Led by two formidable guards, a dirty and emaciated man stumbled through the sculpted entryway and into a magnificent jewel-encrusted foyer. The man bashfully watched the guards hand their paperwork to their even more fearsome compatriots who stood watch over the gate. As a sign of respect, the little man thought it wise to remove his hat when he entered this elaborate space. Now, as the guards conversed outside of earshot, he nervously played with the sweat-stained cap as if this fumbling was the real purpose of its removal.
A wave of relief washed over the man as his papers were accepted. Jebediah Bartlebee was suspicious by nature, and this assignment was well outside his regular duties. When he had received his orders, he worried that it was all a cruel joke by his commanding officer. It was no secret that he was not liked by this man, and that made him incredibly nervous.
Passing the last checkpoint before the inner sanctum, Jebediah was quickly led through the gate down a long hall of arched gothic grandeur. The floor and walls of this path were fashioned of the blackest marble, polished to a mirrored shine and ornamented with gold, jewels, and intricate tapestries. The man’s gaze drifted up these walls until his face was completely upturned. The arches of the ceiling were so high that they were partially masked in clouds as if the vaults scrapped the bottom of heaven itself.
As he lowered his gaze, it happened to come to rest on a sculpture-capped pillar. His pace slowed as the mirrored surface grabbed his attention. For a moment, he thought he could see the reflection of faces within this black mirror. They were not his own nor of the guards that escorted him, but of other poor wraiths calling out in silent torment. He shivered and swallowed heavily before being pulled forward by one of the guards. He tightened his neck and resisted any impulse to examine his surroundings further. Yes, he should face forward for Jebediah Bartlebee was on a mission, and the quicker it was completed, the sooner he could leave this place and return to his beloved gaming tables.
As the little man walked down the mile-long corridor, he passed officials and advisors of increasingly elaborate dress. They glared at the little man with expressions of disgust and sometimes violent intent. They were here to offer advice and praise to, His Majesty. But as an emperor often gets tired of such services rather quickly, they now stood in their little places of position and waited patiently for perhaps years without ever stepping an inch closer to their Master. It was therefore inevitable that these sycophants would feel disdain towards this meager man who was being quickly ushered past them up the ladder of power to its most illustrious peak.
As the door of the Emperor’s chamber became apparent through the fog of distance, the little man hastily tried to fix and dust-off his clothes. He wore a messenger’s uniform, which at one time was pressed and starched to perfection, but was now no more than dirty rags that hung off his hungry bones. His appearance told his story. He was but one of a million other men who struggled and toiled in the ranks of the vast army of this most evil of emperors. He was just a nameless grunt that had traveled far and experienced much, for little more than scraps, beatings, and the glorious opportunity to fulfill his vice.
In time, the man and his escorts finally came to the magnificent doors of the most coveted chamber of the empire. The doors stood thirty feet high and were fashioned out of pure gold. The surface was not smooth and pristine but molded into a horrifically detailed mural that told the story of the Emperor’s rise to power. Behind these doors was the royal chamber- a place where few of this man’s statues had entered, and in truth, a place where few would want to enter, for those that did seldom returned.
The guards posted at these gates stood eight feet tall and wore the black and gold armor of the Emperor’s inner chosen. Their polished helms were split with a dark T, and although the light was bright in the chamber, there was no sign of flesh within these slits. Jebediah even doubted that there was anything but shadow contained in their armor. The giants rested their large hands atop long broadswords that pointed to the ground like crosses. These weapons, being as tall as the little man, could easily cut him in two with a single swipe. Jebediah swallowed heavily.
The escorts hesitantly stepped forward and offered their paperwork. Although the escorts were large, they were dwarfed in both size and opulence by these keepers of the gate and their fear was not easily hidden. One of the royal guard’s giant heads tilted slightly to examine the red wax seal. Then, without saying a word, the door behind them began to open.
The escorts’ mission completed, they quickly left. Jebediah turned and watched them go wishing that he had the words that could make them stay, but he was tongue-tied. Alone, he slowly turned back to confront his duty, confident that it had been passed down to him like a death sentence.
At first glance, Jebediah believed the vestibule before him was an ornately furnished palace of French design. It was so intricate that comfort became impossible and so designed that its grandeur moved from pleasing the eye to scratching it. Just like those palaces of the Carolingians, in further inspection, he would undoubtedly find horrors hidden under the opulence that clearly distanced themselves from the good, the just, and the holy.
