Dancing In The Void

“He lied to me.” Mephisto said as he stared out in the darkness of the city night.

He looked down at the cars that drifted below. Small insects crawling by content with their lies uncaring of their surroundings. Mephisto felt strange looking at them now. He felt disgusted, as if he’d been one of them until the moment of clarity hit him and awakened him to his true reality. How could he have been so blind? His own mind was screaming at him the whole time, but he was unable to piece the shards of his memories together and realize the truth. Now the painting was finished, the final stroke had touched the canvas. His new journey however was only beginning.

“Who… did?” Belial’s voice came with a slight cough after. A bit over a month of sitting in a hospital bed had taken its toll on him, but ever since he came out of his coma his recovery was becoming more and more apparent. “Azzy, or your ol’ boss Baphomet?” He added, emphasizing each of their names with his smokey accent.

“Both.” Mephisto said, not turning away from the window.

“Why are you here?” Belial asked. “Do you want advice, protection, or are you just turnin’ yourself in to me fo’ some reason?”

“No.” He sighed. “I just… didn’t know where to go. Azazel probably already sent people to my home. I can’t risk going there.”

“You think I’ll protect you? Have you forgotten who I am?” Belial chuckled.

“No, that’s precisely it. I don’t think you’ll kill me. And even if you wanted to, your wound would give me a fighting chance.”

Belial’s chuckle became a full laugh met by an immediate sharp wince and groan. His ailing chest made any exultation a difficult endeavor. “No respect fo’ your old pal?”

“Respect is why I’m here, Belial. I’m… lost. I can’t go against Azazel alone. But I deserted him, which means he'll come for me… and for her…”

“Ah… so das it den? You found your precious angel?” Belial said, sitting up a bit more.

“Azazel hasn’t told you anything?”

“Hasn’t come by in a while.”

“I suppose I’m still early. He doesn’t know I just left the house, just that I defied his order.”

“So with de first step taken, de question becomes Mephisto, what are you going to do? Dis angel of yours, Baphomet wants her dead. And Azazel’s spent de betta’ part of a year helping you chase after her. He’s not gonna take your betrayal sitting down. Just on de time invested alone.”

Mephisto seemed shaken. A dark chill came over him. The thought of death or torment for himself did not scare him, but suddenly he realized it wasn’t just him. If either demon found out the truth he’d just uncovered, what fate awaited his daughter? Worse still, what if they already knew? Every thought in his mind assured him that that was precisely the case.

“I… need to protect her somehow…” He whispered. He suddenly rushed to the edge of the bed, staring at Belial with intensity. “How can I defeat Azazel?”

Belial burst into laughter, once again groaning in pain immediately. “Seriously?”

“Come on, he’s a terrifying bastard, but there has to be something I can do? Some sort of weakness to exploit?”

“Have you considered a bullet?” Belial smirked. “Come on Mephisto, you’re smarter den dis. Why would I betray my boss and friend? I like you, but I have no qualms with Azazel. I don’t plan on getting involved here.”

“What if I threaten you with a bullet?” Mephisto said, raising his deagle and pointing it at Belial.

“I’d say dat you’re learning. And it would be a more compelling reason.” The demon said with a smile. “Think, Mephisto… you have been Azazel’s right hand man since de day you arrived. You stole my spot frankly, but alas I bear no ill will. Think, how can you possibly assure dat Azzy doesn’t go after your precious girl?”

Mephisto stepped back, taking another step around the room. “Are you saying… continue working for him? That’s idiotic. He’d never fall for it.”

“No. Your relationship with him has been cut for good. But, dat don’t mean you two can’t cut a deal instead.”

Mephisto’s eyes lit up at the revelation. “Of course. He’s a demon after all. A powerful one, but if I force him into a deal he’s bound by it.”

“Perhaps.” Belial said ominously. “But you must realize Mephy, he would bind you to his terms as well!”

“I am aware… still I should be able to force his hand if I manage to catch him… but how do I do that…?” He pondered.

It took a few minutes for him to wander around deep in thought before Belial coughed, signaling his attention. “Mephisto, I am… old. Dis physical form of mine is growing frail, straining itself to heal wounds dat in my younger years I’d have passed by. Dat’s not to say I’m looking forward to dying but I sense a dark and tumultuous future ahead... Perhaps my next move could be considered heinous treachery, but I choose to see it as merely a gift to one of my more gifted pupils.” Belial snapped his fingers. Immediately a soft tapping was heard on the window, startling Mephisto. “If you would.”

