Chapter Fourteen
Qwantar quickly approached the outpost DeKaylm. He needed to speak with Krendal, the prince of demons assigned to Israel. The high gates emerged before him, along with the guard towers along the wall on either side of the gates. One way in, one way out. Whether angels or demons, not all who entered survived their visit. And of those who did survive, not all found an escape from the hand of Roger, the outpost commander.
Roger, what a stupid name for a demon. And to think that he chose it for himself.
Suddenly several demons began attacking Qwantar from all sides at the same time. One demon struck the back of his knees with the blunt side of a sword and another struck him in the chest. The impact of both caused him to begin tumbling head over heels backwards as he continued to move forward at a considerable rate. Swords slashed at all parts of his body, ripping his skin.
Qwantar stopped himself immediately and watched the small band of demons continue forward struggling to stop themselves and turn back towards him.
He examined his two arms then stared at the demons in rage. He shook his head from side to side and growled at them.
“Have you no brains you imbeciles? I am Qwantar. I have been sent by Satan himself to Jerusalem on a mission of the utmost importance. Now get out of my way.”
The demons quickly surrounded Qwantar.
“Nobody told us about this little mission of yours,” Hectar said. “You have no business here. Now leave or we will kill you.”
Qwantar stared at them in disbelief. Shaking his head he pulled out his sword.
“Now you listen to me you pip squeak. I am going to enter DeKaylm and speak to Krendal. If you wish to live you will get out of my way now.”
Two of the demons slowly slid the blades of their swords along their edges. The ended with a quick flick of the tips. The swords rang out filling the atmosphere with their vibrations.
Hectar cautiously approached Qwantar. He eyed him with curiosity.
“You’re an ignorant fool if you really expect me to believe that. Besides, no one gets into DeKaylm unless I allow it. No one.”
Qwantar leapt forward and slashed his sword at Hectar.
Hectar raised his sword and blocked Qwantar’s attack. He then whipped his sword around n a circle and attempted to dislodge Qwantar’s sword from his grip. Qwantar flowed with Hectar’s actions and attempted to dislodge his sword. The two demons locked their swords at the base of the handles and moved closer. With their noses nearly touching they stared into one another’s eyes.
The other three demons pressed the points of their swords into Qwantar’s back and sides. They each nudged him to get their point across. Hectar grasped Qwantar’s sword and plucked it from his grip. Qwantar let go and moved back a couple of feet.
“I have business with Krendal. I will see him with or without your permission.”
“Seeing as I have your sword, how do you propose to pass by me?” Hectar replied.
Qwantar looked at the demon on his left. He locked eyes wit him. He took control of the demon’s soul and pulled his sword back. Qwantar then pointed the sword at Hectar. He then took control of the other two demons and pointed their swords at Hectar.
Hectar laughed at Qwantar and regained control of the three demons and pointed their swords back at Qwantar. The two demons battled for control of the other three, neither able to maintain control of all three at the same time for very long.
The five of them slowly began to spin counter clockwise. The swords of the three demons began moving in random patterns as Qwantar and Hectar fought for control. As they spun the three demons formed a circle around the two of them. Swords slashed at both of them but made no contact.
The two of them grasped one another and began wrestling. The tumbled head over heels as the other three demons continued to spin around them.
“You cannot defeat me,” Qwantar said.
“It is only a matter of time till you will be in the dungeons of DeKaylm at the mercy of our torturers,” Hectar replied.
“Never,” Qwantar said.
Hectar pulled Qwantar’s arm closer and sunk his teeth into it as deep as possible.
“Damn you,” Qwantar shouted as he attempted to bite Hectar’s neck.
Hectar managed to keep Qwantar’s face away from his neck as he twisted his teeth deeper into Qwantar’s arm. Qwantar lost all control he had over the three demons and each quickly stabbed him in his torso. The three subdued him and Hectar released his arm and moved away from him.
Qwantar stared at him. And attempted to break free from the three demons. The wounds had immobilized him and he hung limp in their grasp.
