Friends in need ...

Seth keeps picking into his right pocket. Every dip of his hand comes back full with nuts. He keeps breaking them in his mouth spiting pieces left and right as we walk.

Seth?

[Seth] Yes.

My memory's a bit flacky. Is this the right way to The Byblos?

[Seth] We can get there from here. We are to make a stop on the way. You are to acquire some help.

Help. I do not recall asking for help.

A loud cracking sound makes Seth stop in front of me. Head to the ground. Takes a deep breath and spits on the floor. I look down and I can see more than just pieces of peanuts. The empty shells are covered in what seems to be a blend of mucus, saliva and glowing peaces of enamel from his teeth.

[Seth] What you recall and what you might think you need are something we will not get into right now. You WILL need help and you WILL keep your mouth shut during our journey.

He turns around and stares at me. He is in my face and under different circumstances I would have punched him in the teeth.

Understood. Do I get a last wish?

[Seth] Speak.

He is still in my face, which is now covered in his spit.

What's a guy like you, the third son of Adam and Eve, the one person who got into the Garden , doing in a place like this, under the ranks of Lucifer?

He pulls away. Turns his back to me and takes out another hand full of nuts.

[Seth] I am acting out of my own free will. That is all you need to know. And all that you will infer.

Cracks open another nut and spits.

Free will! People did tell me that you were a bit slow, but not like this. Free will, oh you almost made me laugh.

[Seth] You got your question. Shut it.

He might be working with Lucifer, which in itself is strange. Or there have been changes since I've been gone. Bloody changes.

We keep walking until we reach the end of the park. It's pitch dark. We climb over the park fence and into the street. Over into an alley and down through a basement. The door opens and I start feeling dizzy.

[Seth] Deep breaths Cimeries and do not worry. It's just a vortex.

Vortex, think of a door that leads to the "other side". There is no bright light, or pink ponies with flowers and all that. It's just a door. A door that only some can see and even fewer can enter.

We are greeted by two men. One looks like a university professor from the 70s. A light brown jacket with elbow patches, a yellow shirt and of course sandals. The second one, who is a bit taller, has a raincoat on. An old raincoat that seems to have seen more bad weather than what it was intended to. He also wears a pair of sunglasses and a hat. I guess he is the dramatic one. The "professor" speaks up first.

Welcome.

That is usually followed by an introduction.

[Seth] Surprised you did not recognize them. This is Hugh and ... what was your name again?

Hugh, the "professor", starts laughing. So does Seth. Raincoat man stands still for a moment. Extends his arm for a handshake and a rather weak voice states

You can call me Munin.

Come again? Hugh and Munin? You must be crazy to pick up those names.

[Munin] We did not pick them.

[Hugh] Pardon my brother. He got up on the wrong side of his bed this morning. It is us Cimeries.

Seth? This is the help?

[Seth] Yes. I am done here.

Who is taking me to The Byblos then?

Another nut cracks and the spit lads on my shoe.

[Seth] They will.

I think that will not be wise, Seth old boy. If some unfortunate accident should find me, Lucifer will be after your head.

[Seth] There are no accidents. My arrangement with Lucifer ends here.

[Hugh] Come on, we've got some talking to do on the way to the Byblos.

Seth walks away, eating those damn nuts.

[Hugh] So Cimeries, how have you been?

At the moment I am not sure if I am alive, dead or undead. You?

[Munin] Manny was a prick. I'm almost glad he's gone.

[Hugh] We'll get to see him again brother. At the waiting line. I am sure at this point in time expressing your feelings to him will bring out the most enjoyment for you.

Enough with the smalltalk. What the fuck is going on?

[Hugh] That would be a question for my brother.

[Munin] Fuck you Hugh.

You girls can have your foreplay later. Talk.

[Munin] After you defeat and the trail Hell took on a new face. Lucifer was, more than ever, stronger and more ruthless. In fact nobody made a sound after your verdict was announced. Everyone was expecting a little kiss between you and Death. But that did not happen. People even started guessing excuses to back up Lucifer's decision. The truth was, and still is, everyone else got it right up the arse while you got Earth.

