"You poor thing," Rudolph Yerbler dryly commented, in a pale imitation of his master, as he watched the middle age man attempting to fend off an African lion with the magic of an Elder he no longer possessed. "All that magical knowledge of your so utterly wasted?in Hell. The funny thing is you could not have taken the lion down even with all of your magic intact, he is but a form of illusion crafted by the demon Lord Valefar for your benefit. So maybe you would be ready to talk now, eh Gideon?"
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The?yellow haired demon?banished the illusion with a wave of his hand and the curly haired man slowly relaxed, recognizing his occasional patron?and greeting him with a smile. He was quite intelligent truly when allowed to use his intellect but then being an Elder of the White Lighters?classified him as a sorcerer and in this Circle of Hell?it meant never ending hallucinatory visions that threatened to break the strongest mind control. Gideon would have ended up similarly to his colleagues and adversaries alike,?but Rudolph knew how to nurture helpful minds with an occasional intrusion into their torment and the former Elder certainly proved his?value on several occasions.
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"Do you know how things are outside, the girls, Leo, has Wyatt grown..." Rudolph mournfully shook his head at Gideon's hopefully optimistic questions. "Trust me, my friend, nobody among the big guns truly cares about this silly New Age trio or their progeny. We have had in this Sorcerers Circle several Triads, Sources of Evil broken, not to mention that we made both Tempus, Balthazor and even Zankou?cry like?abandoned little babes. You must get it into your head that all the major players you have known as a conniving little Elder don't pose any threats, and are no concern of yours. The faster you get over your silly notions, the faster you could move on through the higher Circles and be more useful to me. Speaking of which, it is time for you to answer my questions,"?Yerbler spoke soothingly and?saw Gideon losing?the nervous edge that came from a virtual eternity of?fighting against illusions.
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Looking almost wistfully at this dimension of Hell he found most comforting because of his long time?self identification as a warlock. Rudolph cast a protective circle and began voicing all the information he possessed. He did not know how to connect it, what questions to ask, but talking to an intelligent trustworthy man?he almost felt relieved, even without gaining any extra insight. The strange tune he remembered Crowley humming even started playing back in his head, especially that part about centuries. Slowly, so very slowly, the Mark of Sorrow began retreating for his forehead and Rudolph allowed himself a small smile as an idea began to bloom in his mind.
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He would draw the angel and the demonness into the likeness of Paris and Helen, with love altogether present, being supernaturally strong, and yet just as evidently disastrous for any involved including their very selves. If he did it right, he could still imprison the two, without even resorting to the ominous powers of treachery that we conspicuously?pouring down from the Ninth Circle. "I am?afraid their relationship, while witnessed, is not widely understood," Gideon sadly admitted, understanding that his ignorance would?put an end to the interlude and let his torment return, that was the condition of his temporary freedom after all.
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"So truly,?Zankou crying out loud,"?the former Elder decided to end the conversation with a graceful?joke. "Yes, begging for the first Oracle that was his nanny?to come and comfort him. You should have seen the proud demon reduced to so much whining," Rudolph returned the favor of an amusing conclusion and then, with a wave of his hand let the African lion illusion return.
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"If you ask the animal for a good familiar, that could help," the?yellow haired demon advised on an impulse and was rewarded with an appreciative smile. "Thank you, Master," Gideon formally bowed and proceeded with the required ritual. Rudolph was not sure why he consented to let him?progress unlawfully, but?then?nothing was more appropriate than breaking the rules in Hell. And besides, he had high hopes for?an agent who was both crafty and obedient. Based on Crowley's steady complaints,?such traits were never easy to come by in the most promising of demons, and Rudolph?saw no reason to ?doubt a single word his overlord uttered in front of him.????
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His next Circle of Hell, Lust?was going to be less pleasing than the one for Sorcerers but?it would be more profitable for his drawing than any other, and a demon had to do what a demon had to do. Envisioning a tunnel leading upwards, Rudolph vanished out of sight and continued on his journey. ?
Kat