Hectar spit out Qwantar’s blood and drug his mouth along his sleeve.
“Take him to the dungeons. Tell the torturers to await instructions regarding his stay with us,” Hectar said.
“You going to regret this you idiot,” Qwantar said.
***
The three demons slammed Qwantar down upon the rock floor of his cell. The three stepped out and Penzreel, the captain of the guard, slammed the gate closed and locked it.
One of the demons, Jitson, looked at Penzreel.
“Do NOT underestimate this one.”
Penzreel eyes Qwantar who was struggling to pull himself up on a flat rock.
“He’s not going anywhere. Hurry up and decide when I can have a little fun with him.”
“Roger is on his way. He’ll be here shortly. Till then, this one is off limits,” Jitson said.
“Good ole jolly Roger. Well, isn’t that sweet,” Penzreel replied. “Maybe we’ll give this one a bath first. What do you think Qwantar? Want to wash off that stench before you meet your demise?”
Penzreel banged on the cell door with a hammer. The other prisoners started shouting and screaming at Penzreel.
“Quiet down,” he shouted.
The three demons left to return to their posts guarding the entrance to DeKaylm. Penzreel quenched the torches lighting the dungeon. He stepped out of the dungeon and slammed the iron door shut. He locked it and grabbed the torch lighting the door and headed back to his quarters. The dungeon fell into darkness.
Qwantar leaned back against the wall. He felt around his torso to assess the extent of his injuries. He could heal himself faster than most demons, but these wounds would still take a while.
He could sense seven other prisoners in various states of health. He could draw some life energy from them but not much. He could feel something in the dungeon blocking his power.
“Qwantar,” a voice whispered. “Is that really you?”
“Who speaks to me?” he replied.
“An old friend.”
“I have no friends.”
“Well, an old ally then.”
“What is your name?”
“Lucky.”
Qwantar chuckled. “Lucky, eh. How do you figure that?”
“My old ally Qwantar is here isn’t he.”
“I am not your ally,” Qwantar replied.
“Sure you are. Don’t you remember? Egypt and Babylon were at war, bout five hundred years ago? Good old Neb thought he was a God, wandering around in the wilderness eating grass like the beasts of the field.”
“Go on,” Qwantar said.
“The Eternal One sent Gabriel to Daniel. We resisted him together. That is till Michael showed up with some of his idiots.”
The demon speaking to Qwantar coughed a few times.
Qwantar searched his memories. Any battle that old was bound to be fuzzy.
“And,” Qwantar said.
“You saved me from destruction. Then I saved you. We did not stop Gabriel, but we did live to fight another day. We did lay to waste a couple of the idiots Michael brought with him. Managed to turn one of them who got a good shot in on Michael. Not a mortal wound, but enough of a wound to make him retreat a bit.”
“Wahsail? Are you Wahsail?”
“Yessss.”
Qwantar willed himself to his feet and made his way closer to the bars. He grasped a bar with his right hand and leaned his body against the wall.
“What are you doing here?” Qwantar asked.
“A bit of misfortune came my way,” Wahsail replied. “I was nosing around trying to figure out what this place is when that same little Hectar that you encountered ambushed me and here I am. They really don’t like visitors here, ya know what I mean.”
“How long you been here?”
“Who knows. Long enough to know I don’t want to be here any longer than I have to.”
“There has to be a way out of here.”
“So I am told.”
Qwantar tried to straighten up some to breathe easier but the pain fought his efforts. He desperately needed to focus his attention on stealing some life energy and healing his body.
“Listen, how often do the guards come around here?” Qwantar said.
“Depends.”
“On what?”
“Just depends. I figure they are going to be back soon to find out more about why you are here. They don’t like hearing the name Satan around this place. Gets em all nervous. And the fact that you said you need to speak to Krendal, well, let’s just say you have their attention. Not a good thing in this place.”
“Let’s hope they don’t drag their feet too long. I have work to get done, and Satan is watching my progress.”
***
“Get Hectar in here right now,” Roger bellowed. “I can’t believe we have Qwantar in my dungeon.”
