Dantalion-of-the-Goetia-Revised-Version-21

Dantalion of the Goetia

Author: Tina M. E.

Artwork: Summer R. E.









1

“Dantalion of the Goetia”



Contents:



Dedication

The Quest

Chapter 1 The Fallen

Chapter 2 Evocation

Chapter 3 Samhain

Chapter 4 Underground

Chapter 5 Demonic Seal

Chapter 6 The Altar

Chapter 7 Gwynnedd

Chapter 8 Thirty Six Legions

Chapter 9 Eternity

Chapter 10 Mortal Soul

Chapter 11 Demonic Lord

Chapter 12 Sacrifice

Chapter 13 Call upon God









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Dedication

This book is dedicated to the

strength of the human spirit……

And to the legions that guard

over them……









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The Quest

Conspire;

Begin now;

Lifetimes amidst

Flashing desires.

Scenes dart between illuminations of anguish;

Where is your shelter?

I sob row upon row,

Licentious and of fire.

Reward me enlightenment,

Uncontrolled and biting as the blade,

What shall I fill in this space when I tire?

Over the dusty miles of unfound treasures

There is but one haven

Where the craft is not the quest;

Nor is the valor which accompanies it,

Delicate meadows feed places untouched

As if to offer solace among its uninvited guests.

Has anyone ever seen the boy who hovers in the chasms?

Chameleon to the night;

He is crafty and of caliber,

Grasping daggers around my bleeding heart,

Guarding fires I ignite.

Fools; we are all entwined,

Disquieted in our own right,

It is the hour;

Branded moon knows of slumber.

I chisel sun-bathed gods of flesh,

Masters in the art of intrigue,

Evading secrets splashed within thunder.

Conspire;

Begin now;

Lifetimes amidst

Flashing desires.





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Chapter 1 The Fallen









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Chapter #1 THE FALLEN



He sat at the throne of the heavens, guardian to mankind. This was his dominion. Soul



pure of heart, Dantalion‘s perfection was his gift from God. His eyes, piercing spheres of



onyx, longed for more than his immortality could give. It was ordained, from the



seraphims to the archangels, that he who committed but one of the seven mortal sins



would be condemned.







Dantalion‘s desire brought him a vision of a mortal girl by the name of Lilith, her spirit



free, long black hair blowing with the winds of the desert storm. Dantalion had lusted for



this mortal girl. Her mortality was his to take. She was not afraid of Dantalion and when



they met in secret, the moon was full above the pines in the Courtyard of the Undead.



It was the eve of the Summer Solstice. The stone wall that outlined its border made it a



sacred place. The only sound was that of their breathing. The scent of roses filled the



air. Wisteria hung over the altar as he led her there below it, to the jagged stone, like



that of the face of a mountain. His eyes tried to unlock her vacant expression, studying



every inch of her delicate frame, from her ivory skin, to the black silk that fell beneath



her naked mortal flesh. She was forbidden to him. Her fingertips traced his immortal



form, moving them across his dark hair, over his shoulders, and to his expansive wings.



They knew it would result in their demise. He took her flesh in his and they loved, with no



fear. This night, under the full moon, Dantalion fell from grace.







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When the angelic orders discovered his transgression, it was decided:



“He, who bears the name of Dantalion, hath fallen from grace. An



angel of saintly appointment, he hath committed one of the seven



deadly sins, the sin of lust! So it is ordered, he shall be exiled for his



transgressions, his woman „Lilith‟s mortal soul shall be taken to the



afterlife. He shall be chained to the sacred altar of the Courtyard of



the Undead, his angel wings severed from his body, his immortal



soul taken from him. Because of his lust for a mortal woman, he will



then be forever cursed to haunt the mortal souls of women during



the phases of the new, waxing and full moon. He shall be branded



with the mark of „Incubus‟ a demon… and he must come forth to



the ‟Succubus‟ named Gwynned during the waning moon as



penance.”







She too bears the seal of the undead…she was his counterpart – his



punishment for his transgression…Gwynnedd was a seductress whose



obsession with beauty poisoned her soul. She grew jealous of any living



creature of beauty, man or woman. Because she was unable to bear



children of her own, she poisoned those who could and stole their



children. She was turned into a serpent demon for all eternity. Her



barbed demon tail of venom, she was a loathsome serpent with wild hair,







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pale face and lips, blood red. Her demon eyes held power over his.



Dantalion heard Gwynnedd abandoning her last seduction and so began



his penance.…One by one his tortures began…her venom poisoned his



body as she ravaged his flesh. Only on the new moon was he released.







Some say even the fallen can reclaim their salvation. His salvation wore the face of a



mortal girl. I was the girl. I did not yet know of him, or his exile. I was to welcome his



presence. And the pain it brought. I was to be tempted by the taste of his immortality.



I bore the resemblance of his woman, Lilith. She was the reason for his fall from grace.







The sound of leaves swirled along the brick leading me toward Sterling Memorial Library.



I‘ve studied everything from Celtic and Welsh Myth, to Arabic Mythology and the Salem



Witch Trials of 1692. How ironic that society still honors a Pagan holiday like All Hallows



Eve. The Celts believed this was the only time of the year that the outer boundary



between the men and the souls of the dead could cross between the two worlds. They



lit bonfires to honor the dead and to guide them in their journey.







Religious Studies at Yale was my Major, but all the myths were my passion. My fixation



on the occult had me most recently, interested in ―demonology‖. I found my way inside



the library and searched for a quiet place to sit. There was a small table up against the



window and surrounding it, walls of books formed a private cubby around me. Rich



crown moldings complimented the hanging light fixtures and I felt like I belonged in







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another time when I came here. For one of my class assignments I decided to hold a



ceremony honoring Samhain. Since it wasn‘t considered a ―traditional student activity‖,



there was a lot of controversy as to my holding a Pagan ceremony within the center of



Old Campus. I decided to hold it off campus at the courtyard across the street from



where I live. One of the main reasons I moved to New Haven, Connecticut was that my



rental house was less than ten minutes from downtown Yale, New Haven. The old



Victorian house was directly across the street from the other reason I moved here. The



courtyard. It was called ―The Courtyard of the Undead‖ by the locals. The courtyard



was said to be cursed by the Undead. Chains bound the undead to jagged stone



beneath an altar. They were not just regular spirits, but said to be those who were once



immortal, stripped of their immortality and transformed into demons. Locals say that



each demon condemned was branded with a seal. I never knew any of this by just



looking at the courtyard. Directly across from my house was an unmarked trail of



decaying leaves leading into another world.







At the start of the trail was an enormous oak, its canopy a protection into my secret



realm. The trail was hardly ever walked on and when I first explored it, I was afraid I



might get lost, the many trails leading deeper into a place I had never been. As I



passed through the forest, a slight incline led me through a narrow path. The trail



opened up into a grove of low lying shrubs and a meadow filled with hundreds of



wildflowers. Past the meadow I could see pine trees emerging, touching the sky.



Beyond them were the stone borders outlining the Courtyard of the Undead, its walls







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surrounding a central courtyard, sunken beneath eye level. At one end was a towering



pedestal cut into stone. Beneath the pedestal formed an altar of jagged stone like the



face of a mountain, thick iron chains embedded into the center. Wisteria spilled over



the altar and the scent filled the courtyard. Several feet away from the altar stone



pillars formed a circle nine feet across. I was not certain of its purpose. Outside the



stone walls were arbors that housed dozens of species of roses. Their scent mingled with



the wisteria and became an intoxicating elixir of serenity. I never saw anyone here at



the courtyard, and I claimed it as my own. I could never imagine this being the place



someone would be condemned. My thoughts wandered back and I started thinking



about the nightmare I had again last night….







I envisioned I was there, in the Courtyard of the Undead, standing inside a circle,



words being recited from my lips. I fought to free myself from whatever grasped



me there, but it felt right that I should be there, my purpose played a crucial role



in this ritual. I felt the sharpness of something drawing into my bare flesh…and the



amber yellow glow in the darkness…a whisper calling out „Lilith‟.







I woke up and raced to my bathroom, gasping for air. I flicked on the light and saw the



gashes across my arms, blood trailing down into my long hair. That‘s when I knew it was



real. That‘s what drove me mad. I‘ve tried to make sense of the nightmares. I can‘t



place why I see this demon constantly. And how he fits so perfectly into my fantastic



visions.







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I gathered my things up from Sterling Memorial Library, making my way over to Beinecke



Rare Book and Manuscript Library. I knew they had The Lesser Key of Solomon there.



The first section is what I was after. It was a book of Grimoire called the Ars Goetia by



Aleister Crowley. It contained descriptions of seventy-two demons evoked by King



Solomon. I hoped to find out more about the demon I saw in my nightmares. Upon



entering, the first thing I noticed was the entire center of the library from the ground to



the very top floors was encased in some type of clear material specially created to



preserve the millions of rare manuscripts and books. Rows upon rows of centuries old



secrets kept guarded and contained, under special temperature and lighting. The



library was about to close and I didn‘t have much time, so I skimmed through the Ars



Goetia and found what I was looking for. It explained that certain demons, when



summoned, were compelled to obey whomever evoked them. Each demon was



branded with their own demonic seal. It warned to be cautious, and never command



or question the demon‘s purpose. I would just have to wait to find out what that



purpose for me was. Outside the library I sat by Woolsey Hall and pulled out another



book I had checked out of Sterling Memorial Library. This one was on Arabic Mythology.



It described a female demon named ‗Lilith‘. She was believed to originate as a storm



demon who seduced men. She would come to them in their sleep and beget children



from them. She is said to dwell in the desolate desert. The photo depicted Lilith as a



‗Succubus‘.









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Heading back home, I cut through Cross Campus, past Battell Chapel and over to the



New Haven green. My mind was racing about a million things, everything from the Ars



Goetia to Arabic Mythology. When I pulled my car in front of my house, the sun was just



setting. I reached over the seat for my book bag, heavy from all the subjects I had



been researching in addition to all my regular subjects. I knew I really needed to start



planning for the Samhain ceremony that was coming up in the next few weeks.







Cold air rushed in when I opened my front door, blowing leaves inside the living room. I



brushed them out onto the front step. Red, yellow and orange colors coming from the



trees in the front yard lended a canopy of beautiful colors. Tall trees on the side of the



house could be seen through a stained glass window off the spare bedroom. I would



always meditate there and could see the moon through the facets of glass. My living



room was really comfortable, with two sofas forming an L shape against the corner of



the room and a large oval glass table with scrolled designs in the middle. In the center



of the room on the far wall stood the fireplace, its stone hearth the focal point during



the cold winter months. Scholarships I received helped with school, and the money I



was left from an inheritance paid my rent for now. I started for the stairs leading up to



my bedroom, and across from it was a spare room where I kept a small altar, black



velvet rested underneath. In the center was a small cauldron for burning sage, incense,



and many other herbs during my rituals. A large pentacle sat next to the cauldron. A



glass goblet was filled with water, sometimes it was wine. The strike of my match lit the



candle and the scent of sage filtered through the room. The pointed blade of my







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athame scooped up three mounds of salt, emptying them into the goblet of water,



stirring three times. The crystals resting on the black fabric were passed through the



sage representing air, and over the flame representing fire. A sprinkling of purified water



over the crystals represented the water element. I began reading a cleansing spell from



The Book of Shadows. Inside it were spells, incantations and many other writings I had



kept over the years. I placed the charged crystals onto the pentacle representing



earth. I hoped to rid my nightmares and bring clarity for my day ahead. After



extinguishing the candle and incense and closing the ritual, I went to my room and



climbed into bed. It wasn‘t long before it began. The nightmares. This time, it made my



body tremble.



I could feel in the darkness of my bed, his cold strength. I could only see the



shadow of a male figure – it was slender – yet defined. It moved over my body



like a serpent. I felt my shirt being pulled off and a force move lower. I couldn‟t



move but I felt every pulsing minute driving me crazy. This thing held me in its



grasp, becoming one with me. I couldn‟t fight it. I was completely spellbound. It



whispered a name that wasn‟t mine, „Lilith‟. It called this name once before I



think. I felt my body being able to move again and the demon had left me.







I thought I was still dreaming when my alarm clock blasted me out of sleep. It was



morning and I was freezing! My clothes were on the floor of my room. I wanted to know



who or what was happening to me. I spent most of my days thinking about this demon



and becoming obsessed with his visits to me.







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I got dressed and drove to campus. I had to meet with the Student Activities Director to



coordinate the Samhain ceremony. She was also High Priestess holding the ritual at the



‗Courtyard of the Undead‟. I went inside her office and I could always tell she was in.



The scent of sage filled the halls. It was a distinctive scent. Stained glass lamps lit the



corners of her room and Celtic music played softly in the background. She was an older



woman with a kind face, her long hair falling past her shoulders.



―Good morning Professor Good‖, I smiled.



―Good morning Laurel‖, she leaned over to me to smudge me.



Professor Good always felt the need to cleanse everyone on campus by taking sage



and passing it over their body to cleanse their spirit. It actually felt good, like it really



worked.



―How are faculty handling our idea of a Pagan ceremony?‖ I asked.



―Oh, that‖ she smiled. ―Don‘t you worry. We‘ll convince them it‘s a wonderful



opportunity for the students to get a sense of ‗diversity‘ on campus!‖ she laughed.



―Well, since I am a Religious Studies Major, it does make sense doesn‘t it?‖



―Indeed‖ she responded.



―I hoped we could have it on All Hallows Eve‖ I asked.



―Absolutely!‖ she agreed.



―I know that on this night, even the fallen, or the souls of the dead can cross between



the world of the living and the dead‖, I added.









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―That is true. And sometimes, the demons that haunt the living are immortal souls of



those who had been unjustly accused‖. Professor Good went on.



She was a true Wiccan Priestess. One who practiced Witchcraft and firmly believed in



―An ye harm none, Do what ye will‖. This was a code that witches adhered to. It meant



that we should never practice magic to harm others. As long as it harmed none, we did



as we wanted. The most important words of the Wiccan Rede, the code witches lived



by, was that of the Threefold Law. It meant that if we ever practiced magic against



another, that misfortune would befall us three times over.







There were many spells we could use for protection to keep enemies away without



doing any harm. It was sort of like a talisman. The Full Moon spells worked the strongest



magic, New Moon spells were for new beginnings, love and romance. The Waxing



Moon was for constructive magic. It was the Waning Moon that no spells were worked.



This was a time of rest to regain energy. The witches calendar honored the four Major



Sabbats: Samhain, representing the Celtic New Year , Imbolic representing the festival



of lights, Beltane, representing fertility and many called it ‗May Day‘, and Lamas which



represented the first harvest and the end of Summer. There were also Minor Sabbats



honored as well. Professor Good thought it best to use Samhain for our ceremony. My



friends Erin, Lucia and Rowan were the newest members of our Coven. We practiced in



secret at the Courtyard. Professor Good decided it was always best on the Full Moon.



Witches draw on its power and cast the most powerful spells during its energy. The



moon has always been referred to as female. She mirrors the stages of women, Maiden







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as the New Moon, Mother as the Full Moon, and Crone as the Waning Moon. She is



forever changing as are we.



―Professor Good, I wanted to ask you something‖.



―Go ahead Laurel‖ she was curious.



―I have had visits in my dreams. Or rather nightmares. They‘ve been happening a lot. I



think a demon has been seducing me. I know it sounds crazy, but I have the scars to



prove it!‖ I leaned over and showed her the razor sharp marks on my arms.



―How did you come by these?‖ she asked.



―I woke up from a nightmare and they were there!‖ my voice was shaky. I started to



feel like she was going to tell me something I didn‘t want to hear.



―Laurel, some of us, the ancients, that practice the Craft, believe in past lives. They say



that sometimes a soul is re-born in the embodiment of another‖. Her eyes grew wider.



―Do you think that this demon you speak of could perhaps, be trying to tell you



something?‖



―I don‘t know what he wants. I know I heard him whisper the name of „Lilith‟ once or



twice and I didn‘t know why‖.



―My dear‖ Professor Good interrupted, ―Lilith is a ‗Succubus‟. She is a seducer of men.



She comes to them in many forms, but only for lust. She is sometimes personified in the



Craft as the Goddess of erotic dreams!‖



My mouth fell open. I couldn‘t believe it. This demon seducing me was calling out to



her- to Lilith!









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―Don‘t worry Laurel, if you use your gifts you will find the answer. Sometimes the answers



are never clear. What appears to be one journey in a lifetime turns destiny into



something entirely different. Visions and fate are not always set in stone. In the Craft,



we have the ability to bend the future, to change what is necessary to make unheard



of things come to pass. When the spirit of the soul is diminished, it is not necessarily



extinguished. It only lies dormant – waiting for strength of the human spirit to lift us higher



– stronger than we ever thought we could become,‖ she smiled.



I felt better. And stronger. But afraid of what the next nightmare would bring.









17

Chapter 2 Evocation









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Chapter #2 EVOCATION



Dantalion‘s lust was my obsession. His curse was mine alone to bear.



Strange as it seemed, I welcomed it. Every night. Pain consumed me but



at the same time, gave me something back…an empty reflection of the



taste of immortality. His was the only voice I ever heard…He became an



elixir pulsing through my blood. I could hear his breathing, beside me in



the night. Sure as a scream, wearing the face of the angel of darkness.