The space was barely lit by weak flames. This gloom only added to its illusions. The low light made all but the most rigid forms indiscernible and therefore hid the palace’s many dirty secrets under its countless shadows. But, although these monstrosities were shielded from his eyes by the darkness, they were not protected from matters of the ear. The secrets’ wet movements could clearly be heard stirring in the dark like fat maggots.
The messenger reluctantly began to walk into the space but was stopped by the lightening movement of the royal guards’ swords. Frightened, Jebediah fell to the ground and prepared to plea for his life. The blades, however, remained still in an X across his path. He looked up to the guards’ eyeless slits, confused and almost ready to unleash the contents of his aching bladder.
“Remove your uniform,” the guards hissed in unison.
Fearing for his life, the little man quickly obeyed.
“Now, lower your gaze and move to the circle to kneel before the Great Star of the Morning.”
The little man looked into the chamber and saw the red circle. He looked up to the guards and nodded. As quickly as the blades were dispersed, they were retracted with a hiss.
Cold and doing his best to shield his nakedness with the message he had come here to deliver, the feeble man walked to the circle and slowly knelt into position. Afraid to look any further than the crimson circumference, his lowered gaze noticed that the red boundary was actually fashioned of words written in the old language. He didn’t know what they said, but he imagined that they were not cheery lyrics of song.
The doors behind him let out a deep moan and then closed with a thunderclap. The man swallowed hard. His body trembled in a mixture of fear and cold. He was about to be exposed to evil itself, defenseless and naked as the day he was born. Worse yet, he had come to deliver bad news. He was unable to break the seal, but only bad news would be sent by the likes of him.
As if eager to showcase evil in their light, the candles burst into angry flames engulfing the room in their truth. The meager man was startled by this firework show and looked up, breaking a sacred rule. His reaction quickly moved from fear to a disgusted dread. The vibrant glow of these torches rapidly spread throughout the room. In the dim light, the walls had taken on an appearance of smooth black marble. But now, graced with the truthfulness of flame, their actual makeup became undeniably clear. This chamber was built not of stone, or earth, or even masonry. It was constructed of wet living flesh bound together like fish in a net.
Lumbering movement at the top of the vestibule’s dominating stair pulled the man’s attention away from his inspection of the horrible walls. A section of the fleshy surface began to bubble and screech. Bones broke, and dermis cut with violent spurts of red until finally the section broke free and stepped forward.
The guise of Evil’s king had many faces, but its most favorite was the one that it had chosen today. Its flesh was borrowed from others, sewn from sinners tormented for eternity by being lashed together with barbed wire and forced to bear the substance and body of evil itself. Each of the creature’s movements spewed forth laments from the tormented bodies. They reached out from the mass looking for salvation, but they would find none here.
Evil’s path now illuminated by the seething torches, the creature slowly descended the stairs with the nobility of its terrible position. As the treads were also built of screaming humans nailed together like lumber, each step retorted cracks and spurted blood as the Beast’s weight rested on their suffering backs. These steps of malevolence were the focal point of this house of pain, but their misery was clearly not alone in this kingdom. The little man could now barely hear himself think over the din of torture being enacted on flesh. It echoed throughout these previously silent corridors, apparently brought to life by the presence of the evilest of evils.
Once finished its descent, the Beast approached the humble servant who now trembled uncontrollably with fear. Its sinewy folds twisted and tore as it moved, leaving footprints of blood upon the polished marble floor. The circle of red around the meager man started to glow with heat as the Beast approached. Instantly, the man went from being cold to sweating profusely.
Just before the red circle moved from warmth to burning, the Beast came to rest in front of the man. It spread its arms and took on the appearance of a cross in an eerie mocking of its antithesis.
To highlight this contrast, a gathering of cockroach-like creatures appeared from the cracks of the flesh walls and scurried about the Emperor’s form. They crawled over the Beast’s pulsating meat, licking and nibbling at its borrowed skin with gusto until Evil was covered by the moistened sheen of their saliva. Their cleaning ritual completed the creatures scurried back to their lairs. The Beast then clapped its hands and summoned a pair of scantily clad she-demons that moved to place a black cloak over Evil’s shoulders. Now covered in darkness, the Beast’s tormented souls seemed to calm, moving from wails to grieving whimpers. Perhaps they were satisfied like babes with being washed and put to bed.