Can we skip to the part that I do not know about. And by the way, Vlad seems to be a counterexample of what you just told me.

Hugh pulls up a little box from inside his jacket. Nothing special about the box. Old, wooden and banged up like as if some kids used it as a football.

[Hugh] Saddly, you are wrong Cimeries.

I pick the box and open it up. There is an old knife, rusty on the edges and a handkerchief. The same ones that Vlad had back in his pub.

[Munin] Look under the hanky.

Vlad's ear and Dierdre's heart.

I feel hungry. Can we grab something to eat?

[Munin] Nope, no time.

[Hugh] It's the human flesh Cimeries. Manny's blood is still with you.

[Munin] So for those under Lucifer's direct rank, they all went to back to hell, as raw material for new tricks for human souls. For the people under Dantes, Lucifer left it up to him. This of course left hell with two rulers. Lucifer and Dantes. Everyone else was below them. Dantes was very keen on the idea of ruling half of Hell so he got down to business. Lucifer on the other hand took a more passive stand. He slowly left everything to his subordinates. Dantes took notice of this fact and started to talk and handle business with each of Lucifer's pawns.

And slowly took them on his side due to his charming and delightful character.

[Munin] Yes. Dante is now, or more correctly, again looking for even more power.

[Hugh] It is however interesting that Seth has been involved in all this.

He was just a taxi driver.

[Hugh] Yes, the facts do point towards that direction. Why would he though?

[Munin] Cimeries? Any ideas?

I am not playing this game. You are here to help. That does not mean that you are not here to lso confuse and misdirect. Hugh, you are thought and I will listen to what you have to say. Munin you are memory and you can give me information of what happened. But never, and under no circumstances are you to assume that I take your word as law or even God send. I'll use and even abuse your information any way I see fit. We are not friends. We are not enemies. Each of us provides information to the other and even provokes thought.

I take a pause and I stop walking. They both move a couple of steps in front of me and turn to face me.

So let me say this again. We are not friends. We are not enemies. We simply landed on this story next to each other.

Hugh looks calm and at the same time I can see that he is uncomfortable. Munin is totally blank. He simply stares at me without giving me any sing of agreement or even disagreement. I take out a cigarette and start walking.

Munin, where has Lucifer been traveling the past year. A summary would suffice.

[Munin] He has been spending a lot of time around Hell. Alone. Walking up and down without paying attention to what was really going on around him

[Hugh] Tell him about your gap.

[Munin] Hugh, beyond the fact that you are an arrogant little prick, you also have the manners of a brainless whore.

I did ask for a summary and it was to your discretion to decide on the pieces of information that the summary would include. On the other hand since your brother is so eager to get on my good side, what is this gap of yours?

[Munin] The only side that my brother nows about is the one you wipe off after a good morning visit to the john. Ass kissing brain monkey. Next time try giving him a blow job that way you will be sure he likes you.

Munin....

[Munin] Sometime ago, right about 2 full moons in your calendar, I was on my way to see Odin. I was passing from Effrul and the for no logical reason I decided to take the long tour through the Tombs. There I saw Lucifer standing on the hanged tree and again for no reason at all I went up there to great him in person. He did not reply back. It was not Lucifer.

What do you mean?

[Munin] That was not him. I do not know how. It was a sense of his presence. But he was not there. No communication, no sense of his surroundings. Nothing.

I see.

[Hugh] I thought ..

[Munin] Really, you did think did you. Well that is a start.

[Hugh] That is what makes you look petty and I might even say stupid, brother. You cannot see a situation for what it is and take charge of the situation so as to gain a strategic position in the argument and effectively win.

[Munin] Yes, transform myself, mold me to everything that I should be so that I can crawl out of a situation like the snake that I am.

[Hugh] The role of the suffering hero usually goes hand in hand with idiocy.

[Munin] You little ...