His lust was uncontrolled, almost animal-like, the coldness of his skin



moving across my body…he is beautiful…. My fingertips traced the



contours of his flesh…sculpted to perfection…slender and defined. Across



his arms, over the ripples that defined his abdominals, then to the narrow



margin of hair that began at the naval and moved downward. This



sensation forced me to believe this was not the flesh of anything that



would hurt me.







My nightmares drew me into his world, and so it began….I found myself



standing in the Courtyard of the Undead, staring down at a circle that



had been drawn before me into the earth. This was a demon‘s seal, with



markings showing rank, title and demonic powers. I heard words being



recited from an ancient Grimoire….the Ars Goetia. They were the words



from a familiar voice, not my own, yet they flowed freely from my lips…









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“Demonic Lord, by your grace, grant me, the power to evoke the



Angel of the Fallen, Dantalion, who bears the seal of „Incubus‟, I



beg thee bring forth Dantalion to manifest before me, of his



allegiance, that he may serve and protect me, in your name,



Demonic Lord. The legend is foretold, from the writings of the Ars



Goetia…he who bears the name of Dantalion, hath fallen from



grace. An angel of saintly appointment, he hath committed one of



the seven deadly sins, the sin of lust! So it is ordered, he shall be



exiled for his transgressions, his woman „Lilith‟s mortal soul shall be



taken to the afterlife. He shall be chained to the sacred altar of the



Courtyard of the Undead, his angel wings severed from his body.



His immortal soul taken from him. Because of his lust for a mortal



woman, he will then be forever cursed to haunt the mortal souls of



women during the phases of the new, waxing and full moon. He



shall be branded with the mark of „Incubus‟ a demon… and he



must come forth to the ‟Succubus‟ named Gwynned during the



waning moon as penance.”



After reciting the evocation, it summoned this demon, this ‘Incubus‘ to my



mortal dominion binding his spirit to my soul! He had no choice but to



reveal his true form…Now, in the darkness of the Courtyard of Undead,



inside its stone borders, a waning moon cast a sliver of light onto the









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jagged rock beneath the altar. I collapsed when my eyes gazed upon



him:



His arms were bound in chains. His nails were all out, perfect dagger-like



extensions of the fingers that touched my skin. He wore the mark of



‗demon‘ on his forearm…a dagger lay at his feet. His dark hair fell past his



shoulders, jagged parts around his face partially covering his glowing



amber-yellow eyes. He was beautiful…even as a face of the undead.



This spirit of his was now bound to my soul, we were an unbreakable



bond…This bond that brought us together compelled me to free him from



his curse. I know why I had been called upon, my body used as the



medium to restore him to her, the woman, ‗Lilith‟, who bore my



resemblance. It was her words I heard flowing freely from my lips that



summoned the demon! Her love for Dantalion transcended time! She



waited for him all this time. And he waited, stripped of his immortal soul,



for eternity it seemed, to find me. To find her. This was his chance for



salvation.







I inhaled deeply and reached for the dagger, hands holding firmly onto



the hilt, I thrust it into my chest. Blood began pouring down like rain,



surrounding my body. His glowing eyes were fixed on me. I began



gasping for air…I glanced up to a beautiful demon, breathing life back



into my lungs. I welcomed his mouth on my lips. His dark hair fell all







21

around his face and down to mine. His strength had been restored and I



could feel the pressure of his embrace. He had laid me at the base of the



altar, holding my pale face in his hands – still bearing the dagger-like



extensions of fingers, cutting into my skin. He pulled the dagger from my



chest. When the words were spoken of his curse, Dantalion revealed his



true demon form to me for the first time, on this night. Yet, the evocation



did not release him from his exile. Lilith‟s words could not set him free…



His spirit was now bound to my soul. He finally spoke to me… his words



were from another time.



―My name is Dantalion. I have fallen from grace…exiled. I come to you in



your sleep. I lie with you in mortal flesh. My demon form was hidden from



your sight. In me beats the heart of the Undead.‖



I listened to the haunting sound of his voice.



―A woman I once loved has summoned me. She comes forth before me



now.‖ He knelt beside my bleeding body. His arms passed over me and



caused the bleeding to stop. I felt no pain.



―It is foretold, I am branded with the seal of ‗Incubus‟. I would not have



merely one woman, but you have summoned me. You have



transcended time as an embodiment of Lilith. She is alive in your spirit.



And your mortal flesh bears her resemblance.‖









22

I felt my strength leaving me and welcomed death now, my body tugged



and lifted, as if I was floating above everything below. There was the



scent of something I did not know. I cannot remember, only that I was still



breathing…. Above me were shadows I could not recognize, and a



familiar voice. I was fortunate enough to be alive. And to have an angel



over my shoulder.







I found myself in the confines of my room after that night. I pulled the silk



sheets up to my chest to settle in a little more comfortably. The pain



coming from the puncture wound in my chest kept reminding me it was



real. I glanced across the room at my windows, all the shades sealed



shut, without a crack of light to peer in. Ever since I moved here from



California, strange things began to happen. I had settled into this house,



far away from everything I knew. I felt an energy and a presence in the



upstairs spare bedroom. It was the spirit of a girl I never saw, but felt her



move through my body during one of my rituals at the altar. Since that



night, I began having the nightmares. I was convinced it wasn‘t real. But



it was. And it is. This demon called Dantalion would never hurt me. He is



bound to my mortal soul. My useless attempt to save him only left me



once again with an emptiness even immortality couldn‘t fill. A soul of the



undead bound to a mortal eighteen year old girl.









23

For days it seemed, he did not come. I was positive there was something



more he needed from me, and I knew we would see each other again, I



just didn‘t know when.







I started to fall asleep when a gentle brush on my arm made me flinch. I



began to feel his cold skin against my body again. The feeling moved



across my bandaged chest. I felt the pain from the puncture subside,



something delicately lifting off the bandages from my chest! I was



completely awake, but now my body was unable to move. I knew it was



him. He said nothing, moving away quickly. I fell back asleep and when I



opened my eyes the next morning, my wound was completely healed!







The sound of wind chimes through the outside window woke me up. I



walked downstairs and the light caused me to strain my eyes. So much



had happened to me. I wanted him to come back. But until he did, the



least I could do was force myself to get dressed. I painstakingly



searched through my wardrobe, slipping on a faded pair of jeans and a



concert tee shirt. Working the brush through my tangled hair, I decided



today was definitely a hat day, grabbing one of my favorites, the black



knit one with the buttons on the side. When I got across the street to the



grove, it was still like I thought, wildflowers covering the field, but now



bearing deep colors of Autumn. I crossed hesitantly toward the tall pines







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surrounding the courtyard. I remembered what I saw… and what was



said.



―Hey Laurel‖, a voice startled me out of my thoughts.



It was Rowan. I knew that Rowan found me here that night. He raced me



to the hospital. A puncture wound. Didn‘t even come close to my heart.



I was actually happy to see him. He always made me feel better when I



was near him. Rowan lived two houses down from me. I remember when



I first arrived at my house with the rental truck, he immediately came over



to help me move my stuff in. He talked about the neighborhood, and



how he knew where to go and where not to go in downtown New Haven.



He also knew about the Courtyard of the Undead. I didn‘t know what to



make of him at first, but he seemed like a nice guy. He lived with his aunt



and told me if I ever needed anything, I was welcome to stop by. Rowan



was pretty average looking - kind of handsome I guess. And tall. He had



short black hair and a goatee. He was always smoking a cigarette every



time I saw him, and each time I tried to quite smoking, he‘d always tempt



me with a menthol.



―How you feeling?‖ he asked.



―I‘m alive I guess, thanks to you‖, I replied.



―Whatever you were feeling Laurel, it wasn‘t worth trying to kill yourself.‖



―Listen Rowan, you really don‘t know anything about what‘s going on in



my life right now‖, I argued.







25

―Strange things have been happening to me. There‘s this presence, this



shadow. It‘s real.‖ I pleaded.



―Okay, so it‘s real‖, he said, trying to humor me.



―It comes for me. It consumes my thoughts. And my body‖.



―Laurel, whenever you need a friend to talk to, you know I‘m always



here‖, Rowan was sincere. I knew I would never go knocking on his door,



even if I needed a friend. I was so introverted. I hated being that way.



It‘s just the way I was.



We walked out of the courtyard and back to my house.



―You wanna go downtown?‖ Rowan asked.



―Yea, I need a change of scenery from my dark dungeon‖ I laughed.



It‘s the first time I remember laughing in a long time. Rowan always made



me laugh. It was only ten minutes to downtown New Haven, so we



decided not to drive and to walk. Rowan was a good friend to have



around. Especially walking the streets of New Haven. He knew everyone



it seemed. As we were passing the tattoo shop on State Street, I felt a



cold wave wash over my body. I was compelled to look inside. I caught



a glimpse of a shadow – something strange that moved away really fast.



―Wait a second, STOP!‖ I yelled.



Rowan was already way ahead of me. He turned around to walk back to



where I was standing, outside the shop.



―It‘s there!‖ I shouted.







26

When Rowan had looked inside he didn‘t see anything at all.



―I don‘t see anything‖ he smirked.



He thought I was crazy. I knew what I saw. We kept walking, the glare of



the sun taking my mind off what just happened. I always joked to my



friends I was like a vampire, never liked the light. Only came out at night



most of the time.



We decided to go visit our friend Erin. She lived downtown off campus



near Yale. I texted her and she met us at the coffee shop by the green.



Erin was also a student at Yale, a Religious Studies Major like me. She had



tons of scholarships and grants for school. She liked it closer to downtown



than I did. She always tried to introduce me to her ―campus‖ crowd, but I



was always my introverted, shy self. I stayed away from too much



nteraction, other than the usual studying at the campus libraries and



going out once in awhile. Erin was petite with reddish brown hair. She



was pretty without any makeup on and was really reserved. She always



had an analytical way of thinking. She thought with her head, never with



her heart like I did. Erin was Rowan‘s type, both great listeners. They both



agreed, along with Lucia, my other friend, to be a part of my Coven. We



used to practice rituals every week or so, then it became once a month.



Not everyone has the ability to practice magick, or possess clairvoyance,



but I mastered them both.



―What‘s good?‖ Rowan said to Erin.







27

―Hey Rowan‖ Erin was grabbing her homework out of her bag, which was



almost bigger than she was.



―What, you need to do homework on Saturday?‖ I asked.



―Umm, no, I just thought in case you guys didn‘t show, I‘d have something



productive to do!‖ she chuckled, moving a strand of reddish hair away



from her eyes.



We all sucked down some cappuccinos and walked in and around



campus.



―Laurel, I heard what happened to you. How do you feel?‖ Erin asked.



―I‘m fine. Brand new, thanks to Rowan‖.



I started thinking of Dantalion again. Rowan could tell by the look on my



face it would be better if we just changed the subject.



―So, we‘re all meeting at the Courtyard tonight right?‖



―Yea, definitely!‖ Erin answered back. ―Tonight‘s October 31st, its



Samhain, or ―Halloween‖ for the rest of the world!‖



As they were talking, I felt the cold penetrate my body again. I glanced



over behind one of the gothic gates leading into the residence halls and



saw as dark shape moving quickly behind an alcove! I tore off from Erin



and Rowan.



I raced over to the alcove and it was gone!



―I know I wasn‘t seeing things!‖ I screamed aloud.



―What the hell is she talking about?‖ Erin asked Rowan.







28

―Oh, Laurel‘s been having these nightmares – or dreams- whatever – I‘m



surprised she never told you. She sees this shadow person in her



nightmares and she tells me he becomes real-like outside the dream- like



a shape shifter or something that seduces her!‖



―It‘s not as crazy as it sounds‖ I defended myself.



―Erin, you being a girl of rational mind, you know that if a person has the



power to go into deep meditative sleep, their thoughts become real. Sort



of like an outer body experience. Anyway, anything that is felt or seen



can manifest in reality. It haunts me in my dreams AND comes for me



when I‘m awake! It‘s true!‖



They laughed out loud.



―Right‖ they both said in unison.



―C‘mon, I‘m not lying to you guys. What happened to me at the



courtyard – it‘s no accident!‖



―You‘re not kidding‖ Rowan said.



―Trust me. This is real‖.



We walked back home after dropping Erin off. Rowan put his hand on my



shoulder and stopped me before we got inside my house.



―Laurel, you know the night I found you there, bleeding to death? It



freaked me out.‖



―Okay Rowan. I know. I owe you.‖ I said, feeling guilty.









29

―Don‘t say it like that – it‘s alright. Just don‘t become a victim to your own



fears okay?‖



―I know. I‘ll try to keep it in perspective. I won‘t let my imagination get



me into any more trouble,‖ I lied.



―I‘ll see you in a little bit at the courtyard okay? Better yet, I‘ll walk you



over‖ Rowan offered.



―Alright, just knock when you come back because my doorbell‘s broken,



okay?‖.



He laughed. ―Yea, I know. See ya.‖









30

Chapter 3 Samhain









31

Chapter #3 SAMHAIN







I Immediately called up Lucia to tell her to meet us tonight at the



Courtyard in case she forgot. Lucia was my other best friend. She was



taking up Humanities as her Major. She lived the farthest from campus.



She was the outgoing type, and really trendy in her style. She always wore



some new outfit every time we would go out and constantly changed her



hairstyles. Lately, it was dark black, short and tapered up the back of her



neck. The front was longer and had blonde streaks running through it.



She had a pretty dark skinned complexion and wore way too much make



up.



I heard Rowan knocking on my door.



―Hey‖ I yelled from inside the house. ―I‘m not ready yet, It‘ll only take me



a few more minutes‖.



―No problem‖ he yelled back. ―I‘ll just wait outside‖.



I hurried to finish getting ready. When I came back downstairs, he was in



front of my house smoking a cigarette. I peeked out the front door.



―You look beautiful‖ he said eyeballing me.



I had a burgundy silk cloak on. It had a grey fleece lining to keep me









32

warm on the colder nights of our rituals. It would definitely keep me warm



tonight as the air was crisp with the feel of autumn. I took the hood off



and my black hair fell down past my shoulders.



―Thank you‖ I smiled. ―Where‘s your cloak?‖ I asked.



―It‘s over there.‖ He gestured to the steps. ―I thought I‘d wait till we get



there‖.



―OK‖ I nodded.



He kept staring at me. I thought he was acting weird. He took my hand



and we went inside my house. Rowan always liked me, but never really



did anything about it. He was a good friend, and I guess he wanted to



keep it that way. Especially since I was always telling him about a male



demon overtaking my body and soul. He seemed a little jealous every



time I talked to him about it so I tried not to mention it anymore. Rowan



didn‘t go to college. He worked driving a delivery truck. He always



talked about going back to school. I tried to convince him he should. He



reached in his pocket and took something shiny out and rested in my



hands. It was a moonstone pendant.



―Rowan, it‘s beautiful. You shouldn‘t give me this‖ I felt strange. Like this



would change our friendship into something more. Something I wasn‘t



sure I wanted to give yet. I still had a deep obsession for the demon



named Dantalion.









33

―Laurel, I want you to keep it. It‘s a moonstone. They say if you place the



stone under your tongue during a full moon you can interpret your



dreams.‖



I laughed out loud.



―I don‘t know If I want you to know what my dreams tell me! ―



―Maybe it will make them go away‖ he joked.



―Yea, make them go away‖ I repeated almost sadly.



I didn‘t want them to go away.



―We better get going‖ Rowan said.







He leaned over and kissed me on the cheek. I didn‘t read anything into it.



It was the least I could do for a boy who tried to save my life. We walked



outside my house and Rowan reached to get his cloak from the front step.



It was black velvet, with closures in the front. He slipped it on and we



crossed the street, walking toward the grove.







It was dusk when we approached, and a dim light settled on the field



between the grove and the courtyard. The Queen Anne‘s Lace and



billions of yellow wildflowers veiled the field. Rowan leaned over and



picked a handful, placing them inside my clenched hands. Neither of us



said a word. It started getting dark and Rowan and I met up with Erin and



Lucia outside the courtyard‘s stone border. Professor Good, who was our







34

High Priestess for tonight, and the other eight coven members were



already down at the circle. People from the campus started arriving soon



after. Candles flickered at all four points from the wall representing the



North, South, East and West. A huge bonfire burned in the center of the



circle. The embers broke into the sky and you could see the huge arbor in



the distance where the roses of summer had once been in bloom.







Once everyone had arrived, the High Priestess summoned everyone to



gather around the circle. She wore a deep sea green cloak, and stood



at the base of the altar, underneath were the jagged rock formed the



mountain face. The moon was full by now, and it shone through the pines



lining the courtyard.



I had remembered what Rowan said about the pendant he gave me.



Moonstone can prophesize the future. I slipped the stone off the chain



and placed it under my tongue. The full moon‘s power should help me



interpret my dreams. I wanted to know what was happening to me. Why



I had evoked Dantalion. And why the words from the Grimoire didn‘t



release his demon curse. I wanted to see him again. And my obsession



with him wouldn‘t let me stop. Every time I tried to tell my friends, they



thought I was losing my mind. I thought I‘d keep my nightmares to myself



from now on.