With a fleeting curiosity, the massive shape of Evil slowly walked around the prostrated form of this messenger. It stopped its inspection and extended one of its grotesque hands so that a single finger pointed towards the trembling servant. The Beast’s size and makeup allowed each finger upon this appendage to be fashioned of a human arm. The extended finger sprouted from its tip a smaller hand that came to rest on top of the prostrated servant’s head. Reintroduced to life, the hand played in the messenger’s hair with an eagerness for stimulation. After a few moments of this play, the hand tired of the game and began to drum unknown tunes upon the messenger’s skull. The Beast too, grew bored of the messenger’s presence. It retracted its arm and moved to an ornate mirror to gaze upon its own reflection.
Noticing his Master’s vanity, the man decided he should take advantage. Getting on Evil’s good side was imperative for his fate, and he was no stranger to sycophancy. He had been unluckily chosen to relay news of failure, and he was sure that he wasn’t going to leave these halls unscathed unless he walked with great care.
“My gracious lord, I must say- I’m humbled by your beauty. You are truly an immaculate creature of the heavens, fit to be the king of creation. I am truly blessed by your divine presence, oh being of light. If I were to cease living this very moment, I… I would…” the messenger paused, realizing he may very well be predicting his own fate with the words that hung on his tongue. “I would die happy with the knowledge that I was able to lay my eyes upon your splendor.”
The Beast smiled a crooked gash and slowly turned toward the messenger. With sweet words said, it now appeared that this frail being was worthy of Evil’s attention.
“You may rise, Saul.” The gut trembling growl of Evil was accompanied by a tempest of wails. The combination of such terrible sounds caused a tear to trickle down the Jebediah’s face. He did as commanded and reluctantly rose.
“Th…Th…Th…thank you, my Lord, you’re most kind.”
“Stand tall, Saul, so that I may get a good look at you.”
The little man took a deep breath and did as he was told. “I…I…I must beg your Majesty’s pardon, but my name isn’t Saul.”
“No? You responded to it, didn’t you?” A smirk spread across Evil’s face.
“Well…yes… but…”
“I will give you a piece of advice. When bestowed the honor of a title given by God, it is wise to accept it without question. Saul is your name now.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty. I’m sure I’m not worthy of the respect that you are bestowing upon me. Thank you for this new name. You truly are a gracious king.”
Evil moved to a living throne that grew out of the floor and sat heavily. Like the construction of Evil’s palace, his seat of power was forged from entangled bodies of the damned, but instead of wails of pain, they ushered forth moans of blissful pleasure as they were bound not in anguish, but in sexual ecstasy. “Your enthrallment is no longer necessary, Saul. You have my attention. Now, I suggest you do not waste this divine gift.”
“Yes, Lord, my apologies.”
Evil took a deep breath and let out a long sigh, making it clear that the little man’s welcome was quickly running out. “Now, what is your reason for sweetening my image with this honey spewed from your lips?”
“I have no motives other than being taken back by your magnificence.”
The Beast eyed Saul with suspicion, “So you’re truly pious then?”
“Yes, Lord, of course. I’m humbly devoted to your wisdom.” The man bowed so low that his head touched the floor. “I am forever your servant.”
A smile cracked onto Evil’s face. “You’re, of course, lying.”
The call of his bluff momentarily broke Saul’s composure unleashing a fearful glance directed towards his Master, but being skilled in the art of diplomacy, he quickly recovered his poise. “Lying, sir? I don’t mean to disagree with divinity, but I’m not insincere in my praise for the greatness that is you.”
The Beast let out a boisterous laugh that thundered upon the little man like drums of warning. “My dear Saul, your kind makes mendacity and deception a way of life. It’s the reason why I chose to govern humanity…yes, that’s it, your nature amuses me.” The Beast shook his head in disbelief. “But, your naivete of my powers is infuriating. I’m a master of the human condition, and you offend me with your ambassadorial tricks. I can see from the sweat on your brow, your anxious movements, and the reluctance of your words, that you are fearful of my omnipotence. Yes, the smell of your fear emanates from you like a bouquet from sweet wine. In your mind, lightening my mood would be beneficial for your survival. This means that you must have something important to share with me. So, stop bathing me in your soft-soap and tell me the reason you bother me with your presence today.”
