Demon King: Awakening

Chapter 16

Areana winced in pain, knowing as she looked around that she was dreaming. However, everything appeared all too real. She watched from the top of the castle's stone wall, witnessing a battle raging on below her. Demons versus humans, but men were being slaughtered by demons, while demons were being destroyed by the humans' weaponry. The kingdom was beginning to fall. She starred over it all as infant demons, females and the elderly fell into fires started by the flaming stone balls launched by the humans' catapults. Blood ran down the streets followed by blood-curdling screams echoing in her ears. She screamed out for it to all just stop, but no one could hear her.

Tears streamed down her cheeks, “Stop!” she cried as she ran along the wall. This wasn't right. Something was wrong. Glancing down along the wall, she found Kobel, but when she reached out to him her hands slipped through. He called for the demons to prepare for war. He raised his arm and when it fell, the demons stormed out at the humans from the ground and sky. “No! Don't do it!” She tried to grasp at his arm, but it was as though she were a ghost. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't touch him.

The battle was truly beginning and there was nothing she could do to stop it, humans against demons. There was no chance that humans would become the victors without mass casualties. Kobel didn't advance with his demons, instead, he stood on the wall at the edge of Slamenda's castle. He shouted his commands from this post. Demons attacked the humans in uniformity, thanks to their training. While she glanced at the humans, she saw the king heading the charge, but the prince was slipping to the back of the ranks. “Coward!” She screamed as she leaned slightly over the stone wall. He didn't want to die, but he appeared to want his own father to.

She cried again and again for everyone to stop, but the more she screamed, the more her abdomen hurt. It did no good. No one could hear her, no one could even see her. She could only watch. Finally, she knelt down on her knees, placing her elbow on the stone wall, and clasping her hands together. Bowing her head, touching her forehead to he knuckles, slowing her breathing, “God.” She whispered, tears slipping down her cheeks, stress pulling at her heart, “God, please stop this. This can't be what you want.” She whimpered, opening her eyes to look up. She had hoped to see the skies part and angels to come glid majestically down, they would stop the fighting and there would be justice, but nothing happened. Arrows flew overhead and demons crashed to the ground, boulders were thrown, and demons were crushed on impact. God didn't come. The sky didn't part. Not even a dove fluttered by as it had done for Noah. Nothing, nothing happened, nothing changed.

“Why?” She bellowed filled with rage. “You created humans and you have allowed for demons to exist on the same plane as us, why?” She cried, choking back her tears and fears. “Why? I don't understand!” She laughed humourlessly. This was absurd. Life really didn't make sense. God was real, he had to be. If he wasn't then what was the purpose of living a good life? What is the reason? If he is real, then where is he? How can he simply just watch? Watch people die, people get hurt, people hurt each other, people be just as evil as demons or more?

“You are supposed to be love! Where is the love? Why aren't you protecting your people? Stop this! You have the power to do so!” She screamed up into the sky, with only the whistle of the wind as her response. Of course, he's not listening, he's just watching from above on his throne. If he were listening, he would say or do something. This is ridiculous. She sighed exasperatedly. “Why can't you heal the sick, feed the poor, help us. We are starving for your presence down here, yet you remain silent! Ever silent.” She groaned as she turned from looking over the wall to sliding down the cold stones. Sitting, she pulled her knees up to her chest. Useless, this is all useless.

It felt as though hours has passed before she decided to look over the wall again. Peering around, the war was worsening, more blood was being shed. She looked over the wall, staring down at the humans and there she saw him. Her father, was among those on the front lines. She screamed out for him, but he couldn't hear her either. Tears rolled down her cheeks, and she sobbed. “Wh... why... ca...can't you... hear me?” She sobbed, gasping for air as she spoke.

“I'm giving you a chance.” The voice sounded as though it came from within her own mind.

Startled, she looked up, searching for the source, but she saw no one. “Who's there?”

“Who do you believe this to be?” The voice responded.

She sighed, agitated, she was tired, stressed, frightened, and just sad. “I don't know who you are.” She whispered, unsure of what or who she was talking to. Maybe this was it. Maybe she had finally gone crazy.

“You know who I am.” The voice boomed. She should have been afraid, however, instead, she felt safe.

“You can't be.” She whispered, fearing what she had just thought and said about him. She had been in pain. He must know that.

“I am, who I am.” The voice spoke with authority.

“God, why are you speaking with me? I'm just a lowly human. I am not important like a prophet.” She winced. His presence was strong and overwhelming.

There was a deafening silence which felt like it lasted forever, but it really had to have only been thirty seconds, “You are mine and you are precious to me.” His voice was filled with love, compassion, and strength.

“But I rarely pray to you. I go to church, but that's all. I'm a fake.” She muttered the last part to him. She felt like a fraud.

“You are still mine. I will always love you, even when you put me in the back of your mind. I don't forget you, even when you forget me.” his voice was soft and coaxing, like a warm summer's night breeze. “I put you in circumstances that you can handle. You are made stronger. The circumstances I place you in are like a rough current of the ocean and you are like a jagged rock. The waves will smooth you and strengthen you. These are all chances for you to come back to me,” he explained.

“Still, I am not a prophet, you only ever spoke to them long ago.” I was confused, why me? Why am I special. I am no one.

“I speak to all, but differently. Some see and hear me in nature, the small voice in their minds they call a conscience, some through dreams about the future, and others through a simple feeling.” He clarified.

“Will you always speak to me like this?” she pondered. This was so much easier than guessing what she was supposed to do.

