The Wouldbe Usurper

Crowds gathered in the stands chatting excitedly but with a nervous tension palpable. “Do you think Resheph can really take the thrown?”

“Did you hear he attacked the nursery? How could anyone do that? The monster!”

A cloaked figure pushed her way to the railing of the coliseum, glaring at the entrance tunnel, the hatred pulsing from her concealed body.

That is when Alexis finally started to realize she was still in Fidelisa’s memories, and this was something else still dark as shadows seemed to creep from every corner of her vision. She **** herself to move towards the cloaked figure, peeking beneath the hood as she stood next to her. She gasped at the sight, it was Fidelisa, but not the person she knew. Her eyes were bloodshot, and swollen, hair unkempt strands hanging across the intense stare she hyper focused on the entrance tunnel. Her body shifted as she seemed to grasp something hidden beneath her cloak, and shifting slightly so Alexis could see a hilt grasped in a **** grip.

Alexis found herself trying to speak to the memory, “Aunty Lisa, what are you doing, please don’t I don’t want to loose you. Not, not like that monster did to poor Eos. How could he…” tears flowing down her cheeks as pleaded for her to respond.

Trumpets sounded and the massive doors at the end of the arena parted, a demon stepping out onto the dirt floor. Holding a spear in one hand and his clenched other fist high as a wave of boos descended upon him. Screams of “Child Killer” “Monster” and “Sacrilege” echoed from the stands, hatred evident from all those gathered.

The nine foot three inch muscular demon laughed, relishing their hatred and fear of him. Shouting loudly he declared as he marched forward into the heart of the arena, “Behold your true king, I am the Plague King, the destroyer of the unfaithful abhorrent monsters who create life apart from the creator. I am the Demon of Despair so bow down before your true king. That weak fool of a false king is broken, allowing sentimentally to be used to destroy him. Now watch as he falls to me, the one true king chosen by the creator. Cast out of the heavens to lead and punish those with his righteous cause.”

Fidelisa reached out with one hand to grasp the railing as she was about to climb it and jump to the arena floor. Alexis reached for her in a panic, but unable to touch anything within the memory. Luckily then a firm hand grasped the imp’s shoulder and a soft voice stated, “Not yet my lady, let this play out. Don’t throw your life away, Eos would not have wanted that.”

Fidelisa spun, hissing, “How dare you speak her name….” Then freezing mid rant as she met the red eyes of Aiwass. Stammering as she lowered her head, “Lord Aiwass, I mean no disrespect, forgive me sire?”

The man leaned in whispering in her ear, “There is nothing to forgive, my lady. I to ache for my dear siblings deaths, and want nothing more than to tear this monster apart. But I trust our king, he shall handle it and be victorious.”

Tears ran down the imps cheeks, “I, I know but, but it’s all my fault, if I had only been stronger, if I only had **** her to run away, then….”

Aiwass grabbed her and hugged her tightly, “I know, I know, we are all thinking of what we didn’t do, but it is too late for that now. We must live with what has been done and grow stronger from there, keeping those we lost forever in our memory.”

While this had been happening the laughing Resheph had made his way to the center of the arena, where he roared, “Bring forth the broken false king, bring forth the sacrifice to my reign as lord of all, the Spear of the Creator. I want to feast on his soul.”

With that the doors opened once more this time the demon king, Belphegor emerged. The twelve and a half foot giant was dressed only in black pants, leather boots and bracers and two leather straps connected to a silver ring across his chest. His crimson eyes glowed intensely as stared at the challenger.

The crowd feel silent, some worried why their king would enter unarmed, but others fearing what was about to come. As the doors closed behind him thunder echoed through the coliseum with each step Belphegor took towards his opponent, never uttering a word.

Resheph took up a stance ready to strike with his spear as soon as the king was within range. And like a serpent he sprung forward the tip whistling through the air as it was aimed for the king’s heart.

Belphegor just knocked it away with a back hand, and grabbing the braggart by the top his head to **** him to his knees. A mighty fist rained down across the side of the would be usurper's face, driving him to the ground.

Fear was evident in Resheph’s eyes, as he looked back up to the king, holding up a hand, he screamed, “I yield, and beg for mercy of the true king of the Abyss.”

Belphegor growled his voice echoing through the arena for the first time today, “and when our children begged for mercy did you give it to them?”

The demon laying across the ground flinched at that, turning from the king and attempting to crawl away.

Belphegor reached out though grabbing the twin horns proudly extending from the demon’s temples. Pulling outwards there was a loud crack and a scream from Resheph as the horns broke, tears running down his cheeks, as he continued to scramble on his hands and knees away. Belphegor moved to the side and kicked the fallen man in the ribs a crunch echoed through the crowd as Resheph flew across the dirt covered floor.

As Resheph made it back to his knees he found Belphegor already standing before him. Those eyes glaring into his very soul, he brought his hands up praying, “Mercy master, I beg for mercy, forgive this soul.”

Belphegor growled, striking down with an open hand that pierced the demon’s chest. When he pulled it back, a glowing orb could be seen pulsing within his fist. Holding it high he proclaimed, “Resheph is no more, his name shall never be spoken again, as he should be forgotten. All those who follow that being shall denounce him and his ways or join him in his fate.” Squeezing the soul in his fist, as it dissipated, destroyed for all of eternity.

Fidelisa fell against the railing, tears rolling down her cheeks, as she whispered, “Thank you, your highness.”

Alexis just was frozen as she witnessed what had occurred.

Aiwass placed his hand back on her shoulder, “Now Lady Fidelisa please grow stronger, and be someone Eos would be proud of.”

The memory slowly faded, and Alexis found herself back in the study that was Fidelisa’s mindscape.