Hammer of the Gods

Chapter 30

Summoning his own power, it melded with that of the shrine and dark mists surrounded the wounds before fading away, yet the legs would not heal.

The Lord of the Flies swore, as he cast his spear through two of his priests in his anger. They fell lifeless upon the ground. The other occultists quaked in fear.

Perhaps an immortal beast’s legs will circumvent Mimir’s curse? Satan thought.

“Go, and bring me one of the Minotaur, who are half-bull and half-man. One was reported to have been seen in Nifleheim not long ago.”

The two men bowed and left in their search for one of the creatures.

Long Lucifer lay alone, pondering his fate. He bemoaned openly his misfortune, yet there were none to console him, and none that would. For though he was feared by his servants, they secretly loathed him, and desired to supplant him if they might. It was for this reason, that he did not seek to summon his more powerful demons, lest they take advantage of his plight and pierce his heart with an enchanted blade. No, he would use his mortal servants whose knowledge of his injuries would die with them.

The Minotaur was huge. The clatter of its cloven hooves echoed through the temple. It struggled with its captors, but these priests had used poison to weaken the monster. There was intelligence behind the clay colored eyes of the beast. Its broad chest and arms, were muscular, but not unlike a human, yet its head and lower limbs were hairy and animal-like. Upon seeing the scene of slaughter in the center of the building, it sought to flee, though its hands were bound in irons. It impaled one of the priests with its long horns. The zealot writhed and screamed in the air as he grasped at the horns which pierced his torso, before the beast slung him off and against one of the stone pillars, where the priest lay unmoving. But the other occultist quickly pulled a tube from behind his back and blew a feathered dart into the beast’s neck. Though a brief chase ensued, it was short-lived, for the Minotaur was suddenly paralyzed as it was lifted from off the ground. Satan, with one arm outstretched, bound the creature in invisible bonds as he willed it before the altar.

“I cannot allow you to kill the last of my slaves, before the task is done. Do you understand me?” the Devil asked in a hissing voice.

“I do. Why have you brought me here?” the Minotaur croaked.

“I require your legs, or at least the spiritual part of them. You see, my priests are known as Cambion. They are the offspring of an incubus and a mortal. It would seem that their mixed-blood is insufficient for the task at hand.”

“How can a demon mate with a human?”

“If a mortal is possessed by a fell spirit, and then bonds with a child of Eve then the offspring becomes a Cambion. They are longer lived than most, and have a propensity to harness dark magic. Those who have given themselves over to me willingly, may be chosen as one of my priests. As such, they will enjoy all the riches and pleasures this world has to offer, at least for a time.”

“And if I refuse?”

“Well, I could kill you, but I believe for the purpose of which I intend, I will need you alive and for you to willingly sacrifice a portion of your spirit. My sword has the ability to sever your soul.”

The Minotaur’s eyes grew wide and fear was mirrored there.

“Do not despair, for if you consent, I will see that new limbs are crafted to replace the old, and you will be given a position of import within my kingdom, and I will infuse you with power so that you might rule over your own kind.”

The man-beast’s muscles relaxed and his breathing slowed somewhat.

“What is your name?” Satan asked.

“I am Marabbas, child of Barabbas, the vampire.”

“Do you know who I am?”

“No.”

Rising to a seated position, the Devil placed one hand upon the altar, whilst the other maintained his hold over the Minotaur who levitated before him. The foundation of the temple trembled as dark mists rose from the floors and whisked around the dais. For a moment, Satan rose into the air until he was eye-to-eye with Marabbas. His countenance erupted into a bright white light, and he appeared as he had before his fall, beautiful and radiant. But his angelic form could not long be maintained in his weakened state, and it grew dark as horns sprang from his brow, not unlike those of the beast before him. Leathery wings grew from his back, yet his legs were gone below his knees. His black eyes, were terrible to look upon. But his power was spent, and he fell back upon the altar, yet he remained in his fallen form unable to now recall his former beauty.

The Minotaur was released and dropped to the ground with a clacking of its hooves upon dark stones. Its muscles rippled and suddenly its bonds were broken. Breathing heavily, it stood frozen for a moment, glancing at the doorway and then back upon the Devil, and then at the priest who had grabbed his master’s dark sword and jumped defensively between the monster and his Lord.

“Good. Though art strong. Since the early days, I have felt safer entrusting my secrets to only mortal followers as they would not be able to challenge me with the knowledge, as would a fallen angel. Cambion such as these can be killed if the need arises, and their secrets will die with them,” Satan said as he motioned to the lone zealot. His voice crackled and hissed as he spoke in his fallen, transfigured form.

“I desire power, for I seek revenge,” Marabbas said fiercely.

“Whom do you seek vengeance upon?

“My father.”

“In that we are of like mind. Tell me, what did your sire do to warrant your hatred?”

“He slew my mother. Only she showed love for me. But he saw me naught but as a beast. He killed her with a stake through the heart and then cast me into a pit in the depths of a cave. Long I fell and long I wandered until I found myself here within the earth.”

“Then you consent to the ritual?”

“I do.”

Satan smiled.

His zealot began murmuring under his breath and signaled for the creature to lie down beside the altar.

Though Marabbas perspired, he seemed consigned to what was to come. “Pain is an old friend of mine. My father saw to that. If you can grant me the power to overcome my undead sire, then carry on.”

Lucifer nodded to his servant to proceed.

As his priest severed the lower legs of the Minotaur, Satan captured the life-force of its limbs and melded the spiritual aspect to what remained of his own. Though he could stand and walk once more, he has ever worn robes to cover his hooves and hide the shame of his injury from his minions. The remaining priest was killed by his master, lest word spread that the King of Hell was nearly defeated by one of the Cherubim.

Marabas swore an oath to the Devil, promising never to reveal what had transpired that night. He was infused with unholy power, and grew in size and strength, yet alone of his kind he bears the legs of a man. For when the last of the Cambion priests was slain, Satan fused the legs of the zealot to that of Marabbas. Yet the limbs were mortal, and now and again, this King of the Minotaur, the cursed child of vampires, must replace them, lest they wither and rot.

1. Homam – Arabic for Mighty Star of the High Minded

2. The Triple Horn of Odin – Norse legends commonly associate the symbol with drinking mead, and this correlates with Odin’s quest for the Odhroerir, a magical mead brewed from a wise god named Kvasir’s blood. The three horns represent the three draughts taken by Odin of the magical mead.

3. Zepho who was the grandson of Esau slew a half human monster in a cave. The top half of the monster was a man and the bottom half was an animal. The Book of Jasher Ch. 61:15.