Chapter 19 Right Hand of the Goddess, Right Hand of Darkness
Okay,
for part of this chapter I must apologize, as some of the demonic
activity in this chapter gets pretty intense. But I feel that I
can not take this section out from the story, for it adds so much to
the developement of the demons, and connects with a future part which
will give you all tears of joy. So remember, while you may be
disturbed now, you will thank me profusely later for including the
section. And don't worry, next chapter will be more redemptive to
make up for this ones intensity. In the words of KHUnknown, this
chapter is much more "freaky."
Deep in the forest sat the old log cabin of Gotz the Woodcutter. The building appeared abandoned, and the door never opened. But suddenly, for the first time in years, it did. The bolt tentatively drew back and eight padlocks on the other side were reluctantly opened. Then slowly, the knob turned, slowly and unwillingly. The wooden door then pulled back, and a frightened face looked out into the forest.
The bearded face turned pale as it saw the rows and rows of skulls which rested on pikes all looking at his home. Beads of sweat began forming on the man's forehead as he realized the significance of these pikes and these skulls. Part of him was relieved to see the forest again, but the rest of him was in utter fear.
This man was Gotz. He had been the woodcutter for the town for years. Then, he simply disappeared into his home, and was never seen again. For the first time in years, he looked out upon the forest again. He had hid himself in his home for all this time, for he was afraid. He thought that he would be safe in his home, but doubts began to form in his mind as he saw the rows of skulls glaring at his home. He had to get out of here.
Gotz stepped out of his home, carefully looking this way and that, hoping that he would not see the face of an enemy. Or worse. The face of the one he had been avoiding all these years. Gotz began quietly walking towards the path leading to the town. He had to get to safety, and soon. Gotz's nerves suddenly left him, and he bolted for the town.
Knock! Knock! I moaned as I was awakened by the sound of someone pounding against my door. I sat up in bed, and yawned as the last remnants of sleep fled from my mind.
"Just a minute," I said weakly.
The clock read 8:25, but it seemed much earlier than that. Never the less, I dragged myself out of bed, and walked to the door. I opened it, and saw Kai standing in front of my door.
"Hey Kai," I said yawning. "What's up?"
"Did you set all these things up in your yard?" Kai asked.
"Set all what things?"
"These things," Kai said as he held up a pike with a skull impaled upon the point.
"What?" I said as I looked a the gruesome decoration. "I didn't set that up."
"Didn't set those up," Kai corrected me. "They are set up in a circle around your house. As if they are looking at you."
"How did those get... Those are fake skulls, right?"
Kai shook his head.
"I think they are real."
I stepped outside, and looked at all of the pikes.
"Why would anyone kill this many people for the sole purpose of setting them up in my yard?"
"They might just be a prank. You could be right. These might not be real. If they are, then I don't want to meet the person responsible for the death of all these people."
He was right. Their were twenty skulls all set up in a circle around my home. Whoever did this was either very good at creating fake bones which looked real, or that person was a serial killer. I hoped it was the former.
"Why did they set these up?" I asked. "Intimidation?"
"Possibly," Kai said eying the skulls carefully. "Or they could be used to direct someone, or something."
"What are you talking about?"
"Do you remember the story of Moses and how he lead the Jews out of Egypt?" Kai asked.
"Of course, he..."
"God sent several plagues against all of Egypt because the Pharaoh would not let the Hebrews leave. The final plague involved God sending the Angel of Death to kill every male child in every family."
"Yes," I continued. "The Jews put Goat blood on their door posts. This told the Angel of Death not to visit their homes and take their children."
"Yes," Kai replied. "The Angel of Death needed a sign telling it not to visit the homes of those who followed God. For Angels aren't perfect. You notice how these skulls are all positioned so that they face your home?"
"Yeah."
"Well, maybe they are a sign. A sign telling something to... I don't know. But it involves you."
"Are you saying this is to direct the Angel of Death on me?"
"No no no. Look. Demons are fallen angels, are they not."
I nodded. "They are."
"So therefore, maybe someone in the town, probably Won, set these up to direct the wrath of some Spirit upon you."
