In the beginning there was the Word. And the Word was with God and the Word was God. Besides the Word there was darkness and an absence. In the before time God gazed and gazed and grew bored of the void.
And so God spoke, "Let there be." God stretched a hand out over the unobservable and stirred. A spark blossomed and expanded outwards as the void burst and blurred. Particles bloomed into existence in a swirling singularity. Protons pliéd pliantly, neutrons nosedived neurotically, and the electrons exploded ecstatically. The noise of existence, the sound of a big bang. The Word became Song and at long last the void gazed back.
Even still, in the realm of possibilities and probabilities the entity could only observe one path of fate. No matter where the dust could fly pulled by deep gravitational wells, it only ever moved one way. God could feel the walls of reality trapping it inside the universe. Though it could see the dimensions beyond and around, God could not touch them.
In a waiting room unlike any other in the universe sat a salesman and a secretary. The room was well furnished and decorated. Nine chairs of red oak spiraled around the room. In the left most chair sat Dante Reyes, rather perplexed about how he came to be in this place
Dante patted his silk pants for his phone. They were empty. Unusual. He checked his breast pocket and found nothing but his Devil May Care pocket square. Dante turned his right wrist and was relieved to see that he still had his prized Omega watch. The hands had stopped at 12:23. The salesman tapped on the watch’s face with his finger. It ticked as the second hand began to turn to the left, moving backwards. He’d have to fix that later.
Dante scanned the room, his brow furrowed and his dark brown eyes clouded. No windows, no entrance, just himself and a rather svelte woman. She sat behind a granite countertop and underneath a marble archway. Engraved at the top were the words, “Abandon every hope, who enter here.”
“Bathsheba” was emblazoned in fine crimson letters across her golden name plate. Her blouse was unbuttoned and low cut. Bathsheba noticed Dante staring and smirked.
“Oh good. You’re awake. Hello Mr. Reyes, Mr. Morningstar will see you now.”
“Who?”
“Mr. Morningstar. He’ll be interviewing you today. It’s best not to keep him waiting.”
As if on cue, doors opened outward. Dante ran his fingers through his wavy waxed black hair. If this was an interview, then perhaps Mr. Morningstar would have the answers.
Or perhaps not. More questions arose as Dante caught his first glimpse of Morningstar. His golden hair seemed to radiate and his eyes were an impossible shade of sapphire. A confident grin was etched across his face, a singular perfect line on a pristine canvas.
“Hello, Dante. I’ve been waiting for you for quite some time! Why don’t you have a seat?”
Morningstar pulled his feet off his table and gestured to a spinning swivel chair. Dante sat down and felt the chair slide to a slow stop.
“Pleasure to meet you. Your secretary told me you’d be interviewing me today? I just have a few questions.”
“All in due time. Here, have a smoke.” Morningstar flicked a silver case open with his thumb and gave his guest a hand rolled cigarette.
“Don’t mind if I do.”
“By the way, do you remember how you got here?” The confident smile had a malicious edge to it.
“No, but I assume you’ll tell me soon enough.”
Morningstar reached over the table and snapped his fingers next to Dante’s cheek. A crimson flame materialized and ignited. Dante shrieked as the spark seared through his flesh. He could feel the fat bubbling as his tongue rendered and fused to the roof of his mouth.
Memories rose to the surface of his mind in clouds of smoke as the cigarette burned. Too many drinks at that party. Swerving through the streets at midnight. The truck. Gasoline everywhere. Agony as the flames enveloped him. The clocks strikes 12:23. The waiting room.
No more pain. Flesh whole and smooth. “What the hell was that?”
Morningstar smirked at Dante’s revelation. “What the hell indeed. Welcome home.”
“You’re a real piece of work my friend and that’s what I like about you. Let’s see here…”
Morningstar snapped his fingers. A manila file the size of an encyclopedia appeared out of thin air and dropped onto the table with a loud thunk. He thumbed through the folder as Dante looked on in horror. Dante was dumbstruck, his jaw ajar.
“Who gives a shit, though? You’re a guy after my own heart. You never cared about anyone but you. Decisions my friend, they define us, determine where we end up. We live and die by them. Even me.”