The demon looked back with curiosity before he went and latched the window open. A large raven hopped inside and perched itself on the windowsill. It cawed once, and then fluttered at Mephisto, as if it sized him up with interest. The raven was indistinguishable from a regular bird, were it not for two aspects. The first were that its feathers were blacker than the night itself, but those on its wings were stained with crimson markings resembling esoteric triangles. The second were its eyes. An extra one on either side of its face, and all four pale and white like fresh snow.

“Deir name is Whisper.” Belial said calmly. “Dey enjoy salted crackers, peanuts, and de occasional worm. Though dey don’t need food, if you want dem to like you, you’d best give dem treets from time to time.”

Mephisto gave the bird a slight pet. It seemed to enjoy it going by its groans. “Hello.” He said awkwardly.

“Here.” Belial said, showing Mephisto a playing card. An eight of diamonds. Before he could ask anything, Belial flung the card through the air. As Mephisto reached to catch it, what he caught instead was a small packet of crackers.

“How come you never taught me any tricks like these?” Mephisto asked as he opened the packet and fed some to his new acquaintances. “Just shit like geography and how to use a knife.”

“Oh but Mephy, I have. You’s just not opened your eye to everything yet.” Belial smirked. “Now, ask dem what your heart’s desires now.”

“Ask… them?” Mephisto echoed.

Belial nodded. “Just ask, and listen.”

Mephisto raised an eyebrow, but kept his mind open. He reached his palm slowly towards the bird, letting it climb on his hand. It was heavier than he’d expected. As he raised it towards his face, he could catch a glimpse of himself in the bird’s eyes. A strange pallid reflection that seemed to shift and turn along with the raven’s movements. Whisper seemed aware of his intent, and turned its head, waiting for his words. Mephisto gulped.

“Where is Azazel?” He whispered to them.

There was no answer. Not at first. Whisper cawed a few times, but everything remained silent. Mephisto leaned in again, eager to ask the question once more, but instead he heard something. Quiet at first, then the growing murmurs in his ear and mind grew. Multiple voices, ethereal and distant, making sounds, indecipherable words. The myriad grew and grew and with it Mephisto became accustomed to it. The more he did, the clearer the words became, attuning himself like finding the signal on an old radio. Then everything clicked, the words whispered in his mind, but not his ear.

Waiting. Waiting, the Clockmaker waits at the Kennels.

Mephisto stepped back, amazed. He only then realized the bird was still on his hand. He turned back to Belial carefully. “How does it know?”

“I asked her to find out first.”

“You knew I would come?”

“And… I inferred what you might want.” Belial sighed. “Whisper is a valuable ally dat has helped me across my long decades. A dear friend, please take good care of dem.“

“Are you sure…? You want to give them to me?” Mephisto asked, gently letting the raven fly on the windowsill.

“Yes.” Belial said right away. “You saved my life. Had things gone differently, I would have made you a son of darkness. But should you ever need deir help, you will find dem where my mark stains red.”

“Thank you Belial. For everything. I hope we meet again someday, but until that day may come, I will remember the lessons you’ve taught me.” Mephisto said with a nod. He turned to walk out of the hospital room, but then turned back to Whisper. He murmured something to them that Belial did not hear, and then he opened the window to let them out. The demon then left, with Belial giving him a respectful nod on his way out. He leaned back against the warm pillow, now alone and surrounded only by the sounds of his heart monitor beeping.

“Kraawh!” Later came the sound of Whisper on his windowsill, waking him just as he began falling asleep.

“C’mere.” Belial motioned to the bird, curious. It carried something in its mouth, and the demon began to chuckle when he saw what it was. A large pink lollipop, perfect for his sweet tooth. “Heh, Mephisto you bastard…” He said out loud as he unwrapped it and savored its sweetness. Whisper cawed approvingly. “Mhyes! He’s a right bastard. Take care of him now, yes?”

The raven cawed one final time before it flew out the window into the dead of night.

Azazel watched with one eye as the cars scurried like ants on the streets below.