Realization of what he meant hit me immediately after he finished speaking.
"So someone is trying to direct the wrath of the Goddess upon me?"
"Well," Kai began, "maybe not the direct wrath of the Goddess. Look what it says on the side of the pike."
The words: "The Right Hand," were inscribed on the side of the pike.
"Right Hand," I said. "What does that mean."
"I don't know," Kai said. "But I remember that in one of the Songs which the children of the town are taught during Sunday School in the Harvest Goddess Church they sing: 'The Goddess is the head. Making the decisions, wisely taking care of our time. The Harvest Sprites are the legs. Responsible for moving the whole structure. The Spirits of the Island are the left hand. They carry out the work of the Goddess. Caring for nature, and helping man. The Island is the body, the structure of it all.'"
"What is the right hand then?" I asked Kai.
"The Song doesn't say," Kai said. "They do not mention the right hand."
Kai and I began collecting up the pikes. As we worked, Cliff suddenly entered our farm.
"Hey Zach, Kai," Cliff said.
"What's up?" I asked.
Kai nodded at Cliff.
"Could you please give us a hand picking up all this?" I asked Cliff.
"Why on earth did you put skulls out in your yard?"
"I didn't," I said. "I think someone put them out while I was asleep."
Cliff grabbed one pike, and began pulling it out of the ground. But then he saw the letters inscribed on the side. Cliff froze.
"The Right Hand," Cliff said. "I cannot interfere."
"What?" I said.
A look of horror crossed Cliff's face as he realized what he had almost done. Then, slowly, he stood up and began walking backwards, towards the exit of my farm.
"Aren't you going to help us out?" I asked Cliff as he slowly backed away away.
"I cannot interfere!" Cliff shouted.
"What was that all about?" Kai asked.
I shrugged my shoulders.
Carter flipped through the Bible, reading through some of the verses, trying to understand the book which Zach had given him.
"For God so loved the World, He gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish, but have Everlasting Life."
Carter grimaced.
What does that mean? What does that mean?
Suddenly the Goddess stature to his left flashed a bright yellow. Carter immediately slammed the Bible shut, and dropped to the ground in front of the statue.
"Harvest Goddess," Carter said meekly as he pushed his face against the floor. "What is your bidding."
An eerie shriek echoed from the statue, signaling that Carter could now look up at the face of the statue. Carter looked up at the face. The eyes began glowing read, signaling that some earth shattering event was about to happen. A beam of neon green light then shot out from the hand of the statue, and encircled Carter. Carter suddenly began to see visions. What he saw took his breath away.
He saw Mineral Town. Overhead, dark clouds covered the sky, and Carter could hear the voices of the Spirits shrieking, and crying out to signal that a superior being had appeared.
Then Carter saw a gigantic fiery red hand rise up from between the Twin Mountains. Then, it flew across the sky, descending upon the town. Some people screamed and ran for cover. Others fell down low before it. Then a gigantic blast of fire erupted from the fingers of the mighty Hand. The fire covered the entire town, scorching everything that was there. When it lifted, all lay dead, burned by the eternal wrath of the Hand. Everyone was dead. Everyone but those who had bowed down before the Hand. Carter's vision ended, and the green light left his body. He looked up as the light which surrounded the Goddess statue disappeared.
"The Right Hand!" Carter shouted as he realized the significance of the vision. "The Right Hand is awakening! THE TIME HAS COME!"
Silence shrouded the tiny hut which stood right behind the church. Not a creature came near, for they were afraid. Inside, the Harvest Sprites were equally afraid. They were all lying on the ground with their faces pressed against the floor. Their faces were like tiny masks of fear, never changing from that emotion. A fire burned in the center of the hut, and they all were bowed before it.
But the fire was different than normal. Instead of being a deep yellowish orange, the fire burned in a neon green aurora, shining haunting light all through the hut. Reluctantly, the Blue Sprite approached the flame. In his arms he clutched a dead bluebird. Fear coursed through his tiny frail body as he approached the looming flames.
