Something different today. My new work in progress. Let me know what you think. @copyright 2021
“Welcome
to the black room Ms. Zenn.” Hissed the demonic entity known as Morpheus. “I
have special plans for you.” Isabelle Zenn-Stone entered the dark room
squinching her nose at the fetid smell. She took in the dank, stone
surroundings with surprising coolness. An elaborate fireplace on the far wall
held glowing coals hot enough to make the pokers setting in them turn
white-hot, while a simple stone slab dripping with what appeared to be black
blood, an altar she guessed, in the middle of the room identified this as a
place she would rather not dwell for any length of time. A large wooden table
stood in front of the fireplace holding what she assumed were the tools of its
trade.
She thought she would feel much more
afraid facing Emmanuel Caine’s torture demon, but she stood indifferently
pushing her long dark hair back with one hand, while her violet eyes sparkled
with a vexing glint daring the demon to approach. From the back Morpheus
appeared much different than the other demons she had encountered in the Abyss.
Instead of claws and leathery wings it stood as more of a giant well-built man,
like she imagined a black smith of old would have appeared. However, when it
turned and smiled at her, grotesque fangs dripping with foul slimy drool caused
her to gasp, and its black eyes that held nothing but malice and a hunger for
pain made her cool countenance fade. It had a face like a bull, and she
couldn’t help but scream.
Her fear caused momentary paralysis and the
demon picked up her voluptuous form and carried her to its altar. As she lay
frozen in fear, a voice sang in her mind. Amazing Grace how sweet the sound
that saved a wretch like me…She finished the song out loud, “I once was
lost, but now am found, was blind but now I see.” Her stupor dissipated, and
she sat up not bothering to wipe the congealing blood from her hands. Suddenly
the room flooded with light as she said, “In the name of Jesus Christ I bind
you Morpheus!” Her guardian angel and three warrior angels stood with swords
drawn.
Morpheus, who had walked over to its table
of torture tools turned slowly. Its eyes no longer held the dark malicious
stare of the promise of torturing Isabelle, instead they flashed confusion,
anger, and terror at the vision standing before it. “What are you doing here
messenger of the One?” Morpheus bellowed.
Veritas answered, “We came at the
direction of our Lord. This disciple of his called upon his name and we
responded. You must remember that our God has power over even the depths of the
pit.”
“The One does not have power down here.
This is our place and any moment you will feel the fury of a thousand of us
falling upon you.” Morpheus rubbed its hands together in gleeful anticipation.
Veritas looked up, drawing Morpheus and
Isabelle’s eyes to the ceiling. A cadre of shielding angels covered the whole
room making the rest of the creatures of the Abyss blind to what was happening
in this room. Morpheus glowered with hatred as it asked, “What is it that you
want?”
Isabelle stood. Her skirt, top, and hands
were smeared in whatever creature had last graced this room. Her hair, usually
tied in a colorful scarf was disheveled and as she pushed it back some of the
black liquid smeared on her face, making her look frightening. She walked
directly to the demon and looked up into its eyes. “I’ll tell you what I want.
I want you to give me the illusion of having been tortured…like what you did to
Michael Damious.” Confusion filled the demon’s face. “I need Emmanuel and
Michael to believe that I have learned my place. And if I return without scars,
they will know something is up. Michael showed me what remained of your
handiwork. You will have to do similar work on me.”
Morpheus’s eyes grew bright and its
horrifying smile returned. “As you desire my dear.”
One of the warrior angels spread its wings
and extended its sword toward the demon. Veritas shook his head, “No Morpheus.
You will not be getting pleasure from this. You will only do enough to mark
her. You will not go any farther or you will feel the fire of this,” looking at
the sword pointing at it and over his shoulder at the remaining two angels,
“and their swords, sending you to the waterless place to await your final
destination.”
Growling while walking over to the burning
pokers, it picked up a razor-thin instrument and turned to face Isabelle. “Get
back on the altar!” Looking at Veritas and the others it said, “There is no way
to do this without making her scream. I can not be held accountable for that if
I do as you say.”
Isabelle walked to the altar and laid back
down. “Veritas. Morpheus. I understand what’s coming and I’m ready to take it.”
Swallowing hard she looked at Veritas,” I think it will be necessary for your shielding
angels to allow my screams to leave this room.” Sitting up and looking directly
at the torture demon, she continued, “Whatever pleasure you may take from this
just remember all I have to do is tell what happened here and you are done. And
don’t think I hold my life so dear that I won’t. I’m doing this to further the
cause of my God, the One, as you call him, not to spare my life in the real
world.” Laying back down, she took a deep breath and said, “Now get on with
it.”
As Morpheus did his job, Angelous and
Adder, the demon Lords who had controlled Isabelle’s spiritual walk for most of
her life, smiled sadistic grins as her screams echoed through the lair of the
demonic horde.
