The Dark Is Nothing Without The Light

Two small hooded figures sit on a stone floor in near absolute darkness. The only light a single candle casting its glow across a strange tome one of them is flipping through. 

“You’re just going to get in trouble like last time,” the little one says.

“Then why did you come?” the bigger one asks.

“Because causing trouble is fun!” the little one exclaims smirking.

“You’re not wrong about that,” the bigger one says wearing the same mischievous smile. “But this time will be different I promise.” 

“What makes you so sure?”

“Because this spell is a special one,” the bigger one responds wiping a tear that has dripped down a scarred cheek from a damaged right eye. “Father showed it to me before you were born.”

“Is that where you got all these ingredients from too?” the little one asks holding up some vials hidden in the darkness just outside the candle’s light. A nod the only response. “I was right. You’re gonna get in biiiig trouble this time Abe,” he finishes giggling.

“Well do you want to live here forever?” Abe asks pausing his search through the tome to stare at his companion.

“No,” the little one says, “But it’s not like we have a choice.”

“There is a way out,” Abe says finally finding the right page. “Look.”

Reading it the little one looks up skeptically. “But we don’t have those,” he says pointing at the last line. 

“I think I’ve found one,” Abe says. “Or at least I think I’ve made one.”

“If you say so,” the little one shrugs. 

“Just help me find the wraith’s shadow huh?”  

After a couple moments of concentrated effort the little one says, “Found it!” He holds up a vial triumphantly of a substance blacker even than the darkness around them. 

“See you’re my secret weapon,” Abe says taking the small bottle and uncorking it. Pouring the contents into an iron chalice, some spills over the edge onto the floor and soaks into the carved stone like water into sand. He begins to incant in a language not heard on Earth for thousands of years. Golden threads shimmer into existence tracing themselves across the floor in front of the pair forming a beautiful ring inlaid with sigils throwing off more light. The floor around them becomes an island in the night inhabited by two.

“So far so good,” Abe says admiring the results. “I’ll need time to prepare the next layer.”

“How do you know it’s better somewhere else?” the little one asks with the curiosity only a child can conjure.

“Because a long time ago I met your mother,” Abe says pausing his organization of the vials. “She was kind and beautiful and caring and all the things that you don’t see around here.”

“I can’t even imagine any of that,” the little one says laughing.

“Neither could I until I saw it,” Abe confirms with a nod. “It’s because she wasn’t from here.”

“Where was she from?”

“A place very far way. So far away that you could run all night and day for a week and still not be any closer,” Abe says thoughtfully. “And she wasn’t like us. She had something else I had never seen before. A glow.”

“My mom could glow?”

“She could,” Abe says lost in the memory. Then noticing what he is doing starts digging through the vials again.

“Wait don’t stop there,” the little one says. “Tell me more about the glow?”

Looking up and laughing Abe says, “Well I would watch her for hours and hours trying to understand it. She would do strange things. Often just sitting there holding her stomach muttering things.”

“She sounds funny,” the little one snickers.

“Yes she certainly was but something odd would happen when she did this,” Abe continues. “She would grow brighter.”

“From hugging her stomach?” the little one asks face painted in confusion. 

“Yes, but not just from hugging her stomach I learned later. It was because she was hugging you,” Abe says wagging a finger.

“That doesn’t make sense!” the little one cries out. “You’re lying!”

“It’s the truth,” Abe says patiently. “But it gets even stranger. On the day you were born she held you in her arms. Rocking back and forth comforting you as you cried whispering in your ear the same secret messages she would say when holding her stomach. Spells.” 

“She was casting spells on me?”

“Yes, and the effect was undeniable,” Abe says sitting up straighter. “A small glow started to build itself inside of you. Frail in comparison to hers but clearly similar. Then as your mother took her last breath I watched hers fade to nothing. Shortly after yours followed the same fate.”

“Wait I can glow too?!” the little one says excitedly.

“Sort of,” Abe says squinting. “You can’t do it alone though.”

“Well what was it then?” 

“Love Beel,” Abe says.

“Ewwww gross!”

