Chapter 25 Lake of Fire
Hello again. I'm sorry it has taken me a long time to submit this chapter. To be honest, the chapters aren't take a long time to submit because It takes me that long to write them. Realistically I am very far ahead of this chapter in the story, its just that for some reason now, whenever I submit a document it bunches all the text together, and I have to reindent all the paragraphs, which is annoying as crap. So it is getting really annoying to submit documents. Well, enjoy.
Darkfor sulkily floated along through the night, lamenting over his defeat. Suddenly, the Goddess appeared before him in a flash. Darkfor bowed clumsily, and babbled several excuses for his defeat.
'Silence!' the Goddess shouted. 'I know you failed! But do now worry. Those Angels will leave soon enough. They were only brought there to guard Zach through this night. Besides, I have found a replacement for Spiritloosener.'
The Harvest Goddess gestured towards a large casing of darkness which floated just up and to the right. Suddenly, it split open, and a shadowy figure floated out.
'Darkfor,' the Goddess said with a smirk. 'Meet Soulthrasher. He is mightier than Spiritloosener was, and is as mighty as you. He will be your new partner for this assignment. Work together to torment the threat, until the Right Hand is ready.'
A voidy, shapeless demon floated down next to the Goddess, and grinned evily at Darkfor. Darkfor returned the evil smile, and held out a claw.
'So we will be working together to dispel of this threat.'
The other demon latched claws with him, before jerking his claw away violently.
'Indeed we will. I will thrash his soul from his body.'
'I will bring forth Caenumens, and maybe Sabulumens two.'
I awoke the next morning, and reflected on all the dreams I had had last night.
"How horrible," I said. "Why am I having such frightening dreams all of a sudden."
The first thing I did that morning was to run to the Inn and make sure that Ann was safe.
The six Harvest Sprites were once again bowing before the neon green flames which represented the Right Hand of the Goddess.
"I have waited, now where is it? Where is my sacrifice?"
"O King of the Mountains," Hoggy said, "we can't get you a human sacrifice. That is not our duty. We are the Harvest Sprites. We do not kill people. That job lies with the Spirits, and Won, the servant of the Goddess."
"The Goddess puts you Sprites under my command, and you still won't obey me. Remember what I did to the Blue Harvest Sprite? Do you want me to take another one of you?"
"No Demigod!" Timid said, shivering uncontrollably.
"I am the Right hand. I am the Demigod. I am the King of the Mountains. Second only to the Goddess. Give me what I desire!"
"We can't," Chef said.
"DON'T GIVE ME THAT!"
"Can we get Won to find you a sacrifice?" Bold asked.
"We... we are Harvest Sprites. We just... can't bring ourselves to kill, even for you."
"Fine. Get Won to do it then."
The Lake looked dark and mysterious, as if filled with the energy of the Right Hand. It rippled and pulsed every time a fish moved inside it. Or every time the Kappa moved in it. The Kappa was angry about its defeat at the hand of Zach. But it was healing, so it couldn't really complain. But then again, its assignments were overwhelming, and its master wasn't exactly patient. The Kappa thought back on its life, its past. How it had traveled the world, causing mayhem and destruction. The creature it had been, and still was. It remembered Japan. Drowning Children in its lake, and murdering people for pleasure. The Kappa remembered this all, because these memories stood out above all others. The Kappa began messily devouring a large trout which had swam into the Kappa's trap. The Kappa did enjoy the taste of fish, but that wasn't enough. It craved a richer, sweeter meat. Human meat. But its job now entailed that it ceased the destruction of Humans, at least for a little while. But soon, it would feast again. That was part of the deal, wasn't it? The Kappa sucked at the loose strands of meat which still hung to the bones of the dead fish.
The Kappa looked around the lake, and thought of its duty. The lake was its home, its world, its life. Soon the time would come when the Kappa would advance upon Mineral Town. Soon it would be time for the Kappa to carry out its wrath once again. Suddenly the Kappa heard a commotion from above. The Kappa took the remains of the fish, and crushed them in its iron grip, before tossing the tatters of bone out into the lake in a cloud. The Harvest Sprites stood at the edge of the lake, chanting some bizarre magic spell. As they chanted, they all turned towards Won, who was dragging the body of a large pig to the edge of the water. The Harvest Sprites then placed their hands against the side of the pig, and chanted a sort of blessing. Then, Won put the pig on a boat, and pushed it out towards the center of the lake. The Kappa looked up at the offering which was now floating just above it, ready for the slaughter. The Kappa shot up from the bottom, headed straight for it. The Harvest Sprites gasped as the boat was splintered by a green fist which punched up through the bottom of the boat. The wood cracked, and split apart. Timid fell to the ground, and covered his head with his hands.
"Don't be afraid," Won said. "The Right Hand is taking the sacrifice."
The green fist then opened, revealing several long claws which extended out from each webbed finger. Suddenly the claws grew longer, and longer, until they were at least one and a half feet long. Each claw was thin, like a cat's claw, but large, and sturdy. The claws then impaled through the pig, and dragged it down under the water.