Step. Step. Step. The Blue Sprite got closer, and closer to the flame. As he passed them, the other Sprites lifted up their faces to watch the Blue Sprite. Finally the Blue Harvest Sprite reached the fire. He averted his gaze, and held the bird out towards the flame. Sweat trickled down his face, partially from the heat of the fire, and partially from fear.
"A- An offering to you," the Sprite said in a wavering tone. "Oh Demigod. Please accept this humble sacrifi-"
Suddenly the flames howled, and a gust of wind erupted from the fire. The Blue Sprite screamed, dropped the bird, and began running for the door to the hut. The flames grew higher as they burned and roared with incredible wrath and malice. A streak of flame shot out from the fire, and encircled the hapless Harvest Sprite. The Blue Sprite shrieked as the flames drew him back to the fireplace.
"No King!" he begged. "Spare me King of the Mountains! Spare me! AAAAAUUUUUGGGGGGHHHHHH!"
The other sprites screamed with the blue one as he was carried to the hellish flames. Then right before the Blue Sprite reached the flame, all the Sprites slammed their faces back against the ground. They didn't want to see what was going to happen next.
What did happen is the tendril of flame drew the Blue Sprite into the fire. The Sprite screamed as the flames licked around him, but his flesh didn't burn. Something deeper was happening. Something darker. Something eviler.
The Blue little elf creature cried out in agony, and intense fear. It knew what was happening to it. Deep inside, as the flames covered its body, the Sprite felt something tugging at it, pulling it away, back from its body. The Blue Sprite tried to hang on, but the grip on its soul was strong.
"Leave me here!"
'Stop resisting. There is no use fighting against the will of the Right Hand!'
"I have remained a loyal servant... I... I told the Goddess about the new farmer, didn't I?"
'Let go! I desire your soul. Let go! I am superior to you! GIVE ME YOUR SOUL!'
"I want... to live!"
'Then I will bring you death!'
"What of the Goddess' promise to turn us into Spirits of the Island after we die?"
'I suppose I might as well tell you the truth since there is no escaping now! The Harvest Goddess lied to you! You pathetic little Sprites will never ever become Spirits. You are just pathetic mortal beings who were cleverly manipulated by the Goddess. Now! Let go! I WILL have your soul!'
The Goddess lied? That was impossible. But the words of the holy demigod had to be of the truth. It was then that the little Sprite saw it. Seven poor mortals taught that they would become Spirits of the Island. Then the Harvest Sprite realized that their mother was a liar. A demon who only wanted their souls.
"Where will you take me after I am removed from my body?"
'To a place. A nice little place. The Spirits know of it as the Abyss, or the Pit. Mortal humans know of it as Hell.'
The Sprites eyes widened. Not the Pit! He did not know what that place was, but something inside him told him that the Pit was a place of eternal suffering. Then he wondered, what was he then? He was a Harvest Sprite. A child of the Goddess. Then why was he being dragged to Hell? The Blue Sprite crawled his way back into his body, fighting back the grip which the King of the Mountains had on his soul.
I have to warn them!
The Blue Sprite was now fully back into his body.
"Sprites!" he shouted at the other Harvest Sprites. "The Goddess is a fake! She lied! Right now her servant is dragging me to the Abyss! You guys must find a way to esca-"
But his voice was muffled by the surrounding fire, and all that the other Sprites heard was him crying out, in what they believed to be pain.
Suddenly the Demigod reasserted his pull, and the Blue Sprite was pulled back. Now he was clinging to his body by only one last connection. It wouldn't be long before it was too late.
'Yes. Come to me. Let go of your body. I desire your soul! THE GODDESS DESIRES YOUR SOUL!'
As the Harvest Sprite felt its spirit being tugged away, it realized that there was one way that it could possible escape from this demon which had a death grip upon his soul. The truth began to unfold before the poor Sprite. The truth about the Goddess. The Sprite struggled to hold on. There was only one way he could avoid this. His soul screamed with exertion as he pulled back towards his body. He cried out at the Spirit which held him. He cried out at the Goddess in intense anger. But instead of lessening, the pull increased.
Wait I- the Sprite thought as it got a firm holding of his body. He couldn't let go until it was over. He gripped his body, and held on tight.