SHUT IT. In the name of fuck. Do I need to get you a babysitter? Lucifer can be in more than one place at at time. Especially when the places he is at are in Hell. But to appear with no communication and senses? Wherever else he was at the time, that must have sucked a lot of energy from him to bring him to that state. And Seth. That still does not fit. Seth, of all people.

[Munin] Fuck you. You little piece of shit. Monkey spank mixed in with spit and blessed by the holy loser of them all.

[Hugh] I rest my case. You are an airhead, a jog full of adrenaline and nerve endings that lead to bones and not a brain.

Munin jumps over me and gives Hugh a taste of his knuckles. Hugh falls on the floor and immediately bounces back up with a kick to the groin. As soon as Munin folds in half, my nose acts as the air bag in the collision of my face and Hugh's punch. Munin kicks my feet of the ground and I find myself staring up at Munin while I can see Hugh's leg landing on my chest. My blood paints Hug's toe nails red.

[Munin] Red toes suit you. Now you even look like a little whore.

Hugh starts laughing and relaxes his leg. I grap his foot and twist it off me. I take out the old knife from the wooden box and cut off his Achilles tendon. Munin stares at me at first and then jumps in for more. He manages to grab my hand and twists my wrist so that I let go of the knife. He restless me to the floor and gets on top of me. The first punch makes me swallow a tooth, the second breaks my jaw, the third obliterates my nose and I can taste mucus down my throat. The fourth blow goes to my left eye and the final blow to my right eye. They both swell up and I can see nothing. I hear a voice that is not Hugh's or Munin's.

Is he dead?

[Munin] Yes.

I think I can move. I try to move my right arm and I feel Hugh's leg stepping on it.

[Hugh] He managed to die before he got turned by Manny.

The voice speaks again

He goes with you Hugh, to Hell.

[Hugh] He will, he will. My brother needs to go verify something first and for that, he'll need the human shell.

[Munin] I am here for my visit.

[Hugh] I am here for company, is that ok ?

Only Munin goes in. I'll get Kabniel to help you out with the body.

[Munin] That would be of great help. Thank you Abel. How's are the human souls these days.

[Abel] They never change.

They start to move me. I can feel a cool breeze on my face which is comforting. The screams that I can only guess come from below me are a bit disturbing. The line to the gates of heaven is close to the line of your city's famous nightclub. Maybe a bit more dramatic but the idea is the same. Able is just the door man.

[Munin] There's Manny.
[Abel] Yes I've been informed.
[Munin] MANNY, KEEP YOURSELF FROM HARM!
[Able] Munin, keep it to yourself.
[Munin] I could not resist.

Munin puts his hand on my face and using his small finger's nail tears my eyelid open and I can see. He then pushes gently and tilts my head towards the gate below. I can see Manny, I an also see Vlad and Dierdre. Although they've both been here before, Vlad seems to be scared and protective of Deirdre. I tried to close my eye but I couldn't. Munin is on to some of his stories to Abel. Abel voices the occasional "aha" or "yes" just to show him that he is listening. Munin does a good job keeping his mind on his queue. Munin starts laughing and moves his hand only to point my head to a different direction. A direction that helps me see another familiar face. Anna's here. She is on the queue waiting for her fate.

[Able] Welcome to Heaven.
[Munin] We've been doing this for so long Abel. It's just not funny, or smart anymore.
[Abel] I guess certain things from your work become your nature.

I think I know what Abel means. That makes this the second time I agree with an angel. That cannot be a good sign.

Death of a Human

Moonlight and moisture make the wall glitter as if I am about to pass
through a schism between worlds. Climbing is tricky business, but I
make it to the top. Gasping for air, I can't see the end of the wall on
either side. Fog has covered everything. Hopefully, the floor is not too
far down. My legs are not what they used to be.

Dropped like a stone. An army of a million ants is walking up and down
my feet. I am lying on wet earth waiting for my body to come to its
senses. Finally I am up. Dusting myself off, I can hear leaves
moving.

I have no money and I am out of cigarettes.

[Manchester] I have no need for that.

Voice comes from a different direction. Leaves keep moving. There's
more than one of them around. Maybe I am dinner.

Things will run more smoothly if you had the balls to face me.