Roger’s aid, Dweena, immediately left his office to retrieve Hectar.
Dweena walked down the corridor towards the main gates of DeKaylm. She effused a cloud of sulfur which trailed behind her. As she approached the gates she began to trot then broke into an all out run. Demon’s scurried for the huge gates and began tugging on the chains attached to the gates handles. The Gates slowly began to open.
“Get over here you slime and help,” one of the demons cried out.
Demons rushed to the gates and grabbed the remaining chains dangling from the gates. Together they pulled with all their might. The space between the gates began to widen. First a few inches, then a foot, then a yard.
Dweena dived forward and flapped her wings a couple of times. She easily doubled her speed and flew out the gates. The rush of wind behind her pulled a cloud of dust along obscuring the demons opening the gates leaving them all coughing and whining. A second cloud, a cloud of burnt sulfur, slowly enveloped them and assaulted their nostrils with the rotten stench from one called Dweena.
Dweena shot across the expanse between DeKaylm and the guard post where Hectar was stationed. Demons nearer to DeKaylm scattered to get out of her way. Their ranks thinned the further she moved further away. Eventually there were no more left between her and the out post.
She slowed as she neared the out post then cupped her wings behind herself to slow her speed. She dropped her legs and feet below herself and landed on the watch platform surrounding the out post. She tucked her wings in tight behind herself and hit the platform running. After a few moments she slowed to a trot then a brisk walk. She headed straight for Hectar’s office.
***
Qwantar made his way back to the stone bench. He sat down and managed to position himself in a meditative position with his legs crossed like a Hindu guru. He leaned back against the stone wall and began to focus.
He let his soul drift from his body and began examining the other prisoners. He found one in near perfect health. It was an angel. He latched onto the prisoner and began to draw upon it’s life energy. He could feel himself grow stronger as the life energy began to collect within him. He took a deep breath and then increased his focus. The rate of transfer speeded up.
Qwantar had taken life energy from angels before, but this one seemed especially pure and powerful. He would be able to heal himself much quicker than he had previously supposed.
He began to work on his wounds. The swords had been thrust in to his torso pretty deep and had cause damage to some of his vitals, though not enough to kill him quickly. He felt the deeper wounds beginning to close.
The angel tried to resist him but it was no match for his soul. A young one, he mused.
“Lucky,” Qwantar said.
“Yes.”
“Interested in getting out of here?”
“Always.”
***
Dweena burst into Hectar’s empty office. She could faintly sense his presence.
“Hectar, where are you?” she said to herself.
She looked out the window into the expanse around the out post. Closing her eyes she searched for him. After several minutes she found his presence three levels beneath her. He seemed unaware of her presence in the out post. That was about to change.
She quickly exited the office and looked for a staircase. Several demons between her and the staircase froze in their tracks when they spotted her. She flicked her wings and flew over them and into the stairwell. She landed and quickly descended two levels.
The air became warmer as she exited the stairwell and looked around. The room was full of demons feasting on, well she wasn’t quite sure what they were feasting upon.
She scanned the room looking for Hectar. She saw him as he saw her and headed right for him.
The crowd of demons began to part as she made her way across the room. Every sound dried up like water in a white hot furnace. A quick evaporation then nothing.
“Hectar,” she shouted as she approached him. “Am I delusional or do I have Qwantar in my dungeon back at DeKaylm?”
“Qwantar? You mean that demon who was trying to break through our ranks so he could assault Krendal?”
“You idiot. We have been waiting for him to arrive. Now, we must follow protocol and await Krendal’s arrival before we retrieve him from the dungeon. Only Krendal can release someone from there.”
Dweena slapped Hectar as hard as she could. He fell over backwards off his chair and scrambled to get on his feet. Dweena towered over him. She was a full twelve feet tall, she usually toward over everyone. Prior to the rebellion she had been an Archangel. One of Satan’s assistants. She was still one of Satan’s assistants. Well, sort of. She was now Krendal’s chief of security for the region. A position Satan felt she was most suitable for.
