Heaven, Hell, and Earth

Chapter 49

Solomon was looking over all the files he could dig up on Valentino and on the four demonic criminals who had taken part in Pentious's plan for a rebellion that was basically suicide. He was surprised that Pentious had been able to find demons foolish enough to join his cause. After all, unlike humans, demons weren't so easily manipulated and brainwashed. In fact they were usually the manipulators and brainwashers. And he always knew Pentious to be clever and crafty but surely not even he could convince natural born demons to go through with a plan that would end with them all being obliterated.

"Where exactly are you all hiding?" Solomon wondered.

He examined each file carefully, searching for anything that could be a clue to where they were keeping themselves hidden at the moment. Something from their past, or something that appealed to their interests? Maybe he could get a hint from their D.N.A?

"You know if you simply want to talk old friend, you merely just had to ask."

When Solomon heard the familiar voice from his past, a cold chill grabbed him by the bones and threatened to stop his heart. Of course he knew it was only a matter of time before he would have to face his ally turned enemy again, but he wasn't ready for it.

"Hello Dominick." Solomon greeted, turning around and looking for him. "Didn't expect you to make presence known so soon."

"Yes." He heard the voice hiss. "Forgive the intrusion, but I simply had to see you. Have a chance to catch up on old times before things get really messy between us."

"Where are you? And how were you able to get in here?"

"Well that shield doesn't block out humans, does it? Or rather those who were once human."

"Once human? What do you mean?"

Then came a dreadful sight, slithering out from the dark corners of the room was a cloaked figure who then removed said cloak to reveal a wretched creature covered top to bottom in black and yellow scales, thin hands with unnaturally long fingers, eyes  that were bloodshot and like a vicious reptile, legs and toes gone, replaced by a long, black tail, and a face that it twisted self up to resemble of deadly cobra.

Solomon was so mortified that he lost his grip on his cane and fell over. His breathing and his heart rate were both horribly erratic. His mind desperately trying to find some way to discredit his sight. To convince him that what he laid eyes upon couldn't possibly real.

"Yes Solomon it's really me." The serpent confirmed as if reading the man's thoughts.

"My God, Dominick what have you done to yourself?"

"I have given myself a body that unlike yours, will never know the pain and burden of age. While you become weak as you grow older, I merely shed my old skin and become stronger in a new, younger, flesh that grows back. I will forever be as young as I was twenty-five years ago."

"But at what cost? I mean look at yourself! You've mutilated and defiled your own body! You're not even a man anymore!"

"I'm surprised Solomon, you of all people should know that sacrifices are necessary to achieve one's goal."

"Not if said goal isn't worth sacrifice. Can you not see the damage this obsession is doing to you? Can't you see the only thing that lies ahead for you is misery, agony, and regret?"

"I could say that same for you. The way you defend our so-called Lord and savior, despite all the suffering he's inflicted on to you and your children. After all, what kind of benevolent God allows a little girl to be molested by her own brother? Or a poor, confused woman to burn down and kill people without any control over herself? Or a man to be abandoned by his family and another to live with the burden that his birth caused his mother's death?"