Exerpt from The Curse of Mesphisto's Seed

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THE CURSE OF MESPHISTO'S SEED
BOOK TWO: THE APOCALYPSE OF SILENCE
By William P. Haynes

“Did you know that before the advent of man, before God showed favor to this upright beast, that the sparrow was as white as the dove?” the devil asked them. Josh looks over at Mesphisto who is adorned in a judge’s robe. He sits behind an ornate wooden bench as he speaks. “God presented the sparrow with a special task. It was to carry the souls of the newly departed to their heavenly reward.” The devil ends his speech and laughs. The sound cascades over the bleak wastelands like the snap of a bullwhip. Mark Talbot reaches out for Anne but the chains that bind him prevent him from touching her. Peggy turns from the devil and faces Mark. Her face is a mask of disbelief and horror. She trembles as the image of Mesphisto becomes her only vision.
Mark whispers within Peggy’s mind, as he stands there helpless, fighting against the bonds that hold him. Telepathy is his sole shaman’s gift of magic not stolen by the devil.

{“We are alive for a reason and that is to our advantage,” he spoke into Peggy’s mind. “You and I have our faith; the devil has only his hatred.”} Mesphisto slams his gavel down upon the bench.
“Mark, to speak during my oratorical is rude even for a captive audience,” the devil warned him. “Where was I anyway? Yes, the sparrow was as snow but after eons of carrying men’s souls its purity was defiled by the dearth of good men!” Elliott and the wolf move from the shadows and stand by the side of the devil. “My son, would you care to finish the parable of the sparrow?” Mesphisto steps down from the bench.
“Yes father but I fear we waste our time on ones such as these,” Elliott answered.
“Still, it amuses me to do so,” Mesphisto said, as his tongue lashed out like a great snake until it was mere inches from Peggy. Her body feels faint but it will not fall. All she can do is tremble before his decadence in fear.
“The sparrow was pure when humanity was unsullied but over time Cain slew Able and man waged war against man,” Elliott explained. “The tiny sparrow darkened and wept in its flight and God took pity on the sparrow’s tears. He sent his only son to redeem men’s souls but humanity took Jesus in name only and ignored his teachings of peace and brotherhood.” The devil steps in front of his son and points an accusing finger at Josh and the others.
“You did not heed Him when He said to turn the other cheek, you built better weapons and waged deadlier wars,” the devil said, as he continued the story for his son.

As he speaks the magenta skies explode in flames, raining icy blue sparks on all below. The damned shrieked. Mark and his friends are driven to their knees from the pain. The fires burn and char. Their bodies blister from the searing heat before healing again. Overhead, the eternal flames continue to rage until the devil waves his talon hand and the flames cease to exist.
“You did not listen when He told you to love your brother, you murdered under the banner of heaven, secure in the noble righteousness of your crusade,” Mesphisto said. “That foolish child is how the sparrow became as dark as the pitch of infinity!” The devil walks over and frees Mark from his chains.
He stands before the fallen angel facing his judgment. The dark lord’s hand slashes out cutting him across his face. Josh struggles against his bonds but they only become tighter. He watches the blood run down Mark’s chin.
“Time now for the rebuttal,” the devil laughed. He walks among them with deadly grace. “I believe we’ve met before, my dear.” The devil takes Peggy’s hand in his.
“The wars we have fought were to protect the innocent from harm!” Mark exclaimed. The devil moves back to his bench and towers over them.
“Lies,” the dark one screamed. “You live inside your lily white towers while millions die on the continent of your birth. Your prisons overflow with those who are different. You herd the poor into slums flooded with the poison of your drugs. No, your souls are mine!”
“That’s not true of all of us!” Mark yelled.

The devil steps down from the bench and stands by his son. Elliott wears the uniform of a court officer as they move over to Mark.
“Take them away, guilty as charged,” he said. In a flash of brimstone the courtroom is adjoined.
In the midst of the devil’s proud desolation, a prison stood. It is as grey and bleak as the wastelands that surround it. After being stripped of their bonds they are locked up inside its corridors by Elliott.
“This wing is special,” he proclaimed, as he shuts and locks the cells. Josh throws himself at the door trying in vain to reach Elliott. His arms claw wildly through the barricade just inches from the son of the devil. “Down the hall you will meet our executioner, welcome to death row!” No spells work for Mark in this prison so he kicks at the bars as hard as he can. His foot, crashing against the metal, echoes throughout the prison. Elliott turns smugly and walks down the dimly lit hallway.
“The women will die first,” Elliott said, as he left. Josh steps away and leans back. He massages his shoulder as he swears silently under his breath.
“Nice try,” Mark said. “We better think of something fast or we’re done for!” Peggy slumps down to the floor of the prison and weeps. Anne kneels down and places her arm around Peggy’s shoulder.
“Mark’s right, it’s going to take all of us, working together, to get out of this,” she said, as the older woman continued to cry. Her face is a mask of fear.