Morningstar snapped his fingers and a crystal tumbler filled with bourbon appeared on the table. “Jim Beam? I know it’s your favorite.”
Dante shotgunned the drink with fluid gulps. The glass refilled itself immediately. “So that’s it huh? I’m here to be tortured and punished by you for all eternity?”
Loud laughter erupted and filled the room. The devil wheezed and gasped for breath as he clutched his sides. “Punish? Torture you? No! What a total waste of a man of your talents. I’m offering you a job.”
Dante sat in stunned silence. He mulled over Morningstar’s words, contemplating his situation. He put his hand to his chin and said, “What could I possibly offer that you can’t do?”
Morningstar pressed his fingers together and leaned forward. “Powerful as I am, I am not omniscient or omnipotent. I can’t be everywhere at once. So for matters I can’t personally attend to, I have servants to do my bidding.”
“And if I refuse?”
“My boy, you’re free to do whatever you want. If you don’t want the position you can languish down here with the rest.”
“That’s it? There’s no strings attached?” Dante felt skeptical.
“What would I gain from that? I just want people to be truly free. To do anything and everything that they could ever want. There are no rules in Hell.” Morningstar stood up and spread his arms out like a symphony conductor.
Dante took a small sip of his bourbon. “Really? That doesn’t sound so bad.”
“Drink all you want, it’s not like you can die of alcohol poisoning down here. Fuck the cutest guys or girls you can lay your eyes hands and dick on and in. Punch a baby in the face for all I care. There are no consequences. I won’t stop you.”
Morningstar’s smile stretched from ear to ear. His eyes were cold and mirthless. “Of course, I won’t stop anyone from doing anything to you either. Like say, flaying you alive and salting you. Wait, you’re not alive. Flaying you undead?”
Dante felt cold. A chill ran down his spine. “What are you…”
“You’re not the only human down here. An entire eternity to try new things. Torture is the least of your concerns boy.”
“Do I get any leads or what?” Dante finished the glass of Jim Beam and watched it fill up again. “Damn that’s cool. Can I keep this?”
“No, but maybe you can earn it if you work hard enough.”
As Dante tempted and corrupted his assignments on Earth, Morningstar had other business to attend to. He put on his finest seraphic robe of purest white, a robe so brilliant as to be blinding. With a shake of his shoulders he extended his six wings. He waved his hand above his forehead, shaping the corrupted flame into the halo it had originally been.
When was it that he had last taken this form? Hundreds, no thousands of years ago. When he had made a little wager with papa, over his favorite human Job. “I’ve learned much since then. This time, I’ll beat him for sure.” Mused Morningstar.
Morningstar rose into the air as he flapped his wings with mighty force. The winds howled and tore a hole in the fabric of Hell’s dimensional wall. Morningstar ascended fast and high as he ripped through each plane of reality like a scissor slicing through a piece of tissue paper. He flew beyond the speed of light, a tachyon hurling through time and space.
And at the edge of existence, beyond the heat death of the universe, he alighted at the edge of the silver city. His feet felt cool on the golden roads. He took a deep breath, enjoying the crisp air of Heaven. The atmosphere felt lighter, less oppressive than his own domain.
Morningstar whistled The Devil Went Down to Georgia as he walked through heaven. He mimed playing a fiddle, waving his arms to and fro as he wiggled his fingers. Heaven itself was a peculiar place, unbound by the laws of time and space. Objects could be an inch or a million miles away, it made no difference. All was as its creator willed.
Suddenly, Morningstar found himself standing before God.
God greeted his creation with a cheerful grin. “Hello Lucifer, it’s good to see you. Have you returned to reclaim your place as the leader of my choir?”
Morningstar was rather taken aback. “Why do you always ask that papa? You already know the answer.”
God still smiled, though a rueful look crossed his face. “What father doesn’t wish for the return of his prodigal son? You’ll always be welcome should you choose to come home.”
Morningstar’s expression was impassive. Internally however, he was discontent and confused. “Illogical! Simply illogical! One with absolute power should use it to dominate lesser beings. Why doesn’t he understand that? This exercise in free will has gone on long enough. I’ll make him see the truth. When all of humanity has failed him, he’ll use his perfect power and make them love him again. As it should be.”
