The Devil's Apprentice by Patrick Stewart (polar express read aloud TXT) 📕

Alex leant back as if doing the limbo. He slid between the two blades and his hands dropped to the ground as they passed both under and over him. His feet lifted off the ground as they swept past his body. Alex somersaulted to his feet and moved away from Satan and the pit the devil had crawled out of.

“Not bad,” Satan said. “You’re talented. Too talented, in fact,” he added, frowning.

“There’s no shame in giving up,” Alex said, trying to put on a brave face and sound hard.

Satan cracked a smile. “I like you, boy. You sure you have to die?”

“Not going to happen this time,” the voice said. 

“Welcome back,” Alex said.

“I never left, Alex. But I’m ready now. I think I’ve figured out your body.” 

Alex didn’t get the chance to ask what that meant. He didn’t have to. More energy flowed from his heart, tenfold the normal amount. He felt like he was on fire, but without actually burning. His chest pain was gone. He felt stronger than ever before.

His sword glowed red, but there were actual bluish flames around the edges.

“That’s cool,” Satan nodded at it. “Not cool enough.”

It was Alex’s turn to go on the attack. He charged. His speed caught his mind by surprise. Thankfully, his body seemed to be controlled by the voice. As he approached Satan, he swung his sword with anger and accuracy. In the ensuing battle, Satan struggled to block and parry the blows. Alex drove him towards the pit, then swung with such force, he knocked the devil to the ground.

As Satan tried to climb up, Alex kicked him in the chest and sent the devil tumbling to the edge of the pit. He stood over him. His foot pressed against Satan’s chest and his long sword was only an inch away.

“Any last words?” he asked.

Satan smiled up at him. “You’re not just a human, are you? He’s back, isn't it he?”

The long sword wavered in Alex hand. “Is who back?”

“Lucifer,” Satan said.

“Lucifer?” Alex repeated dumbly. “That’s your name.”

Satan’s grin widened. “Lucifer was the first to defy God. They fought for a thousand years or more. By the time we demons came, God had already named Lucifer as the cursed one. It was much after Lucifer’s death did his holy fuckness start to hate me. But Lucifer never really died. He always seemed to come back in some form or other. Never quite himself though. Not after what God did to him. But he’s, back isn’t he? And he’s inside you. Talking to you like a voice in your head.”

The sword in Alex’s hand began to shake. He stepped back, his foot no longer on Satan’s chest. He stumbled over a piece of brick. His head spun as he dropped to his knees, palms on the ground. It was as if naming the voice had suddenly rendered it powerless. But could it be true? Was the voice really Lucifer? How did that make any sense?

Satan climbed to his feet gently. “Lucifer’s never won, but he never gives up. Battling for thousands of years, constantly losing, killing the poor chap he inhabits. When he comes back, he’s always weaker too. But still,” Satan laughed, “the persistent fucker never gives up.”

The roles had reversed. It was Satan who stood over him now with the black blades only inches away from skewering his body. “What is he saying?”

Nothing.

That was the answer.

The voice in his head, Lucifer, it was gone. There was no additional warmth in his body either. Had Alex been abandoned? It felt like that. He was suddenly exhausted beyond belief. Just holding his body in this position, knees and palms on the ground and not lying on his side curled up took immense strength and every ounce of his pride.

“He’s gone, hasn’t he?” Satan asked. “He does that sometimes. When he thinks it’s a lost cause and doesn’t want to die with the host, he bails. I’ve seen it before. The host body crumples. It becomes so weak, it can barely raise its chest enough to breath.”

Satan placed one of his blades under Alex’s chin and lifted it, forcing Alex to look up and meet the devil’s eyes. “I guess I should kill you now. Pity. I would have enjoyed speaking with Lucifer. I had a proposal he might have found interesting. I suppose seeing as how quickly he’s given up, he’s much weaker than I thought he would be.”

Satan’s gaze shifted to the side. Karen had climbed to her feet. She held a blade in one hand. With the other, she clutched her stomach.

“You should stay down,” Satan called out to her. “You’re much too pretty to be accidentally killed.” His eyes lingered on her a moment. “My sister did create some beauties, I’ll give her that.” The black eyes turned sharply onto Alex. “It’s goodnight for you, I’m afraid.”

The blade moved away from his chin. It rose into the air as Satan prepared to kill him. Alex didn’t want to die. His long sword was pressed against the ground under his palm. He managed to raise it in time to deflect the blow. Using every ounce of his energy, he flipped backwards. It wasn’t a graceful move. He landed awkwardly on his bottom on the jagged remains of the collapsed building.

Despite the searing pain that shot to his head, he climbed to his feet. His hands shaking, he managed to hold the sword before him. Alex really didn’t want to die. But if he had to, he would fight to the end.

“I’m still here…” 

Alex’s eyes widened. “What the fuck is going on?” 

“Your body is different. In a good way, but it’s taking me awhile to adjust. I need more time. Keep Satan talking, if you can.”

“How do I do that?” 

“Ask