Tim Marquitz - Armageddon Bound

“I’d sensed the damage, though its cause was a mystery to me.” He shrugged. “However, I trust in the wall to hold. It is far more resilient than most think. They’ll have to do much more to it before they run the risk of its collapse.”

That, at least, was a dab of good news floating in a sea of shit. “Even so, Asmoday is on the short track to bringing about Armageddon, wall or no wall. We’re hanging on the edge here.”

The duke leaned forward and met my eyes. His mischievous smile sparkled. “Aren’t we always? What is it you’re asking of me?”

Here came the hard part. “I know you’d rather remain uninvolved, as has been your wont since Lucifer vanished, but the time for neutrality has passed.

Asmoday is on the cusp of ending the world and those of us who know, don’t have the means to stop him. We’re all looking at being dead or enslaved, and that includes you.”

Forcalor sat back, but said nothing. I couldn’t read his expression. It was frustrating. I continued. “I know this is a lot to drop in your lap, but I’ve nowhere else to turn. You’re the only person I know who has the power to challenge Gabriel, giving us a shot at taking Asmoday down.”

“I have much to lose in a confrontation of that magnitude.”

“You have much more to lose if you do nothing.”

I couldn’t tell if I was getting anywhere. It was like trying to talk a woman into giving it up. The answer was always no until you weighted the offer sufficiently.

“Defeat Gabriel and there’s a chance you can return to Heaven.” The bait had been cast. I was looking to reel in a whopper.

The duke’s eyes glimmered. “How so?”

I felt a nibble. “Without God around, Gabriel is the final word in Heaven. Show the Angelic Choir his true intentions and take him out before he can drag them down, and you’ll be hailed as a hero. You’d be welcomed back in a heartbeat.” I stopped talking. I didn’t want to overplay my hand.

Forcalor grinned wide and clapped his hands.

“You’ve learned well.”

“I had an excellent teacher.” I lathered it on thick.

The duke laughed at me. “Had your teacher been so good, he would have taught you when to stop.”

I shrugged apologetically. We both knew I was a

‘C’ student at best.

“I will assist you, but as always there is a price to pay for my help.”

Oh great, here we go again. I knew I didn’t look excited at the prospect of selling another piece of my ass. “Of course there is. Put it on my tab.”

He called his servant to him. Old and chatty arrived with contract in hand. The little guy handed it to me and I took it without too much complaint. I looked it over real quick. It didn’t matter how close Forcalor and I were, you never, never, signed a contract with a demon without reading the fine print. I ran down the line; favor to be repaid later; first born son; blah, blah, blah; standard. I bit my hand and made my mark. It’s a good thing self-inflicted wounds healed quickly, otherwise I’d have some seriously mangled hands with all the wheeling and dealing I’d been forced to do lately.

My ass in yet another sling, I handed the contract to the duke.

He looked it over and smiled. “We have a deal.”

The servant handed him a small, black box. From within it he pulled a round gemstone, glistening blue in the dim light. He passed it over to me. “Understand first I can only aid you once, so choose your moment wisely.”

Hey, look at that, a catch.

He saw my disappointment. “Like any good teacher, we cannot help but continue the lesson.”

“With all the hot teachers banging their kids these days, why’d I have to get stuck with you?”

“Consider yourself lucky. Were your teachers these women you so profess your lust for, you would most certainly be fucked. Given the current circumstances, what could they do for you?”

I gave him the golf clap. “Good one.” Snappy comebacks were not the duke’s strong suit. He chuckled before continuing. “I cannot simply confront Gabriel without provocation. I must be drawn into the fray. More importantly, I must be drawn in by him.”

I groaned as I thought about the logistics. “It’s not like he’s gonna rush down here and pick a fight. By the time he does return to Hell, the damage will have been done.”

“It’s really not complicated, Trigg. My favor is that you serve under me until this conflict is resolved.”

I didn’t quite get it. I’d failed my Infernal Politics class. “Not sure I see what you’re getting at.”

“As my servant, an attack upon you by Gabriel is an attack on me.”

“Uh, so I’ve got to get him to come after me?”

That wasn’t exactly what I’d planned when I thought this whole scheme up. I was looking for a way to avoid having to mix it up with Gabriel. Now, I was giftwrapping my ass for him. My simple plan was becoming way too complicated.

“In essence, yes, but you must not initiate the confrontation. I cannot defend you if he is in the right in your conflict. You must find a way to provoke him without appearing to do so.”

“Excellent.” For a guy who rarely gets laid, I sure did get screwed a lot. I was beginning to regret having come here.

“Speak my name once the conditions of our agreement are met and I will come to your aid. Keep the gem close, for it is the portal through which I will arrive.”

Strapped for time and having gotten all I was gonna in the way of help, I stood. “Thank you. For everything.” I bowed to Forcalor, trying my best to hide my disappointment. I really was grateful, I had just come there hoping for more direct help, fool that I am. Duke Forcalor stood and extended his hand. I took it. “Should our fates align, we will see each other soon. If not, it was an absolute pleasure to have known the only man to have ever refused the office of AntiChrist.” He smiled wide. Devils loved rebellion, just as long as it’s not them you’re rebelling against.

I took my leave and left the castle, Forcalor’s servant showing me out. In a daze, I went back to the arrival point to trigger my departure. On the walk there I wondered if, what with all the holes I’d been digging myself into lately, I needed a longer shovel.

Back on Earth, I didn’t have a whole lot of faith in what I’d done. While the duke would honor his word and come to my aid, the conditions he set were going to seriously limit my options in ways I hadn’t planned for. I’d hoped to pull a fast one, using our relationship to get a freebie, but I should have known better. Forcalor didn’t get to be the Demon Trainer because of politics. He got it because he was a good demon. In the end, he’d proven once again why he was the teacher and I was still the student. He’d been given the opportunity to return to Heaven while I got shipped back to the front lines and offered yet another chance at coming home in a body bag.

Life was so unfair.

My brain in a haze, I left the house and stopped off for a cup of coffee. I needed a fix. I hustled down to the Coffee Hut and ordered up a grande latte. After mortgaging my house to pay for it, I dropped down onto a way too colorful couch whose design challenged my manhood, to enjoy it. Just as I took my first sip, I felt a booming presence in my head.

“Where the hell are you?”

It was Abraham and he sounded pissed, the telepath projecting his emotions through the link. “I’m at the Coffee Hut. What’s up?”

“Stay there, I’m on my way. We need to talk.”

I felt the connection sever. A chill ran down my spine when it did. It’d been a long time since I’d heard Abraham angry. It didn’t bode well for me. I took another sip and saw him outside the store windows, coming inside. He wasn’t wasting any time. The lines in his face were etched in stone, his eyes narrow and dark behind his glasses. I could see the pulse at his temple dancing like a two dollar stripper. His upper lip curled when he saw me, waving for me to come outside. The door hadn’t even closed when he stomped back through it, the bells jingling wildly.