She grasped Hectar’s throat and pulled him up to her eye level, his legs dangling in the air.
“Listen you little dweeb. Krendal is on his way. Qwantar summoned him to DeKaylm two days ago. He is on a mission, sent here by Satan himself. Did you not listen to him?”
“He is not the first spy to claim to be here on Satan’s orders. He refused to halt and attacked me before we could confirm his presence. I did nothing wrong.”
“We’ll see what Krendal has to say about that. Mean time, you’re coming with me.”
She dropped him to the floor and grabbed him by his hair and dragged him towards the door. She picked up her pace until she was running full speed then leapt forward and flapped her wings a couple of times. She pulled Hectar under her and grasped him with one arm beneath her. She slipped her arm around his chest and hooked her claw into his exposed armpit. He immediately squirmed but stopped when she squeezed him harder.
They streaked across the expanse back to DeKaylm.
***
Qwantar release his grip on the angel’s soul. No need to drain him completely. He may be questioned if he drained the angel some, but he would be executed if he drained him completely. Angels can be a very useful bargaining chip with the Eternal One.
“Wahsail,” Qwantar said.
“Yes.”
“Are you strong enough to come with me?”
“Come with you? Where?”
“Out of here. I have to meet with Krendal. He is to meet me here today.”
“I would say your already on the list to meet him.”
“Yes. But I don’t plan to meet him hiding behind these bars. It would insult his intelligence.”
“What do you propose?”
“The guard will let me out when we are ready.”
“Just like that,” Wahsail said.
“Just like that. Satan does not ask for my services for ordinary things. And he doesn’t consider failure an option. Do you need life energy?”
“I never turn it down, but I am in pretty good shape. They have left me alone for a few days and I have been able to drain the others a bit.”
“Good. I will summon the guard.”
***
Dweena slowed her pace as she approached the gates. The closed gates. She stared in disbelief at the closed gates. Gone for a mere 10 minutes and they close the freaking gates?
Over the centuries she had found that working with demons can be a very frustrating process. She landed on the watch platform and banged on the door. A small door, about the height of her navel, opened and a squeaky voice cried out.
“Who is it?”
“Why did you close these gates? I told you I would be right back and to leave them open. Not get them open!”
“Dweena! Oh my, I didn’t know, no one told me you were coming right back. Just a moment.”
The sound of chains being drug across the stone floor echoed through the small opening. Demon footsteps pounded the rock as they rushed to pull the chains.
The gates slowly began to move and an small opening appeared between them.
“Hectar, push!” Dweena shout at him.
Hectar picked a door and began pushing it with all his might. The door swung open and Dweena quickly grabbed Hectar by the back of his collar and entered DeKaylm.
Glaring at the door guards she screamed at them, “Close them, Now!”
She briskly drug Hectar down the long corridor. She threw him through the door into Roger’s office when they finally arrived.
“Here, every office needs a village idiot. Here’s yours,” Dweena gave Hectar a swift kick as she walked passed him. She eased her tall frame into a chair next to Roger’s desk.
Roger drop kicked Hectar across his office. An air borne Hectar hit the wall about six feet off the floor, bounced off the wall and crashed to the floor. Roger pounced on him and pummeled his head into the floor.
“You idiot,” He screamed at Hector. Qwantar! You have Qwantar locked up in my dungeon. With Krendal on his way here to meet with him on business for Satan himself. Are you nuts! Are you trying to get us all killed?”
He drop kicked him again. Hector bounced off the wall one more time. He rolled over on his side just in time to see Roger’s foot crash into his belly.
“Get the fool out of here. Put him down in the dungeon. I’ll let Krendal decide what to do with him.”
***
Qwantar focused his will on Penzreel slowly gaining control. Penzreel got up from the bed in his chambers and grabbed his set of keys. He headed down to the dungeon. He was well aware that he was going to the dungeon but did not know why.
He unlocked the outer door and closed it behind him. He started to walk towards the cells when he turned around and looked at the door. He went back and unlocked the door and pushed it all the way open. He turned and headed for the cells.