“Hmmm. Anyways papa, I’ve come to play a game with you.”
“Always so direct, relax! Enjoy what Heaven has to offer. I have some creations that I’d like you to see.”
God waved his hand and a moving image of a woman appeared beside Morningstar. She stood at a pulpit and preached.
“This is Beatrice Lee, a most faithful servant of mine. I’m very proud of her. She has few equals for she is true and good.”
“Is that so? She’s only virtuous because she’s never tasted real pleasure. Certainly she’d denounce you if she experienced the wonders of the flesh.”
Morningstar smirked confidently. “I too have a worthy servant, one who can lay her low. Behold, my underling Dante.”
Morningstar snapped his fingers. A moving image of Dante appeared. He was now dressed as a doctor. He was convincing a terminal young child to give in to despair. His words were honeyed and cunning, filled with false compassion.
God surveyed the scene with sadness. “Yes, I know Dante. His father was a faithful man. I pity him, had he overcome the loss of his parent than he would have gone on to great things. He gave in to his base and selfish desires. In so doing he lost the chance to reunite with the love of his life.”
God smiled once more. “I will place my faith in Beatrice. But gambles are no fun without prizes. If I win, I shall be taking Dante.”
Morningstar was stunned. He had not actually expected papa to play his game. “Haha, hahaha! It seems you have a sense of humor after all. Very well papa, I accept your bet. Let’s see who wins, my sinner or your saint.”
Dante had quickly run through the little black book and now he wanted more. One hundred names had been listed and he had set eighty five of those people on the path to Hell. The remaining fifteen had managed to elude his grasp.
Dante took out his cell phone and texted Bathsheba. “Pick up requested. Mission completed. Need to see Morningstar.”
The response was near instantaneous. “Stand by.”
The hospital waiting room vanished in a dark haze. Dante slipped through time and space and found himself in the waiting room once more. Dante struggled not to vomit. He placed his hands on his knees and took deep breaths, trying to reorient himself.
“Welcome back Mr. Reyes. How was your visit topside?” Bathsheba asked, drumming the granite countertop with her manicured fingers.
“Fun. You’re looking fine as ever. Is that a new perfume?”
The doors opened outward. Dante walked into Morningstar’s throne room. Morningstar sat on his throne with his legs crossed. He smoked a cigarette and exhaled little rings.
Morningstar put out the cigarette and walked over to Dante. He extended his hand out for a handshake and transitioned into a hug. “My man! I’ve been expecting you. Sit down, make yourself comfortable. Have a drink, a smoke, whatever you want.”
“So give me the rundown. How was your first month on the job?”
Dante took a seat and took a drag on his cigarette, that appeared in his mouth. “It was quite something. I demand more leads.”
The salesman took the black book out of his breast pocket and placed it onto the table.
Morningstar took the book and gave it a once over. The pages flipped fluidly through his fingers. “Eighty five percent closure?!? I was expecting a lot less. You’re a rockstar.”
Morningstar reached out with a closed fist. Dante grinned and bumped the fist. He swirled the alcohol around the tumbler before taking a sip. “So what else you got for me boss?”
Morningstar snapped his fingers. Dante felt his shoulders tingle and itch. He scratched his back and felt something unusual. Dante stood up and took his silk jacket off. Curved scarlet wings burst through the back of shirt.
“Whoa, what’s this?” Dante peered backwards, intrigued by his new appendages. He flapped his wings experimentally. The draft of wind generated from the wings lifted him up into the air a foot.
“You’re one of us now, a lesser demon. Think of it as a promotion for your success. Keep up the good work and you can become an archdemon.” Morningstar watched as Dante flew around the room.
Morningstar placed a red file on the desk. “This is a special assignment. She’s stumped our finest tempters until now. I think you’ve got what it takes to break this one.”
Dante opened the file. He let out a gasp as he saw the name. It couldn’t be. “Send someone else. I’ll do anything but this, please.”
Morningstar leaned forward, his entire being radiating murderous displeasure. “Are you disobeying me boy?”
