The Light In The Garden

The Light in the Garden




  As I sped north on Highway 83 I took in the ordinary scenery that was Kansas. Lots of flatlands as far as the eye could see with a few rolling hills and not much else. I shot past a road sign that read GARDEN CITY 18 MILES.  Nice, I kind of have a thing for gardens. It was in a garden where I met the first woman.  I was driving a spanking new, snow-white Chrysler 300. The windows tinted so dark that you would swear midnight had fallen from the sky and stuck to the glass. I really don't know why I decided to drive when I could have arrived by so many other means. I could have entered the city from every direction at once if I wanted. I could have ran, flew, crawled, or even swam. But here I sit , just needing to feel the part I guess.

  I know the exact speed I'm going without ever looking at the meter. Exactly 180 miles per hour... pretty fucking slow like everything else on this planet. But I'm in no hurry, patience is after all a virtue.  A state trooper is parked just around the next turn and I shoot past him.  No lights or sirens, but then I knew there wouldn't be. In his lap a teenage hitchhiker is hard at work trying to convince him not to take her to jail. I smile at the indecency of it all. Pharzuph and his people are hard at work corrupting the good people in this small town. Good.

The only thing I need now is to wait for this Chris fellow, he holds the key to me running the entire world.

  Chris Downer lay on his back staring at the large crack in the ceiling surrounded by a dark water stain. His heart was racing and sweat dripped from his forehead. He hated this part. It was always worse when the high was gone and so were the drugs and money. All he could do now was wait. He listened for the sound of his mother who he knew still had to be home. He hadn't heard the irritating squeak of the fan belt on her old, beat up Pontiac so she had to be around somewhere. Hopefully she would be leaving soon. Pretending to be asleep when he was tweaking out of his mind was not easy, not in the least.  He sat up at the sound of the water rushing through pipes.
"Thank you" he quietly said to himself. This was a good sign.

His mother insisted on catering to her flowers before heading off to work at the steakhouse. It was a habit of hers.  Her roses were her prized possessions. One day he was going to pour gasoline all over them and watch them die little by little. He smiled at the thought. Flowers in a run down trailer park, totally retarded. The whisper of flowing water stopped and he waited for the sound he was desperate to hear.  It came quickly. The car's engine roared to life followed by the high pitched screeching of the fan belt. "About freaking time." he muttered.

    She never bothered to tell him when she was leaving. In fact, since he had gotten out of jail she had hardly spoken to him at all. At the sound of tires against the dirt driveway he leaped out of bed.  A quick peek out of his tiny bedroom  window and he was sure he was alone.  He moved quickly down the short hallway to his mother's bedroom. The door was locked as usual so he removed his small pocket knife and inserted the blade between the door and the jam popping it open.

  Going straight to the small closet he pushed past the musty clothes and removed a small lock box. He had discovered the box the night before but never got the chance to look inside. His mother had shown up early from the nightshift and he had to make a quick dash back to the closet he called a bedroom.  He carefully inserted the small blade of his pocketknife into the keyhole and gave a slow, delicate turn. The lid popped open. "Please, please let there be at least fifty." he whispered. He raised the lid and almost dropped the box.

    Fumbling, he reached his hand into the box grabbing hold of what he saw inside, wanted to be sure it was real.  He held the object up toward the dim light shining through the dirty window. It was a key but the strangest key he had ever seen. It was about 4 inches long with two sharp prongs protruding from the end that would be inserted into a keyhole.  The handle was flat and solid. One side was ornately carved with an angel bearing a candle the other side was identical except the candle was absent.  Along the shaft of the key were strange markings. Letters of a language he didn't  recognize. The part that caused his heart to practically jump from his chest was that the key seemed to made entirely of gold. Yes it was gold, he figured feeling the weight of his treasure. Being an addict for years had taught him one thing if nothing else and that was the value of merchandise.  Ecstatic with his luck he decided to place the now empty box back where he had found it. He went to close the lid but at the bottom of the box was a small piece of paper. He took it out and read it.