35

The High Priestess spoke in a hypnotic tone, ―Welcome all, to our Samhain



ceremony. For those of you who are new, and do not know of Samhain, it



is said to be the only time of the year that the outer boundary between



the men and the souls of the dead can cross between the two worlds.



This is the time to honor those who have passed on, and to summon up



those we would like to see once again.‖



She took her athame, a beautiful gem garnished dagger with moonstone



and clear crystal on the hilt. She pointed downward to the earth and



began casting the circle chanting….



―I conjure thee, o circle of power, that this outer boundary between the



men and the realms of the great guardians preserve and protect the



powers I shall raise within.‖



She pointed her athame up to the sky and began:



―Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the East, I do summon, stir and call you



up to witness these rites and guard in this circle.‖



She repeated this chant toward the South, West and North, kissing the



blade at each point. She proceeded four times around the circle, each



time with a different element, fire, air, water and earth. After the circle



had been cast, all the members of the coven held hands and formed an



interlocking circle.









36

―Let us begin the spiral dance!‖ the High Priestess commanded.



All the thirteen coven members joined hands and since I was on the end I



reached for the other members who had joined us for the ceremony. We



chanted over and over again, circling around the bonfire, faster and



faster. The chant became louder and stronger, and I could feel the full



moon‘s power being raised from within us all. The moonstone was tucked



under my tongue and I was hoping this ‗drawing down the moon‘ energy



would release the stone‘s power. We continued with the spiral dance, by



the High Priestess‘ command, each member working individual spells



under the power of the full moon. I recited my own personal incantation,



and when all the voices came to a whisper, we released hands thrusting



our energies toward the center of the circle. I felt the stone burning hot in



my mouth. I spit it out onto my hand and its milky color turned completely



clear!







I fell into a trance-like state envisioning the face of Dantalion. I saw him



reach out to touch me, only it wasn‘t me, but the face of another demon



with red eyes! The demons devoured one another, and with each attack,



gained strength and power. Two identical women became one now,



Lilith‘s spirit controlling my physical body.









37

The High Priestess closed the Circle, pointing her athame once again up



to the night sky.







―Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the East, thank you for attending our



realm.‖



She moved South, West and finally North, kissing the blade at all four



points. The coven joined in a feast of drink and food within the circle.



Slowly, one by one, the guests left the Courtyard, thanking the High



Priestess for allowing them to share in the ritual. The thirteen members of



the coven, including myself, extinguished the flames of the fire circle.







―Laurel, tell us what you saw‖ Erin wanted answers.



I didn‘t want to tell them what I saw. The stone was supposed to



prophesize the future. And my future was now consumed by something I



had no power over.



―Nothing. I think the energy was just really strong‖ I lied.



―Yea, I felt this crazy energy, when we were all moving fast around the



Circle‖ Lucia said.



―That‘s called ‗drawing down the moon‘, I replied.



Rowan lit a cigarette. ―I‘m feelin good now, so let‘s party!‖









38

Everyone starting making strange animal noises into the night, Rowan



howling at the full moon.



―Where should we go tonight?‖ Erin asked.



―You‘re the campus socialite!‖ I laughed. ―Why don‘t you tell us if there



are any campus parties we can go to downtown. It‘s a full moon on



Halloween night. There has to be some dark demon-clad lair we can



haunt!‖



―Well, there are a few I know of‖ Erin replied.



―Listen, why don‘t we go back to Laurel‘s for a little while‖ Lucia said. ―I



want to fix my hair and make up.‖



―Okay. Right. So let‘s head over to Laurel‘s‖ Lucia spoke.



Erin brought a lantern to the ritual to help guide us back through the trail



from the Courtyard.



―Laurel, this looks different walking through the trail at night. It looks



creepy,‖ Erin commented.



―I‘m used to it. I come here all the time.‖ I replied.



We made our way through the Courtyard and past the grove, the massive



oak tree waiting for us at the end of the trail. We emerged from the



woods, crossing the street to my house. I had my porch light off because I



knew I wasn‘t going to be home most of tonight. All the trick or treaters



were shuffling about the street. The air was crisp and Rowan lit a



cigarette, the smoke drifting upward in a cloud. I glanced over at him







39

and without saying a word, lit one for me. We all stood outside the front



of my house while we finished smoking.



―Laurel, I thought you quit‖ Erin commented.



Rowan answered, ―She smokes whenever she feels like it‖ and winked at



me. I just smiled and nodded.



Everyone went inside, sitting down in my living room. I turned on my fake



Jack O‘ Lantern illuminating the fireplace mantle.



―Does anyone want a fire?‖ Rowan asked.



―No – we‘ve had enough fires for one night. That bonfire smoke is all in my



hair!‖ Lucia complained.



After Lucia and Erin fixed their hair and make up upstairs, we decided to



get going.



―We can take my car tonight. Let‘s head downtown‖ Erin said.









40

Chapter 4 Underground









41

Chapter #4 UNDERGROUND



We drove around for awhile before Lucia parked the car. Erin convinced



her to park on State Street. We had to do a lot more walking than usual,



but everyone was in a party mood and didn‘t seem to mind. People



were dressed up in crazy costumes. The usual ghosts, vampires, monsters



and witches were out and about. We all decided if anyone asked us



what we were supposed to be for Halloween, we would all say the



obvious, a Coven of Witches!







The air was crisp, and the moon was still out lighting up the street while we



walked.



At the corner, we stopped at a club and peered inside. It was small, with



a good size crowd. There was a small stage area in the front right, and



tables were over on the left, across from the bar area. An alternative



band was playing and we went inside, pressing against each other, slowly



pushing our way to the back near the exit. Lucia and Erin were eyeing a



devil and a werewolf, while I scanned the club for a beautiful demon with



amber-yellow eyes. I knew Lilith had inhabited my body and would



continue to search for Dantalion until he was restored to her through me!



Lucia leaned over to me joking, ―What do you think – should I sell my soul



to the devil?‖



I laughed – ―At what price?‖







42

―Why don‘t we ditch this place and go to another club?‖ Erin asked.



We all nodded in agreement, walking out the back exit and heading



down the street. Rowan decided he wanted to take us to another



section of town. After walking for awhile, Lucia and Erin started to look



annoyed.



―Hey Rowan, where the hell you taking us?‖ Lucia asked, trying to stay



calm.



―Don‘t worry. I‘ve got your backs!‖ he smiled. ―Just follow me. I know a



lot of cool underground clubs we can check out tonight.‖



―He‘s not even the college undergrad!‖ Erin mocked.



―He knows everyone and everything in downtown New Haven. Trust me!‖



I stood up for Rowan.



Rowdy and full of energy, we followed Rowan past a few more clubs but



none of them looked interesting.



―Just don‘t lose us in some underground death trap okay?‖ Lucia



laughed.



Rowan laughed, smoking his menthol. ―Don‘t worry‖.



I took a drag off his cigarette. Rowan took my hand. ―Follow me‖.



We all followed him down a dark side street. There were people standing



on the corner dressed as a choir of angels. We laughed at our witches‘



garb we were wearing in contrast to theirs.



―You sure he knows where he‘s going?‖ Erin complained.







43

―We‘ll be fine‖ I assured her. I knew Rowan was street smart and I wasn‘t



worried hanging out with him.



―That‘s strange‖ Rowan looked at me. ―Never knew this was here‖. He



pointed to an unmarked doorway leading down a dark stairway.



―Let‘s check it out‖ Lucia said. She was half way down the stairs before



Erin and I could even argue. Rowan followed behind us. There was an



awesome darkwave music playing. The whole club seemed to



materialize out of nowhere. It seemed so small before we emerged at the



bottom of the dimly lit stairs. There were round tables throughout the club



and in the center was a dance floor with lights that clung to our bodies as



we walked by. All the bar maids had pale white faces and blood red lips.



Candles lit the walls of the entire club and we passed at least a dozen



back rooms with couches.



Lucia leaned to me and said ―Oh baby, we‘re in for a party!‖



―What the hell is this place Rowan?‖ Erin asked.



―Don‘t worry, you‘re with me‖, he reassured her.



There was screams as we passed another one of the rooms. The air was



thick with the smell of smoke, bodies and liquor. Half the people walking



around wore dark, gothic, or some type of erotica clothing. Rowan



guided us past the rooms until we went inside one at the very back of the



club. It was dark with incense smoke filling the room, and candles were









44

on the walls like in the rest of the club. There was a table, like the altar in



my spare bedroom, with a goblet of something red inside.



Erin leaned closer to me. ―This is really an elaborate Halloween set up!‖



Lucia was already drinking something from one of the tables with Rowan.



Sitting next to them were two elaborately dressed demons. One had



piercing black eyes and spiked short black hair, the other‘s dark eyes



looked directly into mine, locking into a gaze. He began to read from a



worn ancient book. One by one, people gathered around the table



chanting satanic words we could not understand. All of them wore dark



robes, hoods covering their heads and most of their faces. One of the



members pulled up their sleeve, cutting into their flesh with a dagger from



the table. The blood was contained in a vessel beside the burning



incense. Smoke continued to fill the room and the chanting grew louder.



―There‘s no way that‘s a Book of Shadows‖ I told Erin.



Both of us knew damn well what it was.



This demon that locked my gaze continued reading from the book of



Grimoire. Since I was a practitioner of the occult, and interested in



demonology, I wanted to know more.



―Laurel, the book of Grimoire is supposed to be a secret fictional book



that reveals secrets of the dark arts‖ Erin explained.



―It‘s not the same as the healing powers of ‗An it harm none, do what ye



will‘. This is hard core black magic, you know, demonic stuff!‖







45

I felt the surge of the demon‘s heart beating inside mine. The hooded



members moved slowly out of the room, Rowan, Lucia and Erin following.



My eyes were still fixed on the demon- I recognized him – it was



Dantalion. His form was not as I had seen the night I evoked him – he was



human form.



―I know you!‖ I begged. ―You were real!‖



―I was‖ he replied. ―I am. Some say even the fallen can reclaim their



salvation. My salvation wears the face of a mortal girl‖ he spoke to me.



I heard these words before! He swilled down red liquid from a goblet –



wine or blood- I wasn‘t sure. Holding out his arm he grasped mine. I saw



the mark on his forearm! The one I saw the night I evoked his demon form!



I tried to pull away but his strength held me fast. I could hear my friends‘



voices in the back room and smoke filled my lungs.



I looked over at his gorgeous dark eyes. I remembered he was the



reason I breathed air. His love infected me. He was the elixir that pulsed



through my blood.



―Come, know he who bears the name of Dantalion‖. He was the



„Incubus‟ , the angel of darkness - I saw him in my nightmares. He was



beautiful, even as the face of the undead. I knew we would see each



other again, that I had evoked something dangerous, but his spirit was



bound to my soul. His was not the flesh of a demon that would hurt me.









46

He spoke to me. ―I come to you each night of my own will, of mortal flesh,



during the three phases of the moon. But, when the moon wanes from



the sky, I go to her, the „Succubus‟ that bears the seal as I, of eternal



damnation. The words spoken from the Ars Goetia evoked my true



demon form.‖



He raised his arm over the open Grimoire on the table, mist clouding the



air. Now all that remained was he and I.



His voice was haunting, hypnotic like in my dreams:



―Close your eyes, she who evoked my demon form. See me as I once



was. Know why I have fallen from grace. And know the reason you have



summoned me. Be prepared to give something in exchange.‖



I was, ever since he first haunted me in my dreams, obsessed with his



beauty. I had seen his true form the night in the courtyard, and I was not



afraid.



A stairway led me upward, and as he led me by the hand, I continued to



climb the spiral steps, feeling my body become weightless. Mist



surrounded us, and when we reached the top, he did not follow.



―This is hallowed ground, the gate to heaven. Here I cannot tread, nor



can any mortal.‖



I saw what looked like Angels, some illuminated with golden light, others



iridescent. Those with six wings covered their heavenly bodies, others,



child-like, had four wings. Some sat upon what looked like thrones of







47

heaven, in groupings, like a choir of angels. One angel‘s wings were



severed from his body. It was Dantalion! His arms were chained to



jagged rock beneath an altar. It was the Courtyard of the Undead! There



was a mortal woman Dantalion once loved, Lilith. She was



being taken away from him, cast out to the afterlife by archangels. I only



saw pain and suffering in their faces. The mist became thick as I



ascended down the staircase, back to where Dantalion stood.



―I know why she summoned you‖ I said. It was Lilith, your woman. You



told me the night we evoked you that her spirit was alive in me. That I



bear her resemblance!‖



Dantalion pulled me close.



―All that you have seen of me, it was because I loved a mortal girl. I



remain an angel of the fallen. Now, in my underworld, I am Duke of



infernal hierarchy. I governeth thirty six legions of spirits. I was trapped



until you evoked me.‖



I‘m not sure which face revealed more pain, his demon form the night he



was evoked or his mortal one I was trying to read right now.



―Now you must be prepared to give something in exchange for my



allegiance.‖



He reached toward the hood of my cloak and pulled me down hard. We



both fell to the ground at the base of the stairway. Mist still thick in the air,



Dantalion leaned on top of me. His body was cold like I remembered. I







48

could see the outline of his body in the dim light. He kissed my lips, his



tasted of wine. I moved over every inch of him. His kisses were intense.



He gripped my hands inside his and pressed his mortal demon flesh onto



mine. His movements were in thrusts and I couldn‘t lift myself against his



strength. He and I were a complete unit – one soul. One lust.



I whispered to him: ―The words that summoned you were not my own,



they were those of Lilith. She has consumed my mortal body. I know you



suffered, and I know I‘m not Lilith. But she is part of me now, we are one in



the same. It was she who transcended time for you. Even my attempt



with the dagger did not give you back your immortality! I bled for your



salvation – that was the exchange.‖



―I pulled the dagger from your chest and breathed life back into you. Our



bargain is now met‖.



―But you still need the curse to be lifted!‖ I cried.



The pact we made with each other was over.



Dantalion withdrew from me. He was not a demon one should want to



cross.



I didn‘t know if I would ever see him again. For some reason, he didn‘t



want anything to do with my lifting his curse so he could become



immortal again. I now understood what happened to him. And I saw his



beauty both hidden and in true demon form. I know what he is. I didn‘t









49

know it right now, but Dantalion was sacrificing his immortality in



exchange for my life.



Holding back tears, I felt hurt and betrayed. I stumbled past random



people up the stairs and into the dark night. The cold air outside moved



through my entire body. The legend was true. Samhain WAS the time



when the souls of the dead could cross between the two worlds. I



wondered if he would ever find his way back to mine again.









50

Chapter 5 Demonic Seal









51

Chapter #5 DEMONIC SEAL



It was December now and a white blanket silenced the world outside. I



stared out the window to welcome the quiet. The sliver of a waning moon



peeked through the trees outside. I did nothing but think of him for the



past few months. Mortal emotions are useless. My inability to stop



Dantalion‘s pain tormented me. So I can bind spells and evoke demons, I



still couldn‘t free him from his curse. And why should I? He had me under



a spell. I know demons don‘t bargain with mortal‘s material possessions.



There was nothing I could have offered him anyway. Except my pain.



And my sanity. And he took those from me ever since he came into my



life. If this is the price of mortality, then what is the price of immortality? It



appears less painful to die than to live a lie…. I remember Dantalion‘s



words:



―I come to you each night, of my own will, of mortal flesh during the three



phases of the moon, but when the moon wanes in the sky, I go to her, the



‗Succubus‘ that bears the seal as I, of eternal damnation. ―



Rolling over onto my side, I looked at the empty space beside my bed…I



could still feel him there – beautiful, the jet black silk against my skin.









52

After downing more than half a bottle of wine, I forced myself to get



dressed and go out. It was the hardest thing I ever had to do. I hadn‘t



had a phone call from anyone in weeks. Especially since I just left Erin,



Lucia and Rowan there that night. Staring into my vanity mirror, I gazed



into the reflection… my eyes looked sunken in and tears wouldn‘t stop.



―What‘s wrong with me? He only loves her!‖



I stared again. At my hair, my face, my shoulders, my arms – trying to



convince myself I was beautiful enough for him.



I applied a smooth layer of foundation to my pale skin, covering up my



flaws as best as possible. Some powder, shadow, and a couple of layers



of mascara finished off the mask. I brushed my long black hair and ran



some smoothing gloss through it for shine. I felt completely numb.







My whole life revolved around Dantalion. Before Dantalion started visiting



me in my visions, I had been devoted to the Craft. I had practiced since I



was eight years old. My interest in religion came naturally to me. I had no



family alive to confide in, and my few close friends were all I had.



Obtaining a degree in Religion at Yale was what I thought was my destiny.



Now, I thought differently. There was a deeper meaning to it all. There



was something of my spirit that had always been free, but now it was



consumed by something other than myself. I stayed away from my



friends, and buried myself in everything I could learn about demonology.







53

Months without him in my life became an emptiness. I withdrew inside



myself.







The winter snows didn‘t keep me away. I had to do it. I had to see if I



could find him. I trudged through the slushy back streets retracing our



steps the night Rowan led us there. It was creepy going downtown alone.