Morningstar’s sadistic grin grew and grew, wider than any human’s possibly could. The smile split his face in two. He licked his lips. “Of course, if you won’t do it then I’ll have to. I’ll drag her down myself. And once she’s here, oh the fun we’ll have together. Maybe I’ll give her over to the Marquis de Sade. Better yet, I’ll make her my own personal plaything. What I do know is I’ll make you watch.”
Dante squirmed. He gripped the armrests hard.
Dante felt as if he was stuck between Scylla and Charybdis. It was truly an impossible choice. Even he had not fallen to this level of depravity. Morningstar howled with laughter. Such suffering gave him great joy. “Better think fast. Good luck on your assignment.”
“Wait, wait!”
Morningstar flipped off Dante and snapped his fingers.The throne room span and swirled around Dante’s field of vision as he was cast back to Earth. In the blink of an eye he was surrounded by people dressed in their Sunday best. Perplexed, Dante looked around frantically, trying to figure out where Morningstar had sent him.
A clear voice snapped Dante from his reverie. “Now let us rise for communion.”
Dante looked up and saw the source of the voice. Beatrice stood in front of the church. She held a metal platter of bread pieces in her dainty hands. Dante was dumbstruck. When he had last seen her she was a gawky child with gangly limbs and crooked brace covered teeth. Over the years she must have grown into her looks. Now she was tall and fair, with an air of grace about her.
Beatrice walked through the church, passing the bread to the members. Dante took a piece absentmindedly. He could not help but stare at Beatrice. Noticing the newcomer gazing at her, Beatrice smiled at him. He was filled with a longing he had long since forgotten. This desire was not lust, but something wholly different.
Beatrice raised her hands out over the people. “Go forth and may the blessing of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.”
The crowd of people broke into several conversations. The members made small talk and snacked on crackers and cheese that had been prepared. Dante by himself in the corner. Beatrice waited at the exit of the church, greeting the people as they left. After what seemed like ages, only the salesman and the pastor remained in the church.
Dante shivered. This was something he hadn’t felt in ages. It was nervousness. He walked up to Beatrice. She smiled at him and tilted her head slightly to the side.
“You’re new here. I haven’t seen you around before. It’s good to have you here today. Welcome!”
“Ah yeah. Yeah. First time. Good sermon by the way.”
“Oh thank you, that’s very kind of you. I’m Beatrice, Beatrice Lee. I’m the head pastor here. What’s your name?”
“Dante. Dante Reyes.”
Beatrice’s eyes widened. “What a coincidence, I had a friend with the same name once.”
Dante couldn’t help but smile. “Good to see you too Bea. It’s been a while.”
Beatrice squealed. She wrapped her arms around Dante and squeezed gently. “Ohmygosh D, I haven’t seen you in forever!”
Dante returned her embrace, pressing his cheek against hers. Embarrassed, Beatrice let go and looked away.
Dante brushed his fingers through his hair. “It’s been what, sixteen, seventeen years?”
“Yeah not since we were ten. Since you moved away.”
“When my dad was in that accident…”
There was a moment of uncomfortable silence between the two.
“I’m sorry D, I didn’t mean to bring up a bad memory like that.” Beatrice put her hand on Dante’s shoulder.
Dante shrugged. “It’s ok. It’s in the past. I like to remember the other stuff instead. We used to have so much fun together!”
“Oh man, I remember.”
“Hehe. And we made that silly promise to get married when we grew up.”
Dante blushed. “Totally crazy.”
“Are you seeing anyone?” Beatrice enquired.
“No. Not at all. Hey, do you want to get dinner tomorrow? We can catch up on old times. It’ll be my treat.” Dante was torn. In his heart of hearts he longed for her to say yes, but for her sake he wished she’d refuse.
Beatrice looked away and looped her finger around a lock of her hair. Dante felt eons pass by in seconds as he agonized over her response. Finally, she looked at him and said, “Sure! It’s a date. Pick me up at 7.”
Dante didn’t know whether he felt relief or despair. Dante shuddered to think what that monster would do to Bea. “I have to. It’s the lesser of two evils. At least I can save her.” Filled with a desperate determination, Dante resolved to corrupt Beatrice. He would do whatever it took. In preparation for this arduous task he studied her file.