Dear Evelyn keep this away from everyone and most of all never let it fall into the wrong hands and never touch it.
- Darren-

  A note from his father and a strange one at that. Why would he never want mom to touch it? And if Mom knew about this why did she never try and sell it? Lord knows she could use the money. The longer he held the key and looked at its beauty the more he was glad his mother didn't sell it. It was meant for him to find. His father must have meant for him to have it, but his mother must have wanted it for herself. The selfish bitch. The more he thought about it the more it made sense. He pushed the questions from his mind and decided the best way to make the most of his little find. He replaced the box  in its original hiding place then closed and locked the bedroom door.  He decided the take the key to the local pawn shop where he was sure he could get enough cash to score a good supply of Meth and maybe even have enough money for a cheap room for the next couple of days.  He would deal with his mother if and when the time came.  He quickly changed into a pair of old blue jean shorts and t-shirt and headed out the door. This was going to be a great day.

  I sat on the ledge just below the window watching the skinny kid  in the shorts and dirty t-shirt pedal his beat up mountain bike as if his life depended on it.  It did... only he didn't know it.  This was a critical time, everything had to be done right. It should be easy but these things seldom are. This kid was a drug user and full of anger, resentment, hate, all the good qualities I love about people. But after all this time I wasn’t going to take any chances so I enlisted the aid of a very old acquaintance.  Belphagor can be very persuasive when it comes to dealing with people. I too can be very persuasive but He/she is  almost irresistible, especially to humans.  He/she had just finished stuffing the crumpled heap of the shop owner under the counter when the kid pushed his way past the old glass door.  I twinge of energy shot through as he passed. I could feel the key's presence.

"Hello. How can I help you? asked Belphagor, in low sexy voice.

"Uhhh, I'm looking for old Lonnie. I need to speak with him about a buy." replied Chris looking around confused.

"Lonnie's out right now. But is there something I can help you with?"

  Her smile was incredible. Chris looked the woman up and down. She was attractive but not in the classic sense, definitely not a dog in the least.  She had the most perfect teeth he had ever seen. And her eyes were as bright and clear as diamonds.  Her hair was light brown and her skin a light chocolate, smooth and exotic.  Her age seemed impossible to guess for at times when he looked at her she would seem as young as 18 but behind her eyes seemed a certain wisdom or intelligence that only comes with someone who has lived a full life.  As much as he wanted to tell her he preferred to speak to Old Lonnie he couldn't bring himself to tell her so. 

"Okay, I guess I could talk to you. But I expect to get the same kind of deal Lonnie would give me.  We go way back me and him." he said, glancing around the room.

"When did you say he would be back again?"  he asked.

"Not for quite a while." she replied with a wry smile.

Was she coming on to him? He wasn't really sure. He had never had very many women come on to him, not unless he had plenty of Ice or Crack then they came by the droves.  But they were all freaks.  All out to use him for what they could get. Not at all like this women behind the counter.

"So what is it you're trying to sell?" she asked.

He glanced toward the door as if expecting someone to come bursting in and steal away his treasure. Satisfied he started to turn back toward the woman behind the counter but his eyes met a pair of yellow eyes staring back at him through the large glass window near the door. He stared back at the small eyes that  seemed to see through him. He felt the hairs on his neck rise. A quick shiver ran through his body.  He jumped slightly at the touch of something warm against his skin.

"Are you all right?" asked Belphagor. "Don't let that old bird in the window get to you. He's always around." He jumped a the touch of something warm against his skin.
He looked down. The sight of her dark skin pressed against his caused an instant reaction. His face flushed as he felt himself go erect. He quickly pulled away.

"Don't be embarrassed. Its a natural reaction."

"Excuse me?" He stammered

"You know, getting excited when you're turned on by someone or.... something. Life is  full of excitement and turn on's.  Eating, having sex, getting high."

He looked at her stunned. "You get high?"

"I’ve nurtured every pleasure there is on this earth. I believe people should indulge every sensation they have. Why else would we have them? But, we can talk about that more after you show what you've brought."