I found the side street leading to the unmarked entrance. Still feeling the



effects of the wine, my numb body was ready for what I hoped would be



a glimpse of him. I walked down the dark stairway to the club and slunk in



unnoticed. I watched in horror as I saw them— bodies shaded, part



human, part something else. They were demon —one with amber-yellow



eyes, the others eyes were red like that of Satan. Their claw-like daggers



ripped into each others flesh. This was the vision I had seen on Samhain,



two demons devouring one another. After each attack they grew



stronger, more animal-like. They did not devour to kill. Only to feed off



one another‘s strengths. If a demon possessed a human, they would feed



off something deeper, the human‘s emotional strength, a quality they



could never fully control. I knew I could never be with Dantalion. I



crawled up the stairs, gasping for air, and made my way outside.









54

The cold added to the numbness I already felt, and as I walked through



the streets, found myself outside a tattoo shop, the cold drawing me



inside. I knew I should be somewhere else right now, not here.







The pressure of the needle felt like my bond with Dantalion, a slow pain;



and with each impression I felt a little more numb… I could have sat here



forever..feeling nothing…another way to stop the thought of missing



him. I sat in the chair of the tattoo shop, watching as a circle was drawn



on my forearm in black ink and each detail of the seal began to emerge,



carefully embedded in my skin. I learned from the Ars Goetia, that there



were seventy-two demons, all which had their own specific seals. The



demons must pay allegiance to these seals. Each demon was assigned



rank and title. King Solomon was said to have evoked and confined each



of these demons in a bronze vessel sealed by magic symbols. My tattoo



was the seal of my own personal demon, Dantalion. After about two and



a half hours and an elaborate seal of an ‗Incubus‘ on my forearm, I



walked away into the emptiness of the night.







The streets, still slushy from the snow, and the few lights that shone down



into the alley were barely enough illumination to see where I was going. I



started feeling nervous, walking faster and turned down a street I wasn‘t



sure of. In between the buildings a huge mural covered the wall, tags of







55

graffiti in every color, some amazing art, others just splashes of paint. A



group of people came toward me. Four guys – two dark skinned, two fair.



Each of their faces were branded with ink, probably representing their



gang or something. They all wore the same black jackets. One guy



spoke to me:



―Hey, yo, beautiful, what you need?‖



―Uh, no thanks, I‘m good‖ I said and kept walking.



One of the other guys turned around and back handed me, flooring me



to the ground….When I struggled to get up I saw him there…Rowan. He



drop kicked two of them single handedly. The other two took off.



―What the hell you doing here?‖ he said picking me up off the ground.



―Umm..I was trying to walk to my car‖ I said.



―Really‖ It looks like you were lyin on the ground! Not cool you bein out



here like this. I just had to scare off your friends.‖



―Yea, friends. Thanks for coming to my rescue. Again.‖



He smiled his faint smile.



―I‘m always here for you, ya know? Even if you did ditch us for the



demon‖



―Yea, ummm…thanks. Hey, by the way, what ever happened to you



guys that night on Samhain? I called for you guys, but nobody answered.



I had to leave.‖









56

―We were under some kind of trance from the wine or something‖, Rowan



said.



―We were all having a great time and then everything went black. When



we woke up, everyone was gone – the place was empty. Erin and Lucia



tried to call for you, but you were gone too. We thought you left with that



guy – the demon‖ Rowan explained.



―Yea, the demon‖ I turned my eyes away so he wouldn‘t see me start to



cry.



―So what happened to you Laurel?‖ Rowan wanted to know.



I was still bound to Dantalion, even though it seemed like it was over and



we would never see each other again. I didn‘t want Rowan or any of my



friends to know what really happened.



―I was with him for awhile. I thought I knew him‖ I lied.



I wouldn‘t dare tell Rowan the truth, about how Dantalion and I had met



once before, in the Courtyard of the Undead. And how I accidentally



evoked a demon! I knew for a fact I couldn‘t talk about how much I



actually loved Dantalion. No-one would believe me. Even if Rowan tried



to believe me, I know it would hurt him. He really cared about me. He



didn‘t know all the details of the night in the Courtyard. He thought I tried



to kill myself with a dagger. And I really needed a friend right now, so I



decided to keep my mouth shut.









57

I leaned over to give him our usual hug and he reached toward me and



embraced me back. The hug was sincere. It was desperately needed. It



made me feel secure. I tried to look OK with everything but he always



seemed to know something was wrong. It wasn‘t easy to pretend with



Rowan, but at the same time I had suffered so much, I just didn‘t know



how to respond.







We found my car and Rowan drove me home. It was so cold we could



see our breath, and we both hurried inside. He took off his jacket and



helped himself to the wine I was drinking earlier, setting it on the coffee



table in my living room. When he leaned in to take off his hoodie, I liked



the way his tee shirt pulled up slightly showing off his abs. I never said



anything, but I wanted to lean closer. I wanted him to lay next to me



close so I could close my eyes and pretend that Dantalion was holding



me again. That nothing had changed between us. But he was gone.



And Rowan was here. He noticed the bandage on my forearm when I



took off my jacket.



―What‘s this? Another dagger wound?‖ he said laughing.



―Umm, no, it‘s a tattoo‖ I said reluctantly.



I knew he was going to ask me more questions that I wasn‘t sure I wanted



to answer. ‗



―Can I see?‖ he smiled.







58

―Yea, hold on, let me take the bandage off.‖



I gently rolled the gauze bandage off my forearm and brandished a



freshly inked seal of a demon of the Goetia!



―That‘s hot‖ he eyeballed me.



I tried to ignore his gesture and went on to explain its symbolism.



―They say this seal is used in the evocation of a demon‖ I smiled.



Rowan looked annoyed. ―A demon? Like the one you‘re in love with in



your nightmares?‖



―C‘mon Rowan, you know I‘m involved in something I can‘t explain. I



know it doesn‘t make any sense, but it really doesn‘t matter any more.



He‘s gone. I haven‘t had any nightmares in months.‖







I tried to convince him of something I knew was a lie. I thought of



Dantalion every day since we were together on Samhain. And every day



before that. He would never leave my soul alone, unless I wanted him to.



And then I would have to trap him somehow. The books I read on



demonology said there were many ways to trap a demon, but I didn‘t



want to trap him. I wanted to set him free.







We finished the bottle of wine and Rowan looked uncomfortable, like he



didn‘t know what to do next. He leaned in and kissed me! His body was









59

warm against mine, unlike the coldness I felt with Dantalion. We both



pulled away from each other, when we realized what was happening.



―Hey, sorry – it just sort of happened‖ he apologized.



―No, its okay‖ I assured him. ―It was nice‖ I gave him a half smile.



He leaned in again, holding me like he didn‘t want to let go.



I reached for his arm, pulling him closer. We didn‘t say anything – we only



closed our eyes and listened to the sound of our hearts beating. He slowly



moved away.



―They don‘t usually ask, but they want me to work tomorrow‖ Rowan



replied. I should get going. I‘ll try to check up on you after work, okay?‖



I smiled. ―Okay, that‘s fine. Maybe I‘ll give Erin and Lucia a call. That is, if



they‘re still talking to me‖.



―They‘re fine with everything‖ he smiled. ―They know how you get into



your moods‖.



―Yea, well if what happened to me, happened to one of you, you‘d all



think different‖ I defended myself.



―Talk to ya later‖ Rowan gave me a hug, trying to make me feel better as



usual.



I picked up my phone and called Erin. After a few rings, she picked up.



―Erin, its Laurel‖ I said, afraid she was going to hang up on me.



―Hey, where the hell have you been?‖ she asked.









60

―I‘m really sorry I haven‘t talked to you since that night. I was going to call



but a lot happened‖ my voice started to break.



I could feel the tears coming on and I burst into tears, throwing myself on



my bed.



―Don‘t worry‖ Erin tried to calm me down. ―It‘s okay. Tell me what‘s going



on‖.



I broke down and tried to go over all the details of what happened that



night on Samhain with Dantalion. And how I hadn‘t seen or heard from



him in months. Erin didn‘t really know the whole story of how Dantalion



was bound to my soul, and what really happened the night in the



courtyard. She only knew what Rowan had told her when he found me



there. I started to tell Erin about my feelings for Dantalion.



―It‘s like his is the only voice I ever hear. When he‘s not with me, I can‘t



breathe. I can‘t feel. I can‘t even think!‖ I cried.



―Laurel, relax‖ Erin said worried. ―Calm down, everything will fall into



place.‖



She didn‘t know the extent of what was happening. And I knew I wasn‘t



about to explain the details.



―Thanks Erin‖ I replied, my voice still shaky. ―Do you think you can call



Lucia and let her know what‘s going on, so she‘s not mad at me too?‖ I



asked.









61

―No problem. I‘ll call her‖ Erin said. ―And she‘s NOT mad at you! We‘ll



talk soon okay?‖



―Okay, thanks Erin. Bye.‖ And I hung up the phone. At least I felt a little



better letting my friends in on a fraction of what was happening in my life.



I know Erin‘s life was pretty simple. She dated on and off, no special



demon in her love life.



Lucia, she had boyfriends all the time. Sometimes, we went for months



and months before we ever saw her. So I knew she‘d understand.







I went into my bathroom splashing water over my face. I got into my bed



and opened the Grimoire showing different seals of the Goetia.



Dantalion‘s seal was there, like the one I now had on my forearm. It



explained that one of his powers was causing love and showing it in



visions. I was all too familiar with that trait. The other powers Dantalion



could master were his powers of thought, and his ability to change them



at his will. He was master in the arts and sciences and could wield fire. He



also had powers to heal. That must have been how he spoke to me in my



dreams and how he healed my wounds. It explained that he was a Duke



who governed thirty six legions of spirits as a demon. Many of the Goetic



demons were considered gods or angels in many other cultures. Not all of



them were evil. I was thankful Dantalion was considered a good demon.



I wasn‘t sure how he is controlled by the demon Gwynnedd, although







62

there must be some power she holds over him greater than his own. He



told me the angelic order subjected him to her punishment when he fell



from grace. I haven‘t heard his voice in months, and he stays away. The



only thing I have left of him is the mark of a demon on my forearm. I fell



asleep in my bed with the Ars Goetia across the top of my body.









63

Chapter 6 The Altar









64

Chapter #6 THE ALTAR



The next night, Rowan, Lucia, Erin and Professor Good stopped by to see



me. I heard a knock at the door and I was so numb I could barely make



my way down the stairs. I peered through the window and they were all



standing on my front doorstep, Rowan smoking his usual cigarette. I



hesitantly forced myself to open the door and let them in because they



were my friends, and because I‘d been avoiding them.



―Hi‖ I smiled a fake smile, when I really wanted to burst into tears.



Rowan was the first to give me a hug, ―Hey, I told you I‘d check up on



you, didn‘t I?‖



Professor Good was happy to see I was okay. I‘d been cutting classes



and hadn‘t been on campus to see her.



―Laurel, I wanted to stop by and make sure you were till practicing, you



know, the Craft‖ she winked at me.



―Umm, I haven‘t really been doing much of that lately.‖



Lucia was wearing her hair much longer now, still dark and pulled back



from her face. She looked annoyed.



―Laurel, you know, we haven‘t been out in months. You‘re not still waiting



for Mr. Tall, Dark and Demon are you?‖ she joked.









65

I didn‘t find it funny, as a matter of fact, I hauled off and punched her in



the face. She fell backward and Rowan and Erin caught her before she



hit the floor.



―Laurel!‖ Professor Good yelled.



I didn‘t answer or speak a word. I just turned and ran up the stairs and



into my bedroom. Erin and Rowan ran up behind me, while Professor



Good stayed with Lucia.



―Laurel, c‘mon out! She was only kidding!‖ Erin yelled through my door.



―I didn‘t think it was funny. It was pretty harsh!‖ I yelled back.



Rowan knocked on my door. ―Laurel, let me in!‖ he demanded.



I refused to open the door. Professor Good came upstairs with Lucia to



use the bathroom and wash the blood from her face.



―How‘s Lucia?‖ Erin asked.



―She‘s, fine, just a little blood.‖ Professor Good answered. ―How‘s Laurel?‖



―She won‘t let us in!‖ Erin replied.



―I know she‘s been hurting, but she can‘t really believe this is gonna help!‖



Lucia mumbled from the bathroom.



―I think we should help Laurel‖ Rowan said.



―How?‖ Erin asked.



―I know.‖ Professor Good went on. ―We‘ll sit down at Laurel‘s altar and



see what we can find out about her demon.‖









66

―You mean, invoke the demon?‖ Rowan asked.



―Heaven‘s no child, never invite a demon into your body. He‘ll torment



your soul!‖



―Well, isn‘t that what this demon is doing to her?‖ Rowan was mad.



―We‘ll need to see more about him to find out‖, Professor Good was



determined to find out more about Dantalion.



―We should light the black candles and incense. Then I will try to scry into



Laurel‘s magick mirror to see what she sees‖.



―What do you want us to do?‖ Rowan asked.



―Nothing‖. Just sit next to me. We aren‘t evoking or invoking any demons



tonight!‖ she smiled.



Lucia came out of the bathroom with a cold pack on her lip.



Erin and Rowan sat next to her.



―She didn‘t mean it, she just snapped when you talked about HIM‖ Erin



said to Lucia.‖



―Yea, I know. I should have kept my mouth shut. Now I‘ve got a fat lip!‖



she complained.



―It‘s better than a broken nose!‖ Rowan laughed. ―She‘s pretty strong for



a small thing.‖ He went on.



―She tried to tell me a little about what was going on, but I didn‘t think she



was so caught up in it all‖ Lucia said.









67

―Hello! She LOVES the guy!‖ Erin added. ―She told me that she can‘t think



or even breathe when she‘s not with him‖.



Rowan looked hurt. He turned away and Lucia gave him a hug. ―Don‘t



worry, you‘re human – demons and humans can‘t ever work out, right?‖



Professor Good added, ―Only when a human is turned into a demon can



the bloodline continue‖.



―Laurel told me he consumes her thoughts and her body‖, Rowan said.



―Some demons, when evoked, have many powers. And they can possess



a person, driving them mad!‖ she began to light the candles.



―Do we need to cast a circle like in our other rituals?‖ Erin asked.



―No child, I am merely glimpsing into the magick mirror‖ Professor Good lit



the incense.



Everyone sat very still and the flicker of the black candles and the scent of



incense drifted through the room. After a long silence, Professor Good



began to study the mirror, as if she were actually climbing inside. She



moved her hands through the incense and looked like a gypsy fortune



teller. The scent of incense drifted into my bedroom across the hall and I



snuck out of my room to listen in on what they said.



―The aura between them is real. The demon truly has possession of her



spirit‖ Professor Good confided.









68

―He has NOT been invoked into her body, but EVOKED out from where



ever he came from. The demon must obey whomever evoked him.‖



Rowan added his thoughts to what he was hearing. ―Why doesn‘t Laurel



just command him to go away or stop?‖



―He suffered this demonic curse for ages. His tortures are none a mortal



could ever bear. Apparently, this demon has chosen of his own free will



to leave her – to protect her somehow from harm. It appears that he has



fallen from grace. He was in love with another girl who he believes to be



Laurel!‖



―What? What the hell!‖



―Shhh‖ Erin shushed Rowan.



―I see the girl. She looks identical to Laurel! She holds a sadness in her



spirit. She had appeared to love this boy. A boy who was not demon but



guardian once. Because of his love for his woman, he was condemned,



cursed to become a demon.‖ Professor Good looked up from the mirror.



―No wonder she obsesses with him. He is also an Incubus!‖



―I know what he is!‖ I burst into the room.



The candles flickered leaving the room pitch black. Rowan lit his lighter as



we all raced out of the room searching for the light in the hall bathroom. I



flung my body on my bed in my room and everyone just stood there



staring at me, mesmerized at what they had just learned.



―Laurel, are you alright?‖ Professor Good asked me.







69

―I really don‘t know anymore‖ I cried.



Everyone leaned over to give me a hug, even Lucia.



―I‘m really sorry. I didn‘t mean to hit you.‖



―No, I deserved it I guess. Next time I‘ll use my words more carefully!‖



Lucia smiled.



It started getting late, and my friends decided it was time they should



leave. They let themselves out the front door and I could see them all



gathering out in the street by Erin‘s car. I knew they were talking about



me.



―What should we do?‖ Lucia said.



―We can trap Dantalion or exorcise him!‖ Rowan added.



―I don‘t think Laurel wants to do either one of those things, she LOVES HIM!



As long as Laurel is bound to the demon, even if it appears he has stayed



away from her for whatever reason, she should be the one to decide.



She evoked Dantalion. He is bound to her and will protect her. He won‘t



answer to anyone else.‖ Professor Good commented.



―And so she stays – even with everything that happened to her!‖ Rowan



moaned.



―Sometimes we never see things clearly when it comes to those we love‖



Professor Good answered.



I saw Erin, Lucia and Professor Good get into Erin‘s car and pull away.



Rowan made his way back to my front door. He knocked lightly at first,







70

and when I didn‘t answer, he pounded. I finally shouted from inside ―Go



away Rowan!‖



―C‘mon Laurel, just let me in!‖



―No!‖ yelled.