"You see?" Won said as the Harvest Sprites stopped shivering.
The Kappa swam to the bottom, dragging its prize along with it. The Kappa then flew into a cave which stood about ten feet away from the Kappa's storage cave. Suddenly, a column of Neon Green fire erupted from the roof of the Cave, and shot straight out of the water. The pillar of fire shot out of the lake, extending straight up into the sky. The Harvest Sprites all threw themselves to the ground before the column of flame which erupted up out of the center of the lake, but Won didn't move. The Harvest Sprites began crying out to the Harvest Goddess, in hope that she would appear and stem the fiery pillar before things got ugly. Suddenly the entire lake erupted in neon green fire, and the column began to diminish. So in a way, the Harvest Sprites' wish was granted. The fire began to move, forming a shape. At this angle, neither Won, or any of the Harvest Sprites could see what it was forming.
"CLIMB TO THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN!" a booming voice commanded.
Won and the Harvest Sprites immediately went to one of the Twin mountains, and began climbing up to the top. As the got higher, and higher, they found that they could see the entire lake, and saw a face etched in the fires below. It was not a nice face, with glaring eyes, and a large, lipless mouth. The fire roared up higher, sending out an otherworldly glow.
"THAT'S HIGH ENOUGH!" the voice shouted again.
Won and the Harvest Sprites realized that the face in the fire was saying all this.
"I AM THE RIGHT HAND!" the voice shouted, and the mountain shook.
"Do you accept the sacrifice we have brought you?" Won said with no fear, while the Sprites all cowered behind him.
"I ACCEPT IT!" the voice boomed, and soared. "IT IS MUCH BETTER THAN THAT SAD EXCUSE FOR A SACRIFICE THAT THOSE PATHETIC SPRITES BROUGHT ME!"
"We come with a message!" Won shouted down towards the flames. "We cannot get you a human sacrifice!"
The Harvest Sprites cringed, expecting the Right Hand to explode in a fit of anger, and hate. But it just listened.
"GO ON!" It said, more quietly this time. "All the people in the town are all servants of the Goddess!" Won continued. "We can't sacrifice any of them! The only other alternatives are Zach and Kai! Kai is in Australia, and Zach, well, Zach is the whole reason we awoke you! So if you expect us to kill him and give him to you, then you are asking too much. We awoke you so that you could kill him!"
Won was now challenging the Right Hand's expectations of them, which it had never tolerated in the past. But the Right Hand just acted indifferent.
"IN ORDER FOR ME TO FULLY AWAKEN, I MUST HAVE A HUMAN SACRIFICE!"
"What do you expect us to do?" Won asked. "Do you expect us to kill someone who is still loyal to the Goddess?"
"NO! BUT WHAT ABOUT THOSE TWO WHO HAVE INTERFERED TOO MANY TIMES? COULDN'T YOU USE THEM? IF IT HADN'T BEEN FOR THEM, THEN THE THREAT WOULD ALREADY BE DEAD!"
"Yes," Won continued. "But the Goddess wants to make an example of them! Human sacrifices are carried out in secret! Their death must be known all through the town! So by all means, kill them! But we cannot use them as a sacrifice for you!"
"ALRIGHT! SORCERER! YOU HAVE A VERY VALID POINT THERE! I WILL GO WITHOUT THE HUMAN SACRIFICE! BUT ON THE HAIL GODDESS FESTIVAL, THE HARVEST SPRITES MUST DOUBLE THEIR SACRIFICE TO THE GODDESS! AND YOU SORCEROR! YOU MUST COME TO THIS LAKE AT MIDNIGHT AFTER THE HAIL GODDESS FESTIVAL!"
Won and the Harvest Sprites bowed.
"Your will shall be carried out!" Won shouted.
The face then disappeared, and the flames were extinguished by the water around them. Won and the Harvest Sprites began their long descent from the mountain.
Ann and I walked through the forest hand in hand. We were going to Mother's Hill again to have lunch, reminiscent of on of our "first dates." Unfortunately, in a small town, there aren't many places to go on a date. But the quality of the available places is much better. As we walked, I thought over how everything had come into place. I had always wondered how exactly I would find a girl, and how we would end up this way. I never ever thought that getting a girl could be so easy. Love is a very strange thing. Misunderstood by many, and coveted by all. There is no greater thing. Suddenly Ann stopped. I turned, and looked at her. She was staring straight ahead, with a look of surprise, and horror. I turned to see what she was looking at. I gasped, and took a step backward as I beheld the sight which was layed out before me. The lake was burning with neon green flames. The water burned, as if by some supernatural force. Flames shot up into the sky, roaring like the voice of the devil. Without hesitation, Ann and I turned and ran for our lives. Back to the farm. Back to where it was safe.
Carter fell on his face before the Goddess statue. Beside it, his Bible lay in a metal bowl. It was burning.