“Knowing she was going to die she loved you more than herself for that moment,” Abe says staring up. “And from then on I knew that I had to find it.”

“Why would you want that?” Beel asks making grossed out noises. 

“Because it’s the most powerful thing there is,” Abe says wistfully. “It can make the impossible possible.” Snapping back to what he’s doing he grabs the last vial he’s looking for. Pouring all of the ingredients into the chalice he intones the next verse. A second smaller golden ring filled with sigils appears inside the first adding to their shine. Above them the vague outline of a metallic chandelier reflects the new light like stars overhead in the night. 

“Coooool,” Beel says looking at the glowing designs earnestly. “So did you find it?”

“Hmmm?”

“That nasty old love stuff.”

“Oh yeah. I think I did but it took a lot of practice.”

“You had to practice?!”

“Well yeah,” Abe says as he starts organizing the next set of vials. “See your mother was from the same place as mine so I figured I could probably learn it. I just had to copy what I saw that day. First I practiced with bats up in the caves and other small critters luring them over with scarps of my food.”

“You wasted your food on bats?!”

“Yep,” Abe says and then laughing, “But I couldn’t get it right. I spent years frustrated.” 

“Cause you were trying to loooove bats,” Beel says teasing making kissing faces.

“Actually you’re right. That’s exactly what the problem was,” Abe says double checking the list in the tome. “Do you remember that time you set Father’s books on fire?”

“Yeah,” Beel says reminiscing. “That was a good fire.”

“It was,” Abe says chuckling. “After it was out though watching Father scream at you something happened. The memory of your mother hugging her stomach flashed through my mind. When Father was about to strike you I stepped in the way. He gladly accepted the invitation and as he beat me I saw it. It was only for a moment but when I looked over at you there it was. The glow.”

“So I can glow!” Beel responds looking at his arms and legs flexing them trying to make it happen. 

“Sure. You can glow,” Abe responds smiling in resignation. “But I knew I had to protect that. I couldn’t let Father or anyone else hurt you.”

“So that’s why you’re always butting in when I get in trouble!” Beel exclaims. 

“That’s exactly why,” Abe says. “It actually feels pretty good too plus I can feel it making me stronger.”

“You’re crazy Abe,” Beel says shaking his head. “Don’t worry though I’m getting stronger too you know. Remember those crypt spiders?” He mimics a stabbing motion. 

“I remember you getting stuck in their web,” Abe says smirking.

“Not that part!” he says pushing Abe. “Soon I’ll be stronger than Father anyway!”

“No Beel that’s a long way off.”

Taking the next set of vials he pours them into the chalice reciting more ancient lyrics. A third ring of sigils appears inside of the other two adding to their luminescence. Pillars become faintly visible. They stand ringed with reflective metal, further in the dark are bits of it looking like points of light in the night. The whole scene making the chandelier appear to be floating over a field of frozen fireflies.

“Besides Father thinks only of us as failed experiments,” Abe says gathering the last of the vials. “He’ll never show us the respect we deserve.”

“Why do you care about Father’s respect so much?”

“I don’t. I want to prove that I am more powerful than he is.”

“How are you going to do that?”

“By casting this spell,” Abe says indicating the beautiful designs on the floor. “Father failed when he tried it because he didn’t understand.”

“Seems like a lot of work when you could just train more,” Beel says showing the small but defined muscles of his arm. 

“Some fights can’t be won with brute strength,” Abe says. Then holding a finger to his head continues, “Some fights are puzzles that have to be solved.” He pours the last of the vials into the chalice.

Suddenly with a loud crash a new light appears in the gloom far behind the pair as a set of huge wooden doors are flung open. A towering robed silhouette stands in the archway.

“What are you boys doing down here?” The enormous figure asks in a voice like stones being crushed against one another.

“Uh oh,” Beel says stepping behind Abe.

“Escaping,” Abe says defiantly shielding his brother. “Like I promised you we always would.”

“Tsk tsk,” the silhouette chides slowly turning and closing one of the doors. “You are a very disobedient child.” Now closing the other door, the silhouette becomes a part of the darkness. “I’m going to have to take my time punishing you.”