He kept banging. He always knew eventually I‘d get annoyed and open



the door. I finally gave in and opened the door.



―What?‖ I barked.



―Don‘t get mad at me! I‘m on your side, remember?‖ he smiled.



―I really want to be left alone okay?‖ I said.



―Okay, but at least smoke a cigarette before I leave?‖ he asked.



―Okay, real quick though‖ I hesitated.



He handed me a menthol and we smoked on my front step, the silence



between us grew uncomfortable. I knew he was just trying to help.



Rowan had a sadness in his eyes. He knew that Dantalion would be the



only one I could ever truly love. Our kiss meant nothing in comparison to



the history Dantalion and I had. Even if he was a demon, I think that‘s



what hurt Rowan the most. He came to my rescue but none of it



mattered. I felt so guilty. Words would never make things better.



Admitting in front of all my friends that Dantalion was a demon didn‘t



help me feel any better about missing him. When the candles went out at



the altar, it was more than just freak co-incidence. It had to be Dantalion.



He was still with me somehow.







71

―Rowan, I know none of what I say to you will make you feel any better,



but I just wanted you to know, I never had anyone look out for me like you



do. You‘re always in my heart.‖ I leaned in and gave him a kiss. He



kissed me back, hoping to change my mind about Dantalion. I couldn‘t



hurt Rowan, ever. But that‘s exactly what was happening. And the only



way to avoid it was to stay away.



―I need to go inside now,‖ I told Rowan. I didn‘t have the heart to say



anything more. He looked so broken. I just walked away, closing the



door.







It would be months before I would talk to him or any of my friends. I went



upstairs and pulled the covers over my head. Now everyone knew the



truth. I closed my eyes and hoped I would have a dream or even a



nightmare so I could see him again. I still wore the moonstone pendant



Rowan had given me around my neck. I thought maybe since it worked



so well the night of Samhain, I should try to see if I could catch another



glimpse at the future. I crawled out of my bed and went across the hall to



my spare bedroom where I keep my altar. I can always see if the moon is



full from this side of the house. I peered out and caught a glimpse of the



full moon above the tree tops. I knew it was a perfect night for foretelling



the future.









72

I remembered the last time I foretold the future with the stone. It wasn‘t



quite the prophesy I had hoped for, but it did reveal the truth about



demons. Dantalion told me that night on Samhain that when the moon



wanes from the sky he must go to her, the Succubus demon of eternal



damnation. I climbed under my covers and slipped the moonstone into



my mouth. I decided I would just go to sleep and let the full moon‘s



energy foretell the future in my dreams. It didn‘t take long before I was



dreaming:







There was a huge fire, burning in the center of the Courtyard of the



Undead. Inside the fire were some type of winged creatures. They



were like guardian angels watching over me. They were watching



over Dantalion too. I saw demonic spirits, an army of them coming



through the Courtyard of the Undead in waves like a raging sea of



shadows. I saw someone I knew, the face was unclear. They were



behind a barrier formed of fire. I could hear a voice but could not



break free to help them. Then I felt my body being removed of



everything I once was. Almost as if my spirit and soul had left me,



and I was nothing but a shadow. Tears were streaming down my



empty existence, and the Courtyard stood still. Very still.









73

I woke up in the night, with the truth wet like rain on my face. I wiped



away my vision for tonight.









74

Chapter 7 Gwynnedd









75

Chapter #7 GWYNNEDD



The snow had gone and the trees outside my house had enveloped me in



a canopy of green. It seemed like it was just Samhain in the Courtyard. I



hadn‘t been there since that night. Only my visions of him kept me alive



and I spent most of the winter months studying in my dark bedroom,



hardly spending any time at the campus libraries like I used to. I went to



class and came home. I only talked to my friends a few times over the



phone since the night they came to see me at my house. Rowan would



try to visit me, knocking persistently on my door. I never answered.







It was Beltane now, and while everything around me seemed to transform



into something beautiful, colorful, and alive, I was drained and lifeless, my



skin pale, my body and soul empty. I stopped practicing magick for fear



Dantalion wouldn‘t come, that the rituals were a barrier he could not



cross. I wanted to see him and I knew I had to evoke him like I did the



night in the Courtyard.







I lit my best incense, etching his seal carefully onto parchment, making



sure to include every detail from his rank to title. I sat forever it seemed,



until I felt completely still in meditation so I could silence my thoughts.







I recited the words when I first evoked Dantalion:







76

“Demonic Lord, by your grace, grant me, the power to evoke the



Angel of the Fallen, Dantalion, who bears the seal of „Incubus‟, I



beg thee bring forth Dantalion to manifest before me, of his



allegiance, that he may serve and protect me, in your name,



Demonic Lord. …..



I waited, completely still, hoping the words would evoke Dantalion like



they did once before. I couldn‘t remember if I had inscribed the demonic



seal correctly. I thought something was missing, something out of place.



Glancing at my forearm, and then at the parchment, the markings were



right, all except for one symbol.



I repeated over and over again, ―Wake up! Wake up Laurel!‖ My eyes



were fully open. I must have confused the symbols on the seal! I knew



the words were correct, I memorized each and every one.







Glowing red eyes like Satan‘s glared at me in the darkness, the shape of a



woman serpent moved in my direction. She took one arm and extended



under my throat – her dagger claws clamping underneath my neck and



pinning me up against the wall, cutting into my flesh.



She hissed, ―I am Gwynnedd. I bear the seal of the undead. He who



bears the name of Dantalion, hath endured my torture throughout the



waning moon. He hath revealed under such torture the name of a mortal









77

girl – she who bears the name of Laurel. I know tis thee.” She tightened



her claws deeper into my throat



“ You foolish girl! You hath not evoked who you seek! You inscribed my



demonic seal and NOT that of Dantalion‟s! See the mark that I bear? It is



of the „Succubus‟ and not of the „Incubus‟!”



I saw the seal on her arm was somewhat similar to mine and Dantalion‘s.



“I will take thee life from thy body and thou shall be cursed to eternal



damnation if thou does not heed what I have cometh to say! Thy words



thou spoke back in the Courtyard did not release Dantalion from his



demon curse. He shall riseth once again – his wings returned and his



demon form diminished.” she coiled her serpent tail behind her body.



I was terrified to utter a single word.



“What say you?‖ she hissed.



―I am the mortal girl named Laurel. And you‘re right, I couldn‘t release



Dantalion from his curse‖ I barely got the words out.



“No, you stupid girl!” she drew blood from my throat. “I am the keeper of



secrets. Only I knoweth that to lift the curse a child of demon bloodline



must be conceived…Thou cannot for thee are merely a mortal! He would



never take your life as he hath revealed under torture he loves thee. But



you WILL release him!‖ her venomous barbed tail uncoiled behind her



and over toward my face.



“ I shall watch thee die whilst the venom runs through thy body!”







78

I screamed in terror.



“Dost thou even knowest why the „Incubus‟ demon named Dantalion



cometh to love thee? By deception! Not by thy own deception but by



the temptation of our Demonic Lord, the fallen seraphim and master of



infernal hierarchy Lord Satan himself! Condemned to purgatory by God,



our Demonic Lord devised temptation for Dantalion. He hath conjured



up the temptress Lilith to lure Dantalion to his fall from grace! Dantalion



knoweth not of this deception, even now. He believeth in his love for the



girl, who transcended time and now inhabits your mortal flesh. You are



thy embodiment of Lilith now, and Dantalion‟s allegiance toward you is



but a deception. He hath only the desire for redemption – he will not



careth about thy mortal soul! “What say you?‖ she came closer.



―What can I do?‖ I screamed.



“I will change thee into a demon serpent, with the beauty of Lilith herself.



He cannot resist his union with you, and you will bear him a child of pure



demon bloodline. Once it is done, the words shall then be spoken once



more, whereby his curse will be lifted!” she was still holding my throat.



―What happens to me when I am still demon with a demon child? You



said he won‘t care about me or my mortal soul!‖ I begged.



“I shall changed thee back. Dantalion will seek redemption and may



even grant you immortality.”









79

I had no choice, I had to do what she said. Gwynnedd would never pay



allegiance to any mortal girl.



― I have been evoked from the bones of the dead. I must pay allegiance



to my Demonic Lord, as he hath created me. He sends me forth to bring



him a child of pure demon bloodline.‖



Now I knew the truth. Why Dantalion said our pact was even. I didn‘t



believe a word Gwynnedd said about him not caring about my mortal



soul. Dantalion loved me and he would sacrifice his immortality in



exchange for my life! He knew I would have died trying to lift his curse.



He didn‘t want me to try. Whatever way I looked at it, it would end



in my death. I couldn‘t trust what she said about changing me back but I



had to agree, there was no other option.



Gwynedd released her grip on my throat.



―I will change thee now…you will feel the sting of my venom. It will be



quick. Then you will feel no pain. I will bring thee to the Courtyard of the



Undead, where thou shall be chained to the sacred altar where thou



evoked the „Incubus‟ Dantalion. I will lure him there. It must be done



when the moon wanes in the sky, for this is the phase of his true demon



form. Your union will taketh place, and I shall pay thee visit on the third



night. Thou wilst not reveal the meaning of thy changed form or ye both



will die!”









80

A barbed injection of venom seared into my blood. Her poison moved



through me, a thousand knives of pain penetrating every limb of my



body. My eyes were on fire, yet my body from the base of my spine down



felt ice cold. And then complete darkness. I slowly opened my eyes to



find myself chained there, to the jagged stone that was my fate. The



bitter cold of winter had gone now, and the altar was alive with the scent



of wisteria. I could still see the freshly inked seal etched into my forearm,



and a coldness moved through my body. Weak and barely able to



move, my fingers were daggers, like the ones Dantalion held me with



when he was evoked into demon form. My legs had become a serpent‘s



tail, coiled up beneath my waist. No matter how I suffered, no tears



would form within my eyes. They felt strange – hot and burning. I tried to



hide the demon I had become under the white garment that fell from my



bare shoulders to the ground.







I could not tell what day or phase of the moon it was or how long I was



left here. I remembered the serpent demon Gwynnedd had done this to



me! I couldn‘t understand why she wanted Dantalion to be released so



badly from his curse. She wanted our pure demon blood to give to her



Demonic Lord. If I die, at least Dantalion would be free. I didn‘t know



when, or if Dantalion would come, and if he would be tricked into this



madness. I couldn‘t tell him who I was, or we both would die.







81

Darkness had come now, the sliver of the waning moon shone between



the branches of the pines. Up above, millions of stars scattered across the



night sky.







I knew from my studies, and also from my evocation of Dantalion, that in



order to summon a demon, you must know the demon you want to call



up. Lilith knew exactly who he was, and she needed me to complete the



evocation.









82

Chapter 8 Thirty Six

Legions









83

Chapter #8 THIRTY SIX LEGIONS







Dantalion and I had an inseparable bond. He could never truly love Lilith



without love me as well. He communicated with me through thoughts



only I could hear, sometimes with words.



His voice spoke to me in my thoughts…



―Laurel, our bargain was met. You sacrificed your mortal soul once to free



me, I cannot let you go through with this‖.



No change in my physical body, or mortality, could keep him from



knowing my true form. He was up to something, but I wasn‘t sure what it



was.



His voice spoke again: ―I did not want my immortality back if it came at



the price of your mortal life. Now what is done must be undone‖.



He emerged first as shadow, then in true demon form, like the night I



evoked him, yellow-amber eyes, nails all out, dagger-like. An animal pelt



covered his long hair, and his bare arms revealed another type of



demonic seal on his other forearm. A bronze medallion hung around his



neck. He commanded fire from his hands and cast it into the center of



the stone pillars forming a circle by the altar, creating a fiery pit. Moving



closer to me, he gazed at my demonic form, smiling at what he saw, and I



was pleased I did not look as hideous as I thought. He passed one of his



razor claws through the fire and began etching into my flesh the other







84

demonic seal he wore on his arm. I writhed in pain. I knew he would



never hurt me. This was part of something bigger. Something he was



about to ―undo‖.



Once the seal was completed, he moved his arms over my bleeding flesh,



instantly healing the sigil! He could not release me from the jagged stone



where I was bound in chains. Like Dantalion, Gwynnedd also holds



power of thought. His powers will be needed now and I‘m glad that he



came for me. Now I know, he truly loves ME, not just the spirit of Lilith, or



the demon serpent that can bear him a child.







Dantalion marked the ground with a circle surrounding the altar where I



was still bound in chains. He scratched several different symbols inside the



circle, raising his claws to command the fire higher inside it. He traced in



a ceremonial-like dance a triangle to the East, several feet away from the



circle, marking the triangle with symbols, thirty-six of them, to be exact. I



knew from the Goetia that Dantalion governed thirty-six legions of spirits.



He no longer had power over the angelic order, so these symbols must be



the demonic spirits he was about to command. He leaned toward me



inside the circle, closer to where I was bound to the altar, eyes glowing



yellow-amber still. His claws pressed against mine, seals on my forearms



now identical to his – claws scratching my skin. The coldness I once felt



from his flesh was now burning hot.







85

He whispered to me - “Even the fallen can reclaim their salvation. Mine



wears the face of a mortal girl, Laurel.”



Pulling away, Dantalion‘s outstretched bare arms, ripped the bronze



medallion from his neck. He held it high above his head, bearing a



pentagram inscribed on the front. The pentagram was to defend



conjurers over spirits. The thirty six legions of spirits owing their allegiance



to Dantalion were about to be conjured! He faced East still inside our



circle toward the triangle with the thirty six symbols. Dantalion spoke



words I could not understand and a ceremonial ritual had begun. I knew



his spirit paid allegiance to me, and that he was bound to save me and



―undo‖ what Gwynnedd had done.







Passing through the flames and moving around the circle, illuminations



appeared as angels watching Dantalion. They were like the ones I



remembered he showed me when I glimpsed into his past the night of



Samhain, sitting on the thrones of heaven. The six winged seraphims and



cherubims were moving about and Dantalion was unaware what visions I



was seeing. He kept focused on his ritual around the circle. The winged



creatures were watching me too. All the celestial creatures stayed within



the confines of the flames, illuminating the colors of the fire to a golden



silver. None would descend the spiral steps beyond their hallowed









86

ground. Especially not to come to the aid of demons! They seemed to



be guarding over us.







As Dantalion finished his ritual, a mist passed through the courtyard. Winds



moved through the flames of the dying fire. Dantalion was holding the



bronze pentagram out in front of his body still inside our circle facing East.



The mist moved through the courtyard in waves, like a raging sea of



shadows, assembling within the triangle across from us – thirty six legions of



demonic spirits, all ready to serve Dantalion! Each legion consisted of one



hundred demons, extending from the front line of the triangle as far back



into the forest as the human eye could see. Dantalion held up the



pentagram securing his powers over the spirits. They remained still, not



moving from their position, awaiting their orders and the chance to



unleash their powers they held restrained for centuries.







Dantalion turned to me and raising his palms up to the sky, commanding



the fire once again to burn stronger. I felt a coldness move through me,



as the serpent demon Gwynnedd coiled up in front of us, her blazing red



eyes slanted, her razor claws extended. She hissed, moving closer. I



understood why Dantalion etched the other seal onto my other arm. I



think he was going to trap Gwynnedd. The legion of spirits were in









87

formation – fully hidden in mist. Gwynnedd raised her venomous tail and



drew nearer to Dantalion.



―What say you – where is the proof of union with this mortal girl? Where is



the child of demon bloodline?‖ she hissed.



She glanced at Dantalion, ―What trickery is this? Hast thou not knowest



the torture I inflict on thee? And the curse I have placed on this mortal



girl?‖



―I knowest what thee has done to the mortal I have come to love. I have



no need to be restored to my immortality. Not when the girl hath been



condemned to die!‖



―Lies!‖ Gwynnedd hissed. ―I hath no desire to kill the girl‖ she lied.



―I know thee cannot be trusted‖ Dantalion replied. ―Once the girl



followeth through with your plan, thee would not have changed her



back. She would die here, chained to this forsaken altar!‖ Dantalion



scowled.



―Fools!‖ None would loseth in this course of action! Thee would be



restored to they immortality, the girl changed back to her mortal soul, and



thy Demonic Lord given a child of pure demon bloodline to carry out the



fate of the third heaven.‖



―Again, thou cannot be trusted! Dantalion cursed.



―Remember Dantalion, it was YOUR mortal sin that condemned thee to



my torture as punishment, not I! I am merely a cursed soul myself.‖







88

I was still bound in chains to the altar of the Courtyard of the Undead,



surrounded by Dantalion, Gwynnedd and thirty six demonic spirits waiting



in the mists - waiting for Dantalion‘s command.







Dantalion fell from grace over the lust for a mortal girl, he thought, never



knowing she was a storm demon. Thoughts flooded my mind of how



much Lilith loved Dantalion, waiting, all this time, for a mortal girl who bore



her resemblance to inhabit, just to bring him back – to restore him to the



first heaven. Ironic how now, both of us are here, back where it all began,



in the Courtyard of the Undead, imprisoned as demons.







―So, when can I taketh the demon child?‖ Gwynnedd sneered.



