, and when the door opened again, in came Elizabeth Bathory. She was wearing a stunning red and black dress. Elizabeth grinned slightly as she sat in the chair across from Rebecca.

  “Do you know why you’re here?”

  “I know what you’ve done to the others. Am I next?”

  “That’s entirely up to you.”

  “Really? So I have the power to decide whether I get thrown into the Pit for all eternity? Did the others have that power as you cast them down?”

  “The others could not be trusted. These are trying times. The king is at war. We can’t have traitors in our midst.”

  “And who decided they were traitors? The king?”

  “I did.”

  “Must be nice to yield so much power, just because the king fancies you.”

  “I’m sure you know that when a powerful creature fancies you, we mere humans have much power. And some of us use that power in terrible ways, like you.”

  “That’s how you’ve been deciding who gets thrown into the Pit? Who are you to judge me? Power has gone to your head. Nice crown by the way. You are in Hell, just like me. Whatever I’ve done since I’ve been here was only to damned souls.”

  “What about the people you hurt when you were alive? Were they damned too?”

  “As I said, we are both in Hell. So before you get high and mighty, I want you to remember one thing. Me, you, and all the souls I’ve had fun with since I died, God thinks that we’re all the same. God thinks that you are just as bad as me.”

  “I didn’t call you here to teach you morality. I called you here to determine whether you have betrayed the king.”

  “I’ve never betrayed the king. I’ve always been loyal to him.”

  “Why? He didn’t personally choose to have you saved from the torment like me, Agrippa, or Stalin. No, you were chosen by Nelchael. It’s him you owe loyalty, not the king.”

  “Nelchael serves Pursan. Without the king, Nelchael would not have had the power to save me.”

  “Are you sure? Nelchael is one of the most powerful demons in all of Hell.”

  “He serves the king, and so do I. And so did many of the others you’ve cast down so far. The king’s soldiers won’t be happy to see their companions have been thrown into the Pit when they return.”

  “You let me worry about that.”

  “I will…let you worry.”

  “When I spoke to the others
, they were a lot humbler, and not so insulting.”

  “And look where it got most of them. You had your mind made up before I walked in here, but I’ll continue playing this game with you. I like playing games.”

  “I’m aware of that.”

  “Any more questions?”

  “Do you think the king will defeat Samael?”

  “He managed to convince Nelchael and other, more powerful demons to follow him. I would never underestimate the king.”

  “And Nelchael, does he feel the same?”

  “Yes. Did I pass the test?”

  “What do you think?”

  “I think before you throw me into the Pit, you should listen to me.”

  “I don’t need any advice from the likes of you. What you’ve done to all those souls… young girls and boys… you’re a monster. You should have been in the Pit long before, or worse. Aren’t you going to beg for mercy? For leniency? Aren’t you going to tell me how powerful your companion is?”

  “No, but I’ll tell you this. You know why I did all those things to those people when I was alive? Why I tortured all the children since I’ve been in Hell?”

  “Because you’re a psychopath?”

  “I did it for the same reason you’re about to throw me into the Pit. The same reason you’re purging the king’s lands with souls who have been loyal to him for thousands of years.”

  “And why is that?”

  Elizabeth got up and walked toward the door. “You’ve never had real power, have you? It feels good, doesn’t it? Have fun. Don’t bother getting up. I’ll tell them what your decision is.” Elizabeth walked out of the library and left Rebecca alone.

  I’m not doing this on a power trip, I’m doing it because it has to be done. And souls like Elizabeth deserve to suffer for what they’ve done. Yes, that’s why.

  Rebecca walked out of the library, Lucifer was taking Elizabeth away. Elizabeth smiled back at Rebecca as she faded into the distance.

  “You don’t look so well. Are you tired of playing God? How many have you seen so far? Thousands? You got a lot more,” said Achcauthilli.

  “That’s the joy of being dead, all we have is time. Send word to Stalin and Agrippa. Tell them to hold off on sending me anymore. I need to… rest for a bit.” Rebecca went into her home.