Nathan lowered his arms slowly before studying his surroundings with choreographic movements. Each witch shivered as his glowing eyes met their own, as he was staring into their souls. His face was devoid of emotion, studious and logical.
Nathan, or whoever he now was, looked down at his feet where he noticed the circle he was standing in. Looking up, he slowly opened his mouth.
"You have summoned this one," he spoke. The voice, however, was not of his own. It spoke in whispers, but each word was strangled. The voice had no air to whisper in, but still reverbed throughout the room. Similarly to Judas during the conjuring, it exaggerated the articulation of every word.
"Yes, oh Great Duke of Hell. We express utmost joy over your presence," Judas said.
"How may this one be of service, human souls?"
"We are followers of the fallen one, oh Great Duke," Judas responded. "We believe in his ideals to oppose the tyrannical word of God and embrace the knowledge of Freedom."
Nathan, now apparently possessed by some form of entity, stared into Judas' eyes. There was a pause between his every sentence, one that filled the room with a deafening silence each time it occurred.
"This one comprehends. Then, what is it that you seek from one such as this?"
"We seek entry to Hell, oh Great Duke. We wish to attend the Pandemonium, where the Infernal Council plots in opposition of the tyrant."
"Humans, you seek to travel to a world beyond that of mortal concept. Hell is unforgiving and you will find yourselves useless to the attendance you seek."
Judas smiled under his mask. The conversation was going just as he had predicted. The demon that they had summoned would try to see the reasoning for their desire in an attempt to familiarize itself, as a way to manipulate their will.
"Hence, we wish meet with the fallen one himself. We are prepared to do so, as we were in summoning the Great Duke."
For a millisecond, Judas noticed a very faint smirk take shape in Nathan's face, but immediately shift back to its neutral expression.
"Very well. This one comprehends, and wishes to hear your bargain."
Before Judas could respond, John lashed out in a nervous screech from across the circle.
"W-We offer you this body to control, oh G-Great Duke!" she stuttered. Her voice was trembling with fear, as was her body. "We offer the b-body of N-Nathan Whitaker, son of the Jonathan that...!"
John stopped she noticed Judas' piercing glare at her. She had spoken out of turn, as he had planned to present the offer in a more professional manner.
The entity stood still for a few seconds, not even breathing.
But then, the began entity rotating its head to an impossible angle to stare directly at John who stood behind it. John jumped at the sight of the haunting display of supernatural possession, as did Luke and Mark.
The entity said nothing, but simply stared into the eyes of John with an unchanged expression. John found herself unable to return its gaze, averting her eyes to Luke next to her.
The entity grew a plotting smirk. "Nathan Whitaker of The Jonathan... This one must thank you for the generous offer."
Judas made a silent sigh of relief. The one insecurity about the plan was the true value of Nathan's body, but now all conditions had been cleared for their successful travel.
"Then, Great Duke," he began. "Do we have a deal?"
Rather than rotating its head back to face Judas, the entity kept its stare at the shivering John.
YOU ARE READING
Infernal Paradise
FantasíaA Witches' Sabbath is held in the unsuspecting Nathan's apartment at night, but the conjuring goes horribly wrong. Nathan finds himself infused with the power of both angels and demons, and also discovers a note with traces to his long-lost father...