She grew impatient and Dantalion pressed his demonic seals onto mine,



burning hot onto my skin. The seals were my protection from both of them



– neither could harm me now. He raised the bronze pentagram and



commanded his legion of spirits to come forward. In demon fury, ripping



Gwynnedd‘s claws out one by one, they severed her venomous tail from



her body while Dantalion trapped her inside the bronze medallion.



Dantalion placed it back around his neck and signaled to his demon



army to return to their place back within the triangle.









89

I heard a voice coming toward the Curtyard, calling out my name. It



had been three days I was cursed and chained to the altar in the



Courtyard of the Undead. Dantalion heard the voice too. It was Rowan!



He stopped and stared, unsure of what he was witnessing. Dantalion



hadn‘t had a chance to release me yet from the chained altar when



Rowan saw me there – and the vision of Dantalion‘s true demonic form.



He now knew I was telling the truth about my demon. Rowan didn‘t



hesitate to go after him, thinking he had imprisoned me here. Rowan



lunged at Dantalion with a searing torch from the fire circle.



―Rowan, Stop!‖ I yelled. ―You don‘t know what you‘re doing. It‘s not



what you think!‖



Rowan didn‘t respond to me at all. Dantalion was only bound to pay



allegiance to ME. He didn‘t care one bit that my best friend was about to



be destroyed by his thirty six legions of demon spirits waiting outside the



circle.



―Rowan, don‘t step outside the circle – stay where you are!‖



Dantalion commanded fire from his hands and created a barrier



separating he and I from Rowan. He didn‘t know how to react to a mortal



enemy in a mortal dominion.







Dantalion saved me from death. Twice. So did Rowan. I loved them



both. But my heart was bound to Dantalion. Through the barrier I could







90

see Rowan trying to dowse Dantalion with a liquid. As the drops touched



Dantalion‘s skin he howled, sending him into a rage.



―I tried to warn you. Even stop you from coming closer. Fool! Now



become one with my legion and serveth me!‖



Before I could say anything at all, Dantalion had Rowan by the throat with



a sweep of his hands. He threw him into the triangle with the other thirty



six demons waiting to devour anything Dantalion commanded.



―No Dantalion!‖ I screamed.



It was already too late for Rowan. He was gone, right before my eyes…



―Rowan! Rowan!‖ I screamed over and over…..



―What have you done?‖ I screamed. ―He was only trying to protect me!‖



Dantalion moved toward the altar inside the Courtyard of the Undead,



releasing me from the chained altar. He saw the look on my face.







―Do not fear the safety of the boy‖ Dantalion assured me. ―He is



unharmed, but foolish to cross me. My legion of demons will either protect



or destroy, at will upon my command.‖



―Well, command them to protect!‖ I yelled.



―He is safe where I have sent them, within the outer boundary between



men and the demonic legion. There lies our safety, beyond the



Courtyard‘s stone borders.‖









91

Dantalion chose MY life over his chance at redemption. He would never



get another chance. I traced the ripples along his waist, kissing his



shoulders down to the demonic seals on each of his forearms. His clawed



fingernails tilted my chin up slightly so he could stare into my eyes, moving



my long hair away from my face.



―Laurel, I have loved you always, for centuries past, and eternities to



come. You bind my soul to yours, but also my heart.‖



He lifted my weak body and carried me away from the Courtyard of the



Undead past its stone borders.









92

Chapter 9 Eternity









93

Chapter #9 ETERNITY



I opened my eyes surrounded by a canopy of green. I thought of the one



thing that would never hurt me, the thing that had my heart pounding



and fed me a diet of unconditional love. The forest beyond the



Courtyard was where I belonged with Dantalion. Still wearing the long



white garment from the altar, torn and barely covering my body, I



followed the soothing sound of water hidden beyond the canopy.



Beneath a cascade stood the most beautiful vision I had seen since the



first night his demon blood pulsed through mine. Bits of light filtered



through the forest and danced on the water. Removing the white fabric



that felt out of place here, I moved slowly allowing the pool of water to



consume my form. At the base of the waterfall, he welcomed my mortal



flesh. His dagger-like nails traced along the curves of my body. It was the



morning of the Summer Solstice. Every trace of uncertainty was removed



from our thoughts.







―I am glad you found me here,‖ he whispered. ―I did not want to wake



you.‖



―Thank you for protecting me. And for loving me. I knew all along I loved



you - as ‗Incubus‘ the first night your beautiful flesh seduced mine. And









94

when I evoked you into your demon form, I always knew you were one in



the same. You don‘t have to hide your true form anymore.‖



―It has never been known for an ‗Incubus‘ with a heart of the undead to



love only one woman‖ he smiled.



―Well, in my world, one love is all we need‖ I replied.



Then I sank inside my soul, realizing the question I‘d been avoiding.



‖How can we possibly be together, when we‘re from completely different



worlds?‖ I needed to hear it from him. I already knew the answer. And I



knew his demonic powers extended far beyond healing or seduction.



There was an animalistic instinct I noticed many times before, almost like a



lust that never seemed to be quenched for him. His hunger was



something I could never give. I saw the way demons feed off one



another, devouring each other for power. And the way they fed off



humans, taking every piece of their body and soul. It was a slow death for



me to believe our physical differences could be ignored. I would never



be certain if he was capable of true emotion, and if so, we both knew



how it destroyed his immortality. And yet, I couldn‘t think of living a day



without him in my life. I thought he might be able to change our destiny



somehow. He didn‘t answer my question the way I had hoped.



―I will love you for eternity‖, was all he said, gliding me under the current



of the waterfall, both of us clinging onto one another.



―So what will happen now, with your legion of demons?‖ I asked.







95

He seemed to think it was a strange question. ―We will stay as we are,



bound to protect you, here outside the boundaries of the Courtyard‖



Dantalion replied.



―You mean, hide out here like my own personal guardian?‖ I laughed.



―Laurel, remember, I am between the realms of heaven and hell. I am a



fallen angel, cursed for all eternity. I have always been here with you all



along. Demons are all around the mortal dominion.‖



―What was the underworld, where I saw you, the night with my friends,



when you showed me your past, and we loved each other…and again,



the night of the waning moon, when I saw you with the red eyed



demon?‖



―We can frequent places within your mortal realm. That happens to be



one of many. Our safety is mainly here – in the forest - beyond the



Courtyard‘s stone borders.



I tried to piece together all the parts of Dantalion‘s cursed life, and no



matter what I still didn‘t understand about him, I didn‘t care.. I was in love



with him.



―Why don‘t you just stay with me?‖ I begged.



―You must know this - I am always with you‖ he smiled with a witty grin. ―I



must govern my armies I have evoked. You would find they only listen to



my command and would unleash chaos if not shown restraint. Each



army of demons holds different powers. Demons, depending on the







96

intensity of their powers, must listen to their own instincts. Some must feed,



others seek to devour our own kind at times, for power. Sometimes we



devour humans seeking to overcome our lust. In my case, I was using



every power of restraint I had so I would not destroy your love



completely!‖



It had been over a month since class ended for the summer, and longer



still that I‘d seen or heard from my friends.



―I almost forgot – ROWAN!‖ I reminded Dantalion. ―We need to set him



free!‖



―Do not worry – I will take you to him‖ Dantalion kept his word. He led me



back to the Courtyard‘s stone border at the other end of the waterfall.



The full moon was out, high above the starlit sky. The familiar scent of



wisteria drifted past the jagged rock beneath the altar.



―This was where it began. My fall from grace.‖ Dantalion sounded



haunted.



We both stood there, leaning against the stone wall, glancing over at the



altar in front of us.



―You told me, it was because of the mortal girl you loved, Lilith.‖ I wanted



to know more about Dantalion‘s love for her.



―Yes. She was pure of heart. I was guardian of mankind. Temptation



brought upon my exile, here, at the Courtyard‖ he pointed to the altar.









97

I felt my heart sinking as I saw the sadness in his eyes. I remembered how



jealous I was of his love for her the night I evoked him and how he first



thought I was Lilith.



―I missed you so much after you had disappeared that I tried to bring you



back to me by evocation. That‘s when Gwynnedd was summoned by



mistake.‖



I saw the bronze medallion still hanging from his neck and I wished he



would have just thrown it into the fire.



―Why do you still wear it?‖ I asked him, reluctant to hear his answer.



―She will be sealed within as long as I remain the guardian. I will make



certain of it,‖ he promised.



I remembered that part of his punishment, during the waning moon. He



would not visit with me then, and when he did visit me as ‗Incubus‘ he hid



his true demon form. But he could never stay. His piercing eyes



appeared the same now, only the amber-yellow glow reminded me of



what he was. I would only be allowed to love him as he loved me,



hidden, within the confines of the shadows – never in a true life.



―I had always thought she would return to me. You are the perfect



likeness in body and spirit of Lilith.‖



―Oh yea, I remember. She transcended time to be with you.‖ I repeated



the words somewhat annoyed.









98

―I know it is difficult to believe. But when I was exiled, her mortal soul was



taken to the afterlife. You are the embodiment of that soul Laurel‖.



Dantalion still didn‘t know of Satan‘s deception, how he conjured up Lilith



to lure him to his fall from grace.



―Maybe you‘re making a mistake. How can you be sure it‘s really me you



love and not her?‖ I said, testing him.



―Because we both know she no longer exists. It was you who I came to



love. Now I want to know more about you,‖ he gestured for me to come



closer.



Dantalion never seemed out of his element, whether he was visiting me in



my dreams, or standing right beside me, full fledged demon – he had a



grace about him, always in control of his demonic tendencies.



I tried to tell him the few things about myself I thought were important.



―Well, I don‘t remember much when I was younger, only that they found



me near the Baja Desert, a man and a woman, followers of the Craft,



when I was eight years old. I had no memory of my past and they



couldn‘t trace any family. They took care of me and brought me to live



by Big Sur off the California coast. I moved to the East Coast to go to



college. I know you saw me there in the alcove on campus,‖ I replied.



―Yes, I was watching over you,‖ he still wanted to hear more by the look



on his face.









99

I didn‘t like talking about my memories. They were dusty miles of places I



could never touch.



―I remember only desert sand until I was brought to the ocean,‖ I replied,



trying to evade the subject.



Dantalion seemed intrigued. ―Do not doubt the strength of your spirit.



You will discover you have a gift.‖



I never thought that about myself. I always felt different somehow but



didn‘t want to talk about my life any more.







It was dark out, with the moon full above the pines. We could see a



shadow lit by the moon at the other end of the Courtyard. It was Rowan.



His back was leaning up against the stone border.







―Rowan!‖ I ran over to him. ―Are you okay?‖ I hugged him. He looked



exhausted.



―Yea, I‘m good.‖ He had scratches all over his face and body and his



clothes were filthy.



―Why is it that we always find each other here?‖ he laughed.



I smiled. He seemed like his usual self, though there was something slightly



off about him. Something DIFFERENT.



―Do you remember what happened?‖ I asked him.









100

―I came here and found you. You were missing for three days and this



was the first place I thought to look for you,‖ Rowan replied. ―I don‘t



remember anything after that. Only that here you are. And here I am.‖



I smiled and went to take his hands. When I lifted them up inside mine, I



could see something on his forearm under the moonlight.



―What the hell is this?‖ I asked him. It was a demonic seal but unlike the



one that Dantalion and I had. I turned around and Dantalion had gone.



He didn‘t tell me anything about a demonic seal on Rowan, all he told



me was that he was unharmed.



―I have no idea – did I drink too much and end up at the tattoo shop like



you did?‖ he smirked.



―Oh shut up!‖ I was annoyed but glad he was back to his sarcastic self.



―Listen, I can‘t explain anything right now, only that you need to go home



and get cleaned up. I have something I need to take care of.‖



I could feel the fear building inside me. I couldn‘t believe Dantalion just



left us like this. I needed to know what kind of trouble Rowan was in with



the demonic seal etched into his arm!



―I‘m not gonna just leave you here‖ Rowan complained.



―I‘m fine – see?‖ as I stood up.



―Every time I leave you alone, you end up in some kind of trouble‖ he



showed his serious side. He leaned into me, burying his face in my hair



and holding onto my arm. ―Not this time‖ Rowan pinned me down.







101

Flames from the center of the circle outside the altar exploded into the



night sky. Sparks and embers crackled inside an enormous pyre, almost



touching the tips of the trees.



―Rowan, let me go!‖ I noticed a strength in him and an unyielding quality



that was more like Dantalion. He released his grip on me and I moved



away, closer to the fire. I was unsure where it had originated from since



Dantalion had left us and the Courtyard was silent. Frantically I searched



the perimeter in hopes it was Dantalion who initiated the flames. All four



directions of the stone border had burst into flames as well, contained



above each of the four walls. A thickness not of mist, but of pitch clouded



the air. The flames rose higher within the Courtyard of the Undead. Rich



colors of crimson and indigo filtered through the hot flames of the inferno.



Rowan moved away, trying to come closer to me. I did not trust his



strange state of mind, and didn‘t see any sign of Dantalion in the



Courtyard.







A piercing sound emerged from the night, descending onto the walls of



the Courtyard borders and resting beside the smoldering pitch fires at all



four points. The moon revealed a glimpse of their form. They were



nothing like the thirty six legions of warrior demons Dantalion had



summoned. These winged demons were threefold the beast of







102

Gwynnedd, calling out to one another with a deafening decibal that



would drive a human into madness. I covered my ears to the sound but it



did no good. Rowan disappeared beyond the boundaries calling for me



to follow. I tried to catch up, running toward him, but when I got to the



edge, I was unable to pass through the barrier.







Gripped inside their dragon-like talons were mortal souls, all female, one



one in each of the four demons‘ grasp. Their bleeding flesh dripped



down the walls of the Courtyard, like a fountain of blood. Echoes



resounded off the Courtyard walls:



Seek within an unclaimed heart,



No breath of life shall shut you out,



The Courtyard fountain showers rain,



It quenches thirst and eases pain,



To gain thy wish, let Guardians rise,



And witness tears from angel‟s eyes.”



―You, mortal girl‖ they spoke, ―Thou may pass the border of the



Courtyard, but first must quench thy thirst with a taste from the fountain of



blood.‖



No way was I drinking the blood of mortal humans!



“Wilt thou gain thy wish and pass through the border?‖ they commanded.



―I can‘t drink human blood!‖ I told them.







103

―Then, thy wish shalt not be met, and thy pain shalt not be eased,‖ they



screeched.



What were they trying to say? What wish? My wish to pass through the



Courtyard? And my pain eased – I didn‘t even want to THINK of it! No



sooner I thought the word, burning began from inside of my body!



Screaming, I tried fighting off the pain. The demon guardians held their



positions on the stone walls, tightening their grip on the flesh of the mortal



girls. Each of their tortures moved through my flesh, and blood poured



from my veins! The demons were guardians on the stone walls and I



couldn‘t begin to imagine what they were about to guard.









104

Chapter 10 Mortal Soul









105

Chapter #10 MORTAL SOUL



Gasping for air – I inhaled deep breaths of smoke filling my lungs – no



matter how many gasps of air I took, I still couldn‘t breathe. I started to



see visions of Dantalion filter through my mind, his strength, the sadness in



his eyes, the lies that we believed were our love. I wanted to die. I



welcomed death. I wanted the fires to consume my body – to crash and



burn all around me – take away all the pain. Blood continued pouring



from my body like rain, and I collapsed to the ground. My eyes fixated on



the brightest star I ever saw, flames inside the massive inferno growing



hotter, crimson and indigo colors expanding into a cylindrical wave of



motion. Winds whipped through the flames and up to the tree tops, the



whole place burning around me. The evening star in the center of the



pyre opened up the flames like a majestic gate to the heavens. The pitch



burned strong still, guarded by the winged demons surrounding the



Courtyard. An aura surrounded the center of the fire and I forced my



eyes to open wider.







Within the crimson flames, Lord Satan himself, ascended, his brilliant aura



masking wickedness. Near death, I felt my soul separating from my mortal



flesh. As he raised his clawed hands to the sky, I could see my weighted









106

body on the ground and my soul a translucent likeness he tightly in his



grasp.







He called out, ―It is the hour. Let thy guardians rise and witness thy



Demonic Lord‘s compassion for the dead.‖



My physical body was chained once again to the altar in the Courtyard



of the Undead, my soul imprisoned within the power of Satan, somewhere



between the realms of heaven and hell.







Dantalion knelt beside my lifeless body beneath the jagged rock. His



screams coulld not bring me back. Rage brought his fire powers to the



extreme, igniting the pines into a blaze that kissed the heavens. He could



not heal a body that held no soul. His message did not go unnoticed.



Seven archangels descended a spiral stairway within the fires of the



Courtyard of the Undead. Never moving away from their hallowed



ground, they illuminated an aura of gold and silver around the base of the



stairway.



