Jonathan Paulson
Dealing With Demons
Two men sat at a desk, the only piece of adornment in the tiny, sparsely furnished
room. But it was sufficient for their purpose. One flipped intently through a thick stack of
pages, the other absently tapped a quill on the desk, every so often glancing urgently at
the first.
After a few moments, the man looking through the papers smiled widely and
declared “Dr. Faastas, I believe we have a bargain. If you’ll just sign here, here, and
here…” Dr. Faastas stopped his tapping, dipped his quill in a reddish inkwell that sat at
his side, and scribbled the indicated signatures. “Marvelous,” the demon continued. “Our
bargain is sealed. For a single year, the powers of the Abyss shall be at your beck and call,
and then, you came with me back to my dominion.”
“Demon, we’ve discussed this a thousand times. I’ve no need to hear it again. I am
perfectly well aware of the nature of our bargain”, said Dr. Faastas irritably.
“Of course. Farewell. One year, human…” The demon’s mocking laughter faded as
he vanished, gone back to the abyssal dominion that was his home. Dr. Faastas quickly
stood up and strode out of the room. Time was short.
It had been 6 months since the bargain was struck, Dr. Faastas reflected. Half a year
left. Still, the work was going well. Lucifer was certainly holding up to his side of the
bargain. The abilities of the demons were unparalleled for what he wished to achieve.
Already, Lucifer’s demons had worked their magics on the vast range of the Sahara,
transforming the sandy wasteland into verdant fields. And the demons conjured up vast
stores of food, and even mighty machines that would conjure food from nothing. And just
today, the Allied Nations, consisting, at last, of all the countries on the globe, would meet
for the first time. Before his year was out, Earth would be a paradise. Thanks to him.
Suddenly, his secretary interrupted the train of thoughts: “Sir, His Excellency the
Pope wishes to speak with you”.
“Yes, of course. Please, send him in”. A man in flowing, regal white robes entered
the room.
“Dr. Faastas”, began the Pope, “I wish to congratulate you on your achievements.
Truly, I am amazed by what you have managed in so short a time. It is nothing other than
incredible. And yet…”, and here the Pope’s voice sobered, “yet I have heard a most
disturbing…rumor. Slander only, I’m sure, but even so it troubles me. Please, put at ease
an old man’s mind.”
“Tell me what troubles you, and if it is in my power, I shall aid ye.”
“There are rumors, Faastas, most disturbing rumors. I have heard…” the Pope
hesitated, and then rushed out his next words, “it has been said that what you have
achieved here has not been with the grace of God Almighty, but with the aid of the forces
of darkness. Tell me this tale is false, Faastas, I beg of thee”. At this, Faastas let out a
deep sigh. He had always disliked confrontations. But every decision had its price…
“I beg forgiveness, but I cannot ease thy mind,” said Faastas. For what you have
heard is truth”. The Pope drew back in alarm.
“What?! Blasphemer... You would defy God Himself—”
“Aye, priest, I would. What has your God done for the world? Not more than a year
ago, millions starved and died and suffered, and He lifted not one finger to aid them.
Through my intervention, and mine alone, the world suffering has been eased. If God in
Heaven has turned His back on the world, it is up to humanity, to me, to fix it. And if for
that task I need enlist the aid of the Abyss, so be it.”
“You know not what you do! You condemn not only yourself, but all of us that you
corrupt with your demon-spawned actions. Through you, Faastas, the enemies of God
gain hold upon the world. Still, there may yet be time; repent, Faastas, trust once more in
Divine wisdom, and turn away from the dark path you follow!”
“Repent?” chuckled Dr. Faastas. “Too late. I have signed a binding contract with
the Devil. He has held up his share of the bargain admirably, and in six months, I must do
the same. I will not renege on a bargain made in good faith.”
The Pope was astonished. “Surely a bargain made with evil is of no validity; why
hesitate to betray scheming, treacherous creatures who would do the same to you in an
instant, Faastas? You must trust in God’s plan, and his good intentions for the world; that
is the only path to salvation”.
“I should have known”, Faastas said, sadly and yet almost amused. “Unlike your
God, it seems, I have some sense of honor. I signed a deal with Lucifer, and I will abide
by its terms.”
“You are mad! At the very least, Faastas, stop what you do now. Do not give the
demons entry into this world. If you are determined to damn yourself, than pay the price
for your folly, but I entreat you, do not bring the entire world down with you. Do not give
the forces of evil a gateway into this world.”
“Give the demons a way into the world? The demons have no power over me! I am
their master! Out of darkness, I have created light; out of the powers of the Abyss,
paradise. And under my guidance, demons shall be banished from the world forever more.
For the price of my soul, your eminence, the Earth is redeemed. I consider that a fair
bargain.”
“I see that there is nothing further to be said here. I shall take my leave of you. May
Lord God have mercy on your soul, Dr. Faastas.” The Pope stormed out of the room.
Faastas sighed once more, and turned again to the clutter of papers on his desk. So much
to do, and so little time to do it.
Bong, bong, bong, bong, bong, bong, bong, bong, bong, bong, bong, bong. Faastas
glanced over as the clock struck midnight, and then he realized the date. It had been a
year since his original bargain with Lucifer, Lord of the Abyss. And just on cue, the
demon arrived. “It is time, my good doctor,” the demon said mockingly.
“Aye, and I shall depart willingly with ye. My task here on Earth is done. The
planet has been healed of the wounds of so many millennia; once more humanity lives in
Eden, except that now, Eden stretches over the globe. And your kind will never trouble
humanity again. There is no place in all the Earth for you now”. At this, the demon
laughed.
“You stand there, human, blinded by your pride and arrogance. As, of course, we
knew you would be. You think you have banished us, but in truth, you have assured our
eternal dominion over humanity. In perfection, humanity will stagnate, and meanwhile,
trust in God will fade. You see, even now my agents spread word of a new messiah, thine
own self. It is proving a simple matter to convince all that your achievements are worthy
of worship. The masses believe that you have saved the world, and they will follow you,
and turn away from God and Christ. They will follow you, their savior, straight into Hell.”
The demon laughed again, and Faastas felt the stirrings of doubt in his heart.
“Even now,” Lucifer continued, “converts flock to your temples in droves. And all
of them will share your fate. Oh, no, Faastas, you have not banished us; to me and mine
you have delivered the world, ripe for the taking. You did your work far too well, as I
knew you would. And now, I believe, it is time to pay your debt to me.” With a quick
slash, the demon cut deep into Faastas’s stomach. Faastas felt his life force quickly
draining away.
Desperately, Faastas cried “You are the Prince of Lies, demon! Your words are
false; you only try to torture me with your deceptions”. Lucifer smiled a terrible, grim
visage.
“Believe what you will, human.” Suddenly, Faastas’ mask of pain transformed into
a smile. He lay there dying, but as Faastas spoke once more, a gleam of triumph came
into his eyes:
“Or perhaps, demon, perhaps your words have more truth than you know.” And
with that parting phrase, Dr. Faastas perished, his soul taken down into the depths of Hell.