[Manchester] All in good time, all in good time.

Manchester, I'd love to stay and play. I've got things to do and
people to see.

[Manchester] Insulting me on my own grounds is not something I take
lightly. Human.

Oh, did I hurt your feelings Manny?

[Manchester] You are not the demon you used to be. You are but another
ring on my food chain.

From the sound of your voice, Manny, I would say that you are even
scared. I guess I never realized that vampires do keep some of their
human features. It makes so much sense, don't you think? You get to
keep those features you hate and despise on what you were, and now
eat. He does work in mysterious ways. Then again, He might not.

I can hear armies moving, but I can see nothing but fog and rays of
pale light.

[Manchester] ENOUGH!

Two lines, one on the left and one on the right, of what I can only
guess to be Manchester's followers.

[Manchester] I am getting the nail. What you can decide is if I will
be getting fed as well.

I take out a cigarette and light it.

[Manchester] You said you had none.

I lied.

I take a drag and swallow hard.

[Manchester] Time's up.

It's my nail.

[Manchester] It's dinner time.

Did not even move. Closed my eyes and waited. It's pitch dark but I
can smell leaves and strong perfume. And blood. Back of my throat
clear pungent taste of blood. Open my eyes, Manny is on the floor and
Lucifer is walking in circles over his carcass.

[Lucifer] He's dead.

He was careless.

[Lucifer] You are stirring things up. More than what I anticipated.

I was not aware you had plans? Should we go back and run through that
scene again?

[Lucifer] Cimeries, do not TEMPT ME!

Got a light?

[Lucifer] Rhetoric was never your strong point.

Not intentional, honest. I keep forgetting your other names. Your
offer still stands, I assume.

[Lucifer] No, circumstances have changed.

So why am I not dead?

[Lucifer] Never said you were alive.

You're here, and I am not in Hell. So what is it that you want from
me?

[Lucifer] You are in a predicament, you already used Dante's nail on
Manny. Nice move by the way. Manny was so much into himself, he did
not notice your sleeping the nail along with the cigarette in your
mouth. However, you are still bound with Dante. If my sources are
correct, you even asked rewards.

Don't treat me like a bloody novice. Your head on a plate was the
extra bait I needed to re-enforce his belief in me.

[Lucifer] That's a really "political" statement Cimeries. And what is
it now?

Way I see it, you either destroy me here and now, or use me.

[Lucifer] I cannot destroy you, Cimeries.

Oh, your index finger got a cramp, or something?

[Lucifer] Seth will take you to The Byblos.

What am I, your understudy?

[Lucifer] One needs to know his enemy as good as he knows himself.

Who is my enemy?

[Lucifer] Heaven ... and Hell. Ready for a revolution?

Decisions

Back on the train again. Back to the mirror city. The next stop's
platform is packed. Rush hour. I get up and grab hold of the railing
over my head. The smell of overworked, half drunk, sweaty filth gives
me a headache. The stench is pungent. I am getting dizzy.

[Lix] Can't stand the smell? But this is your kind Cimi.

Twelve already?

[Lix] One way or another. This is professional Cimeries. Not here. I
think you'll like the place. The Egyptian Avenue. Now.
Ah, back to the magnificent seven.

[Lix] I had to convince Dante. Thought a bit of the dramatic would get
you in a more reasonable mood. Seeing old friends, in old hangouts,
that should stare some emotions. You are human after all.


Must have fainted. I am sitting on one of the chairs with a teenage
face as close to my nose as a cold virus.

[girl] Sir, sir are you alright?

Yes, I'm fine. I must have dozed off. Sorry.

[girl] Dozed off! You fell faster than a tonne of bricks.

I'm a bit short on vitamin C then. I'm fine.

[girl] This is my stop. Take good care of yourself. Bye.

Bye
----------------------------------------------------------------------

I pass though the cemetery gates. The orange and purple lines in the
sky are a fitting background.

[Guard] Closing in half an hour sir. Better make it quick.