It was warm out tonight. The dull dark clouds rolled around the sky. They drifted in the soothing wind that gently touched his cheeks and combed through his bronze hair. His hand slid slowly over the railing of the rooftop balcony. The need itched within him again. He pulled out a cigarette and bit into it, trying to light it with his silver and black tinted lighter. One flick, two flicks, three. No sparks alighted. He shook his lighter, and realized it was empty of gas. Annoyed, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a match. Then he opened his mouth and let his tongue loll out. He then lit the match by flicking its head over his long, coarse and blackened tongue. The flame soon burned the paper of his cigarette. He excitedly took the first breath deep into his lungs and let the smoke inside simmer a few moments before he let it out through his nostrils. Now he was calming, something he needed while his head was pulsating in pain. Reaching up and touching the bandages around his right eye, he felt the hole inside his head. It was still wet with blood.

“How could you let yourself get carried away like that…” He chastised himself.

Before he could continue however, he heard something. A familiar noise. A bird circled above him. It waited for him to notice it before it flew down closer. He watched as it perched on the railing of the balcony, watching him from a sizable distance.

“Hello Whisper. What brings you here on this fine evening?”

His answer came in the form of a sound. Shouting and screaming, followed by the rapid, wild footsteps of a man coming up the stairs of his terrace. He turned around slowly, and before him stood Mephistopheles. His eyes were wild with rage and his right hand was tightly gripping his gray deagle.

“I guess that would be the answer. Parting gift from Belial I take it?” Azazel said, unamused.

Mephisto didn’t say anything, he lined up his gun with his boss’ head, making sure there was no debate about who was in control here. Azazel sighed, and lifted his arms to his shoulders. He quickly pointed at the cigarette in his mouth, and seemed to ask a question with his eyes. Mephisto nodded slowly. Azazel, satisfied, pinched his cigarette, and took another puff.

“So… I take it you found out?” He began. ”Damn it, I told you to leave the mansion Mephistopheles. You disobeyed a direct order-”

“To hell with your order. You knew. You fucking knew it all along you bastard.” Mephisto snapped back.

“What exactly?”

“Don’t bullshit me Azazel. Tell me right now if you knew who the angel was.”

Azazel paused for a moment, rolling his eye. “Of course I knew. Baphomet thought it was Camael, but I knew a being like her wouldn’t just hide in the shadows. Couldn’t hide, I should say. Not from me.” He said with a smirk. “So I did some digging before you arrived. It took a while, but I found an ancient document passed down in the Devilsbane family line. From your

old friend Samson, a note about the queen’s daughter. I knew then we were hunting the princess of the moon, not the queen.”

“You knew… the whole time. You knew she was my daughter and you didn’t tell me jack shit? You had me hunt her, for a whole year, blind and obedient like one of your stupid hounds? You would have had me kill her with my own hands and then laugh when you told me the truth! How’s this for friendship fucker, nothing bonds people like a bullet between the eyes.” Mephistopheles shouted in unbridled rage. He took a step closer, aggressively pushing his gun in between Azazel’s eyes. He was unphased. He drew another breath from the cigarette, blew out the smoke in a ring-like pattern and began:

“You’re not going to kill me.” He said, calmly.

“My finger is being awfully itchy Azazel, your odds aren’t looking good.”

“You do not frighten me Mephisto. But, you may know that I never intended for you to kill your daughter, and even if she was Camael instead, I still wouldn’t have let you kill her.” Azazel said, shaking his head. Mephisto stepped back, willing to listen. “Now, if you’re willing to put down your gun and not hurt anyone…”

“I killed a bunch of your bodyguards. We’re long past that.” Mephisto interrupted.

“...Anymore.” Azazel added, slightly annoyed. “Like I said, I know you won’t kill me, and if you calm down I’ll even tell you how I know that. I’ll even tell you the reason why I withheld the information of Uriel being your daughter.”

Mephistopheles stared at him with hate-filled eyes. He wanted nothing more than to pull the trigger and bathe in the blood that would spatter on him. An usual chill held him back however. It was an unpleasant feeling as Azazel’s eye stared back at him with more resolution and intimidation. His hand trembled as the chill of fear seemed to grip him. He knew he had lost the moment he had walked up those stairs. He had to act while he was still in control, if indeed he ever was.

“Alright. Here’s what’s going to happen next Azazel.” He said. “We’re going to make a deal.”

“Oh, I'm all ears.” Azazel perked up, licking his lips.

“You’re going to tell me everything. No more lies, no more bullshit, no more vague cryptic messages. You have five minutes. Make a move, and I blow your fucking brains out.”

Azazel finished his cigarette with a last long draw of breath, carelessly throwing it off the edge of the building with a puff of smoke escaping his lips. “Alright!” He declared. “Now that the first condition has been established I can reveal the details your heart verily desires. Then we will finalize the remaining terms of our deal.”