Never taking his eye's from her he quickly reached into his pocket and pulled out the key.  The shadows in the room must have been playing tricks on his eyes. For a split second it seemed her eyes lost all color, turning solid white.  Blinking he looked again. Her eyes were there original gorgeous color. He was about to speak when the bird in the window suddenly went wild thrashing its wings, and smashing its beak against the glass.  It was over in an instant as the bird flew away faster than he ever thought possible. He looked to the woman behind the counter but her eyes were fixed on the key.

"Well this is it. I'm sure its made of gold." he said.

"It's gold all right. Where did you day you found it?"

"I didn't." The room seemed to grow cold as she fixed him with a hard stare. He never intented to tell anyone where he had gottenthe key from, but he found himself talking in spite of the fact."I found it at my mothers house. My father left it for me before he died." he managed.

"I'm sure he did." her smile had retuned. " About this key of yours. First of all its very, very old. Now I don't know if you believe in this sort of thing but according to myth whomever you pass this key onto must give you whatever is in their power to give you."

"Yeah right. So if Bill Gates wanted it he would give me everything he owns."

"If he wanted it, yes."

He knew it was impossible but in her eyes he saw the truth and he believed every word she said."What would you give me? he asked.

He/she stared him straight in the eyes and smiled.

The room seemed to jump from chilly to blood searing hot. Sweat began to trickle down his forehead. He could feel the dampness growing beneath his arms.

"I would give you whatever you wanted. Me.... for instance"

His mouth went dry. He started to speak but she/he interrupted him.

"Hold on I'm not finished. I could also get you some the best crystal -meth you ever had. "

He looked around nervously expecting the cops to bust through the doors. He leaned close to her catching the faint odor of her perfume. The smell was intoxicating, sweet, and musky at the same time.
"How much could you get?" he whispered.

"How much do you want?"

"For the both of us....half a pound."  His heart started to beat faster. The room grew hotter.
"Done" she said. "Now give me the key"

He started to hand over the key but quickly jerked it away. Her eyes narrowed.
"I thought we had a deal" she said through clenched teeth.

"I've been burned before. I'll give you the key when you give me what I want."

"All right." She walked around the counter stopping in front of him. Suddenly she was in his arms. Kissing him passionately. As if he were an old love. But he felt no love in her. It was cold and emotionless. Her hand thrust into his shorts and she was caressing him. He felt himself grow harder. Breathing became a chore as she/he worked her magic on him.

"Wait" he barely managed. "What about the meth?"

"Don't you want me first?"  she/he gasped  between heavy breaths.

He wrestled himself away from her. The room turned cold again.  Her eyes turned even colder.
"You fucking pathetic little drug addict" she/he snarled. " I told you I would get you your fucking drugs."

"Well its just that you didn't say when." his voice trembled.

She/he stepped closer to him, her hatred starting to show. She/he was starting to lose her earthly form. I could see it. Thats when I knew I had to intervene. Belphagor  hated rejection, or being put second after any other desire. What I could never get her/him to understand was that people had many things they worshipped before sex and lust. Lust was just one of the tools that I used and it doesn't work for everybody. I made my entrance.

"I have your drugs. Lots of them."  their heads whipped in my direction at the same time. Shock was on both their faces but for two very different reasons.

"I had him." Belphagor snarled.

Its human body fell away. The boy now terrified made a dash for the door. With a slight nod a secured the door. He pulled desperately at the handle but my will kept the door securely in place. He could have driven a tank into it and it wouldn't have budged.

I turned my attention back to Belphagor. Looking into its yellow eyes I could smell the faint hint of sulfur that came from its burnt wings. In Heaven She/He was quite beautiful but since the Falling she/he had lost quite a lot. "You were losing him. I gave you a chance and you failed." I told her/him.

I could see the hatred in its eyes. But I knew she/he wouldn’t try anything. All of my fellow fallen are the same, but none are as powerful as I am.  I tuned my attention back to the boy but not before I dealt with Belphagor for good. Its shrill screams echoed through the room, straight down to hell, and up into the heavens.  I used a very old curse to vanquish him/her, one I haven't used in a very,very long time. Now I can deal with this little addict.

