Lilith - TI3 (46 page)

"Who are you?" gasped Freddie.

"We are the Erinyes sisters. Have you never heard of us?"

Shaking his head no, he wasn't sure if he was making a mistake by denying it.

"We punish the worst souls condemned to hell. You have been given to us for eternity."

"Or until you pass the two tasks set before you."

Freddie was about to ask about these tasks when he noticed one of the triplets flicking her whip.

"You may talk," she said.

"What tasks?" he asked nervously, glancing at the demons on each side of him. He knew the third was behind him. The whores continued to circle silently.

"You must name each of the whores you murdered. Only then can you go to the final task."

"I've never seen all of these women. Only a few of them."

"That's your problem. You either killed them or ordered their deaths."

"You will remember them in time."

"In a very long time."

"It's time to begin. Name these whores," the demoness commanded to his left.

Freddie watched the faces passing by and was able to name five before he missed. Those five disappeared but the whip cracked and he screamed.

"Name them again."

"I don't..."

The whip cracked, followed by the pain.

"You will talk when we say you can talk."

The monotony of the sentence, itself, was enough to drive him crazy. He felt like screaming for them to shut up but knew better.

"Name them again."

Freddie tried and failed, tried and failed and each time he suffered the same punishment. Each of the triplets took turns with their whips, hitting the exact same spot on his back with an accuracy that foretold of eons of experience. Had he been human, he would have died a long time ago. Freddie realized he would suffer the unbearable pain for an eternity if he didn’t guess their names.

Occasionally, the triplets would stop and talk amongst themselves, oblivious to his presence. Then they would resume their torture, methodically, stoically. On one occasion, when he was allowed to talk, he asked them what his final task would be, thinking if he guessed enough names, he'd eventually eliminate all of the whores.

"You must guess each of our names. Only then will your soul be transferred to the fires of hell. Only then will you know some peace... although I warn you, it will still be painful."

"But not like this. There you get periods of rest to contemplate how to redeem you soul," the second demoness said.

"In time you may get a reprieve from the Underlord and be allowed to serve him," added the third.

"I've never heard of you before. How can I know your names?" he asked, dejected at the thought of spending eternity under their reign.

"That is not our problem."

"Prayers will do you no good."

"But please us and we may give you a hint."

"How can I please you?" he asked, hope surfacing.

"You please us now."

"Yes, each failure gives us joy."

"But if I fail every time, I will never leave here," he cried hopelessly.

The triplets smiled their satisfaction and Freddie knew he was doomed.

T
HEY HUDDLED IN a dark corner away from prying eyes and ears, whispering amongst themselves. The rumors were right. The Child had returned. Many of the demons had either forgotten about her or pushed aside their feelings about her and moved on. Tens of thousands of years were too long for even the most hardened to want revenge. There were too many other distractions for them to focus on. The weaker minions, however, were different. As the lowest of the low, they would never rise to positions of power and so they lived in constant fear of their own scheming. Zagam, Paymon and Dagon were three of those demons. Zagam was considered a master of deceit by some but most of the demons knew his tricks. Paymon was the master of ceremonies. Unfortunately, the Underworld rarely had any events that required his services... and then there was Dagon, the baker. Why the Underworld ever acquired a baker no one knew. Demons didn’t require food, although they did enjoy it. Unfortunately for Dagon, it was human food they enjoyed.

"Do you think she’ll remember us?" whispered Paymon, looking around nervously.

"I don’t know. It’s been a long time. Maybe she’s forgotten or maybe she doesn’t care anymore," said Dagon, his voice shaking slightly.

"You are fools," hissed Zagam. "How can she not remember? Would you forget the ones who had you locked away for hundreds of thousands of years?"

Neither of the demons answered. They didn’t have to.

"No!" replied another voice startling the three conspirators. "No one would forget!"

"Child! It is good to see you!" said Paymon looking to the others for support. Nodding their heads vigorously, they smiled weakly at the petite red-haired demoness.

"Oh, I’m sure."

"You’ve changed," observed Dagon.

"Time can do that," the Child replied, her voice cold and emotionless.

"Yes... yes. We heard what the Underlord and that woman did to you. It was unconscionable."

"By that woman, you mean my mother."

"Of course... your mother. We mean no disrespect."

"We went to them to protest what they had done but it was too late," interjected Zagam.

"Really! I must have missed that part."

"Ummm... missed?"

"Yes. It’s rather odd but you see... while I was in the Netherworld, I could see and hear everything you did and do. I don’t remember you going to my Father or Mother on my behalf."

Zagam flushed a dark red.

"We started to... but they wouldn’t see us is what he meant," said Dagon.