I- I must stay on for a little longer! the Harvest Sprite thought as he tried to get a better grip.
Then, suddenly, his spirit shot away from his body like a bullet from a gun. The demon cried out in victory as it latched onto his now disembodied soul, and prepared to bring it down to hell. Then a light shone above it.
Back in the hut, the body of the now dead Sprite was consumed by the fire. Flesh became ash, and bones became charred. Then, the bones clattered to the floor as the fiery tendril let go of them. A roar echoed from the now satisfied fire, causing the Harvest Sprites to tremble.
"Have mercy on us King," they cried as tears flowed down from their eyes. Partially from sadness at the death of their brother, and partially out of fear for their own lives.
"The sacrifice has been accepted!" A deep, dark, scary voice echoed from the flames, causing the Sprites to shiver even more. "You Sprites didn't think you could appease me with a simple bird, did you? No. When the blue one ran out of fear, I just had to take him. I hope you have learned your lesson this time."
"Yes All Mighty One! Yes!" The Harvest Sprites all said, even though some were shocked that their superior had taken away the Blue Harvest Sprite.
"You have awakened me, and you give me a poor ceremony. Surely you know I crave more than just the blood of a mere bird. Surely you also know that I crave more than just the blood of the Blue Harvest Sprite."
The Sprites looked up at the fire in surprise.
"Y-You... desire more?"
"I will only be appeased," the fire roared, "when the one that I seek is dead, and I have his blood. For now, a human sacrifice will do."
"Human?" the Red Sprites said. "But you know the people of the town will never allow that. Despite the past, the people now do not believe in human sacrifice. This will turn them against the Goddess. You cannot do that!"
"SILENCE UNDERLING!"
The Red Sprite pushed his face back against the floor.
"I want a sacrifice. I want one. And if I cannot get what I desire, then I will have to resort to taking you Sprites."
The Harvest Sprites all trembled in fear. All of a sudden the Harvest Sprites, often known as the Legs, were being treated as slaves. The neon green flames chuckled as if it could read the minds of the Harvest Sprites.
"Exactly," the fire hissed as sparks flew out. "You are the Legs. And legs are the lowest part of the whole body. You are low. I am the right hand. I am the dominant hand. I am even greater than the Spirits. Only the Goddess is above me. For she is the Head. NOW! I want my sacrifice. Do it!"
I walked down the path through the forest. I was on my way to Mother's Hill again, to spend some quality time reading my Bible and meditating on God's Word. As I walked deeper and deeper into the mountains, I couldn't fight off the strange feeling of dread that I felt. Not that the Mountains had ever been a pleasant place, but today it seemed as if a dark force had covered the land. Usually the forest was filled with happy noises of birds chirping, and bugs buzzing. But today their was complete and utter silence.
Suddenly I froze, shocked by what I saw. There sat the old log cabin, but facing it were rows and rows of skulls on pikes which looked exactly identical to the ones I found around my home. The Goddess wanted him dead too. But why?
I would have to ask some of the town's people later, but for now, I would go to Mother's Hill. I walked to the base of the mountain, and looked over at the vast lake which sat right at the base of it. From here, I looked down through the water, trying to imagine how deep it was.
Then I saw a ripple in the middle of the lake. It was a large ripple, so it must have been created by a big fish. I walked to the edge of the lake, and looked out, trying to get a glimpse of the fish. Then I saw a dark shape swim down through the water away from where I had seen the ripple. That must have been the fish. I continued looking out across the lake. I saw many fish swimming through the shallows, but I couldn't help wondering how big fish would get further off in the depths of the lake.
It was a massive lake, covering a large portion of the island. It probably was home to many large fish. Maybe if I had a high quality fishing rod, I could bring up some gigantic fish from the depths. But I didn't have the skill, or probably the strength yet either. Plus, large fish didn't always eat the same things as small fish. Whenever I fished, I mostly caught pan fish, catfish, and bass. Grass Carp were rather large fish, and I would just love to land myself one of those. But, unfortunately, they didn't bite, for they only ate the grass at the bottom of the lake.