"Look what I have for you" I said opening the small briefcase I carried. he kept his eyes tightly closed.

"If you want the key you can have it just don't hurt me." he whimpered pathetically.

"I wish it were that easy.  If I could have it just for the asking or by inflicting pain I would have taken it from your father, or his father before him. But it doesn't work that way.  In order for me to accept it you have to know who I am and what the key really is. and what I intend to do with it. If you still desire to give me the key I can give you whatever is in my power to give you, and believe me that is quite a lot."

"Is that why you sent that thing to try and get it from me? Because it was cheaper for you?" 

"In a sense...yes. Belphagor only wanted to be beautiful again.That cost me very little in the cosmic sense. But the greed and desires of people can cost a lot even for me. Now why don't you open those dull cow eyes of yours and see what I have. "

I watched his eyes slowly open then go extremely wide at what he saw.  I walked closer to him the case held open in front of me. The lust in his eyes was a wildfire out of control. His mouth watered like a starving tiger tempted by scent of fresh meat. I had him. The key was mine.

"Its some of the purest, finest, meth amphetamine you could ever taste. And the case will never run empty. Think of it boy, a lifetime supply of all the meth you'll ever need or want. You could sell some and still have more than enough for you and your friends. You get to call the shots now. People will come to you begging for a change."
He reached his hand out to touch the contents of the case. I slammed it shut.  Startled, he jerked his hand back.
"Give me the key and you can have the case."  I whispered.

He gave me a strange look then reached into his pocket. He stretched the key out to me. Then did something I totally did not expect.  He pulled it away.

“What is the key for?”  “What will you do with it after I give it to you?”

I Looked at him and said, “It’s the key to Pandora’s box. And once I open the box I’m going to destroy Hope.

”Hope is the only thing I have left.” he said looking to the key then to me again.

"What do you need hope for when you have all the drugs you'll ever need?"

"I know who you are." he said.

"Oh?"

"You're the devil aren't you?"

I smiled my best smile despite the fact that I wanted to burn this monkey alive over and over again."Devil is such a dirty word. My Given name is Light bearer. "

"You mean Lucifer."

"You surprise me boy. I didn't think a junkie like you would know such things."

"My father told me when I was little.  He also told me that you were a liar and could never be trusted. So how do I know that after you give me the case  I won't drop dead or something."

"Because I promise nothing bad will happen to you."

"I've been a addict for a long time now. You could say a lot of people I've dealt with were devils.  Most of them lied and took advantage of me so I really can't just take your word for it."

I lost it. Picked up the little monkey and hurled him across the room. He screamed a delightful scream as his head struck the wooden counter with a crisp thud.  I walked over picking him up by his scrawny throat.

"If you don't give me that key I'll make you wish you were never born."

" I already wish I was never born." he managed to between sobs.

This boy surprised me. Nothing surprises me anymore.  I never expected him to have this kind of resolve.  In the end it didn't matter. If I didn't get the key from him I would get it from the next person.  I stared him in the eyes. despite his words they were filled with fear.  His face was bruised and bloodied. I stuck my finger into his brain.  The tumor grew instantly. 

I watched the boy gurgle and spit as his brain was invaded. His eyes rolled back in his head.  I smiled. Then something smashed into me hot and burning.  I let out a deep growl as I was slammed to the floor. Part of my human form melted away.  I cursed in a language older than the earth itself. Struggling to me feet I saw my attacker.

"You?"  I hissed.

Old Lonnie stood behind the counter. Risen from the dead. Of course he was never dead in the first place.  A guardian angel and a powerful one at that. I summoned my fire, letting it blaze in the palm of my scaly hand.

"Even if you defeat me you will not get what you came for." said Lonnie

"I've already cursed the boy. He'll die in a year."

"Perhaps, but maybe that's his destiny."

I extinguished my fire.  A fight at this point was a waste.  I turned to exit but paused at the door. Lonnie was kneeling by the boy.

"I'll be watching him and I will get the key sooner or later. I have time and patience is a virtue."

I exploded into a million flies and left the Garden.