Chapter 6

Henry snuck out of the city limits and went deep into the woods. His mouth was dry, and his heart was pounding. After a life of servitude in opposition to Satan, he was going to do something that heaven forbids in the name of Satan. It didn't sit right with him, but neither did sinfulness in heaven. Nothing quite seemed right to Henry, but he was going to find all the answers he needed.

One way or another.

With any luck, I won't even need to go to learn more.

After Henry felt confident enough that he had traveled far enough, he paused and realized that he had no idea what he was doing. He hadn't brought any materials or candles or… whatever else this might take.

Well, I suppose I should start with the shape? Henry pondered.

Henry kicked at the dirt in a circle and drew an upside-down star within, relative to him. Each line he drew making him more and more uneasy.

I could just enjoy the rest of my days here, there is more for me here than there ever has been on Earth. It would be stupid to risk giving that all away, and potentially jeopardizing that for others.

But I've spent my whole life learning that the more knowledgeable I am the less evil I become.

Don't you suppose someone else would've taken this to its logical conclusion before? What makes me think I am so special that I must be the one to do this?

I know why I think that way. If I tell myself it is the righteous thing to leave it be then I can try to live in bliss while still having fear of what the truth might be in my mind and heart. It is not that I am possibly the first one, or that I am special. It is the calling of all people to take as much responsibility as possible and live selflessly, even to one's own detriment.

Every bit of Henry wanted to just try to forget about all of this and go back to his home. Every bit except one; the best part of Henry there could be.

With a shaky and nervous sigh, Henry completed the last line. The pentagram was complete.

Henry looked from side to side, waiting for something to happen. Henry listened closely, nothing. He tried closing his eyes and opening them, still nothing. Henry very hesitantly poked one of the lines with a stick, then quickly recoiled. Squinting, Henry straightens up and begins to wonder if there was something special he had to do that he did not consider. Henry wiped some sweat off his brow before flicking it away.

Unbeknownst to him, the smallest bit of residue of his sweat had fallen into one of the lines of the circle, and originating from that point the lines started to glow a deep red.

Henry noticed and took a sharp breath noticing the lines lighting up, and the moment he noticed they hastened and completed in an instant. At that moment, the sky turned dark, and the forest disappeared around him, and all Henry could see in the void was his own body faintly glowing, and a smile in front of him.

It was like all the warmth in Henry's blood had been stolen, and Henry tried his best to not appear as frightened as he was, resorting to clenching muscles rather than shaking.

The smile before him widened, and then a pair of eyes opened above them, glowing yellow with red pupils, illuminating the rest of his face. He was fair, pale as a ghost with rosy cheeks that appeared painted on. The figure of him towered over Henry, adorned in a white suit and beneath his feet was a burning fire.

The fire felt warm and comforting in contrast to Henry's now freezing body, but after taking a hard gulp Henry thought to himself that it must be a lure.

"Well well well. Henry Wright, is it?" The voice purred with a sultry tone, sending shivers down Henry's spine.

Henry swallowed again to make sure his voice wouldn't break. "Satan."

"Oh no, "Accuser" or "Adversary" doesn't really fit my style, the angels called me that on Earth to the Israelites." Lucifer opened his arms wide and took a step forward "Think of me more like your friend Lucifer."

His voice dripped with honeyed malice that would be so comforting to give in to. Henry had spent his whole life fearing the influence of the devil, and his mind was not ready to let that go.

"Okay… Friend…" Henry said with a combination of insincerity and fear. Henry was slow to speak, trying to not be overwhelmed by the sheer presence of Lucifer. "I've… Come for answers." Henry not blinking once since the presence of Lucifer came.

"Oh you have? I should have known a scholar such as yourself would be wise enough to seek knowledge from all places… Unlike your closeminded associates."

You're not special Henry. You're just doing what's right.

"I have… Seen… Things in heaven… That are wrong. People acting selfishly and unkind. I've even… Heard… of extermination." Henry flexed all of his muscles to keep his voice steady, if not a little high strung. "I was told that God does not exist, and without an omnipotent good, epistemology would suggest that no thing can be fully good without God."

"I'm listening…." Lucifer started to circle Henry, and Henry could not bring himself to move an inch.

"If there is evil in heaven, then there lies a possibility for good in hell"

Lucifer chuckled.

"Am I wrong?" Henry asked.

"Well if I'm going to be answering your questions then what will you be giving me, friend?" Lucifer said from behind Henry.

Henry's face flushed white and his pupils dilated, his skin crawled behind him all the way down his spine and up his neck. Henry's survival instincts started to kick in, adrenaline helping to dull the fear.

"What could I possibly have that you would want?" Henry asked loosening his muscles, trying to seem more laid back.

"Well now that you mention it… I could use a man on the inside." Lucifer said. Henry turned around and saw Lucifer staring expectantly at him.

Henry was speechless. He started blankly at Lucifer while all the consequences of taking up his offer flashed through his mind.

"What? Don't look at me like that I'm not exactly on the ins with the angels." Lucifer said befuddled.

Henry was even more shocked now. What had seemed like an impenetrable force of a demon was now… Awkward?

"Uh… no I just don't think I want to do that." Henry said, also feeling awkwardly.

"What? Is it because I'm not tall enough?" Lucifer asked exasperated.

Henry was perplexed as he looked up at the near 10-foot-tall figure before him.

"I mean… I'm sure you must just be confused. I'm clearly a very well to do individual with much to offer and you just are afraid because you were taught to be afraid of me." Lucifer opened an eye to peer at Henry to see his reaction.

Henry was still feeling the whiplash from Lucifer being the terrifying a charismatic voice that could pull him from his morals to the awkward relatable guy.

"Listen maybe we got off on the wrong foot Henry, I have a lot of knowledge and power at my disposal, and it can all be yours if you just work for me from up here… While nobody… uh… thinks you're working for me."

"What on Earth would you want me to do for you up here?" Henry asked.

"Well, it's actually what in heaven I'd like you to do."

Henry stared blankly at Lucifer, and Lucifer stared blankly back.

"You surprise me-" Henry started

"Hey man you might want to decide before they get here."

"What?"

"Well, the angels know when my presence is here and it's only a matter of time before they come here to stop us."

"Oh shit" Henry said. He kept trying to think a coherent thought, but the possibilities were spinning out of control.

"Uh bud you might want to think faster." Lucifer said pointing behind Henry. Henry turned around and the blackness lifted, revealing 5 angels in black and white descending upon them.

Henry looked onwards, too stunned to think. If they find out he did this and communed with Lucifer what would they think? What would they do to him?

"Alright bud we have to go anyway." Lucifer said, wrapping flame and shadow around Henry.

"NO!" Henry shouted, shoving it away.

"Wait Henry!" Lucifer yelled "Stop or-"

Henry separated himself from Lucifer… But not from the spell. Henry looked down and saw a mile away a red city, sorted into sections of a pentagram. And he was free falling straight towards it.