Diabolic Frenzy

I can see the Hollywood sign in the hills above the city. My chase of the evil demon has led me down many streets of Las Angeles, and now I sense the end is near. Tonight under the Hunter’s Moon, our centuries-old war will conclude. The scent of fear mixed with her odor permeates the air all around me, adding a fresh layer of stench to the smells of this sleepless town.

I enter a boulevard, and again, no living being is present. If I were to look, I would find the word CROATOAN engraved. I do not bother to look for the word. I am determined to end this hunt tonight, so I hurry in the direction where her scent is the strongest. Trusting in the Morrigan and her blessings, I rush onto Mulholland Drive, heedless of my safety.

On this street, I caught sight of my quarry halfway up and the witch, turning around, saw me. Knowing she was trapped, she began chanting ancient words I’d not heard since my youth. Throwing her hands into the air, lightning pouring from her fingers, she shouted one word, “Crith,” as she brought her hands back down to her sides.

As I advanced toward her, the ground began to shake and the earth split open, separating us. Not wanting to lose her yet again, I leaped from the ledge of the chasm to an outcropping inside it. I kept jumping from outcropping to outcropping, rushing to get to her before she disappeared again. As I tore along, I reached into my pack and rummaged inside; I withdrew a small spell bag and my dagger carved with special runes. Mentally preparing myself for the battle, I invoked the name of my goddess.

The enchantress screams at me, “I am Lamashtu! My name is Lillith! I’m called Agrat Bat Mahlat! I’ve been known as Poludnitsa! Many titles have I had! Fear me, mere human! Bow down before me and offer unto me that which I deserve!”

“Never will I bow to your will, murderess! Now is the time that you shall pay for the evil you have done to my clan!” I proclaim back to the sorceress as I shorten the distance between us to mere feet.

Laughing laughter I was so familiar with from my youth, the demoness uttered, “You think you can stop me? You? A puny human? I have lived since the creation of time! I knew Adam and tempted Eve. I built Sodom and Gomorrah. I was the whale that ate Jonah, and I was the trials that broke Job. You cannot defeat me! I am the conqueror of man! Fear me!”

Then, the witch cast another bolt of lightning toward me. Stomping her feet, she caused the earth to shake again. The ground rolled, and I stumbled and almost lost my footing. Regaining balance, I advanced the last few feet toward the evil seductress dodging her demonic rage. While slicing my spell bag open with my dagger, I offered up one last prayer to the Morrigan for her blessing in the accuracy of my aim.

Rushing the demoness, I threw her off guard, knocking her backward three steps. Taking advantage of her surprise, I quickly threw punches at her head and body, never pausing to give her a moment of respite. I punched and sliced with the pent-up fury of two millennia. With each blow of my fist, I called out the names of my clan.

Athair

Màthair

Mathilda

Liam

Ian, my betrothed

The wee bairn who never received a name

I finish with the rest of my clansmen's names, calling out my cousins, aunts, and uncles. My wrath cannot be satiated.

The witch attempts to fight back, but I give her no quarter. My blows are landing with the speed of one blessed by the goddess. I feel the ground shaking harder under my feet. The demoness lunges away from me, and I rush after her. I stab out toward the sorceress with my blade and connect with her ribs, giving her a slice.

As the enchantress turns back to me to defend herself from my fury, I jab her repeatedly with my Athair’s knife, driving her to the ground. As her blood flows from her wounds, the ground shakes even harder, and I can feel a gaping maw opening up below us. Jumping away, I watch the witch’s body fall into a pit, and flames lick up into the sky from the chasm before the earth tremors and closes upon the evil demoness’ body.

As I watched my centuries-old nightmare finally come to an end, I could feel an electrical charge fill the air. With a shiver running up my spine, I turned in a circle looking for the source. Seeing a large black shape silhouetted in the night sky, I watched in awe as it landed several feet from me, and shifted its shape from that of a large crow to a beautiful woman dressed in assorted animal hides. Recognizing my goddess, I immediately fell to my knees, bowing before her.

The Morrigan stared intently at me before motioning for me to rise. Once I was standing before my diety in all her glory, she began to speak, “Your journey has been long, and your job has been taxing, my child. It is time for you to rest. Join your kinsman in Tír na nÓg. Your clan has been waiting for you.”

With her words, I felt my body grow buoyant and light erupted around me. As if I were a balloon full of helium, her words cut the string holding me to the earth. Now that my oath was completed, my body floating, the goddess delivered me to my long-awaited reward.

Prologue ->>>>>> As One Possessed

Part One ->>>>>> Demonic Enchantment

Part Two ->>>>>> Hellish Obsession

Part Three ->>>>> Fiendishly Consumed