FIFTEEN

The Enforcer demons reached up as Belthazor prepared himself for the first blows. But instead of striking him, the Enforcers began to open the shackles holding him in place. As the shackles were opened Belthazor's weight pulled him down. He didn't have the strength to keep himself upright as he fell forward face first. As he fell to the floor someone grabbed him and held him up.

"Easy, brother," said a familiar voice. "It's over. You don't have to endure any more."

Belthazor looked up through the fog in his eyes and the searing pain that coursed through his body. The face he was looking into was familiar but it took him a moment to recognize it.

"Baldasor?" Belthazor questioned as his brother picked him up.

"Rest easy, brother," said Baldasor. "The ordeal is over."

Baldasor carried Belthazor to the back of the chamber and gently laid him on the slab there. Belthazor watched as a female entered the chamber and immediately moved over to him and began to tend to his wounds.

"You should remain in your demonic form for a few hours," said Malevant. "It will speed your recovery."

"I don't understand," said Belthazor.

"Frankly, I'm a bit confused myself."

Everyone looked over to see Shalson standing in the doorway to the chamber. Standing next to him was Raynor, head of the Brotherhood of the Thorn, in his demonic form.

"I was under the impression, Malevant," said Shalson, "that no demon has ever resisted one of your sessions before."

"None ever has," said Malevant. He looked directly at Belthazor. "Until now."

"What's going on?" Belthazor questioned.

"You're initiation is complete," said Malevant. "I must say you surprised me. I've never seen a demon take so much punishment and still refuse to cooperate. Most would have surrendered long ago."

"I wasn't about to give you the satisfaction," said Belthazor.

"That would be your human half talking," said Malevant. "I told you that was going to be a problem, Shalson. Humans can be extremely obstinent when they set their minds to it."

"So you said," said Shalson. "I would have thought his human half would have been a hindrance to him. It appears it had quite the opposite affect."

"Will someone care to let me in on what's going on?" Belthazor asked.

"Drink this," said the female. "It will help with the pain."

Belthazor recognized the demoness. She was a healer demon. Something quite rare in the underworld. Their ability to heal damage to demons was a great prize sought after by most demons. As Belthazor drank the elixir she had handed him the pain in his body began to subside rapidly.

"It's very simple," said Raynor. "You have passed your initiation."

"But I didn't," Belthazor started and then stopped.

"It's okay," said Shalson. "Malevant knows you were sent to vanquish him. In fact, he was in on it from the very beginning."

"You sold me out?" Belthazor questioned.

"Not at all," said Shalson. He picked up the book Belthazor had gotten from Strauss. "Your true test was this book. It's why Malevant sent you after it."

"The book showing where Kir' Takli's lair is?" Belthazor questioned. "Where the Temporal Amulet is located?"

"Actually," said Baldasor, "the book is a fake. No one knows where Kir Takli's lair is. But it was important that you believe that's what it was."

"Why?" Belthazor questioned.

"To see what you would do with it," said Shalson. "To test your commitment to the Brotherhood. Less than one percent of all initiates pass this test. Returning the book to Malevant instead of trying to use it yourself has shown that your commitment to the Brotherhood is complete."

"So that was the actual test?" Belthazor asked. "Returning the book? Then what was the point of the torture? If Malevant was in on this from the beginning, why torture me? Why make me believe he was going to kill me? What possible purpose could it serve except to provide some sadistic pleasure for you?"

"It's not like that, brother," said Baldasor. "The torture was to see how far you would go to protect the Circle and the Brotherhood. We knew you were loyal to the Brotherhood. But we had to see how much you could take before you cracked, as the humans say."

"Everyone has their limits," said Malevant. "Although it is very unlikely that you would be subjected to torture from someone to gain information about the Brotherhood or the Circle, it was necessary to see how much you could withstand before you cracked. And you surprised even me. No demon has ever tolerated so much torture from me before. I was very impressed with your performance."

"Glad I could be of assistance," said Belthazor, just a hint of anger in his voice. "So tell me. Was it necessary to murder Angelique to find out what you wanted to know? She wasn't part of this. I only hired her to help me get the book."

"Against my instructions, I might add," said Shalson.

"You said I couldn't use another demon," said Belthazor. "Angelique was a Dark Lighter. Technically not a demon. So I was completely justified in using her. And I didn't tell her anything. We have history together. I knew she would help without asking too many questions. She didn't deserve to die for your plans."

"Funny, I feel fine for a dead woman," said Angelique walking into the room.

Behind her walked the same figure that had shown Cole in to see Shalson. The same figure that had met Angelique outside Cole's apartment after she had gone there the first time.

"Hello, lover," said Angelique, kissing Belthazor. "Our friend here," she indicated the man in robes, "approached me the first time I visited you at your apartment over the garage. He brought me to Shalson who explained what they were doing. And they asked if I would help. As Malevant told you, you were being watched the entire time."

"But you said," Belthazor started looking at Malevant.

"I lied," said Malevant. "It was necessary that you believe I was serious. I figured if you thought I had tortured her to death it would just reinforce that seriousness. Apparently I was correct."

"Yeah, you were," said Belthazor.

He was beginning to feel much better. The pain had been reduced to a minor ache that he knew would be gone soon. The elixir that the Healing demon had given him was very effective. He now understood why they were so highly prized by the hierarchy of the underworld.

"So," said Belthazor, turning to Shalson, "you said this would determine if I would be accepted into the Brotherhood. How long before I can expect a decision from the Circle of the Black Thorn?"

Shalson didn't answer him. Instead he just looked at Baldasor with a slight smile on his face. Belthazor was confused. Baldasor was not in a leadership position of the Brotherhood. And Shalson had told him that the Circle, not the Brotherhood, would make the decision.

"That decision has all ready been made," said Baldasor. He reached down and grabbed Belthazor's wrist and raised his arm. "You are now my brother by more than just blood."

Belthazor looked at his arm. Instead of the smooth red skin he was used to seeing there were markings covering the arm. The markings appeared to be something akin to tribal markings. They were the same markings the rest of the Brotherhood wore. Well, not exactly the same. While the markings appeared to be the same as all Brotherhood members each were slightly different from the rest. To identify that particular member of the Brotherhood.

"Welcome, brother," Raynor said, bowing slightly to Belthazor.