Do not have the nerve to respond. I play the typical saddened
relative. Keep my eyes to the ground and agreeably shake my head.
There's simply too many memories. I stop and try to breath. Keep the
rhythm steady. Bastard, why here.

						source

The first small tunnel comes up. I can see the shadow casted on the
floor. Deep breath and look up. Graves, Celtic crosses and angel like
statues around. The old marble along with the green and black lines
that swirl around it make me feel uncomfortable. Sterile yet dirty at
the same time. The small hill in front of me is covered with dark green
grass. The little tunnel in its middle is short and dark. On the other
side the Circle of Lebanon.

Pitch dark. No breathing. There's the light. It's a small tunnel and I
almost died. Immediately I realize, if this bring me close to being dead, then
the day will end young with me dead anyway. Somehow that puts me at
ease. The Cedar of Lebanon sits in the middle of the circle. A circle
filled with doors each of which holds some of the most known and
aristocratic families. Dead. Food for the snakes, worms and foxes that
have made this place into their habitat. The cedar at the top. A
symbol for peace, immortality and tolerance. Irony? Or is it me.
HahaHAHAHAHAHAHA.

[Lix] So, I was wrong. You are a heartless bastard even as a human.

Ah, the messenger. Should I piss my pants now or wait for the encore?
[Lix] Cimi, we have missed you.

I try to get my pack of cigarettes from the inside pocket of my
raincoat when the flattering of wings, so loud I thought my eardrums
will explode, stops me.

[Manchester] This are my grounds.

I see we have a host.

I turn around to get a better look.

I do not mean any harm Nosferatu. Just reaching for a cancer stick.
The big bad bat sniffs me like I'm breakfast.

[Manchester] Keep in mind Cimeries. This is but a meeting, not a war
ground.

I am not the warrior you might assume that I am. This is just a meeting.

[Manchester] Lix. Your services are no longer required here. Make your
way out and keep your hands to yourself. I am in a foul mood and
dinner tonight was not satisfying.

[Lix] Well understood your grace.

[Manchester] Cimeries. I'll walk with you.

Much obliged, but I do not know exactly where we are going!
[Manchester] Patience.

We start walking. Silence. I can even hear the noise made by the fire
eating away the cigarette paper. Manchester walks next to me. He is no
longer a bat, but a human.

[Manchester] It's been sometime since we crossed paths.

Yes. I never had anything against you, Manchester, I just did not like your kind, that's all.

[Manchester] I know. Still one has to respect a worthy adversary, and,
call me Manny.

As you wish. I have a question, why the tour?

[Manchester] Necessary. We need a bit more time. Waking the dead is
not as fast as it might appears.

Not enough alarms clocks going around?
[Manchester] Humour of that caliber, diminishes my respect for you.

Been walking around with this suit for too long, you get to behave like it. But, I am preaching to the quire.

[Manchester] That I accept.

We stop. It's now pitch dark. We are in front of a grave but I cannot
tell which one.

Are we to part company here, or joined by someone.
[Manchester] The latter. For what is about to transpire, we will need
someone as witness. Someone that we can trust. Someone that can see
through the, pardon the expression, politics.

The spark of the lighter followed by the little light from the flame gives enough light to read
the first name written on the grave.

Funny. Real funny, Karl is the witness. This should be interesting.
[Manchester] Typically I do not play host, Cimeries. But this. This I
could not refuse.

It must be hard to refuse, after all you have been favoured by some of the parties involved in this meeting.

[Manchester] DO NOT PLAY WITH MY TEMPER HUMAN.

Easy on the phlegm there batman.

[Manchester] I WILL BE FEEDING ON YOUR FLESH

[Karl] That is not allowed. You are a host, not the owner. You are
providing a service and that service rules above all. Stand down.

Manchester stands down. I can feel his rage. Makes my heartbeat louder, faster.

[Karl] Cimeries, as a guest you should be careful. There are rules and
I will enforce them, but that does not mean that I cannot interpret
those rules as they fit me. No more outbursts gentlemen. We have
business to attend to.