"I submit to your will!" Carter cried out. "No longer will I help heathens, or read the words of evil!"
Smoke poured out of the ears of the statue, and its eyes glowed neon green. Carter bowed before, reveling in the presence. Then the neon green left the statue's eyes, and the smoke stopped pouring out. But Carter stayed bowed before the statue, and he didn't rise up until ten minutes had passed.
Ann sat on my bed, staring straight across the room, with a frightened expression plastered on her face. I was in the kitchen, getting drinks. I walked out of the kitchen, and handed an ice water to Ann.
"Here," I said. "Drink this."
Ann said nothing, but held the glass up to her mouth, and took a small sip.
"I know what you are thinking," I said. "How the heck was the lake on fire? Well your guess is as good as mine."
Ann looked back at me, but said nothing.
"I only wonder if it has something to do with the Harvest Goddess. I know you don't believe as I do, but I have heard of a certain place often described as being a lake of fire."
"What place is that?" Ann finally spoke.
"Hell," I said.
Ann's face showed no emotion, so it was impossible to tell what she was thinking at that moment.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
Ann nodded. I smiled. "Do you want me to walk you home?"
Ann nodded again.
The forest. Silent and still. Not a creature moved, or stirred. The very land seemed gripped in an icy hand, which cut off all feeling. But one feeling still existed. The forest was the home of the Goddess. The very air seemed to flow with the power of the Spirits, for that was where they lurked. In the shadows of the twin mountains, the forest was just as much in the shadow of the Goddess and the Spirits. As such, those with the Holy Spirit in there hearts could feel the evil there. They could feel the dark creatures living in the forest. Spirits, of monstrous quantities. Evil Spirits. The Spirits of the Goddess. Demons. All these terms described them well. And one spirit there was restless. Two mortals entered the forest, talking quietly together about many things, none of which were a concern of this restless Spirit. Immediately as they entered the forest, the Spirit focused its attention on its target. Silently, and swiftly, it moved through the still air towards its target. Its target was a wild dog, which was quietly lapping water up out of the Harvest Goddess Spring. The Spirit swooped down upon its prey.
Karen and Rick walked down through the forest, talking on and on about many things.
"I wonder what's going to happen this Hail Goddess Festival," Rick said. "Do you remember a couple years ago when the Goddess actually appeared before us? She looked everyone in the eyes. When she looked in my eyes, it felt as if she was speaking to me somehow."
"Yeah, yes," Karen said, trying to think of a way to steer the conversation over to something which didn't make her feel uncomfortable.
"It's weird, but it seems like something strange happens every Hail Goddess Festival. Do you remember the year when strong wind blew across the town right as the Sacrifices were being delivered. Mary says that in the library, books began lifting off of shelves, and moving through the room all by themselves. Carter says that the paranormal activity was caused by the Spirits moving through the town as the Goddess took her sacrifices. He says they are the most active at that time of the year. I went back home, and, I swear, I saw something hiding in my closet that night. But when I got up to check, it was gone."
Karen was now looking around uncomfortably, trying to find a way to end this conversation. It reminded her of Darkfor, and what he had done to her. Or for her, as he would say. Suddenly Karen felt something. She felt a presence of some being. At first she thought it was caused by Rick's conversation bringing back painful memories, but then she realized that this feeling was very real. Karen had felt it many times. Some nights she had awoken to see a wispy, ghostlike face pressed against the window. Sometimes she heard voices speaking to her. As bizarre things continued to happen to her, Karen began to wonder if Darkfor was responsible for any of this. After all, she was the only person she knew to experience such supernatural phenomenons. Karen began looking around. There was a spirit here somewhere. Where?
Suddenly something leaped out of the bushes towards her. All she saw was a streak of brown furn, and a streamlined figure. It was a wild dog. It landed five feet away from her, and growled at her. For a fleeting instance, Karen saw in its eyes the same presence which she had felt all through her life. Saliva fell from the dog's mouth as it's throat rumbled in an angry roar. Then the presence vanished, and the dog stopped growling. Karen followed the instructions which she had been taught as a child, and stood still, like a tree, and put her fists against her neck for protection. Rick immediately grabbed a stick, and whacked the dog in the side with it. The dog yelped, and looked up at Rick with hateful eyes. The dog then barked angrily, and leaped at Rick. The dog knocked Rick to the ground. Rick fought back, trying to push the dog away. He succeeded, but not until after the dog had bitten into his arm. The dog ran off, and Karen helped Rick back to his feet.
"Are you crazy?" Karen asked Rick. "Fighting off that dog that attacked me? Look! You hurt yourself."
"The dog did the hurting," Rick said wincing. "I'm just glad it isn't worse."
"Alright. From now on, don't hurt yourself protecting me from a seemingly dangerous dog."
"Alright alright," Rick said sheepishly.
"And Rick?"
"Yes," Rick looked up at Karen. Karen smiled.
"Thanks."
"Your welcome," Rick said with a lopsided grin.