In the last seventeen years Beatrice had become quite an accomplished woman. At the age of twenty-one she had graduated Magna Cum Laude from Harvard University. In the next few years, tragedy struck. When she was twenty-five, Mr. Lee suffered a brain aneurysm and passed away instantaneously. Unable to live with her grief and sorrow, Mrs. Lee followed a few months later. Around this time the previous head Pastor, Pastor Morris, had retired. The church council unanimously voted Beatrice in as the new head pastor.
Though faithful and virtuous, Beatrice was a profoundly lonely woman. Every night she prayed to God that he would send her a husband, a new family to call her own.And lo and behold, her best friend from the past had come back into her life. He had become handsome as well. Surely this was the answer to her prayers. She would do anything to love and be loved.
Dante finished reading the file and closed his eyes. He cursed himself for the part he was to play. He whispered low, “Forgive me Bea.”
The date went well. Much pasta and wine later, they were preparing to leave as Bea stumbled on her feet.
“Careful. Are you ok Bea?” Dante gazed into her dark brown eyes.
Beatrice blushed, her red cheeks growing redder. “Ah yeah, just had a little too much to drink. How clumsy of me. I’ll be fine. I can walk on my own.”
“Nope, you’ve always been a total klutz. Leave it to me.”
“What’re you…. Oh!” Beatrice squeaked as Dante lifted her in his arms.
The ride back was brief and quiet. Beatrice contemplated her night with small breaths of happiness. At her side, Dante steeled himself for what he had to do next. If he went through with it, she would be well and truly damned.
Beatrice leaned on Dante’s shoulder as she walked back into her home. She turned around and gazed into Dante’s eyes.
“I had a really good time tonight. It was great catching up with you.”
“Me too.” Dante muttered.
“Let’s do this again sometime soon.”
“Of course. Text you the time and place?”
“Sounds like a plan.” Beatrice wanted to lean forward and kiss Dante. Or rather, she wanted him to kiss her. He showed no signs of initiating the first move and it frustrated her.
“Mmm, on second thought, would you like to come in for a coffee?” Beatrice inquired coyly.
Dante checked his watch. An odd look crossed his face, one that she could not quite decipher. Desire? Distaste? She was uncertain. All she knew was that she wanted him to stay a little longer.
The look vanished and was replaced by a roguish smile. “If the lady insists.”
The two stepped into the house. Beatrice led Dante to the living room where he took a seat on the couch. Beatrice walked to the kitchen.
“Would you like tea or coffee D?” She turned the handle to the tap and filled the glass pot with cold water.
“Coffee, black.”
Dante leaned forward and kissed Beatrice. She kissed him back, pressing her lips against his. Her head felt hot and hazy.
Dante and Beatrice kissed like this for some time. He grew bold and impatient. Dante slipped his finger through the side strap of the dress and lowered it to the side. He hooked his arm behind Beatrice and gripped the zipper. He pulled at it bit by bit.
Through the fog of endorphins that enmeshed her brain, Beatrice was vaguely aware that this was a point that she could not return from. Beatrice tried to gain a little distance. “D… Let’s take it slow.”
Dante ignored her and continued his attack. The zipper continued to creep down.
“C’mon, D. I mean it.”
Dante kissed her neck. He had come too far and done too much. He had to see things through to the end.
“Dante stop it! What’s wrong with you?” Beatrice regained her reason. She reached back and grabbed Dante’s wrist. As she pulled his hand back in front of her, her thumb brushed momentarily against the golden ring.
Scarlet wings burst forth and knocked the two cups off of the table. The china smashed on the hardwood floor, splattering the contents all over. Beatrice was speechless, she stared at the impossible. It was as if the scales had fallen from her eyes. The trance had been lifted.
“No. No no no! SHIT!” Dante screamed. It was over.
“Dante what is that?” Beatrice shuddered in disgust.
“Bea listen, I can explain.” Dante raised his hand calmingly towards her.
“Don’t touch me! What are you?” Flames danced wildly in Beatrice’s eyes.
“It’s me! It’s me! I might look like this but I’m still your Dante. I swear to Gah. Gahhh.” Dante choked, for some reason he couldn’t say the word God.
Beatrice gasped as the horrific realization of Dante’s true nature dawned on her. “You’re a demon.”
