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Post by vincentbelmont on Dec 9, 2010 18:11:35 GMT -5
The demon's words were hitting terribly close to home for Vincent.
Everything she said just felt like the truth. Her words seemed to answer all of the questions that the shaken priest had been struggling with for these past weeks and months. Really, though, who was he kidding? He'd had these doubts for most of his life, in reality...
Maybe the demon was right... Maybe Vincent had wasted his entire life on something that really didn't matter. On a God that really didn't care. It was a frightening thought, but one that he now couldn't shake. Maybe the demon is right...
"So, then," Vincent started, his voice sounding weak and afraid to his own ears. "What would you have of me?"
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Post by mephistopheles on Dec 10, 2010 16:01:20 GMT -5
The demon tilted her head a little as she continued to watch the impact of her words. She'd broken the faiths of many people in the past, another was hopefully just around the corner. Mephistopheles did not necessarily break the pure, so much as find insecurities that already endangered their souls and exploit them. The right nudges, and this priest would face damnation. Misery loved company, after all.
Lightning flashed, from the windows, and briefly the shadows of huge dogs could be seen next to the demon's own, though the owners of said shadows were nowhere to be seen.
"I want you, of course." The demon stated, the cheery demeanor replaced by a more serious one. "But it doesn't have to be horrible, you know... in a world like this, I can be a very effective friend. But first, I would like to know about your chat with that angel..."
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Post by vincentbelmont on Dec 11, 2010 21:35:08 GMT -5
Vincent shook his head.
"We... didn't talk about anything, really," he confessed, shrugging. "She was simply trying to help me out in a time of crisis, I guess. And I have to say," he went on, swallowing hard and actually raising his eyes to meet those of the demon, "that her methods were far more soothing than your own."
The priest gestured around at the illusion of his ruined church.
"I mean... You claim that you can be my friend, and you say that you want me in your service, yet this is what you show me? This is where you choose to have this conversations?" Vincent shook his head, amazed at the anger that was beginning to well up within him. "Leave," he said softly, his voice trembling with ill-concealed rage. "You have no place here, demon. Leave me in peace."
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Post by mephistopheles on Dec 13, 2010 8:03:41 GMT -5
Mephistopheles looked around at the ruined chuch, then back at the priest. "Well, I suppose I could have gone with the resort spa with a hot tub and all-you-can-eat buffet, but I find that tends to get me accused of trying too hard..." The demon mused. "This..." She said, gesturing to the church's ruins. "Is what happens if you don't get with the program. Your reward for all your hard work in the service of a God who ignores your plights."
At the priest's order to leave, the demon's gaze grew more serious, as she licked her lower lip as she felt it grow dry again. "Whatever you say, Padre. But let me show you something first..."
The church creaked and groaned as it began to split and crumble apart, and in a crevice below was a sight no nightmare could come close to; figures writhed in agony, horribly scarred and disfigured as flame and lightning swirled about within. Their screams were an indescribably horrible cacophany, the meer description of the place below was too horrific for words, and the feeling of suffering and despair was practically tangible.
"Does anyone *really* deserve so horrible a fate, let alone for all eternity?" The demon asked, standing beside him looking down. "And the best part? Sooner or later, those poor screaming souls become brand spanking new demons. All of them. There's your answer... the Lord will use you and smite you because of the roles he picked out for each of those people in his grand design were less then pretty."
Snapping her fingers, the crevice faded away. "So ask yourself... does God really want to save anyone, or is He just toying with you till you've outlived your usefulness and kicks you into the same sinkhole I clawed my way out of? Think about it..."
And on that, the dream came to an abrupt end...
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Post by vincentbelmont on Dec 15, 2010 20:51:05 GMT -5
Vincent jolted awake, gasping for breath.
The dream was still vividly real in his mind, and all he could think about for a long time was the vision of Hell that the demon had given him. What was worse, though, were the seeds of doubt that she had successfully planted in his heart, and in his faith. So much of what Meph had told him was true... So much of what she'd implied and even predicted.
Was she right, about everything?
Pulling his ragged blanket tighter about himself, the priest rested his forehead on the steering wheel, closing his eyes and praying silently and fervently.
Dear God, please grant me the strength I need to persevere. Please grant me the faith I need to endure. Please grant me the insight to know if what I was shown tonight is the truth, or just the lies of a bitter, twisted soul...
Dear God... please help me to do Your work in the best way that I can, no matter what that way is.
And, though the nightmares were still fresh in his mind, Vincent drifted off to an uncomfortable sleep.
((Finished.))
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