“It’s true. I’ve failed in comprehending the scope of your wisdom, lord, and I’m sorry. I’ve been chosen by the Council to report on the condition of your divine empire.”
Evil looked at Saul strangely as if he wore a mask that hid something familiar. “They sent you? Are the Council’s ranks so depleted that they must send a lump of clay to relay their messages?” The Beast laughed. “Very well, then speak, but be sure to be thorough in your detail. I’m accustomed to angels relaying messages from my kingdom, not living mud. Let’s see if your pile of clay can reach such heights of excellence of memory. Remember, my work makes my patience incredibly thin.” His warning simply stated, the Beast became distracted with the female nakedness that fashioned his throne.
“Yes, my lord. Thank you. I’m sure that I’m not worthy of reaching such heights of excellence as you so nobly put it, but I will try my best to complete the assignment given to me.” The Servant stumbled to rise from his kneeling position. He broke the seal and unfolded the message. “As you know, in response to your edicts, the Council has searched for ways to tip the balance in this long struggle. They wanted me to report that they’ve worked tirelessly towards this end, and they think that you’ll be very pleased with what has been accomplished.”
“Doubtful.”
Saul paused for a moment and looked up from the document. “I’m happy to report that recruitment is up by an average of 14% within all legions. This figure even includes the Northern Kingdom along the border with the Oasis. The Council also wants me to report that they have completed the repairs on the walls that surround your great realm and have also finished the construction on the bastions you assigned. I think you’ll be delighted to know that even the fortifications in the swamps, which have caused so much trouble as of late, have also made great strides and are being manned and stocked as we speak.”
“Are they finished?”
“Well… according to this, no, but the Council has made note that they’re doing everything that they can to make it so.”
“That’s enough.” Evil raised its fiery eyes and squinted at the little man before him. “Why don’t you tell me of this grievous issue you are here to relay.”
The messenger was visibly shaken. “I’m sorry, Your Majesty?”
“I’m sure that the Council’s failure towards completing the fortifications in the swamps is not the only bad news you possess. Although I’ve been patiently awaiting their completion for seven years now, news of yet another setback is of no surprise and certainly not worthy of your shaking knees. I do believe that you hold another sharp knife upon that document there.”
Jebediah quick scanned the page.v”Well, as you know, our enemies are many, and the hindrances great towards our ultimate goal. The Council wanted me to assure you that everything is under control and…”
“That’s enough!”
The messenger looked to Evil like a scolded child but was not met by the Emperor’s gaze. Instead, Evil continued its playing with the feminine nudity of his throne.
“I’m not interested in the Council’s arrogance, or its excuses for delays. I’m very busy Saul.” With the ease of tearing a drumstick from a roasted chicken, Evil plucked a limb from his throne and threw it to the floor with a wet slap. “As you can see, I have a kingdom of suffering to run. Spit it out! There must be a reason the Council has sent you here. Their strange choice must mean that there is news to relay that is outside this list of tiresome numbers and improvements.” Evil smirked. “Yes, they fear my presence… WHY!”
Jebediah stared at the limb as it pathetically crawled back towards the throne. He rubbed the sweat that was quickly beading on his pale brow and continued as commanded. “There has been a great development, my lord… in the deserts.” The Beast’s attention shot towards the Servant as the wails of the tortured souls immediately ceased.
“A development in the where?” Evil rose from its throne and slowly moved closer. Its long shadow cast over Saul like a death shroud.
“Y…Y…Yes, my lord, in the deserts. The Minions of Beelzebub have detected… the smell of a fruit.”
Excited chatter filled the room. Hearing such a word brought the tortured souls to a dull roar. In any other realm, such as word carried with it little fanfare, but in a world without fruit, it edged towards the divine.
“Did you say fruit?”
“Yes, Lord, the Council wanted me to relay that witnesses have seen the Altar of Absolution rise from the sands.”
The Beast’s eyes glowed red with fire. The bodies that made up its form began to scream as if this flame was searing their flesh. Their laments increasing as Evil spoke with the calculated slowness of anger. “Why is the juice from its sweet flesh not dripping from my lips?” Other voices from the shadows, echoed this question. They were immediately silenced by the raised hand of the Beast.