“It’s not like that. I’m doing this for your own good, you have to trust me.” Dante pleaded, his voice a pathetic whine.
“Get out. I never want to see you again.” Beatrice whispered.
“Bea please! You have to understand!” Dante got on his knees, crawling towards Beatrice.
“I CAST YOU OUT!” Beatrice roared.
Dante was hurled out of the house by an invisible hand. He struggled with all his might, beating his wings, trying to fly against the immovable force. To no avail. He was thrown from the home. As he tried to walk through the door, colorless flames blocked the entry and formed an impenetrable wall.
Beatrice stood behind the door, staring at Dante with pity in her eyes. “I really liked you. But where you’ve gone I cannot, no, I will not follow.”
“You stupid bitch, I’m trying to save you. I’m the only one who can help you!”
The door slammed shut with a resounding thud. Dante lay on the lawn, gasping. Oblivion was preferable to this misery.
Dante opened his eyes and saw a vast formless void. “So this is nonexistence. Not so bad all things considered. At least I can rest here, alone at last.” Dante sighed and rested his head on his hands.
“Well, that’s not quite right son.” A voice echoed all around and from within the blankness.
Dante bolted upright. “Who’s there?”
Then, from beyond the horizon, he could see something black. It came closer and closer, finally stopping in front of Dante. It was none other than Dante’s own father Virgil. He looked much like he did in life, wearing his black suit, clergy collar, and white cotton shirt.
Virgil smiled and embraced his son. “Hello son. It’s been a while since I’ve last seen you.”
Dante broke down and embraced his father. He cried tears of joy.
Virgil patted him on the back, comforting him. “I’ve missed you, son. I don’t have long here, but we have much to talk about.”
“Where is this place?”
“This is Purgatory. God has permitted me to come speak with you for just a while.” Virgil spoke in a calm and soothing tone.
Dante’s eyes widened in shock. “What does God want with me? I want nothing to do with him.”
“And why is that?”
“No deity that is all knowing and all powerful can be all good. Why does he let injustice continue on in this world? You are a faithful man, how could he let you die? How could he take you from me?”
Virgil smiled ruefully. “Sadly, I cannot answer all those questions. We all live and die by our decisions. Even now.”
“Why are you here father? Why have you come back to me now?”
Virgil smiled once again, though a rueful expression lingered on his face. “I’m here to ask you to come home. What father doesn’t wish for the return of his prodigal son?”
“I can’t forgive him. I can’t.”
An immeasurable sorrow swelled through Virgil. “So be it son. It always has, and always will be your choice.” Then, Both men fell silent.
Finally, Virgil spoke once more. “I just want to tell you I love you. I certainly hope to see you again, but if not then this is farewell. Goodbye my son. I pray that you’ll make the right decision.”
Dante wanted to say “I love you too.” He had been unable to say it the last time before his father had passed.
He closed his eyes and lay suspended in the ether. He saw before him two paths. On the left hand path were the fires of Hell. He would be free to do as he pleased. His power was second to only Morningstar and he reigned, a high prince among the kingdoms of man. All of his carnal and worldly desires would be slaked.
On the right gleamed the cool skies of Heaven. Here he could be with his father forever. Maybe eventually Beatrice too. But there existed a bitter humility. There was no crown, no kingdom for him to rule. The high on earth are servants in Heaven.
Burning light filled Purgatory as Dante made his choice.
God soon came to the conclusion that something more was needed. The quantum forces would not be moved by the expansion God had set in motion. And so, an experiment was devised. From the vortex of a black hole a heart was made. From the light of six ancient stars wings were fashioned. From the four fundamental forces a body was formed. And thus the first Angel was born, the most beautiful and terrible of God's creations.
"I name thee Lucifer Morningstar. The light that shall dawn on all life to come, now and forever. Sing my Song! Lead my choir."
The Angel sang, unsteady and unsure. It added a new verse to the Song and one became two. The rules of physics rent asunder and God existed in and was aware of two realms at once, one with Morningstar and one without. The fourth wall had been broken at last, the multiverse molested. The dust now diverged along different roads, the paths of fate now forked and turned. There now existed a proverbial cat in the microwave.
And God was pleased with his work for it was good.