Answering the Call – Part 4
Yesterday was an awesome chance to spend time building the background that Azazel is operating under. Maybe it was a bit self indulgent of me to take so much of the story and do world building, but that’s too bad. It’s my story, and I enjoy the concept of the world that I’m making.
I enjoy playing around with theological concepts, and it was definitely enjoyable to place Gabriel in a position to be the Judas of the War of Creation. Further, I like the concept of Satan and all his hosts being flung from heaven, falling through all of creation, then being sheltered at the end by Satan’s power and even his body before they slammed into their final stop. I even imagine that being the catalyst which changed Satan’s host from their original angelic form into the demonic presence on display from Azazel. Again, it just tickles me to build a world in that fashion, and I can’t ever remember reading anything even remotely like that concept in all the rather large amount of books I’ve read.
It was beyond fun to get into the nitty gritty of the deal Azazel is going to offer to Joseph, and having him throw out that he wouldn’t be giving Joseph a choice was also fun. I liked writing Joseph’s reaction very much. Not everyone would have the nerve to try and lean threateningly across a desk at a demon, but he didn’t even think twice about it. Good insight into who he is as a man, and how I need to write him going forward. Plus, there was the insane pleasure of having him find out Azazel basically owns him. For myself, I’m very much atheist, so I can’t even imagine how much my mind would wring itself into knots upon finding out both Heaven and Hell not only exist, but that a demon has my soul. Woof. So, again, insanely fun to write and I look forward to developing the bargain that will be offered.
I do want to take a moment and do some explaining as to the subject matter, my beliefs, and general things for the blog, since this is the first time I’ve delved into fiction involving theology. I am very much an atheist, but I also have spent large parts of my life studying theology pretty intensely. I am very tolerant of all religious beliefs, and have read significant portions of the Koran, the Bible, The Book of Mormon, the Jewish bible, and Hindi texts as well. This story simply involves a twist on some of the concepts of the Christian faith, and is not meant to express any “truths” or other such depictions of accurate theological beliefs. I write Fantasy and Sci-Fi. I’m basically working on a career lying to people about things as they might have been or might yet still be. It’s awesome, but don’t take it too seriously.
With that, we move on to part four of our tale…
Answering the Call – Part 4
Azazel’s words ran through my head like a freight train, destroying everything in their path. I own your soul. I wanted to scream at him that he was lying. No one owns Joseph Brindle, no one. Yet staring at his shark-like grin, his deep crimson skin, and slashing tail, I couldn’t help but believe him. Everything I had ever thought about how the universe worked was wrong. Heaven was real, Satan had died before the universe was even created, and all the hosts of Hell and their seething hatred had my soul as their plaything. Not a pleasant revelation on top of everything else. He’s going to take me to the cleaners on this deal, and he’s even right. I have to say yes. My soul in the hands of this monstrosity doesn’t bear thinking.
A thought struck me then, and I quickly acted on it before I lost my nerve. “How do I know you even have my soul. You’re a demon, a servant of lies and deceit. How could I even begin to believe you? You could be lying to me in order to get me to do whatever it is you’re asking of me.” The man-eating show of teeth suddenly became a smile once more, this time a very pleased one. “Well Mr. Brindle, I had hoped you would ask me that question. Yes, I could very well have been lying to you this whole time. I assure you I’m not, but how do you know? As far as the current possession of your soul goes, I shall not ask you to take my words on faith. I shall give you ample evidence.”
Having said that, Azazel took the briefcase I had dismissed as a tacky nod to cliche, and placed it on my table. I saw a dial containing over 30 numbers, and couldn’t even imagine the paranoia which drove that decision. Fiddling with the numbers faster than I could even track, he clicked it open a bare breath later. He seemed so very pleased with what he saw in there, and he very gently reached in to pull out what looked like a dark amber crystal. It was beautiful, curved and faceted in the shape of a bolt of lightning. I had never seen anything so beautiful in all my days. The rich men and women of the world would bankrupt themselves to own that jewel, no doubt about it. Holding it carefully on the palm of one hand, Azazel slowly brought one of his long, sharp nails to the tip of the gem, and scratched along it.
Pain such as I had never known, or could ever have even believed existed blasted me apart. My insides were a furnace, blinding me to anything but the searing mortal agony that had replaced my organs. I retched, not even noticing the bile as it coated my floor, not even knowing when I had left my desk chair to fall in a graceless heap on the floor. I curled around myself as the agony went on and on. Surely I would die to this ceaseless fire burning me from within. Then, as suddenly as it had started, it stopped. No trace of it remained, it had not even dimmed before it left. It had pressed down on my insides with the weight of a planet, then just as suddenly it had been removed. Only it’s memory remained, one that I knew would haunt me just as surely as the rest of this evening.
“Well Mr. Brindle” Azazel continued nonchalantly as it carefully placed the jewel which was my soul back in his briefcase, and pulled out a large folder full of paper “I trust that I have amply displayed the current location of your soul to your satisfaction?” It snapped the briefcase shut with a smug look of satisfaction on its face, and all the dials whirred furiously as they reset to zero on their own. Azazel lightly slapped the folder down on my desk and enjoined me “Please, Mr. Brindle, we have a large amount of business to discuss, and I tire of the distractions. Would you be so kind as to join me at the table?” It bent around the corner of the desk to stare at my curled form on the floor with its last question. “Sure” I croaked through a mouth as dry as the Sahara “what choice do I have?” A booming laugh met this statement, and Azazel stated “See Mr. Brindle? I did say you wouldn’t have a choice didn’t I? Where is all that bravado now, hmm?” I gave him a filthy look, but shakily stood to take my chair once more. He was right of course, he had me at his mercy. The sheer threat of scratching my soul, or worse, would be enough to get me to do anything. What was I going to tell Jinny? I thought wretchedly as I met Azazel’s eyes.
Azazel cleared his throat, and remarkably took a tone and a demeanor free of all condescension. “This deal is going to be rather lengthy and involved, but I know for a fact that you can handle that Mr. Brindle. Your business dealings to date have involved many a complex negotiation and weaving through legal precedents. I have complete faith in your ability to follow along.” It took a remarkably expensive looking pen out of the inside pocket of its remarkably expensive looking suit, and set it on the table. To me, it looked like a live hand grenade. “Now Mr. Brindle, here is what I have to offer you. In order to take down a Demon, you’ll need either Angelic or Demonic abilities. As Heaven is right out in this instance, we’ll have to settle for what is available. I am offering you power beyond anything else ever offered to a mortal. In exchange, if you use those powers to fulfill the contract and handle the pests who seek to ruin it for all of us, I will give you back your soul. No strings attached. And you keep your newfound powers. What do you have to say to that?”
To be continued…
Soulfully,
Justin
