The Tenth Night

The final night was horrific.  The demon filled my cell with roaring fires, monstrous beasts and all manner of instruments of torture.  I recoiled in horror, laying on my bed, my mouth open in a silent scream.  My mind was becoming overloaded with the horrific images.  And in my brain, I could hear his constant promises, promises to end the tortuous images if I would only promise to give him my soul.  I started to nod, then I remembered a scene from my youth.  It’s a scene any child recognizes; the shadows in your room creeping to get you, normally familiar objects becoming disfigured monstrosities in the darkness of night.  I remembered what I would do to escape the nightmares as a child, and pulled the covers over my head.
Instantly, the horrible screams and burning sensations stopped.  It was only me and the demon.  He faced me, then his shoulders sagged.
“I juzt lozt, didn’t I?” he moaned.  I nodded, mentally exhausted from my ordeal.
“In that caze…” he said, “are you sure you will not turn over to me your Eternal Zoul, forever and always, and give up all rightz and pretenzez to the Kingdom of Heaven?”  I nodded again, hoping I had understood his legalistic demon-speak.  The demon sighed, then turned around.
“Wait…” I said, “one more thing.”  The demon turned around, hopefully.
“What’s your name?” I asked.  I wanted something to remember him by.
“Lickzpit,” spat the demon, uncomfortably.  [Does the demon’s name hold any meaning?  Naturally, the act of licking spit (Mr. Hansen assured me afterwards that the z-sound in the demon’s name was the result of his peculiar speech impediment, and that his actual name was Lickspit) stirs disgust, but what does the act itself represent?  Maybe the name is merely the demon’s personal attempt to be as negative as possible, therefore reinforcing the devil stereotype and strengthening the air of the corruputer.  –Wh.]  I turned the name around in my mouth, then told him I felt it suited him.  He cursed, turned again, and vanished.

Table of Contents
Prelude
The First Night
The Second Night
The Third Night
The Fourth Night
The Fifth Night
The Sixth Night
The Seventh Night
The Eigth Night
The Ninth Night
The Tenth Night
Epilogue


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