He entered the cell chamber and went to Qwantar’s cell and unlocked his door. He then went to Wahsail’s cell and unlocked his door. He returned to Qwantar’s cell and handed Qwantar the key ring. He entered the cell Qwantar had just occupied and close the door behind him. Qwantar locked the door and he and Wahsail quickly headed out of the cell chamber to look for a way out of the dungeon.
***
“I can’t believe this imbecile had the audacity to lock up Qwantar. Qwantar. Damn.” Roger said and slammed his fist into the top of his desk. He looked at Dweena and continued, “Krendal will have a field day with this. I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t throw us all into the dungeon. Go and wait for him on the watch deck at the front gates. Be sure he has no delays entering the out post. Bring him here immediately and do not, I repeat do not tell him about where Qwantar is. I’ll explain that one to him.”
Dweena left Roger’s office. She began musing on how to spin all this to her advantage. She had desired Roger’s position since the day she arrived. Now, it may have been handed to her on a silver platter. Hector had been Roger’s decision, over her objections. She had never trusted him to get it right. Krendal wasn’t one to reward incompetence. But, Hector had been her responsibility and she was by no means safe from his wrath. But, she did get the first shot at filling him in on the situation.
Demons quickly headed for the gates as she approached. The pulled on the chains until they were open enough for her to exit.
“Open these gates all the way. Krendal is coming and has his usual company of demons with him,” she said.
The demons pushed the gates open as wide as possible and awaited their master.
Dweena paced on the platform as she processed the situation. Krendal had always liked both her and Roger but had grown wary of Roger’s personnel decisions. Roger had discussed Hector with Roger before he was given the guard post he commanded. Only twenty demons and the first line of contact with any intruders from the west. Who couldn’t handle that. Obviously Hector.
Almost from the start here had been issues with his judgment. That and the fact that he did not check communications very often had led to this embarrassment. She had forwarded Krendal’s instructions to Hector as soon as she and Roger received them. Hector had no excuse. He was history. Roger on the other hand may be able to place all the blame on Hector and still retain his position.
“Visitors approaching,” one of the demons shouted from the top of the tower.
Dweena stopped pacing and adjusted her attire. She had chosen to wear Krendal’s favorite color. She needed every advantage right now.
Krendal and seven guards descended to the watch platform as one unit. Two guards landed first, then Krendal flanked by guards on either side, then three guards followed.
“Dweena, you look lovely,” Krendal said as he approached her.
“Just for you my Lord,”
Krendal smiled.
“Has Qwantar arrived yet? He seemed most anxious to speak with me.”
“Yes, here has been here for several hours.”
“Good. Where is he, I want to speak with him immediately.”
“There has been a slight problem with his accommodations,” Dweena said.
“A problem. Explain.”
Dweena pull Krendal into one of the guards towers by the gates.
“I only tell you this myself because of the gravity of the situation. Normally, I would let Roger handle this with you.”
Dweena let her words sink in a little before she continued.
“There has been another incident with Hector. It seems he did not heed my communication regarding Qwantar and arrested him.”
“Arrested him!”
Krendal backed Dweena up to the wall and snarled in her face.
“There better be a good explanation for this,” he said.
Dweena slid herself sideways and off the wall until Krendal released his grip on her throat.
“There is no good explanation Krendal. He is Hector. I opposed his appointment and have done everything within my power short of camping out on his little out post to ensure compliance with your expectations. He simply needs to be gone. He is in the dungeon awaiting your decision regarding his fate.”
“Is Qwantar in the dungeon also?”
“Unfortunately, yes. We have awaited your arrival to release him at your command.”
“Take me to him. Now!”
Stepping out of the guard tower she grabbed one of the demons by their ear. She picked him up and placed his ear near her face.
“Inform Roger that Krendal needs him in the dungeon,” she said.
Then she motioned for Krendal and the seven guards to follow her to the dungeon.
***
Qwantar closed the door to the dungeon behind them and locked it. Wahsail grabbed the torch beside the door and the two headed down the corridor. The came across the door to Penzreel’s quarters and stepped inside. Qwantar placed the dungeon keys on the hook next to the door.