Their went the dark shape again. I leaned in towards the water to get a better view. It sure was a large shadow. It must be a pretty big fish.
The Kappa hovered beneath the surface, watching the man who stood at the water's edge. The lake creature listened closely as the voice of his master echoed back and forth in his brain.
'It is him. It is him. He is the one. He is the one. Bring an end to him.'
It was then that I made the decision not to go up onto Mother's Hill. This lake could be the perfect place to spend time with God. During my free time back at the farm I had built myself a wooden row boat, and I thought that I might as well try it out.
'Yes mortal. You do desire to go in there. It is at the foot of Mother's Hill. It is practically a part of your oasis.'
A shadowy being by the name of Varsen hovered right above the Zach's soul, quietly whispering deceptive words into the farmer's ear.
I rowed the small boat out into the middle of the lake, and then stopped. I layed the oars down in the boat, and cracked open my Bible. I looked down, drinking in the verses of happiness, sadness, and doubt. Slowly, I turned the clean white pages, reading on about the past, the future, and everything. The red letters seemed to shine with otherworldly light as I looked down at the leather bound book. I got so deep into it, that I almost didn't notice the shadow which glided through the water in a circle around my boat.
I looked up from my book, and searched for the shape. There it was again. It shot through the water to my left, before moving down into the depths. I chuckled. What a strange fish. Then I saw the shape coming back up. I watched it swim down their, until it disappeared under my boat. I turned back to the red letters. Then I was interrupted from my reading when something bumped the bottom of my boat. I bent down, and tried to look into the water and see what it was. But whatever had done it was well hidden under my boat.
I took of my Rucksack, and leaned further over. I still saw nothing. Then I saw a large Bass swim out from under my boat. I was surprised. I didn't think a fish as small as that one could have bumped the boat that hard. I slowly reached my hand down into the water towards the fish. If I could, I would very much like to catch a fish with my bare hands. That had never happened before, and it was unlikely that it ever would, but I would still try.
I managed to penetrate the water without causing much disturbance. I then began moving my hand down towards the fish. Suddenly a green hand reached out from under the boat, and seized my wrist. Before I could react, the hand pulled me off of my boat. I closed my eyes as I fell into the cold water. My Bible fell from my grasp, sinking down into the murky depths as the clean white pages fluttered like the wings of a dove. But the grip never lessened, and continued pulling me down towards the bottom of the lake. I held my breath in, knowing that I would need as much oxygen as I could get.
Suddenly the hand released me. I opened my eyes, and found myself deep in the dark depths of the lake. The floor of the lake was right below me, and above me, I could see the surface probably thirty feet above me. It sure was dark down here. All around me strange aquatic plants reached up from the ground, and algae floated everywhere. It was then that I remembered the green hand which had pulled me down to this depth. I began looking around for whatever creature had pulled me down here.
Suddenly I was struck from behind. Pain shot through my back as I was stabbed by something. Then a dark shape shot over my head. I looked up, and was amazed to see how large the shape truly was. It was at least as big as me, and was shaped like a human. The only other feature I could make out in this darkness were its eyes. And what eyes they were. They glowed yellow in the darkness, looking down at me with a look of hatred. The shape shot across off away from me. I quickly began swimming for the surface, to try and escape from this creature. The shape turned, and shot back at me. It slammed into my stomach, causing me to open my mouth, sending a stream of bubbles up to the surface.
I then got a good look at the creature. It was dark green, with webbed hands, and webbed feet. It had the shape of a man, but obviously was not. Like the Harvest Sprites it had pointed ears, and I began wondering if their was a connection between this creature and the Harvest Sprites. On its head it had green, matted, leafy hair. Its hands had long claws which extended out of its fingers. Its eyes held a look of evil, of hate.
The creature slashed my shoulder with it long claws. My shirt ripped, and my skin gave way to the destructive talons of my enemy. I punched the creature in the face, knocking it back. The creature stumbled backwards through the water. My lungs burned for air, and I began swimming back up towards the surface as quickly as possible. I penetrated the surface, and gasped in as much air as I could. But I didn't wait around to be attacked again.