We walk towards the Egyptian Avenue. As soon as we reach the entrance
Manchester whispers something to Karl. Karl agrees. Manchester says
his goodbyes and flies away.

It's only fitting that the host is a well known cover artist.
[Karl] It takes a cover artist to act as buffer between a traitor and
a born looser.

One man's traitor is another man's unspoken hero.

[Karl] Do not flatter yourself Cimeries. You first, I'll follow. Keep
your hands out of your pockets and keep to the path.

It's along corridor. Feels like I am in a boarding school and I am
heading to the headmaster's office for a beating.

[Dante] Cimeries, what is your answer.

Yes, but under a new condition.

[Dante] This is not a negotiating table.

Lucifer's been knocking at my door. Looks like we have a clash of interests.

[Dante] Really.

I thought this was a meeting without any bullshit ...oh sorry, politics.

[Karl] Language ...

[Dante] Name your price Cimeries.

I'll kill the kid. That task has become more challenging since our last meeting. So, I need my old armour back and weapons.

[Dante] Not that easy. Demons can only master that equipment.

I am sure you have already thought of a solution for that.
[Dante] and ...

Once the kid is dead, I want what you owe me.

[Dante] You've gone completely daft. You can never return to what once
was. You know that.

That is not what I had in mind. You owe me Lucifer, Dante.

I can hear Karl moving his feet. Dante must be equally surprised.
Dante walks in a circle, thinking. Or at least that is what he wants
me to assume.

[Dante] That, is not what I expected. Somehow I do not think this is
revenge. Nor unfinished business. You are not that stupid to believe
that killing Lucifer will get you anything more than just a line in
the history books. What do you really want Cimeries?

I told you. I need an answer, now.

[Karl] Dante, you must provide an answer. You also hold the right to
withdraw your proposal. In that case Cimeries cannot ...

Save your breath Karl. We know.

[Dante] I want the last feather from his wings. The last hair from his
head and his light. These shall also serve as proof of his death. In
case you fail Cimeries?

In case I fail Dante, you will have other things to worry about. It is the "get away free card" that I am giving you that you should consider seriously.

[Dante] This is our agreement. Karl seal it.

Sealing of agreements between demons was easy. You share blood. Sealing
an agreement between a human and a demon requires flesh and a nail.
The demon's nail cuts the human's flesh.

[Dante] You can pick the area.

Side

I keep the nail.

[Karl] It has been agreed. Cimeries, you must leave now. Dante you
must pay the toll to the host.

[Dante] Payed. You can collect your armour and weapons now if you
wish. Karl knows where they are.

Will do. Dante, till next time.
[Dante] Till then.

Karl grabs my arm and pulls me out of the avenue. I cannot look away.
My eyes are pinned to the place where Dante was standing.

[Karl] Cimeries, it's over. Follow me.

We walk back to the Circle of Lebanon.
[Karl] Sit down here. Rest for 5 minutes. Then we go see Douglas.

Douglas. Hahahah, this place still maintains a sense of humour.
[Karl] For those of us still here, time is all we have. Humour is an
unavoidable result. Regardless of how good or bad it might be.

Another cigarette gives my body enough time to recuperate.
Let's go.

[Karl] Douglas, Douglas.

[Douglas] Hello. Karl nice to see you again. Cimeries pleased to meet
you.

[Karl] How are the dolphins.

[Douglas] Good, they send their regards.

Can we get on with it ...

[Douglas] Certainly. The tombstone here, on the left side, has this
mark. Below this line you can use the nail you just got and write the
number to open up the grave. Everything is in there. You can verify
that now if you want.

The number Douglas....oh wait, 42?

[Douglas] Always nice to meet a fan. No. 29

Sure. No need to check it now. Karl which way out.
[Douglas] In a hurry, oh come on, stay a while. You might like it!

[Karl] Over that wall. That leads into the park. From there it should
be easy.

Do not get me wrong, you are both good company and all, but I've got a dinner appointment.

[Karl] Goodbye Cimeries.

[Douglas] All the best and good luck.

Luck has nothing to do with it.
[Douglas] I meant the dinner.

Oh, thanks.