My Demon

Chapter 5 – THE FALLEN DEMON

It was time for Vassago and me to part ways—I could feel it now.

Even though there was a pact between the demon and me, I didn’t care anymore. I would no longer help him. I took the spirit board with me and went outside.

Vassago was nowhere to be seen; either he had become invisible or he had left—I didn’t know. But honestly, I didn’t care anymore. I needed to stay away from him.

Early the next morning, the first thing I did was go to the fortune teller’s house. I had to return the spirit board to her. When I knocked on the door, the fortune teller studied me with questioning yet calm eyes. Then she silently invited me inside.

The house was a bit messy. Books, old fabrics, and a few candles were scattered on the floor. Most of the shelves were empty. As she walked in, the fortune teller rolled up her sleeves and let out a sigh.

Fortune Teller: I emptied all the shelves while cleaning. I need to put the books back, but I could use some help.

Lina: I can help.

We crouched down together. We were sorting the books and placing them according to their types.

Fortune Teller: Did the Ouija board work for you?

Lina: Yes.

Fortune Teller: Summoning a spirit is terrifying at first.

Lina: I didn’t experience that. Because, as I told you yesterday, I didn’t use this board to summon a spirit.

Fortune Teller: I see.

She fell silent. We were both careful not to break the silence. In the dim light of the room, time seemed to slow down.

Then my hand reached for an old book. It was thick-bound and had no title on it. When my fingertips touched the cover, a strange feeling washed over me. In the center of the book was a worn symbol. Holding it up, I showed it to the fortune teller and asked:

Lina: Why doesn’t this book have a title?

Fortune Teller: That book contains information about demons.

Lina: Information about demons?

Fortune Teller: Yes.

I opened the book. Maybe I could find something about Vassago inside. The pages were filled with strange drawings, symbols, and English texts. Between the pages, I found a necklace. On it was a two-leafed branch, encircled by a ring. Curious, I showed it to the fortune teller and asked what it was.

The fortune teller stared at the necklace for a long time.

Fortune Teller: It’s a talisman. But even I don’t know what it does.

Holding the necklace tightly in my hand, I flipped through the pages quickly but carefully. Then my eyes caught on a word:

“Vassago.”

My breath caught for a moment. The book nearly trembled in my hands. I lifted my head and looked around. In one corner of the room stood a wooden table. I placed the book on the table. Under the flickering light of the lamp, I began to read it with curiosity.

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What was written on the left page:

VASSAGO

Source and Origin:

Vassago is one of the demons mentioned in the Goetia and is said to have been summoned by Solomon.

Power:

He possesses the power of prophecy.

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What was written on the right page:

He is portrayed as good-natured on the surface, yet harbors malicious and deceptive entities within. It is said that Vassago descended into the depths of Hell and took possession of lamenting and sorrowful souls, controlling them.

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I trembled when I heard the fortune teller’s voice. She was right behind me—I hadn’t realized she had come so close.

Fortune Teller: Are you interested in the book, or in Vassago?

Lina: I… um… Do you know anything about Vassago?

The fortune teller sat beside me, looked at the book, and began to tell me what she knew.

Fortune Teller: As written in the book, Vassago has the power of prophecy. He sees the future and foretells what will happen. He can reveal hidden events from the past. He can find lost objects and people. According to a legend not written in books, Vassago was a prince who ruled the demons of the fifth layer of Hell. Demons are known as aggressive, destructive, and malicious beings. However, Vassago is described as a “good-natured” demon. “Good-natured” and “demon” are such contradictory words, don’t you think?

The good-natured demon Vassago gradually loses his authority among the demons. In a rebellion that breaks out in Hell, he is dethroned. One of the four kings of Hell, the leader who rules the demons of the northern part of the world—Ziminiar—sends Vassago to Earth as punishment and makes him an offer.

“You may return to Hell and reclaim your throne after committing every evil a demon can inflict upon humans in the world,” he says. But Vassago refuses this offer and chooses to live in the world by fulfilling his duty.

Lina: What is his duty?

Fortune Teller: His duty is to determine whether the contracts of people who wish to make a deal with a demon will be accepted. If the agreement meets the necessary conditions, he validates it, allowing that person to make a pact with a demon.

Lina: So… is Vassago a good being?

Fortune Teller: Vassago is a loyal and honest demon. He favors the truth. He can control other spirits, but he finds this wrong and never does it. Some say he is a fallen angel. But if you ask me, Vassago is a hybrid—born from the union of a demon and an angel. Otherwise, why would a demon be good-natured? We’ve heard many legends of fallen angels; all of them commit evil out of anger toward God. But unlike fallen angels, no such legends are told about Vassago.

What the fortune teller told me left my mind in turmoil. Vassago was loyal and honest. He favored the truth. Then why did my grandfather tell me not to trust him and claim that he was deceiving me?

Until now, Vassago had never told me the full truth—but he had never lied either.

I didn’t take my eyes off the book and asked the fortune teller the question that had been on my mind.

Lina: What you’ve told me is a legend. Should I believe this legend, or should I accept the harsh face of reality and remain silent?

The fortune teller answered my question, her words filled with deep wisdom:

Fortune Teller: Legends are truths spoken by those who witnessed events but never wrote them down.