"Oh. Well. That’s different." She sneered. "That changes everything."

"Good... good. We’ve thought a lot about you, Child."

"Did you, now? Well, I have to admit I’ve been thinking about

the three of you. Especially you, Zagam."

Zagam fidgeted.

This isn’t good!
he thought.

"No. It isn’t," she replied making him take a step back. "I believe it was you who first lied to me about Adam."

"I must have misunderstood what I heard... right?" he asked looking at the other two for support.

"Yes. That’s right." They agreed glancing at each other.

"I see. Well, that changes things. I’d hate to think you deliberately misled me."

"No... no. We wouldn’t do that."

The Child didn’t reply for several minutes as she examined each demon as if looking for something. Finally, focusing her attention on Zagam, she scowled and then glared, her eyes burning with an inner rage. The other demons backed away slowly, fearful of distracting her attention away from the Deceiver. Within seconds, smoke began to rise from his skin. When he tried to scream, his vocal chords felt as if they were being squeezed. Writhing in pain, he clawed at his throat, his eyes imploring his companions to assist him. Paymon took a hesitant step forward but then retreated when the Child gave him a warning glance. Cowering, the two demons watched as Zagam was slowly and sadistically incinerated into a pile of dust. Turning to look at the others, she smiled her satisfaction and walked away and then stopped and spun around.

"You two! Get rid of his dust and then come to my chambers. From this moment on you serve me. Only me," she commanded.

"But we are free demons."

"Were, Dagon. You forfeited that right the moment I was set free. I think I have earned that right."

"For how long?" Paymon asked, hesitantly.

"Until I decide otherwise and be forewarned, no one is to know this. Do you understand?"

Lowering their eyes, they bobbed their heads.

"Good. I have work to do and I will need loyal supporters. Obey me and you will be well rewarded. Disobey and your life is forfeit."

"Yes, Mistress," they replied in unison.

The Child smiled her satisfaction. A new force walked the streets of the Underworld.

The End

F
ran Heckrotte
lives in sunny South Carolina with her husband. Some of her interests include motorcycling, boogie boarding, scuba diving, gardening, and water gardening. She spent three years in Alaska enjoying hiking, camping, gold panning and working part time at a local ranch. After moving to the South to become a policewoman for five years, she left law enforcement to become a carpenter. Now she owns a property management company. As time permits, she likes to travel to Montreal Canada, and South Beach Miami with her gal pals to enjoy the nightlife.

The Illusionist
(First in the Illusionist Series)

Summary

D
AKOTA DEVEREAUX, an investigative journalist, is on a mission to uncover the secrets of Yemaya, the Illusionist. However, in her quest for an expose on this mysterious woman, she uncovers more than she bargained for. Dakota is targeted by a power hungry CEO, determined to learn the Illusionist's secret at all costs and a madman intent on fulfilling his perverted fantasies.

From Moldova, land of the legendary werewolf, to Transylvania and the Carpathian Mountains, two souls must battle the dark forces of evil for their lives and their love.

*  *  *

Bloodlust
(Second in the Illusionist Series)

Summary

Y
emaya and Dakota
have just returned to the Illusionist's homeland for a well-earned vacation when they are informed that several villagers had been savagely attacked and killed by something or someone. At the same time, a young Carpi woman is found lying unconscious near the outskirts of Teraclia. Comatose, she is unable to tell anyone what has happened and science can provide no answers. Two small wounds on her throat raise the old specter of the vampire, a legend the locals of the Transylvanian community are very familiar with and still believe in to this day.

The Illusionist and her partner search for the truth behind these attacks. Will they fall prey to this murderous bloodlust that surrounds them, or will they succeed in stopping this heinous reign of terror?

*  *  *

Lilith
(Third in the Illusionist Series)

Summary

Y
EMAYA, the Illusionist, and her journalist partner, Dakota, find themselves embroiled in a search for the person responsible for the rape and torture of a young Carpi woman attending a university in the States. When they decide to visit a local nightclub for "women only," they find the owner and her employees unusual. Dakota feels mysteriously attracted to one of the clientele while Yemaya recognizes a kindred spirit in Lilith, the club's owner. Spiritual ancestors, missing whores, a sadistic exporter and new acquaintances lead the two lovers into an adventure of biblical proportion.

Lilith! She was a demoness, as old as humanity itself. Now, the owner of a "women's only" nightclub and part owner of the Sisterhood, a small group of whores who have banded together to create a better life for themselves, it was her job to protect the women who were putting so much trust in her. When a local pimp decides to eliminate his competition, Lilith and her two demon partners want revenge and no one knows better how to exact it than demons. This is a revelation of the past, the present and the events that forever changed the course of human history.