I immediately swam over to my boat, and climbed inside. Then, as quickly as possible, I began rowing away. I looked down, and the dark shape shot up from the floor of the lake. The creature bumped the bottom of the boat, causing it to rock. I drew my sword, and prepared to do battle with my attacker. The creature bumped the bottom again, this time harder. I began rowing faster.
The creature then grabbed the side of the boat and began pulling itself aboard. Its hate filled yellow eyes set upon, sending chills down my spine. It reached out at me with its claws, trying to grasp me and drag it down with it. But I would not go down with it! I swung my sword, and slashed it across its chest. The creature cried out in pain, in a dark, and evil hiss. It fell backwards off of the boat, splashing water and blood onto the wooden boat. I then grabbed my oars, and began paddling as if my very life depended upon it, and it probably did.
I leaped off onto the shore, and looked back into the center of the lake. I saw the dark shape shoot for the bottom, leaving behind a trail of blood.
"I'd like a room please."
Doug looked up to see a bearded man facing him.
"Gotz?" Doug said in amazement. "Where have..."
"I-" Gotz then looked up at the Goddess mini statue which sat on the table. "It... it doesn't matter where I've been. Just give me a room."
Doug gave Gotz a strange look, and handed him the keys to one of the rooms.
"You will have a roommate, I hope that's okay."
Gotz ignored Doug, and ran up the steps to his room. Gotz entered his room, and locked it behind him. He turned, and saw Cliff sitting on his bed.
"You going to share the room with me?" Cliff asked. "I haven't ever seen you before. Who are you?"
Gotz gasped, and backed away from Cliff slowly.
"What's wrong?" Cliff said as Gotz backed up.
"How did you find me here?" Gotz asked as his back touched the wall behind him.
"I didn't find you any-"
"You just wouldn't let me live in peace. You just wouldn't leave me alone. No. You weren't satisfied with that. And I suppose it was you who placed the markers around my home."
"I didn't put any markers around your home," Cliff said in surprise. "What are you..."
It was then that Cliff noticed that Gotz wasn't looking directly at Cliff. He was looking at something slightly above Cliff. Cliff looked up, and saw nothing. Cliff then felt something tugging him forward. Cliff stood up from his bed, and took a step towards Gotz.
"Stand back!" Gotz shouted.
"Why are you-"
"Back I say!" Gotz cried out. "Back! DO NOT APPROACH ME!"
Dang! Dark chapter. Gotta get more of the good side in this. Too much of Satan and not enough of God and Jesus. Go read the Bible. The book of Mathiew, good book of the Bible. Sorry for the intensity, but Demons truly are the worst of the worst, and I had to capture that so that people could truly see it. Too many times do I see people thinking of demons as those cliche horned imaginary guys with tridents. Heck no! Demons were once Angels. They were once mighty warriors of God. And Angels aren't little baby faced/feminine creatures. Whenever they appear to people in the Bible they appear as men, and are huge! They are big eight foot tall creatures with huge wingspans and flashing swords of the Glory of God. Read the book "This Present Darkness" by Frank Peretti. I am, in fact, basing several parts of this story off of his ideas. Thats why I started writing this book, was because I read Christian HM stories and thought that they treated the Goddess too lightly. Some of them just made it a religion and said that the Goddess didn't really pop out of the spring like that even while in the game she did. No, you got some major Satanic action there. Satan comes in the guise of a dang Angel of Light. Satan's presense is not obvious. Which is why so many people love supposedly inoccent things which have been poluted by Satan. Its like witchcraft. Too many people treat it too lightly, which is shameful, especially for Christians. The Bible says that Witches do exist, but they get there power from the enemy. Satan once again. Witchcraft does exist (Saul actually broke the laws of God by consulting a medium to speak to this dead prophet of God named Samuel. When Samuel's spirit appeared he asked Saul why he had disturbed him from his rest (think heaven, they be restin up there) and then told him that since he had broken the laws of God and consulted a medium then Israel would lose the war with the Phillistines, all Saul's sons would be killed before his eyes, and he would die as well. All these happened. Tip, don't go messing around with Spirits and Witches. IT ain't respectful to our great Father.
