You Will Live Forever

Chapter 11: Dead Man Walking

Lucifer above.

That night, I headed up the stairs sighing. It's been a long week so far and for some reason I had the feeling something bad was going to happen to Jeremy tomorrow.

As I crawled into bed, I got the feeling that I was going to receive more special dreams involving the past. I'm not sure how Seth does it but he's able to communicate with my unconscious self. Of course I know it's the stones doing, but I wonder if he himself goes into the dream or if he just sits there, selecting memories from his brain like choosing a book off of a library shelf.

***

Seth stood in a line of demons as a tall godlike man walked by them, examining them closely. His hair looked like it was dyed black and his muscles ripped across his shoulders, back and arms. I noticed Seth was looking at the man with admiration in his face.

Once the man reached the end of the line, he turned around and paced back. As he spoke, his words seemed to draw everyone in, not because of what he was saying but because his tone was so alluring.

"God has stripped your wings, angels. He stripped them because of me. He stripped your wings because he wanted order and rule. He doesn't want immortals to mix with the mortals. But I say the hell with it. We should be able to influence them, even go up to earth and be one of them, with power and money as well as any lover that we desire. We have fallen because God feels threatened. Threatened that we can change the outcomes of these simple mortal lives." He slowed to a stop in front of Seth. "My friend how is it you got here? You were one of his most trusted."

Seth looked at him. "As were you Lucifer, but I believe I fell because of love. I know it was God's way to have everything come to an end, but I didn't believe he would let humans kill animals let alone each other. They were supposed to be his most perfect creation... but they are far from perfect. Humans are savages."

Lucifer looked at Seth, squinting his eyes like he was thinking. "So you killed them."

"Yes. I killed a whole clan before God realized what was happening." Seth looked down. There was much sorrow on his face, but he didn't necessarily regret it.

Lucifer pulled Seth out of line and showed him to the group before them. "Demons... when I was at God's side, this man was in command of an entire legion of angels." Some in the crowd murmured. "And he will now be my right-hand man... second in command and in charge of our own army."

Some hoots and hollers were heard from the crowd.

"Lucifer..." Seth said quietly. "I'm not sure I can jump back into that so quickly."

"Maybe this will make you change your mind," Lucifer said as he cleared his throat and spoke loudly so all could hear. "It has come to my attention that the angels have developed a demon weapon... one that will slay you forever and always. In a way... we can be mortal under a specific blade."

The crowd grew rowdy and nervous.

"Well... will you help us stay immortal?" Lucifer asked. Seth gave a slight nod and the scene faded out and into a new one.

It was dark and Seth was walking around the streets, scoping out a terrible soul that would be his next victim. He turned a corner and lights showed from the buildings as people danced inside and out, celebrating some kind of holiday.

Suddenly, there was a scream. Seth stopped in his tracks and peered into the house that it came from. A heavy man was holding a little girl by the throat and she was struggling to hit or kick him, gasping for air.

Seth's body shuddered as he made himself appear younger. He barged into the house, kicked the man in the balls, took the girl into his arms, and took off. He slowed down once he got into a dark alleyway. He set the girl down and looked into her eyes. It was a younger version of me. Little me thrust my arms around him in a cry of thanks. He slowly hugged back, not really knowing what to do.