“You won’t get the chance,” Abe says.

“Oh you’re trying to cast that spell.” The room trembles amid heavy foot falls resounding on stone. “Stirs up fond memories doesn’t it?”

Rubbing his scarred cheek Abe says with an acidic contempt, “Memories of your failure.” 

“You’re both still empty inside,” the walls around them say conversationally. “What makes you think your results will be any different?”

“Because I’ve made the last ingredient,” Abe says.

A deep bellowing laughter fills the space echoing throughout the chamber. “And where is it? I see nothing.”

“Because it requires something you’ve never had,” Abe says.

“And what is that exactly brat?” the very shadows ask smugly.

In little more than a whisper Abe says, “A heart.” Quickly turning and reciting the last line of the spell a final ring of sigils appears at the center casting their radiance on more of the chamber. The scene can only be described as grotesque. Tortured and maimed figures are chained to the walls in pools of blood and excrement. The pillars are ringed with bodies in various states of dismemberment and decay. Countless rats burrow into any shadow they can find. All of it looking like some kind of fiendish abstract art work.  

Looking down he says, “I’m sorry little brother. It’s time you heard your mother’s spell.” Tears pour down his face as he pushes Beel into the circle. “I love you.” 

Father and son watch as their kin takes on a beautiful hue and then begins to writhe and scream in agony. “ABEEEE!!! HELP ME!!!” he screams holding out his arms as he slowly peels apart into little pieces that float upward and turn to ash.

“BEEL!” Abe yells stepping towards the circle but not daring cross it’s perimeter.

Then he’s gone. The rings of sigils begin to rearrange themselves. Some shrinking, others growing before finally settling on their correct orientation. A beam of light shoots upward through the ceiling and beyond. It slowly opens becoming a beautiful golden doorway. Beyond the gate there are what look like fields of corn in the night.

“The human realm…” Footfalls stopping in awe. “You actually did it.”

“Yes Father,” Abe says sobbing uncontrollably, clutching his chest. “Now we can finally be free of you.”

“We?” The darkness asks heavy boots moving again.

“Yes, WE!” Abe screams. “There was no other way!”

“Then go ahead,” the shadows mock. “Enjoy you’re freedom.”

Trying to turn and walk Abe’s body won’t move. His feet stuck to the ground. “What have you done to me?!” he yells out.

“You did this to yourself,” the unseen room rumbles. “Did you not think there would be consequences for what you have done today?”

“What do you mean?” Abe asks, a shiver beginning to set in.

“You are broken now boy,” the darkness whispers heavy boots falling nearly in front of Abe. “All that time playing with your pets wasn’t a waste though.”

“You knew?” Abe asks peaking just passed the veil of light. 

“Of course,” the night breathes into Abe’s face. “This is my realm.”

“But why?” Abe asks, losing more control of his body with each passing second.

“Because only you could achieve this,” the gloom says. “Why do you think I bedded a second human woman when I failed with the first?”

“No,” Abe says.

“You somehow taught yourself to love down here.”

“Stop,” Abe says voice quivering.

“All the while knowing you would ruin yourself with it.”

“STOP!” Abe yells trembling uncontrollably and falling to his knees. “I hate you!”

“And look how powerful that hate has made you!” the voice booms. “You’ve done the impossible!”

“But there is nothing here for me now,” Abe says looking at his hands a violent trembling taking hold of his body. 

“There is nothing for you anywhere now,” the figure says striding past. “Given time you still may make a worthy heir. Take pride though for in the interim you are a true prince of the depths.”

“AAAAGGGGGHHHHHH!” Abe screams before falling and curling into a ball.

Halfway through the gateway the massive hooded figure pauses looking down at the wretched creature racked with sobs and says, “You’ve done well living up to your name child.” Turning, it steps through the gate. “Abaddon The Destroyer indeed.” 

The doorway closes returning the chamber to near perfect darkness save the lone candle. It’s weak glow flickering across the pages of an open book. Scribed at the very bottom of a brief list the last line reads The Soul of a Daemon.