Gabriel, one of the celestial beings spoke: ―Dantalion, child of God,



guardian of mankind, thy servitude has been met by the passing of two



ages. Thy fallen can reclaim thy salvation - an appointment to seraphim,



the highest order among angels. Thou selfless acts through the saving of



the mortal girl has earned thee salvation.‖







107

Dantalion was still kneeling by my lifeless body – ―Look what has become



of a mortal‘s love and strength! Her soul hath been stolen and left to die!‖



―Do not mourn for her spirit – if thy reclaimeth thy place among God, he



will restoreth her soul,‖ Gabriel promised. ―But understand this – once thou



ascends to heaven, thou shalt never touch upon the girl again. She will



remain of the mortal dominion whilst thou shall reclaim immortality.‖







―Forever I thought of nothing but immortality – to reclaim thy salvation –



until I loved a mortal girl, one who transcended time to be with me – who



loved me enough to die for me – twice. I cannot leave her.‖







―Thou hath ten days to decide. If thou doth not choose salvation, thou



wilt remain demon in the mortal dominion for all eternity. Remember, thy



hath been cursed as a demon of the Goetia. All Goetic demons must



serve under Satan. You may be forced into servitude once again, but



under an infernal exile and not of an angelic one,‖ Gabriel declared.







―I will try to summon Satan himself, and reclaim Laurel‘s soul. I know the



exchange will be owed for an eternity. I will look for thee on the tenth day



here as we are now in the Courtyard,‖ Dantalion bowed his head.



Gabriel ascended the spiral stairway accompanying the other archangels



within the fires of the hallowed ground.







108

Dantalion could not sever the chains that bound the undead. He let me



go – in body – but not in spirit. He left the Courtyard, beyond its stone



borders, and into the safety of the forest. He called forth his legion of



demons, all thirty six of them, assembled and ready to serve. Rowan was



his newest member.







―I am Duke Dantalion, the seventy first demon of the Goetia. You know



me well. It is known, all demons of the Goetia serve Satan, but it was I



who hath summoned thee, therefore, each of thee pays allegiance to



me. We shall combine our powers to persuade Satan to release Laurel‘s



mortal soul. My instinct tells me it is for greater a purpose he imprisons her



soul. He hath waited for ages until I hath been evoked to come for the



girl. He plans to use us both somehow. Perhaps even use us all.‖







―I hath named Count Halphas as my legion general. He hath the skills of



war, and can lead half our demonic army in battle, the rest shall follow my



lead.‖



Count Halphas, a war hero – deep in voice and of brute strength, never



gave in to the vices of a woman while he was in command. He led his



army to victory and died at the hands of his own brother.









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―Among us there is one who hath not yet fought on the battlefield. He



hath offered his allegiance to me to help save the girl. He holds the



power of magick, and is named Rowan.‖







Rowan did not speak, but stood close at attention. He had no chance of



winning a physical battle with a demon. Crossing Dantalion forced him to



offer his allegiance as the pact. He now wore the seal of a Goetic



demon.







―If I may, my Lord,‖ Count Halphas interrupted. ―What if Lord Satan does



not meet with our demands to release the girl‘s soul?‖







Dantalion gave his army a speech: ―He hath fallen from the grace of



God, as did I. He craves power and souls of the mortal world. Yet he



reigns supreme. He believeth he is thy equivalence to God, and



therefore, believeth he can command his will unto mortals and demons



alike. All of us most answer to our own transgressions, but I know that even



the fallen can reclaim their salvation, even you, Count Halphas. None of



this must come in the way of our sole purpose – we MUST SAVE THE GIRL!



What say you?‖









110

The army of demons stood up with their razor sharp claws and glowing



eyes, armed with spiritual weapons and vengeance on behalf of their



leader, Duke Dantalion.







All thirty six legions had met their own fate in one way or another, but had



been summoned by Dantalion and given their freedom. They were willing



to die for him. The demon armies gathered around the fires near their



shelter, conspiring a plan to rescue my soul. .







My soul was held by Satan far beneath the fires of the third heaven,



imprisoned within a rock crystal tomb. Of the many souls moving about



Satan‘s dominion, mine was the only one he guarded. He had great



plans for me, something far greater than the normal life of a mortal girl.







Once the brightest star of the heavens, Satan‘s fall from grace cast his



brilliance into pitch. His pride crumbled around him, his descent



underground merely proved he thought himself the equivalent of God.



His demon wings clearing the space where his throne of gold sat, serpents



coiled around it at either side. The demons from the Courtyard of the



Undead, guardians of the fires of his dominion, now guarded his most



precious temptation of all, my soul.









111

Crimson flames laced with evil clung to him, as he grew closer, moving



through the crystal tomb.







―Your soul is welcomed back within my infernal dominion. I hath created



her, she who seduced both mortal and immortal men for eternity. Lilith‘s



temptation hath brought down the fall of Dantalion. I owneth Lilith,



therefore, I owneth any mortal soul she embodies.‖ Satan hissed, moving



through the crystal tomb, his evil aura following.







My soul, guarded by the winged demons presiding over Satan‘s fires, still



resembled my physical appearance, yet any trace of emotion I still



possess might alert them. I tried to envision Dantalion in my thoughts. He



would find me, and reclaim my soul to the body we once knew. My



thoughts found his, guiding Dantalion beneath the Courtyard,



underground – to the fires of the third heaven.



―Laurel, I hear thy voice – my army is assembled and we are approaching



the Courtyard‘s borders. I promise I will reclaim thy soul.‖







Dantalion led them past the altar beneath the jagged rock, honoring my



lifeless body chained to the altar in the Courtyard of the Undead. Among



them was Rowan! Dantalion took one half of the army by the stone pillars









112

forming the circle. The embers there still burned hot from the blaze the



night before. Count Halphas led the other half behind the altar.







―Count Halphas, furnish thy army with as much spiritual weaponry you can



empower. I shall use my powers of telepathy and fire, and Rowan shall



use spell magick. We shall descend the third heaven through the



passages beneath the Courtyard,‖ Dantalion commanded.







―Lord Dantalon, I wish to give my power of magick to the armies before



we descend upon Satan. This will allow he who crosses him power to



command him at their will. I know not what magnitude of strength he



shall have within his dominion, but I can guarantee it may bend his will



ever slightly enough that he may release Laurel‘s soul,‖ Rowan offered.



Dantalion nodded for Rowan to proceed, and he sent an aura of divinity



over the entire thirty six legions, arming them with the power of magick.







―Remember, we hath but ten days to reclaim Laurel‘s soul‖ Dantalion



reminded the army.







Dantalion gave the command and led his armies through the passages



beneath the circle. He signaled to Count Halphas to proceed through



the passage by the altar.







113

He did not tell them of the seven archangels that had descended from



the heavens to grant him his salvation and appointment to seraphim. Nor



that if he chose immortality, he would never be allowed to feel the human



flesh of my body ever again, or be allowed to love me for eternity like he



promised.









114

Chapter 11 Demonic

Lord









115

Chapter #11 DEMONIC LORD



Underground, beneath the Courtyard of the Undead, Dantalion and his



armies moved through the darkness, armed with powers of thirty six



legions of demons.



―My Lord, I have led many battles, but never have our spiritual weapons



or demonic powers been diminished as ours have. The barrier is stronger



than anything we have ever seen. We have journeyed for days now, and



still no sign of the girl,‖ Count Halphas complained. ―We are losing



strength, Lord Dantalion, even you must notice it. See how your demonic



appearance is changing.‖



―Count Halphas, have you gone mad?‖



―No, I fear not my Lord – look upon my shield.‖



―What is this? My eyes – they have changed to blackness- my hands, no



daggers!‖



―My Lord, we have all drank from the water inside the cavern. Even with



Divine magic we could not purify it completely. The men are weaking. All



our powers are slowly dying.‖







― Count Halphas, Rowan, we are face to face – men among men now.



No demonic powers or appearances stand between our rank or title.‖



Dantalion replied. ―It is not in our demonic nature to stand down. We









116

have but two days left to save the girl. We all must uphold our oaths - to



guard over and protect.‖







Rowan confided, ―Lord Dantalion, as men, I know, sure as we stand



before one another, she said you were like an elixir that pulsed through



her veins. She loved only you.‖







Dantalion nodded. ―We must move out. Our time is diminishing. We



cannot leave her here in this infernal damnation to be at the mercy of



pure evil.‖







―I beg your pardon, my Lord, but we ARE demons of the Goetia. Our



purpose IS pure evil!‖ Count Halphas reminded him.







―This is true of some, but not ALL of us. I must try to find another passage



beyond the barrier. She must be near.‖







―My Lord, if you find her, give her this.‖ Rowan begged. He placed in



Dantalion‘s hands the moonstone pendant.



Dantalion could see the look of desperation on Rowan‘s face. Each of us



had lost something of our physical being – transformed into something un-



human…







117

―Thy knowest that all but a translucent soul exists of Laurel now?‖



―Yes, my Lord, but this stone prophesizes the future. Laurel sees visions and



she can possess its magic, even here where the barrier diminishes our



powers. The stone can lead you to where Satan keeps her soul,‖ Rowan



offered.



―Count Halphas, should I not return, lead the armies back through the



passages to the Courtyard of the Undead. Make sure all are returned



beyond the safety of the stone borders. Rowan, you are appointed



second in command to Count Halphas and must govern the demonic



legions.‖



―Yes, my Lord.‖ Rowan nodded.



Dantalion moved quickly into the shadows of the cavern, staring down at



his hands, no longer bearing razor sharp claws of a demon. ―Now, I



command thee, powers of fire, raise up and giveth me light – What‘s this?



No flames emerge from my hands!‖



While most of his demonic powers were diminished, Dantalion tried his



powers of telepathy.



He heard my voice, leading him higher through the cavern ascending



toward the aura of crimson flames, the scent of death clinging in the air.



Dantalion glimpsed the four winged demons guarding the eternal flames



of Satan, high within the cavern walls. Never were the flames allowed to



burn out.







118

―My brothers, thy hath guarded well.‖ Upon seeing Dantalion, the



demons called out to one another once again, using their deafening



pitch in an attempt to drive him to madness.



Dantalion spoke to them, ― Thy powers do not penetrate pure demon



blood. I am Dantalion, Duke and demon of the Goetia.‖



Dantalion moved respectfully past the huge beasts, searching for what



they guarded beyond the everlasting flames. There, beyond them,



emerged a rock crystal tomb reaching from the cavern base to the sky.



Clear in color and sparkling beyond the flickering light of the eternal fires,



my translucent soul was imprisoned beyond the tomb. His power almost



diminished, Dantalion moved quickly shape shifting, allowing him



entrance into the crystal tomb.



My voice was somber. ―My hopes have died with my body. My soul



poisoned by a power greater than yours.‖



―I have led my armies here, underground for days trying to find you. Our



powers are close to diminished and we have but one day left to restore



your soul of my own power. If not, your soul with be forever lost here!‖



I had to tell him – to reveal the truth.



―Dantalion – it was a lie – Lilith. Satan created her as a storm demon to



bring down your fall from grace! You loved a temptress with no mortal



soul!‖



Dantalion did not appear to acknowledge what I had just said.







119

―Are you mad? Have you lost your senses? I know of my transgression. I



have paid the price through the ages, and now you torture what is left of



me for my sin? I loved her once. And I love you now. That I will never



regret!..‖



Dantalion moved his shape shifted body up against my translucent soul,



our mouths pressing against one another. He transferred the moonstone



into my mouth, and replied, ―It is a gift. From someone close to your



heart. Do you remember its powers?‖



―Yes, I know.‖



―Now, let us go. The scent of death approaches.‖



Dantalion went to gather my soul from the crystal tomb and an aura of



crimson flames burned around us, opening up the flames to reveal a



brilliant evening star, quickly shape shifting into his true demonic form. His



black wings emerged and eyes red as the fires burning all around us.



―Welcome Dantalion! Ye who sat at the throne of the heavens –



guardian of mankind. Behold! Condemned – fallen as did I. Thou hath



been cursed for two ages. And yet, thou still finds love amongst a mortal



girl? Fool! Have thou not learned from thy transgression?‖









120

―Satan! I know the truth. It was you who condemned me by your trickery



– Lilith was not a mortal but a storm demon – a temptress from the desert!



All this time I suffered, believing in something that was but a lie! Your lie!‖







―Thou giveth me credit for thy fall from grace tis true – but as the ages



passed, Lilith embodied other souls. Just as she transcended time to find



this mortal girl, Laurel, who hath evoked thee. I have use for her. Hers is



the soul of a true heart. I shall take something once again from thee,



Dantalion of the Goetia!‖







―No! Her soul is pure. It has no use for evil!‖



―Tis of no consequence. It will now live once again in the body of Lilith,



reclaimed to tempteth and bring down the fall of others to my dominion!‖



―We both know Dantalion, that all demons of the Goetia, including thy



thirty six legions of demons paying allegiance to thee, all have been



condemned. All bear the demonic seal and therefore, according to my



will, now pay allegiance to me!‖



―NEVER!‖



―Come, now, Dantalion. Thee can rule the third heaven as powerful as



thy ruleth the first heaven. Angelic hierarchy or infernal, what does it



matter? Dantalion, all thy spiritual weapons and powers imaginable



cannot penetrate the barrier of this realm!‖







121

―Release Laurel‘s soul to me – and we shall go – thou can find other



mortal souls to reclaim! Your halls are filled with shades and souls without



physical essence to embody!‖‘



―True, I keep many here, but this girl‘s soul is an unfound treasure amongst



the many. Hers holds not only strength, but visions and magical powers.



Oh yes, and most enticing – your demon heart!‖



Satan commanded the rock crystals to grow, forming a barrier between



my soul and Dantalion.



―Dantalion – let her go! One cannot truly expect with full demonic power



that thy possesses, to ever love or be loved. Tis only lust that demons of



the Goetia feel – nothing more! Look upon my recreation of Lilith – how



beautiful and seductive she hath become! She will hold Laurel‘s soul and



thy can be re-united once again.‖



The body of Lilith appeared before Dantalion. She was beautiful, with



long black hair of silk, as he remembered her when he fell from grace.



She moved closer and spoke.



―Dantalion, I have missed thee! All this time, I longed to kiss you and feel



your strength. She guided her arms past his shape shifted form changing



him back to full demon, eyes once again yellow-amber, black hair falling



to his back. She pressed her half naked flesh up against his kissing and



tempting him with something that was not real.



―No! This is a lie – you are not the mortal girl I loved once!‖







122

Lilith curled her mouth into a sinister grin. ―You are right – but soon enough



I shall be! ―



I screamed – ―No Dantalion – don‘t let them do this!‖



Lilith‘s body moved through me, absorbing my soul, while Dantalion tried



to hold her back.



―No!‖ he cried in a demonic howl that echoed through the cavern and



shook the ground.



―Dantalion – it is done. Let her go!‖ Satan sneered.



―NEVER!‖ Dantalion scowled. ―She is NOT Lilith – just another of your



demonic lies!‖ His full demonic powers restored, Dantalion commanded



fire throwing an infernal barrier between himself, Satan and Lillith,



escaping through the flames.









123

Chapter 12 Sacrifice









124

Chapter #12 SACRIFICE



Defeated, Dantalion lowered his head into his hands. ―Only one day left.‖



Dantalion believed he was invincible, his powers along with his demonic



armies‘ could not save me once inside Satan‘s dominion. Dantalion



recalled his fate. ―If I cannot save Laurel‘s soul myself by the tenth day, I



will remain demon in the mortal dominion, Laurel‘s soul lost forever!‖ he



spoke to himself.







He began hearing whispers, every sound amplified within the dark cavern



descending back toward his armies. ―Who‘s there?‖ Dantalion whirled



around, prepared for the worst. Souls of the dead moved in and out



through the caves below him. Crystal rock formations lined the passages,



and the air was damp and humid. A mist clouded his vision, rising from



the underground hot springs throughout the caves. He could see a



stream of light coming in through the caverns high above him. ―This does



not look familiar. I must have found another passage way back,‖ he said



aloud.



Dantalion kept hearing voices, working himself into a frenzy – claws fully



extended – ―Show yourself!‖ he commanded. Fire illuminated from his



hands, and through the mist, hundreds of Goetic demons lay dying beside









125

the shallow pools of hot springs. Rowan and Count Halphas were among



them as Dantalion approached.



Rowan spoke near death, ―My Lord – the armies – they have been driven



mad! The Demonic Lord‘s powers have taken hold! We hoped you had



found Laurel‘s soul.‖



―Satan has her. I came close to saving her – she was within my grasp but



he took her. Her soul now lives within Satan‘s recreation of Lilith! She is of



an evil that tempteth even demon war lords. She will continue to seduce



both mortal and immortal men for eternity,‖ Dantalion lamented.



―My Lord, we cannot give up hope.‖ Rowan added.



He loved me as much as Dantalion did but knew I could never love him



back. By no fault of our own, Rowan and I were enslaved in Dantalion‘s



world.



Dantalion walked amidst the bodies of his thirty six legions of demons,



completely depleted of their powers. ―Satan wills it – all the demons of



the Goetia pay allegiance to him now.‖



Count Halphas could not believe what he had heard. ―Lord Dantalion –



we only pay allegiance to thee – NEVER will we bend at his mercy! We



will die by our own hands before we surrender to be enslaved in his third



heaven for eternity!‖



Count Halphas believed what Dantalion has said in his speech to the



armies. All the demons of the Goetia must answer to their own







126

transgressions, but even the fallen can reclaim their salvation. They



wished to repent for their wrongs and live once again as men. Some of



the higher rank demons were saints once. None ever sat at the hands of



God as Dantalion had. Nonetheless, all wished to be saved. Now, their



chances were diminished by the Demonic Lord himself.