The servant was reluctant to answer, knowing that Evil would not be pleased with the news, “The Minions search… by they have not yet found the altar, my lord.”
“Why?”
“They were distracted by a cow that had wandered into the desert.”
“And have our spies reported on the presence of the Old Man?”
“He has disappeared…”
“WHAT!” With a sudden ferocity, Evil swatted Jebediah across the room. The messenger’s bare skin shrieked across the polished floor until he came to rest against the wall of flesh. As the Beast slowly walked over to the cowering man, it untied its cloak and let it fall to the ground exposing his full horror.
“You miserable filth… failure…you’re all failures; just mud to be stepped on. I thought I was clear in my edict that any fruit found in the desert would immediately be brought to me. That the Old Man be watched closely! How dare you come to my kingdom…my home and tell me that you have all failed me again!”
“I…I’m sorry, Lord, but I’m only a messenger.”
“HA! I thought I knew my younger brothers well. I should have known their intentions by sending a human to relay their messages. I admire their tact, a symbolic gesture that brings memories of Azazel. You’re indeed a messenger, Saul, but you’re so much more…you are a scapegoat, my friend. If my brother’s want this, then so be it.” The Beast cradled Saul’s head with its hideous hand and slowly turned it back in forth in inspection. “Why do you hide their sins from your forehead… hmm?” The Beast let go of the messenger as if his humanity disgusted it. “You’re a poor loathsome creature not worthy of your purpose. As always, the Council has sent a sacrifice that is far too small for their infractions, but I’ll take their lamb…this time. Welcome to the wilderness Saul.”
“Please, Lord, I beg of you…for mercy.”
The Beast immediately stopped. The little man’s final plea echoed in the expanse of the hall that had become as silent as the grave. The Servant quickly realized his mistake. Such a word as mercy was never to be spoken in the Kingdom of Evil.
The Beast’s face broke with disgust, “Mercy? Did you say mercy?”
I…I…I…I’m sorry, lord. I forgot.”
“Well, you heard him, fiends…show Saul the mercy that’s found in my kingdom. Take away this man’s terrible burden. Raise him up from this ground; ease the dull ache of his knees for he is weary.”
The soulless bricks of the wall began to stir from their slumber with wet sounds of movement. With a crack, they grabbed Saul with a swiftness that stole the condemned man’s breath. Their boney fingers dug deep into his flesh as Saul let out an anguished scream.
“You come to my home with news of failure and then have the audacity to beg for mercy. Clearly, you need to be educated on the ways of this realm.”
The arms of the wall began to pull tighter, making Saul’s struggles hopeless. Blood began trickled from his wounds as he continued to whimper his pleas. The strong arms lifted him and slid up the wall to the eye level of Evil.
“Please, Lord, you don’t know what you’re doing.”
“Shh, you must be made an example for failure. The Council will soon receive my reply.” The arms pulled even tighter, causing a series of cracks to birth forth from the messenger’s limbs. Saul gave up his screams and instead whimpered in agony. “You must be punished, Saul for your blasphemous pleas of mercy that have stung my ears on this day!”
As the Beast turned and walked away, the tugging grasps finally surpassed the point of no return upon Saul’s stressed joints. The sound of his own tearing flesh caused Saul to wail with horror. But, quick death was not a privilege given in the Down-below. This was a place of eternal suffering with no hope of peaceful black. The messenger’s face looked upon the Emperor with disbelief and terror as his pieces were quickly spread amongst eager souls who now satiated their hunger on his warm flesh.
The Down-below trembled, but the Beast paid it no heed. Instead, Evil moved to his prized throne and sat. He looked to the sky, “Well?”
Nothing.
Evil chuckled. “As I thought. Yes, this changes everything. The time has come.” Evil clapped his hands. “I want Beelzebub at my feet within the hour. Is that understood? We will send a message to the Council that will surely have them scurrying for this Fruit before the end of the day.” The Beast stroked his hideous face. “Something is amiss in my kingdom. These peculiar events speak of rebellion, but there is an opportunity here, yes, a golden opportunity indeed, but I must consult the books. Yes, the books. There must be answers in the books.”
