Jezebel

Part One: 10

Rusted hooks shot through the boulder and pierced the earth. A jackal yelped and raced from the scene, it's tail between its legs.

"Ah, I forgot about the animals. They have eyes that actually see." Baal chuckled as he pulled the rest of his frame through the pulsing portal. There was a body on the wilderness floor. The jackals had done wonderful work on its arms.

Baal's joints popped as he straightened his heavily muscled back and stood in his full eighteen feet. As his pitch-black eyes scanned the dry land, he took in a long breath. The atmosphere reeked of sulphur and that lingering scent of frankincense-there were angels of light in the territory. Baal didn't care.

Twisting his thick neck, he grunted at the loud crack the action gave off. Ground-breaking of a new principality was one of his favourite activities. A few were gathered; some gods, bands of demons, and a small herd of battle beasts. The gathering wasn't impressive, but that didn't bother him in the least.

Soon.

Giving the chain a swift tug, he dragged the hooks through the earth. There was a slight tremor as the ground shifted beneath his feet. Magma spurted through cracks, it's yellowish-red glow mapping out zig-zag lines. A heavy chunk of earth bathed in liquid fire pushed through before shooting into the spiritual air. The makeshift throne hovered about eight feet off the ground, its disproportionate angles looking like the handwork of an impatient mason.

With a crooked smile, Baal shot through the sky before relaxed into his throne. The black loincloth that hung around his waist fluttered around his massive thighs before settling. He rested a hoofed foot over a knee and stroked his short goatee.

"Speak."

"Twenty-nine successful portals, my prince." Signa stepped forward and bowed low, his tattered wings rustling in the spiritual wind. Thirty others stood behind him, identical amber eyes glowing in the darkness of the wilderness.

"Twenty-nine? What happened to the last?" Baal could sniff a dissatisfactory reply already. The fool had failed. "If you are about to say something hampered the plan, save it. Create another portal," he said with barely masked impatience.

Signa darted his eyes about and took a step back. "T-that would be impossible, my prince."

"Why is that?" Baal glowered at the idiotic demon.

"The marking had already been drawn on the host." Signa gulped and scratched an arm.

"So?"

"Angels of light. They interrupted when the portal was almost complete."

Baal threw his large head back as raucous laughter shook his frame. "Angels of light you say. It was expected. Find the host and repossess him. Surely that is not an impossible feat, is it?"

When the demon paused, Baal gritted his teeth. "What?"

"One of the angels slashed through the markings... and... and..."

"Speak, fool!" Baal allowed his hoofed foot to fall from his knee and leaned forward. Curved black claws dug into the arm of his seat. The rock cracked in protest.

"He has taken the Nazirite vow," Signa said in a rush.

"What?!" Baal jumped down his throne. More magma spilled from the earth. "You couldn't stop him before he took it?" He approached the demon with measured steps, his glare red and hot.

"He was under protection... I do not know!" Signa flew back. Fear brightened his amber eyes as he landed on his feet and stumbled.

"You do not know? You do not know? Tell me our contingency plan is intact-tell me we have the girl."