After-Life

Chapter 18. The Piper Returns

The girl returned her gaze to the celebrations taking place in the square and breathed in the aromatic scents of the freshly baked goods that the bakers were displaying on a host of tables. Eloquently, she opened her arms wide and started to dance in a circle, following the memory of townsfolk around the square; all the while, the melody from the entertainers grew louder and more excitable. The trio stood uncertainly to the side, watching the performance with a growing sense of trepidation.

Finally, Eric leaned closer to his friends, "I'm not the only one who thinks our tour guide is a little... y'know... unhinged?" he whispered, uncertainly.
Kristoph and Mabel nodded, slowly; as the young girl laughed out loud, with her empty eye sockets creating a negatively haunting element to what should have otherwise been a joyous event.
Eric shook his head in disbelief, "she let the piper in? So, she knew the guy! How does a child her age, know a guy of his age?"
Mabel chewed at her bottom lip, "I'm not sure, although – Kris? How did you know the piper was possessed?"
Kristoph explained his reasoning, "you see, Asmodeus has a scent. It's not your typical sulphur, rotten egg smell that you would naturally associate with a demon from Hell. His is sickly sweet, like honey. I suppose it's a better way of gaining the interest of someone you like, smelling nice," He shrugged, "I smelt it straight away from the Piper, but it was more potent. It was so strong! Almost like he should have been dripping in honey and syrup from head to foot. I'm surprised you guys couldn't smell it?"

For anyone who has a passion of a subject matter, there comes a moment in their lives where a mere word or description can trigger the memory of a torrent of pointless information on a related matter. As Kristoph detailed the scents of honey and syrup, with the background music playing so sweetly and the townsfolk dancing around; Mabel found herself traversing down a mental rabbit hole of mythology. Slowly, but surely, the pieces started to add up in her mind and as the realisation hit her like a brick to the face, her eyes widened in horror.
"This is not going to be pleasant," she frantically whispered.

While their tour guide continued to laugh and dance, Mabel grabbed hold of Eric and Kristoph's arms and dragged them to a quieter area of the town square. It was a spot that offered a vantage point from all angles, to avoid any unwanted attention from the deity whom she quietly hoped was out of sight and mind.
"Mabel, what's going on?" Kristoph murmured, holding her shaking hand tightly, "what do you know?"
Mabel swallowed hard, "how much Greek mythology do either of you know?" She asked cautiously.
Kristoph sighed, "little to none, there was a battle in Troy? I think? Some guy with a weak ankle?"
Eric snorted, "his name was Achilles, and it was his heel" He elaborated, before turning to Mabel; "I know some, why?"
"Well," Mabel wrung her hands, "this is medieval Germany. Religions are shifting from the more pagan beliefs to the more institutional. I'm struggling to believe this could be the case, but it all adds up that the deity who is possessing the piper, might be an early pagan god from Greek mythology."
"Which one?" Eric frowned, "there were hundreds!"
Mabel grimaced, "out of all the Greek Gods, there's only one that comes to mind who could shepherd wild creatures; flirt with anyone and everyone as he represented fertility. He also had a penchant for playing the pipes."
Eric's eyes widened in horror as his mind caught up with Mabel's. Kristoph however, looked completely lost at sea and stared wildly at them both, "who?!" He asked, exasperatedly.
"Pan." Eric croaked, "of course it would be Pan;" he groaned weakly as he slumped forward and rested his head heavily in his hands.

"I don't understand, who's Pan? What's wrong with him?" Kristoph asked, his concern growing.
Slowly, Mabel started to explain. "Pan is a demigod from ancient Greece. His father was Hermes, the messenger God, his mother was Penelope, a human – also the wife to Odysseus, but that's a whole herd of pigs I won't go near!"
Eric's snort was muffled as he rubbed his face, but he pointed at Mabel, "I see what you did there."
"Anyway," Mabel continued. "He was born part human, part goat. When his mother saw him, she ran away in fear, supposedly. The Gods loved him though, and he became the link between humanity and wild wilderness. He could also be vicious when provoked and terrifying too! His call to battle was said to instil fear and panic in to the enemy, hence the term panic deriving from his name."
Kristoph stared blankly at Mabel, "I mean, this is fascinating, but I don't see how he could be causing any harm to the children?"
Mabel looked around at the people dancing and her eyes rested on their tour guide, who had returned to her spot by the side of the square and was staring, listlessly toward the incline out of the town.