CHAPTER 20


 

THEY HUDDLED IN a dark corner away from prying eyes and ears, whispering amongst themselves. The rumors were right. The Child had returned. Many of the demons had either forgotten about her or pushed aside their feelings about her and moved on. Tens of thousands of years were too long for even the most hardened to want revenge. There were too many other distractions for them to focus on. The weaker minions, however, were different. As the lowest of the low, they would never rise to positions of power and so they lived in constant fear of their own scheming. Zagam, Paymon and Dagon were three of those demons. Zagam was considered a master of deceit by some but most of the demons knew his tricks. Paymon was the master of ceremonies. Unfortunately, the Underworld rarely had any events that required his services... and then there was Dagon, the baker. Why the Underworld ever acquired a baker no one knew. Demons didn’t require food, although they did enjoy it. Unfortunately for Dagon, it was human food they enjoyed.

"Do you think she’ll remember us?" whispered Paymon, looking around nervously.

"I don’t know. It’s been a long time. Maybe she’s forgotten or maybe she doesn’t care anymore," said Dagon, his voice shaking slightly.

"You are fools," hissed Zagam. "How can she not remember? Would you forget the ones who had you locked away for hundreds of thousands of years?"

Neither of the demons answered. They didn’t have to.

"No!" replied another voice startling the three conspirators. "No one would forget!"

"Child! It is good to see you!" said Paymon looking to the others for support. Nodding their heads vigorously, they smiled weakly at the petite red-haired demoness.

"Oh, I’m sure."

"You’ve changed," observed Dagon.

"Time can do that," the Child replied, her voice cold and emotionless.

"Yes... yes. We heard what the Underlord and that woman did to you. It was unconscionable."

"By that woman, you mean my mother."

"Of course... your mother. We mean no disrespect."

"We went to them to protest what they had done but it was too late," interjected Zagam.

"Really! I must have missed that part."

"Ummm... missed?"

"Yes. It’s rather odd but you see... while I was in the Netherworld, I could see and hear everything you did and do. I don’t remember you going to my Father or Mother on my behalf."

Zagam flushed a dark red.

"We started to... but they wouldn’t see us is what he meant," said Dagon.

"Oh. Well. That’s different." She sneered. "That changes everything."

"Good... good. We’ve thought a lot about you, Child."

"Did you, now? Well, I have to admit I’ve been thinking about

the three of you. Especially you, Zagam."

Zagam fidgeted.

This isn’t good! he thought.

"No. It isn’t," she replied making him take a step back. "I believe it was you who first lied to me about Adam."

"I must have misunderstood what I heard... right?" he asked looking at the other two for support.

"Yes. That’s right." They agreed glancing at each other.

"I see. Well, that changes things. I’d hate to think you deliberately misled me."

"No... no. We wouldn’t do that."

The Child didn’t reply for several minutes as she examined each demon as if looking for something. Finally, focusing her attention on Zagam, she scowled and then glared, her eyes burning with an inner rage. The other demons backed away slowly, fearful of distracting her attention away from the Deceiver. Within seconds, smoke began to rise from his skin. When he tried to scream, his vocal chords felt as if they were being squeezed. Writhing in pain, he clawed at his throat, his eyes imploring his companions to assist him. Paymon took a hesitant step forward but then retreated when the Child gave him a warning glance. Cowering, the two demons watched as Zagam was slowly and sadistically incinerated into a pile of dust. Turning to look at the others, she smiled her satisfaction and walked away and then stopped and spun around.

"You two! Get rid of his dust and then come to my chambers. From this moment on you serve me. Only me," she commanded.

"But we are free demons."

"Were, Dagon. You forfeited that right the moment I was set free. I think I have earned that right."

"For how long?" Paymon asked, hesitantly.

"Until I decide otherwise and be forewarned, no one is to know this. Do you understand?"

Lowering their eyes, they bobbed their heads.

"Good. I have work to do and I will need loyal supporters. Obey me and you will be well rewarded. Disobey and your life is forfeit."

"Yes, Mistress," they replied in unison.

The Child smiled her satisfaction. A new force walked the streets of the Underworld.

The End