Heaven, Hell, and Earth

Chapter 33

It was midnight when the cloaked figure a.k.a Dominick Pentious set to work on the next phase of his plan. His lair was hidden deep underground within a labyrinth of various traps and prisons. The decayed corpses and skeletons of long dead prisoners were littered everywhere, while rats and cockroaches scurried about. A filthy and revolting place, but perfect for hiding someone who wishes not to be found. Or rather, someone who wishes not to be found yet.

At that moment, Pentious was looking over the written contents of the book he had stolen, Satan's Journal, scanning the pages for a particular spell that he was seeking to cast this night.  He finally stopped on one page, producing a tailsman from around his neck, a green and amber stone surrounded by an iron snake. Next he pulled from his robe, an apothecary mortar and pestle bowl, a red rose, willow leaves, oak leaves, blackthorn, and a citrine stone. He crushed the petals, leaves, fruit, and stone, mixing them together in the pestle bowl with the mortar. He then held the tailsman over the mixture and began to speak in tongues. The green-amber stone glowed, transforming the mixture into bright red embers.

"Excellent." Pentious said. He picked up the bowl and turned to his demon associate Valentino. "Tonight, when everyone is asleep, I want you to smoke these embers by the bureau and whatever you do don't inhale them. Just blow."

"Why? What are these supposed to do? Burn down the joint? Poison them? Suffocate them?"

"No fool!" He snapped. "Have you forgotten already?! We need them alive! And for future reference, they are not to be harmed in any fatal manner! Is that clear?"

"Clear as a bell. But if they're supposed to be alive, then what is the point of all this? Last I checked, embers cause nothing but harm."

"These are no ordinary embers. They don't burn or produce smoke, when inhaled it shows you what you desire most, and if you inhale in slumber, you get to experience it."

"How does this help?"

"We want their cooperation. I will show them that joining our cause will grant them what they desire most, while Solomon's will get them nothing. But first I must know, what is it their heart's desire? What do they wish and yearn for? What is something they want so terribly, that they would forsake even their faith for? Destruction? Peace? Revenge on the humans who wronged them? A want to reign over them like Gods?"

Valentino took the bowl of embers from Pentious and slipped away to the front of the bureau. He lit a cigarette, dipped the end into the embers, and when it caught fire, he blew. He blew forth a fog of red that slipped through each crack and seal of the bureau, entering rooms and casting their spell.

...

Charlie was sitting in garden of grass, surrounded by joined bushes, shrubs, and a bed of moss. Pretty flowers were full in bloom and filling the air with sweet perfume. Delicious fruit was ripe, and all around there were wild animals who were behaving in a peaceful and docile manner. The sun was shinning bright, the blue sky was clear, she felt warmth and happiness all over herself. In that moment, she was so joyful and fulfilled, that she began to sing.

Her lovely singing soon attracted someone. A man. A man who would never believe that anything or anyone was more beautiful than the young woman with flowers in her golden hair and wearing a sundress. She felt his gaze on her and when she saw him, she smiled. He was just wearing a simple shirt and pants, but she thought that he was the most handsome man in the world. Even with his red hair, horns, and fangs.

"Can't catch me Al!" She teased before getting up and bounding lightly away.

Alastor quickly rushed after her. They both excitedly ran through the grass and bushes, going past several bystanders who did nothing but smile and wave hello to them. They didn't look upon them with fear or disgust. They were watching them as if they were two regular young people in love.