The two stepped out of the quarters and listened to the silence. The only thing they heard was the sound of their breathing. Qwantar closed his eyes and focused on detecting the presence of anyone else.
Satisfied that they were alone, they continued down the corridor looking for an exit.
The walls were stone, cut square and smooth. Their polished surfaces reflected the torch light with ease, lighting the corridor at least twenty feet in front of them.
They came to fork in the passage, which diverged into three passages. Qwantar looked at Wahsail.
“Three ways out?” Qwantar said.
“I doubt it. More likely to find more dungeons down at least one of them. And more dungeon masters.”
“Hmm. Well, any clues which way to go?”
“Do you feel that?” Wahsail asked.
“Feel what?”
Wahsail held his torch into the first passage. The flame burned straight up. He held it into the second passage and it burned straight up again. He held it into the third passage and the fame flicked and leaned into the passage.
Qwantar quickly headed into the third passage. He went about twenty feet and stopped.
“Hear that?” he asked Wahsail.
“Someone is coming.”
“Sounds like Krendal.”
The two quickly retreated. Wahsail returned the torch to Penzreel’s quarters. He quickly joined Qwantar in the first passage at the fork and waited in the darkness.
The sound of many footsteps became louder as they waited. They group of demons walked in silence as they approached the fork.
“This way,” Dweena said.
Qwantar and Wahsail watched Dweena, Krendal and two of his guards head towards Penzreel’s quarters.
“Penzreel,” Dweena said as the arrived at the door of his quarters. She stepped inside to retrieve him.
She stepped out into the corridor.
“He is not here but his keys are.”
“Curious,” said Krendal.
He looked back up the passage to the fork. He slowly walked back towards it and peered into the first two. Qwantar and Wahsail covered their eyes to hide their red glow. Krendal stood still and listened. He looked back at Dweena, then back down the corridor.
He turned and went back to Penzreel’s office.
“Most curious. Has Penzreel ever neglected his post before?”
“No,” Dweena replied.
Voices down the third corridor drew Krendal’s attention away for a moment.
“Which dungeon is he in?” Roger said.
“Penzreel’s,” a small demon with him said.
They emerged from the first corridor and stood in the fork of the corridor. Roger glanced in the other two corridors and then headed towards Penzreel’s quarters. He took several steps in that direction then stopped dead still. His eyes met Krendal’s.
“Roger,” Krendal said. “Explain to me why I am standing in front of Penzreel’s quarters.”
“Qwantar attacked our guards in front of DeKaylm earlier today. Hector subdued him and brought him here. He did not identify himself, just attacked without warning or provocation,” he replied.
“Hmm, didn’t you inform your guards that Satan sent me a visitor?”
“Apparently Hector did not receive any communication. I can only surmise that Dweena has demonstrated her incompetence again.”
Dweena stepped out from behind Krendal.
“Oh that message got sent to Hectar, your little favorite guard. Once again, he ignored his orders and took things into his own hands,” she said.
“Come,” Krendal said. “Take me to Qwantar.
Roger stepped past Krendal. He snatched the key ring from Dweena and headed for the cell chamber.
Qwantar and Wahsail watched the light from their torch fade as they headed away from them. The two quickly headed out of the dungeon.
They came to an iron door at the end of the corridor. They stepped through and emerged into a large round chamber with a collection of doors in the walls. Some doors were short, just a few feet tall and some were over twenty feet high. Some were iron and some were wooden. A small demon sat on a small stool in the center of a round table made of stone.
The demon looked at them and rose up off the stool. Qwantar quickly took control of it and began probing it’s mind to determine which door led to Roger’s office.
The demon held out a key ring for him and pointed him towards an iron door with a green fuzz on it’s surface.
Qwantar snatched the keys from him and unlocked the door. He and Wahsail stepped through the door. He turned to the demon and tossed him the key ring and they headed for Roger’s office to await Krendal.
© 2011 John Pearson All Rights Reserved.