Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Belethemnon, Prince of Knives

The sigils were traced with care, the invocations spoken with reverence, and the last pinch of the arcane powders was in her hand. She thought a quick prayer, and cast it into the circle.

With a flash and a pounding roar, it appeared.

"I AM BELETHEMNON, PRINCE OF KNIVES AND HAND OF THE GREAT DARKNESS." It bellowed, and crashed against the wards she had prepared. The air crackled and burst with infernal rage as the beast tested its cage. She waited patiently.

"I AM PAIN, I AM DEATH, I AM THE NIGHTMARE THAT CONSUMES ALL LIFE. RELEASE ME, OR FACE MY FURY, MORTAL!" the devil raged, snorting with anger at being flung across The Planes and trapped in a small spell circle.

"No." She said, folding her arms.

"I WILL... what?" The devil exploded with fire and anger, before sputtering out into a soft smoke as confusion took hold. It cocked its head.

"No."

"I... what do you mean, 'no'." The thing scrunched up its horrible red face, shaking its head.

"It means no."

"I know what it means, mortal." The devil sneered.

"Then why did you ask?" She raised an eyebrow.

The devil was silent for a moment. Anger churned in its horned brow.

"You've never summoned a devil before, have you?" He asked, still nonplussed.

"You're the first."

"Ok, well, look... since you're new, I'll break it down for you." He sighed, and sat in the circle. It was a little too small, so his back rested against the infinite circular magical wall that made up his prison, showering magical sparks everywhere. If it bothered him, he didn't show it. "You summon me, I explode with infernal rage, you placate me with an offering, we talk," He began gesticulating with his hands, back and forth. "You ask for something, I barter, you agree, you release me and I grant your weird wish. Usually money, or something. Sometimes power, those are more fun. But I digress. You get your wish, I get released from this freezing plane. Go back about my business, and depending on how much of a pain your task is plot my inevitable vengeance. Sound good?"  He folded his hands into each other, and smiled a horrible, crooked, wicked smile filled with too many pointy teeth and more than a touch of malice.

"No." She replied, matter-of-factly.

The devil sighed.

Silence reigned as they stared at each other for a while. The devil in the circle shifted uncomfortably.

"Well then what do you want?" He asked at last.

"Oh I'm here to help you." She replied swiftly.

"You... what?" He stammered, bewildered.

"Look, since you're new here, I'll break it down for you..." She started, and smiled a horrible, crooked, wicked smile filled with too many teeth and more than a touch of malice.

No comments:

Post a Comment