Dantalion‘s demon eyes grew wide. ―There is another way! But I must first



restore these legions to their demonic forms.‖







Dantalion walked among them, many not recognizable. Those demons



with eyes like his, were now dark, their razor sharp claws diminished to



bone. Dantalion extinguished the fires controlled in his hands and



renewed them with an opaque wave washing over the demons of the



Goetia, one by one. The armies rose from the mists, emerging in the



stream of light shining from above. Count Halphas‘ claws were once



again daggers, his red eyes blazing with the fires of war. Rowan‘s



appearance remained the same as before, with the exception of his



eyes, once brown, now piercing spheres of jet. All the demons grew



stronger, immediately absorbing Dantalion‘s healing powers. They



became animal-like, in a frenzy, feeding off one another‘s powers. They



were unaware that high above the cavern, the Demonic Lord was



watching Dantalion and his armies. His intention was well planned. Satan









127

was hungry for power, but also hungered for lust. Within his dominion, a



debauchery was commencing.



―Enough!‖ Dantalion commanded, coming between the demons of the



Goetia, fired by their newly restored strength. ―Remember why we are



here!‖



―My Lord, we must be near the girl….listen…..‖ Count Halphas titled his



head to one side.



―A ritual is about to commence. I recognize the chanting.‖ Rowan



added.



―Alright. We will move out – but use caution. The barrier still exists



depleting our powers once we draw nearer to his infernal realm‖



Dantalion ordered.



―My Lord, if Laurel‘s soul rests within the demon Lilith, how will she be



freed?‖ Rowan inquired.



Dantalion knew of two ways to free my soul. He would have to surrender



his soul and that of his thirty-six legions to Satan, or call upon God. Both



would release my soul, but neither would allow him to ever touch upon



my mortal body again, an almost impossible sacrifice for a demon of the



Goetia to achieve, no matter how strong his will.



Dantalion answered Rowan, ―I will sacrifice my soul.‖ He did not say to



whom.









128

―We cannot allow you to go through with this!‖ Count Halphas added. If



thou commits to Lord Satan, we will have all failed you. And we will be at



his mercy for eternity!‖



―I will bargain my soul ALONE for the girl‘s. Your allegiance will remain with



ME. He will hath no claim over any of thee.‖



They all knew his words were of truth. Dantalion was loyal to his armies.



And also to me. He would protect us no matter what the price.







The chanting grew alluring to the demons of the Goetia. It had been two



ages they heard the sounds of sacrifices, or of seduction. Shades moved



nearer, enticing the demons as they ascended the caves, past the mists.



They followed the echoes of the chanting, the familiar fires Dantalion had



seen earlier emerging from beyond the rock crystal formations. Glowing



crimson flames carried the scent of death, lingering in the air.







Each of the Goetic demons were lured, by a spirit of the undead, shape



shifted into a sultry female emanating unbearable lust. Bodies lie beside



the fires, engaged in sexual desires, devouring one another. Wine flowed



from the face of the cavern, forming a pool at the base resembling



blood. Satan sat amongst his majestic throne, wings fully expanded, his



aura of crimson flames releasing the evils about to consume Dantalion



and his armies.







129

The four winged demons guarding Satan‘s eternal fires joined in the



debauchery, moving closer to the crystal tomb. My soul, imprisoned



within Lilith‘s body, viewed the display from above. I no longer felt the



longing for Dantalion as I did before, only the desire of Lilith to join them.



The demons led her out of the tomb and with her, my soul. They laid me



down before Satan‘s feet, wine pouring down the face of the cavern



behind him. His spirits of the undead and shape shifters gathered around



us, chanting. Satan rose, clawed fingernails to the sky, addressing his



dominion:



―My children…we have waited for two ages for the coming of my brother,



Dantalion of the Goetia! He has been evoked by the soul that lies at my



feet. Now we shall witness their union of the flesh, before us, and with us,



as one!‖



The Goetic demons pulled away from the shape shifters, unleashing their



powers…Count Halphas and his armies‘ spiritual weapons tried to send a



vanquishing barrier around Satan and his demons of the undead. The



barrier of crimson flames diminished their barrier.. Rowan‘s divine magick



held Satan‘s souls and shades away from Lilith, forming a protective circle



around us. Dantalion saw Rowan‘s magick take effect, and commanded



fire from his claws, thrusting a burning attack directly at Satan. Satan‘s



aura of death blocked the attack. His eyes grew slanted and enraged,







130

casting a wave of flames with such force it opened up the gates to his



dominion unleashing phantom demons along with every evil known to



both the mortal and immortal worlds. Dantalion and his armies were



devoured of their powers and thrown into the circle with Lilith and my soul.







―Fools! This is the kingdom that God himself bestowed upon me when I fell



from grace! No powers can match those I command here. Your spiritual



weapons and divine magick will not help thee in my realm!‖ Satan



lowered his hands and signaled to his demons to continue with the



debauchery that commenced earlier. The souls of the undead returned



to the feast, chanting and feeding off one another‘s demonic powers.



Female and male alike, united by the fires of Satan, screams of ecstasy



and pain echoed within the kingdom of the undead. All were under his



power. Lust took hold once again of the Goetic demons and they



engaged in desires of the flesh, while Dantalion could do nothing to stop



it.







Satan enjoyed the sin that he controlled, and the powers he held over



Dantalion. His armies had fallen under a new power now, yet Satan was



not satisfied. He moved into the circle, through Rowan‘s magick barrier,



ordering Lilith to come closer. She arose from the circle, standing in its



center, her black hair glistening against the illuminations from the fires, her







131

immortal body bearing only flesh. Dantalion struggled to free her, but with



each attempt to hold her back from Satan, he became powerless. All



controlled by evil and lust, the divine barrier now broken, Satan‘s demons



took hold. Chanting commenced and Satan drew his blade. It was



guarded by the serpents of his throne, and within the hilt, he enslaved only



the purest of souls. He intended to use my soul as the sacrifice in his



Satanic ritual. The blade would bind my soul to Lilith‘s for all eternity.



Ordering Lilith to become one with him, we were to be devoured by



Satan himself.







Dantalion held back rage, and at the same time, tried to hold back his



demonic lust while beautiful demons of the undead moved across his skin,



touching and luring him to submit to their will. He saw Satan‘s claws



gauging at Lilith‘s back, his demonic form entering hers. Dantalion



watched her body and soul being ravished, and lunged at Satan, shape



shifting into his body. Thrashing wildly, Satan possessed Dantalion,



Dantalion possessed Satan. It was a battle of will. Still grasping his blade,



Satan tried to remove Dantalion by cutting his own demon flesh to pieces,



while he continued with the sacrifice of my soul. The entire circle of



demons still confined within the circle, watched the Demonic Lord and



Dantalion‘s battle over power.









132

Dantalion reached for the blade now aimed at Lilith‘s heart, his powers



diminishing quickly as Satan fed off his strength. I could feel my soul slowly



dying. Satan expelled Dantalion‘s body from his own, ripping him



completely away from his own flesh, and casting him outside the circle.



The demons of the Goetia were cast outside the circle as well, still under



Satan‘s hypnotic power. The Demonic Lord rose high in the center of the



circle, restoring himself to full demonic form, his wings expanded across his



back and his eyes aglow, his blade prepared to end my life before



Dantalion and his entire legion of demons.







I saw visions flash before me, of Dantalion, the first time I felt him against



my skin…beautiful….and of lust…the face of the angel of darkness that



would never hurt me. And again, when he appeared before me in the



Courtyard, his true demon form, as he was now, nails all out, dagger-like,



eyes glowing amber-yellow, dark hair falling around his face and down to



mine…I could faintly hear his voice in my thoughts….







―Laurel, do not fear death…we hath no powers over Satan here, in his



dominion. But celestial powers reign supreme in the angelic order. We



will seek salvation in the first heaven. We shall be saved. Remember…I



will love you for eternity….‖









133

My thoughts raced back to my life in the Baja desert, when I was



younger…how somehow I was connected to Lilith by the very same



desert sands.







―Dantalion, you are the elixir that pulses through my blood, the reason I



breathe air…don‘t ever forget…‖







Satan sunk the dagger deep in Lilith‘s heart, her screams resounding off



the walls of the caverns, my mortal soul extinguished, carried up through



the fires of the third heaven.









134

Chapter 13 Call Upon

God









135

Chapter #13 CALL UPON GOD



―Behold, Dantalion! She no longer belongs to you. She is MINE and I hold



her here at MY will, to do whatever MY desire so wishes – in MY infernal



kingdom. She will be re-created once again with a new soul, for the sole



purpose of sexual servitude, answering only to MY desires – a lust that can



never be met‖ Satan chanted amused.



―Here lies not the kingdom of a lesser God, but of something GREATER –



unrepentant, unyielding, to the sins of mankind. Demons of the Goetia!



Bow to your new Demonic Lord – pay allegiance to my powers now and



forever!‖



Dantalion looked upon his thirty six legions of demons, silent and



defeated. They desperately searched his expression for a command or a



counter attack. Rowan knew, even with all the demonic powers



combined, they had failed to save my life. His eyes met Dantalion‘s and



both felt a great loss of my soul. Dantalion knew it was useless to defy the



powers of Satan. He nodded to Count Halphas, and to Rowan – and



there, before the eyes of God, submitted their allegiance to the Demonic



Lord Satan.



―Excellent! Now we can rejoice in the combined forces of the third



heaven. Let us bring forth the temptress who was sacrificed for our



pleasure. Dantalion, I thought it more enticing she be re-created in the



image of Laurel.‖





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Slowly, Satan rose above the demonic legions, and from the blood of



sacrifice, I was summoned, emerging as the most beautiful vision demon



and man had ever seen. Dantalion looked upon me with compassion,



knowing I would soon bear the pains of eternal damnation. Satan



nodded to me, curling his razor claws in a calling motion, to come



forward.







Dantalion could not bear the torture. He watched once again, as my



flesh was torn and clawed, eyes black and soul-less, my body dripping



with blood. Dantalion once came to me as Incubus, lust an unspoken



and understood emotion of demonic nature, but over time, became



more refined and controlled to my emotion of love. This restraint allowed



him to become almost human. Still wearing the bronze medallion around



his neck, Dantalion held it high, evoking the restored serpent Gwynnedd



to his command. Her bones of the dead were the souls created by Satan,



and her attempt to bring forth a child of pure demon bloodline from



Dantalion and my demon form were unsuccessful. Dantalion saved her



from torture far worse than those she would have received had Satan



took possession of her. Dantalion ordered her to attack, her red eyes



glowing with hatred. She raised her barbed tail injecting venom searing



into Satan‘s heart. The poison moved through him slowly, holding him









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back for a moment from Dantalion. He lifted me up from the ground,



away from the demons, and escaped the fires of the third heaven.







Once past the barrier, Dantalion came to the place he had found his



armies, past the crystal rock formations, the air still thick with humidity. The



mists rose from the underground hot springs inside the cave and he



placed my body down on the ground. I could feel his eyes fixed on me,



breathing life back into my lungs. I could barely move, but felt his form



touch my body, his hair falling down around me. He commanded a



wave of healing powers washing over my bleeding body, scarred with



blood, and he whispered, ―Do not fear death…‖



I did not feel pain subside, nor any sadness or emotion. I was a creation



of Satan, a slave of the flesh. Dantalion could not heal my mortal soul as it



has been tainted with evil. There was no love in my heart, only the



emptiness of eternal damnation.







Dantalion fell to the ground, ―Thy hath saved my life twice, and I cannot



save yours! Sworn to guard over and protect thee, now thy body and



soul are Satan‘s empty creation. What hope is left ? Thy should take our



lives here and now, as we are and be done with it. It is the tenth day. If



thy cannot heal thee, we are condemned for certain!‖ For hours it



seemed, he lay beside me, in despair, his will to live diminished.







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A stream of light shone down through the caverns from above,



illuminating a golden light onto our near lifeless bodies. The mist became



thicker. Slowly, I could feel we were being raised above the mists,



weightless, ascending the third heaven and above the aura of death that



clung to our spirits. Dantalion could not believe we were back at the



Courtyard of the Undead! The fires still burned in the center of the



courtyard, and within it, the entire angelic order of guardians over our



souls descended their hallowed ground. A spiral stairway appeared at



the base of the fires, as on the day my mortal soul was stolen from my



body. We were placed at the altar of the Courtyard of the Undead, my



lifeless body still chained there, beneath the jagged rock. On this tenth



day, their hallowed ground was Dantalion‘s call upon God. In a celestial



aura of golden silver light, three hierarchies and nine orders of angels



moved about the heavenly light, Gabriel, the messenger, returned to



Dantalion as he promised. ―Dantalion, child of God, it has appeared the



Demonic Lord would not accept your sacrifice of thy soul in exchange for



the girl‘s. We have watched thee from the first heaven, and witnessed



once again, the selfless acts of thee and this mortal girl. The sufferings of



mankind have been brought upon by mortal sin, and it is the will of our



creator, the compassionate and merciful Lord God, who has sent us as



guardians to descend the heavens to grant thee salvation.‖









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Dantalion gripped my re-created body, lying lifeless and bleeding and



lowered his head to the ground.







―Never before has one suffered the sins of man as ye. Despair depletes



thy will to live, and it is within this suffering that one must not lose faith, but



call upon God to answer our cries and save us from living death. What



say you?‖ Gabriel looked upon us with compassion.







―I hath defied the true nature of my demonic curse, and have come to



love a mortal girl who lies at our feet, an empty soul I could not save.‖



Dantalion held me tight.







―Once an angel of God, ye must knoweth that not all wish to be saved,



but all are deserving of salvation, even the fallen. Thee hath escaped the



temptation of Satan and his servitude. Thy must now decide, stay with this



girl whose soul is no longer pure of heart, but of Satan‘s making, or giveth



her a chance to reclaim her own salvation. What say you?‖







Dantalion knew this was the last day his physical body would ever touch



upon mine again, that I would never be allowed to love him, or he to love



me, for eternity. That the love we had needed to come to an end. I



could not speak, but listened to his demonic heart pounding against







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mine, his lips kissing me for a final time. He spoke to Gabriel. ―I, Dantalion



of the Goetia, hereby repent thy mortal sin, and seek salvation of Laurel‘s



soul.‖ He held my hands, still razor sharp claws of the demon that once



was my obsession.







―So it is ordained, he who bears the name of Dantalion, by the will of God,



shall henceforth be granted his salvation from sin, and appointed



seraphim, the highest of the angelic order.‖



Dantalion asked of Gabriel, ―If I may, I wish to be of the third hierarchy,



archangel and not seraphim, so I can remain guardian to mankind, with



the ability to taketh human form – that I may still watch over and protect



her. And of my thirty six legions, they too hath wished to seek salvation as



men, what of them?‖







Gabriel and the entire angelic order exchanged glances, and it was



decided, ―The angelic hierarchy, commanded by God, hath granted thy



request to be appointed archangel and guardian to mankind. Thy may



taketh human form only for protection to man, and for no purpose



thereunder. Thy demonic legions of the Goetia will be summoned here



before us, to pay penance for their sin, and if worthy, shall find salvation



here as well. Looketh upon her now, Dantalion of the Goetia as demon









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no more, thy salvation has brought forth thee anew, archangel and child



of God.‖







The hallowed ground of the angelic order illuminated a pathway to the



stairs of heaven, and Dantalion breathed new life; his amber-yellow eyes



now returned to piercing spheres of onyx, his long dark hair falling to his



back in a neatly secured braid. His dagger like extensions removed, he



no longer bore the seal of a demon of the Goetia. He ascended the



thrones of heaven, wearing not the face of the angel of darkness, but



that of angelic immortality, wings fully expanded, soul pure of heart. As



he ascended, my body too, rose from the ground, iridescent and



weightless, removed of its scarred and tainted form, my soul returned



back within the lifeless flesh chained to the altar of the Courtyard of the



Undead.







The celestial aura glowed brilliantly above the fires in the courtyard, and



my eyes for the first time since my soul was stolen, fixed upon the most



beautiful vision of Dantalion, immortal once again, amongst the other



angels of God. They were watching over me, and Dantalion‘s image



was Godly as well, almost superior to the beauty I loved in him as a



demon. His eyes fixed on mine, I could see he was still guarding me,



protecting. I could no longer hear his voice, and he could not descend







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past the hallowed ground of the celestial order. I felt my heart pounding



back within my rightful body, but felt an emptiness surge through me. I



now knew the true empty reflection of the taste of immortality. I no longer



felt his breathing or blood pulsing through my veins. Our bond was



broken. His spirit was finally free from me and his demonic curse.



Everything I was and everything I would become was now a shadow of



an empty existence! I collapsed to the ground, outstretching my arms up



to the sky, tears streaming down my vacant expression. He could never



touch upon me again. He had told me not to fear death, that we would



be saved. That he would love me for eternity. But none of that mattered



anymore. He had to leave me – to save my life. The fire began to



dissipate, leaving me alone, in complete silence, in the Courtyard of the



Undead.









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