“No, I will only do it as necessary, otherwise, rely on faith in me to know what to do.” he spoke kindly.

Her heartfelt tight against her chest as he spoke, conviction taking over, “Forgive me for forgetting? Will you help me?” She sobbed, feeling between joy and sadness.

“My child, all you have to do is ask. I may not help in the way that you desire, but I will help.” His voice filled with kindness and love, causing the air around her to lighten when it was once heavy from the tension of the war.

“Thank you.” She whispered, her heart filling with relief.

She brushed away her tears, calming herself before asking, “What should I do?”

“This dream is a chance for you to change this future.” There came a loud bang that drew her attention to see a boulder being launched into the sky and crashing into the castle walls.

“Wouldn't you only care about the humans? Wouldn't it be easier to simply destroy or move the demons into the other kingdom?” She asked, confused. Everything she had learned about God and these half-demons suggested that he wouldn't care for them and would prefer them gone.

There was a short pause, before he responded, “We have two kinds of demons on this earth. Here in the kingdom of Slamenda, these demons have a chance to come back to me. They simply must give up what they have here. This is a kingdom where those who have abandoned me have gone, they have become comfortable and who I really am, but there is still time for them to come back.”

“But Lord, many humans are like them. Why have they not become demons as well? I heard from a nurse here, that there is a kind of shrine or altar near the border of this kingdom where people must go to transform and become more powerful, or they can simply cross the boundary to become part demon. But the prince of Zendora is the reason that this war is happening. He lied, he had brought all these men here and he will run away. Simply to ensure his survival to become the next king. While the king of Slamenda worries about his demons and protects them. He is a good king, kind and caring, as well as, compassionate.” Her words tumbled out over each other as she raced to speak, fearing her time was limited to speak with God. Not many got this kind of chance.

“I know, my child, he is a great king. Yes, humans also act demonically, but it has been set a long time ago, that to change you must cross the line.” He began.

“Why? Why was the line created? Why did you allow it? I don't understand.” She cut him off.

There was no response for some time, “It was not my creation.” He spoke simply as though that were enough to answer her question.

She felt her heart tighten in fear. If God didn't create it, what did that mean? “Who then?” she asked, praying that it might be a simple fix. Maybe everyone here in Slamenda could be saved. Maybe they could have a second chance.

“I believe that you already know the answer,” he spoke, his voice beginning to sound distant.

She did, but she wanted to be wrong. “You can't mean... him.” She nearly whispered as though the simple mention of his name would invoke him.

“Child, why do you fear him? I am here and you are mine. He cannot harm you.” His voice was gentle and reassuring.

“I wish I could see you.” She mumbled.

“You know very well what would happen if I showed myself to you.” his voice still becoming distant with every answer he gave her.

“I know... the Bible is clear. I would die from your presence and that's one of the reasons you sent your Son to save us all those years ago.” She pouted.

She heard him chuckling at her childishness. They were both silent, her mind whirling as she thought about what she really wanted to know, “God, can't you save Kobel? I mean you've allowed for the prince of Zendora to remain human. Couldn't you bring him back, too?” She waited with bated breath, hoping that he would say he could, that it was no problem. That maybe, he had been planning to do it soon.

“No,” he responded simply.

“Why not?” She felt her heart tightening, making breathing so much harder. “You are God. You are all-powerful, nothing is impossible for you.” She could feel her anger rising.

“I can do all I want to do. I can change the sky to purple or the trees into animals. I could do anything, however, why would I? I have created all this earth and declared it all good. I have given you all free will. Would it not be undoing that freedom, if I were to force him back to humanity?” He questioned.

She understood what he said, but it didn't make it easier to hear. She wanted him to tell her, he was coming back. That they... that they... She shook the thoughts from her head, “Please! Just this once.” She begged, tears streaming down her cheeks, striking the stone wall as they fell from her cheeks.

“You know, it doesn't work like that.” He sighed, clearly wanting to help, but also wanting the decision to come back to be made by Kobel.

“Then what about the prince? Take him. If he leaves the kingdom alone, then this battle won't happen.” She pleaded. The prince was the problem. He was going to start a war and then run. He was a coward.

“No, he is running. He knows what he has done is wrong. He is greedy and power-hungry, that's why he is running. He knows, if he crosses the line into this kingdom, he will be changed.” He finished.

“That's not fair.” she sobbed. So many lives could be saved if just one man were to disappear.

“What you perceive as fair is different from what I have set as fair. My ways are not known or understood by man and never will be, not until the day you join me.” He spoke gently, but also authoritatively for her to understand there was no battering on the matter.

She sighed, exasperated by the vague answer. “Lord, please give the demons here a chance, they deserve a chance to come back to you. Some of them never crossed the line, they were born here. They never had a chance to know you. Draw them back to you.” She begged, knowing that his response would be the same as before, but she needed to at least try.

“You have a big heart. You look beyond the surface.” She could hear the smile in his voice. “I am giving them all a chance. I always give chances for those who have walked away to come back.”

“How?” She asked, confused because it did not feel as though they were getting a chance.

“You,” he said with a thunderous joyful laugh.

She tilted her head, more confused than before, “I don't understand.”

“You will, but now it is time to wake up.” He spoke gently.

She winced at the idea of waking up, “But it hurts so much.” She teared up as she spoke. “I don't know how much longer I can take the pain and idleness.”

“Even still, you need to wake up. You are stronger than you know.” She watched as the chaos around her faded into black. “I have made you strong,” he spoke these final words as darkness took over and his presence slipped away. He was gone, darkness replacing him.