No time, was the response. Go now. The voice was insistent and urgent.
We can’t go, said Sam impatiently. I have to find my mother.
Another time, said the Hellhound. We go now.
Sam was about to ask what the rush was all about but then he knew. Something was stirring in the massive adjacent chamber to this one. The giant demon in the pool was awakening.
He resigned himself to leaving but not before making Yeth promise one thing. We’ll return for my mother… yes?
Yeth’s head swayed ominously, then, Yes, came the answer.
It would have to do for now. It was terribly disappointing but at least he’d accomplished one goal. At least he had Grace.
Time to go. In order to create a portal back to Earth, he’d need to make another pentacle. Sam searched frantically for chalk in one of his many pockets as he visualized the church from whence he had come — but then he stopped when he realized what Yeth was doing. Of course, demons like Yeth had no need for pentacles. Full- blooded, powerful demons like Hellhounds could open a portal just by willing it.
At once Sam could sense the gate opening, the connection being made to Earth. Yeth snatched the image of the church from his mind, and the connection was becoming stronger when a sharp jolt like an earthquake momentarily distracted the Hellhound. Cracks appeared in the wall next to Sam; before the archway into the giant chamber, Sam could see the massive legs and knees of the demon. There was another massive impact, this one shaking the rock beneath them. Larger, jagged cracks appeared, and rock fragments rained down from the roof.
“I’d hurry up, if I were you,” said Sam. He sensed Yeth concentrating but then there was another titanic shudder as the giant demon tried to force its way through the wall. Yeth’s concentration broke once again.
Sam left Grace’s side and moved to the archway, resigned to one course of action. He’d have to buy Yeth some time.
No, said the Hellhound in his mind, but it was too late, he was already outside, face to face — actually knee to face — with the huge demon.
Action was required here, and action was something Sam excelled at. He darted in, both swords out and swinging. The demon above him, intent on the rock that blocked it from its prey, didn’t notice the insect below it. Sam went for the weak spot — or what he hoped was a weak spot — behind the knee, intending to hamstring the beast. He rolled, coming up behind it and struck out with both blades, slicing with all his might at the vulnerable joint. The blades bit home. Satisfied, Sam felt the creature flinch but then he looked at his own handiwork a bit more closely. Both blades had inflicted wounds alright but they were just scratches. He had a moment to feel slightly dismayed and then something struck him with all the force of a freight train. He was suddenly in flight. In his dazed and stunned mind, it was kind of relaxing as he flew through the air and then it was over. He struck the ground with incredible force, knocking the wind out of him and leaving him stunned and prone.
He managed to raise his head slightly, groaning. With great strides, the demon was approaching. Sam tried to rise but it was clear that his leg was broken. This would need time to heal. And time was a luxury he didn’t possess. Gritting his teeth against the pain, he rolled and stumbled to his feet, limping away from the deadly creature as fast as he was able.
The demon took one mighty step and then it was upon him, poised above, a massive fist raised, ready to pound him into the rock. Sam turned to face his doom. His leg gave out and he toppled to the ground. He knew he wouldn’t survive such a blow but at least he could face it like a man, as best as he was able. The fist descended.
Sam raised one arm in a feeble attempt to ward off the blow and lost sight of the fist for a moment, expecting nothing but death. For a second, nothing happened. Then another second. Still nothing. Sam peered over his raised up. Above him, the demon stood frozen, much as it had been when Sam had first seen it.
Cautiously, he staggered to his feet again. He could feel his bones knitting but he would still need a few minutes. With any luck, the demon would remain like this for some time. He didn’t know why it was frozen but at times like this, you didn’t question your luck.
“Hello, Sam.”
He flinched at the unexpected voice, his eyes darting towards the sound. A few feet away stood a figure in a dark, hooded robe. The hood obscured the features but Sam knew who it was anyway. The last time he’d seen this person, had been here, in Hell.
“Hello, Joshua,” he said.
Joshua. His one-time friend. His betrayer who had sold him out to his brother and father. The last image of Joshua had been him falling into an ocean of fire during the battle with his brother.
“I suppose you’re surprised to see me,” said Joshua, moving a cautious few steps towards him.
“I suppose I am,” admitted Sam. “I thought you were dead.”
Joshua smiled. “Clearly not. It seems that Hell had a few surprises for me.”
Sam nodded. This didn’t surprise him one iota. “I’d like to say this is a nice surprise, but it’s not really. I kind of hoped you were dead for real given what you did to me. And Aimi.” Under his jeans, Sam could feel his leg knitting. In a few more minutes it would be fully healed. His fingers twitched towards his swords. If Josh was still alive — and it seemed as though he was — then they had unfinished business. He sheathed both swords in an attempt to give Joshua a false sense of security. They would come out again soon enough.
“You’re probably wondering why I’m here now, right at this very moment,” said Josh, sounding more confident and assured than Sam had ever heard. “Before you ask, yes it was me that froze the Immolator here,” he said, gesturing upwards to the massive demon. “In a sense, I saved your life. You owe me one already.”
Sam gritted his teeth but let Josh talk, knowing that the longer he rambled on, the longer he’d have to heal his leg.
“I want you to do me a favor, Sam, buddy,” he said, smiling faintly. “I’m not going to tell you what that favor is right now, except to say that you will know when the time comes. In return, I’ll give you back something of great value to you.”
Despite his growing anger, Sam was intrigued. What favor? And what did he lose of great value that needed to be returned to him?
“What are you talking about, Joshua?” he demanded. His leg was almost fully healed now. Only a few more moments.
“I know where your mother is, or rather, where she was taken. I now have the power to find her and return her to you — to end her suffering. I will do this in exchange for the small favor I ask of you. Have we got a deal?”
Sam’s mind was all awhirl. His mother? Alive? Joshua could reunite them? Sam nodded mutely.
“Not good enough, Sam. Repeat after me: “I, Samael, Prince of Hell, do hereby swear to fulfill the obligation I am now under.”
Eagerly, Sam repeated the words, heedless of the implications. All that mattered right now was his mother.
Joshua’s smile broadened. “Excellent. Thank you, Sam. We’ll see each other again, of course. Very soon.” He waved an imperious hand at the massive demon above him.
Vaguely, Sam was aware of something descending down upon him again. He felt a hammer blow and shocking pain, followed very soon after by oblivion.
Philip W Simpson
Tribulation
Chapter Five
